More than 300 happy clients around the world
CALL US: 0204 502 0344
CALL US: (713) 465-6860

Is NAPS2 the Right OCR Tool for You?

Home >> Blogs >> Is NAPS2 the Right OCR Tool for You?

Is NAPS2 the Right OCR Tool for You?

November 28, 2024

In our digital age, it is becoming increasingly important for organizations, individuals, and businesses to process data as quickly as possible.

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is a technology that plays a crucial role in transitioning from the physical realm to the digital.

OCR works by converting scanned images or documents into text that is ready to be edited or searched. This allows you to digitize your handwriting, archive centuries-old books, or simply improve the workflow for your company.

Among the crowded field of third-party document scanners, NAPS2 (Not Another PDF Scanner 2; nap2.org) stands head and shoulders above the competition as a free, open-source scanning and OCR software.

Unlike other tools, which offer a basic feature set and then charge a premium for additional functionality, NAPS2 has one simple goal: it’s free. Regardless of your technical expertise, the size of your budget, or the urgency of the task, NAPS2 is here to help.

But what exactly is NAPS2, and how does it measure up against other tools in its class? Just as importantly, how do you decide if it’s right for you?

In this post, we’ll discuss the main features of NAPS2, what it’s capable of, and its limitations, compared with other OCR software. If you’re looking to use an OCR tool on your computer, this guide will help you decide which one to choose.

What Makes NAPS2 Unique?

NAPS2 has carved out a niche as a practical, usable, and cost-effective OCR tool. Here’s what makes it special:

Free and Open-Source

One of the biggest benefits of NAPS2’s open-source status is that, unlike many OCR tools, it’s free.

Whether you’re a student, small business owner, or an individual interested in converting documents to text but not willing to commit to a pricey subscription or one-time fee, NAPS2 is available to you at no cost.

Open-source software is also more transparent, allowing for community-driven improvements.

User-Friendly Design

The program is incredibly easy to use. The interface—consisting of panels, buttons, dials, and dialogs—is minimalist, allowing for tasks such as scanning, OCR application, and saving files with the fewest clicks possible.

For example, you simply select your scanner, tweak a few settings, and you’re scanning, digitizing, and saving documents in just seconds. This streamlined efficiency makes NAPS2 ideal for users who are not tech-savvy and don’t want to waste time learning a complicated tool.

Language and Platform Support

NAPS2 supports over 40 languages, making it suitable for multilingual documents.

Additionally, it works across Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms, ensuring compatibility with various operating systems.

Customizable OCR Settings

NAPS2 allows you to fine-tune how OCR is performed to suit your needs and the type of document. You can select your preferred scanning speed—‘Fast’ mode for quicker results or ‘Best’ mode for better accuracy, especially with more complex documents—and adjust the brightness and contrast of the image to improve text recognition. These features make NAPS2 a reliable tool for various document types and use cases.

This combination of accessibility, simplicity, and customization makes NAPS2 a strong contender in the growing OCR market, especially for those looking for a straightforward solution.

Key Considerations When Choosing an OCR Solution

Evaluating NAPS2 or any OCR software can be tricky, as your individual needs will determine how well a tool like NAPS2 fits. Here are some key questions to consider:

Accuracy

When working with important or complex documents, accuracy is essential. On standard text and simple layouts, the default OCR in NAPS2 (powered by the Tesseract OCR engine) performs well.

However, with low-quality scans, stylized fonts, or complicated documents containing tables or forms, accuracy can suffer.

If your needs are basic and you don’t want to spend money, NAPS2 will work well for you.

But if you require more advanced OCR for complex documents, premium products like ABBYY FineReader or Adobe Acrobat Pro may be better choices.

Ease of Use

A major strength of NAPS2 is its ease of use. The application’s intuitive controls allow you to quickly scan and process documents with just a few clicks.

In contrast to some specialized, high-priced tools loaded with advanced features that can overwhelm inexperienced users, NAPS2 is a clear choice if you need a simple tool for basic tasks.

