Limited Samples of Ad
Copy, Ghostwriting and other Copywriting
We
routinely collaborate with graphic designers to create
brochures, ads and other materials complete with logos
and graphics. Here we present only the text, versus
bulky PDFs, for ease of viewing.
Please
contact
us for additional samples, including those more
closely aligned with your project needs, or for more
information on our professional ghostwriting and copywriting
services.
 Ad Copy: A National Eatery
Ad Copy/Brochure: Animal Shelter
Direct Mail: Fitness Center
Direct Mail: Landscaping and Lawn
Care Supply
Ghostwriting: Nonfiction, Psychology
Ghostwriting: Nonfiction, Politics
Ghostwriting: Memoir
Ghostwriting: Ebook
Ghostwriting: Fiction
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1. Ad Copy
The Client: Maddison (a national eatery)
Where in the world do you want to eat tonight?
The
Pacific Rim? Or perhaps the heart of Tuscany?
How about
the Greek Isles? Or maybe the coast of New England?
Whatever
cuisine your heart desires, you’re sure to find it at
any one of Maddison’s restaurants, cafes or bistros. Visit
our website at www.eat.maddison.us.net or call 1-800-738-8738
to receive a complete listing of dining options, and come
taste the world.
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2. Ad Copy/ Brochure
The Client: Safe Haven Animal Rescue
Headline/body
copy:
Got
guilt?
[Here: A picture
of a man with milk mustache, his hand deep in a cookie jar,
and a guilty/surprised look on his face.]
Adopt
a dog.
Or,
if your infraction is minimal … or you just want to
stay ahead of the game … we also take donations.
Visit
Safe Haven today, Brevard’s only No Kill animal shelter.
Is
your soul mate waiting?
Call
800/555-HOME to schedule a visit.
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3. Direct Mail: Fitness
Center
The Client:West Fitness Center
[Front headline/body copy]
Been
wishing you had more energy?
Wishing
you felt better? Looked better? Were in better shape?
How’s
all that wishing been working out for you?
It’s
time to stop wishing and start doing. But you don’t
have to do it alone.
[Reverse side headline/body copy]
At
West Fitness Center, we’re not gonna lie to you. There
are plenty of fad diets and gimmicks if that’s what
you’re after.
‘Working
out’ and staying healthy takes work. (If it was as easy
as ‘Get Skinny Quick With No Diets and No Exercise’
wouldn’t everybody be ripped?)
But
we’ve been doing this a long time. We know what works.
And we know how to get the most out of what you put
in.
“The
trainers there really helped me along when I started
to get lazy. If it weren’t for them I probably would
have quit after a month, like with other gyms. And I
definitely wouldn’t have lost 15 lbs and have so much
more energy.” -Sharon Brebee, West Fitness member
But I
can’t afford to join a gym right now. Health
care costs more than ever, but with our Spring
Specials membership at Fit For Life is less
than a dollar a day. We know your health is worth more
than that.
I
don’t have time to go to the gym. Yes, our
time on Earth is precious. So why risk shortening it?
I
don’t know what routine to do. This is where
our 20 years of experience comes into play. On your
first visit, our trainers will evaluate your unique
fitness needs. They’ll design a plan specially-tailored
to give you the best results. Then, they’ll help you
put it into action.
It’s
time to be honest. A lifetime of excuses is
a lifetime of choosing not to be your best.
Whether
you’re a full-time resident, or this is your second
home, you can only push your health aside for so long.
Don’t wait until it’s front and center before you try
to do something about it.
Stop
wishing. Call West Fitness today and start doing.
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4. Direct Mail: Landscaper
and Lawn Care Supply Store
The Client: Creative Landscapers
[Front/body copy]
It’s
springtime in North Georgia! But
is your yard still stuck in the dead of winter?
We
can bring it to life and make it green again.
And
all for a lot less green than you might think.
[Reverse side body copy]
At
Creative Landscapers, we know money doesn’t grow on
trees.
Other
landscapers make lots of fancy promises, but leave you
with a result you don’t want and a bill you can’t afford.
At
Creative Landscapers, we listen to our customers. We
create outdoor spaces that are as elaborate—or as elegantly
simple—as you want. We cultivate every one of your hard-earned
dollars, and grow them into something you can enjoy
season after season.
