pontoon creative is the writing, editing and content strategy clearing house of chris clayton. like the boat his company is named after, he’s a good fit for a lot of people.
Hi. I’m a writer, editor and creative strategist based in a small Minnesota town where the Coen brothers filmed parts of Fargo. I have two sweet, hilarious kids, an equally great wife-partner and a dog named Louie who has a mullet. If you offer me a ride on a pontoon, I will gladly accept it.
On the editorial side, I write deeply reported longform stories—like this award-winning piece on medical marijuana—but can also spin cotton candy with the best of ’em. My work has been published by national outlets like Outside magazine, Men’s Health, CNN, Eater and fancy literary rags like The Believer and Gather Journal. I also contribute to fine Midwestern publications like Mpls.St.Paul and Twin Cities Business.
In a former life I was a senior-level editor for glossy magazines bankrolled by ads for luxury watches and cosmetic dentistry. During this time, I created award-winning service packages (this Prince-themed issue I produced remains a favorite), helped writers craft compelling reported stories and had the pleasure of editing columns by Andrew Zimmern, Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl and other nationally renowned media personalities.
In the content marketing world, I help businesses of all sizes tell their story in a way that doesn’t give readers hives—that is, authentically and without using hard-sell tactics. I’ve edited and strategized for the likes of Delta Air Lines and Radisson Hotels, and have written for FedEx and UnitedHealth Group. If you’re into marketing jargon, you could call what I do for companies “brand journalism.” But let’s just say I do content marketing that leans editorial.
Bottom line: I’m not like all the other content boys. I excel at everything from big-picture strategy and line editing to copywriting and story-shaping. Let’s work together.