Additional Features

While NAPS2 covers the essentials of OCR effectively, it also offers a few notable features for specific use cases:

  • Image Correction Tools: NAPS2 includes basic image editing options, such as brightness and contrast adjustments, which can enhance scanned documents before OCR is applied. These tools are especially useful for improving text recognition in older or lower-quality scans.
  • Command-Line Interface (CLI): For power users and developers, NAPS2 provides a command-line interface that enables automation and integration into custom workflows. This feature is ideal for users who need to process large batches of documents or incorporate NAPS2 into scripted operations.
  • Customizable OCR Modes: Users can choose between “Fast” mode for quicker results and “Best” mode for improved accuracy. This flexibility allows you to balance speed and precision based on the needs of your project.
  • Portable Version: NAPS2 offers a portable version that doesn’t require installation, making it easy to use on shared or temporary devices. This feature is especially useful for IT professionals or educators who need to work across multiple systems.

While these features enhance NAPS2’s versatility, users with advanced needs, such as automated cloud syncing or detailed layout preservation, may find it lacking compared to premium alternatives.

Scalability

NAPS2 works well for small projects and personal document digitization. However, for larger-scale work that requires extensive automation or integration with larger document management systems, a more robust tool like Amazon Textract or ABBYY FineReader would be a better option.

Comparing NAPS2 to Other Popular OCR Tools

To better understand how NAPS2 stacks up, let’s compare it with some other popular OCR tools:

ABBYY FineReader Professional

  • Accuracy and Features: ABBYY FineReader consistently delivers the most accurate OCR, especially for complex layouts, handwritten notes, and documents with tables and charts. It also supports batch processing and precise layout retention. While NAPS2 works well for simpler tasks, it may require more manual corrections for more intricate documents.
  • Price: ABBYY FineReader is a premium product, and its price reflects that. However, the precision and range of features make it a worthwhile investment for those who need them. For individuals or small businesses, NAPS2 offers a significant advantage because it’s free.
  • Ease of Use: While ABBYY FineReader is feature-rich, its interface can be overwhelming for first-time users. In contrast, NAPS2’s simple design makes it more accessible to beginners.

NAPS2 vs. Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

  • Functionality: Adobe Acrobat Pro DC has a full suite of PDF management features, including OCR, editing, commenting, and e-signatures—ideal for businesses. NAPS2, however, focuses on scanning and OCR, making it simpler to use and less resource-demanding.
  • Price: Adobe Acrobat Pro operates on a subscription model, which may be unnecessary for occasional OCR users. NAPS2 is free and doesn’t require a subscription for basic features.
  • Platform Availability: Adobe Acrobat Pro is widely available, but NAPS2 has the advantage of running on Windows, Mac, and Linux, making it accessible to more users across multiple platforms.

NAPS2 vs. Tesseract OCR

  • Customizability: NAPS2 is powered by Tesseract OCR, one of the most capable OCR engines available. However, NAPS2 simplifies the user experience by offering a user-friendly interface on top of Tesseract’s command-line functions.
  • Use Cases: Tesseract is highly customizable but requires coding knowledge to fully utilize. NAPS2, on the other hand, integrates Tesseract’s powerful features into a straightforward interface, making it the ideal choice for casual users who need quick, effective OCR.

NAPS2 vs. Amazon Textract

  • Integration and Automation: Amazon Textract is designed for large-scale, automated document processing and integrates well with other AWS services. It’s ideal for enterprise-level workflow operations.
  • Use Case Simplicity: NAPS2 is better suited for simpler use cases and smaller volumes. Its user-friendly design and no-cost model make it ideal for individuals or small teams that don’t require enterprise-grade tools.

Challenges and Limitations of NAPS2

While NAPS2 offers many advantages, it has some limitations:

  • Variable OCR Accuracy: Powered by Tesseract OCR, NAPS2 performs well on standard text but struggles with complex layouts like tables or charts. Documents with intricate formatting may require significant manual corrections.
  • Limited Advanced Features: NAPS2 lacks some advanced features found in premium OCR software, such as batch processing, cloud integration, or precise retention of document layouts.
  • Dependency on Input Quality: OCR accuracy is heavily influenced by the quality of the input scans. Poorly lit, faded, or low-resolution images can lead to errors. Although NAPS2 has basic image correction tools, they may not be sufficient for very poor-quality scans.
  • No Mobile App: NAPS2 doesn’t offer a mobile app, which can be a major drawback for users who want to scan documents directly from smartphones or tablets.
  • Slower Performance in “Best” Mode: While “Best” mode provides higher accuracy, it processes documents more slowly, making it impractical for large volumes or time-sensitive tasks.

