A few words about my reputation... I am known as someone who:
- Is naturally investigative, insightful, and sensitively attuned to you.
- Has a rare ability to get right to the heart of the matter.
- Will uncover the hidden gems in your concept or story.
- Hears everything said and unsaid and listens between the lines.
- Leads with integrity and ensures structural integrity in all copy.
- Writes for you and as you, polishing your message until it shines.
- Infuses everything I write with depth and power.
- Uncrosses tangled wires in your message or story.
- Frees your message or story to become the best it can be.
- Writes content that moves and impacts the reader.
- Remains true to your intentions and goals.
- Delivers excellent written content that you can share with confidence and pride.
Book Ghostwriter / Biographer:
Since 1999, I have ghostwritten 30+ books for my clients. Most of these books are life stories and memoirs. A handful are a hybrid of memoir and business book. The majority of my book clients have experienced trauma and tragedy and emerged victorious. It was very satisfying to help my memoir clients process their trauma as they told me their stories. (See the Book Testimonials and Client List pages for more info.)
I am a natural-born biographer. From a young age, I was fascinated by the stories of others. I recall reading Working by Studs Terkel and feeling a kinship to him. When I lived in Nashville years before I became a professional biographer, I would take a microphone and a tape recorder around town and choose interview subjects. People sat patiently and told me their stories while I interviewed them. This was the early version of my biographer-ghostwriter work.
The fact that so many of my clients have been through profound challenges made my life as a biographer all the more rewarding and enriching. I have authored two books under my own name (scroll down below) in which I have profiled notables in the film/TV industry. I also have one spoken-word CD. (See below.)
I am a natural-born biographer. From a young age, I was fascinated by the stories of others. I recall reading Working by Studs Terkel and feeling a kinship to him. When I lived in Nashville years before I became a professional biographer, I would take a microphone and a tape recorder around town and choose interview subjects. People sat patiently and told me their stories while I interviewed them. This was the early version of my biographer-ghostwriter work.
The fact that so many of my clients have been through profound challenges made my life as a biographer all the more rewarding and enriching. I have authored two books under my own name (scroll down below) in which I have profiled notables in the film/TV industry. I also have one spoken-word CD. (See below.)
Speechwriter and Video Script Writer: (see www.cooperspeechwriting.com)
General Content Writer:
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I specialize in writing about people. In addition to the 30+ client books I have written and developmentally edited, I have written countless profile articles. I began my writing career writing much of the content for the newsletters for the IATSE film and T.V. unions across Southern California. Additionally, I have written many press releases, About the Author pages, mini bios, essays, and legal writings. I have also written content for several websites. If your writing project involves people--as opposed to, let's say, scientific writing--I can easily handle it. Bringing 23 years of writing to all writing projects.
Developmental Editor (revising and editing):
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This service is for those of you who have created a draft of your manuscript and taken the writing as far as you can go on your own. As a developmental editor, I assess and review the manuscript. During the manuscript review, I identify areas that need restructuring. The developmental editing project starts with me doing restructuring and reformatting. Then I address every layer of the writing--revising, polishing, and ultimately proofreading.
Think of it as me taking apart the draft and putting it back together with all the problems and issues resolved. Once all the manuscript's issues have been addressed and resolved, it will be at its best, and ready to publish and share. I have developmentally edited many books and bring that experience to your writing project.
Content development coach:
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I bring 23 years of experience to benefit you in my role as a coach and tutor for your writing projects. You will have all my experience, skill, talent, heart, encouragement, and support. Bring me your story or creative content concept and we can discuss your dreams and goals for the project. Then I will help you define, structure, and develop it. Once we have developed a good workable structure for your writing project, you will be ready to start, with me coaching you through to completion.
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Background and Back Story:
I believe that talent is a gift from above. Skill is perfected through dedication. Experience comes over time. Caring is another story. Either a writer cares or they don't. Writing for me is a calling. I care. It always shows in my writing, my revisions, and my coaching.
I began my professional writing career by writing profile articles about film/TV studio pros like my dad, who worked on set at Universal Studios. I soon found that I had innate insights into human nature and the ability to listen and connect with a client's heart, mind, spirit, and intentions. I instinctively understood the most moving and effective way to present a client's message in writing.
Over the years, my clientele has included those in the entertainment industry (see Book Clients page), as well as survivors of trauma and tragedy.
In earlier years, I worked as a civil litigation legal secretary. Typing 100 words per minute on legal documents comes in handy to this day. I don't have to record or transcribe interviews, allowing for a streamlined process.
I also spent years conducting business-to-business market research interviews and writing customer satisfaction summaries. I have been told that during my interviewing process, I put clients at ease and create a comfortable dynamic that enables them to open up. Many even report finding the process therapeutic and healing.
I grew up in Los Angeles as the daughter of a dad who was a special-effects tech for film and T.V. and a mom who was a homemaker/writer from a Jewish family. Some of my earliest memories involve being deeply engrossed in great movies and T.V. shows. Then there was the incredible music I listened to growing up. In particular, the lyrics to the songs sparked my imagination. At a young age, I began playing the piano and writing poetry and song lyrics. I went on to become deeply involved in the music industry.
I live in Los Angeles, the home of the film/T.V. industry, not far from where I grew up. I also spend time each year in my beloved home away from home, Nashville, where I lived from 1990 to 1997. When I am not writing, I can often be found at the movies, enjoying great music and art, spending time with loved ones, or out walking in gorgeous Southern California. My Episcopalian faith is my foundation and my integrity my compass.
I began my professional writing career by writing profile articles about film/TV studio pros like my dad, who worked on set at Universal Studios. I soon found that I had innate insights into human nature and the ability to listen and connect with a client's heart, mind, spirit, and intentions. I instinctively understood the most moving and effective way to present a client's message in writing.
Over the years, my clientele has included those in the entertainment industry (see Book Clients page), as well as survivors of trauma and tragedy.
In earlier years, I worked as a civil litigation legal secretary. Typing 100 words per minute on legal documents comes in handy to this day. I don't have to record or transcribe interviews, allowing for a streamlined process.
I also spent years conducting business-to-business market research interviews and writing customer satisfaction summaries. I have been told that during my interviewing process, I put clients at ease and create a comfortable dynamic that enables them to open up. Many even report finding the process therapeutic and healing.
I grew up in Los Angeles as the daughter of a dad who was a special-effects tech for film and T.V. and a mom who was a homemaker/writer from a Jewish family. Some of my earliest memories involve being deeply engrossed in great movies and T.V. shows. Then there was the incredible music I listened to growing up. In particular, the lyrics to the songs sparked my imagination. At a young age, I began playing the piano and writing poetry and song lyrics. I went on to become deeply involved in the music industry.
I live in Los Angeles, the home of the film/T.V. industry, not far from where I grew up. I also spend time each year in my beloved home away from home, Nashville, where I lived from 1990 to 1997. When I am not writing, I can often be found at the movies, enjoying great music and art, spending time with loved ones, or out walking in gorgeous Southern California. My Episcopalian faith is my foundation and my integrity my compass.
