diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index e38699fa..9eb1b4a5 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+## 0.9.0  - 2018/11/29
+
+* [FEATURE] Added a `render_as_json` API. Similar to `render_as_hash` but returns a JSONified hash. Please see pr [#119](https://github.com/procore/blueprinter/pull/119). Thanks to [@ritikesh](https://github.com/ritikesh).
+* [FEATURE] Sorting of fields in the response is now configurable to sort by definition or by name(asc only). Please see pr [#119](https://github.com/procore/blueprinter/pull/119). Thanks to [@ritikesh](https://github.com/ritikesh).
+* [ENHANCEMENT] Updated readme for above features and some existing undocumented features like `exclude fields`, `render_as_hash`. Please see pr [#119](https://github.com/procore/blueprinter/pull/119). Thanks to [@ritikesh](https://github.com/ritikesh).
+
 ## 0.8.0  - 2018/11/19
 
 * [FEATURE] Extend Support for other JSON encoders like yajl-ruby. Please see pr [#118](https://github.com/procore/blueprinter/pull/118). Thanks to [@ritikesh](https://github.com/ritikesh).
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index af9386ed..fe8533e1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -100,6 +100,40 @@ Output:
 }
 ```
 
+### Exclude fields
+You can specifically choose to exclude certain fields for specific views
+```ruby
+class UserBlueprint < Blueprinter::Base
+  identifier :uuid
+  field :email, name: :login
+
+  view :normal do
+    fields :first_name, :last_name
+  end
+
+  view :extended do
+    include_view :normal
+    field :address
+    exclude :last_name
+  end
+end
+```
+
+Usage:
+```ruby
+puts UserBlueprint.render(user, view: :extended)
+```
+
+Output:
+```json
+{
+  "uuid": "733f0758-8f21-4719-875f-262c3ec743af",
+  "address": "123 Fake St.",
+  "first_name": "John",
+  "login": "john.doe@some.fake.email.domain"
+}
+```
+
 ### Associations
 You may include associated objects. Say for example, a user has projects:
 ```ruby
@@ -278,6 +312,42 @@ Output:
 }
 ```
 
+### render_as_hash
+Same as `render`, returns a Ruby Hash.
+
+Usage:
+
+```ruby
+puts UserBlueprint.render_as_hash(user, company: company)
+```
+
+Output:
+
+```ruby
+{
+  uuid: "733f0758-8f21-4719-875f-262c3ec743af",
+  company_name: "My Company LLC"
+}
+```
+
+### render_as_json
+Same as `render`, returns a Ruby Hash JSONified. This will call JSONify all keys and values.
+
+Usage:
+
+```ruby
+puts UserBlueprint.render_as_json(user, company: company)
+```
+
+Output:
+
+```ruby
+{
+  "uuid" => "733f0758-8f21-4719-875f-262c3ec743af",
+  "company_name" => "My Company LLC"
+}
+```
+
 ### Conditional field
 
 `field` supports `:if` and `:unless` options argument that can be used to serialize the field conditionally.
@@ -328,6 +398,34 @@ $ gem install blueprinter
 
 You should also have `require 'json'` already in your project if you are not using Rails or if you are not using Oj.
 
+## Sorting
+By default the response sorts the keys by name. If you want the fields to be sorted in the order of definition, use the below configuration option.
+
+Usage:
+
+```ruby
+Blueprinter.configure do |config|
+  config.sort_fields_by = :definition
+end
+```
+
+```ruby
+class UserBlueprint < Blueprinter::Base
+  identifier :name
+  field :email
+  field :birthday, datetime_format: "%m/%d/%Y"
+end
+```
+
+Output:
+```json
+{
+  "name": "John Doe",
+  "email": "john.doe@some.fake.email.domain",
+  "birthday": "03/04/1994"
+}
+```
+
 ## OJ
 
 By default, Blueprinter will be calling `JSON.generate(object)` internally and it expects that you have `require 'json'` already in your project's code. You may use `Oj` to generate in place of `JSON` like so:
@@ -352,7 +450,7 @@ gem 'oj'
 [yajl-ruby](https://github.com/brianmario/yajl-ruby) is a fast and powerful JSON generator/parser. To use `yajl-ruby` in place of `JSON / OJ`, use:
 
 ```ruby
-require 'yajl' # you can skip this if OJ has already been required.