How to Decide If NAPS2 Is Right for You

Ultimately, your choice of OCR tool will depend on your specific needs, budget, and workflow. Here are some considerations to help you decide if NAPS2 is the best fit for you:

Assess Your OCR Needs: If you need simple document scanning and conversion, NAPS2 is an excellent choice. It handles standard text documents like notes, letters, or receipts with ease. However, if you deal with complex layouts, special formatting, or large document volumes, you might need a more advanced tool like ABBYY FineReader or Adobe Acrobat Pro.

Consider Your Budget: NAPS2’s free, open-source model makes it a standout option for individuals, nonprofits, and small businesses. Premium OCR tools are more feature-rich but come at a high price.

Evaluate Document Types and Volumes: NAPS2 works well for standard text documents and small-scale projects. For larger tasks with intricate formatting or high volumes, a premium tool may be a better investment.

Test It Out: Since NAPS2 is free, the best way to assess whether it meets your needs is to try it. Download it, scan a few documents, and see how it performs. If it works for your needs, great! If not, you’ll have a clearer understanding of the features you require.

    Taken together, these factors should help you determine whether NAPS2’s ease of use, affordability, and accessibility make it the right OCR solution for you.

    While it may not offer the advanced features of premium alternatives, its simplicity and cost-effectiveness make it an appealing choice for many users with straightforward OCR needs.

    Author Information

    Is NAPS2 the Right OCR Tool for You?

    Zach Richter

     

     

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Request A Quote

    OR Call 713-465-6860

    What Kind of Author Are You?

    Choose as many as apply.


    Subject matter expert
    Academic
    Executive
    Speaker
    Businessperson
    Consultant
    Politician
    Brand advocate
    Founder
    Autobiographer
    Company representative
    Tribal representative
    Family historian
    Someone with something to say
    Creative
    Thought leader
    Influencer or celebrity
    Gift giver (I’m shopping for someone else)

    Next Question  Close Quiz

    What Qualities Do You Value Most in a Ghostwriter?

    Rank from 1 to 20


    Superb planner and organizer
    Great listener and interviewer
    Detail-oriented
    Background knowledge in my subject
    Fun to work with
    Proactive in making suggestions
    Good at following directions
    Energetic and upbeat
    Unflappable
    Quick-witted and clever
    Stickler for factual accuracy
    Easily understands complex technical, financial, or business subjects
    Similar belief system (religion, politics, etc.)
    Creative
    Clear and concise writer
    Inspiring writer
    Engaging storyteller
    Collaborative
    Cares about the project

    Back  Next Question  Close Quiz

    What Type of Book Do You Want?

    Choose all that apply.


    Genealogy
    Family history
    Company history
    Guidebook or reference
    Cookbook
    Coffee table book
    Non-fiction
    Trade specific
    Fiction
    Autobiography
    Memoir
    Including photos
    Including illustrations
    Including graphs or charts
    >200 pages
    100 to 200 pages
    <100 pages
    For friends and family
    For mass publication
    For technical or niche audience
    For young adults or children

    Back  Find Answer  Close Quiz

    Answer

    What Type of Ghostwriter Do You Need?
    Well, a ghostwriter from The Writers Hire, of course!

    Ok, so we didn’t produce a magic auto-generated name based on your answers.
    But, we do have a real human who will review your responses and gather an amazing writing team, just for you.

    Input your contact information below. We’ll review your personal communication style, goals, and preferences to find the best match among our team of over 25 writers, editors, and project managers.
    Back  

    Thank you


    Stay tuned for a text, call, or email. We can’t wait to talk to you about your new book!
    Back  Close Quiz

    Wintress Odom - Owner / Editor-in-chief

    Wintress founded The Writers For Hire in 2003 after freelancing for several years as a copywriter and editor. She has overseen, edited, proofread, or written copy for over 100 clients and is happy to have maintained long-term relationships with many of her first customers. Wintress is an exceptional proofreader and editor and has a gift for organizing large projects, including large technical manuals and manuscripts. Her educational background includes graduating cum laude from Rice University in 2000, studying at Cologne Gymnasium in Germany, and graduating valedictorian from The Science Academy of South Texas in 1994.

