Debra Estrella

Current

Editor and Owner at DEL Editorial Services

Past

Instructional Editor at Total Learning Concepts
Project Manager/Editorial Assistant at Total Learning Concepts
Public Relations Assistant at Meeting Street Center

Communications Intern at March of Dimes, Rhode Island Chapter

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1 more...

Education

Brown University Learning Community
Langevin Learning Services
Providence College

Continuing Education

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1 more...

Recommended

4 people have recommended Debra

Connections

92 connections

Industry

Writing and Editing

Websites

Debra Estrella’s Summary

Over the past 10 years, I have developed the keen eye and sound judgment that clients depend on for quality editorial support.

Please visit www.deledit.com to see what some satisfied customers say about my work.

Debra Estrella’s Specialties:

Media: Books, periodicals, workshops/presentations, Web/CD-ROM, video/audio scripts, assessments, marketing materials

Subjects: Addiction/recovery, cardiology, customer service, dermatology, endocrinology, ethics, gastroenterology, government healthcare, gynecology, hepatology, immunology, managed care, marketing, nephrology, neurology, oncology, orthopedics, pain management, pharmacology, professional development, psychiatry, psychology, self-help, selling, spirituality, urology

Debra Estrella’s Experience

Editor and Owner

DEL Editorial Services

(Publishing industry)

October 2002 — Present (7 years 2 months)

SERVICES
I help my clients produce consistent, high-quality materials that engage the audience and produce results. Whether your project needs a major revision or just a final proofread, DEL Editorial Services provides quality editorial support—on target, on time, and on budget.

+ Insightful instructional/developmental editing
+ Consistent and thorough copy editing/proofreading
+ Smart writing/revising
+ Meticulous fact checking/organized reference binder preparation

To learn more about these services, please visit www.deledit.com/services.

HIGHLIGHTS
Visit www.deledit.com/portfolio to view a sampler of projects I’ve worked on.
Instructional Editor

Total Learning Concepts

(Privately Held; Pharmaceuticals industry)

January 2002 — October 2002 (10 months)

ROLE
Managed the instructional/editorial development of training materials (textbooks, workshops, online courses) from initiation to delivery. Edited according to both AMA style and the Chicago Manual of Style and ensured that materials met company and client standards of organization, clarity, consistency, and application of adult learning principles.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Championed corporate initiative to move toward online learning: converted existing texts into online courses; developed program to train and coach writers and editors in new online format; designed checklists for editors to ensure that new online courses met corporate standards.
• Built a strong pool of freelance workshop writers—from 2 writers to 12—by establishing company writing standards and creating a process to screen and test candidates.
Project Manager/Editorial Assistant

Total Learning Concepts

(Privately Held; Pharmaceuticals industry)

January 2000 — December 2001 (2 years )

ROLE
Led internal and external project staff in developing training programs comprising multiple components (print texts, workshops, audiotapes). Supported project teams where needed (copy editing and proofreading, instructional editing, formatting documents, fact checking, obtaining permissions, and entering edits to manuscripts).

HIGHLIGHTS
• Advised on upgrade of freelance database, making it a more efficient tool for identifying the right talent for a project; determined how to identify and grade high-caliber freelancers and organize and update their information.
• Coordinated initiative to update product-development checklists for increased productivity, efficiency, and product quality; facilitated discussions on best practices and made recommendations for increasing efficiency of processes; conducted test groups and delegated assignments for updating procedure manual.
• Developed and conducted training sessions for new hires on corporate style and procedure manual.
Public Relations Assistant

Meeting Street Center

(Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

January 1999 — November 1999 (11 months)

ROLE
Assisted in fundraising and promoting public awareness of the agency’s work with children with physical disabilities. Wrote press releases, script for annual meeting, and articles for annual report; compiled press kits. Researched foundations and assisted in writing grant proposals.

HIGHLIGHT
• Designed and managed creation of new newsletter: led a committee to determine layout style and article focus; wrote and edited articles; desktop-published each issue; coordinated printing and distribution with outside vendor.
Communications Intern

March of Dimes, Rhode Island Chapter

(Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

May 1998 — September 1998 (5 months)

ROLE
Assisted in fundraising and promoting public awareness of the agency’s work for healthier babies. Wrote newsletter articles, press releases, and brochures for fundraising events.

Debra Estrella’s Education

Brown University Learning Community

Certificate , 2003 — 2003

Activities and Societies:

Completed courses in Curriculum Design, Development, and Delivery; Learning Technologies; and Assessing Training Effectiveness
Langevin Learning Services

Certificate , Instructional Design for New Designers , 2001 — 2001
Providence College

BA , English , 1995 — 1999

As a writing tutor at the PC Tutorial Center, I coached fellow students of all abilities in literature analysis, grammar, and composition. I facilitated the creation and organization of the Providence College Writing Center by networking with other college writing labs and training new tutors.

As editor of The Alembic, PC’s international literary journal, I directed class discussion in selecting work worthy of publication, corresponded with contributors, assisted in desktop publishing and coordinated with an outside printer, and organized a poetry reading to advertise the 1999 issue and increase distribution.

Activities and Societies:

Liberal Arts Honors Program, GPA 3.7/Dean’s List, The Alembic, The Cowl, Writing Tutor, Pep Band, Concert Band
Continuing Education

I’m committed to honing my skills and learning new things. I participate on many professional message boards, read industry publications, take courses in new and advanced subjects, attend Webinars, and even periodically review my style guides and take refresher courses in editing to keep my skills fresh and my knowledge up to date. In my opinion, the day I think I know everything there is to know about editing is the day I put the cap back on my red pen and call it a day.

Additional Information

Debra Estrella’s Websites:

Debra Estrella’s Interests:

Reading, writing, quilting, photography, cooking, kayaking, white water rafting

Debra Estrella’s Groups:

American Medical Writers Association, American Society for Training and Development—Bay Colonies Chapter, Copyediting-L, Editorial Freelancers Association