Thaler-Carter, Ruth: - Ruth E. Thaler-Carter (writerruth.com) has done freelance writing for pay since high school; was an in-house writer, editor, and/or proofreader for a weekly newspaper, university administration newsletter, international magazine, national trade association, and public hospital; has been a full-time freelance writer/editor since 1984; and has won awards for her writing, editing, and newsletter work. Thaler-Carter created the Be a Better Freelancer(R) conference of Communication Central (communication-central.com) in 2006 and has hosted the event every year since. She is also the owner of A Flair for Writing, which helps independent authors get published, and the An American Editor blog, which covers editing, writing, proofreading, and freelance business matters.