Alyssa Towns' 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, as a freelance writer with a background in communications, I can (and do) write in various formats on 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, I excel at crafting content that makes work more enjoyable. And since time is the only thing we can never get back, I regularly cover intentional living, time management, productivity, and related topics.

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

Clockwise
A coffe cup, alarm clock, plant, pencil, and paper laid out on a white desktop space

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.
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

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
Illustration of three clocks to demonstrate time management

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.
Clockwise
Cartoon person juggling clocks, emails, and Slack messages

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.
Passion Planner
Open planner with a sticky note that reads "How to Maximize Your Time with the Pomodoro Technique"

How to Maximize Your Time with the Pomodoro Technique

As goal-getters, big dreamers, and visionaries, it seems like we could all use just a little bit more time in our day. In a world full of commitments, busy schedules, sprinkled with distractions and interruptions, maximizing one's time is no easy feat. Fortunately, we can savor and take advantage of as many of those precious minutes as possible with Passion Planner and an effective time management strategy such as the Pomodoro Technique.

Features (Webinars, Podcasts, Newsletters, Blogs)

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