"I can write about anything!"™

 

 

Anything? Really?

If you need something written, I’ve probably written about it - I've written about everything from arboriculture, architecture, apartment living and management, and associations ... to banking, black culture, business, collectibles, communications, contracting, crafts, the decorative arts, diversity, education, elder care, food service, foster and adoptive parenting, genealogy, Girl Scouting, Jewish life, historic preservation, health, home decor, human resources, international issues, landscaping, the metric system, networking, nonprofits, the peace movement, philanthropy, publication design, social services, tourism, training, women’s issues and more.

I've also written profiles of people in even more professions and industries.

If you need writing ...

I’m a fast, accurate writer with a lively “voice,” excellent interviewing and research skills, and the ability to make fairly dry topics seem interesting and vibrant. I’m also told I write a mean headline!

I write feature, news and profile articles for independent, association, nonprofit, institution and company magazines, newspapers, newsletters and websites, along with press releases, meeting coverage and a variety of other assignments over the years. I also write annual reports for nonprofits, including coming up with themes and ideas for illustrating them, and have written an association history. I’ve written the lifestyle section of a book about job-hunting and am the co-author of a book about eldercare, aimed at caregivers.

My writing skills have been strengthened by working as a newspaper staffer, magazine researcher/associate editor, association communications manager, and hospital chief of publications, along with freelance assignments with more publications than I can count.

If you need newsletters & desktop publishing ...

Putting together publications has always been more fun than work for me. Although I am not a graphic artist or designer per se, I know typography and the elements of readability and good page design.

I’m skilled in InDesign, PageMaker and QuarkXPress, and adept at using Photoshop to enhance and incorporate images for publications and websites.

Not only can I provide layout and publication management services, including PDFs for print and website use, I can create templates for new publications and improve the “look” of existing ones for greater readability, clarity, attractiveness and effectiveness.

If you want to take your newsletter from print to, or with, electronic versions, I can do that for you as well.

If you need proofreading or editing ...

I have a sharp eye for (and ability to fix) typos, clunky writing, jargon, poor transitions, style inconsistencies and other problems in articles, ads, brochures, websites and entire publications.

I’m fluent in AP, Chicago and GPO styles.

I have topnotch skills in spelling, grammar, usage, punctuation and style matters, and can do a substantive edit without losing the original author’s voice.

I’ve done proofreading and editing for books, newspapers, magazines, newsletters, white papers, websites, a technical-services company, a law firm, colleagues' articles and more.

If you need public speaking/training ...

I have received positive evaluations for my depth of knowledge and lively, personable speaking style at programs on a variety of topics - primarily newsletters and freelancing, but also starting a nonprofit organization and organizational communications.

I enjoy sharing knowledge and ideas with colleagues, and make a point of letting audiences feel free to participate for a lively exchange of ideas and insights. I provide detailed handouts for the benefit of participants at my speeches.

 

Current and recent projects include:

• writing, editing and/or desktop-producing newsletters for the Editorial Freelancers Association, Rochester Friends Meeting, Decorative Arts Society, Rochester, NY, chapter of the Association for Women in CommunicationsMid-Atlantic Chapter of the International Society for Arboriculture, Delaware component of the American Institute of Architects, Center for Environmental Information, and Ms. Foundation for Women;

• writing feature, news and profile articles for the Editorial Eye and Brighton News newsletters; apartments.com, Facilities Manager, Life in the Finger Lakes, JD (University of Maryland School of Law), Managing Global Energy Risk, Homeland Defense Journal and other magazines;

• proofreading, copy editing and general editing for a law firm with offices around the country, Glass Line magazine, a tech-services company, magazine for Harvard alumni, graphic-arts firm doing corporate work, and international magazine about Jewish life and issues; and

• presenting newsletter and freelancing seminars for various membership and trade associations.