About Shelly Selzer

Howdy, I’m Shelly Selzer—and I make the pieces fit. I’m a technical writer who turns tech talk into clear, actionable content that’s fun and informative.

The secret in my sauce is a combination of technical expertise, creative storytelling, and good old-fashioned horse sense. That’s why I write the web’s most readable and trusted technical tutorials.

Learn more about me:

• Computer Science
• Outdoor Power Tools
• Chasing Waterfalls
• Communications (Writing, Presenting, Marketing, Design)
• Silk Aerials
• Birthday Cakes
• Cosplay & Crafts 

Computer Science: Boca and Beyond

I grew up in Boca Raton, Florida, surrounded by logic puzzles, floppy disks, and green-screen terminals. My dad, a computer science professor, named me after the Unix shell. 

By second grade, I finished my first complete application. It was a choose-your-own-adventure game called Mr. Martin’s Wild Adventures, written in BASIC on DOS (and named after my dad).

University Education

Although I have a Master of Science in Economics, I took a lot of computer science classes (undergrad and grad), learning:

• C++
• Java
• Logic
• SQL (Database Structures & Design)
• Digital Design
• Computer Ethics 

Professional Development Experience

I’ve developed software using:

• Node.js
• PHP
• SQL (PostgreSQL and MySQL)
• WordPress
• Linux (Ubuntu and Red Hat)
• Redis

Tutorials and Educational Content

I’ve created programming and computer science tutorials such as:

• Salt and Hash Passwords with bcrypt
• How to Generate Random Numbers with JavaScript
• How to Configure a Vim Word Processor 
• Authenticate Users With Node ExpressJS and Passport.js
• YouTube: Logic for Programmers: Propositional Logic
• YouTube: Intro to LAMP

Additionally, I’ve presented at programming meetups and conferences, including:

• VimConf 2020
• BocaJS
• FCC Conference

Outdoor Power Tools

When I was 18, I worked at Jiffy Lube, where I got my first hands-on experience with engines and mechanical systems. That job sparked a lifelong appreciation for how things work.

Later, when I moved to Mississippi and finally had a yard of my own, I started using and maintaining lawn care tools. One project led to another, and soon I was diagnosing small-engine issues, tuning carburetors, and learning how combustion really works. Over time, that curiosity became a genuine passion for mechanics and power tools.

As a Senior Writer and Editor, I specialized in outdoor power tools:

• Reviewing products and compared performance metrics
• Analyzing pricing data to write accurate, transparent price guides
• Designing maintenance tutorials that helped homeowners and professionals keep their tools running smoothly

Whether it’s an oil filter or a two-stroke engine, I’ve learned that clear communication and mechanical know-how go hand in hand.

My power tool articles include:

• 2-Stroke Vs. 4-Stroke Engines: Everything You Need to Know
• CFM and MPH: How to Buy the Best Leaf Blower
• What are the different types of lawn mower belts?
• ENHULK 58V 16″ String Trimmer – Carbon Fiber [Review]
• Are Electric Leaf Blowers Worth It?
• 7 Best Pro Power Tools at the Jacksonville Landscape Show

Shelly Selzer Chases Waterfalls

I grew up in flat, sunny South Florida, so mountains and waterfalls have always felt magical to me. Whenever I can, I head for higher ground—chasing waterfalls and hiking through the hills.

Shelly Selzer Writes, Presents, Designs and Markets

Since I was a wee lass, I’ve had a passion for communication:

• Formative years
• Funny freshman story
• College years
• Early Career [Sales. Teaching, QA]
• Mississippi madness [Social media & eCommerce]
• Back in Boca [SEO & coding]
• The hills of Tennessee [Tools & mechanics]
• The Georgia swamp [Tech writing & AI]

Formative Years

In elementary school, my poetry won blue ribbons at the county fair. Though I was painfully shy, I loved class presentations. The teachers were shocked to see my excitement when they asked, “Who wants to go first?”

By the 7th grade, I earned the highest score at my school on Florida’s Writing Assessment Test. I also caught the business bug:

• Sold candy at school—tracking demand and profit margins like a mini market analyst
• Sold trading cards via Prodigy message boards

In high school, I brought home the beef bacon by:

• Publishing The Cabbage Revolution, a zine about politics and punk rock
• Selling comics and cards through AOL chat rooms
• Working at a hot dog stand on Haulover Beach
• Telemarketing for National Home Loan in Deerfield Beach, FL

Additionally, I was active in the drama club and often starred in school plays.

Funny Freshman Story: Shelly Selzer’s Gay Rights Speech

During my freshman year, I learned one of my most important presenting lessons —restraint. As a type 2w3, I have a natural knack for reading the room and connecting with its energy. Moreover, I feed off positive vibes. It’s a superpower that can devour you if you don’t master it. 

Class: Intro to Communication class

Assignment: Persuasive speech – pro/con gay rights (I chose pro)

I carefully crafted an articulate speech that was sure to knock everyone’s socks off. Then, I delivered it with confidence. As I spoke, everyone in the room connected with my eyes, and I felt them clinging to each word. The energy was electric, and I got swept up in it.

I impulsively went for a dramatic finish, ending my speech by “coming out” as a lesbian, then wiping an imaginary tear from my eye. The room went silent, then erupted in support. In fact, students continued to show love throughout my college career.

The problem? I’m not gay. I was just an over-committed speechwriter who went overboard.

It made the rest of my college years… complicated. I didn’t date anyone, because how do you even begin to explain that? But I learned something lasting: when you’re passionate about communication, you have to balance authenticity with impulse.

I would’ve earned an A anyway. Instead, I earned a story—and a lifelong reminder to keep my showmanship in check.