    Kathleen Kimm-Rinchiuso - Office Manager

    Unofficially, Kathy is known around the office as “the other half of Wintress’ brain”: In her capacity as office admin, she helps Wintress keep track of projects and meetings; reminds her of upcoming deadlines; and serves as the point of communication between Wintress and the rest of the TWFH team. In her more official role of office administrator and project manager, she keeps tabs on all current projects, from drafting proposals and project timelines to working directly with writers and editors to keep projects on track. Kathy is particularly awesome at making sure that all of our website projects run smoothly, and she’s got a gift for translating potentially confusing web development jargon into plain English, so our website clients always know exactly what’s happening and why. When she’s not at work, Kathy loves singing along to musicals with her two daughters.

    Brittany Hardy - Project Coordinator

    Brittany is our resident Project Coordinator and serves as the liaison between writer and client. She also helps assign the team for each project, create project timelines, gather resources and information, schedule meetings, ensure each project stays on budget and within scope, and guarantee client satisfaction. Oh, and she does all of this at lightning speed with a smile on her face, without ever dropping a ball. Brittany developed many of her management and leadership skills working as an office manager for a lawn care company and as an assistant manager for an apartment community. But she attributes her superhuman organizational abilities to the years of practice she’s had managing 4 kids, 11 piglets, 3 dogs, and a dozen chickens.

    Dayna Bargas - Accounts Manager

    Since joining The Writers For Hire in 2022, Dayna has seamlessly stepped into the role of Accounts Manager, overseeing functions such as Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, collections, billing, and all tasks in between. With a keen eye for detail and strong communication skills, she efficiently manages all aspects of financial operations for TWFH. Dayna takes pride in her ability to navigate with a smile, displaying strong professional skills and fostering a positive work environment. Beyond her role with TWFH, she enjoys entertaining, traveling, and (most importantly!) spending time with her family.

    Stephanie Hashagen - Senior Editor

    Stephanie’s expertise in English and writing spans over a decade in freelancing and teaching. Stephanie worked as a staff writer and editor for The Houstonian, contributed to The Huntsville Item, freelanced for The Houston Chronicle and spent four years teaching English and reading at the junior high and high school level. She has a Master’s Degree in English from the University of St. Thomas and a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Sam Houston State University. Stephanie has also ghost-authored several non-fiction and fiction manuscripts, numerous fashion and travel articles, and countless press releases, pitch letters, taglines, and print ads. Her copywriting and journalism experience includes technical copy for Tyco Flow Control and customer communications copy for a major American credit card company. Stephanie has also worked on copy and campaigns for Hilton and Carpet One Floor & Home, North America’s largest floor covering retailer. At The Writers For Hire, she has overseen, edited, proofread, or written copy for over 50 clients. Stephanie is an exceptional proofreader, writer, and editor and has a gift for adding a creative flair to projects while keeping copy professional and concise.

    Barbara Adams - Copywriter

    Barb Adams is an award-winning writer with more than 30 years of B2B and technical writing experience. She understands and closely follows the changing dynamics of the oil and gas industry – E&P, midstream, and upstream – and therefore needs minimum ramp up for any new O&G copywriting endeavor. Her portfolio includes hundreds of white papers, case studies, trade articles, op-eds, books, and brochures. Adams has also held positions as staff writer for a Houston agency, public relations manager for a Houston-based retail franchisor, and the advertising and promotions coordinator for a Minnesota-based hospitality company. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Journalism.

    Stacy Clifford - Copywriter

    Stacy Clifford is a wearer of many hats, both literally and figuratively. Having earned a B.S. in Geology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1996, his career has covered environmental cleanup, software testing, web development, technical support, copy editing and proofreading, and martial arts instruction. He has been proofreading since 3rd grade English with Mrs. Barry, corrected every stripe of web copy for over 15 years, copy edited both fiction and non-fiction books, and written on subjects as diverse as volcanology, sword fighting, and space colonization. A fixer by nature, Stacy is a stickler for structure and form and enjoys a good challenge whipping a document into shape. When not tackling the worlds problems or teaching people how to stab each other, Stacy enjoys pencil drawing and hiking in the national parks.

