Dawn Kennedy Writing Coach

Dawn Kennedy has coached and mentored many people, aged 18- 85, who want to improve their writing skills.

As a writer with over 25 years’ experience, and the senior lecturer in Journalism at City Varsity in Cape Town, Ms Kennedy has taught popular courses in long-form non-fiction and creative writing to both students and adult learners.

The kindle book, Writing Features for Websites and Magazines is based on the course content that she developed.Buy here

Specialising in ethical, non-fiction books that make the world a bit of a better place, Ms Kennedy has assisted first time authors with various stages of the publishing process, from outlining the manuscript, to fine tuning the words, and even choosing the paper.

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Feedback from students: 

“Thank-you Dawn! I have learned so much more than I expected. The technical, even academic approach to writing features will hopefully provide me with the necessary impetus to get going.
The reading material was incredibly diverse and inspirational and introduced me to a whole new world of writers. Additionally, getting us to write down our ideas and present them was a great exercise.”
Jan Norman

Feedback from clients: 

October 2012
021 logo

I can wholeheartedly and without reservation recommend Dawn Kennedy for any writing contract or any position in the field of media, marketing, sales, or communications.
Dawn has been fundamental in launching 021 Magazine in June 2009. As co-editor, she used her expertise and valuable network of contacts to implement the business plan and marketing strategies.
Launching a magazine in a recession and during a time when print is perceived to be in decline is a difficult task. During that time, Dawn has show exceptional versatility, tenacity and integrity.
She helped set up the vision of the magazine and recruited and liaised with our new team at all stages from flat plan to post production, writing and design.
On the marketing and PR side, she has written sales letters, developed advertising strategies and negotiated contracts with prestigious institutions such as Cape Town Opera, Iziko and the Rupert Foundation. She has acted as 021’s brand ambassador, representing the publication at innumerable launches and openings. She has excellent people skills. Her strong character and never-failing optimism have helped 021 in many difficult situations. I can truly say that if it had not been for Dawn’s determination, 021 Magazine would have been far from making it as a successful publication.
Creatively she has time and again proven to be of invaluable importance. As a writer, she has given 021 a large following of readers who appreciate her enthusiastic yet well-researched feature stories. She managed to satisfy the needs of advertising clients and readers, when it came to producing advertorials. She also hosted a regular Cape Town radio show and was the voice artist for 021’s radio adverts.
As a person, she is responsible, hard working and reliable with a self-reliant sunny nature. As a team member, she is supportive and encouraging.
She is ideally suited to a position within a prestigious company, or working for a leading brand, where her talents can be justly rewarded.

Bernard Franz, Editor – 021 magazine: 0727310700

5th March 2006

To whom it may concern
Letter of Reference: Dawn Kennedy
Dawn worked with us at OgilvyOne Worldwide during 2006 as editor of a major magazine publication for our client, BATSA. As the editor of “Sync Up” she was responsible for leading content planning meetings, sourcing, briefing and editing the work of local and international writers and generally ensuring that the editorial content of this publication was of world-class standard.
Throughout the process, I found Dawn a terrific asset. She was at all times highly professional, informed and enthusiastic. Her insights were keen and she always ensured the bar was kept very high. The collaboration was both productive and highly enjoyable.
Kind regards
Peter Badenhorst
Executive Creative Director
OgilvyOne Worldwide & Ogilvy Interactive

01/ 01/2010

Feedback from self-publishing book/website projects:

Bernd Bierbaum

As a non-native English speaker, I needed professional assistance to have my travel writing on Ethiopia, already published in French and German, translated into English. I found a good translator, and a brilliant copyeditor, but was not 100% satisfied with the flow of the copy. As the book is quite poetic at times, and sensitive to Ethiopia’s culture and people, it needed someone with a special gift to intuitively balance plot, readability and content. Dawn Kennedy did all this in a most remarkable way. In fact I think that because of her professional expertise and creativity, the text is now much better in it’s English version than in the original.
Besides the final product that I am very satisfied with, all deadlines were managed efficiently. Dawn Kennedy was always open to my suggestions.
It was truly a pleasure to work with her.

Toenneshofweg 34
50858 Cologne, Germany
Independent author
beertree@gmail.com

20 December, 2011

Dawn Kennedy was the editor of Juice. Though it’s only one hundred pages long, the book was an enormous challenge as it is about the body mind connection distilled from the Nia Technique, a cardiovascular fitness practice.

Dawn had the philosophical intellect and patience to understand concepts and language spoken from the body as opposed to the mind. Not only that, Dawn had to reorganize, rebuild and add juicy text to Juice in only three weeks. She showed great sensitivity and worked with a loving grace for both the words and me.

Dawn in her role as editor is wonderfully talented and supportive. To say I was glad that she “had my back” is an understatement. I highly recommend her as both guide and rescuer in this ordeal of refining a book!

With more thanks from me than there are words, Dawn.

Sincerely,

Kathy Wolstenholme
Founder Nia South Africa

28/03/2012

Thanks Dawn – it is so exciting and i am so grateful for your input. I am learning fast about shortening my sentences …You are so good and I am humbled by your expertise – my writing sounds so great after you have waved your magic wand. Thank you so much for your amazing encouragement. I feel less insecure – I can tell you that clouds of doubt pass over my head many times per hour and your comments give me the encouragement to allow myself to just sit down and write without censure. Bless you so much for that.

Dr Isabel Reis, N.D.
Bioenergetic Practitioner and Naturopath
Grindelwald, Spaanschemat Road, Constantia, Cape Town, 7806
c: 076 116 7863 t: 021 794 3093 f: 086 527 4172
e: goldearth2007@yahoo.com

Sharing my writing experience:

In a few simple sentences I would like to convey how beneficial my working relationship with Dawn Kennedy has been. As my writing coach and editor she has, in a professional and highly empathetic way, guided my process of writing my first book. Without in any way compromising my style and message, Dawn has very cleverly enhanced the words that she with tremendous sensitivity and understanding has helped me capture on paper. Her expertise I believe has transformed my writing to a professional level, making my words lucid and a pleasure to read.

At all times she has been professional, compassionate and humble, yet strong and supportive. I highly recommend her services to any one planning to take their writing out into the world.

Earth Artist
11 Welbellond Road
Constantia
7806
1/12/2010

Tel: 0824682273
Email: jenny@earthartist.co.za

 

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