Changing How the World Works.
 
 
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Total oDesk hours:
0
Location:
Seattle, United States (GMT-08:00)
English Skills: (self-assessed)
5.0
Member Since:
July 20, 2008
Last Worked:
 
Current Assignments:
0
Total Assignments:
0
oDesk Ready:  
Yes
 
 
 
 

Karen Proctor - Creative Writing That Gets You Noticed - Freelance Technical Writer, United States

Simply put, I get you noticed.   By producing attention-getting, easy-to-read, professionally written, beautifully polished ad copy, web content, ghostwriting, business writing, fiction, or anything else you need written, I get the spotlight to shine on you.  And we both win.
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Recent Work History & Feedback
Buyer ID From/To Job Title Hours Feedback
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See All Tests Taken (9 items)
oDesk Tests Taken
Name of Test Score Percentile Date Taken Duration
oDesk Readiness Test for Independent Contractors and Company Managers 5.00 99% TOP 10% 1st Place! 08/19/2008 30 min
Creative Writing Certification 4.25 99% TOP 10% 08/19/2008 19 min
Management Skills Test 3.00 99% TOP 10% 08/21/2008 30 min
English Test (Sentence Structure) 5.00 99% TOP 10% 1st Place! 07/20/2008 11 min
Technical Writing Skills Certification 3.90 92% TOP 10% 08/21/2008 20 min
Recent Candidacies
Job Opening Title Initiated By Date
Evaluate the registration process of a website Buyer November 16, 2008
Superb writer and thinker needed Provider October 26, 2008
ghostwriting short, clinical nutrition, 50-page booklet Provider October 26, 2008
Creative Provider October 26, 2008
Job Category Interests

Writing

Administrative Support
Skills
Skill Experience Level Last Used Description
Analytical Skills 30 yrs 5.0 2008 I am able to break down a problem and come at it from several perspectives.  I was not one of those students who could never work out a math problem to save her life; math has always been easy for me, and I even took a PASCAL computer programming class in college as an elective, yea those many years ago.  It is true, though, that I enjoy analyzing writing more than numbers.
Computer Savvy 12 yrs 4.0 2008 While no programmer, I am well-versed in e-mail communication and in performing World Wide Web research, and in using a variety of word processing, photo editing, desktop publishing, and spreadsheet software, mostly Microsoft and open source.  I have written my own Web pages using WYSIWYG html editors and am currently teaching myself graphic design.  I am also handy with troubleshooting my own computer problems.
Detail Work/Accuracy 30 yrs 5.0 2008 I hold myself to high standards when it comes to accuracy and pay close attention to detail.  This doesn't mean I never make mistakes, but I usually catch my errors quickly and am therefore able to troubleshoot problems before they become major problems.  I hold myself accountable for my errors when they occur.
Editing/Proofreading 15 yrs 5.0 2008 I have critiqued, edited, and proofread not only my own work, but also many fiction manuscripts of other writers in my critique groups.  Among other projects,  I proofread the History Newsletter for the University of Washington History Department; this bi-annual magazine is published to scholarly standards.   

Though multiple proofreaders may have worked on a project, I am often the one who finds errors everybody else has missed.  I know the grammatical "rules"--and I also know when the rules are not so clear, and the occasions when it is appropriate to break them.

 I enjoy editing almost as much as I enjoy writing.  Few things are as satisfying as turning something rough into something polished.  Some people like to do crossword puzzles; I like taking awkward sentences, brushing them up, and fitting them out to professional standards.
Humor Writing 10 yrs 5.0 2008 I like funny books; I like funny movies; I like funny TV; I like funny songs.  My friends happen to be funny people.  The news is funny, when it's not being tragic...or perhaps it's most funny when it's being tragic.  Life is funny.

Basically, it boils down to this:   If you offer me a choice between renting Million Dollar Baby or Earth Girls Are Easy...well....frankly, I've been to Million Dollar Baby and done the tears.   But how can anyone laugh too much at "Cause I'm a Blonde?"

