Robert S. Gerleman: Freelance Author & Editor

Name: Robert S. Gerleman

Age: 27

College & Majors/Minors: Humboldt State University; English/French 

Current Location: San Francisco, CA

Current Form of Employment: Freelance author/editor

Where do you work and what is your current position?

After several years working full-time as a managing editor for both print and digital publications, I decided to pursue a career in freelancing. The decision to move away from a consistent and reliable income was as difficult as one might expect, but the independence and self-reliant nature of freelancing has given me immense creative freedom and a surprising rejuvenation of enthusiasm.

During the past two years as a freelance writer I have published a novel, a collection of short stories, and 30 or so pieces of short fiction, creative non-fiction, poems, articles, etc. My debut novel Damned If I Do, Damned If I Don’t published in 2012 and was #1 on Amazon.com’s top sellers in satirical fiction, and my anthology Nothing Really Happens was released this past February. As an editor I regularly take contracts to design book covers and also convert and implement layout for existing titles into eBooks. Currently, I am working on an eBook conversion for Lunchbox Envy (a followup to Locally Delicious) which is a "how-to" guide as well as a cookbook that provides tools for balancing nutrition, finding and affording healthy food, and meal planning for children's packed lunches.

Outside of the literary world, I co-founded the tech startup Nearby (formerly WNM Live). Nearby is a location-based social networking service that allows users to connect with people living within relative proximity to one another. Since its initial release in 2012, Nearby has grown to over 1.3 million users, participated in Stanford University's StartX accelerator, and become available on all major mobile and web-based platforms.

Tell us about how you found your first job, and how you found your current job (if different).

Initially, my scant, post-grad resume garnered about the same amount of interest as my short story submissions: a big pile of rejection letters. Frustrated, I decided to change my approach by following a principal I discovered in a mantra designed by the tech industry: Instead of searching for a perfect job, create one. So, I started this ridiculous blog called “recreationalbachelor” comprised of a variety of immature and insane writing from a variety of immature and insane writers. One of my favorites was a recurring column from a writer in Oregon titled “Moustache Monthly” (though it was published weekly) in which he would seek out individuals in public who possess interesting facial hair configurations, photograph them, and conduct an interview about their feelings regarding facial hair. Good fun.

Made no money, had a blast, made some of the best connections in my entire career. And the experience, though seemingly ephemeral, was a cheap and dirty way to thoroughly pad my young resume.

What was another writing-related job that was important in your career?

Not a job exactly, but… Early in my career I wrote an article for HugStronger.com that really expanded my capabilities as a writer. The piece was called “Forgetting my Boundaries” and in it I basically propose that the “four-year plan” we are taught to expect and adhere to robs us of the collegiate experience and that it’s okay to slow down and stay a while. Before that article I had never written anything outside of short fiction. I was scared to. But I took a chance on this little blog and its mission to inspire struggling university students and was pleasantly surprised when they accepted the piece. Sometimes you have to take a chance before a door will open.

What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life?

My first real editing job was working for the school’s literary journal (The Toyon) at Humboldt State University. I applied to be the division editor for fiction as I thought that reading an abundance of short stories would help develop my own writing. After a basic editing test and brief interview I got the job. It was a shot in the dark, really, and I lucked out. 6 months later I took over as managing editor and produced the first color-cover print run of The Toyon in 40 years. After graduation, my work at the journal proved to be a great resume builder and the introductory experience gave me just the slightest edge over those relying solely on their degrees to compete. I guess what I’m saying here is that it doesn’t hurt to get involved in your school’s publishing ventures. Almost every university has a lit journal, or at least a newspaper. Give it a shot, if nothing else it may solidify your belief that you are in fact a talented writer or editor. Or maybe you’ll hate it. Either way, best to find out early.

What is your advice for students and graduates with an English degree? 

Forget every piece of advice you have ever received from a fellow writer. I think someone else might have said that one before, oh well. But seriously, own it, be it, or forget it. You don’t need advice, you’ve already got it all figured out. Right?

Recommended reading: Your First Novel  by Ann Rittenberg. Great resource with a wonderful understanding of the form and function of the dreaded “Query Letter”.  And of course Nothing Really Happens and Damned If I Do, Damned If I Don't by yours truly ;)

Visit Rob on his website, RobsWriting.com.

Katie Plumb: Freelance Writer

Name: Katie Plumb

Age: 28

College & Majors/Minors: University of Puget Sound, BA in English: Writing, Rhetoric, and Culture. University of Utah, MS in Environmental Humanities.

