Words that sound like you
Good writing doesn’t need to be complicated.
It needs to feel right.
Right for the person delivering it, right for the occasion and right for the people it is intended for.
I help write and refine speeches, scripts, presentation texts, personal stories and other texts where a message needs to come across naturally and convincingly.
Not words designed to impress. Words that stay with people.
Good writing starts with listening
Before I start writing, I want to understand what you really want to say.
What’s the occasion? Who needs to hear the story? What mustn’t be left out? And above all, how would you tell it yourself if all the words naturally fell into place?
That’s what I look for.
I separate the main points from the details, find the common thread and turn loose thoughts into a story that’s clear, personal and easy to listen to.
No need to embellish.
Making sure it all adds up.
• WRITING & STORYTELLING
Writing the way people actually speak
After more than thirty years of interviewing, presenting and programme making, I know how different written and spoken language can be.
A sentence can look beautiful on paper and sound completely unnatural on stage.
That’s something I always pay attention to.
I write with a feel for rhythm, tone and personality. Especially with speeches, presentation texts and voice-overs, a text shouldn’t just read well. You need to be able to deliver it naturally and convincingly.
That’s why I never try to put my own voice into your story.
Ultimately, the words should sound like you.
• Zwaanzinnig!
How can I help?
Speeches and talks
From a business speech to a personal story for a special occasion. I help shape thoughts into a text with a clear structure, an appropriate tone and room for personality.
Scripts and presentation copy
For a video, event or presentation, I write scripts that sound natural when spoken aloud. No long-winded written language, just natural sentences that work for an audience.
Personal stories
Sometimes there are many memories and events, but no clear way to bring them together. I help shape those stories into a personal portrait that keeps the person at its heart.
Voice-over and media copy
A voice-over needs to convey a lot in just a few words. I write and edit scripts for audiovisual productions, reports and other media formats where words and visuals need to work together.
• WHAT I STAND FOR
What you can expect from me in writing and storytelling
Your voice still sounds like you
Good writing shouldn’t sound as though someone else wrote it. I look for words that suit the way you tell your story.
Start with the essentials
We don’t have to tell everything. I help identify what truly matters and make sure the key message doesn’t get lost among the details.
Natural writing
No complicated sentences, clichés or unnecessarily formal language. The text should be easy to read and sound natural when spoken aloud.
A feel for the moment
A business presentation calls for a different tone than a personal speech or life story. I tailor the style, rhythm and choice of words to the occasion.
• Zwaanzinnig!
Write it yourself or have it written for you?
Some people already have their entire story in their head but find it difficult to put it down on paper.
Others have separate memories, ideas and notes that still need structure.
I can help in either situation.
You can ask me to write the complete story, but I can also edit, shorten or rewrite an existing text. Sometimes a few hours spent refining it together is all that’s needed. Other times, we start with a blank page.
If you don’t yet have a clear direction for the content and the bigger idea still needs to be defined, Concept development is probably the better place to start.
Not sure what you need? In an initial conversation, we’ll look at where the story stands right now.
1. Getting to know each other
We’ll discuss the purpose, target audience, desired tone and what you want the text to achieve.
2. Gathering stories
You share your thoughts, information, memories or existing material. I ask questions to find out what really matters.
3. Writing
We’ll go through the text together and adjust the wording, rhythm and content as needed until the story feels right.
4. Fine-tuning
We’ll review the result together and refine the content and tone until the story feels right and is ready to use.
• LET’S TALK
Need help putting your story into words?
Maybe you know exactly what you want to say, but not yet how to put it into words.
Or perhaps you already have three versions and none of them feels quite right.
Send me what you have, or simply tell me what you need a text for. Then we can work together to shape your ideas into words that feel clear, natural and true to you.
