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AKSHATA SHANBHAG
Freelance writer || akshata@akshata.co

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Hi, I'm Akshata, a freelance writer based in Bengaluru, India. I write about wellness-based productivity and related software. As for the person behind the scenes, she likes to keep things simple, drinks too much tea, and can recite the alphabet backwards.

PORTFOLIO

ABOUT ME
How I ended up with a writing career
The euphoria of joining my first job after college was short lived. I figured out quickly that the corporate world wasn’t for me and quit my software testing job before the year was up.
I had no clear idea where I’d fit in, but I knew it was going to be someplace creative!And so I set off, in search of my career sweet spot, trying my hand at UI design, teaching, and illustration one by one. I started freelancing when nobody I knew was doing it.A handful of years later, it was time to try on yet another career for size. This time I ended up at a publishing company writing book synopses for an e-commerce website. Around that time, a chance call for writers from one of my favorite tech publications brought me where I was meant to be for the next decade — sharing my love of tech with the world.Time in tech
I worked as a tech writer with the popular website MakeUseOf.com for almost seven years, covering macOS, iOS, web apps, productivity, and more.I followed that up with a three-year stint as a content researcher with MakeTechEasier.com, where I audited content performance and did keyword research to inform content strategy.Niching down
Eventually, with the constant uncertainty surrounding SEO, I decided to return to writing, which has three important things going for it:
1. I'm good at it.
2. It pays the bills.
3. It helps people.
This time around I have decided to zoom in on wellness-based productivity and related software.Hobby hopping
Alongside my zigzaggy career, I have taken classes in animation, salsa, drawing, French, calligraphy, yoga, swimming, belly dancing, Zumba, and more. That's not to say I'm an expert at all of these activities now (far from it). But, thanks to my curiosity and serial class-taking, I have plenty of fodder to fuel my writing. My current hobbies are watercolors, birding, and tarot.

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Testimonials

"She consistently delivered high-quality work..."

"I had the pleasure of working with Akshata during her time as a freelance writer at MUO, where she contributed to the Productivity section. Akshata is a quick learner with a keen eye for detail. She consistently delivered high-quality work, always meeting deadlines with minimal edits required. Her positive attitude and responsiveness to feedback made collaboration a seamless experience.Later at Make Tech Easier, Akshata showcased her skills in keyword research and handled tasks with reliability and ease. I highly recommend Akshata for her dedication, professionalism, and strong work ethic."Christina Sieber, (Ex)Windows and Productivity Editor at MakeUseOf.com

"...I can whole-heartedly vouch for her."

"I’ve worked with Akshata for a better part of a decade and I can whole-heartedly vouch for her. She’s talented, dedicated, meticulous, savvy, and efficient. Over the years, we’ve implemented several workflows together and Akshata played a huge role in ensuring success.She’s a very driven person, and as a writer, editor, analyst or coordinator, Akshata can execute any role seamlessly. I’ve worked with her in every capacity and again, I fully vouch for her. "Jackson Chung, CTO at Time+Tide Watches

"'Results driven' is what comes to mind."

"As technology writers we swear by productivity shortcuts. For an editor, what can be better than a writer who makes the job effortless. I have had the privilege of working with Akshata for more than two years. Our partnership as an editor and writer made us both deliver under pressure. She took on the challenges and did all the heavy lifting.In short, it made me look good. Thanks to her well-researched and organized results, I just had to dot a few "i's" here and there. She has a penchant for unearthing new angles in the most mundane of topics, and that's before she gets down to the word work. "Results driven" is what comes to mind when I think of all the work she has accomplished at MakeUseOf.com."Saikat Basu, (Ex)Deputy Editor at MakeUseOf.com

"I highly recommend Akshata..."

"Akshata was a keyword researcher at Make Tech Easier, and she is the most target-driven and motivated person I have ever worked with. She is a quick learner and is always keen to take on new jobs and tasks. Akshata can work without supervision and her quality of work often exceeds what is expected of her. I highly recommend Akshata for her professionalism and positive work attitude."Damien Oh, Owner at MakeTechEasier.com

"She's excellent at what she does..."

"It was always always a pleasure to see one of Akshata’s articles land in my editing queue. Editing her work was a breeze, thanks to her attention to detail, knowledge of Apple platforms, and clear writing style. As an editor, I could have confidence that any article Akshata authored would do the topic justice. She’s excellent at what she does, which makes the editor’s job straightforward."Ben Stegner, (Ex)Deputy Editor and Onboarding Manager at MakeUseOf.com

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