Why Work With me?

Meet Maxine

I’ve had a lifelong love affair with the written word. Even after all these years, molding words into something that can entertain or persuade or enlighten still feels a little bit like magic.

FAST FACTS

On-Paper Qualifications: degrees in professional writing, literature, and history and certifications in technical writing and instructional design

Real-World Experience: more than 15 years as a development editor for a reference publisher, 9 years as an independent content developer and editor, and author of There’s a Cow in My Freezer

How I See My Role: I’m the bridge between you and your audience, helping you convey your expertise in a way that educates and captivates

Off The Clock: you’ll find me practicing trapeze and other aerial arts, traveling, eating my way through Portland’s amazing food scene, and putting things into spreadsheets

I can help you...

  • Save Money: Working with me makes financial sense because you don’t have to worry about the “hidden” costs of a regular employee, like health insurance, sick leave, and equipment. And since I work on an as-needed basis, you only spend money when there's an actual job to be done.
  • Find Consistency: Even if a project was finished by an entire team of people or by one individual over a long span of time, it shouldn't appear that way. My job is to ensure that a client's written material speaks with a unified voice, both grammatically and stylistically.
  • Maximize Your Employees: Working with me gives you and your coworkers a chance to focus on other tasks that are better handled in-house. Make good use of your employees' time and unique skill sets by taking projects that can be completed by someone else off their plates.
  • Gain a Fresh Perspective: Are you so wrapped up in the details of a project that you've lost sight of the big picture? Or maybe you can't decide on which concrete steps to take to make your grand idea come to life? Either way, I can provide the new way of looking at things you need.

The Generalist Advantage

Some content developers specialize in a particular type of content or work exclusively in a certain industry. While they may have deep expertise in their particular niche, they aren’t able to bring the breadth of knowledge and experience that many projects need. The most engaging content and the most creative solutions requires a multidisciplinary approach. That’s why I pride myself on being a generalist instead of a specialist.

Just as a great chef can create dozens of delicious meals and isn’t limited to only one dish, I’m not limited to one type of content, subject matter, or writing style. Every project I take on is a new recipe. My skills are the ingredients and my experience provides the knowledge I need to blend them into combinations that perfectly suit the client’s particular tastes and needs.

While I consider myself a generalist, I still play favorites when it comes to subjects and formats. I particularly love working in the health, finance, and personal development spheres, as well as the creation of longer-form and interactive content like e-learning courses.

Connect with me

If you have questions about my background or want more information about my experience in a particular area, please feel free to send me a quick message.