    Flori Meeks - Copywriter

    Flori, who has more than 25 years of writing experience, began her career in suburban Detroit as a community newspaper reporter. She has worked as a neighborhood news editor for the Houston Chronicle and as a copywriter for Powell Public Relations. During more than 10 years as a freelance writer, her projects included newspaper and magazine articles, press releases, brochure and website copy, Request for Proposal (RFP) responses, and grant applications. Her clients have included Galveston Monthly magazine, Weddings in Houston magazine, Judy Nichols & Associates (public relations) and NCIC Phone Services, along with nonprofit organizations, Lifeway International and Newspring. Since joining The Writers For Hire, Flori has assisted with social media campaigns and written blog posts, articles, press releases, brochures, and web copy.

    Flori has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Oakland University.

    Jessica Stautberg - Lead Copywriter

    Jessica joined The Writers for Hire after several years of technical writing for two Department of Defense contractors, where she created software documentation and online help, as well as material for the company websites and newsletters. Since joining The Writers for Hire, Jessica has become the company’s resident “Wiki guru,” and manages most of the Wikipedia projects. She also manages social media campaigns for several local businesses, provides copy and layout options for website projects, writes blog posts on topics that include the oil and gas industry, web hosting, and fashion, and writes articles, brochures, books, and press releases. Jessica has a Master’s in Technical Communication from Texas State, where she also edited and proofread articles for Center of the Study of the Southwest’s academic journals while working as a ghostwriter for Infobooks.com. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Southwestern University.

    Jennifer Rizzo - Copywriter / Genealogist

    Jennifer, also known as "Rizzo," is a Denver-based writer and genealogist with a passion for history, travel, and languages. She studied Spanish at the University of Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Mexico and also lived and studied in Ancona, Italy. She also holds a certification for International Tour Management through the International Guide Academy, as well as a Genealogy certification from IAP Career College. Since joining The Writers For Hire, Jennifer has tackled a vast array of projects—from RPFs and SOPs to memoirs and company history books— and has done many in-depth genealogical research and family tree projects. She has also worked as Project Manager for various client projects, including family history books, websites, RFPs, blogs, autobiographies, and SOPs. Jennifer is our resident historian and genealogist, and can often be found examining 200-year-old books in various archive sites around the globe. She enjoys working closely with clients, and loves any opportunity that allows her to indulge her creative side.

    Peter Albrecht - Copywriter

    After putting in enough time as a busboy, a cheesesteak artist, a medical courier, and a nightclub bouncer, Peter took the logical next step—securing a position at a bicycle shop. While serving as a mechanic and a salesman, his incriminating degree in creative writing from the University of Arizona got him assigned to every additional duty that had anything to do with words. Between all the wrenching and selling, Peter wrote website copy, emails, blogs, digital and print ads, press releases, articles, advertorials, and scripts for radio and television commercials. What started as a summer job evolved into an 18-year career in the cycling industry, gaining him experience in corporate communications, public relations, social media management, event planning, marketing, and retail advertising. Since joining The Writers for Hire, Peter has branched into ghostwriting, op-eds, RFPs, SOPs, and producing work for aerospace and engineering firms, public utilities, oil and gas companies, real estate developers, and the entertainment industry. At his home base in New Jersey, Peter spends his free time souping up cheap vintage guitars, admiring his dog, and talking about moving to the Adirondacks.

    Arielle Emmett - Copywriter

    Arielle Emmett joined The Writers for Hire after a 30-year career in science, technology, and international journalism education. Early in her career, during the Watergate era, Arielle was selected as a journalism intern for The New York Times columnist William Safire, and she was a correspondent for Newsweek. She has worked as an editor for Science Digest, as a reporter and features staff writer for the Detroit Free Press, and as a columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer and The American Journalism Review. She also has held senior editor and editor-in-chief positions at leading technical magazines and was a 10-year contributing editor at The Scientist. Arielle’s work has been published in Parents, Ms., OMNI, and Toronto Globe & Mail, among other publications. In 2011 she completed her doctoral dissertation in visual media and iconic photography at the University of Maryland. Since then, Arielle has taught science communications and online journalism at Temple and Drexel Universities, International College Beijing, and University of Hong Kong.

