Professional History:
Freelance Writer and Copywriter
1990 - Present
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Author of The Magic of Ordinary, 2021.
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Freelance writer of blogs, articles, SEO content, social media sets, case studies, newsletters, and web copy.
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Designer of infographics.
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Writer for NewsBreak and Elite Editing.
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Top writer on Medium in the categories of Books and Writing
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Winner of THREE awards at American Writer's and Artists, Inc, Bootcamp, May 2019.
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AWAI Verified Copywriter, 2019.
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Member of Professional Writer's Alliance.
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Creator of over 500 published pieces for magazines and online publications
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Author of articles in copywriting trade publications, Wealthy Web Writer and Professional Writer's Alliance.
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Creator of popular marketing newsletter for Threads of Time, weekly for eleven years to an audience of 4000+, 2006-2017.
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Contributing Columnist, Madisonville Messenger, Madisonville, Kentucky, 1990-1991.
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Eleven years as a weekly columnist for The Commercial-News, Danville, Illinois., 1992-2003.
Entrepreneur:
Threads of Time
Creative Sewing and Retreat Center
August 2006 - September 2017
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My husband and I built a huge, regional powerhouse of a quilt shop from the ground up. We orchestrated each phase of the start-up, from remodeling the 16000 sq. ft. building, to stocking the store, advertising, building client base, and bringing business to our economically-depressed town.
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Grew business to a million dollars in revenue, managed staff of 12, coordinated purchases, inventory, and merchandising.
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Created powerful marketing campaigns and authored weekly newsletter for eleven years.
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Named as Business Woman of the Year, Danville, Illinois, 2012.
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Won "Entrepreneur of the Year," Danville, Illinois, 2016.
Educator
January 1991 - May 2003
Danville Area Community College
Taught Rhetoric 101 (Basic Composition), Rhetoric 102, (Research Writing), American Literature, Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communications, and Mass Media.
Winner of the Webster Endowed Chair
Recognized as an Outstanding Teacher by Eastern Illinois University, 1994
Full-time Facilitator for Continuous Quality Improvement
Designated Trainer for "Train the Trainer" programs, diversity initiatives, and conflict resolution
One of the first instructors to utilize on-line teaching platform and deliver curriculum via internet
Education
1976-1991
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Indiana University and The University of Illinois, Chicago, Bachelor of Arts in English, 1981.
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Murray State University, Master's of Arts Degree in English Education, 1991.
Melissa Gouty:
Writing What You NEED, When You Need It
I remember trying to write at the age of four. My sister had gone off in the big yellow school bus, and I was jealous. Determined to prove that I should go to school, too, I took a piece of paper and copied individual letters from random lines of the newspaper. (I had no idea what "words" were, and I remember asking Mother if it mattered which direction the lines on the "E" pointed.)
Since those early days, I have been intent on putting letters into words and words into stories. Now I put stories into "copy with clout" for clients who know that a trained, talented, reliable writer will improve their profits.
No matter what you need - newsletters, e-mail campaigns, case studies, web copy, brochures, advertisements, or content management - I can craft what you need, when you need it.

Speaker
2006 - Present
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Presentations and workshops on Creativity, Writing, Books, Reading & Literacy, and Small Business Marketing.
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Historical-based presentations on quilting and textiles
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Known as a dynamic, informative speaker, I have been a keynote speaker at multiple large conventions and traveled throughout the Midwest to deliver educational talks on quilt history, women's movements, and small business development.
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Address groups from several hundred to small groups of 20
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Click here to see Presentations