About

To me the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it’s about, but the music the words make.
-Truman Capote- 

My name is Mary Ellen James and I’m a writer living in Houston. I love words. Well-crafted prose gives me goose bumps. Poorly written business copy makes me sorry for the lost opportunity for that business to shine. 

I started writing when I was four years old, when wiggly lines on a piece of typing paper made me feel like I had the world by the tail! I collected paper clips, pens and pencils, scotch tape and anything that had to do with writing and carried them around in a picnic basket.  

Writing came easily in school and gave me a deep sense of accomplishment. I went on to get a teaching degree and spent my first few years out of college as a middle school teacher. Financial realities being what they were, I left teaching and spent the next 20 years in technology sales and marketing, spending most of that time with a large office equipment dealership in Houston. If you live in Houston, you probably heard the radio ads I produced. 

After being downsized in a corporate merger (who hasn’t been there?), I became a day-trader. It turned out that I didn’t have the required nerves of steel, but I learned a lot about the markets and can write confidently on the subject. I enjoyed working in the publishing industry for a time, but ultimately returned to teaching middle school English. The problem was, I wasn’t doing what I love to do. (God bless all middle school teachers!)

I’m now a full-time researcher, copywriter and editor. And I love it! 

Copy is the most important element of your marketing message.  Copy speaks for you and establishes a conversation with your audience. To underestimate the power of your words is to let the train pull out of the station without you. Bad copy can even hurt your business, undermining your credibility and sending your client on to your competitor. In short, copy matters!

If you would like to work with me, please send me an email. If you would like for me to call you, please include your phone number and a good time to call. Please include your time zone.

 I can’t wait to hear from you!