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Ghostwriters and Copyrights: Your Guide to Copyright Protection When Hiring a Ghostwriter

Ghostwriters and Copyrights: Your Guide to Copyright Protection When Hiring a Ghostwriter

In the publishing world, copyright protection is like having a robust missile defense. It is an essential tool to safeguard valuable intellectual property. However, overlooking adequate copyright protection can lead to serious consequences.

When hiring a ghostwriter, copyright protection is even more relevant.

Ghostwriters are professional content creators hired to produce materials in exchange for a fee. As a result, ghostwriters have no claim over materials and content produced. This assumption suggests that ghostwriters have no right to royalties, copyrights, or credit.

In contrast, co-authors do hold some claim over rights and royalties. Consequently, authors and publishers must differentiate these roles precisely.

This article will distill valuable lessons pertaining to copyright protection and how authors and publishers can take appropriate steps to insure their valuable intellectual property.

Ghostwriting Copyright 101

Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay

The rights of a ghostwritten book belong to the client. The ghostwriter, by definition, holds no claim over the content. As such, ghostwriting works like any other kind of business transaction.

For example, an individual goes to a tailor to get a suit made. Naturally, the client, not the tailor, owns the suit. The same concept applies to the ghostwriter-client relationship.

However, it is worth noting that a book does not have a legal owner until there is a formal copyright file for it. In the United States, the Copyright Act defines “literary works” as those that are not audiovisual in nature. Consequently, literary works constitute text-based works, either in print or digital format.

As such, literary works, whether fiction or nonfiction, refer to written works. Videos, music, or photographs fall under a different kind of copyright protection. Therefore, this discussion focuses solely on literary copyrights.

The US Copyright Office facilitates the registration process. On the whole, it is a relatively simple process.

The electronic registration process is the fastest way to register a literary work. On the copyright.gov website, the “register a literary work” link allows users to access the registration portal. The portal takes users through the whole process, although some users may feel more comfortable doing the process by email.

The U.S. Copyright Office also receives mail-in registrations. However, this process takes much longer. Furthermore, some folks may feel more comfortable hiring legal counsel to perform the registration process.

The other key element required to register a literary work is an ISBN. ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number. Duly published literary works receive their particular ISBN.

According to the ISBN Agency, an ISBN facilitates the book supply chain process. ISBNs help publishers, retailers, and distributors identify the works, volumes, genres, editions, and formats for individual works. An ISBN consists of 13 digits, and each number emerges from a carefully produced formula.

Please bear in mind that an ISBN does not represent any legal ownership for the registered title. Nevertheless, authors and publishers apply for one to establish their domain over their published works. Consequently, getting an ISBN identifier is a standard practice among mainstream publishers.

Also, self-publishers should register their works with the U.S. Copyright Office and apply for an ISBN. Even if the predominant publishing platform is online, obtaining an ISBN helps track distribution and sales of self-published titles.

Ghostwriters and Claims

Image by aymane jdidi from Pixabay

By definition, ghostwriters have no claim over any works in which they participate. Ghostwriters receive payment for their services and nothing else. Nevertheless, clients should not assume that ghostwriters understand this.

While experienced and reputable ghostwriters are knowledgeable in this regard, there might be instances in which disputes occur.

To avoid any disputes, the legal paperwork between client and ghostwriter must be crystal-clear. In particular, clients must insist on ghostwriters signing contracts prior to commencing any work. The contract must specify the following aspects:

  • Copyright owner
  • Royalties
  • Confidentiality
  • Non-disclosure

Explicitly addressing these issues in the legal paperwork can close up any ambiguities. More importantly, closing up any loopholes enables clients to have the peace of mind they seek. Consider this opinion from the Writers’ Guild of Alberta:

“Based on the principle that a creator of a work is the first copyright owner, the ghostwriter would normally be the copyright owner of a biography or autobiography. The written agreement or writing contract between the ghostwriter and the individual whose story is being told should address this matter, however, and in many cases, copyright ownership is shared in some manner.”

In principle, the ghostwriter would hold the copyright claim on the work. After all, it is the ghostwriter who creates the content. Therefore, the services contract must clearly state that the ghostwriter relinquishes any claims over the content.

The other major issue to address is royalty payments. On the whole, copyright owners hold on to royalty payments. For example, a book’s author receives a cut from the book’s sales while the publisher receives the lion’s share.

The contract between the client and ghostwriter needs to stipulate payment terms. For example, most agreements establish a rate the ghostwriter charges for their services. As a result, the ghostwriter does not have a right to any royalties or residuals on book sales.

According to writing coach Lisa Tener, ghostwriters do not generally receive royalty payments. Nevertheless, this clause must go into the contract. As a result, it is not enough to assume the ghostwriter does not have a right to royalties. The contract must state it. Otherwise, a ghostwriter may justify their right to a royalty payment based on the principle that the ghostwriter is the content’s creator.

