Wondering if I’m the right writer for your next freelance writing project? Browse through my writing portfolio for samples showcasing my previous work.
Writing styles can vary based on the length of a piece and whether it’s written for a national publication, an on-line magazine, or a regional glossy. My portfolio below covers short-form and long-form feature articles, profiles, reports, and advertorials. To learn more about even more of my prior work, please contact me.
Feature Articles
Short-Form Features
Short-form feature articles are often pithy, front-of-the-book articles that typically range from 250-900 words. Every word matters.
“How Finding Your Roots Turns DNA Research into Essential TV,” – Meet the researchers who uncover the fascinating family histories of this PBS series’ celebrity guests. Emmy Online Originals, April 9, 2024
“Seen on the Street,” – Find out how a documentary about a book about Sesame Street led to a book about the documentary, and learn about the book’s connection to one of today’s busiest TV producers,” Emmy, issue 4, 2022
“Hip, Hip, Beret!” – In honor of The Mary Tyler Moore Show‘s 50th anniversary, some of today’s top TV journalists reflect on how the classic comedy inspired their career choices, Emmy, issue 9, 2020
“The Sound and the Furry,” – Meet the award-winning sound designers behind the Disney+ original movie, Togo. Emmy, issue 5, 2020
Long-Form Feature Articles
Long-form feature articles require multiple sources, and can span several pages.
“Why ‘The Bear,’ ‘Barry,’ and ‘Jury Duty’ Struggled to Find the Perfect Filming Locations,” – See the lengths producers and location managers went to when seeking locations that matched their showrunners’ needs, Variety, August 19, 2023
“Monster Makers,” – Meet some of the artists that create the creepiest, scariest, and most intricate monsters, aliens, zombies, and demons on TV today, Emmy, Issue 7, 2023
“Investing in Services,” – Learn the pros and cons of adding extra services to your pet store or grooming service, Pet Product News, April 2024
“Illinois-Shot Shows “The Bear,” “Lovecraft County” and “South Side” Benefit From Rapidly Expanding Production Facilities, Incentives,” – See how tax incentives, state-of-the-art production facilities, and regional film offices are poised to push Illinois’ film and TV production revenue to a billion dollars per year, Variety, March 8, 2023
“The Power of Short Films,” – Writer-filmmakers Carmella Casinelli, Bryan Buckley, and Oscar-winner Marshall Curry discuss reasons screenwriters should consider writing short films, Script Magazine, October 30, 2020
“Deploying New Methods in a New Economy” – Economic leaders in Rockford, Freeport, and Beloit outline the previous year’s highlights and how they are adapting to economic challenges posed by COVID-19, Northwest Quarterly, summer 2020
“Homegrown Suffragists and the 19th Amendment,” – Step back in time and meet some of the region’s women (and men) who fought to get women the vote, Northwest Quarterly, summer, 2019 (Chicagoland and Old Northwest Territory editions)
Profiles
Profiles are among my favorite things to write because I get to introduce readers to fascinating, inspiring, and sometimes quirky people and businesses they probably weren’t familiar with. One of my first paying writing gigs was profiling a small town chimney sweep who dressed the part. He was every bit as interesting to speak with as any celebrity I’ve interviewed over the years. Sometimes I need to convey the essence of a person or brand in a couple hundred words, but every now and then a client will want an in-depth profile to tell a fuller story.
Individuals
“Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch,” – Meet Blitz Bazawule, director of the new adaptation of The Color Purple, Variety, January 4, 2024
“Meet Bones of Crows writer/director/producer Marie Clements,” – Learn how the award-winning writer is telling stories from her native culture, Script Magazine, November 15, 2023
“Up On Her Soapbox,” – See what motivated artisanal soap maker Lynnel Olson to launch and grow a successful business, Northwest Quarterly, Spring, 2023
“Now You See Him,” – Find out why Ghosts‘ Utkarsh Ambudkar seems to be everywhere you look these days, Emmy, issue 5, 2022
Businesses
“Red Nation TV: The Longest-Running Streaming Service You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of,” – Meet Joanelle Romero, the founder and CEO of one of the world’s first streaming services, which just happens to be dedicated to providing indigenous programming, Emmy Online Originals, November 17, 2023
“COZI TV Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary,” – NBCUniversal-owned diginet COZI TV is all grown up and celebrating its first decade in style, Variety, February 1, 2023
“The Oldest Bar in Rockford Welcomes Everyone,” – Learn about the history and impact of Mary’s Place—and the musical icons who still play there,” Northwest Quarterly, fall 2020
Impact & Trend Reports
When I first started writing short blurbs and mini-bios of industry leaders for Cablefax‘s annual rankings and Variety’s frequent impact reports and trend reports, I didn’t think it would become such a large part of my business. Often as brief as as 50-100 words, and sometimes requiring quick phone interviews to secure original quotes, these are more challenging than they seem. Writing that tight takes a tremendous amount of restraint and concision. On the opposite end of the spectrum: the 22-page report I wrote for The Vitamin Shoppe, which required massive amounts of research and meticulous organization.
“Legal Impact Report 2024,” – Contributed 12 entries on some of the sharpest legal minds in the entertainment industry, Variety, April 17, 2024
“Dealmakers of 2023,” – Contributed 10 entries about some of the entertainment industry’s top dealmakers, Variety, December 14, 2023
“Women in Cable,” – Contributed 30 entries for the annual listing of cable’s most powerful women, Cablefax, December, 2023
“Hollywood’s New Leaders 2023,” – Meet some of Hollywoods new movers and shakers, Variety, November 1, 2023
“The Diversity List 2023,” – Discover how DEI champions in the television and streaming sector are working to make the industry and its offerings more equitable for everyone, Cablefax, September, 2023
“The Vitamin Shoppe Health & Wellness Report 2023,” – Wrote, edited, and helped research The Vitamin Shoppe‘s second annual health and wellness trend report, released July 2023
Advertorial
The first advertorial I wrote was for a national business magazine that folded over a decade ago. More recently, I’ve been hired to write advertorial copy for special For Your Consideration advertorial supplements distributed with Emmy. I treat these as I would any other article assignments, but understanding that with advertorial the end client has full control of the final product.
Amazon Prime Video
“Puppet Master,” (working title) – Learn what went into creating Gen V‘s buzz worthy puppet massacre, Amazon Prime Video advertorial supplement, forthcoming 2024
AppleTV+
“Episode 6: Zoë,” – Zoe Chao talks about getting animated for her namesake character’s episode of The Afterparty, AppleTV+ advertorial supplement, 2022
“A Different View,” – Meet The Afterparty’s multi-faceted Zoe Chao, AppleTV+ advertorial supplement, 2022
“Music to His Ears,” – Discover who and what inspired Ben Schwartz to sing and dance for his role on The Afterparty, AppleTV+ advertorial supplement, 2022
“Dream House” – Get an insider’s peek at how Dickinson production designer Neil Patel created a period-perfect 1850s opera house for the series’ season two episode, “Split the Lark,” AppleTV+ advertorial supplement, 2021
Profiles of Dickinson case members Finn Jones (“Tech Support”), Ella Hunt (“Home Free”), Adrian Blake Enscoe (“Brother in Arms”), and Anna Baryshnikov (“Timely, Timeless”), AppleTV+ advertorial supplement, 2021
“No Ordinary Period Piece,” – Season one production designer Loren Weeks explains how he and his team re-created the American poet’s family home for Dickinson, AppleTV+ advertorial supplement, 2020
Contact me to discuss your next writing project.