I finally put "& CREATIVE" in the business name

Initially, I believed I would be doing small publications for clients who had no in-house talent to attend to the work.

In reality, I'm in demand for a different set of skills entirely. I'm starting things from scratch more often than I expected. Frequently my first job is helping a client get organized. Occasionally I'm riding to the rescue, helping clients salvage or re-purpose work that somebody else started. I'm getting bigger projects than I expected: websites for organizations that have never had a website, for instance. Some of the jobs hardly involve publishing at all: at the moment, for instance, I'm working with an entire museum. A small museum, but a museum nonetheless: I am documenting the collection, helping with archiving fragile materials, and consulting on the design of displays. I love it, but it's not editorial.

So here's the deal …

I can guide you from your first hazy idea to a finished product that shows you in your best light.

• Do you need help figuring out where to start, what you need, and what you can afford?
• Do you have some materials already on hand, but need help putting them together?
• Has a print- or web-designer sold you something you can't work with, or left a job unfinished?
• Do you need intelligent copywriting, and/or professional-quality photographs?
• Do you have a big or complicated print product in mind?
• Do you need to create advertising to place in commercial or trade publications?
• Are your demands out-of-the-ordinary: graphic odd-jobs, restoration of old photos, murals, banners, or some other specialized need that you don't know how to address?

I am a small businessman, looking to help other small businessmen in the areas of display, communication, presentation, promotion and publication. I don't get paid until a client and I agree on work and fees, so folks shouldn't feel bad about calling for a consultation. I always learn something, and sometimes I make new friends.

Consider a long-term relationship

The work that's most expensive for you is the work you pay for twice, and the work I like the least is fixing or repurposing stuff that another designer botched. Once we determine that we can work together, your best deal will be a long-term arrangement so we both know that I'll maintain your files properly (and save myself work in the long run!), and you'll be able to call on me as your needs change

So what's with all these dogs?

I love dogs, and I have just about always had one or more of them. I gave my Black Lab mix, Judy (third from left), the nickname "Raindog" because water seemed to be her native element. Judy was still alive when I decided I needed a business name, and "Raindog Editorial Services" seemed like a good idea at the time. End of story.