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How to Market Your Nonfiction Book

How to Market Your Nonfiction Book

It used to be that only self-published authors had to promote their books. Unfortunately, that’s no longer the case. Even if you are savvy enough to land a publisher, you will still be expected to do your part to market your book aggressively.

While none of that seems like much fun, we will attempt to take the mystery out of getting those copies flying off the shelves.

In this guide to marketing your book, we take you through the process step-by-step. Along the way, you will receive tips and tricks many seasoned authors have used in the past to sell their books.

1. Pick your target.

Knowing your book’s target audience is crucial for selling your book. It helps tailor marketing strategies to their interests, needs, and preferences.

In addition, understanding your target audience allows you to adjust promotional materials and website content to increase your brand awareness as an author.

But, how do you go about determining who your target audience is? The first step is to create a reader persona—or in other words, a hypothetical person that embodies the characteristics of your target audience.

Creating a “Reader Persona”

A reader persona focuses your marketing message on the right people. It gives you an idea of how to target the type of reader interested in your book.

Start by defining your reader’s demographic characteristics, such as:

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Occupation
  • Income
  • Interests

Then, add psychographic elements, such as values, attitudes, and lifestyles.

Once you have identified your target audience, you can create your reader persona based on the identifying attributes in this exercise. You can even give them a name!

Knowing your ideal reader will help you tailor your marketing message. Use this persona to develop a marketing plan to reach the right readers and maximize book sales.

Writing to Your Audience

While understanding reader demographics can help market your book when finished, it is also possible to use reader personas to guide you in the writing process.

When you write with a specific audience in mind, you incorporate their interests into each chapter. You also use language and topics that are familiar to them.

So, for those reasons, it is always best to know your reader demographics before you write your book.

2. Set yourself up for marketing success.

As a new author, creating a website and setting up your Author Central Pages on Amazon and Goodreads is a great way to set yourself up for success.

These platforms will allow you to interact with your readers, track your book sales, and analyze how well your book is being received by your target audience.

Author Website

To create an effective author website, start with a content management system like WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix. These platforms offer simple customization for your website, and you can add features like blog editing, email, and social media links.

Your author website should include basic information about you and your book, such as:

  • Detailed bio
  • Book description
  • Book excerpts
  • Reader reviews
  • Contact page

You should also include a professional profile picture and links to where readers can buy your book.

Author Central Page

Author Central is the most crucial tool for authors on Amazon and is the primary source of information about you as an author. It allows you to track book sales, add editorial reviews, customize book listings, and develop a following. 

To set up your Author Central Page, follow these steps:

  1. Create your account. If you do not have a Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) account, create one by clicking the “Join Now” button. If you have already published a book using the KDP system, you will use that account.
  2. Enter your name. You can use your real name or another name you used to identify you as the author of your book. 
  3. Complete your author bio. This section is about you, so turn on the charm. Also, you should note that you cannot link to your website or other external sources. Instead, use this section to give details about yourself, how you became a writer, and why you chose to write about specific topics.
  4. Choose your author photo. This step is more crucial than many new authors realize, and there is a reason Amazon has such strict guidelines concerning profile pics. Yours needs to show a focused professional headshot that puts you in the most favorable light possible. So, leaving the photos of holiday celebrations on your phone is best. 
  5. Set up a blog feed. The great thing about Author Central is that it allows you to link directly to your blog if you have one. To do so, find the RSS feed on WordPress or whatever platform you use. Next, copy the link, then go back to the Author Central Page. Click “Add Blog,” paste the blog link, then click “Add.” 

Goodreads Author Page

Goodreads is a website that provides readers with book recommendations and is the largest of its kind. Established in 2007, the company aims to help people discover and exchange books they enjoy.

When you create an author page on Goodreads, you connect with potential readers, track book reviews, and engage with your fans. In addition, Goodreads offers promotional tools such as giveaways and featured author programs that can help boost visibility.

Setting up your account is similar to what you did for Amazon. The only difference is that you must add your books manually, which is fairly straightforward. 

3. Set your book up for marketing success.

Now that you have established your presence as an author, you will want to showcase the highlights of your book.

This can be done through the creation of an eye-catching cover and an engaging book description.

