Welcome to Denmarket!

My name is Etienne Terblanche. I’m a freelance English editor based in Aarhus, Denmark.

The way I see it, an editor’s job is to find the most effective way to convey meaning. We correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar, of course. But we also find ways to make words more engaging, more memorable, and more compelling. To a professional editor, they’re never just words. They’re little engines of strategy.

So, if you’re looking for a sharp-eyed, detail-oriented, deadline-driven, full-service editor, someone to turn your rough drafts and translations into attention-grabbing, thought-provoking, action-driving, value-adding content, line after line of grammatically flawless, stylistically consistent content, well, you’ve landed in the right place.

My services focus on both structural and stylistic revisions to optimise readability and ease of comprehension. These include corrections and suggestions related to spelling, punctuation, grammar, diction (word choice), syntax (sentence structure), mechanics such as capitalisation, literary techniques such as figures of speech, omissions, continuity errors, conflicting statements, inconsistent formatting, regional variations, and potentially offensive language that a non-native writer might overlook.

So, what qualifies me to work on your content? Well, I’m a native son of the English language, a voracious reader of its literature, and a second-generation editor with a passion for communications. Holding both a diploma in copywriting and a degree in communications, I embarked on my freelance career more than a decade ago and over the years I carefully cultivated experience that today spans the entire communications spectrum. I work with creative ad agencies, content marketing specialists, public relations firms, digital media outlets, and publishing houses, among others.

Before moving to Denmark in 2018, I worked as a writer and editor in Cape Town. There I collaborated with an astonishing array of organisations, from small not-for-profits in the townships of South Africa to companies at the very top of the Fortune Global 500 list, and I diligently became acquainted with a wide range of industries, including finance, technology, tourism, healthcare… you get the idea.

The assignments I work on vary greatly, from blog posts to press releases, newsletters to white papers, even the occasional podcast script, but what always remains the same is this: I strive to provide an exceptional service that is reliable, flexible, and efficient. And I always add value to my clients’ conversations.

Contact me today for a free assessment of your English content!

Experience

Freelance Content Writer & Editor

Denmarket • November 2018 – Present • Aarhus, Denmark

In today’s content-driven world, perfectly crafted copy is no luxury. The success of a marketing campaign often hinges on its written material. It’s all about quality content. But for many Danish organisations expanding into English-speaking markets, creating that sort of copy can be a challenge, especially if adding a professional English editor to the permanent staff is not economically viable. With that in mind, Denmarket was born, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Freelance Content Writer & Editor

Cape Communications • January 2010 – April 2018 • Cape Town, South Africa

Established myself as a communications professional in Cape Town, providing freelance writing and editing services to clients in creative advertising, content marketing and the media. Worked on campaigns for some of the biggest brands in South Africa, including BP, Metropolitan, Distell, Capitec Bank, Vodacom, Woolworths, and Cape Nature.

Education

University of South Africa

Communication Science • 2011 – 2015

Studied by correspondence with the university while continuing to work as a freelance writer and editor, ultimately obtaining distinctions for just under 80% of my examinations.

AAA School of Advertising

Copywriting • 2008 – 2009

After graduating high school in 2006 and backpacking across much of sub-Saharan Africa during a 2007 gap year, I was accepted into the copywriting programme at the renowned Cape Town advertising school.

Endorsements

“For six months Etienne was my go-to guy whenever I needed thorough proofreading and editing of British and US texts. Etienne is always extremely thorough and delivers high-quality content. He invests time in understanding the purpose of the content and the target group, and would thus deliver content that’s on point. Furthermore, Etienne is very pleasant to work with, and I would resume working with him any time.”

Jane Skovbo • Project Manager • Publico Kommunikation • Aarhus, Denmark

“Etienne joined our team as a copywriter in 2011 and quickly became an important part of it. I would describe him as creative and intelligent with an exceptional eye for detail. He was always available and often worked late nights and weekends to deliver projects on time. He was assigned to key accounts, regularly attended client meetings, and made valuable contributions to strategy sessions. You can trust him to deliver. I can recommend him to anyone without any reservations.”

Andra Mostert • Account Director • Fresh Advertising • Cape Town, South Africa

“My company has brought Mr Terblanche into multiple projects, including our flagship publication, Encounter Africa: The Definitive Directory for Responsible Tourism, and with consistently excellent results. He has conducted research, interviewed clients and produced profiles that generated qualified leads. He is a dedicated professional who can be trusted to manage and deliver, and who understands complex and technical subjects. Over several years and many issues, he has never once missed a deadline or handed in anything that was not polished and clean.”

Shakier Brenner • Managing Director • Ocean Rock Media • Cape Town, South Africa

“Etienne worked as a feature writer and copy editor on MetroTalk, our in-house company magazine for financial advisers. Starting in the first quarter of 2014, he ultimately made contributions to more than 20 issues. Topics ranged from financial planning and insurance policies to market segmentation and sales strategies. His articles were always well researched and written, and he has a remarkable talent for spotting everything from typos to inconsistencies in numerical data. Meticulous.”

Viljoen van Niekerk • Communications Manager • Metropolitan • Cape Town, South Africa