In general, clients must be as explicit as possible when negotiating payments and broad terms. Clients cannot assume that ghostwriters understand the nature of the business.

Even when clients have ongoing relationships with ghostwriters, legal paperwork could be nothing more than a mere formality. Still, legal paperwork is a necessary formality as it ensures transparency on all sides.

Ghostwriters and Confidentiality

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Privacy is a significant concern for all clients. In particular, some projects may involve sensitive information. In such cases, ghostwriters need to guarantee their clients’ information is safe.

For instance, ghostwriters producing whitepapers may be privy to confidential information. Consequently, the client must confirm that the ghostwriter will treat information with the utmost discretion.

It is worth noting that much of the information clients generate is proprietary. Particularly, companies generate large amounts of data through research and day-to-day operations. As a result, these kinds of clients generally require that ghostwriters sign a confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

It goes without saying that any ghostwriter unwilling to sign an NDA is not trustworthy. Thus, any reluctance to sign an NDA should constitute a major red flag.

Working with a reputable ghostwriter or ghostwriting agency can do away with much of the uncertainty. Professional ghostwriters make it a practice of signing legal paperwork. In consequence, clients can feel at ease knowing their material has adequate protection. Nevertheless, it is important to ensure that clients have legal counsel to go to in case of a contract breach.

Effective NDAs must delineate the type of information the ghostwriter will access and how they should handle it. For example, if the ghostwriter will have access to research data, the client may stipulate that the ghostwriter cannot store it on their personal computer. Therefore, the ghostwriter may have to work at the client’s premises in order to gain access to the information.

In other cases, the client may furnish the ghostwriter with a computer so that all research information and written work remains on the client’s computer systems.

Please bear in mind that NDAs are a common industry practice for ghostwriters. As a result, it should be no surprise for ghostwriters to sign such agreements. Moreover, most freelance ghostwriters have their own NDA templates. These templates cover the generalities of a confidentiality agreement. In such cases, clients should take the time to review the legal language. In doing so, clients can ensure nothing gets lost.

There are occasions in which a ghostwriter may breach an NDA. A breach may occur when a ghostwriter reveals for whom they have worked. For example, a ghostwriter discloses their client list in an attempt to build their reputation.  This situation is somewhat of a grey area. Clients need to determine if they wish to remain completely anonymous. Thus, the NDA must specify that the ghostwriter cannot use them as a reference. In any event, a reputable ghostwriter would consult with clients first before using them as references.

Lastly, a common concern among clients is that a ghostwriter “steals” an idea. Please note that ideas are not subject to copyright protection. For instance, filmmakers cannot copyright the concept of a movie. As a result, spinoffs and similar ideas often make their way onto the big screen. The same goes for literary works. Theoretically, a ghostwriter could take a client’s idea, rework it, and pass it off as their own. Clients facing this situation may need to seek legal counsel to pursue possible action. However, the case may not prosper if the ghostwriter uses no copyrighted material.

Nevertheless, if the suspected material vaguely resembles copyrighted works, the copyright holder would certainly have a case. The result could include financial compensation and even criminal charges (fraud).

Settling Disputes with Ghostwriters

Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay

Disputes may arise from time to time. The most common disputes revolve around deadlines and payments. Such situations could derail a project’s completion. Notwithstanding, the most considerable disputes may arise from copyright claims.

First, a ghostwriter may pursue a copyright claim, particularly when they receive credit for the work. For instance, a ghostwriter receives credit as an author but does not hold any copyright claims. In this situation, the contract must clearly state this condition. If the contract is ambiguous or does not mention this arrangement, the ghostwriter may attempt to claim a share of the copyright.

Undoubtedly, the language on the services contract needs to be explicit. It must specify that the ghostwriter renounces any claims. In exchange, the ghostwriter receives financial compensation for their services. If the ghostwriter receives credit for their contribution, the contrast must manifest that the ghostwriter does not hold any copyright claim whatsoever.

Second, some arrangements may include credit and a share of copyright ownership but no rights to royalties. This situation is a legal minefield. An ironclad contract can cut off any potential claims down the road. Nevertheless, writers who hold a share of the copyright may claim they deserve royalty payments.

In theory, anyone who holds the copyright over a work is its legal owner. Paragraph 201 of the US Copyright Act offers the following insight:

“b. Works Made for Hire – In the case of a work made for hire, the employer or other person for whom the work was prepared is considered the author for purposes of this title, and, unless the parties have expressly agreed otherwise in a written instrument signed by them, owns all of the rights comprised in the copyright.”

The law assumes that the hiring party is the owner of the material produced. Therefore, the ghostwriter does not retain any copyrights over the materials. Nevertheless, this condition must become evident. After all, if there is no documentary evidence, how can the hiring party prove their ownership?