Creating the Book Cover

Unfortunately, readers will judge your book by its cover, so it is best to have one that stands out from the rest in your genre. In other words, it must be memorable.

DIY book covers are not a good idea. Even if you are a graphic designer, you will still lose all objectivity when creating your own.

Instead, it is best to hire a cover designer that you can work with to create the look that best represents your book. While it costs money to do this, it is well worth it to have a book cover that will compete in a crowded market. And as with most major business investments, you get what you pay for.

Writing the Book’s Description

The book description is crucial in book marketing, ranking second only to the title and cover. It is usually placed on the back cover and the top of the Amazon page, just below the price and above the book reviews. Your book description must be compelling to impact a reader’s purchase decision.

Here are some action steps to take:

  1. Create a hook. A captivating opening line holds the reader’s attention. Start with an intriguing aspect of the book, such as a bold claim or compelling idea, to encourage your audience to read on.
  2. Find your reader’s pain point. Speak to the struggles, frustrations, and challenges your book attempts to solve. The harder you hit these points, the easier it is to get your reader to accept the solution.
  3. Offer your book as the solution. If you have done your job in Step 2, Step 3 will be easy. For this step, you must clearly list the benefits of owning the book and what it will do for the reader. 
  4. Establish yourself as an expert. If you are a best-selling author, mention that first. Then list any other books you have authored or any awards you have received. Academic credentials are good, but it’s usually best to only list your highest education level.
  5. Use a cliffhanger at the end. The last part of your book description should be so compelling that the reader can’t wait to open the first page. It gives the person just enough information to keep them wanting more.

4. Leverage your social media presence.

Social media is a powerful tool to reach a large audience.

With the right strategy, you can engage with readers and make them aware of your book.

You create relationships with potential readers when you leverage your social media presence.

Be sure to post interesting content related to the topics covered in your book and answer questions about it.

  • Facebook. Create a dedicated author page on Facebook. Include a list of books you’ve written with publication dates and a brief description of each. Use the page to offer discounts and promotions and to display targeted ads promoting your book.
  • Twitter. Tweet about your book regularly and create a hashtag for it. Share quotes from your book, use polls to get public opinions on key topics, and share photos of you working behind the scenes.
  • LinkedIn. Utilize your network to get the word out about your book release. Join discussions about your topic and develop relationships with key influencers. Also, remember to build a winning author profile while you’re at it.

5. Give parts of your book away.

Creating a blog is one of the best ways to promote your book online. Use various chapters or sections of your book to write each post.

Start by creating an editorial calendar so you can stay on track. Then, write outlines to include all topics and highlights you want to cover.

Start by creating an editorial calendar so you can stay on track. Then, write outlines to include all topics and highlights you want to cover.

Before publishing, give yourself a by-line for each article or post. For example:

“Bob Smith is the owner of Smith Automotive Group in Springfield, Ohio, and is the author of “How To Live The Luxury Life.”

In this example, Bob’s readers who desire to earn more from their businesses will want to buy his book. Those who are only curious may want to buy it as well. The key to using this technique is to focus on your target reader like you did for your book.

6. Collaborate with podcasters and bloggers.

Collaborating with podcasters, bloggers, and influencers is another great way to gain exposure and get people talking about your book.

It also helps you build an audience that is interested in what you are writing.

Podcasters

Forbes contributor Dr. Ruth Gotian recently interviewed a handful of best-selling authors and asked them their secret to marketing their books. Overwhelmingly, the most common method was being interviewed on a podcast.

But how do you do that?

Dorie Clark, author of “The Long Game,” says to follow these steps:

  1. Start by finding excerpts within your book. Read your text to find nuggets of information you can discuss on a podcast. According to Clark, your goal is to have 10 to 20 topics and then narrow them down.
  2. Find podcasts that align with your book topic. Your chosen podcaster should be someone who has written a book within the past year. Also, they should be ahead of you regarding marketing. In other words, avoid beginners.
  3. Pitch directly to the podcaster. Let them know you have written a book on a similar topic to their podcast. Then ask them if they would like to explore it further in detail. Use the excerpts from the book you selected in Step 1.