Don’t
know a zinnia from an azalea? Don’t worry. We do. And
we know which one will work better in your space.
Want
to wow guests with a waterfall and walkways dripping
with blossoms? We won’t disappoint. What we deliver
is anything but garden-variety.
Or—just
want something you can enjoy without a lot of fuss?
Some
basic clean-up and springtime sprucing? You won’t find
a more affordable, harder-working team this side of
the Mason-Dixon.
Creative
Landscapers. Creating more green … for less green.
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5. Ghostwriting, Nonfiction,
Psychology
Excerpt: Nonfiction work on the effects of modern day media on human thought and behavior.
…With
every new media advance comes some suggestion it will
be the downfall of society, the harbinger of an intellectual
apocalypse that people have been prophesying since papyrus
replaced inflammable stone tablets.
TV
and video games are rotting the minds of our youth. The
Internet is destroying the brains of adults.
True,
we use the Internet as a tool. True that without it some
tasks seem downright impossible. How, for example, would
one find a hotel room in Chicago? Or the ingredients in
a samosa? Or the best route during rush-hour traffic?
But
if there’s anything to take from cognitive psychology,
it’s that tool-use is the hallmark of intelligence. Encyclopedias,
atlases, dictionaries, even phone books all employ brute
force, while the Internet is the epitome of ease and efficienciency.
For
example, if I want to know the average rainfall in Madagascar
I can find out in less time than it takes to type the
answer (about 100 mm). Also on the page is a picture of
one of those long-limbed lemurs, the silky sifaka. Doesn’t
the Duke Primate Center house some of those? A quick jaunt
to their page can tell me in a second. There I see Duke
has released a study on a new blood thinner. I wonder
how Dennis Quaid’s twins are doing, after their accidental
overdose of the blood-thinner Heparin. I do a quick search
on their status. It sure seems like a lot of celebrities
have twins ... The query pulls up 15,900 hits in .28 seconds.
I wonder what the incidence is in non-celebrities? And
what of the cases of twins, separated at birth, who both
become podiatrists and drive yellow hatchbacks and marry
history teachers named Marcy — and speaking of history,
I wonder what started the Franco-Prussian War — and where
exactly is Prussia — and what’s the average rainfall there?
Hmm.
Before I know it an hour is gone and I’ve retained next
to nothing. Maybe the Internet is making me stupider.
(Is stupider even a word?) Or maybe, though it leaves
innate intelligence relatively untouched, it's wrecking
my ability to focus.
Online,
I bounce around from story to story, opting for the short
ones and skimming anything over a page. Even offline I
can’t seem to concentrate like I used to— can’t sit and
read for long periods without getting distracted.
It
seems that for all it’s given us, the Web has also caught
us in its sticky spool and is slowly sapping its captives'
attention spans.
How
can the Internet exert such powerful effects on attention?
How can the human brain be so easily broken down?
In
fact the Internet's influence is possible because of the
way our brains are designed. The Internet appeals to some
basic mental processes, and then it exploits these processes,
hooking the user in the process. Oddly enough (or perhaps
not odd at all), the same neural machinery that helps
us function efficiently in the natural world backfires
in the cyber world.
For
example, the Internet takes advantage of our ability to
rapidly take in large amounts of information. Imagine
entering a room you’ve never been in before. What do you
do? Do you pore over the details of the fabric on the
couch before moving on to the next item, and then the
next? Or do you quickly glance around the room, scanning
it all before zeroing in on any one thing? If you’re normal
you do the latter. Instinct demands we take in as much
general information about our surroundings as possible—as
quickly as possible—in order to ensure there's nothing
dangerous or urgent. Only after scanning it all do we
devote deeper attention to any one object.
In
the cyber-world, however, we never get to the stage where
we can devote deeper attention. Every page of the Internet
is like a new room, and there are more of them than we
could ever hope to scan. Not only that, but each page
contains portals to hundreds of other pages, spurring
the user into a frenzy of exploration. For example, the
home page of the Wall Street Journal—whose Web site is
actually one of the quietest--displayed 73 headlines on
a random day—interspersed among data feeds, scoreboards,
streaming headlines, photo slideshows, 29 section options,
Podcasts, videos, ads, and 18 links promising more, more,
more.
No
wonder it’s hard to focus.
