Who am I?
Hi! I'm an experienced education, nonprofit, and business writer. I write compelling narratives about your company's products, research and value.
In other words, I help your organization achieve its goals and mission through powerful writing, on-brand and on point.
I’ve helped dozens of businesses and organizations drive positive change through
(1) powerful, engaging stories about living, breathing people and (2) by translating complex research into digestible, engaging content that speaks directly to your audience.
That’s where my unique background comes in. My research and interview skills from the field of cultural anthropology bring you greater insight into the cultures of your brand and customers. This ensures fresh, tailored content geared to the unique needs of your audience and, most importantly, builds trust.
How I became at freelance writer
I originally trained as a cultural anthropologist, completing two years of research in Kerala and over a decade in the American Southwest. Seeing the poverty and genuine needs of the people I studied, I began to specialize in applied anthropology. I participated in research and applied projects in the education and nonprofit sectors that addressed the needs of teachers, schools, and diverse groups of learners.
I've worked with many nonprofits, including United Way, Easter Seals, Lutheran Social Services, Common Cause, and The MY HERO Project. Seeing the need for good stories, I began experimenting with creative writing that expressed how people’s lives were lived on the ground and how they were talked about by the people themselves, publishing two anthropology books, working with filmmakers, and writing for EdTech businesses and nonprofits.
About ten years ago, I discovered content marketing, a human-centered approach to marketing and fundraising that aligns really well with my skills as an applied anthropologist. Since then, I have written and edited everything from casual, engaging blogs and web content to white papers, technical reports, and case studies, and as always, engaging stories and articles.
Producing unique, original, and actionable content for positive impact is my passion.
Anthropology
Anthropology is the science which tells us that people are the same the whole world over – except when they are different.”
—Nancy Banks-Smith
Anthropology studies what it means to be human. Cultural anthropology, a subfield of anthropology, is an academic and applied science that studies the daily lives and cultures of living, breathing people in their sociocultural, economic, and global contexts. Anthropologist-writers and marketers:
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Are critical thinkers who see the bigger picture and know how to tack between the general and specific to create a good story.
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Perform strategic, in-depth interviews and rigorous research that gets to the heart of the matter and establishes trust.
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Know how to communicate in a globalized world with people of diverse backgrounds, considering multicultural perspectives and audiences.
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Make complex concepts accessible, engaging, and meaningful to your audience.
Anthropologically-informed content helps to build communities of listeners through well-researched, authentic, and relevant content that is geared to specific audience interests and needs.
As marketers, anthropologists help organizations understand the behavior patterns of their customers and the meaning their products have in an increasingly diverse world. Businesses that hire marketers with a background in anthropology include Microsoft (a long-time employer of anthropologists), Google, Intel, Xerox, ADP, Ford Motors, and many more.
Anthropologists are specialists in human-centered storytelling
Anthropologists are specialists in storytelling, taking what people say and how their lives are lived on the ground to your organization’s intended audience. What’s better than the story of a living, breathing person, family, or community that benefits from your work to elicit the compassion and engagement of donors? Or a behind the scenes understanding of your organization’s mission, goals, and its inner, day-to-day workings?
Anthropologists understand the value of the journey. We think outside the box and know the right questions to ask to find the human element behind your success stories. We understand empathy and can write in diverse voices, giving our writing richness and depth, as opposed to parroting what others have said.
Anthropologists know that social meanings are constantly in transition, and with regular revision based on interviews, optimization, and feedback, your organization’s content can be repurposed and revised while remaining timely and culturally relevant.
My writing will add real value for your audience, because it focuses on what people need, how they live their lives, and what they have to say.
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I look forward to helping you up your game
Request a free quote - no obligation!