Current Location: Salt Lake City, UT, soon to be in Bozeman, MT

Current Form of Employment: Freelance Writer & Aspiring Author

Where do you work and what is your current position? 

I have plunged head first into freelance writing. It has only been about six weeks since I made the decision to do so, and although it has been scary, unnerving, and overwhelming at times, it has also felt like the best decision I’ve ever made. I have two established “gigs”, one writing short articles for a quarterly magazine and one editing for a small business, neither of which provide enough revenue to sustain me, but do give me hope for other opportunities. I spend the bulk of my time now seeking out opportunities and networking. I look forward to spending a greater portion of my time actually writing soon, but freelancing is a process I am still learning.

Previously, I held a variety of jobs in the field of environmental conservation. Whether my job description included writing or not, I always made it known that I liked to write, and was often given the opportunity when it arose. I recently completed an AmeriCorps volunteer position as a field assistant for rare plant conservation. I re-wrote the department’s web content and drafted newsletter articles in addition to the reports we put together on our research. Before that, I was the outreach coordinator for a small non-profit, and I wrote almost everything we put out into the world, including web content, social media content, grants, press releases, newsletters, and donation appeal letters. I also edited monthly “green tips” that were published in our local papers.

I have also been writing published articles for local and regional publications over the last three years. Some work has been paid, some hasn’t, but it has all been good experience. I plan to continue pitching story ideas and developing relationships with publications I aspire to write for.

Tell us about how you found your first job, and how you found your current job (if different). 

My first job out of college was as a barista, and it served me well while I figured out what my next step was. After two years of traveling, playing, and working, I decided to go to grad school for a program that brought me under the mentorship of a number of environmental writers I admire, and helped join my passions for environmental issues and writing.

My first job after graduate school that involved writing was for a non-profit, and, strangely enough, it found me. I had applied for a position with another organization, and although I was not selected for the job, one of my interviewers passed my resume on to a friend who was looking to hire an outreach coordinator. She contacted me and offered me the job without even doing a formal interview. It was not at all your typical job-search experience, but it was valuable to recognize that by putting myself out there, even for jobs I wasn’t fully qualified for, I was opening myself up to opportunities I wasn’t even aware of. Especially in small communities and non-profit networks, people talk and share resources, and you never know when your name is going to come up.

As for my current situation as a freelancer, I made the decision after trying a variety of jobs that I thought might be good career paths, and not really loving any of them. Although they were great experiences in which I learned a lot, I wanted more flexibility and creativity and an endless possibility of things I could write about. I have a lot of ideas that I want to pursue, and it seems like a risk worth taking while I am still young and relatively untethered. Truthfully, I’ve wanted to be a “writer” since college, and knew that I could be a “writer” since grad school, but letting go of regular paychecks and facing the fear that maybe it won’t work out took a long time and a lot of self-encouragement.

What was another writing-related job that was important in your career?

As a graduate student, I had the opportunity to teach a writing course for undergrads. For the most part, I enjoyed the experience. It helped me recognize that I do have a lot of knowledge to share as a writer, and that I enjoyed helping others learn the craft. But it also helped me recognize that although it was something I could do, teaching wasn’t at the top of my list of jobs I wanted to do, at least not at this time in my life. Figuring out what I don’t want to do has been a huge part of deciding what I do want to do.

What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life? 

In college, I was really drawn to travel and experience the world. I did a Semester at Sea program, traveling around the world on a ship, and then I took a leave of absence for a semester to travel more and reconsider the academic direction I was headed in. The time I spent wandering and learning about the world helped steer me towards my current path. I was a literature major who loved words, and by going out and seeing some of the world, I was moved to think about how my studies, and eventually my career, could be more active and engaged in my community. I was inspired to write as a way to educate on a larger scale, to use it as a creative and powerful tool to motivate others.

Towards the end of my college career, once I had settled on an emphasis in writing, I participated in the submissions committee of my school’s literary journal, which prompted me to start submitting my own work (and to start accepting rejection!). I also got an internship for a class, during which I worked with a non-profit to write some marketing materials, research future projects, and pitch project ideas to potential donors. This got me interested in non-profit work and I began searching for writing and communications jobs with other non-profits, only to learn that the place I was living was saturated with well-educated and experienced applicants, which inspired me to go back to school!

What is your advice for students and graduates with an English degree?

