About Writer/Editor Ruth E. Thaler-Carter

If you need writing, editing, proofreading, press releases, presentations, and more for your publications, association, business, organization, website, book, etc., I can do that for you!

I write feature and news articles, profiles, press releases, annual reports, advertorials, and business and marketing material for magazines, newspapers, newsletters, websites, etc.;

manage all aspects of newsletter and annual report content, design, and production for businesses, associations, and nonprofit organizations; and

provide proofreading, copy editing, and critiques for magazines, books, newsletters, marketing collateral, and organizations;

and present webinars/seminars and workshops about freelancing, editing and proofreading, networking, websites, nonprofit development, and more.

Moments of recognition

From the executive director of the National Association of Independent Writers & Editors (NAIWE) recently:

We wanted to get to know Ruth Thaler-Carter (NAIWE’s Networking Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.

What are the key factors for success in your specific niche?

https://news.naiwe.org/2026/04/03/ruth-thaler-carter-naiwes-networking-expert-4/

Professional activities

Current and recent projects include:

• Write feature, news, event coverage and profile articles for the Brighton News newsletter; feature articles for various magazines; freelancing posts for the An American Editor blog; posts for association blogs;

• Write, edit, and lay out/produce publications for the Decorative Arts Society, Brighton Schools Alumni Association, Albuquerque NewComers Club, La Luz community, and more;

• Edit and proofread for a law firm with offices around the U.S., PR firm in the legal field, public policy institute about retirement; Glass Line, Porsche, and Washington Gardener magazines; self-publishing authors; among others;

• Provide media relations and website updates to theBrighton Schools Alumni Association and Communication Central;

• Present workshops, in-person speeches and seminars, and webinars about newsletters, websites, editing and proofreading, freelancing, marketing, grammar, networking, and nonprofit management for national, regional, and local membership and trade associations; and other organizations.

Contact me today to discuss what I can offer your organization or publication!

Background and education

Born and raised in Rochester, NY; went from city grade school to Brighton Central School District, graduated from Brighton High School.

Studied comparative literature at Indiana University-Bloomington and French/general studies at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL). BA from UMSL. One year as Ford Fellow in University of Missouri-Columbia’s graduate program in journalism.

Started writing for pay and launched a literary magazine in high school; freelanced on the side from 1974–1985 while holding full-time communications positions with Urban League of St. Louis (community organizer); St. Louis Argus newspaper (staff reporter); Washington University’s Record newsletter (editor); R&D Mexico magazine (assistant editor); American National Metric Council (communications manager); (Washington) DC General Hospital (chief of publications).

Full-time freelance writer, editor, and proofreader since 1984.

Awards:

• Almost two dozen 2026 awards for writing and editing from New Mexico Press Women (see page 1)

• Six 2025 awards for writing from Missouri Professional Communicators (see home page and Why page for details)

• Named to the Brighton Schools Alumni Association/Brighton High School Alumni Hall of Fame for professional communications career, networking services to colleagues, support of and connecting family and friends

• Named one of Brighton Connections magazine’s "Inspiring Women of our Community"

• Big Pencil Award from Writers & Books for being "A teacher of adults who has inspired the creation and appreciation of literature" and has "contributed significantly in the advancement, creation, and understanding of literature in the Rochester (NY) community."

• Writing and editing awards from APEX, Editor's Forum and International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)

• Philip M. Stern Award for outstanding service to other freelancers from Washington Independent Writers

• Named Communicator of the Year for contributions to IABC/DC

“Queen of Networking” for service to:
Cat Writers’ Association
GardenComm
Society of Professional Journalists/Freelance Community
National Association of Independent Writers and Editors/Board of Experts
American Society of Business Publication Editors
National Federation of Press Women/New Mexico Press Women
Brighton Schools Alumni Association

For my insights about the value of connecting through professional memberships, see my post to the IABC-St. Louis blog: https://iabcstl.org/blog/23.