Elissa Cottle
Writer / Editor / Project Manager
Artful Business Writing
Creative Writing Classes & Consultation
612-925-2249
I love to promote achievements and stories of conscientious businesses, organizations and professionals.
My writing expertise has benefited entrepreneurs, builders, artists, planners, designers, health care
providers, government, nonprofits and others.
The talent I have for putting art in business and organization writing comes from lifelong creative writing. I am a published poet and teach and edit creative writing for adults.
Education
Master of Fine Arts in Writing - Hamline University, Minnesota
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with honors - University of Iowa
- semester in London analyzing British steel industry during labor strike
- semester in Washington, DC, as Washington Star transit writer
Professional Experience
Writer and editor for businesses, nonprofits, academics, creatives and media - 30+ years to present
Specializing in marketing and strategy, community building, health, government
Staff marketer, strategist and project manager - 11 years
for the Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program
- Creating newsletters, web content, white papers, grant applications
- Leading strategy groups; managing multi-million-dollar budgets
- Focusing on business rehab, housing, schools, the arts, community building
Creative writing teacher - 15 years to present
- Teaching "Creating a Writing Life" for adults to write poetry, fiction and memoir
Youth journalism teacher - 5 years
- Teaching after-school newspaper making and creative writing in Minneapolis
Curator of When Writing Meets Art, literary readings in art spaces - 7 years to present
Poet published in the following literary journals
Between The Lakes, Main Channel Voices, Minnesota Poetry Calendar,
rock, paper, scissors, Southwest Journal, Tipton Poetry Journal,
and the Nodin Poetry Anthology of Minnesota poets
Business Clients
Allina Health - medical records proofing
Dewdrop Massage - blog writing
Diamond Cut Homes, remodeling contractor - website content
Elm Grove Enterprises - grant writing
ETR (Education, Training & Research) - data collection for teen-pregnancy prevention curriculum
Harweyn, nonprofit for Somalia relief and reconstruction - website content (harweyn.org)
Heightened Performance, workplace wellness consultant - web design and content
Hope Center Adult Daycare - website design and content (hcadultdaycare.wixsite.com/mysite)
Innovative Court Reporters - deposition transcripts proofing
Love That Pillow, home accessories - website content and business coaching
Mindscapes Unlimited, business/life coaching - media releases and website content
Nine Cloud Healing - website content
Ostrowski Insurance Agency - brochure content
Our Community Food Projects, food garden management - newsletters
Red Sea Shares: The Djibouti American Connection - website design and content
River Market Community Co-op - newsletter articles (pro bono)
Solution Enhance, radon mitigation - website content
Studio St. Croix, coaching services - marketing writing and business coaching
Target Corporation - editing engineers' reports on store reconstruction
United Media Group digital advertising devices - newsletter and marketing writing
University of Minnesota - newsletters for academic advising center
Editor and co-writer of book manuscripts, including memoir, poetry, and investment strategy
- The Victory Daughter, memoir, co-writer and editor for author Laura Scott
Published in 2019, available on Amazon for $9.95
- Always Birds, poetry collection, editor for author Elizabeth Paxon
Published in 2019, available from redbirdchapbooks.com for $12
- A Prayer for Ducks, poetry collection, editor for author Ethan Joella
Published in 2019, available from redbirdchapbooks.com for $12
Plus coaching and editing for numerous individual creative writers
Media Clients
Stillwater Gazette, MN - business columnist and current literary page curator and editor
Minnesota Monthly - business-environment partnership articles
Minnesota Parent - family articles
Mpls.St.Paul Magazine - editing, writing, research on the hospitality industry
Peterborough Evening Telegraph, England - articles on the steel making industry
Southwest Journal, Minneapolis - articles on education, community planning and the arts
Twin Cities Business Monthly - articles on various business issues
Media Employers
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, greater Los Angeles - staff writer, 5 years
LA Parent - staff assistant editor and writer, 1 year
The Star News, greater San Diego - staff writer covering city planning, 2 years
Duluth News-Tribune, MN - intern staff writer covering business and community
Warwick Beacon, RI - intern staff writer covering real estate industry
Volunteer Experience
The Zephyr Theatre Board of Trustees - current (stillwaterzephyrtheatre.org)
Family Tree Clinic editor and patient counselor
Neighborhood Block Leader - current, event planning and newsletter writing
River Market Community Co-op Board of Directors
FamilyMeans - newsletter writing
St. Croix Valley Athletic Association - assistant coach
Global Volunteers - housing construction
The Family Partnership - research, creative writing group facilitator
Awards
-
Society of Professional Journalists
-
Press Club of Southern California
First Place in news writing
-
Harte-Hanks Newspapers
for articles on business, legal affairs, and in-depth and investigative writing
-
Outstanding Young Woman of America
nominated by Congressional representative
Conducted the Minnesota Orchestra
at age 13
As a student in a youth conducting class
I conducted the first movements of
Schubert's “Symphony No. 8 in B Minor" and
Mozart's “Symphony No. 40 in G Minor.”
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Give back your heart / to itself, to the stranger / who has loved you / all your life
- Derek Walcott, poet
