Writing Samples: Informational

Strong informational copy requires a balanced mix of useful research, engaging writing, and a commitment to the truth. One thing it should not be is a deluge of facts. The samples below will demonstrate differences in tone and voice in response to the intended readers. I have more samples available if you don’t find what you’re looking for: just drop me a line and I’ll send you what you need.

Headshot of Canadian stage icon Jeff Hyslop

Jeff Hyslop: The Man of a Thousand Dances

by Lori Straus (Appeared in just dance! magazine, Summer 2014 issue) Store mannequin for 125 episodes. Opera ghost for 985 performances. Judge for countless dance competitions. Producer, choreographer, director, singer, actor, and dancer for almost 50 years. Can one person truly accomplish this much, and as a dancer, no less? Jeff Hyslop can and has […]

Promotional photo of Phillip Chbeeb

i.am.me’s Phillip Chbeeb in the Spotlight

In this short blog post, I highlight hip-hop dancer and choreographer Phillip Chbeeb’s style and work. (Published September 2016.)

Translating SAP Add-Ons – A Success Story

This case study highlights how a translation services provider successfully translated their client’s SAP add-ons. The content is gated.

Choosing the Right Language Service Provider for Your Company

In this blog post, I outline the steps a potential customer should take to ensure the language service provider they choose is a good fit for them. (Published summer 2015.)

Postcards in a Closet

Katharina Wolf was born in a small town in Hungary in 1901. In 1914, the Great War broke out. In 1919, her hometown became part of Romania. In 1921, she became pregnant with her first child. What did she worry about? What did she want for her child? Using postcards Katharina wrote years later, discussions […]

SuKuLTuR book in a vending machine

Books in vending machines and God’s Busted Knee

(This bulletin notice announced an author visit. Published February 2016. To see the published version, click on the link and scroll down to the third story.) Even though you don’t know him, you may already feel a type of familiarity with author Marc Degens: he writes with a self-deprecating humour common in Canada, and he […]

Local German Author Visiting University of Waterloo

(This bulletin piece announced the visit of a local author who writes and publishes in German. Published February 2015. To see the published version, click on the link and scroll down to the third story.) A murder, a mysterious beating, a suspicious arrest: all happen at the world-famous Hannover fairgrounds during a computer exhibition in […]

Shovel pushing snow. For blog post on shovelling and elearning.

Safety, Understanding and Correct Shoveling – A Case For eLearning Localization

This is a blog post for a translating agency in Berlin, Germany. What do shovelling snow and elearning localization have in common? Click on the link (will open to the company’s webpage) to find out.

Shot of airplane from underneath. For announcement for an SAP consulting firm.

Are You Ready for Extended ECM for SAP Solutions 16?

This article, written for an SAP ECM consulting firm in the USA, introduces the reader to some of the major updates in OpenText’s Release 16. (Opens to client’s site.)

Blues musician Steve Strongman

Buddy Guy and Steve Strongman: Another Part of Blues History in Kitchener

(This post appeared on a blog for a 2,000-seat live theatre, where blues legend Buddy Guy was playing, with Steve Strongman opening. Published March 2016.) It all started with a man named Smith. Glenn Smith, to be exact. You may know him as the owner of Ethel’s Lounge in Uptown Waterloo, but if you’ve been […]

Car parts hanging on a wall. For article on OEM vs. aftermarket parts.

OEM vs. Aftermarket Parts: Building Trust in Your Customer Part by Part

(This magazine article appeared in The Ontario Dealer, in the November 2013 issue.) The used car industry is on the rise in Canada. IBIS World’s February 2013 report titled Used Car Dealers in Canada: Market Research Report stated that the used car business is a $7 billion industry in Canada. Yet car dealerships, both new […]

Are Heavy-Duty Trucks the Key to Solving Air Pollution?

I wrote this blog post for Geotab, a telematics company that specializes in fleet management. Its impetus was a recent study that showed that heavy-duty truck emissions were far more dangerous than car emissions. I really enjoyed writing this one, because it forced me to examine my own opinions on this environmental issue and opened […]

How Much of Your Income Should You Spend on Your Vehicle?

I enjoy writing blog posts that help people figure things out. In this one, I review the basics of deciding how much money you have available to purchase a car. As nice as it can be to buy a new, shiny one, sometimes the numbers don’t add up, and the last thing you need is […]

Dog sitting in red convertable. Blog post written by Lori Straus.

Driving with Dogs

In researching this blog post for the Used Car Dealers’ Association, I learned that only 5% of pet owners who drive with their dogs have a built-in pet safety system installed. This blog post aims to help people find safer ways to drive with their dogs.

How Far Do Electric Vehicles Drive?

Since early 2019, I’ve been writing eight blog posts per month for the Used Car Dealers’ Association. The posts cover a range of topics: financial, environmental, family, and safety, to name a few. This one discusses the distance electric vehicles drive. Please visit the UCDA‘s website to view it.

Foreign Language Anxiety in the Workplace

This client is an example of one who needs a freelance writer with multiple skills. I translate, transcreate, edit, and write for them. This blog post focuses on an unknown aspect of mental health: foreign language anxiety in the workplace. Visit text&form‘s website the view the post.

Self-Quarantine or Self-Isolate? Social or Physical Distancing?

This article was written using research directly from the CDC and the Government of Canada. The client is in the medical research space and pivoted during the pandemic. Visit Pulse Infoframe’s website to see the published version.

Headshot of tap dancer Lisa LaTouche

Tap Dance, Its History and Connection to Race: an Interview with Lisa LaTouche

Lisa LaTouche is a Broadway tap dancer who moved back home to Canada during the pandemic. I interviewed her as she was about to premier a new tap work for Fall for Dance North. We discussed learning tap, tap’s history, and so much more more. Read about Lisa LaTouche and tap.

In need of a writer?

  • I’m currently available to work for companies from Canada, the US, Germany, and Austria.
  • loristraus@loristraus.com
  • (519) 503-7098

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