Bloggers

Guest blogging is another way to get people thinking about you and your book. You want to pitch it in the same way you did for podcasting.

Start by setting aside some topics that resonate with the blog’s readers. Then, ask the owner if you could write a few guest blogs for them.

While some bloggers will pay you for your efforts, most will not. So instead, negotiate a deal where you can post an image of your book with a link to your author page. Or, at a minimum, you should be able to mention your book along with your bio at the end of the article or post.

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7. Offer discounts in exchange for Amazon reviews.

Getting reviews for your book on Amazon is like receiving pure gold. Without reviews, you could struggle to get readers to buy it. Why? Because today’s book buyers want to know if the information in your book is trustworthy, and the only way to do that is to see what others say about it.

Amazon’s algorithms will only take your book seriously if you already have reviews. And even if you’re convinced that it’s the best book ever, people will hesitate to buy it without having several reviews to read first.

The easiest way to start is by discounting your book to 20 people in exchange for written reviews. While 20 is an optimal number to start, you may only get a few participants at the outset. Still, this is better than nothing and will give you the confidence to ask for more reviews later.

8. Take advantage of discount promotions.

While it may seem counterintuitive to discount your book—after all, the reason for selling it is to make money—promotional offers net positive results.

For one, even the slightest change in your book's price will trigger Amazon's algorithms to spike your book's rating. That alone is worth the cost of discounting your book for a short while.

You may even want to give your book away in some cases.

Goodreads giveaways are an excellent example. These aggressive promotions allow you and your book to gain exposure in an otherwise saturated market.

You can always end your discount event whenever you like.

However, plan on doing at least one promo each quarter to maximize your book's exposure.

9. Hire a book promotion service.

Even if you do all the right things to promote your book, you may not be successful right out of the gate. You may need some outside help to get started.

Book promotion services are marketing agencies that specialize in selling books. And while they cost money, the investment is often worth it if you choose the right one.

Try to find a company specializing in the type of books you write: for example, non-fiction. In this case, a promoter that markets primarily fiction books would not work well for you.

Also, choose a book promoter with creative marketing tools you often won’t have the connections to set up independently. For example:

  • Media outreach
  • Expos and trade shows
  • Book signings
  • Video promotions
  • Author branding

10. Invest in paid advertising.

Spending money to advertise is typically reserved as a last resort for most beginning authors. Still, as with discount promotions, paid advertising can be worth it, but you must choose the right ones.

Of course, start by advertising on your author website, which is free. Next, advertise on other people's blogs or websites targeting your topic and reader demographics.

The final frontier for book advertising is printed trade publications. While the cost is prohibitive for most new authors, your book will gain considerable exposure with this marketing vehicle.

Final Thoughts on Marketing Your Book

While it may seem like a lot of work to market your book, it’s best to start with the simplest tasks first and work outward from there. Use this blueprint:

  1. Choose your topic based on the readers you want to reach before typing the first word. Then, write to your target audience.
  2. Create an author page. Many readers will only buy books from authors they like and trust.
  3. Once you finish your book, create a compelling book description and cover.
  4. Introduce your book on your author site.
  5. Talk about your book on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
  6. Write about your book on your blog using key topics.
  7. Offer your book at a discount in exchange for Amazon reviews.
  8. Take advantage of discount promotions.
  9. Become a guest blogger.
  10. Get interviewed on a podcast.
  11. Hire a book promotion company if you need help.
  12. Invest in paid advertising only if you can afford it.

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Barbara Adams - Copywriter

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Stacy Clifford - Copywriter

Stacy Clifford is a wearer of many hats, both literally and figuratively. Having earned a B.S. in Geology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1996, his career has covered environmental cleanup, software testing, web development, technical support, copy editing and proofreading, and martial arts instruction. He has been proofreading since 3rd grade English with Mrs. Barry, corrected every stripe of web copy for over 15 years, copy edited both fiction and non-fiction books, and written on subjects as diverse as volcanology, sword fighting, and space colonization. A fixer by nature, Stacy is a stickler for structure and form and enjoys a good challenge whipping a document into shape. When not tackling the worlds problems or teaching people how to stab each other, Stacy enjoys pencil drawing and hiking in the national parks.

