Hi Barry/Reneva, Wow, I am blown away by your detailed and hard work, thank you. I am very grateful for what you have done. – Jaques, author of religious book
Barry Gilder very diligently and effectively edited my book Attacking the heart of Apartheid: The ANC’s MK Special Operations Unit published by Penguin Random House in 2025.
Although I’m a freelance journalist and edit articles for my political party publications, I learnt a lot from Barry in the editing process of this book.
He is rigorous but very open to listening to a writer’s views on his suggested changes and changing them appropriately. He is himself a writer – of both fiction and non-fiction.
Yunus Carrim – former sociology lecturer and member of parliament
I wish to thank Reneva Fourie for assisting me to write this autobiography – Jemma Kumba, Speaker, South Sudan Parliament
To Reneva ...
I want to say thanks a million! What you did is exactly the type of editing I needed. Thank you so much. I will definitely be recommending you to anyone and everyone. I appreciate the intense effort.
PhD candidate, University of Cape Town
Collaborating with Dr Barry Gilder on my Master's thesis has been invaluable. His editing skills are outstanding – marked by a deep understanding of scholarly tone, structure, and citation standards.
He consistently enhanced clarity and coherence while preserving the integrity of my original research. His attention to detail, from grammar and syntax to logical flow and formatting, ensured that every paragraph of my thesis met high academic standards. Including achieving a very good final mark.
His excellent penmanship and kindness were a bonus. I highly recommend Dr Gilder to any researcher or student seeking meticulous and insightful editorial support.
Wadia Witbooi, University of the Western Cape
Writing as such may not be a problem, but a book is a different story. My hard disk hides several failed attempts. But this time Barry and Reneva, both excellent writers whom I trust, embarked on the adventure with me. And English is not my mother tongue.
They kindly push me on and by now I know they won't let go! So how can one disappoint such editors?
Hélène Passtoors, memoirist, Belgium
Dr Gilder provided outstanding editorial support in the preparation of our book publication. He meticulously edited all chapters, delivering precise language editing and thorough checks of referencing and reference lists.
His work greatly enhanced the clarity, consistency and scholarly quality of the manuscript. His professionalism, efficiency and editorial expertise made him a pleasure to work with and I highly recommend his services.
Prof. Dorothy Laubscher, North West University
Barry's editing is detailed, thoughtful, and incisive. He communicates promptly and openly at all stages of the process and is a pleasure to work with – Master’s student, UK
Barry and Reneva have assisted Write Skills with various editing and proofreading assignments, including annual reports and academic papers. The work has been done carefully, considerately and consistently. They have always delivered as per the agreed deadlines and the liaison and personal interactions have always been polite and professional.
Write Skills
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Dr. Barry Gilder for his exceptional work as the editor of my PhD thesis. His meticulous attention to detail, deep understanding of academic conventions, and sensitivity to the nuances of my research focus were invaluable throughout the write-up process.
As my work critically examined participatory governance and housing policy in South Africa, particularly through the lens of urban spatial transformation and the implications of neoliberal frameworks, Barry’s editorial guidance ensured that complex theoretical arguments were clearly articulated and understandable without compromising their academic rigour.
Needless to say, Barry's edits and guidance throughout the write-up process also helped me hone my writing skills and educated me not only on best linguistic practices but also on writing styles that conveyed the message of the thesis more clearly.
What distinguished Barry’s contribution was his ability to meaningfully engage with the substance of the thesis. He demonstrated an appreciation for the interdisciplinary nature of urban studies, policy critique, and social justice narratives, and helped me refine my arguments so they remained grounded in both scholarly discourse and real-world relevance. His input enhanced not only the clarity and cohesion of the text, but also its overall impact as a contribution to the field. I am sincerely grateful for his professionalism, critical insight, and unwavering support.
Jevon Jacobs, PhD
We have been working with Amazwi Creatives for nearly three years and we found their approach to be highly professional, which means: responsive, accurate, demonstrating a panoramic understanding, respectful of deadlines whilst providing uncompromisingly sensible editing.
We very much appreciated the ability to handle multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary subjects with a great attention to the broader socio-political context and cultural specificity.
Palestine House, Cambridge, England, UK
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