Meet Alana Garrigues, writer and editor.
As a writer, I believe in the power of words. To educate, to inform, to entertain, to inspire.
As an editor and beta reader, I believe in polishing and uncovering the truth and talent of writers and their stories and honoring the writer's voice while sharpening up the quality of content.
While I specialize in journalism and creative non-fiction, I also dabble in the art that made me fall in love with writing—children's literature.
JOURNALISM
I have written more than 400 articles (and counting!) for The Beach Reporter, a weekly newspaper serving Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. I am also published in the Daily Breeze.
As a journalist, I take my role as the conduit for other people's stories seriously. I pride myself on extensive research and the ability to accurately quote and convey the thoughts, feelings and opinions of my subjects. I find joy in breaking complex subjects down into comprehensible form and revealing all sides of a story.
I also contribute to Scribblers' Scoop, the online newspaper of the Children's Book Writers of Los Angeles.
CREATIVE NONFICTION
I am currently writing a full-length travel memoir about the life and projects spearheaded by Sarah Chapman, the woman behind Build a Better Benin. The book is a humorous account of her journey into the African bush to educate and improve the lives of women and children in Benin, West Africa. Anything can, and does, happen to a foreigner living in the jungle with no knowledge of the native, local Yoruba or Fon languages!
EDITING
I am the Publications Director for CBW–LA; I hold a Poynter ACES Certificate in Editing and a UC San Diego Certificate in Copy Editing.
I exercise a tough love approach to editing, in which I will praise you for the story you want to tell and push you hard to make it the best it can be. I don't cut corners. If I edit your work, you can rest assured that by the end I will have listened to you, I will have questioned you, I will have tuned into your vision and voice, and I will have put uninterrupted time and energy into your project.
I offer a combination of developmental and line editing, in which I evaluate your story arc and message and the overall symphonic impact of your manuscript, while offering targeted advice on syntax, diction and voice. You are responsible for taking the advice under consideration and ultimately uncovering the right solution for your story.
Not a native English speaker? No worries! I am surrounded by people from all different backgrounds on a daily basis. I won't get all flustered over misplaced punctuation or judge your grammar. Instead, I'll help you make it shine.
INNOVATIVE WRITING EDUCATION
As the Publications Director for the nonprofit CBW–LA, I am the co-creator for the Story Sprouts series, an annual publication that is part writer's resource, part creative writing anthology. Every year, I conduct extensive line and developmental editing and preliminary copy editing for the book, which includes more than 100 original submissions from 20+ authors. I seek to maintain each of their individual voices while focusing on a seamless reader experience.
Story Sprouts is borne of an annual full-day writing marathon workshop, hosted by CBW–LA. Writers attend the workshop, listen to lectures, follow targeted writing exercises and leave having submitted 10 original pieces of creative writing. Our first book was released in 2013. I began to co-facilitate the workshop in 2014, with Story Sprouts: Voice. In 2015, I co-facilitated Story Sprouts: Setting (publication date: Oct. 2015) and we are currently making plans for Story Sprouts: Conflict in 2016.
Currently, my co-creator, Nutschell Anne Windsor, and I are developing plans to expand the Story Sprouts brand to include an annual group novella (first one to be released in October 2015), a teacher's manual (est. Fall 2016), a student workbook, a "Best Of" anniversary anthology and Story Sprouts, Jr., a workshop tailored to kid writers.
MY BACKGROUND
I hold a dual Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Communications and a Certificate of International Studies in Business from the University of Washington in Seattle. As an undergrad, I also attended the Scuola di Amministrazione Aziendale through an international business study abroad program in Turin, Italy.
When I'm not writing or editing, I'm traveling, daydreaming about my next adventure, laughing as often and as hard as I can, and hanging out with my sweet family, which includes my husband and our two identical girls.
BLOG
I am author of the writercize blog, which features both fiction and non-fiction writing exercises and activities for anyone with ten minutes to pick up a pen or tap away at a keyboard and write. There are more than 250 free writing exercises in the archives.
Writercize was named a Top 75 Writing Blog by ECollegeFinder and has over 100,000 page views.
Hire Me to Write:
Hire Me to Edit:
Hire Me to Translate:
Rates start at $125.
To propose a writing assignment or inquire about editing, kindly send a message to alanagarrigues@gmail.com. Phone calls by appointment only.
Board member: Children's Book Writers - Los Angeles
Graphic arts freelance partner: Garrigues Graphics
As an editor and beta reader, I believe in polishing and uncovering the truth and talent of writers and their stories and honoring the writer's voice while sharpening up the quality of content.