[Break]
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6. Ghostwriting, Nonfiction,
Politics
Excerpt: Nonfiction work on illegal immigration in the U.S.
… To
enter the world of immigration legislation is to enter
an Escher painting.
Paradoxical laws intersect, intervene,
and split off from one another. Just when one seems to
be going somewhere promising, an opposing law rises up
and blocks its path. It is a twisted mess of multidimensional
contradictions. Trying to untangle it risks a serious
case of vertigo.
But
here goes:
After
9/11, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched
its E-Verify system, a free federal database that any
employer can access to verify an employee’s legal status.
The program checks I-9 information against the Social
Security Administration and DHS databases. It is 96 percent
successful at spotting fake SS numbers, and results are
usually back within 24 hours.
In
addition, the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements,
or SAVE, program allows federal, state, and local agencies
to check applicants’ immigration status for the purpose
of ensuring only eligible persons receive public benefits,
like Social Security or welfare.
But
E-verify and SAVE are, with few exceptions, voluntary.
And despite efforts to drum up excitement, few private
industries have been stepping up to volunteer.
“If
you check one (employee using E-Verify), you have to check
them all,” said a Human Resources rep at a nearby factory
which chooses not to use the database. “And then you have
to pay somebody to do all the checking.”
Federal
law prohibits all employers – big or small, public or
private – from knowingly hiring illegal aliens. But the
word “knowingly” provides a loophole in which employers
can knowingly or unknowingly hide. Unless an employer
falls under a separate law that requires the use of E-Verify,
they’re not required to knowingly know – or at least not
in a way that illegals haven’t cracked.
From
construction companies, to plants and factories, to stores
and restaurants, most employers are only required to fill
out I-9 forms for employees, using a driver’s license
and SS card, or work authorization papers.
And,
in an irony that epitomizes immigration’s convoluted bureaucracy
– while illegals present forged paperwork (drawn up with
the precision of Picasso painting a cube), and while most
employers aren’t required to use E-Verify – they are required
to accept employees’ documents as genuine, lest they violate
antidiscrimination laws.
[Break]
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7. Ghostwriting, A Memoir
Excerpt: A memoir
I
can still see the buildings standing there, all in a row,
the drops of mist catching the morning light and forming
little balls of color that hang suspended in the haze
like a school of jellyfish, until they grow full and heavy
with sun and float gracefully down, waiting for their
turn to rise again. It gives the whole scene that fuzzy,
fairytale look.
For
the first year that one there was mine, second from the
end, with the hole in the baseboard by the door. There
were 12 of us that slept there. Six on each side. Our
feet all against the wall, our heads down the length of
the hallway so the beam of light from the Master’s room
fell on our faces and they could watch for reflections
in open eyes. Even now I can lie in bed without wrinkling
my eyelids, my chest moving smoothly up and down in the
rhythm of perfect sleep.
But
after a year they moved me to Challoner, and a different
light cast by the moon brought a new wakefulness … In
my Father’s house.
Some
days I forget it completely. I forget the greyness of
it all. The smell of iodine and dust, the tiny hole at
the foot of the mattress stretched a little larger every
night by the digging of my toe. I forget the click of
the door when the moonbeam reached its height.
But
some days I wash outside, unable to face the white tile
of the bathroom. Some days the memories pound and tear
at the walls of my mind, the barriers I have so painfully
and carefully constructed. But the past needs only a crack.
It slips in, like water in rock, and expands until the
dam has crumbled and been swept into the surge, freeing
the flow to submerge the fragile world below.
[Break]
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8. Ghostwriting, An Ebook
Excerpt: Ebook on international dating—What to expect and what to watch out for.
Chapter: How to Avoid Marriage Scams
Try
this. Do an Internet search for "marriage agency
scams" and check out several of the top Web sites.
These
sites were specifically developed to warn others about
the dangers of marriage scams. This is very important
information, and anyone interested in finding a foreign
bride would be well served to read it well.
There’s just one problem here. Most of these sites are
scams.
That's
right — many sites specifically designed to warn men about
the prevalence of foreign marriage scams are, in fact,
scams themselves.
These
scammers operate by gaining the confidence of readers
by posing as one of the "good guys"—while directing
the unsuspecting user to another site that is, drum-roll
please, a scam!
Welcome
the world of international intrigue and excitement that
is, all too often, also the world of international dating.
