Gary Ferguson – A writer who also proofreads for international students whose first language isn’t English

A Foundation Built on Precision

For more than twelve years, I worked as a professional proofreader, helping writers, academics, and businesses refine their English with clarity, confidence, and respect for their individual voice.
That work shaped my understanding of language — not just how sentences function, but how they feel when they’re read.

Though my career is now centred on fiction, proofreading remains an important part of my professional background and continues to inform the way I write.

My Experience

Over the past decade, I have provided proofreading and light editing for:

international students writing academic assignments
second-language English speakers preparing reports and essays
small businesses producing print and digital material
independent authors polishing short stories and manuscripts
organisations seeking clean, professional communication

This experience has given me a deep appreciation for clarity, rhythm, and the subtle decisions that make a sentence effective.

How Proofreading Supports My Writing

Even though I no longer work as a full-time proofreader, the habits and discipline of that profession are woven into my fiction:

clean, concise prose
attention to emotional tone
consistent voice control
respect for pacing and structure
an instinct for readability and flow

These skills shape the elegant, atmospheric style of my short stories and remain an essential part of my creative process.

What I Offer Now (Quietly and Selectively)

Writing is my main focus, but I still take on limited editorial work for international students and English-as-a-second-language writers who want supportive, reliable proofreading.

I specialise in:

light proofreading
clarity editing
sentence refinement
natural English phrasing

I do not offer heavy rewriting, academic ghostwriting, or content creation — my approach is respectful, light, and focused on helping your own voice shine more clearly.

A Supportive Approach for ESL Writers

Working with second-language writers has always been one of the most rewarding parts of my editorial career.
I understand:

common language challenges
how to smooth grammar without altering meaning
when to adjust tone
and how to ensure the writing remains authentic to the student’s intent

My goal is not to change your message — but to help you express it more naturally.

Availability

Because writing occupies most of my time, proofreading is offered:

by enquiry only
for short or medium-length documents
with a focus on clarity and polish rather than deep editing

If you’d like to check availability or discuss a document, you’re welcome to get in touch.

[Contact Me]

A Quiet Continuation of a Long Career

Proofreading was the first chapter of my professional life, and writing is the next — but both share a common goal: to use language with care, clarity, and purpose.

This page exists as a nod to the craft that shaped me, and as a resource for those who may still need a careful, patient editorial eye.

Customer Feedback (Proofreading)

I used Grammarly, and also my supervisors gave feedback on my writing, but still, there were so many repetitive mistakes

Hi Gary

I would like to thank you again for your wonderful support in proofreading my Master's thesis. I did the writing workshops that are offered by the University and, of course, I used Grammarly, and also my supervisors gave feedback on my writing, but still, there were so many repetitive mistakes remaining. Thank you so much for identifying them and helping me recognise and learn where I still get it wrong.

And also, thank you for taking the time to help me with this so fast and fitting my time schedule. It felt good to submit my thesis to such a high professional standard.

My supervisors told me that my thesis was very good and that I am generating new knowledge. This means that we will be publishing one or even several papers in peer-reviewed journals after the thesis was graded later. This is very exciting for me.

I hope you might be available to help me with the proofreading of the article(s) later this year as well? That would be fantastic.

Of course, I recommend your services to my colleagues too.

Again, thank you! And thank you for always being so reliable, prompt, and willing to help even when there was little time and a pressing deadline.

Warmest regards

Christine Becker

ces.becker@gmail.com

16 May 2023

Gary helped me in polishing my thesis

I am pursuing a Master of Architecture (Professional) degree at the Unitec Institute of Technology. When I prepared my research document, I sought assistance from Gary Ferguson to proofread my thesis. As an international student from China, English is my second language, and I was worried about whether the readers could understand my ideas. Gary helped me in polishing my thesis. I feel more confident with my thesis because of his service. He corrected my grammar and spelling mistakes. Gary rephrased my weird sentences without altering their meanings. My thesis became fluent after his proofreading. Also, Gary responded very promptly. This is very helpful for me to manage my thesis submission on time. I highly appreciate him, and I sincerely recommend his proofreading service.

Kind regards,

Yinsu Li

yinsuli0905@gmail.com

15 May 2023

Your contribution was significant,

Hi Gary,

My deepest gratitude for the incredible job you've done proofreading my thesis. Your attention to detail for ensuring that every word is accurate and concise has been truly remarkable. I appreciate the time and effort you have put into proofreading every chapter, and the quality of your work has met my expectation.

Your contribution was significant, and I am truly grateful.

All the best.

Cheers,

Novy

novynra.mokobombang@aut.ac.nz 15/5/2023

14 May 2023

Read my testimonials page to check further on my credibility.

These are my currently published books available on Amazon as Ebooks and paperbacks. Go to amazon.com and type my name in the search bar or go to the Amazon Author Page. New Zealanders should order from amazon.com.au to get best shipping rates.

Some of these titles are also listed for sale on TradeMe in New Zealand.

Go to the BOOKS page for a full synopsis of each book.

Stories for Naughty Ladies: Tempting Tales of Tension and Tease

Soft Fire: 4 Elegant Tales of Desire

90-Mile Beach Nostalgia: How the Sands Fought Back

A Whisper in the Shadows: They Met at Twelve, then at Seventy...

Aftermath of War: A Quiet Reckoning in 1950's Auckland

Aotearoa Invaded: A Family's Reckoning with New Zealand's Colonial Past

Farewell Oriana: In the Wake of Loss

Just Another Day at the Coalface: Quiet Tensions in Domestic spaces

Naked in the Light: A Meditation on Being Seen

Risqué: 5 Erotic Escapes

She Kept My Card!: A Novella of the Endurance of Memory

The Party: A Night of Unveiling

The Quiet Tenant: A Novel of Secrets, Silence, and the Rooms We Inherit

The Weight of Silence

What the Tides Remember: A New Zealand Coming-of-age; the '50s to the '70s (The Stories That Shape Us Never Wash Away)

What the Tides Remember: A New Zealand Coming-of-age; the '50s to the '70s