Inquisitive. Reliable. Dedicated to the art of storytelling.

As a freelance writer since 2013, I’ve had the opportunity to meet amazing people, capture unique narrative arcs, and showcase distinctive details. Many of the stories below are the result of my ability to spot trends and make personal connections with sources. Whether you’re in need of ideation or execution, I’m ready to jump in.

Below are professional writing samples; see my creative writing here.

If you’re looking for samples of my content writing, please reach out.

Selected clips

Education

GRPS launches teacher cadet program as part of effort to recruit more teachers of color

Winning the Right to Be Heard: Melvin Thomas poised to engage youth in urban classrooms

Choosing to stay close to home: Five families commit to an underutilized neighborhood school

Passing it down: Leaders under 30 envision the future of youth in Grand Rapids

Food & wine

Slice of success: Meet the woman behind your new favorite pie (lead feature in Readers’ Choice best issue of 2021)

A trailblazing Oregon winery preps to debut a new sparkling wine

Art, culture, politics

A Conversation with Eula Biss

A line in the sand: How Voters Not Politicians aims to end gerrymandering in Michigan

Reb Roberts Gives Communities Hope Through His Art

Criticism

Hear Trains by Caroline Knox

Cities at Dawn by Geoffrey Nutter

Heart in a Jar by Kathleen McGookey

Fitness & wellness

Flip Dog Yoga Offers New Perspective on Downward Dog

Anna Chapman Traded in a Corporate Gig to Open Studio Barre

 

I reached out to Natalie because I was looking to expand the written culture of my business. I knew I wanted to document the great work we are doing, but I didn't have the time to execute all of the ideas I had. I needed a strong editor and copywriter who could distill my notes into sparkling sales documents. We quickly found we could trust Natalie to handle a wide range of assignments, from basic copywriting to well-written summaries of research. Always aware of deadlines, Natalie has a large skill set, but will ask for more clarification if she needs it. Though I am cautious to recommend her too highly because I don’t want her schedule to fill up too much, definitely hire Natalie if you want a reliable, flexible copywriter and editor.

— Brandon Tyree, Development Software Executive

Natalie is a talented, well organized writer. She does a fantastic job bringing the stories of people and communities to life. Natalie's passion for education shines through her choices of topics and delivery of heartfelt articles.

— Lauren Fay Carlson, Editor, Rapid Growth Media

Natalie was a great help to me with a print project for a client. She asked great questions and was thoughtful in getting to know the organization, their style, and nuances, before digging into the work.

It was a relief to work with someone who is technically excellent and a wonderful storyteller. She's professional, takes an assignment and runs with it, and delivers on-time. I would recommend Natalie for any writing challenge.”

— Amanda St. Pierre, Director of Advancement Communications, Aquinas College

Natalie is very reliable and always turns in her stories on time. She also regularly pitches, which is a huge help to me as an editor.

I rely on her each month for fitness-related stories and appreciate her commitment to GR|MAG and the quality of her work. She also turns in clean copy that fits the style and tone of the publication.

— Charlsie Dewey, Managing Editor, Grand Rapids Magazine