Biography

My name is Brenda Smith and I’m a writer.

I haven’t always been a writer. I started out as a teacher. I taught history and social studies to high school students. But even then, I was interested in writing.

I always told my students that when they passed in an assignment, English (writing) counted. They would groan and try to convince me that a history class shouldn’t be concerned with how a paper was written. After all, it was their thoughts that counted, not how they expressed them, they would argue. But since I was the final arbiter, how a paper was written counted in their grade. I even teamed up with an English teacher and we would both grade their papers.

Many of my students weren’t happy about it but they concentrated more on their writing. In the end, students wrote better because it was expected of them. It couldn’t have been too much of a hardship because they nominated me for best teacher, several times.

I moved from teaching to textbook editing journalism – a profession that depends totally on a person’s ability to communicate through the written or spoken word. I chose journalism because it allows me to stick my nose in other people’s business and to try to help right wrongs. But the thing that most fascinates me about the profession is how words can make such a difference, both to individuals and to society.

Finding the right word to communicate a precise thought is extremely satisfying – at least to me. I enjoy helping others do the same thing. It’s a triumph for me to help someone make their writing better without changing their unique voice. Each of us has our own way of saying things, our own "paper personality." The trick is to write so others understand, enjoy and maybe are moved to action – while still conveying our own personality.

I’ve spent much of my journalism career writing about business – explaining how products work or why a company’s stock has dropped or risen, or what happened in the workplace to make one company soar and another disappear. I’ve written stories about people on top, on their way down or somewhere in the middle. My articles have appeared in The Eagle-Tribune in Lawrence, Mass.; The Boston Business Journal; The Dorchester Community News; the Bay State Banner and the United Press International (UPI) wire service.

I’ve also written press releases, brochure and Web site copy, newsletters and more for the marketing and public relations firm, COCO+CO.

I have more than 10 years of experience as an educator and more than 20 as a writer/editor. When I step back to look at where I’ve been professionally and where I want to go, I find myself coming back to education – to helping people learn. That’s what I did as a teacher and what I’ve done as a journalist. It’s what all journalists do. So it was natural for me to create a business that uses the best elements of both professions. As a writing coach I teach people how to write better. As a writer and editor I teach them about companies, about issues, about explaining life.

In starting WriteSmith, I’ve come full circle in my professional life.

Educational background includes:

• Journalism/Afro-American Studies program – Boston University
• M.Ed. – Antioch University
• B.A. – University of Massachusetts

Awards include:

• Public Occurrences Award – New England Newspaper Association
• First Place, Business/Economic Reporting – New England Press Association – for two consecutive years