Why hire a professional

"Why hire me?" - an experienced, professional writer, editor, proofreader, desktop publisher and presenter - for your writing, editing and publications projects? The answer is simple: You need a writer, proofreader, editor or desktop publisher whose topnotch skills and reliability will make you and your publication or organization look good - professional, interesting, accurate, error-free, and worth reading and supporting. That may cost a little more than using a newcomer to the field - but the investment will be worth it.

Plenty of people claim to be professional writers, editors and other kinds of communications professionals. Lots of would-be communicators will work for low rates to get started, or out of desperation. Working with them may save you money in the short run, but may not provide the quality work you need - and could cost you more in the long run.

As proof of my skills in the writing arena, here are the wonderful comments about my winning entries in the recent Communications Contest of Missouri Professional Communicators (MPC), the regional affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW). See the home page for details and images of the awards.

First Place, Category: 5C, Feature Story, online publication: Celebrating Creativity Among Colleagues, IABC-STL website

Judge’s comment: “What a lovely way to write about the importance of personal creativity. The personal story of the author was perfect ... it explained how creativity can be sparked without getting so personal that the reader become uncomfortable. The word choices and overall flow of this feature story made this an enjoyable read.”

First Place, Category: 8D Columns, personal opinion (bylined, not editorial): On the Basics: ‘Just the facts, ma’am!,’ An American Editor blog

Judge’s comment: “As a fellow writer, I really enjoyed reading this piece and the importance of the message that we are responsible for the integrity of our work. This blog was well-written and I also appreciated the practical list of resources at the end to help writers.”

Second Place, Category: 8C Columns, informational (how-to, Q&A, advice): On the Basics: The business of a business plan, An American Editor blog

Judge’s comment: “This article should be taught in high schools and colleges. It is perfectly basic and clear, miraculously a business-focused article written without goofy jargon like ‘low-hanging fruit,’ ‘blue sky thinking’ and ‘deep dive.’ Thank you! Every business teacher should incorporate this into [their] lesson plan. You are truly a content expert when it comes to writing and the business of writing.”

Second Place: Category: 8C Columns, informational (how-to, Q&A, advice), On the Basics — Generalist vs. specialist, An American Editor blog

Judge’s comment: “Well, THIS is well written! Before I started reading, I worried that it would be pedantic, but your piece serves as a good example of what someone who hires you can expect: clear writing, crisp sentences, clear thinking and perfect structure. Thank you!”

Second Place: Category: 5C Feature Story, online publication, What a Difference a Cat Makes, Cat Writers’ Association website

Judge’s comment: “This kept me interested throughout. There were a couple of places where the asides would tend to confuse (or stop) the reader, but overall, this was everything I would expect from a blog on the Cat Writers' Association website.”

Third Place: Category: 7C Specialty Articles, business, Connection is the essence of membership value and networking success, IABC-St. Louis blog

Judge’s comment: “Informative, although the term ‘network’ was not used in the post. Is there a distinction between connections and network, or are they interchangeable? Defining these terms would be useful. Also, the lengthy list of where to find connections can be shortened without losing its importance.”

To see what clients and colleagues say about my writing, editing and proofreading contributions to their projects and publications, check out their comments here: Link to Testimonials