Launching a promising new year

As 2024 began with a trifecta of dates (new week, new month, new year all on the same day!), I’m so glad that most of my clients, colleagues, friends and family made it through 2023 in reasonably good shape. My sincere thanks to my wonderful clients who have been keeping me busy and my equally wonderful colleagues, family and friends who have been looking out for each other.

The new year has started out strong, with a couple of new speaking opportunities coming up (the website’s “When” section will be updated shortly), two new clients for book editing work and more.

With the end of 2023 and artificial intelligence becoming more and more prevalent, I thought clients and colleagues might like to know that I do not and don’t plan to use artificial intelligence (AI) for any of my writing, editing or proofreading work. What you get from me is real, original, unique content, based on interviews with real sources and research with legitimate resources as needed. I find the whole concept of letting AI write or otherwise produce material distasteful and scary. Clients who understand the value and importance of original content by human beings will be highly valued by creators like me, as well as more trusted by their knowledgeable audiences and readerships. Professional writers, editors, proofreaders, designers, etc., should be equally valued by prospective clients.

My thanks to Victoria Brzustowicz for creating this graphic!

As 2024 begins, we still face challenges, and some are likely to remain for quite a while. Variants of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses continue to evolve and AI is becoming more and more common. The good news is that many organizations are meeting in person again, which is a delight for extroverts like me who enjoy interacting with colleagues in real life, even though I do value the ability to connect with people all over the world through online resources. The continuing use of a hybrid model — in person at the office for a few days a week with online options — is a good example of serving audiences, whether employees, clients or colleagues, the way they want to be served.

I’ve been in the lucky position of working from home for many years now, almost exclusively using electronic processes for writing, editing, proofreading and even presenting for, as well as communicating with, my clients and colleagues. I’ve always been conscious of my good fortune and never taken it for granted, and the recent global health situation makes me even more appreciative than usual.

Clients and colleagues can continue to rely on my availability for assignments and advice, as well as original work. I hope 2024 is healthy, successful and profitable for all.

Recent news

• I was invited to participate as a speaker in a webinar about “From Spin to Authenticity: Crisis Messaging in a Politically Charged Environment,” hosted by the West African Interest Group of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). It was an important opportunity to learn more about how professional communicators cope with such situations in other countries and cultures.

• I had fun exhibiting and speaking at Spine Bookstore’s first-ever Indie Author Book Fair here in St. Louis. My presentation offered insights into “The Basics of Editing and Proofreading” from both sides of the coin: what it takes to be a professional editor or proofreader, and how authors can find and work with editors and proofreaders. It was fun to meet local authors, many of whom have fascinating books to share. Kudos to Spine for both featuring local authors in the store and hosting what I hope is the first of many opportunities for local authors to strut their stuff!

I was recently the proofreader and a contributing author for Great Dames: Women Sharing Their Power, a collection of 52 true stories written by women about powerful moments in their lives that helped them become who they are today. We’re having a book launch on September 28 at the Wilmington Art Museum, and the “great dame” behind the book recently mentioned me on Facebook.

More to come as I pay as much attention to my own website as I do to my clients’ projects!

Your project is now in the hands of a member of the Brighton Schools Alumni Association (BSAA)/Brighton High School (BHS) Alumni Hall of Fame. The in-person recognition event in June 2022 in Rochester, NY, was wonderful. It was especially rewarding to speak about editing to a third-grade class at a city elementary school and about the value of good writing skills to three English classes at my high school alma mater. And for my brother to suggest that I take my video message about overcoming mocking/bullying “on the road” to every high school in the country! 

Anything? Really?

Yes, really — I can write about, edit, proofread and speak about anything! If you need a freelance writer, editor, proofreader or layout professional for articles, newsletters, brochures, annual reports, websites or other projects, I’ve done that on almost everything from A to Z. I’m also a popular presenter on a variety of topics related to the world of publishing, and can adapt my presentation skills to other topics relevant to my clients’ areas of interest.

I write, edit, proofread and desktop-publish projects about: accounting, animal hospitals/veterinary practices, apartment living, art and artists, associations, business, campus physical-plant management, car tech/mobile electronics, cats, communications, diversity/equity/inclusion, editing and proofreading, eldercare, education, freelancing, healthcare/medicine/fitness, human resources, insurance, landscaping and gardening, local history, marketing & PR, networking, nonprofits, real estate, regulatory issues, sculpture, statistics, technology, volunteering, websites, workplace safety, writing — and much more ...

for: associations, not-for-profit organizations, businesses, publications, websites and individuals ...

at the: local, regional, national and international levels ...

For details, see the “Where I've been published” and “Why hire a professional” sections of this site or click here to download a PDF of my promotional brochure.

For my detailed insights on freelancing, consider purchasing my booklet, “Get Paid to Write! Getting Started as a Freelance Writer,” even if you can attend one of my presentations or webinars, because it covers more than I usually can discuss in a presentation! . Lots of tips, guidelines and resources, and new purchasers can subscribe to an update list. It’s only $20/copy, payable by check (send e-mail message to Ruth@writerruth.com for mailing address) or PayPal (to Ruth@writerruth.com). It’s available in print or as a PDF.

I speak about freelancing, editing and proofreading basics, websites, newsletters, grammar, marketing, nonprofit management, and more! I love making presentations! If there are topics you would like me to present for your organization, just let me know at Ruth@writerruth.com or 314-240-5034.

If you can’t get to my classes on “Basics of Editing and Proofreading” or “Websites for Writers,” the handouts are available at $25 each (PDF or on paper). If interested, contact me at Ruth@writerruth.com. Other event handouts are be available on request for the same price.