Curriculum Vitae
This is a slightly modified web version of my traditional CV, listing my previous jobs and professional and technical skills. For a list of publications, please go to the BOOKS page.
Email address: anna@annaclaybourne.co.uk
Employment
| 1996 – present |
Freelance writer and editor |
| 1993 – 1996 |
Writer and editor
Usborne Publishing, 83-85 Saffron Hill, London EC1N 8RT |
| Autumn 1992 |
Computer systems clerk
Chase Manhattan Bank, Bournemouth, Dorset |
| Summer 1992 |
Research and administrative assistant
Intelligent Games, London |
| Previous Employment |
Care work with the disabled, children and the elderly; recording spoken text for the blind; various clerical and manual work; part-time proofreading and research |
Education
| 1996 – 1997 |
University of Toronto, Canada
MA in English Literature |
| 1988 – 1992 |
Pembroke College, Oxford
BA (Hons) in English Language and Literature (1st) |
| 1986 – 1988 |
Bradford and Ilkley Community College, Bradford
A-levels in English Literature (A), Sociology (C) and General Studies (A) |
| 1983 – 1986 |
Greenhead School, Keighley, West Yorkshire
9 O-levels |
Experience, Skills and Courses
| Writing |
- Researching and writing children’s non-fiction books, covering a wide range of subject areas including science and technology, computers, wildlife, art and craft, history, Shakespeare, the paranormal, archaeology, geography, geology, and retellings of myths and legends
- Writing children’s fiction, particularly rhyming stories for preschoolers
- Researching and writing non-fiction partwork spreads
- Researching and writing encyclopedia articles for both print and CD/online publication
- Writing cover and catalogue blurbs, press releases and listings copy
- Some journalism and subbing, including theatre reviews and fashion and lifestyle features
|
| Editing & Project Management |
- Extensive project-managing, copy-editing, proofreading and indexing of children’s books
- Rewriting authors’ copy to various house styles
- Copy-editing academic books
- Fiction plot development, structural editing and rewriting
- Children’s non-fiction list development and consultancy
- Commissioning and briefing designers and artists
- Liaising with consultants and experts
- Photo and picture research, negotiating, buying and admin
- Managing and training assistant staff
- Arranging, preparing and managing studio photoshoots
- Preparing camera-ready books for production
- Organising and maintaining budget plans and records
|
| Technical |
- Desktop publishing and layout using Quark Xpress and Adobe InDesign
- Word-processing using Pages and Word
- Extensive web-based research, and web authoring using HTML and WordPress
- I work on a Macbook and iPad
|
| Other |
- Writing and delivering talks on being a writer, and on non-fiction subjects, for schools and festivals
- Logo, poster, flyer and CD cover design
- 3-month conservation work placement in Costa Rica in 2002 (conservation experience and extensive first-hand experience of tropical rainforest wildlife)
|
| Courses |
- 5-day Arvon course in Writing for Children at Totleigh Barton, Devon, August 2004.
- 2-day course in children’s publishing at Book House, Wandsworth, London, June 1995
- 3-day copy-editing and proofreading course at Book House, Wandsworth, London, May 1994
- 8-week (16-hour) typesetting and printing course at the Bodleian Library, Oxford, autumn 1991
|
Other Interests and Information
- I play trombone and have played in orchestras, brass bands folk, funk and soul bands
- Creative writing
- Crafts including sewing, quilting, appliqué, beading, designing clothes and furnishings
- Clean full driving license, car owner
- Non-smoker
- Some knowledge of Spanish, French, Icelandic, Italian and German
|
