New adventure in this new year

It’s only April, but 2025 is already turning into a year of new adventures. While these are mainly personal, they do have an impact on my professional life as well.

This month, I moved from St. Louis to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where I have three generations of family, at least one high school classmate and several colleagues in various professional associations. The move has been both stressful and exciting — so much stuff to organize and pack, and now unpack and organize in my new place. I’m doing a lot of clearing out of old files and other items that aren’t needed any longer, and am trying to be tough about what to keep, to the extent of donating or even pitching a few items — including some that are purple!

The move has included joining local or regional versions of some of my professional memberships, which promises to create new opportunities to learn from and with colleagues.

The past year fulfilled its promising trifecta of a new week, new month and new year all on the same day on both the professional and personal levels, even if the political element was a frightening result. My sincere thanks to my wonderful clients who have been keeping me busy and my equally wonderful colleagues, family and friends who have been looking out for each other. I’m hoping for continued positive interaction and new adventures with all of you in 2025.

This year has brought a continuing regular flow of writing, editing and proofreading work from existing and new clients, along with worthwhile speaking and travel opportunities (see the “When” section for upcoming presentations). I even fulfilled a lifelong dream: a stay at the Algonquin Hotel when I was in NYC to speak at a conference!

The increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to be a concern, especially in terms of copyright protection. Be assured that I do not and don’t plan to use AI for any of my writing, editing or proofreading work. What you get from me is real, original, unique content, based on my skills and experience; interviews with real sources, presence at actual events; and research with legitimate resources as needed. Clients who understand the value and importance of original content by human beings will be highly valued by creators like me, as well as more trusted by their knowledgeable audiences and readerships.

My thanks to Victoria Brzustowicz (www.VictoriaBCreative.com) for creating this graphic!

Clients and colleagues can continue to rely on my availability for assignments and advice, as well as original work. I hope 2025 will be healthy, successful and profitable for all.

Recent news

• I’ve finished updating and expanding my “Get Paid to Write! Getting Started as a Freelance Writer” booklet. It covers more than I usually can discuss in a presentation — lots of tips, guidelines and resources. It’s only $20/copy, payable by check (send e-mail message to Ruth@writerruth.com for mailing address) or PayPal or Zelle (to Ruth@writerruth.com). It’s available in print or as a PDF. Many thanks to Victoria Brzustowicz for the original cover design and Michael Brady for the new version.

• If the writing, editing and proofreading field ever dries up, I have backup: I’m making art! I’ve started making fused glass tiles and have exhibited at a local art fair, conference, public library branch and more.

I’m also playing with ceramic figures, going back to childhood classes at Rochester’s Memorial Art Gallery — cats, owls and bears. This is a lot of fun, and we all need some fun in our lives these days.

The website for my artwork is underway; in the meantime, feel free to contact me at Ruth@writerruth.com for more images and pricing info.

• I had fun exhibiting and speaking at Spine Bookstore’s first-ever Indie Author Book Fair in St. Louis in 2024. My presentation offered insights into “The Basics of Editing and Proofreading” from both sides of the coin: what it takes to be a professional editor or proofreader, and how authors can find and work with editors and proofreaders. It was fun to meet local authors, many of whom have fascinating books to share. Kudos to Spine for both featuring local authors in the store and hosting what I hope is the first of many opportunities for local authors to strut their stuff!

• I was the proofreader and a contributing author for Great Dames: Women Sharing Their Power, a collection of 52 true stories written by women about moments in their lives that helped them become who they are today. Being invited to write an essay for this collection was a fascinating experience in reflection and expression of key events in my life, and reading/proofreading the other authors’ contributions was deeply moving and inspiring.

• More to come as I pay as much attention to my own website as I do to my clients’ projects!

• Your project is now in the hands of a member of the Brighton Schools Alumni Association (BSAA)/Brighton High School (BHS) Alumni Hall of Fame. While back home for the recognition event, it was especially rewarding to speak about editing to a third-grade class at a city elementary school and about the value of good writing skills to three English classes at BHS. And for my brother to suggest that I take my video message about overcoming mocking/bullying “on the road” to every high school in the country! 

Anything? Really?

Yes, really — I can write about, edit, proofread and speak about anything! If you need a freelance writer, editor, proofreader or layout professional for articles, newsletters, brochures, annual reports, websites or other projects, I’ve done that on almost everything from A to Z. I’m also a popular presenter on a variety of topics related to the world of publishing, and can adapt my presentation skills to other topics relevant to my clients’ areas of interest.

I write, edit, proofread and desktop-publish projects about: accounting, animal hospitals/veterinary practices, apartment living, art and artists, associations, business, campus physical-plant management, car tech/mobile electronics, cats, communications, diversity/equity/inclusion, editing and proofreading, eldercare, education, freelancing, healthcare/medicine/fitness, human resources, insurance, landscaping and gardening, local history, marketing & PR, networking, nonprofits, real estate, regulatory issues, sculpture, statistics, technology, volunteering, websites, workplace safety, writing — and much more ...

for: associations, not-for-profit organizations, businesses, publications, websites and individuals ...

at the: local, regional, national and international levels ...

For details, see the “Where I've been published” and “Why hire a professional” sections of this site or click here to download a PDF of my promotional brochure.

For my detailed insights on freelancing, consider purchasing my booklet, “Get Paid to Write! Getting Started as a Freelance Writer,” even if you can attend one of my presentations or webinars, because it covers more than I usually can discuss in a presentation! . Lots of tips, guidelines and resources, and new purchasers can subscribe to an update list. It’s only $20/copy, payable by check (send e-mail message to Ruth@writerruth.com for mailing address) or PayPal or Zelle (to Ruth@writerruth.com). It’s available in print or as a PDF.

I speak about freelancing, editing and proofreading basics, websites, newsletters, grammar, marketing, nonprofit management, and more! I love making presentations! If there are topics you would like me to present for your organization, just let me know at Ruth@writerruth.com or 314-240-5034.

If you can’t get to my classes on “Basics of Editing and Proofreading” or “Websites for Writers,” the handouts are available at $25 each (PDF or on paper). If interested, contact me at Ruth@writerruth.com. Other event handouts are be available on request for the same price.