    Erin Larson - Copywriter

    With a Bachelor of Science in Language Arts from Georgetown University and 20 years of editorial experience, Erin brings a passion for words and well-crafted writing to every project. As a writer, she revels in the opportunity to create vibrant original copy and rejuvenate tired text. She has written on a range of topics, in a variety of styles, and for an array of platforms. As an editor, proofreader, translator, and trusted second set of eyes, she has helped clients from around the world enhance their writing. A self-proclaimed editorial perfectionist, Erin once canceled a credit card because of a grammatically incorrect form letter, which she edited and promptly sent back to the company. (Incidentally, she wasn’t surprised to receive no response.)

    Devin Lawrence - Copywriter

    Devin is a writer from Richmond, Virginia. He’s been an avid fan of fiction literature ever since he was young, and spent most of his adolescence pouring over one book series after another. Some of his favorites from back in the day include Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Ender’s Game, Ender’s Shadow, and The Edge Chronicles. He began pursuing creative writing when he was twelve, hoping to someday emulate his favorite authors. He has since spent more than ten years continuing to hone and expand the skills of his craft, graduating from Old Dominion University with a degree in Professional Writing in 2022. He has written on topics ranging from technology trends, to criminal justice, homeland security, self-defense, hiking and camping, workplace operational analysis, the challenges of eldercare, and data privacy. Creative by nature, Devin also dabbles as a graphic designer with particular interest in infographics and flowcharts.

    Chris DeLange - Copywriter

    Chris is a London-based writer with a strong background in HR/Learning & Development. He has held senior positions at large corporations in London as both Talent Development Business Partner and Head of Learning and Development. Chris graduated top of his class when he completed his MSc in Industrial Psychology at the University of Leicester in England. He also holds a TEFL/TESOL qualification in teaching English as a Second Language from Global Language Training. Chris is a big foody and is always exploring new dishes and creating new recipes. He became a qualified Chef in 2012 when he studied Culinary Arts at the International Centre For Culinary Arts in Dubai. He is very passionate about writing and is working on multiple team projects. Chris joined The Writers For Hire in 2022 and is settling in very well.

    Morgan Pinales - Copywriter

    Morgan has worked in marketing and communications for more than eight years, with a primary focus on copywriting and content creation. Throughout her years of experience, she has written and edited almost every kind of copy imaginable – magazine articles, blog posts, website copy, brochures, press releases, nonfiction books, newsletter articles, brand guidelines, and more – for both B2B and B2C audiences in a wide array of industries, including energy, technology, finance, healthcare, education, travel, retail, and more. In addition to her creative skills, Morgan has technical expertise in HTML coding and utilizing content management systems (e.g. WordPress) and email platforms, such as MailChimp, ExactTarget, and Constant Contact. With a lifelong interest in language, it is not surprising that Morgan has a bachelor’s degree in German and Linguistics from Rice University, where she studied more than eight languages. In 2011, she received her master’s degree in Advertising from The University of Texas, where she was accepted into the elite Texas Creative Program for her copywriting skills. In her free time, Morgan enjoys writing personalized picture books for friends and family.

    Shelley Harrison Carpenter - Copywriter

    Shelley’s love of words began in first grade, composing poems for her dear teacher and mentor, Mrs. Blanchard. Her writing career began with several years as a county newspaper reporter, where she developed a love for interviewing all sorts of people. Besides feature writing, her news beats included city government, education, and nonprofits of every stripe. As a determined “adult student,” Shelley graduated summa cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2010 where she also wrote profiles of outstanding adult students for a “Web Weekly” newsletter and edited a grant proposal for a campus office. After college, she wrote English instructional materials, website copy, product copy, and blogs before joining two construction and development ezines as a staff writer, happy to be conducting interviews for each assignment. Several years of intervening employment in corporate merchandising and HR deepened Shelley’s understanding of the workings of larger companies and the written content they require. She now loves being part of the writing teams at The Writers for Hire. When not at a keyboard, she can be seen jogging in her Southern neighborhood or found holed up with a biography, a vegetarian cookbook, or a vintage TV show.

