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Erin Brenner shared thisI think prompt literacy is important, but first you must have judgment literacy. Critical thinking before using AI is just as important as it is while using it.Erin Brenner shared thisAI literacy is not prompt literacy. It's *judgment literacy*. One thing we don't talk about enough: Education around AI can't just mean teaching people HOW to use it. It has to mean teaching people when NOT to use it. And WHY. (Shouty-caps for emphasis.) That distinction matters not just for people like us—marketers and creators. But for educators, managers, parents, leaders... anyone shaping how other people think, work, learn, decide, and create. To me the real skill worth honing isn't prompt fluency or knowing how to boss around an AI agent. The real skill is judgment. Knowing when AI helps. Knowing when it shortcuts the very struggle that teaches us something. Knowing when speed is useful... and when it actually erodes agency, creativity, trust, understanding. It's doing things the long, hard, human-fumbling-in-the-dark way when there's value in that hard way. It's choosing the long road in a shortcut world when the process of the work is the joy of the work. So why do we keep teaching people how to use AI—without ever teaching them when not to? P.S. Em dashes ALL MINE MINE MINE.
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Erin Brenner shared thisSummer is coming—and so are the deadlines that don't take vacations. If your team is about to lose capacity to PTO, conferences, or summer Fridays, Right Touch Editing can step in. Our team handles reports, white papers, web copy, grant materials, and other business content so your publishing schedule stays on track. We integrate into your existing workflow, match your style, and deliver on deadline. No onboarding headaches. Let's talk before the summer rush: https://zurl.co/6e0ie #EditingServices #BusinessWriting #ContentStrategy
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Erin Brenner shared this"Using AI doesn’t make you less of an editor. It forces you to be more intentional about what editing actually is,” says guest blogger Bill Brenner (yeah, we've got a family thing going on with the blog). AI is changing editing workflows, but Bill argues that the profession’s real value hasn’t disappeared. In this special guest post, he explores why adaptation matters more than avoidance. #AI #business #AmEditing https://zurl.co/0V2FS
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Erin Brenner shared thisMy son Sean and I are joining Seek the Peak this July, a fundraising hike supporting the Mount Washington Observatory. Why the Observatory? They've maintained one of North America's longest continuous climate records—uninterrupted, summit-based, since 1932. That dataset feeds forecasting models, climate research, and educational outreach. It also keeps the free daily higher-summits forecast running, which is the difference between a good day and a rescue call for a lot of people in the Whites. It's a nonprofit. They run on donor support and events like Seek the Peak. If the work resonates, please donate today: https://zurl.co/qiMOa #SeekThePeak #MtWashingtonObservatory
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Erin Brenner shared thisHere's a quick tip for writers and editors wrestling with jargon in a draft. Before you cut a technical term, ask two questions: 1. Will my reader understand this term without explanation? 2. Does the term compress a complex idea more efficiently than a plain-language alternative? If both answers are yes, keep it. If either answer is no, you have options: Swap it for something more accessible, define it on first use, or add a brief gloss. The goal isn't eliminating jargon; it's making sure every word serves the reader. #WritingTips #BusinessWriting #AmEditing
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Erin Brenner shared thisHeading to the Editors Canada conference in Halifax? Come to our panel on May 23! Working Globally: What Every Editor Needs to Know About International Clients covers the practical side of working across borders: time zones, currencies, payment systems, contracts, and cultural expectations. I'll be on the panel with Aalap Trivedi and Janet MacMillan, and we're sharing what we wish we'd known before our first international projects. Session details: https://zurl.co/9xiIN #EditorsCanada #Editorscon26 #FreelanceEditing
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Erin Brenner shared thisIn a previous blog post I wrote about those days when your tasks manage you instead of the other way around. So what can you actually do about it? Not time management, because you can't manage time. Instead we need to look at task management, which comes down to a few key habits: tracking your projects, grouping similar work together, limiting interruptions, and being realistic about what fits in a day. One tip I keep coming back to: make your daily to-do list the night before. It saves your pre-caffeine brain from having to figure out what matters. https://zurl.co/RnZe8 #FreelanceEditing #WorkLifeBalance #AmEditing
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Erin Brenner shared thisMeet the Draft Catchers—our two-person Seek the Peak team for 2026: me and my son Sean. The name is what you'd expect from a writer-and-editor team. Drafts get caught before they go anywhere. (On the mountain, the drafts come off the summit. Same job, different scale.) We're hiking this July to support Mount Washington Observatory. Editors, writers, hiking friends—we'd love your support: https://zurl.co/YtXYH #SeekThePeak #MtWashingtonObservatory #AmEditing
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Erin Brenner shared thisEditing is meant to be invisible. If your document reads better but you're not sure what your editor did, they did their job well. #AmEditingErin Brenner shared thisSometimes the best editing work happens beneath the surface.