College Years

To fund my off-campus lifestyle and tuition, I built multiple income streams:

• Selling items via eBay and AOL chat rooms
• Tutoring math with a step-by-step system that made abstract concepts click
• Bartending at South Florida hot spots and collecting high rollers’ emails to update them on my schedule and place of employment
• Promoting bars via Friendster and MySpace

Over time, I became a local legend behind the bar—recognized in other states as “that bartender from Florida.”

My studies also took me to Brazil, where I toured corporations in Rio de Janeiro, Florianópolis, and Porto Alegre to observe how theory plays out in real markets.

Early Career

From selling research to teaching math, I learned a lot during my early career.

Shelly Sells Research

My first professional role was at Bersin & Associates, a corporate research firm specializing in talent management and enterprise learning. I started at the bottom of the sales ladder but quickly moved beyond it.

The first time I wrote an email template, the vice president of sales approved it on the spot—and from that day forward, everyone’s templates went through me.

Soon after, I created a comprehensive training program for new hires, encompassing company procedures, Salesforce navigation, and the research itself. I built the program from scratch, writing the materials, designing the visuals, and even recording screencast-style videos using GoToMeeting and PowerPoint.

It was my first real experience in instructional design, and it sparked my long-term interest in simplifying complex systems for others.

Shelly Selzer Teaches Math

After leaving Bersin, I became a high school math teacher at a private school for students with behavioral or learning challenges.

I taught Honors Algebra I to eighth graders who came to the high school for advanced coursework. The bright, eager students made every day a pleasure.

However, my Geometry class was more challenging. Many of those 10th graders lacked the basics; even solving a simple equation like 3x + 5 = 20 was a challenge for many.

So I adapted by:

• Researching new methods
• Designing my own handouts and projects
• Teaching each concept multiple ways until it clicked

By the end of the year, every student (but one) passed the final exam. And the one who failed had not participated in class, despite repeated outreach.

The experience reinforced what I’d already learned as a tutor: With patience, empathy, and persistence, anyone who’s willing to engage can learn math.

Training and QA

When I became pregnant, I stepped away from teaching and moved into training and QA at a call center, coaching employees on communication and performance.

Mississippi Madness

Everything changed when my husband left—taking nearly everything with him, including my savings and jewelry. My paycheck couldn’t cover the Coral Springs lifestyle, so I moved to Mississippi.

Bartending Near Brandon

I quickly secured a bartending job just outside a dry county. In fact, it was the closest bar to three dry counties. As a Floridian, I assumed the bar would be packed—but it wasn’t. Church protesters camped out front, and locals were too nervous to cross the picket line.

So I turned to Facebook.

From Surviving to Thriving: Sustained Social Growth

Using social media, I promoted the bar to people living two to six hours away. Within weeks, the bar became a destination:

• Nightly income rose from $150 to over $1,000
• Facebook grew to 25,000+ followers
• Instagram grew to 10,000+

Ecommerce

I also started selling photography and t-shirts online, gaining my first real experience with modern e-commerce platforms and SEO.

I learned self-reliance, adaptability, and innovation, launching the next stage of my digital career.

Back in Boca: SEO, Instructional Design, and Code 

After four years in Mississippi, I returned to Florida with my son. (That’s a story for another day!)

I first joined an SEO agency, where I mastered keyword strategy, analytics, and digital storytelling. Then, one day in the alley behind our office, I met a few employees from the coding bootcamp next door—and soon jumped ship to become an admissions advisor.

However, the curriculum disappointed me. Students were learning to copy and paste code, not to think like developers. They could assemble most of a project with prepackaged libraries but stumbled when customization was required.

So I left to create logic-first tutorials that actually taught people how to code. I built a strong following on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and my personal site. Most of my freelance work came directly through those tutorials.

Shelly Selzer Heads for the Hills: Tools & Mechanics

After living in Mississippi for 4 years, the hustle and bustle of Boca Raton was a bit much for me. So I headed to the hills of Tennessee.

As a Senior Writer and Editor, I wrote in-depth technical guides and tool reviews. They outranked major publishers like Bob Vila and The New York Times. 

I also expanded into short-form video, growing Facebook pages to over 120,000 followers and TikTok accounts to more than 40,000. Several of my videos on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok have earned over one million views.

I stepped away from TikTok after congressional hearings raised privacy concerns. But now, with Oracle’s involvement under Larry Ellison, I’m reconsidering.

The Georgia Swamp: Tech Writing & AI

Three years later, my son and I headed south—to Georgia, where I’ve lived since.

AI Tools

When automated content tools began shaping my employer’s editorial direction, I stayed grounded in the principles that built my career: accuracy, clarity, and integrity.

AI doesn’t replace expertise—it amplifies it. I use it as a power tool for professionals, not a substitute for skill or judgment. Communication still requires humanity, and true expertise lies in knowing how to wield automation effectively.

Freelancing

Under my brand Shelly Selzer, I now focus on:

• Technical writing
• Digital strategy
• Creative development

I collaborate with clients who value substance over shortcuts—helping them communicate technical ideas clearly, credibly, and creatively.

My mission: Make technology feel human. Because when clarity meets curiosity, everyone wins.

📧 Hire me: info@sselzer.com

Silk Aerials

I thrive on testing my limits. Aerial silks showed me that strength, flexibility, and fearlessness can coexist.

Shelly Selzer Bakes the Best Birthday Cakes

I love getting creative in the kitchen—especially when it comes to birthday cakes.

Cosplay & Crafts

I’ve always loved bringing imagination to life—whether it’s crafting a mask from scratch, transforming a toy car into the Bat-mobile, or stepping into full cosplay.