While I specialize in journalism and creative non-fiction, I also dabble in the art that made me fall in love with writing—children's literature.
JOURNALISM
I have written more than 400 articles (and counting!) for The Beach Reporter, a weekly newspaper serving Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. I am also published in the Daily Breeze.
As a journalist, I take my role as the conduit for other people's stories seriously. I pride myself on extensive research and the ability to accurately quote and convey the thoughts, feelings and opinions of my subjects. I find joy in breaking complex subjects down into comprehensible form and revealing all sides of a story.
I also contribute to Scribblers' Scoop, the online newspaper of the Children's Book Writers of Los Angeles.
CREATIVE NONFICTION
I am currently writing a full-length travel memoir about the life and projects spearheaded by Sarah Chapman, the woman behind Build a Better Benin. The book is a humorous account of her journey into the African bush to educate and improve the lives of women and children in Benin, West Africa. Anything can, and does, happen to a foreigner living in the jungle with no knowledge of the native, local Yoruba or Fon languages!
EDITING
I am the Publications Director for CBW–LA; I hold a Poynter ACES Certificate in Editing and a UC San Diego Certificate in Copy Editing.
I exercise a tough love approach to editing, in which I will praise you for the story you want to tell and push you hard to make it the best it can be. I don't cut corners. If I edit your work, you can rest assured that by the end I will have listened to you, I will have questioned you, I will have tuned into your vision and voice, and I will have put uninterrupted time and energy into your project.
I offer a combination of developmental and line editing, in which I evaluate your story arc and message and the overall symphonic impact of your manuscript, while offering targeted advice on syntax, diction and voice. You are responsible for taking the advice under consideration and ultimately uncovering the right solution for your story.
Not a native English speaker? No worries! I am surrounded by people from all different backgrounds on a daily basis. I won't get all flustered over misplaced punctuation or judge your grammar. Instead, I'll help you make it shine.
INNOVATIVE WRITING EDUCATION
As the Publications Director for the nonprofit CBW–LA, I am the co-creator for the Story Sprouts series, an annual publication that is part writer's resource, part creative writing anthology. Every year, I conduct extensive line and developmental editing and preliminary copy editing for the book, which includes more than 100 original submissions from 20+ authors. I seek to maintain each of their individual voices while focusing on a seamless reader experience.
Story Sprouts is borne of an annual full-day writing marathon workshop, hosted by CBW–LA. Writers attend the workshop, listen to lectures, follow targeted writing exercises and leave having submitted 10 original pieces of creative writing. Our first book was released in 2013. I began to co-facilitate the workshop in 2014, with Story Sprouts: Voice. In 2015, I co-facilitated Story Sprouts: Setting (publication date: Oct. 2015) and we are currently making plans for Story Sprouts: Conflict in 2016.
Currently, my co-creator, Nutschell Anne Windsor, and I are developing plans to expand the Story Sprouts brand to include an annual group novella (first one to be released in October 2015), a teacher's manual (est. Fall 2016), a student workbook, a "Best Of" anniversary anthology and Story Sprouts, Jr., a workshop tailored to kid writers.
MY BACKGROUND
I hold a dual Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Communications and a Certificate of International Studies in Business from the University of Washington in Seattle. As an undergrad, I also attended the Scuola di Amministrazione Aziendale through an international business study abroad program in Turin, Italy.
When I'm not writing or editing, I'm traveling, daydreaming about my next adventure, laughing as often and as hard as I can, and hanging out with my sweet family, which includes my husband and our two identical girls.
BLOG
I am author of the writercize blog, which features both fiction and non-fiction writing exercises and activities for anyone with ten minutes to pick up a pen or tap away at a keyboard and write. There are more than 250 free writing exercises in the archives.
Writercize was named a Top 75 Writing Blog by ECollegeFinder and has over 100,000 page views.
Hire Me to Write:
- magazine articles
- newspaper articles
- training material
- writing exercises
Hire Me to Edit:
- blog post
- business plan
- company bio
- newsletter
- nonfiction
- online content
- picture book
- short story
- training material
Hire Me to Translate:
- Italian to English
Rates start at $125.
To propose a writing assignment or inquire about editing, kindly send a message to alanagarrigues@gmail.com. Phone calls by appointment only.
Board member: Children's Book Writers - Los Angeles
Graphic arts freelance partner: Garrigues Graphics