Experience & Education
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Right Touch Editing
View Erin’s full experience
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Licenses & Certifications
Volunteer Experience
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Member, Learning and Professional Development Committee
Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP)
- Present 3 years 1 month
Education
The Learning and Professional Development Committee's goal is to review and advise the training director on CIEP's training program
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Volunteer
Society of St. Vincent de Paul Boston
- Present 2 years 1 month
Poverty Alleviation
St. Vincent de Paul's mission is to help neighbors who are struggling financially. We fill gaps to help people stabilize their lives. As a volunteer, I go on home visits to help identify how we can help. I also help out with collection drives and other tasks that keep our conference running.
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Trail Steward
City of Haverhill
- Present 1 year 2 months
Environment
As a Haverhill Trail Steward, I actively walk the Crystal Shores Trail, sending observation reports, tidying up the trails as needed, and identifying needs for a larger group effort. This has been a great way to ensure I get out into the woods more often, help keep our trails tidy, and bond with my son, who stewards with me.
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Court of Honor Chair, committee member
Boy Scout Troop 24, Spirit of Adventure Council
- 6 years 6 months
Children
As the troop's Court of Honor chair, I organized our court of honor events, including Eagle court of events. I also served on the troop's committee.
I am also the Reading Merit Badge and Communications Merit Badge counselor for the troop. -
Writer, Disciples in Mission
Sacred Hearts Parish, Bradford, MA
- 2 years 9 months
Social Services
I was part of our parish's plan-writing team for the Archdiocese of Boston's Disciples in Mission program. Together, we wrote the plan for re-engaging Catholics in our area.
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VP of Communications
American Marketing Association, Boston
- 9 months
Education
As VP of Communications for AMA Boston, I built and led the team that creates all of the chapter's email campaigns, flyers, and other communication materials. AMA Boston's mission is to "build a community of marketers to share experiences, learn about the latest marketing trends, and connect with other marketers. AMA Boston empowers its members with the knowledge and resources they need to be leaders in their careers and organizations."
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Leader/Knitter
Charity Knitting Group
- 3 years 9 months
Social Services
I love to knit, but my family and friends need only so many knitted things. And after the record-breaking winter of 2014-2015, I wanted to help people weather the next winter better.
So I founded a knitting circle devoted to charity projects. Our first summer, we knit hats, scarves, and mittens for All Saints Parish's St. Vincent de Paul group. In addition to our own efforts, we had donations from several parishioners and ended up with bags full of warm accessories!
Our new…I love to knit, but my family and friends need only so many knitted things. And after the record-breaking winter of 2014-2015, I wanted to help people weather the next winter better.
So I founded a knitting circle devoted to charity projects. Our first summer, we knit hats, scarves, and mittens for All Saints Parish's St. Vincent de Paul group. In addition to our own efforts, we had donations from several parishioners and ended up with bags full of warm accessories!
Our new project is blankets for Beacon Hospice. Each patient receives a hand-knit or -crocheted blanket upon arrival, and families often keep the blankets afterward to remember their loved one.