Don't
get us wrong, there have been thousands upon thousands
of legitimate marriages made possible by honest foreign
marriage services. But you have to be careful.
Many
men seeking a foreign bride are blinded by their own hopes
and dreams. This fact alone makes them vulnerable to love
fraud. Then, throw in the fact that many of the women
they’ll be meeting over the internet are beautiful, intelligent
and "vulnerable" themselves—and too often the
man's testosterone kicks into chivalrous over-drive.
She
begins to make him see himself as an amorous knight in
shining armor. He’ll rescue her, and by doing so, rescue
himself.
This
is textbook stuff.
And
we aren't making fun of the men who've fallen victim to
this sort of fraud. Far from it. We know that for the
most part, men are helpless to this sort of con game.
It's hardwired into a man's genes and there's not much
he can do about it. Unfortunately, the hucksters and scam
sites know this as well and they prey upon men who fall
for The Damsel in Distress Scam.
Too
often, men go into the international dating scene aware
of these potential scams, but nonetheless think "it'll
never happen to me."
But
think of it this way: You're ready to experience international
dating. You are aware of the fake scams, so you pledge
to yourself that you are going to be smart—that you'll
be on the lookout for suspicious requests—and you'll have
your defenses on high alert with maximum shields in place.
Then
you meet Svetlana, a stunning 25 year old from St. Petersburg.
She speaks 3 languages, has a great education, and spends
her time exercising, reading and taking care of her sister.
Your
defenses just lost 75% of their power. You know this,
but you justify lowering your guard because her profile
is just so innocent, so sweet, and besides, "I really
should give people a chance."
You
further justify your actions by telling yourself that
if you don't show her any trust, you'll never get to know
her. After all, you came to this agency to get to know
people, right? And the agency promised you its screening
process was top-notch, besides.
So
everything is going splendidly! You've made a real connection
here! This is the girl of your dreams! You look forward
to her next email with the greatest of anticipation. Making
a love connection with such a beautiful, intelligent and
kind woman—a woman who shares your values for love and
family—is an overwhelming rush!
And
then it stops.
You
send her more emails.
And
nothing.
Finally,
after the week that seemed like a year, you get an email
from Svetlana apologizing profusely. Her sister had a
bad week and needed more medical care. Unfortunately,
all the money she used for the dating agency now needs
to go for her sister's care.
You
know where this is going.
She
could never ask you for money, but of course she won't
be able to use the agency’s services—which of course includes
the Internet.
Now,
in this scenario you know better. You know full well the
whole thing is a bit suspicious. But you also know she
has not been interested in your money and that she's put
too much effort into this relationship for a mere $50.00/month
for the agency. You do a quick calculation in your head:
$50 a month (until you see her) for the chance to meet
and possibly marry the beautiful 25 year old with the
perfect body and traditional values.
The
choice is easy. "Do you want the money by wire or
check?" you ask.
Once
money is a part of your relationship it becomes much easier
for her to ask you for more. Plus, at this point, you're
pot committed. You've already sunk $750 into agency fees
(and maybe a heating bill). Are you really going to jeopardize
everything because she needs a measly $250 for a much
needed car repair?
So.
Want to avoid falling victim to a marriage/dating hoax?
The
answer is simple: Don't send her money.
No
respectable woman from any country is going to ask for
money in this manner. If you don't believe us, try asking
another woman from her culture. We’re quite sure she'll
confirm this fact.
If
you do get a request, spend some time perusing the other
profiles. You'll see there are a lot of beautiful, sweet
women out there, many of whom honestly just want to meet
a good man and who are not in it for the money. Why not
give them a chance instead?
There
is no reason to go through the international dating process
as a na?ve fool. Don't let the fraudsters get the best
of you. Even if you say "No" to an honest request
from a women, if she’s the right girl for you, she’ll
understand why. She’ll know you’re nobody's fool and that
this attribute will benefit both of you — along with your
future children.
We
spoke earlier about a universal condition that affects
all men: Falling for the Damsel in Distress. Again, it’s
completely natural for men to want to help the woman they
are courting. But remember—women understand this trait
in men. A woman who will make a good partner will never
play on your emotions in such a calculating manner.
The
right woman knows she should never try to take advantage
by arousing your sympathies and your chivalrous nature.
