Cory Place Communications

Writing, Editing and Communications

Writing or editing for a magazine or newspaper requires different, yet similar, skills than those needed to create a book. And the writing required for a website, business report, information packet or promotional campaign is similarly unique to the task at hand.

Melissa Stanton, an editorial consultant and founder of Cory Place Communications, understands those differences. “My experience enables me to write and edit in a variety of styles about a wide range of subjects,” she says.

Ms. Stanton believes that when written materials are created for communicating with the public, such as in a published article or on behalf of a business, it’s smart to work with an experienced writer or editor. “Words matter, and sloppy or confusing writing reflects badly on the business involved,” she explains. “An editorial professional pays attention to the details involved in creating publication-ready prose and content.”

“Written materials that look good and read well get attention and achieve results.”

Before moving to Maryland a half-dozen years ago, Ms. Stanton was based in New York, where she spent more than a decade working for Time Inc. magazines. While there, she was a staff reporter and then an editor at the monthly LIFE, where she served as the editor-in-chief of assorted special projects and books. Later, at People magazine, she was a top-level editor for special issues. Previously, Ms. Stanton was the chief of reporters at 7 Days, an acclaimed newsweekly about New York City. Her articles have appeared in The New York Times, Redbook, Glamour, Organize and Brain,Child, among other publications, and on websites including wellness.com and storknet.com. She is also the author of The Stay- at-Home Survival Guide: Field-tested strategies for staying smart, sane, and connected while caring for your kids, which was published in 2008 by Seal Press/Perseus Books.

Among the many skills Ms. Stanton developed by working for general interest consumer magazines is that she’s a fast learner who knows how to multitask and meet deadlines. “Each of my jobs required that I become well versed about whatever article or subject I was involved with, and then be able to hop to the next,” says Ms. Stanton. “It wasn’t unusual for me to be writing or editing a science story, a history feature and a celebrity profile at the same time.” Such juggling also honed Ms. Stanton’s ability to translate complex or specialized information into language the lay reader can understand.

Through Cory Place Communications Ms. Stanton works with commercial clients and non-profit organizations in need of writing, editing, design and project management services. (Exclusively® is among her clients.) Assignments typically involve planning and creating content for products including magazines, newsletters, websites, books, brochures, reports, and business forms and correspondence.

Another benefit of Ms. Stanton’s experience is that she understands the relationship between words, typography, layout design and images. Her company can provide layout and logo services and she works closely with her clients’ graphic and website designers. Explaining why she considers the visual, as well as informational, impact of the content she creates, Ms. Stanton explains: “Written materials that look good and read well get attention and achieve results.”

Cory Place Communications
P.O. Box 294
Davidsonville, MD 21035
443-858-7470

www.coryplacecommunications.com

Pictured: Melissa Stanton
Photography: Richard Allen