Want to join or help? Contact me: erin.brenner@gmail.com. -
Treasurer
Boy Scouts of America Troop 27
- 1 year 7 months
Children
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Member of PR Committee
St. Joseph School of All Saints Parish
- 1 year 11 months
Education
The PR committee was tasked with getting the word out about St. Joseph School to the larger community to increase enrollment and donations. I wrote, edited, planned, and participated in events.
Publications
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The Chicago Guide for Freelance Editors: How to Take Care of Your Business, Your Clients, and Yourself from Start-Up to Sustainability
University of Chicago Press
See publicationThe definitive guide to starting and running a freelance editing business.
You’ve been thinking about shifting into the world of freelance editing, but you don’t know where to start. In a time when editors are seeking greater flexibility in their work arrangements and schedules, freelancing is an increasingly common career option. But deciding to go it alone means balancing the risks with the rewards. From the publisher of The Chicago Manual of Style comes The Chicago Guide for Freelance…The definitive guide to starting and running a freelance editing business.
You’ve been thinking about shifting into the world of freelance editing, but you don’t know where to start. In a time when editors are seeking greater flexibility in their work arrangements and schedules, freelancing is an increasingly common career option. But deciding to go it alone means balancing the risks with the rewards. From the publisher of The Chicago Manual of Style comes The Chicago Guide for Freelance Editors, the definitive guide to running your business and finding greater control and freedom in your work life.
In this book, Erin Brenner—an industry leader and expert on the business of editorial freelancing—gathers everything you need to know into a single resource. Brenner has run her own successful editing business for over two decades and has helped hundreds of editors launch or improve their businesses through her teaching, blog writing, and coaching.
The Chicago Guide for Freelance Editors will walk you through the entire process of conceiving, launching, and working in a freelance editing business, from deciding on services and rates to choosing the best business structure to thinking through branding and marketing strategies and beyond. This book is ideal for beginning freelancers looking to get set up and land their first clients, but it’s equally valuable to those who have already been freelancing, with detailed coverage of such issues as handling difficult clients and continuing professional development. You’ll find a collection of advice from other successful freelance editors in this guide, as well as an extensive list of resources and tools. In the final and perhaps most important chapter, Brenner teaches you how to care for the key component of the business: yourself. -
Marketing Yourself: Strategies to Promote Your Editorial Business
Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP)
See publicationREVISED FOURTH EDITION (2023). If you're a self-employed editorial professional then you have to care about marketing if you want your business to thrive (or even just survive). This guide will help you to create a marketing plan that's tailored to your unique goals and circumstances. It covers:
why marketing is important, even if you currently have enough clients
how to identify and target your ideal clients
what marketing methods to use, including websites, directories, social…REVISED FOURTH EDITION (2023). If you're a self-employed editorial professional then you have to care about marketing if you want your business to thrive (or even just survive). This guide will help you to create a marketing plan that's tailored to your unique goals and circumstances. It covers:
why marketing is important, even if you currently have enough clients
how to identify and target your ideal clients
what marketing methods to use, including websites, directories, social media, cold calling and more.
This guide includes valuable advice for those who are just starting out as well as for those who are more experienced. It will inspire and encourage you to get out there and promote yourself and your editorial business. -
1001 Words for Success - Synonyms, Antonyms & Homonyms
Quickstudy Reference Guide
See publicationThis best-of, quick reference thesaurus will ensure you find the perfect word faster than an internet search or 300 page book. In 6 laminated pages, these powerful words can raise everything from test scores to social status. Essays and speeches with a broad yet expertly honed vocabulary have elevated people to the highest forms of leadership. Those leaders say the use of the right word at the right instant is crucial. In school, with the right vocabulary in your toolbox, the better grades you…
This best-of, quick reference thesaurus will ensure you find the perfect word faster than an internet search or 300 page book. In 6 laminated pages, these powerful words can raise everything from test scores to social status. Essays and speeches with a broad yet expertly honed vocabulary have elevated people to the highest forms of leadership. Those leaders say the use of the right word at the right instant is crucial. In school, with the right vocabulary in your toolbox, the better grades you will build. In business, communication skills can make or break a career. Have the best selection handy for reference while writing, memorizing or preparing a speech.
