Senior freelance writer for not-for-profit and social enterprise teams
Work with someone who thinks with you, not just writes for you
You might be looking for a freelance writer.
But when the work matters, you need more than someone who can write.
You need someone who can step in, see what’s at stake and help you make the right calls.
Do you have a piece of work underway, but not quite coming together?
Are you getting input from multiple people and trying to make it all fit?
Want to move your project forward without creating more back-and-forth?
Hiring a freelance writer shouldn’t mean rolling the dice
When a comms project threatens to derail business-as-usual, you don’t have time to bring someone up to speed or to fix it later.
I listen to the brief, and I also test it.
If there’s a gap between the task and the outcome you’re aiming for, I’ll flag it early.
That means fewer review loops, clearer decisions and work that stands up to scrutiny.
How can a strategic freelance writer help you?
Video Transcript
When a piece of communication really matters, the pressure isn’t just getting it written.
The writing is rarely the hardest part.
It’s everything around it. It’s knowing the message will be scrutinised. It’s making sense of competing bits of information.
It’s working out what matters most and what needs to change.
That’s where I come in.
I’m Tanya Hollis, a communications specialist with more than 25 years’ experience across journalism, public relations and marketing communications.
I work with not-for-profits and social enterprises supporting in-house teams who are capable but stretched.
They don’t just need someone to write. They need someone to step into a project, understand what’s at stake, ask the right questions and help the work move forward without adding pressure.
You might need help with a report, an article, stakeholder communications, or a media release. In most cases, the writing itself isn’t the difficult part.
It’s making decisions as the work unfolds and finishing with something you can stand behind. My role is to help with the thinking and the writing.
So if you need experienced support inside the work, not just on the sidelines, you’re in the right place.
Take a look around. And if you’d like to talk it through, I’d love to hear from you.
Multiple deadlines, limited staff and competing priorities
Decisions get harder under pressure. And when you’re responsible for getting the message right, judgement is everything.
What matters now?
What can wait?
What needs careful handling?
I bring a steady, experienced presence inside that process so you can move forward with clarity, not second-guessing.
Subcontractor support
Big client, big project? I’ll work inside your team understanding how decisions are made, aligning to your tone and priorities, and keeping the work moving without adding friction.
Sensitive or high-stakes comms
When you’re navigating a complex or confidential issue, you can’t afford missteps. I bring experienced judgement to messaging, stakeholder tone and accessibility, so the work holds up where it matters.
Meet Tanya Hollis
I’m a communications specialist working with organisations that value access and inclusion.
With experience across journalism, public relations and marketing, I support solo comms leads and small teams navigating competing priorities, sensitive stories, shifting deadlines and stakeholder scrutiny.
For more than 25 years, I’ve worked with not-for-profits, social enterprises and government agencies across health, medical and social sectors.
I step into projects as they’re happening, bringing clear thinking, careful writing and steady support so you can move forward with confidence.
How I work
I’ll keep you updated on progress throughout so the work moves forward smoothly.
Clarifying
Shaping the brief.
Identifying gaps, risks or mixed messages.
Deciding priorities.
Developing
Writing and shaping.
Making calls on structure, tone and consistency.
Keeping the work moving.
Refining
Reducing rework.
Aligning stakeholder input with tone and objectives.
Meeting project goals.
No obligation – simply a chance to talk through your report and timeline.
Ethical storytelling
Sensitive stories deserve thoughtful, respectful handling. With Story Caretaker training through Our Race, I approach every story with care, integrity and an understanding of the responsibilities involved.
Accessible content
Reduce confusion, build trust and respect your diverse audiences by making content easier to understand and navigate. I’m familiar with WCAG standards and ISO Plain Language principles.
Am I the freelance writer for you?
This is a good fit if:
- the work matters and needs to hold up
- you want fewer rewrites and clearer decisions
- you value thoughtful input, not just fast output.
This may not be the right fit if:
- you’re looking for the lowest-cost option
- the work is purely transactional
- There’s no room to question the brief.
What others say
Working with Tanya feels like having another team member, not a contractor. She stretches a modest budget further than we thought possible while lifting the quality and confidence of the work.
Tanya works independently, anticipates needs and delivers high-quality content that requires minimal revision. With her professional yet friendly approach she was a valuable contributor within our team.
