zak-nelson-seattle

I'm a senior copywriter (he/him) in Seattle, Washington. 

Born in New Jersey and raised in California, I love to geek out about writing, literature, and rhetoric. I write literary fiction in my spare time. 

I was a marketing manager—mostly in book publishing—for ten years. I wrote copy and handled marketing, events, and publicity at Heyday Books, Ten Speed Press, Third Place Books, and also worked as an independent consultant. I also worked at the flagship Amazon brick-and-mortar bookstore.

After earning a Master's degree in creative writing at NCSU, I taught writing and rhetoric: how to identify and align an audience's needs and values with your own identity and purpose to write persuasively.

In 2019 I found a new gear—and new career—as a copywriter for Sands Costner, a small yet cunning strategic marketing and communications agency based in Tacoma, Washington. And in 2022 I was invited and began writing as a freelancer for Content Workshop.

About Zak

Tell me about yourself...

Skills

Advertising copy

Blog content

Brand development

Concepting and storyboarding

Content management systems

Content marketing strategy

Client presentation

Direct mail marketing

Editing/proofreading (AP style, Chicago, APA, MLA)

Little surprises that make you smile

Press releases

Project management

Research and data analysis

Search engine optimization (SEO)

Spanish language

Team leadership and collaboration

Technical writing

User experience (UX) writing

Video scripts

Web copy

Five years of agency work. Fifteen in copywriting and brand marketing. I'm the guy you want writing high-visibility copy and making strategic content decisions. 
 

Why? Experience, wit, leadership, and joy. 

 

I enjoy building a brand voice from core values, purpose, mission, vision, and position. I like adapting that voice to different channels and genres.

 

I delight in the challenge of quickly creating original, compelling copy from briefs and other constraints. I absorb complexities fast.

 

As a bonus, I'll improve systems and streamline processes. 

 

Listen: I'm a senior copywriter with a deep well of marketing experience. I strive to uplift everyone on my team. I take feedback (and give it) well.

 

I'm open to conversations.