Please bear in mind that professional ghostwriters understand and respect such arrangements. Notwithstanding, it is a standard industry practice to sign the appropriate paperwork. Undoubtedly, it is always best to ensure that there are no loose ends going into a negotiation.

Additionally, cases in which there is no legal paperwork may become a battle of word versus word. Without legal contracts, a client may have a difficult time proving their claim over the materials. In the best of cases, the ghostwriter may seek some compensation. While the claim may not prosper in court, the ghostwriter may look to settle out of court.

Ultimately, it is best to tie up loose ends and avoid any legal drama altogether.

Moreover, working with professional ghostwriters greatly reduces the likelihood of unexpected suits and claims over materials produced. Naturally, professional ghostwriters will have no trouble agreeing to sign legal paperwork.

Conclusion

Hiring a ghostwriter can facilitate the production of written materials. Professional ghostwriters can produce high-quality materials in a short turnaround time. However, clients should take all the necessary precautions. In this case, precautions imply signing appropriate legal contracts stipulating ownership of materials and confidentiality terms.

Professional ghostwriters understand that the hiring party is the legal owner of the materials produced. As such, professional ghostwriters have no trouble renouncing any claims over the work they produce. Furthermore, professional ghostwriters understand the importance of confidentiality agreements.

While the Copyright Act recognizes that the hiring party is the owner of the materials produced, it is a standard industry practice to sign relevant legal paperwork.

Appropriate contracts help both parties feel at ease with their working relationships. They offer peace of mind to all involved. Ultimately, removing ambiguities creates a stable working environment, leading to high-quality outputs.

One thought on “Ghostwriters and Copyrights: Your Guide to Copyright Protection When Hiring a Ghostwriter

  1. Thanks for also talking about how ghostwriter often don’t have any claim to the material they have created for a client. I’d like to find a good romantic country music writer because my friends and I are planning to produce an indie game in the future. Being able also provide good music for it would be ideal to include in our budget.

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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.

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Unofficially, Kathy is known around the office as “the other half of Wintress’ brain”: In her capacity as office admin, she helps Wintress keep track of projects and meetings; reminds her of upcoming deadlines; and serves as the point of communication between Wintress and the rest of the TWFH team. In her more official role of office administrator and project manager, she keeps tabs on all current projects, from drafting proposals and project timelines to working directly with writers and editors to keep projects on track. Kathy is particularly awesome at making sure that all of our website projects run smoothly, and she’s got a gift for translating potentially confusing web development jargon into plain English, so our website clients always know exactly what’s happening and why. When she’s not at work, Kathy loves singing along to musicals with her two daughters.

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Dayna Bargas - Accounts Manager

Since joining The Writers For Hire in 2022, Dayna has seamlessly stepped into the role of Accounts Manager, overseeing functions such as Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, collections, billing, and all tasks in between. With a keen eye for detail and strong communication skills, she efficiently manages all aspects of financial operations for TWFH. Dayna takes pride in her ability to navigate with a smile, displaying strong professional skills and fostering a positive work environment. Beyond her role with TWFH, she enjoys entertaining, traveling, and (most importantly!) spending time with her family.

Stephanie Hashagen - Senior Editor

Stephanie’s expertise in English and writing spans over a decade in freelancing and teaching. Stephanie worked as a staff writer and editor for The Houstonian, contributed to The Huntsville Item, freelanced for The Houston Chronicle and spent four years teaching English and reading at the junior high and high school level. She has a Master’s Degree in English from the University of St. Thomas and a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Sam Houston State University. Stephanie has also ghost-authored several non-fiction and fiction manuscripts, numerous fashion and travel articles, and countless press releases, pitch letters, taglines, and print ads. Her copywriting and journalism experience includes technical copy for Tyco Flow Control and customer communications copy for a major American credit card company. Stephanie has also worked on copy and campaigns for Hilton and Carpet One Floor & Home, North America’s largest floor covering retailer. At The Writers For Hire, she has overseen, edited, proofread, or written copy for over 50 clients. Stephanie is an exceptional proofreader, writer, and editor and has a gift for adding a creative flair to projects while keeping copy professional and concise.

Barbara Adams - Copywriter

Barb Adams is an award-winning writer with more than 30 years of B2B and technical writing experience. She understands and closely follows the changing dynamics of the oil and gas industry – E&P, midstream, and upstream – and therefore needs minimum ramp up for any new O&G copywriting endeavor. Her portfolio includes hundreds of white papers, case studies, trade articles, op-eds, books, and brochures. Adams has also held positions as staff writer for a Houston agency, public relations manager for a Houston-based retail franchisor, and the advertising and promotions coordinator for a Minnesota-based hospitality company. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Journalism.

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