Humor writing is hard.  I like it.  Maybe one day I'll make a living at it.  That would be great, because life, too, is hard, and humor is about the only thing we have to get us through it.
I Ask Questions 30 yrs 5.0 2008 If there is something I do not understand, I ask about it--before it becomes a major problem!  I am not shy about admitting I do not understand something.  I have found that asking questions early ensures that projects go smoothly, whereas waiting to ask, or ignoring a problem, almost guarantees trouble later down the line.
People Skills 25 yrs 5.0 2008 My many years of experience in customer service demonstrate that I love working with people!   Internally, I enjoy interacting with my fellow team members in a productive and friendly way, and have been trained in--and have experience with--conflict resolution.  In my library experience, I have come to respect the need for confidentiality and to be sensitive to the circumstances of a wide variety of people.
Speed 30 yrs 5.0 2008 I am a fast worker, fast learner, and overall fast performer.  I have always been that way--in school I was always a speedy test-taker, and, yes, I was that annoying student who always had her hand raised first!  But please note that being fast is not the same thing as being hasty, and my fast pace of work does not mean a slapdash performance, just that I process things quickly.
Writing 25 yrs 5.0 2008

I am driven to write to professional standards of excellence in all areas--nonfiction, fiction, technical writing, Internet correspondence, commercial.

Some of my writing projects include:

  • Wrote numerous original novels, novellas, short stories, picture books, and poems in genres including romance, science fiction and fantasy, children's literature, erotica
  • Was represented by the literary agent, Pema Browne, Ltd (mid 1990's)
  • Published in electronic media by Phaze Publishing (adult content) and Anotherealm
  • Wrote Web content for Emory University Woodruff Library’s Circulation & Reserves Department Web pages
  • Article on the appeal of genre fiction accepted to the Romance Writer’s Report, a print trade magazine for professionals
  • Article published in Rubylane.com's Creative Hands, a promotional Internet newsletter for artisans and sellers of antiques and collectibles
  • Wrote all copy for my online bookselling business, The Book Escape
  • Wrote all copy for my online jewelry design business, Ornatia Creations
  • Wrote proposal copy (tour and event descriptions) for the event-planning company, Guidelines-Atlanta, 1991-1993
  •  Won January 2003 Editor's Choice in the Online Writing Workshop for Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror for short story, Lidibidia’s Legacy
  • Member of The Storytellers writing critique group (November 2002-June 2004), involving reciprocal critiquing and editing of manuscripts
  • B.A. research thesis (earned Special Honors at the University of Chicago), two graduate-level research papers in anthropology (one at Emory University), and numerous academic papers written to exacting standards at the University of Chicago
 
 
Certifications
Date Earned Name Score Percentile Organization Description
No Certifications
Employment History
From To Company Title/Role Description
02/2004 12/2006 Ornatia Creations Handcrafted Jewelry Owner and Designer / Executive
  • Wrote all ad copy, promotional text, and policy terms for my online store
  • Managed inventory
  • Took photos and scans of jewelry items, used Adobe Photo Deluxe to edit .jpgs to best effect
  • Ordered and purchased supplies
  • Did my own bookkeeping and accounting
  • Designed and made jewelry
  • Maintained professional e-mail communication with customers
  • Wrote custom order proposals
03/1999 07/2004 Emory University Woodruff Library Circulation Department Circulation Desk Supervisor/Web Content Manager / Independent Contributor
  • Balance of customer service, leadership, and computer work
  • Superlative, state-of-the-art customer service was emphasized
  • Served a customer base ranging from University President to faculty to casual researcher
  • Wrote content for Circulation's Web pages, job transitioned to Web Content Manager
  • Supervised student assistants
  • Assisted patrons in person, on the phone, via “chat” module, and via e-mail
  • Creative on-the-spot troubleshooting ranging from technical matters to customer service complaints
  • Facilitated and actively participated in staff meetings
  • Created macros using Macro Express, trained staff to use macros
  • Led training presentations
  • With sensitivity tracked down delinquent patrons by phone
  • Processed requests, created bills, and other computing functions in a Windows NT environment using EUCLID
  • Communicated with staff, student assistants, and patrons to help improve Access Services
  • Oversaw operation of the service desk in a constantly changing environment

 

 

