About Us

Hired Pen, inc., began as a sole proprietorship, headed by Barbara Ray, in the late 1990s. With a well-rounded writing and editing career, and a client base that was expanding rapidly, Ray founded Hired Pen, inc., in 2004.

Policymakers and others have no time to read a 40-page report, no matter how important it is. Publishers seldom do the hard developmental work on academic volumes today. Let the researchers focus on the research. Let us focus on transforming that research into publications that are read and acted on.

Hired Pen, inc., relies on a strong core of experienced subcontractors. All have been prescreened and all meet the high standards that the field demands.

Recent clients:

• Illinois Department of Corrections (seminal report on prisoner reentry)
• MacArthur Research Network on Transitions to Adulthood (strategic communications)
• MacArthur Foundation (digital learning initiative--original website development; misc. promotional writing)
• Audrey Singer, Brookings, Institution, book development (immigration)
• Rural Sociological Society (policy brief series)
• MDRC (report development and writing)
• American Economic Association, Committee on Status of Minority Groups in Economics (profiles)
• Institute for Juvenile Research (annual report)