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 need ideation or execution, I’m ready to jump in.
Below are professional writing samples; see my creative writing here.
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
Profiles for Crain’s Detroit Business
Dr. Andrea Hadley and Sophie’s Place Music Therapy Team
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 line in the sand: How Voters Not Politicians aims to end gerrymandering in Michigan
Reb Roberts Gives Communities Hope Through His Art
Content Writing
Do you really need an interior lightbar?
The mpower guide to Sedona, Arizona
Fitness & wellness
Flip Dog Yoga Offers New Perspective on Downward Dog
Anna Chapman Traded in a Corporate Gig to Open Studio Barre
Criticism
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