Who I've Helped

Writing/Editing Experience

Literary Assistant/Literary Assistant, Lois Letchford, Troy, NY January 2016-present
Lois Letchford is the author of Reversed: A Memoir, signed to Acorn Publishing.

Micro and macro edited and proofread Reversed: A Memoir by Lois Letchford (March 2018, Acorn Publishing); made comprehensive changes to grammar, sentence structure, and reformatting chapters for content and style readability; ghostwriter, rewriting several chapters
Built loisletchford.com through SquareSpace; currently runs social media components using Twitter, Facebook, and MailChimp; writes/edits blog entries; responsible for identifying media trends to stay up-to-date
Keeps in constant contact with publisher, PR agent, formatters, supervising all changes made to manuscript on content, copyright, and design; prepares book for Kindle, Amazon, audio book, etc., working with CreateSpace, IngramSpark
Sends out press releases to media contacts, booking radio/TV interviews, book tours

Freelance Writer/Editor/Proofreader June 2012-present
Consistent contribution at Chronogram Magazine, Oyster.com, Upstater Magazine, 20some.com CCA; private clients.

Pitches ideas, researches, conducts interviews, writes articles and blog entries about a variety of topics, with a strong focus on features/news stories, marketing materials, resumes, cover letters (click for clips)
Provides comprehensive micro and macro editing services, reformatting and restructuring content including articles, short stories, essays, bios, books, resumes, cover letters, websites
Proficient in AP Style, Chicago Manual of Style, MLA Style

Copywriter, Creative Communication Associates, Troy, NY October 2016-August 2017
CCA is the nation's leading branding and communications agency devoted exclusively to higher education.

Built brand platforms for colleges and universities, driving brand awareness and engagement by writing both print and digital content and brand copy
Worked on high-level deliverables and major media campaigns for print and digital including email nurture streams, landing pages, PPC adwords, taglines, admissions blog posts, TV/radio spots, and social media (Facebook canvas ads, Twitter, etc.) for universities including Philadelphia University, LIM College, and Siena College
Launched, ran, wrote, and edited university blogs, leading two teams of university professors (Adler University and Concordia University, Nebraska) on blog post writing, creating editorial calendars and managing freelancers

Exam Grader, Kelly Services, Menands, NY August 2016
Measured Progress offers K-12 assessments for state-wide standardized testing.

Scored New York State reading comprehension questions based on rubric for third, fourth, and fifth graders.

Life Editor, 20some.com, New York, NY November 2015-April 2016
20some.com is written for and about the modern-day 20-somethings.

Oversaw a small staff of contributing writers, researching and pitching content while creating weekly story budgets focusing on cultural issues, dating, and food/drink lifestyles
Micro and macro edited all content for structure, grammar, spelling before going live on site

Blogger, The Albany Times Union, Albany, NY 2008-2012, January 2014-June 2015
The Albany Times Union is the leading newspaper of New York’s Capital Region.

Extensively blogged about life as a traveling writer, musician, and college student
3,000 returning and 2,000 unique monthly visitors over course of seven years

PR Contact, Band of Lovers, Nationally Touring Band October 2014-June 2015
Band of Lovers is an indie/folk duo from Upstate New York.

Conducted extensive research on media coverage, writing, editing, and delivering press releases for tour information and upcoming performances, staying in constant contact with music venues and media

Proofreader and Digital Editor, Luminary Publishing, Kingston, NY October 2013-December 2013
Luminary Publishing runs several publications supporting the cultural and creative life of Upstate New York.

Managed and transferred two magazines from print to web through WordPress and Foundation
Resized, color changed, and edited photos using Adobe Photoshop
Micro edited entire 60-page monthly magazine before print

Copy Editor, From Clueless to Confident, New Paltz, NY September-December 2013
From Clueless to Confident is the first personal development book by author Max Silverberg.

Micro and macro edited 210 pages of final copy before publishing

Script Proofreader, Theater of the Absurd, Albany, NY February-December 2013
Stop motion animation adult comedy web series.

Micro edited six 40-page episode scripts for inconsistencies, spelling, and grammar

Reporter, Spotlight Newspapers, Delmar, NY August 2012-August 2013
Spotlight Newspapers is a hyper-local, community weekly newspaper that covers news, features, sports, and
entertainment for New York’s Capital Region.

Created weekly story budget, conducted interviews, researched, and wrote six news and features articles per week
Photographed coverage for each article and edited in Adobe Photoshop
Established and maintained relationships with local and state-level leaders, business owners, and community members
Attended and reported on local town board and county legislature meetings
Responsible for posting stories and editing articles for online newspaper and Twitter

Editor, The New Paltz Oracle (State University of New York at New Paltz), New Paltz, NY 2008-2012
The New Paltz Oracle is the award-winning, weekly, student-run newspaper at SUNY New Paltz.

Acted as Assistant Managing Editor, Arts & Entertainment Editor, Features Editor, Copy Editor

-Advised and led eight copy editors; taught AP style and layout
-Proofread every page before each issue printed
-Researched, wrote, fact-checked, and edited news, features, and arts articles
-Assigned and edited work from contributing writers, as well as staff and Editorial board
-Designed layouts for the section working on Quark, InDesign, and Photoshop

Internships

Editorial Intern, Chronogram Magazine, Kingston, NY June-August 2011

Digital Intern, The Albany Times Union, Albany, NY January-June 2008

Education

Proficiency

State University of New York at New Paltz
New Paltz, NY
Bachelor of Arts, May 2012
Major: English Minors: Journalism, Creative Writing
GPA 3.7, Cum Laude, Dean’s List (2008-2012)

AP, Chicago Manual of Style, MLA
Microsoft Suite, Mac, Windows
Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Quark
HubSpot, Basecamp, ProofHQ
Wordpress, Weebly, Squarespace
HubSpot Inbound Certification (2017)

Awards and Honors

Won a Silver ADDY Award for CCA's website from Albany Ad Club in 2017
Earned Society of Professional Journalist’s “Mark of Excellence Award” for Best Affiliated Website for a four-year college or university in 2010 in Region I and National Finalist
Won “Third Place Feature Story” in the New York Press Association’s 2012 Better Newspaper Contest (College Division) for the features article “Finding Solace in Four Colors”
Trained at the New York Press Association Spring Convention in Saratoga Springs, NY, in April 2013
Guest speaker for University of Albany's Digital Journalism class discussing life as a writer and journalist
Guest speaker for two Honors 10th Grade English classes at Guilderland High School in Albany, NY, about journalism, poetry, and songwriting

Other Experience