Tanya consistently exceeded expectations with exceptionally thoughtful, engaging, and meticulously crafted content. She often delivered ahead of schedule and never compromised our high standards.
Organisations I’ve worked with
Based on the Surf Coast, servicing Australia
While I’m proud to call the Surf Coast and Geelong region (Wadawurrung Country) home, I collaborate with clients right across Australia.
Whether you’re a local organisation or a national team, I provide senior freelance communications support wherever you are based.
Most clients arrive with a specific project in mind.
An article to write, a media release to draft, a report to edit, a comms plan to shape.
That task becomes the anchor.
Together, we make sure it achieves the outcome you actually need.
How we get started
Clients have described me as their comms angel behind the scenes. I look forward to showing you why.
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Your Investment
Prices are shown inclusive of GST.
Most work starts with a piece of communication that’s already in motion. Something that’s under pressure or not quite coming together.
Feeling stuck?
For work that feels unclear or blocked, I offer a focused 90-minute session to clarify priorities before writing begins. You leave with a clear plan, decisions you can stand behind and next steps – with or without me.- Pre-session review of your materials.
- 90-minute online working session.
- Summary report with priorities and next steps.
Clear brief?
If the brief is already clear, I’ll scope the work based on what’s needed to meet your goals and timeline.
Projects are priced based on complexity, stakeholder environment and timeframe, with a clear scope agreed upfront.
Freelance writer FAQs
What does a freelance writer do?
A freelance writer is an independent professional who supports organisations with written communication.
That can include articles, reports, stakeholder communications and other content.
In practice, the work is rarely just writing. It often involves shaping the message, making decisions about structure and tone and ensuring the final piece holds up where it matters.
What's the difference between a freelance writer and a copywriter?
The terms are often used interchangeably.
Traditionally, copywriting focuses on prompting action, while content writing focuses on informing or explaining.
In practice, most projects involve both.
What matters more than the label is whether the person you’re working with can understand what the work needs to achieve and make sound decisions as it develops.
Do you just write what we ask for?
I’ll always respect your brief. I’ll also ask questions to ensure the work supports your broader goals. My role is to strengthen the outcome, not simply execute the task.
How involved do you need to be?
I’ll work with the level of involvement that suits you.
Some clients want to stay close to the detail. Others need someone to step in and take work off their plate.
My role is to support you, not create more back-and-forth.
We have a comms team shortage. Do you work in-house?
I have worked in-house as a contract freelance writer for organisations experiencing staffing or skills gaps, or needing extra support for communication projects. My availability to assist in-house depends on my other client commitments.
Do you subcontract or work with agencies?
I work with digital marketing and content agencies providing reliable and experienced freelance writing and communications support for their large projects. Request my agency rate sheet, or get in contact to discuss your project.
Which style guide do you follow?
If you have an in-house style guide, I’ll follow yours. If you don’t have one – or if you suspect yours might be a little out-of-date – I refer to the Australian Government Style Manual and ABC Style Guide. I can also help develop a customised style guide with use cases relevant to your organisation.
Are you familiar with content accessibility guidelines?
Content accessibility is something I aim to include in all my work as a communication specialist. I have completed a range of courses to better understand the international Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and keep up-to-date with developments and changes. I can also help you identify accessibility gaps and practical ways to improve them within your workflow.
Do you follow plain language principles?
I am familiar with the ISO international plain language standard and the Victorian Government accessible communication policy’s readability requirements. I can assist you in identifying where plain language may be needed, applying the standards and principles within projects as appropriate for your content goals.
The fine print
Before we start on your project you’ll receive a proposal outlining scope, timeline and pricing, along with terms and conditions. I’ll begin work once this is agreed and signed.
I’ll keep you updated as the work progresses, so there are no surprises.
My service includes reasonable revisions within 14 days of the first draft. If the approval process extends beyond this, we may need to revisit scope.
All prices are inclusive of GST.
The writing matters.
But how we get there matters just as much.
More than a freelance writer
You might be looking for a freelance writer.
But this isn’t about rolling the dice.
If the work matters, let’s talk it through.
Contact me directly at tanya@tanyaholliswrites.com.au or call 0401 628 599.
Or simply click below to discuss your project needs and timeline.