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Freelance Writer Portfolio

As a freelance writer, I produce a lot of words in a lot of places. "Okay, Alyssa, that's vague..." You're right, it is. However, the truth is that, as a freelance writer with a background in communications, I can (and do) write in various formats about diverse topics. 

That said, content related to internal communications, change management, knowledge work, company culture, and employee engagement is my specialty. With nearly a decade of experience in internal communications and operations under my belt, crafting content about making work more enjoyable is what I excel at. I'm also slightly obsessed with time management and productivity tips because time is the only thing we can never get back, so we might as well make the most of it, right?

Below are some of my favorite SEO blog posts and other creative long-form pieces. You can also view more of my recent bylined work by browsing my Authory portfolio. 

The Everygirl
Businessperson leaning on a desk hovering over their laptop, cell phone, and notepads
The Everygirl

Everything You Need to Do At Work This Week So You Can Enjoy The Holidays In Peace

You know those *Slams laptop shut till Monday* memes that your millennial friends post every Friday? Well, get ready to see “Slams laptop shut till January” because we are approaching the last few work days of the year. If you’re like me, you’re equally excited and stressed about that. There is a lot to get done before the ball drops. But the thought of leaving some emails unanswered is tempting when you start fantasizing about the holiday break. Festivities with friends, quality time with loved ones, and rejuvenation for the new year are all on the docket.
Clockwise
A coffe cup, alarm clock, plant, pencil, and paper laid out on a white desktop space
Clockwise Blog

How to say “no” at work this holiday season | Clockwise

Close your eyes and picture this: In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, kitchens everywhere hold abundant feast ingredients—from turkeys to pie crusts and everything in between. You receive a Slack message from a team member the day before Thanksgiving requesting your attendance at a meeting. Now you’re wondering how you will attend that 3 pm meeting and get to the grocery store to pick up your last-minute items. Thanksgiving comes and goes, but your calendar doesn’t look emptier.
The Everygirl
The Everygirl

We Asked HR: Why You're Still Not Getting the Job After a Second Interview

It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for: Your resume caught the attention of recruiters and hiring managers, and your job search finally appears on the up-and-up. You start receiving emails to schedule initial interviews and phone screenings, so securing your next big gig feels like it’s right around the corner. Yet, despite passing the resume screening and moving through the interview process, you still aren’t landing job offers and wondering what gives.
Workshop
Workshop

Creating a Change Management Communications Plan: A Guide for IC and HR Pros

Managing change is one thing; communicating changes to others is another. It’s not uncommon for organizations to task their internal communicators (ICers) and human resources (HR) professionals with the ultimate challenge of communicating a significant change. That might be a company-wide restructure, the celebration of a new acquisition, major rebrand, or something else bound to shake the stable ground.
The Everygirl
Laptop sitting on a desk with a background from The Everygirl
The Everygirl

This Productivity Method Could Be the Answer to Burnout

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where, despite trying numerous productivity hacks and maintaining effective self-care routines, you’re still striving for more and feeling utterly drained? In particular, knowledge workers (anyone who adds value to the workplace by providing knowledge and information, like engineers, accountants, marketers, and academics) and anyone else spending their time on digital devices are experiencing incurable busyness, constant distractions, and overwhelming levels of exhaustion.
Clockwise
Person sitting at a tabletop next to a plant smiling behind them
Clockwise Blog

How to Politely Decline a Meeting Invite | Clockwise

Picture this: you’re merrily tapping away at your keyboard, cruising your way through your to-do list, crossing items off left and right with your favorite color highlighter when an invitation for a “Project Sync” pops up on your Google Calendar. You pause for a moment, feeling distracted and caught off guard. The meeting is in a few hours, and you need to be in the loop on the project your teammates will discuss, but is there a better way?
Clockwise
Partial screenshot of Gmail inbox window on a laptop
Clockwise Blog

How to Streamline Email for Effective Communication | Clockwise

These are the types of emails that send me spiraling like Ron Swanson from the hit series Parks and Recreation:

Maybe this example is exaggerated, but you get the point.

I searched high and low for recent statistics on the number of emails the average knowledge worker receives daily, and I kept running into a McKinsey study from 2012. At the time, McKinsey reported that knowledge workers spent 28 hours each week writing emails, searching for information, and collaborating internally.
Clockwise
Illustration of three clocks to demonstrate time management
Clockwise Blog

7 Tips for Improving Time Management Skills | Clockwise

On an episode of the television series “Shameless,” Lip Gallagher works in a kitchen restaurant while going to school. He asks his boss if he can leave early to study for his literature exam, but he denies his request. In a moment of tough love, Lip’s boss tells him that he sees other students struggling to balance their priorities all the time, and they get there with the help of three words — time management skills.
The Everygirl
Three people sitting at a table working with laptops and notepads
The Everygirl

The Surprising Trait That May Be Affecting Your Productivity

Do you ever feel like no matter how many productivity hacks, time management tips, or The Everygirl desk essentials you buy, you still aren’t operating at your peak productivity levels?

We’ve all heard the same advice from productivity experts everywhere, “Wake up an hour earlier!” or “Have you tried [insert time management strategy here]? It’s a total game-changer.” We live in a world where productivity is always top of mind, but sometimes, something still feels off no matter how many strategi
Clockwise
Cartoon person juggling clocks, emails, and Slack messages
Clockwise Blog

Context Switching: The High-Cost Productivity Killer | Clockwise

What would you say if I asked you to describe how your typical workday goes, start to finish? Not the perfectly smooth and organized day you plan on paper when you get to your desk first thing in the morning, but how your day actually looks.

I’ll start. I first look at my calendar and make a daily to-do list while I clean out my inbox. The day often begins quietly, and sometimes if I’m lucky, I’m able to dig into a project before I attend my first meeting.
The Everygirl
Computer screen with The Everygirl screensaver surrounded by flowers and La Marca Prosecco
The Everygirl

Try This Instead: 10 Ways to Be More Confident at Work

We’ve all been there: Maybe you’ve been asked to take charge of party planning for your coworker’s birthdays or go on a coffee run (even if you said goodbye to the “intern” title years ago). Or perhaps one of your colleagues keeps talking over you in meetings (been there, done that!). You know you should be strong and confident, but maybe you aren’t sure where to start when it comes to empowerment in your career.
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Lifestyle

As an added bonus, here are a few of my favorite lifestyle pieces I've written. Enjoy!

The Knot
Couple getting married on the beach
The Knot

These 12 Kauai Wedding Venues Are Truly Breathtaking

These wedding venues in Kauai are sure to wow.

The island of Kauai, also known as the Garden Isle, is a tropical paradise filled with natural beauty, magnificent beaches, native plants and wildlife—and some truly spectacular Kauai wedding venues. Sitting northwest of Oahu, the island of Kauai is the second-oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands and is home to Waimea Canyon State Park and the Na Pali Coast State Park. Not to mention the heavenly Hanalei Bay makes for incredible scenery.

Features

Here are some of the pieces I've been featured or quoted in. 

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