Melanie Spiller and Coloratura Consulting

Copyright 2020 Melanie Spiller. All rights reserved.

Resume for Melanie Spiller

Melanie Spiller and Coloratura Consulting

Professional Highlights: Freelance Editor/Writer: Specializes in technical writing, especially working with those who do not already write well. Writes several blogs about music theory, music history, vegan recipes for one person, and the writing/revising/getting published process. Writes historical fiction with a focus on medieval musicians. Writes non-fiction about music history (“Musical Innovators” came out in 2020). Edits technology, marketing materials, and fiction. Previous Employment Highlights: As a self-employed/freelance editor and writer, wrote, edited, proofread, and desktop-published technical articles and test questions on Microsoft products, wrote and edited articles for Anaplan, CODE Magazine, and Conscious Dancer, edited websites, articles, and brochures for Feldenkrais® technique, singing and performance technique, education, retail advertising copy, historical references, resumes and theatrical biographies, performance programs, fiction, and poetry. Began writing a guide for high-tech authors based on my blog (now defunct but that morphed into the Writing Workbook at Microsoft). Clients as diverse as software developers and historical fiction. As a Content PM at Microsoft, looked into new ways of producing content by looking at community, delivery processes, prioritizing which documents to produce, and creating new teams across feature sets. Specialized in terminology and localization issues. As a Technical Editor, worked with neophyte, struggling, and non-native English- speaking writers to hone skills. Wrote “Writing Workbook” and led workshops about the craft of writing. · As Documentation Manager at myCFO, hired and managed three technical writers and editors, wrote and edited user documentation, marketing materials, online content, and client communications, managed third-party content authors (seven vendor writers). Worked with engineering, design, marketing, senior management, client acquisitions, product marketing, usability staff, Web development, and financial experts to build content. Responsible for corporate voice. · Acquired and developmentally edited at Sybex Computer Books for databases, ERP, CAD, presentation, drawing, and music notation software books. Responsible for finding authors, guiding organization, focus, and structure of new books, training new authors, and helping existing authors improve their books thorough analysis of their work, competitive works, and the existing market for both software and books. Frequent ghost writing for authors on database topics and CAD products. Provided support for book projects through editorial and production process, including CD creation and new series designs. Over 200 books in print. · Edited lab reports and articles published in twelve Ziff-Davis computer magazines. Also at Ziff-Davis, created and maintained personnel database for the Lab division, created and maintained technical and software libraries and their associated databases. Freelance substantive editing for PC Week (a Ziff publication) with an emphasis on networking products. · Wrote text for and instructed a Business Communication course at the community college level. · Literacy tutor at minimal security youth prison, maximum security adult prison, and private tutoring, including at a drug rehabilitation center in Berkeley, California. · Over eight years of increasingly responsible experience in materials management and the documentation of policies, procedures, and training with four major high-tech manufacturing organizations. Professional Summary: · July 2011-present Freelance Editor/Writer: various employers, including vendors for Microsoft, Anaplan, A23 Consulting, CODE Magazine, fiction writers, poets, and programs for musical performances. Maintain a blog and website about writing (fiction, music history, and music theory). Maintain and write a recipe blog. · June 2006–July 2011 Microsoft: Content PM: Researched Content Model, SEO, alternative page designs, community contributions, and channels for content types. Primary Localization contact and Terminology expert for SQL Server UE, including Windows Azure and SQL Azure. Technical Editor II: Edited SQL Azure, Entity Data Model, Entity Framework, PHP, JDBC, SQL Compact, Velocity, SQL Server BOL, Oracle, ADO.NET, WCF Data Services, and SNAC. Wrote “Writing Workbook” to improve tech writing skills of the team. Specialized in editing neophyte, troubled, or non-native English-speaker writers. · May 2001–June 2006: Freelance Editor/Writer: Clients include Office Zealot, MCW Tech, Informant, Inc., CODE Magazine, BrainCore, A23 Consulting, Electric Head, GISTICS, Tribal Brands, Village Heartbeat, Macy’s West (Federated), and individual (non-corporate) writers. Created a blog about writing for technical people and established a website containing those blogs and other helpful items. · April 2000–May 2001: myCFO, Inc.: Documentation Manager, Corporate Editor · February 1995–March 2000: Sybex, Inc.: Acquisitions and Developmental Editor · March 1992–February 1995: Ziff-Davis Labs: Copy Editor/Librarian, Freelance Editor · June 1991–August 1991: Masters Institute: Business Communications Teacher · September 1989–June 1991: Sacramento Neighborhood Study Center: Literacy Tutor in prisons and privately · Summer Jobs 1987–1991: Olsten Temps: Personnel Clerk, Purchasing Agent, Administrative Assistant TechAid Temps: Master Scheduler, Senior Planner, Expediter · March 1979–May 1987: Applied Materials, Inc.: Planner II, Planner I, Expediter, Departmental Assistant · June 1978–March 1979: Roberta's Temps: Document Control (assigned to Applied Materials), Stock Clerk Education : B.A. in English, California State University at Sacramento, 1991 Copyediting Courses at U.C. Berkeley Extension, 1993 Technical Writing Course at U.C. Berkeley Extension, 1993 CBEST-Qualified to Teach Music, English, and History in California and Oregon, 2003 Awards : Golden Key National Honor Society Sigma Tau Delta (an International English Literature Honor Society), Lambda Omega Chapter Dean's List consecutive terms 1987–1991 APICS certified in MRP and Production Planning
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