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Copyediting's Grammar Tune-Up Workbook
Editors' Editions
See publicationSuccessful editors keep their skills in peak condition. Regular reading, training, and practicing are keys to good editing muscle tone. Copyediting's Grammar Tune-Up Workbook will help you get into top shape. Click to buy it now!
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1,001 Words for Success Quick Study Guide
BarCharts
See publication"Improve [your vocabulary] and pick up a few neologisms along the way with 1,001 Words for Success, a myriad list of frequently looked-up words in BarCharts’ handy three-panel format! 1,001 terms and their most common definitions, along with their part of speech, will enhance your writing, speaking, correspondence, reading comprehension, and presentations, whatever your bailiwick might be!"
--Barcharts
Projects
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SAP Inights
- Present
Formerly the "Digitalist Magazine Executive Quarterly," SAP's Insights is executives' trusted source for the latest trends, best practices, research, and insights about the innovation and technology forces shaping the future of business.
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Copyediting Blog
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The Copyediting Blog covers editing-related news, entertainment, how-tos, and much more. Be sure to check our page often, or subscribe to our RSS feed: http://copyediting.com/blog/feed.
Other creators -
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Copyediting Newsletter
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Our bimonthly newsletter is packed with information and entertainment for copyeditors. In each issue we discuss language and copyediting, review new resources, talking with interesting people, and more. Plus membership gives you access to our entire 25-plus year archive!
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Honors & Awards
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Robinson Prize
ACES: The Society for Editing
Erin Brenner is "a superior editor who has generously devoted much of [her] time and attention to furthering the craft of editing and community building among editors," said Board Member Dilane Mitchell during the award presentation.
The Robinson Prize is one of ACES's highest honors, awarded annually to an editor who is "skilled in conflict resolution, show[s] excellent judgment, demonstrate[s] initiative, and [is] able to find creative solutions to help their publications succeed in…Erin Brenner is "a superior editor who has generously devoted much of [her] time and attention to furthering the craft of editing and community building among editors," said Board Member Dilane Mitchell during the award presentation.
The Robinson Prize is one of ACES's highest honors, awarded annually to an editor who is "skilled in conflict resolution, show[s] excellent judgment, demonstrate[s] initiative, and [is] able to find creative solutions to help their publications succeed in this era filled with increased competition." -
Gold Award for Writing in the Collateral Category
New England Direct Marketing Association
Representing Copyediting, Right Tough Editing won NEDMA’s 2018 Gold Award in the Collateral category for work on the Organization Subscription Package.
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Bronze Award for Writing in the Collateral Category
New England Direct Marketing Association
"Revealed: The Insider's Guide to SAP's Employment Brand," written for SAP , won the Bronze Award for writing in the Collateral category.
Organizations
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Appalachian Mountain Club
Member
- PresentThe mission of the Appalachian Mountain Club is to foster the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the outdoors.
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Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading
Advanced Professional Member
- Present2023–present: Member, Learning and Professional Development Committee 2024: Co-Author, CIEP Guide "Marketing Yourself: Strategies to promote your editorial business" The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) is a non-profit body promoting excellence in English language editing. We set and demonstrate editorial standards, and we are a community, training hub and support network for editorial professionals – the people who work to make text accurate, clear and fit for purpose.
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ACES: The Society for Editing
Full Member
- PresentACES: The Society for Editing is the nation’s leading organization of editing professionals, educators, and students. We are dedicated to improving the quality of the written word and the working lives of editors. We set standards of excellence and give a voice to editors in journalism, government, business, and beyond through top-notch training, networking, and career opportunities.
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Alliance of Independent Authors
Partner Member
-The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) is a non-profit professional association for authors who self-publish. Our mission is ethics and excellence in self-publishing.
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American Marketing Association
VP of Communications, Boston Chapter
-The American Marketing Association strives to be the most relevant force and voice shaping marketing around the world, an essential community for marketers.
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