Category Archives: Life

by | December 14, 2011 · 3:13 pm

Building a Writer’s Resume


Just in case you were wondering, building a writer’s resume is easier said than done. Yes, I know, being a writer, I should be able to find more imaginative words than those of a cliche. Maybe another time.

So, building a writer’s resume. If you’re like me, up till now, you’ve only been “published” in obscure poetry anthologies nobody’s ever heard of that have never graced any bookstore shelves, or in an over-priced college textbook that may or may not be in circulation today, five years after publication. Why then submit to these publications that would seem to do very little to further my writer’s resume? Well, if they did nothing else, they helped me get into a respectable creative writing degree program, and they taught me to do my homework before submitting my hard earned money and expressions of creative flair.

In my three years at Wilkes University, I’ve learned that two of the easiest – and probably quickest ways – to build a writer’s resume is to blog and to review.

I started a blog a few years ago, but didn’t keep up with it…and I have trouble keeping up with this one. Life happens, you know? And sometimes pure laziness sets in. Other times, I’m whiny and choose not to subject you all to that. (Quite nice of me, no?) Anywho…from now on, whenever I run out of stuff to talk about, think I’m going to post about the joys and trials of writing and research…rather than not post at all. That’s part of what this blog is all about, after all.

I’ve been reading books for as long as I’ve known how to read, but the reviews have been few and far between. Not anymore. Goodreads.com is a great resource for book reviews. You can create a library of books read, currently reading and plan to read, leaving comments/reviews as you complete each one.

I’ve listed several hundred books on Goodreads, but haven’t kept up with the reviews. And there’s no time like the present to correct that mistake. Especially since recently I was politely refused when I requested a couple of books to review from one publisher…because I don’t have an established review resume. Ack. That was a bit embarrassing.

Now that I’ve officially launched the Grenade Magazine site and have begun accepting submissions, I’ll be able to add “publisher” to my writing credentials! I’m so excited about this endeavor! The magazine will be a bi-monthly, online publication, with an anticipated yearly anthology. This is the culmination of my MFA capstone in Creative Writing at Wilkes. If you haven’t checked out the site yet, head on over and take a look. And if you’re a member of the military, former member, or family of a service member, please feel free to submit something (guidelines available at the site)!

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by | August 15, 2011 · 11:00 am

achieving goals


so i finally posted the first of many blogs on my friend alina’s site, www.keydigitalproduction.com! it’s taken me a little more than a month to get started, but it’s there now and i’m pretty proud of it – i think alina likes it to. : – )  the post discusses the legend(s) of baba yaga and how i came to use her as a secondary character in my thesis/manuscript/novel. thanks to alina who’s been very patient while i attempted to create some order out of the chaos of my schedules. you can read and comment on the blog via the above link.

i’ve also secured one of the copy editor positions with www.hippocampusmagazine.com! (happy dance!) it’s a volunteer position, but nonetheless, an important one. managing editor donna talarico maintains high standards for her monthly online publication, and i’m proud to have been accepted as a member of her community. it also gives me additional experience to add to my burgeoning writer/editor resume! thank you, donna, for this great opportunity!

meanwhile, i continue to work on the creation of my own online literary magazine. it’s still in the works. i’m learning the intricacies of such a venture and enjoying the ride. my mfa internship with etruscan press (www.etruscanpress.org) is a great help with the finer details, such as creating a 501(c)(3), business plan, business structure and researching grants. no specific target date yet for the launch of the site, but i’ll be sure to let you know when i’ve narrowed it down.

meanwhile, loving the broadening of my writerly horizons, and hoping that all these educational and volunteer writing/editing adventures eventually fashion themselves into a viable career. until then, county government will continue to be the primary beneficiary of my (paid) administrative skills.

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Filed under Blogging, Life, Stuff, Writing

by | June 28, 2011 · 12:52 pm

new adventures in writing


while at my bi-annual residency required for wilkes university ma/mfa creative writing degrees, i learned more about creative writing education, the wonderful wide world of publishing, and also delved a little deeper into my own motivations for being a writer. what i’ve come away with: the exciting opportunity to blog about anything and everything fantasy (including what’s going on with my own novel and other wilkes students/graduates’ projects!) on a friend’s fantasy website – thank you alina vitali!! so look for blogs soon from me on www.keydigitalproduction.com

another awesome opportunity that i jumped at when it presented itself was to create a literary magazine for my internship capstone in publishing. there are still some specifics to be worked out with my site & faculty mentors, but basically, i’ve come up with an initial “mini business plan” for this site – that i intend to grow beyond my capstone. it will be a legitimate literary magazine with its own website, etc., geared toward members of the military – all branches (including reservists & veterans) – and their families.

submissions will come from those associated with the u.s. military and their families. every genre – including visual art – will be accepted. my target audience will be members of the military, their family and friends, and anyone else supportive of our service members. several friends and acquaintances from wilkes – including my wonderful mentor david poyer, who’s retired from the navy – have already promised to submit pieces and pass along the word to their own contacts. yes, i’ll need to verify people are who they say they are, but i think i’m up to the challenge.

i’m thrilled to have this opportunity and the details are in the works. thank you to donna talarico, fellow wilkie, creator and editor of http://www.hippocampusmagazine.com/ for all the assistance and advice you’ve given me thus far!! it’s been invaluable.

so, be patient with me as i embark upon these two major undertakings, which will begin to take shape in the next couple of weeks. the literary magazine will be online to begin with – one issue per month – with plans for a yearly (or more as time/budget allow) between-the-covers publication.

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Filed under Blogging, Life, Writing