 
08/1999 12/2002 The Book Escape Owner/Sole Proprietor / Executive
  • Owned and operated my own Internet bookselling business
  • Wrote ad copy for, and listed, thousands of books using MS Excel 
  • Maintained inventory
  • Purchased supplies
  • Shipped out books
  • Bookkeeping/Accounting
  • Corresponded with customers via e-mail
  • Wrote newsletter, including author interviews, for distribution to customers 
08/1993 03/1999 Emory University College Admission Office Data Control Clerk / Team Lead
  • Lead data entry, fastest, most productive           
  • Data Entry in ADMP, TSO, MS Excel, MS Word
  • Processed application files
  • Computed GPAs from transcripts
  • Filed and performed general clerical work
  • Wrote procedural instructions in MS Word
  • Tested & trained on PeopleSoft database system 

 
04/1991 05/1993 Guidelines-Atlanta Secretary / Independent Contributor
  • Wrote ad copy for sales proposals, wrote instruction manual for job
  • Word-processing, telephone, developed new filing system
  • Assisted in reservation confirmation, attended vendor events

 

 

 
10/1985 10/1990 University of Chicago Various / Independent Contributor

Working at the University of Chicago and Emory University Libraries, I have 11 years of academic library experience in my capacities as student and staff member.  I have experience in behind-the-scenes processing, independing work, and searching in many different cataloguing systems and databases.

    At the University of Chicago, four years as student and one as permanent employee in various departments*  
  •  Crerar Science Library - Technical Processing of Serials
  • Graduate Reserves, Regenstein - Patron Assistance
  • General Reference, Regenstein – Shelving
  • Southern Asia, Regenstein - Book Processing
  • William Rainey Harper Memorial Library - General Processing
  • D'Angelo Law Library - Move Aid
  • Social Sciences Library –Shelving
  • Business Reference, Regenstein - General Processing
*Jobs include summers and term time.  I worked each job to its term fulfillment or longer.
Education
From To School Degree Area of Study Description
10/1985 06/1989 The University of Chicago Bachelors Sociology Graduated with Special Honors for my BA Thesis work, "Discourses on Fat in Movies of the 1980's"

Also did graduate level work in Anthropology at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. in the mid 1990's
 
 
  • Project Title: My Personal Blog - Nerd Writer Mom
  • Attachment: none
  • Completed: 10/26/2008
  • Category: Writing > Blog / Article Writing
  • URL: http://nerdwriter.blogspot.com/
  • Description: See my active blog for writing samples.
  • Project Title: Tinnitus Remedies
  • Attachment: Tinnitis Remedies.doc - 27KB
  • Completed: 09/15/2008
  • Category: Writing > Website Content
  • URL: none
  • Description: This is an article I researched and wrote on tinnitus remedies for a client.  The client gave a feedback rating of "excellent."

[+] enlarge
  • Project Title: Ornatia Creations Business Card
  • Attachment: none
  • Completed: 07/22/2006
  • Category: Graphic Arts & Design > Logo Design
  • URL: none
  • Description: Business card I made for my Ornatia Creations business.  I designed and made the jewelry, took the photograph with a digital camera, edited it using photo editing software, and then designed the business card.
  • Project Title: Promotional & Instructional Insert for Ornatia Creations
  • Attachment: Ornatia promotional insert for odesk.pdf - 325.152KB
  • Completed: 08/22/2005
  • Category: Writing > Technical Writing
  • URL: none
  • Description: This is the simple insert I included with the jewelry customers purchased, to instruct them on the care of their jewelry and to promote future sales.
Hourly Assignment History
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Hourly Assignment History is empty
Fixed-Price Assignment History
Buyer ID From/To Job Title Paid Feedback
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oDesk Tests Taken
Name of Test Score Percentile Date Taken Duration
oDesk Readiness Test for Independent Contractors and Company Managers 5.00 99% TOP 10% 1st Place! 08/19/2008 30 min
Creative Writing Certification 4.25 99% TOP 10% 08/19/2008 19 min
Management Skills Test 3.00 99% TOP 10% 08/21/2008 30 min
English Test (Sentence Structure) 5.00 99% TOP 10% 1st Place! 07/20/2008 11 min
Technical Writing Skills Certification 3.90 92% TOP 10% 08/21/2008 20 min
Editing Skills Certification 4.10 87% TOP 20% 07/20/2008 17 min
Online Article Writing and Blogging Test 3.40 82% TOP 20% 08/19/2008 20 min
MS Excel 2000 Test 3.00 76% 07/21/2008 23 min
MS Word 2003 Test 3.25 57% 07/20/2008 21 min