Flori Meeks - Copywriter

Flori, who has more than 25 years of writing experience, began her career in suburban Detroit as a community newspaper reporter. She has worked as a neighborhood news editor for the Houston Chronicle and as a copywriter for Powell Public Relations. During more than 10 years as a freelance writer, her projects included newspaper and magazine articles, press releases, brochure and website copy, Request for Proposal (RFP) responses, and grant applications. Her clients have included Galveston Monthly magazine, Weddings in Houston magazine, Judy Nichols & Associates (public relations) and NCIC Phone Services, along with nonprofit organizations, Lifeway International and Newspring. Since joining The Writers For Hire, Flori has assisted with social media campaigns and written blog posts, articles, press releases, brochures, and web copy.

Flori has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Oakland University.

Jessica Stautberg - Lead Copywriter

Jessica joined The Writers for Hire after several years of technical writing for two Department of Defense contractors, where she created software documentation and online help, as well as material for the company websites and newsletters. Since joining The Writers for Hire, Jessica has become the company’s resident “Wiki guru,” and manages most of the Wikipedia projects. She also manages social media campaigns for several local businesses, provides copy and layout options for website projects, writes blog posts on topics that include the oil and gas industry, web hosting, and fashion, and writes articles, brochures, books, and press releases. Jessica has a Master’s in Technical Communication from Texas State, where she also edited and proofread articles for Center of the Study of the Southwest’s academic journals while working as a ghostwriter for Infobooks.com. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Southwestern University.

Jennifer Rizzo - Copywriter / Genealogist

Jennifer, also known as "Rizzo," is a Denver-based writer and genealogist with a passion for history, travel, and languages. She studied Spanish at the University of Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Mexico and also lived and studied in Ancona, Italy. She also holds a certification for International Tour Management through the International Guide Academy, as well as a Genealogy certification from IAP Career College. Since joining The Writers For Hire, Jennifer has tackled a vast array of projects—from RPFs and SOPs to memoirs and company history books— and has done many in-depth genealogical research and family tree projects. She has also worked as Project Manager for various client projects, including family history books, websites, RFPs, blogs, autobiographies, and SOPs. Jennifer is our resident historian and genealogist, and can often be found examining 200-year-old books in various archive sites around the globe. She enjoys working closely with clients, and loves any opportunity that allows her to indulge her creative side.

Peter Albrecht - Copywriter

After putting in enough time as a busboy, a cheesesteak artist, a medical courier, and a nightclub bouncer, Peter took the logical next step—securing a position at a bicycle shop. While serving as a mechanic and a salesman, his incriminating degree in creative writing from the University of Arizona got him assigned to every additional duty that had anything to do with words. Between all the wrenching and selling, Peter wrote website copy, emails, blogs, digital and print ads, press releases, articles, advertorials, and scripts for radio and television commercials. What started as a summer job evolved into an 18-year career in the cycling industry, gaining him experience in corporate communications, public relations, social media management, event planning, marketing, and retail advertising. Since joining The Writers for Hire, Peter has branched into ghostwriting, op-eds, RFPs, SOPs, and producing work for aerospace and engineering firms, public utilities, oil and gas companies, real estate developers, and the entertainment industry. At his home base in New Jersey, Peter spends his free time souping up cheap vintage guitars, admiring his dog, and talking about moving to the Adirondacks.

Arielle Emmett - Copywriter

Arielle Emmett joined The Writers for Hire after a 30-year career in science, technology, and international journalism education. Early in her career, during the Watergate era, Arielle was selected as a journalism intern for The New York Times columnist William Safire, and she was a correspondent for Newsweek. She has worked as an editor for Science Digest, as a reporter and features staff writer for the Detroit Free Press, and as a columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer and The American Journalism Review. She also has held senior editor and editor-in-chief positions at leading technical magazines and was a 10-year contributing editor at The Scientist. Arielle’s work has been published in Parents, Ms., OMNI, and Toronto Globe & Mail, among other publications. In 2011 she completed her doctoral dissertation in visual media and iconic photography at the University of Maryland. Since then, Arielle has taught science communications and online journalism at Temple and Drexel Universities, International College Beijing, and University of Hong Kong.

