Bio & Experience
Courtney D. Williams
A Hudson Valley native from a family of entrepreneurs, I find using my writing skills and creativity to help small and mid-sized businesses grow and thrive a very rewarding endeavor.
Love at first write...
I have been writing creatively since childhood and fiction was my first love. I credit the fiction program at the New York State Summer Writers Institute at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY with converting my love of writing into a serious pursuit, when I attended for three summers during college. The program’s incredible instructors (including Joanna Scott, Nicholas Delbanco, Lee K. Abbott, and Jay McInerney), visiting writers, and staff, as well as fellow program participants, helped me realize the extent of my passion for writing and storytelling, and fueled me with a desire to make writing a focus in my life. I continue to write fiction and creative prose, focusing on short stories and a novel-in-progress.
Education and experience...
A Cum Laude graduate of SUNY New Paltz with a B.A. in English/Creative Writing, I went on to work in marketing for various industries—including book publishing, horse shows, and lighting—and most recently held the position of Manager, Marketing Communications for a local manufacturing company. I formed Seventh Cloud Creative Solutions in 2009, operating it as a side-business before making the transition to full-time self-employment in early 2011.
I have continued to hone my writing and marketing skills and expand my knowledge base with courses through local adult-education programs and national professional organizations. Recent courses include: Grant Writing Basics I and II, Leveraging Web 2.0 to Engage Customers and Build Your Brand (American Management Association), and Writing for the Web (American Management Association).
The breadth of my experience speaks to my adaptability as a writer and my ability to write in a multitude of tones and voices to convey the desired message—whether that be professionalism and empathy in the funeral industry, innovation and sophistication in lighting, or the excitement of a horse show competition. Through my work experience I have become adept at translating industry-specific technical content into results-oriented marketing copy. And with exceptional knowledge of grammar and an instinctual understanding of the mechanics of writing, I both write and edit creatively without sacrificing technical excellence.
Moonlighting...
In addition to my writing business, I also design and make jewelry to sell online and at craft fairs and home parties, under the name Seventh Cloud Studio. Please visit my Etsy shop at www.SeventhCloudStudio.etsy.com.
Seventh Cloud Creative Solutions is a proud member of:
- Southern Ulster County Chamber of Commerce
- Esopus Business Alliance