    Melanie Green - Copywriter

    Melanie Green is a Tampa-based writer and editor, with a focus on digital marketing content. She has more than 15 years of experience writing professionally, including time spent as a full-time employee of McKinsey & Company, Nielsen, and The Business Observer. She loves to write blog posts, website pages, press releases, RFPs, and whitepapers for companies of all sizes in the United States. 

    She earned her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing with a concentration in screenwriting from National University in La Jolla, California, and her Bachelor of Arts in Writing from the University of Tampa in Tampa, Florida. 

    Carol Kim - Copywriter

    Carol Kim is a versatile freelance copywriter who specializes in content marketing, blog posts, website content, and email marketing for business clients. She especially enjoys diving into research and discovering what makes every company unique. Carol holds a bachelor’s degree from Pomona College and a Master’s in Public Affairs from the LBJ School at the University of Texas at Austin.

    Carol is also a children’s book author, having written several fiction and nonfiction books for the educational market. She especially loves helping kids learn about the environment and social sciences. Her first nonfiction picture book from a trade publisher is due to be released in fall 2021. 

    Martha Scott - Copywriter

    Martha Scott’s technical writing career began on a contract at Houston’s Johnson Space Center. She edited papers for scientific journal publication, documents for departments across the site, and a book about a proposed crew escape vehicle. She produced a yearly booklet describing Shuttle contract cost-saving measures, the mission managers’ Flight Data Pack, and a 45-page booklet called Charting a Course to the Year 2000 and Beyond describing plans to develop additional space vehicles and prepare for manned Mars explorations. At Invesco, Martha edited and contributed to two company newsletters (online and hardcopy). She wrote software user manuals, Help files, Training and Benefits department documents, and, finally, shareholder reports. She returned to aerospace for the Shuttle Program’s last 5 years where she attended and produced detailed descriptions of presentations and subsequent discussions at the Orbiter Configuration Control Board’s weekly meetings. She also documented crew debriefings for 17 flights. Martha’s most recent experience was on Jacobs Engineering’s contract with a Texas City refinery for which she wrote and edited Engineering, Safety, Inspection, and Information Systems documents.

    Suzanne Kearns - Copywriter

    Suzanne knew she wanted to be a writer at the age of ten when she wrote her first story, and has spent the past 2 decades writing blog posts, magazine articles, nonfiction and fiction books, sales letters, white papers, press releases, website copy, and anything else that can be put in written form. She has written for Intuit, Avalara, NerdWallet, GoPayment, and as a ghostwriter for a few well-known CEO’s. Her work has appeared all around the internet, including on sites like World News and Reports, Entrepreneur.com, and Forbes. She loves nothing more than being presented with a bunch of data and asked to break it down into digestible content for readers. Most days you’ll find her sitting on her porch with her laptop, writing to the sound of the ocean, and marveling that life can be this stinking good.

    Jennifer DeLay - Copywriter

    Jennifer has a background in journalism and Russian area studies. She holds a BA from the University of Texas at Austin and an MSFS from Georgetown University. While in graduate school in the mid-1990s, she developed an interest in the oil and gas industry of the former Soviet Union and launched a free newsletter covering the subject. She then spent more than 20 years researching, analyzing and writing about related topics, working for multiple weekly publications and a private consulting firm. Her areas of professional interest also include energy and power in China, Iran and the Eastern Mediterranean, and for fun she researches linguistics, neuroscience and disability-related issues. She has experience in copy-editing and has frequently worked with both native and non-native English speakers, helping them to produce clear, easily understandable articles on complex political, economic, legal and technical topics. Additionally, she has managed many time-sensitive typesetting projects for community institutions. Jennifer enjoys writing personal essays and lives in Atlanta with her family.

    Dana Robinson - Copywriter

    Dana Robinson has been writing and editing professionally for 10 years, publishing her first article in 2007. She serves as Editor-in-Chief of a local online magazine and is a contributor to various Houston print publications. She honed her experience writing newsletters and managing social media for small businesses and non-profits before moving on to e-books, magazines, and non-fiction books for print. She also enjoys teaching creative writing workshops for children. Dana received her formal education at the University of Houston–Downtown, where she majored in professional writing, minored in creative writing, and was the recipient of the Upper Division Writing award for best essay. She completed internships with Writers In The Schools and The Bayou Review.

