Well, hi - glad you’re here.
I’m Courtney Westlake, and I’m a B2B writer specializing in case studies and web content.
How It Started
A few years into college as an education major, I decided to job-shadow a photojournalist at a local newspaper, and that was it for me: I was convinced photojournalism was my calling. However, after being officially accepted into the journalism program, my first class assignment was - you guessed it - to write a story. Taking my subject’s perspective and crafting a narrative that people actually read was simply invigorating to me. Sure, I did eventually take a photojournalism class…but by then, I was too hooked on writing.
After earning my bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, I got a job at a small-town newspaper as a health reporter (feeling quite thankful for that unpaid hospital PR internship the previous summer). And yes, this was a time when people still read newspapers!
Since then, I’ve carried that same spark for storytelling into every role: working in university public relations, serving as copyeditor for a regional business journal, and now 15+ years of experience to my work as a freelance copywriter.
Who I Am
I live in Illinois with my husband, two teenagers, and our kitty Mabel (who is called Bagel Bite more often than her official name, for whatever reason!) I’m a morning person – the kind who sets her alarm for odd times like 5:37. I discovered a love for history during the four years that I homeschooled my kids, and now I adore browsing museums or attending art history programs, even by myself. If I’m not on a project deadline, I’m either reading, enjoying the outdoors, or planning my next trip. One of my family’s big goals is to travel to all 50 U.S. states together by the time my son graduates high school in 2028 – we're at 47 so far, with only Washington, Oregon and Delaware to go!
How We Can Work Together
Today I focus on case studies, sales pages, and web content, especially blogs.
Starting in journalism taught me:
how to ask the right questions to shape the story
How to put words together concisely and grab a reader’s attention
Why it’s important to turn over a high-quality completed piece of writing on time (I’m a stickler for deadlines!)
Over the years, I’ve written for clients like Stripe, Shopify, Hydralyte, and more, as well as online media publishers such as Woman’s Day, Yahoo and the TODAY Show. Whether you’re redesigning your website or building out customer case studies, I’ll use the power of story to make your brand memorable.
Want stories that connect? Let’s write yours. Get in touch with me today.