+require 'yajl' # you can skip this if yajl has already been required.
 
 Blueprinter.configure do |config|
   config.generator = Yajl::Encoder # default is JSON
@@ -360,7 +458,7 @@ Blueprinter.configure do |config|
 end
 ```
 
-##### Note: You should be doing this only if you aren't using `yajl-ruby` through the JSON API by requiring `yajl/json_gem`. More details [here](https://github.com/brianmario/yajl-ruby#json-gem-compatibility-api). In this case, `JSON.generate` is patched to use `Yajl::Encoder.encode` internally.
+Note: You should be doing this only if you aren't using `yajl-ruby` through the JSON API by requiring `yajl/json_gem`. More details [here](https://github.com/brianmario/yajl-ruby#json-gem-compatibility-api). In this case, `JSON.generate` is patched to use `Yajl::Encoder.encode` internally.
 
 ## How to Document
 
diff --git a/lib/blueprinter/base.rb b/lib/blueprinter/base.rb
index 5b8fe841..ff5cb41d 100644
--- a/lib/blueprinter/base.rb
+++ b/lib/blueprinter/base.rb
@@ -175,8 +175,7 @@ def self.association(method, options = {}, &block)
     #
     # @return [String] JSON formatted String
     def self.render(object, options = {})
-      view_name = options.delete(:view) || :default
-      jsonify(prepare(object, view_name: view_name, local_options: options))
+      jsonify(prepare_for_render(object, options))
     end
 
     # Generates a hash.
@@ -196,8 +195,27 @@ def self.render(object, options = {})
     #
     # @return [Hash]
     def self.render_as_hash(object, options= {})
-      view_name = options.delete(:view) || :default
-      prepare(object, view_name: view_name, local_options: options)
+      prepare_for_render(object, options)
+    end
+
+    # Generates a JSONified hash.
+    # Takes a required object and an optional view.
+    #
+    # @param object [Object] the Object to serialize upon.
+    # @param options [Hash] the options hash which requires a :view. Any
+    #   additional key value pairs will be exposed during serialization.
+    # @option options [Symbol] :view Defaults to :default.
+    #   The view name that corresponds to the group of
+    #   fields to be serialized.
+    #
+    # @example Generating a hash with an extended view
+    #   post = Post.all
+    #   Blueprinter::Base.render_as_json post, view: :extended
+    #   # => [{"id" => "1", "title" => "Hello"},{"id" => "2", "title" => "My Day"}]
+    #
+    # @return [Hash]
+    def self.render_as_json(object, options= {})
+      prepare_for_render(object, options).as_json
     end
 
     # This is the magic method that converts complex objects into a simple hash
@@ -308,7 +326,12 @@ def self.view(view_name)
       @current_view = view_collection[:default]
     end
 
-    private
+    # Begin private class methods
+    def self.prepare_for_render(object, options)
+      view_name = options.delete(:view) || :default
+      prepare(object, view_name: view_name, local_options: options)
+    end
+    private_class_method :prepare_for_render
 
     def self.inherited(subclass)
       subclass.send(:view_collection).inherit(view_collection)
diff --git a/lib/blueprinter/configuration.rb b/lib/blueprinter/configuration.rb
index 7914fcdd..3fbcc573 100644
--- a/lib/blueprinter/configuration.rb
+++ b/lib/blueprinter/configuration.rb
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 module Blueprinter
   class Configuration
-    attr_accessor :generator, :method
+    attr_accessor :generator, :method, :sort_fields_by
 
     def initialize
       @generator = JSON
       @method = :generate
+      @sort_fields_by = :name_asc
     end
 
     def jsonify(blob)
diff --git a/lib/blueprinter/version.rb b/lib/blueprinter/version.rb
index de2ff96b..f82a0117 100644
