WILL WILLOUGHBY, WRITER AND EDITOR
As an editor, I've been helping writers connect with readers for over twenty years. I use those same skills in my own writing to reach readers through clear, precise language.
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I live in southern Maine with my wife, my daughter, and a potato-colored dog named Charlie.
SHORT FICTION
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A copyeditor's small change becomes a big deal in this short story published in Epiphany (summer 2023).
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This flash fiction piece, published in Does It Have Pockets? (February 2024), pits a sleeping man against a meek projectionist.
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What We Talk About When We Talk About Talking
Written in response to a writing contest prompt, this story pays tribute to Raymond Carver.
FOR WORK​
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I wrote this to give the SNHU editorial staff clear expectations on how deeply to edit course materials. It helped create a unified, well-trained team.
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I researched and wrote this brief tutorial for the course production team at SNHU. I’m proud of its effective simplicity.
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FOR FUN
My wife asked me to create some over-the-top descriptions for a couple soap bottles on her Etsy shop, Clearstory Glass. I’m not saying it was the copy, but these bottles were some of her top sellers.
The History of Distance Learning
I created this timeline as a professional development exercise at SNHU. Since it was originally intended only for me, I gave myself a lot of latitude on the tone. So much latitude.
Writing Samples
Resume
EXPERIENCE
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Senior Content Editor
Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, NH
October 2020–present
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Perform quality-assurance reviews of online course material edited by freelance editors
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Onboard and train freelance editors and give ongoing performance feedback
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Copyedit course content and university documentation for grammar, usage, style, and clarity
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Create and maintain internal training documents on process, best practices, and accessibility
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Manage workflow and collaborate with other departments to meet tight deadlines
Lead Content Editor
Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, NH
October 2013–October 2020 (lead position dissolved as part of reorg)
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Copyedited online course content in all subject areas for grammar, usage, style, and clarity
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Supervised editorial team, conducted performance reviews, resolved issues elevated by the team, and hired and trained new editors
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Managed workflow and collaborated with other departments to meet tight deadlines
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Created internal documents such as Microsoft Word tutorials, editorial best practice guidelines, accessibility training, and an online test designed to efficiently screen editorial candidates
Editor
Measured Progress, Dover, NH
October 2005–October 2013
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Served as lead editor for large-scale student assessments comprising English language arts, math, science, and history
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Copyedited test questions for grammar and style, performed quality-control checks, and ensured the integrity of client edits
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Updated the company’s style guide and other internal documentation
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Presented training sessions on Microsoft Word and production procedures
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Collaborated with members of state departments of education to develop and edit test questions
Production Editor
Arcadia Publishing, Portsmouth, NH
February 2000–October 2005
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Covered all aspects of production for publishing books on local history, from processing submitted materials to preparing books for print
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Copyedited manuscripts for grammar and clarity
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Prepared up to five 128-page books for publication per week, entering author corrections, proofreading text, collaborating with authors, and preparing final PDFs for the printer
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Scanned photographs, color-corrected images in Photoshop, and laid out books in InDesign
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Maintained house style guide, based on Chicago style, and trained new editors
Intern
Cambridge Literary Associates, Newburyport, MA
October 1999–January 2000
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Performed extensive editing and rewriting of nonfiction on deadline
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Worked with client to research and ghostwrite a nonfiction book of more than 100 pages
EDUCATION
University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
Bachelor of arts in English with writing focus.
Magna cum laude.
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Keene State College, Keene, NH
Two semesters, cumulative GPA of 4.0.
SKILLS
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Highly skilled with Microsoft Word
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Proficient with Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Photoshop, and Microsoft Excel
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Experienced with addressing accessibility and UX issues
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Fluent with Mac and PC platforms
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Well versed in Agile methodologies