Erin Larson - Copywriter

With a Bachelor of Science in Language Arts from Georgetown University and 20 years of editorial experience, Erin brings a passion for words and well-crafted writing to every project. As a writer, she revels in the opportunity to create vibrant original copy and rejuvenate tired text. She has written on a range of topics, in a variety of styles, and for an array of platforms. As an editor, proofreader, translator, and trusted second set of eyes, she has helped clients from around the world enhance their writing. A self-proclaimed editorial perfectionist, Erin once canceled a credit card because of a grammatically incorrect form letter, which she edited and promptly sent back to the company. (Incidentally, she wasn’t surprised to receive no response.)

Devin Lawrence - Copywriter

Devin is a writer from Richmond, Virginia. He’s been an avid fan of fiction literature ever since he was young, and spent most of his adolescence pouring over one book series after another. Some of his favorites from back in the day include Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Ender’s Game, Ender’s Shadow, and The Edge Chronicles. He began pursuing creative writing when he was twelve, hoping to someday emulate his favorite authors. He has since spent more than ten years continuing to hone and expand the skills of his craft, graduating from Old Dominion University with a degree in Professional Writing in 2022. He has written on topics ranging from technology trends, to criminal justice, homeland security, self-defense, hiking and camping, workplace operational analysis, the challenges of eldercare, and data privacy. Creative by nature, Devin also dabbles as a graphic designer with particular interest in infographics and flowcharts.

Chris DeLange - Copywriter

Chris is a London-based writer with a strong background in HR/Learning & Development. He has held senior positions at large corporations in London as both Talent Development Business Partner and Head of Learning and Development. Chris graduated top of his class when he completed his MSc in Industrial Psychology at the University of Leicester in England. He also holds a TEFL/TESOL qualification in teaching English as a Second Language from Global Language Training. Chris is a big foody and is always exploring new dishes and creating new recipes. He became a qualified Chef in 2012 when he studied Culinary Arts at the International Centre For Culinary Arts in Dubai. He is very passionate about writing and is working on multiple team projects. Chris joined The Writers For Hire in 2022 and is settling in very well.

Morgan Pinales - Copywriter

Morgan has worked in marketing and communications for more than eight years, with a primary focus on copywriting and content creation. Throughout her years of experience, she has written and edited almost every kind of copy imaginable – magazine articles, blog posts, website copy, brochures, press releases, nonfiction books, newsletter articles, brand guidelines, and more – for both B2B and B2C audiences in a wide array of industries, including energy, technology, finance, healthcare, education, travel, retail, and more. In addition to her creative skills, Morgan has technical expertise in HTML coding and utilizing content management systems (e.g. WordPress) and email platforms, such as MailChimp, ExactTarget, and Constant Contact. With a lifelong interest in language, it is not surprising that Morgan has a bachelor’s degree in German and Linguistics from Rice University, where she studied more than eight languages. In 2011, she received her master’s degree in Advertising from The University of Texas, where she was accepted into the elite Texas Creative Program for her copywriting skills. In her free time, Morgan enjoys writing personalized picture books for friends and family.

Shelley Harrison Carpenter - Copywriter

Shelley’s love of words began in first grade, composing poems for her dear teacher and mentor, Mrs. Blanchard. Her writing career began with several years as a county newspaper reporter, where she developed a love for interviewing all sorts of people. Besides feature writing, her news beats included city government, education, and nonprofits of every stripe. As a determined “adult student,” Shelley graduated summa cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2010 where she also wrote profiles of outstanding adult students for a “Web Weekly” newsletter and edited a grant proposal for a campus office. After college, she wrote English instructional materials, website copy, product copy, and blogs before joining two construction and development ezines as a staff writer, happy to be conducting interviews for each assignment. Several years of intervening employment in corporate merchandising and HR deepened Shelley’s understanding of the workings of larger companies and the written content they require. She now loves being part of the writing teams at The Writers for Hire. When not at a keyboard, she can be seen jogging in her Southern neighborhood or found holed up with a biography, a vegetarian cookbook, or a vintage TV show.