--- a/lib/blueprinter/version.rb
+++ b/lib/blueprinter/version.rb
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 module Blueprinter
-  VERSION = '0.8.0'
+  VERSION = '0.9.0'
 end
diff --git a/lib/blueprinter/view_collection.rb b/lib/blueprinter/view_collection.rb
index 1fd49636..0193b69c 100644
--- a/lib/blueprinter/view_collection.rb
+++ b/lib/blueprinter/view_collection.rb
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 module Blueprinter
   # @api private
   class ViewCollection
-    attr_reader :views
+    attr_reader :views, :sort_by_definition
     def initialize
       @views = {
         identifier: View.new(:identifier),
         default: View.new(:default)
       }
+      @sort_by_definition = Blueprinter.configuration.sort_fields_by.eql?(:definition)
     end
 
     def inherit(view_collection)
@@ -20,7 +21,9 @@ def has_view?(view_name)
     end
 
     def fields_for(view_name)
-      identifier_fields + sortable_fields(view_name).values.sort_by(&:name)
+      fields = sortable_fields(view_name).values
+      sorted_fields = sort_by_definition ? fields : fields.sort_by(&:name)
+      identifier_fields + sorted_fields
     end
 
     def [](view_name)
@@ -35,10 +38,10 @@ def identifier_fields
 
     def sortable_fields(view_name)
       fields = views[:default].fields
-      fields = fields.merge(views[view_name].fields)
+      fields = merge_fields(fields, views[view_name].fields)
       views[view_name].included_view_names.each do |included_view_name|
         if view_name != included_view_name
-          fields = fields.merge(sortable_fields(included_view_name))
+          fields = merge_fields(fields, sortable_fields(included_view_name))
         end
       end
 
@@ -48,5 +51,13 @@ def sortable_fields(view_name)
 
       fields
     end
+
+    def merge_fields(source_fields, included_fields)
+      if sort_by_definition
+        included_fields.merge(source_fields)
+      else
+        source_fields.merge(included_fields)
+      end
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/integrations/base_spec.rb b/spec/integrations/base_spec.rb
index 46e1a2fe..98102d53 100644
--- a/spec/integrations/base_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/integrations/base_spec.rb
@@ -158,6 +158,18 @@
       end
     end
   end
+  
+  describe '::render_as_json' do
+    subject { blueprint_with_block.render_as_json(object_with_attributes) }
+    context 'Outside Rails project' do
+      context 'Given passed object has dot notation accessible attributes' do
+        let(:obj) { object_with_attributes }
+        it 'returns a hash with expected format' do
+          expect(subject).to eq({ "id" => obj.id, "position_and_company" => "#{obj.position} at #{obj.company}"})
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
 
   describe 'identifier' do
     let(:rendered) do
diff --git a/spec/units/configuration_spec.rb b/spec/units/configuration_spec.rb
index cbaca611..f41b202a 100644
--- a/spec/units/configuration_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/units/configuration_spec.rb
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
     after { Blueprinter.configure { |config| 
       config.generator = JSON
       config.method = :generate
+      config.sort_fields_by = :name_asc
     } }
 
     it 'should set the generator' do
@@ -22,5 +23,12 @@
       expect(Blueprinter.configuration.generator).to be(Yajl::Encoder)
       expect(Blueprinter.configuration.method).to be(:encode)
     end
+
+    it 'should set the sort_fields_by' do
+      Blueprinter.configure { |config| 
+        config.sort_fields_by = :definition
+      }
+      expect(Blueprinter.configuration.sort_fields_by).to be(:definition)
+    end
   end
 end