    Brenda Hazzard - Copywriter

    Brenda Hazzard has over 30 years’ experience working as a writer and editor in the private and public sectors. She spent over 20 years working for the US Government in Washington and abroad, and spent several years working with the CIA during which she managed a team of writers producing internal briefs on international news, events, and politics. She writes on a variety of topics but loves opportunities to work on projects that cater to her keen interest in international affairs. She considers herself to be an empathetic editor, one who improves a draft but lets the spirit of the writer shine through. She has also worked on dissertations, white papers, newspaper articles, and family histories.

    Adelia Ritchie - Copywriter

    Adelia is a scientist, educator, technical writer and editor, poet, and blogger about her Pura Vida lifestyle in Costa Rica. She has more than 40 years experience writing professionally, including her years at Science Applications International Corp., Bechtel Corporation, Defense Acquisition University, and the Department of Defense. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Organic Chemistry at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Physics from the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Florida.

    Carey Miller - Copywriter

    Carey brings more than 20 years of writing and editing experience to The Writers for Hire. A lifelong writer and reader, she holds a B.A. in English from UCLA. Her background includes writing and editorial positions with both book and magazine publishers. She has worked as a copy editor and proofreader for major advertising agencies including Ogilvy & Mather and Rubin Postaer. Her experience includes magazine feature writing and editing as well as manuscript development and editing. A former advertising sales executive, she has crafted a wide range of business, sales, and marketing communication for leading magazine publishers including Conde Nast and Hearst. She has worked with major consumer brands including Nike, Visa, Levi’s, General Motors, Microsoft, Charles Schwab, and Neutrogena.

    Coralee Bechteler - Copywriter

    In the past, Coralee has been an organic farmer, a chicken herder, a zipline administrative assistant, and an ESL teacher for kids. Today, she's living her childhood dream of being a writer. She currently resides in New York with her cat (and muse) Hermes and a miles-long TBR list that gets longer every day. If she's not reading or crafting, you can usually find her pulled over on a country road writing something down or picking wildflowers. Coralee holds a bachelor's degree in English, an associate's degree in Horticulture, and multiple internationally recognized software testing certifications.

    Cecile Brule - Copywriter

    Cecile enjoys the challenge of discovering each client’s unique strengths and presenting them to a wider audience. Since joining The Writers For Hire, she has worked on blogs, newsletters, RFPs, end-user documentation, email, social media, sales pages, biographies, op-eds, and fiction.

    Previously, she taught in Shenzhen, China and obtained an HSK3 (Intermediate Mandarin) certificate. Cecile enjoys gaming, drawing, producing short films, and growing fifteen different varieties of apples with Serenity Orchards.

    Rosalind Stanley - Copywriter

    Rosalind Stanley grew up on the Coast of Maine and then accidentally spent fifteen years in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, before moving to the Midwest. She graduated from Lynchburg College in 2008 with a B.A. in Creative Writing (and a minor in Theater Performance); ever since, Rosalind has endeavored to make writing a part of her daily life, whether creative or technical, whether as a volunteer or an employee. She has tutored students, taught workshops, edited fiction and non-fiction books, and worked as a beta reader and a legal writer. She also publishes a newsletter on Substack, where she releases her own fiction serially. When not writing, Rosalind is busy homeschooling her four children and raiding the local library for new fiction.

    Sean Patrick Hill - Copywriter

    Sean has been a professional writer for more than 25 years, and has an M.A. in Writing from Portland State University and an M.F.A. in Poetry from Warren Wilson College. He's the author of five books, and his writing has won him grants and fellowships from the Kentucky Arts Council, the Vermont Studio Center, the Elizabeth George Foundation, and the Regional Arts and Culture Council. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where he also works at his photography.

    Wintress Odom - Owner / Editor-in-chief

    Wintress founded The Writers For Hire in 2003 after freelancing for several years as a copywriter and editor. She has overseen, edited, proofread, or written copy for over 100 clients and is happy to have maintained long-term relationships with many of her first customers. Wintress is an exceptional proofreader and editor and has a gift for organizing large projects, including large technical manuals and manuscripts. Her educational background includes graduating cum laude from Rice University in 2000, studying at Cologne Gymnasium in Germany, and graduating valedictorian from The Science Academy of South Texas in 1994.
    Wintress