Melanie Green - Copywriter

Melanie Green is a Tampa-based writer and editor, with a focus on digital marketing content. She has more than 15 years of experience writing professionally, including time spent as a full-time employee of McKinsey & Company, Nielsen, and The Business Observer. She loves to write blog posts, website pages, press releases, RFPs, and whitepapers for companies of all sizes in the United States. 

She earned her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing with a concentration in screenwriting from National University in La Jolla, California, and her Bachelor of Arts in Writing from the University of Tampa in Tampa, Florida. 

Carol Kim - Copywriter

Carol Kim is a versatile freelance copywriter who specializes in content marketing, blog posts, website content, and email marketing for business clients. She especially enjoys diving into research and discovering what makes every company unique. Carol holds a bachelor’s degree from Pomona College and a Master’s in Public Affairs from the LBJ School at the University of Texas at Austin.

Carol is also a children’s book author, having written several fiction and nonfiction books for the educational market. She especially loves helping kids learn about the environment and social sciences. Her first nonfiction picture book from a trade publisher is due to be released in fall 2021. 

Martha Scott - Copywriter

Martha Scott’s technical writing career began on a contract at Houston’s Johnson Space Center. She edited papers for scientific journal publication, documents for departments across the site, and a book about a proposed crew escape vehicle. She produced a yearly booklet describing Shuttle contract cost-saving measures, the mission managers’ Flight Data Pack, and a 45-page booklet called Charting a Course to the Year 2000 and Beyond describing plans to develop additional space vehicles and prepare for manned Mars explorations. At Invesco, Martha edited and contributed to two company newsletters (online and hardcopy). She wrote software user manuals, Help files, Training and Benefits department documents, and, finally, shareholder reports. She returned to aerospace for the Shuttle Program’s last 5 years where she attended and produced detailed descriptions of presentations and subsequent discussions at the Orbiter Configuration Control Board’s weekly meetings. She also documented crew debriefings for 17 flights. Martha’s most recent experience was on Jacobs Engineering’s contract with a Texas City refinery for which she wrote and edited Engineering, Safety, Inspection, and Information Systems documents.

Suzanne Kearns - Copywriter

Suzanne knew she wanted to be a writer at the age of ten when she wrote her first story, and has spent the past 2 decades writing blog posts, magazine articles, nonfiction and fiction books, sales letters, white papers, press releases, website copy, and anything else that can be put in written form. She has written for Intuit, Avalara, NerdWallet, GoPayment, and as a ghostwriter for a few well-known CEO’s. Her work has appeared all around the internet, including on sites like World News and Reports, Entrepreneur.com, and Forbes. She loves nothing more than being presented with a bunch of data and asked to break it down into digestible content for readers. Most days you’ll find her sitting on her porch with her laptop, writing to the sound of the ocean, and marveling that life can be this stinking good.

Jennifer DeLay - Copywriter

Jennifer has a background in journalism and Russian area studies. She holds a BA from the University of Texas at Austin and an MSFS from Georgetown University. While in graduate school in the mid-1990s, she developed an interest in the oil and gas industry of the former Soviet Union and launched a free newsletter covering the subject. She then spent more than 20 years researching, analyzing and writing about related topics, working for multiple weekly publications and a private consulting firm. Her areas of professional interest also include energy and power in China, Iran and the Eastern Mediterranean, and for fun she researches linguistics, neuroscience and disability-related issues. She has experience in copy-editing and has frequently worked with both native and non-native English speakers, helping them to produce clear, easily understandable articles on complex political, economic, legal and technical topics. Additionally, she has managed many time-sensitive typesetting projects for community institutions. Jennifer enjoys writing personal essays and lives in Atlanta with her family.

Dana Robinson - Copywriter

Dana Robinson has been writing and editing professionally for 10 years, publishing her first article in 2007. She serves as Editor-in-Chief of a local online magazine and is a contributor to various Houston print publications. She honed her experience writing newsletters and managing social media for small businesses and non-profits before moving on to e-books, magazines, and non-fiction books for print. She also enjoys teaching creative writing workshops for children. Dana received her formal education at the University of Houston–Downtown, where she majored in professional writing, minored in creative writing, and was the recipient of the Upper Division Writing award for best essay. She completed internships with Writers In The Schools and The Bayou Review.

