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About Nancy Berg

Contact:
nancyberg@earthlink.net
(818)340-8435

Summary
Award-winning writer/editor, advertising copywriter, and communications instructor, adept at creating persuasive materials, bringing clarity and life to complex subjects, and developing hidden areas of potential.

Employment

Word, self-owned company, Nancy has provided advertising, website content, brochures, direct mail scripts, editing, public relations, research, fundraising, fiction, educational materials, articles, training manuals, etc. in all media, for more than 100 companies, including Computerland, Rubbermaid, and Borland International. She's boosted profits for diverse businesses specializing in health education, self-development, spirituality, environmental issues, beauty products, entertainment, travel, toys and games, information technology, real estate, jewelry, textiles, art, clothing, food, financial services, etc.

Video Scripts, Nancy Berg has written material presented by Tom Hanks, Dustin Hoffman, Joe Mantegna, Ray Romano, Rita Wilson, Roma Downey, and Michael Nouri, among others. She's written video scripts for "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus,” the American Red Cross, the Achievable Foundation, Saint John’s Hospital, the National Alliance for Autism Research, and more, often participating in production. Nancy specializes in persuasive, inspirational fundraising videos for charities and non-profits. She's written a number of 30-minute, direct response infomercials and one- and two-minute TV commercials for software, electronics, personal growth audio series, educational tools, beds, appliances, beauty products, organizers. She's been a feature film story analyst and a teacher of screenwriting.

Instructor of Writing and Communication, University of Phoenix, 1999-2003. Berg taught “Written Communication” (essay writing, grammar, creative nonfiction, proofreading); “Creative Writing;” and “Communication Skills for Career Growth” (public speaking, writing, non-verbal communication, active listening, intercultural & interpersonal communication).

Contributing Book Editor, Nancy Berg provided substantial writing, editing and rewriting for the #1 Bestseller Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul and for Stone Soup for the World: Life-Changing Stories of Kindness & Courageous Acts of Service (also a Bestseller), specializing in global peace and justice heroes such as Aung San Suu Kyi, Cesar Chavez, Gandhi, etc. She worked on the bestselling Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul. Nancy provides editing and collaboration for manuscripts of all genres.

Director of Public Affairs/Public Information Officer, American Red Cross, Santa Monica, 1994-1997. Nancy was responsible for all writing and public relations: TV appearances, educational materials, quarterly publications, public support letters, media relations, press releases, catalogues, videos, annual reports etc. She created an award-winning CPR ad campaign. She served on the Board of Directors of Public Communicators of Los Angeles, 1995-96.

Senior Editor/Writer, 1998-1999, Planet Report, monthly publication for teens on world and national news and issues, science, health, technology, environment, and culture; read by 8 million high school students.

California Poet in the Schools. Berg was a Creative Writing, Poetry, and Journalism instructor, at Will Rogers Elementary School G.A.T.E. and A.C.E. Programs, in Santa Monica, 1996-2000. Her young students won international awards and were published in several magazines. She taught poetry at Santa Monica High School. She's given poetry readings and workshops at colleges, libraries, etc. Nancy Berg is CBEST certified, trained as a substitute teacher for the Santa Monica/Malibu Unified School District. Nancy has been a meditation instructor in England, New York, Washington, Nevada, and California.

Advertising Copywriter, Mapmakers Agency, Iowa, 1988-1990. Nancy created ads for Allstate, General Electric, Panasonic, Motorola, Sprint, Dial, TBS, Good Housekeeping, Sea World, Montgomery Ward, and many others, all published in USA Today, specializing in environmental subjects, hospitality, and travel guides. She wrote an "Advertorial"-style Guide to Positive Environmental Action that drew more than 70,000 requests for reprints within two weeks of publication. A proposal Berg wrote persuaded 90 sponsors from 12 countries to provide all equipment, materials, and resources for a global environmental expedition.

In-House Advertising Copywriter, Copperfield, Inc., Fairfield, Iowa, 1987-91, full, then half-time. Nancy was responsible for a 90-page bi-annual catalogue, plus ads, press releases, direct response packages, brochures, newsletters, sales letters, trade journal articles, and more, for the leading wholesaler of supplies for solid fuel alternative energy and fire safety. Her promotional materials contributed to a 71% growth rate in sales.

Education
M.A. in Communication/Screenwriting, Stanford University, 1987
Stanford Mass Media Institute, film production, 1982
B.A., Interdisciplinary Studies, MIU, 1978
State University of New York at Purchase and Buffalo

Awards and Honors (partial list)
1992 Creative Writing Fellowship, National Endowment for the Arts, $20,000
1996 PRo Award for the “I Can’t Believe I Saved a Life” CPR public service campaign
1997 Puschcart Prize Nominee
1997 CSPA Gold Circle Award, Poetry
1998 First Prize, Matthew Darovic Poetry Competition, Whelks Walk Press, $500
1998 New Millenium Writings, H.M.
2000 Sky Blue Waters Award
2002 Reader’s Choice Favorite Poems, Zuzu’s Petals Online Quarterly literary journal
2009 Blue Light Book Award
Full Graduate Fellowship, Stanford University, 1982, awarded for original musical comedy screenplay

Publications: Nancy Berg's writing has appeared internationally in more than 100 literary journals, magazines, anthologies, and newspapers, including: Sea Frontiers, The Hollywood Reporter, Audubon, USA Today, Cosmopolitan, New Age Journal, Movieworks, Magical Blend, Better World, New Thought Journal, Anthology, Sycamore Review, Antenna, Crosscurrents, Poetry/L.A., Brownstone Review, Paris/Atlantic (France), Southern Poetry Review, Fast Times, Horizon (Belgium), Dawn (Australia), Mandrake Poetry Review (Poland) , Stardust Memories (Netherlands), Piedmont Literary Review, Earthwise, Reader's Choice, Teen, Waterways, Acres USA, B.A.D. (England) , The Tie That Binds, Night Voyages, Health World, Takahe (New Zealand), Z Miscellaneous, Hawaii Review, Poetry Today, Dynamic Chiropractic, The Outlook, Poetic Justice, California Poetry Review, Explorations, Dreams International, Afterthoughts, Zeitgeist, Sanskrit, Opus Literary Review, Zuzu’s Petals online, Whelks Walk Review, Earthbound, Americas Review, Sport Literate, Aethlon, On Target, Negative Capability, Kinesis, Sivullinen (Finland), The Kindred Spirit,The Argonaut, Arrowsmith, Coffeehouse Anthology, Double Entendre, Mind/Body Connection, Sonoma Mandala, George Washington Review,Perceptions, Curriculum Vitae, and more