About

The official biography

Manda Newlin is a professional writer and copyeditor from Indianapolis. From the time she could form all 26 letters, she’s been stringing them together to create words and sentences. Her first complete work – a self-illustrated story called “The Cat” – won a Young Authors Award in 1977. Over the next decade, Manda continued to dabble with words – by serving on the editorial team of her high school yearbook and newspaper, and through letters to dozens of pen-pals across the world.

After graduating from Indiana University with degrees in journalism and psychology, Manda went to work in corporate communications, holding positions of increasing responsibility.

Since 2002, she has worked as a freelance writer, editor and communications consultant. Her specialty is helping companies of all sizes achieve their objectives through clear, effective communications across a variety of media. She is a member of the International Association of Business Communicators and serves as vice president of communications for the organization’s Indianapolis chapter. She is an alumna of the Indiana Leadership Forum and a member of the John Purdue Club and Southport Presbyterian Church.

Current hobbies include reading books of all genres, listening to music and eavesdropping in coffee shops. If she weren’t a writer, Manda would be a drummer in a rockin’ band.

The unofficial biography

Hey, it’s me, Manda. I’m going to nix the whole third-person pretense for a minute and come to the point. I struggled to write my ‘official biography’ above – to come up with a few brief, polished paragraphs that appear completely professional yet slightly impersonal, with just enough detail to let you know that I know what I’m doing.

 Here’s the bottom line:

·        I strive to give clients the best I’ve got.

·        I’m obsessive about meeting deadlines.

·        The real secret to exceptional writing? It’s rewriting, because no writer gets it right the first time. Me, I rewrite like a fiend. At my third or fourth draft, I’m just getting started.

·        I work as hard for you as you do for yourself.

 Anything you’d like to know about my work routine, habits or personal approach to writing and editing? E-mail me at manda@wordscount.net