Brenda Hazzard - Copywriter

Brenda Hazzard has over 30 years’ experience working as a writer and editor in the private and public sectors. She spent over 20 years working for the US Government in Washington and abroad, and spent several years working with the CIA during which she managed a team of writers producing internal briefs on international news, events, and politics. She writes on a variety of topics but loves opportunities to work on projects that cater to her keen interest in international affairs. She considers herself to be an empathetic editor, one who improves a draft but lets the spirit of the writer shine through. She has also worked on dissertations, white papers, newspaper articles, and family histories.

Adelia Ritchie - Copywriter

Adelia is a scientist, educator, technical writer and editor, poet, and blogger about her Pura Vida lifestyle in Costa Rica. She has more than 40 years experience writing professionally, including her years at Science Applications International Corp., Bechtel Corporation, Defense Acquisition University, and the Department of Defense. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Organic Chemistry at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Physics from the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Florida.

Carey Miller - Copywriter

Carey brings more than 20 years of writing and editing experience to The Writers for Hire. A lifelong writer and reader, she holds a B.A. in English from UCLA. Her background includes writing and editorial positions with both book and magazine publishers. She has worked as a copy editor and proofreader for major advertising agencies including Ogilvy & Mather and Rubin Postaer. Her experience includes magazine feature writing and editing as well as manuscript development and editing. A former advertising sales executive, she has crafted a wide range of business, sales, and marketing communication for leading magazine publishers including Conde Nast and Hearst. She has worked with major consumer brands including Nike, Visa, Levi’s, General Motors, Microsoft, Charles Schwab, and Neutrogena.

Coralee Bechteler - Copywriter

In the past, Coralee has been an organic farmer, a chicken herder, a zipline administrative assistant, and an ESL teacher for kids. Today, she's living her childhood dream of being a writer. She currently resides in New York with her cat (and muse) Hermes and a miles-long TBR list that gets longer every day. If she's not reading or crafting, you can usually find her pulled over on a country road writing something down or picking wildflowers. Coralee holds a bachelor's degree in English, an associate's degree in Horticulture, and multiple internationally recognized software testing certifications.

Cecile Brule - Copywriter

Cecile enjoys the challenge of discovering each client’s unique strengths and presenting them to a wider audience. Since joining The Writers For Hire, she has worked on blogs, newsletters, RFPs, end-user documentation, email, social media, sales pages, biographies, op-eds, and fiction.

Previously, she taught in Shenzhen, China and obtained an HSK3 (Intermediate Mandarin) certificate. Cecile enjoys gaming, drawing, producing short films, and growing fifteen different varieties of apples with Serenity Orchards.

Rosalind Stanley - Copywriter

Rosalind Stanley grew up on the Coast of Maine and then accidentally spent fifteen years in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, before moving to the Midwest. She graduated from Lynchburg College in 2008 with a B.A. in Creative Writing (and a minor in Theater Performance); ever since, Rosalind has endeavored to make writing a part of her daily life, whether creative or technical, whether as a volunteer or an employee. She has tutored students, taught workshops, edited fiction and non-fiction books, and worked as a beta reader and a legal writer. She also publishes a newsletter on Substack, where she releases her own fiction serially. When not writing, Rosalind is busy homeschooling her four children and raiding the local library for new fiction.

Sean Patrick Hill - Copywriter

Sean has been a professional writer for more than 25 years, and has an M.A. in Writing from Portland State University and an M.F.A. in Poetry from Warren Wilson College. He's the author of five books, and his writing has won him grants and fellowships from the Kentucky Arts Council, the Vermont Studio Center, the Elizabeth George Foundation, and the Regional Arts and Culture Council. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where he also works at his photography.

Wintress Odom - Owner / Editor-in-chief

Wintress founded The Writers For Hire in 2003 after freelancing for several years as a copywriter and editor. She has overseen, edited, proofread, or written copy for over 100 clients and is happy to have maintained long-term relationships with many of her first customers. Wintress is an exceptional proofreader and editor and has a gift for organizing large projects, including large technical manuals and manuscripts. Her educational background includes graduating cum laude from Rice University in 2000, studying at Cologne Gymnasium in Germany, and graduating valedictorian from The Science Academy of South Texas in 1994.
Wintress