About & Services

Who is this chick?
MediaChick is Melissa Brandzel, freelance editor and writer. 

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What does this chick edit and write?
You name it, she’s done it: books, magazines, web content, newsletters, ghostwriting, book jacket copy, catalogs, book proposals, recipes, biographies, synopses, film scripts, advertisements and more. 


Any printed words are fair game. 

She’ll edit scribbles on a napkin if that’s all you have. 

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What is this chick’s professional background?
Melissa worked in advertising and entertainment marketing before bringing 

her creative talents to the publishing world. While she was working for a 

large publishing company, word of her crackerjack editing and writing skills 

hit the street, and freelance projects soon began landing on her doorstep. 

The business quickly expanded and MediaChick was hatched. 

Melissa is a longtime member of the Editorial Freelancers Association. 

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What is this chick’s educational background?
Melissa has a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of California, Berkeley, where she attended on an academic scholarship and graduated Phi Beta Kappa; she also has a master’s degree from
Northwestern University. 

Both have notoriously lousy football teams. 

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Which software programs and style guides does this chick use?
Melissa has a Mac and a PC loaded with Word, InDesign, Photoshop and more. 

You can send her files via email, FTP, FedEx, U.S. Mail, carrier pigeon or Frisbee. 

She’s well versed in the two style bibles of the publishing industry—The Chicago Manual of Style and the Associated Press Stylebook—but will also make a style 

sheet that is specific to your project. 

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What drove this chick to become a wordsmith?

Melissa was inspired by Cookie Monster, whose less-than-stellar 

grammar (“Me want cookie!”) drove her to preserve the sanctity 

of the English language, one word at a time. 

He also made her want cookies.

MediaChick offers the following services:
editing
developmental editing
substantive editing/line editing/content editing
managing editor
copy editing
proofreading
writing

ghostwriting

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Not sure which level of editing you need? No problem!
Contact MediaChick and we’ll help you determine what’s right for you.

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Fees
Pricing is generally an hourly rate, but a flat fee can sometimes be arranged.
The rate depends on the level of editing requested.
No project is too large or too small. There’s no minimum.

Contact MediaChick for an estimate and a free sample edit.
You’ll be happy you did.

  “Have I mentioned lately how much I love working with you? We are so lucky to have access to your eagle eyes, Melissa! Thanks so much for doing all these—the navigational logic is working so much better now and your trims are perfect! I can’t express how much I miss you on the other projects I work on. More than ever this year, I am thankful for you! You are quite simply THE best.” —Los Angeles magazine, Custom Publications

“Thanks so much for your work on this issue—excellent as always. You made a lot of really important catches! So grateful you caught the title mistake! You get a gold star. :)” —Ms. magazine

“You’re a rockstar, Melissa. You make me sound like I know what I’m talking about!” —J.C., book author, entrepreneur, business owner, producer
 

“Hero! You made lots and lots of helpful correx and suggestions! I went with all of your structural changes. Thanks for taking the extra time with it. You are worth your weight in gold!!” —Entrepreneur magazine

“This looks awesome. Great job, everything looks clean and consistent and you are so good at preserving the voice while making it more polished, but not too polished.... I appreciate you so much. And you moved copy around that I was battling with myself where to put so, great minds....” —P.M., book author, magazine editor-in-chief

“Super woman! Thank you SOOOO MUCH for your superb work all the way through. I truly appreciate your time including late nights, devotion and attention to detail. You’ve absolutely saved my life! It’s hard to find a real pro like you these days. :)” —District 8 Media

“Thank you, Melissa! You totally rocked it! I’m very happy!” —E.B., photographer, director
 

“Above and beyond! We really appreciate your excellent work and eagle eye. Thank you for being such an integral part of our team. Seriously, we couldn’t do it without you. You’re so awesome all the time.” —Los Angeles magazine, Custom Publications

“Amazing! You’re a star. I think you did a great job on this! Thank you so much. I look forward to working with you again.” —Quarto Books

“You’ve made some stunning catches! Thanks so much, Melissa. I can’t begin to tell you how helpful you were, and what peace of mind you’ve given me.” —Los Angeles magazine

“Thanks, Melissa. The book looks great!” —Mentoris Project
 

“THANK YOU so much for everything. You are amazing. So appreciate you. You are just so darn valuable to us now!” —Exploring Your Potential

“You are so good! Thank you!” —American Road magazine

“You’ve been doing such a wonderful job, thank you!” —LivingHealthy

“Amazing, Melissa! I will keep recommending you to others.” —Hush magazine

“Where would we be without you? And I really do mean it!” —Scrubs magazine

“Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you.” —John Baker Studios
 

“I just have to say that doing the changes you give me is a pleasure. You are such a pro, your directions are so clear and precise. I work with other editors who don’t know how to articulate clearly, keep me guessing and drive me crazy. Thank you a million!” —L.L., magazine art director

“You are the best! Thank you!” —Redbird

“Thanks so much, Melissa! You did a great job.” —Avalon Travel Publishing

“Thanks, Melissa, for all your help on this project—am still amazed you worked the Easter weekend! Take care and hopefully our paths will cross again in the future!” —A.R., cookbook author

“I’ve been flowing the text into page layouts since yesterday and it looks to be in very good shape, so thanks for all your work on it. I hope we’ll be able to work together again in the not-too-distant future.” —Quintet Publishing
 

“I’m really glad you were able and willing to work on this. It was SO helpful.” —VIV magazine

 “I think you did a great job here. I especially appreciate your judgment on the British ingredients and the reworking of chapter one—all good decisions, and I agree with you. Would you like another project?” —Callisto Media