I feel that my experiences and efforts as a student strongly reflect my dedication and desire to work as an editor. Below you will find information about relevant coursework, projects, writing, and research.
Editing
While I was formerly a creative writing student and desired to work professionally as a poet, after taking Dr. Cheryl Ball’s Editing course I fell in love with the profession. As a student of Dr. Ball’s during the Fall 2015 semester, I learned to copy-edit, proofread, query, how to create a style guide, communicate with a team of editing colleagues, and much more.
Topics: Developmental editing, copy-editing, information architecture, publishing, research, querying, style guides, wikis, etc.
Strengths: I very quickly adapted to the demands of the editing vocation and learned rapidly the skills necessary to succeed
Lessons Learned: My time with Dr. Ball has reinforced lessons I learned early on as a language professional. These include the need for attention to detail, the importance of dealing with and meeting deadlines, working autonomously, the ability to improvise, and the importance of clear, succinct communication.
Multimedia Writing
Topics: Writing Multimodally, Telecommunication, Engaging Audience, Effect of Internet on Education/Life
Strengths: I was able to complete a significantly challenging course while taking it online. I collaborated effectively on group projects using only electronic methods of collaboration and communication. I created multimodal texts that were both engaging and informative.
Lessons Learned: Online learning requires a degree of commitment and maturity not demanded of students during in-person courses. This is directly relevant to my desire to be a freelancer. Autonomy requires one to be an excellent self-manager, in the same way that online courses require a student to be attentive to deadlines, punctuality (in communication and turning in work early to avoid technical difficulties), and to be fluent in many methods of multimodal work.
Business/Professional Writing
Topics: Writing like a professional, professional development, Information and Analytic Reports
Strengths: I was able to produce a high volume of documents all in the same field in a short amount of time each week, as I was enrolled in the Technical Writing course at the same time. I was able to remedy my shortcomings, and quickly adapt to a new and demanding learning environment.
Lessons Learned: I should never assume that because I am inherently a writer that my skills are equal to the task at hand. I underestimated the difficulty level of the course initially, but quickly adapted and applied myself with more force to being a professional writer. I also learned the importance of a unified and cohesive professional portfolio with well thought-out personal statement, cover letter, and resume. Finally, I learned how to succinctly inform an audience in a professional report or memo.
Technical Writing
Topics: Creating technical documents including manuals, instructions, diagrams, and memos
Strengths: I was able once again to produce a high volume of documents in a short amount of time. I used my design and spatial skills to create attractive, concise, clear documents that effectively communicated sophisticated information.
Lessons Learned: I learned that the most important aspects of technical writing are clarity and concision. Technical documents must effectively bridge the gap between experts who need to communicate the vital information they hold and the audience who may not be experienced with the technical nature of the information they must understand. It is the duty of the technical writer to reconcile these populations.
Projects and Creations:
This project intends to provide an understanding of how different forms of spoken poetry differ, and the effects of those differences.
Why Technology Fails to Transcend Us (And How It Remains Inferior to Religion)
This video describes a chapter of Sherry Turkle’s book, Alone Together. The chapter analyzed is “Always On”. I discuss Turkle’s stance that technology ultimately detracts from our experience of life, and how this is relative to religion as an institution intended to improve our way of life that is superior to technology.
Heroin Hurts: A Website for Drug Abuse Activism in WV
This website was created by four team members in an effort to combat an issue that profoundly affects West Virginia. Please visit the site to receive info on the heroin epidemic in WV, and to find out how you can help.