About Riva Reading
Riva Reading is a Midwest-based, freelance proofreading/light copyediting service, owned and operated by Stephanie L. Riva, CFA.
Background
I took a circuitous route to a proofreading/copyediting career, starting my full-time, corporate career in accounting and finance in 1980. I steadily worked my way up through the ranks of different companies over the next 27 years, earning the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2001. The last 25 of my corporate years were devoted to the commercial real estate finance field, and culminated in a Managing Director position at a major, Midwest-based investment firm. Whereas I was very successful in my chosen field, my line of work eventually stopped fulfilling me. I resigned from my position in order to conduct a full-time exploration of career options that better suited my personality, interests and professional skills, and through that process determined freelance proofreading and copyediting to be a perfect career fit.
I’ve been proofreading and copyediting my entire life without recognizing it as work, mainly because it combines all of the activities I find most enjoyable, particularly reading. I am a devoted, voracious reader with a wide range of interests. As I read, I always circle and correct any grammar errors and typos I discover, whether they’re in a novel, reference book or restaurant menu. I note story inconsistencies, and continually flag unfamiliar facts and topics for later, follow-up research. My written communication skills and attention to detail have been identified and sought after in every corporate and volunteer position I’ve held. I have been, and am, regularly requested by individuals at every level across an organization, from the most senior executives to line staff, to employ my writing-related skills to specific assignments, both ad hoc and ongoing. Given that background, a proofreading/copyediting career isn’t a leap to the unknown for me; it’s a natural progression of what I have been doing.
In preparation for my new career, I refreshed my knowledge of grammar, punctuation and capitalization rules, learned the standard proofreading/copyediting symbols, studied The Chicago Manual of Style and honed my electronic editing skills. I’m very excited about my new career, and will continue to build my knowledge of various styles.
Please visit this site's remaining pages for an overview of my professional and technical experience that is directly related to proofreading and copyediting, the standard services offered through Riva Reading, and information on how to contact me.
Stephanie L. Riva, CFA
Background
I took a circuitous route to a proofreading/copyediting career, starting my full-time, corporate career in accounting and finance in 1980. I steadily worked my way up through the ranks of different companies over the next 27 years, earning the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2001. The last 25 of my corporate years were devoted to the commercial real estate finance field, and culminated in a Managing Director position at a major, Midwest-based investment firm. Whereas I was very successful in my chosen field, my line of work eventually stopped fulfilling me. I resigned from my position in order to conduct a full-time exploration of career options that better suited my personality, interests and professional skills, and through that process determined freelance proofreading and copyediting to be a perfect career fit.
I’ve been proofreading and copyediting my entire life without recognizing it as work, mainly because it combines all of the activities I find most enjoyable, particularly reading. I am a devoted, voracious reader with a wide range of interests. As I read, I always circle and correct any grammar errors and typos I discover, whether they’re in a novel, reference book or restaurant menu. I note story inconsistencies, and continually flag unfamiliar facts and topics for later, follow-up research. My written communication skills and attention to detail have been identified and sought after in every corporate and volunteer position I’ve held. I have been, and am, regularly requested by individuals at every level across an organization, from the most senior executives to line staff, to employ my writing-related skills to specific assignments, both ad hoc and ongoing. Given that background, a proofreading/copyediting career isn’t a leap to the unknown for me; it’s a natural progression of what I have been doing.
In preparation for my new career, I refreshed my knowledge of grammar, punctuation and capitalization rules, learned the standard proofreading/copyediting symbols, studied The Chicago Manual of Style and honed my electronic editing skills. I’m very excited about my new career, and will continue to build my knowledge of various styles.
Please visit this site's remaining pages for an overview of my professional and technical experience that is directly related to proofreading and copyediting, the standard services offered through Riva Reading, and information on how to contact me.
Stephanie L. Riva, CFA