A respectable woman would never try to exploit you this
way. A woman who is honest with her intentions and actions
does not want your money or your pity. She only wants
you. And she would never risk losing you for a car repair
or agency fee.
Please
understand, we are not encouraging you to be paranoid
or distrustful. There is no need for such strong, negative
emotions when conducting your international marriage search.
What
we are saying, instead, is to be aware of the fact that
some people are dishonest and will try take advantage
of you. If you think that you must grant a woman’s every
request in order to have a relationship with her you’re
not only naive, but weak as well. This type of behavior
only feeds on itself. It will rear its ugly head with
the next woman you meet and act as a natural repellent.
Don't make this mistake.
If
you already caught in this trap, and are about to get
married or are considering a K1 or K3 Visa, you might
consider politely telling your fianc?e "No"
the next time she asks for money. At some point in the
future, you do expect to say "No" to a money
request, don't you? Who knows, maybe she'll ask during
a bad month and you honestly won't have the funds. Times
are tough, right? So why not just try giving, "No,
I'm sorry. Money's a little tight right now" a test
drive. Better to see how she performs before the marriage
than after.
Remember,
thousands of men have met their foreign wives on the Internet,
and thousands of couples are still happily married. Meeting
the woman of your dreams in this way can work.
But
also remember: This is about love, not money, and love
is not always easy. Indeed, just as there are no real
"get rich quick" schemes, there are even fewer
"get love quick" schemes.
Don't
be a fool for instant gratification in love. Relax and
be patient. You will be rewarded.
[Break]
The K1 Visa Application Process
… It’s
important to remember that almost 50% of all visa petitions
are denied on the basis of a mistake in the filing.
Even
if there are no mistakes in your application, your visa
could easily be denied if your supporting documentation
is weak—especially given that the strength of your case
will be subjectively decided by the immigration official
handling your case.
If
there is a mistake in your application, or if your supporting
proof is deemed inadequate, your file will be placed in
Administrative Review by the U.S. Embassy. If this happens,
a decision on your case can be delayed for unknown months!
And keep in mind the ruling could still be a denial after
all those months.
If
the K1 Visa petition is approved, do not think the approval
of your K1 Visa is assured. In fact, this could not be
farther from the truth. That’s because now is when the
U.S. Consulate takes over.
At
this point in the process, the fianc?e must submit a series
of requirements, have a clean background check and medical
exam and conduct an interview.
[Break]
The
K1 Interview
The
K1 interview is very important to the K1 Visa process!
Many K Visas are terminated at this point, in which case
the applicants must start the process over.
Reasons
for termination vary significantly, but one common reason
is that the embassy official may not be comfortable with
an answer given by the fianc?e.
If
this happens, your entire K1 Visa file is sent back to
the USCIS in the U.S. for an "investigation."
If this occurs, the minimum delay is six months (and the
maximum delay is indefinite).
All
too often, couples underestimate the importance, and the
difficulty, of these interviews. They are kind of like
those old Love Connection Game Shows—only the stakes are
much higher!
The
worst part of this process is that the immigration officials
often do not want to take a stand and either grant the
approval or issue a denial (for which you could appeal).
Instead, they tend to shuffle cases between departments
so nobody has to make a final decision.
This
is K1 Visa purgatory. And it has the stressful effect
of leaving the K1 couple in limbo, completely unsure where
they stand.
Spending
a year in this couples’ wasteland is bound to put considerable
strain on any relationship. If your future together is
important to you, don't risk it! Get a professional to
handle your case.
[Break]
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9. Ghostwriting, Fiction
Excerpt: Fiction.
It
was supposed to be one of those dreary fall days. When
the water and the sky are just different shades of gray
and the cold soaks through you with the wet of the air.
When you hunch your shoulders and huddle into yourself
and let your thoughts sink as low as the clouds overhead.
But
the sun came out. The sky turned clear and bright. The
lake is dancing and shimmering just to spite me.
I
push off the dock and start up the motor. Grady grew up
on this lake. That's her, asleep in the bow. I didn’t
grow up on it, but I know this lake like the back of my
hand – which is to say I must constantly check for the
cracks and changes that time brings about. Which is to
say that if I really start looking, I find I don’t know
it well at all.
Today
the cataracts of comfort are gone and I’m looking at it
all with a special scrutiny. I’m out here today to shoot
my dog.
[Break]
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