Stuff I'll Do for Money

When I am in the United States, I'm available to write, edit, teach, and translate. My work as a tour guide pulls me away on a couple of one- to two-month trips each year. Whether I am here or there, I check my e-mail daily and do my best to respond quickly.

You can hire me for the following services:

For more information, please e-mail dave@davethefox.com.

Writing and Editing
Brilliant ideas lose their shimmer when they're expressed with dull or awkward writing. Words need to glow in order to make a point effectively. Whether you need tight, concise editing, playful humor, or a speech that will keep your audience awake and entertained, I can bring a solid voice to your writing and make it sparkle. You'll say more with fewer words and express yourself more powerfully.

My credentials include:

•  BA in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Graduated with distinction in 1991. Nominated for the university's Journalist of the Year Award.
• Currently the website editor for Rick Steves Europe. Contributed articles and research to the best-selling travel books, "Europe Through the Back Door," "Rick Steves' Best of Scandinavia," and "Mona Winks."
• Former entertainment reporter for the Wisconsin State Journal in Madison, Wisconsin.
• Former radio news reporter and/or anchor for WTDY NewsTalk 1480, WMGN Magic 98, WORT, and the Ideas Network of Wisconsin Public Radio (all based in Madison, Wisconsin).
• Former editor for NewsCurrents / Knowledge Unlimited in Madison, Wisconsin.
• Freelance writing published in Trips, Big World, Transitions Abroad, ABCNews.com, Rhythm, and in translation in the book "Minorias Etnicas" (published by Integrál Magazine in Barcelona).

In his book, "How to Write with the Skill of a Master and the Genius of a Child," Marshall Cook writes:

Breaking Through to Higher Levels
I've been working with an extraordinary student named Dave Fox for almost two years now. Our relationship began when Dave took my newswriting and reporting lab. He told me about a book he wanted to write, based on a journal he kept while traveling in Europe....

After a gap of several weeks, I found a tall stack of computer printout pages in my mailbox and settled down for more chapters in Dave's saga. I began turning the pages with rising excitement, scribbling comments like "Yes!" and "Wow!" in the margins. Dave's writing had always been good — insightful, caustic, wholly original. But this new stuff was intense, full of more emotion, more honest self-revelation than anything previous. I've never before been privileged to witness such a leap. A good writer had broken through to a higher level."

(© Writer's Digest Books, 1992, pp. 104-105.)


For samples of my writing, please take a look at Dave's Words.


Word Coaching
Writing is painful for a lot of people. But great writing has little to do with talent. It's a skill anyone can learn. I offer one-on-one coaching and critiquing. You'll write more effectively... and even enjoy it! Become a better self-editor, create crisp prose without a lot of flab, and breathe life into your ideas.


Classes and Lectures
I'm available to speak on a variety of topics related to writing and international travel. Drawing on my experience as an editor and international nomad, I teach skills classes and offer anecdotal talks and slide shows.

Here are a few of the classes I offer
•  Travel Safety in Our Changing World
• Scampering Through Scandinavia: A slideshow journey through Europe's Nordic countries
• European Travel Skills
• Pack and Prepare for a Month Abroad
• Absorb Languages Effortlessly While You Travel
• Writing the Inner Journey: Self-discovery through travel writing and journaling
• Write Tight! — Say more with fewer words.

You are also welcome to suggest other topics. For more information, please visit my Classes page.


Norwegian Translation
I'm a native English speaker who has studied linguistics at the University of Oslo. I offer written translation from Norwegian into English, and have translated documents that date as far back as the 1600s.

My previous clients have included:
•  Norsk Hydro
• Vesterheim Genealogical Society, North America's largest Norwegian genealogy organization
• The Washington Academy of Languages
For more information on any of these services, please e-mail dave@davethefox.com.
Dave's Words
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