These are some things that I have to remind myself of often, which might be helpful to someone in a similar situation:

• If you want to write, write about things that matter to you. Delve into things you’re passionate about. It shows in your writing. As one of my dearest mentors said, “If it matters to you, it will matter to someone else.”
• Don’t be afraid. I know, it sounds dumb, but it’s the simplest form of advice I can give. Fear of failure is a powerful motivator to not do the things we care most about. I face it every day, but eventually I just got tired of my own excuses.
• Collaborate with other creative thinkers, support and encourage other writers, and listen to others’ advice and criticisms. You don’t have to take any of it to heart, but you never know what gems of wisdom someone else might have.
• Thinking about writing doesn’t make you a writer; writing makes you a writer. Doesn’t matter where—on a blog, in a journal, on a napkin, on a piece of bark. Doesn’t have to be published or polished—if you are writing anything in any form, you’re a writer, and you will get better.

Visit Katie on her website, and connect with her on LinkedIn. 

Maggie Smith-Beehler: Poet, Author, Freelance Writer & Editor

Name: Maggie Smith-Beehler

Age: 37

College & Majors/Minors: Ohio Wesleyan University, BA English & The Ohio State University, MFA Poetry

Current Location: Bexley, Ohio

Current Form of Employment: Poet, Author, Freelance Writer and Editor

Where do you work and what is your current position? 

I work at home and have several positions, some more glamorous (and lucrative) than others. As Maggie Smith-Beehler, my married name, I’m a freelance writer and editor, owner of Versed Creative Services, LLC, and a stay-at-home mom to my two children. As Maggie Smith, I’m a poet and author.

After college graduation, I earned an MFA in poetry from The Ohio State University, taught creative writing at Gettysburg College for a year, published my first book of poems, Lamp of the Body, got married, and began a career in publishing. I worked in educational and trade book publishing for several years, balancing full-time editorial work, poetry writing, and family.

When I received a creative writing fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts in 2011, the financial cushion gave me the courage to leave my full-time job and begin freelancing from home. These days I’m on kid duty during the day, and I work at night after my daughter and son are in bed. The work is complex and varies from client to client, which I enjoy. Projects to date have included writing lessons for a Grade K language arts textbook, writing rhyming poems for a Grade 1 poetry anthology, editing digital activities for an elementary reading intervention program, and copyediting academic books for a university press.

Tell us about how you found your first job, and how you found your current job (if different). 

In the year between college and grad school, I worked as a receptionist while continuing to write. My first writing-related job after graduate school was at Gettysburg College. I received the Emerging Writer Lectureship for 2003–2004, so I moved to Pennsylvania and taught both introductory and advanced creative writing courses for one academic year. It was an intense and mostly wonderful experience, but I’m an introvert, so being “on” so much of the day was challenging. I also knew that going on the academic job market would mean that I would have to follow the teaching jobs rather than settle back in Ohio. So I moved back to Columbus in 2004 and figured I’d find another way to make a living.

I wasn’t quite sure what I would do next. My first book had been taken by a publisher and was due out the following year. I’d had a prestigious position…but now what? Could I cobble something together by adjunct teaching? Could I find a job at a magazine? I ended up interviewing for an assistant editor position with a children’s trade book publisher. The interview required an editing test and a writing test—and frankly, the interview process was a cakewalk compared to daylong academic interviews. I got the job. It meant a $10,000 pay cut. It also meant no summers off, no winter break, no community of poets and writers. I’d be lying if I said that leaving academia didn’t come with a price, but I was home with my husband, and I really enjoyed editorial work.

I was there for two years and was promoted fairly quickly to associate editor. I read the “slush” (unsolicited manuscripts) and chose the most promising proposals to present to the editorial director. I also got the opportunity to work with authors to revise their manuscripts and develop the books. At the same time, I was writing copy for catalogs, posters, websites, bookmarks, book jackets, and book flaps. It was a terrific crash course in publishing, and writing and editing felt like a natural fit for me in a way that teaching hadn’t. I left that company in 2006 and went into educational publishing from there. In 2011 I took the leap of faith to go freelance. 

What was another writing-related job that was important in your career? 

The “other” writing job in my life is my career as a professional poet. My latest chapbook, Disasterology, won the 2013 Dream Horse Press National Chapbook Prize and will be published in 2014. My next full-length book, The Well Speaks of Its Own Poison, won the 2012 Dorset Prize and will be published by Tupelo Press in 2015.

When I was working full-time in an office, I had two weeks of vacation time per year, and I used most of that for my daughter’s sick days. Now I have a lot more flexibility. I can spend more time writing and revising individual poems, organizing book manuscripts, writing commissioned work (as I did for Nationwide Children’s Hospital), and sometimes guest blogging (as I did for the Kenyon Review). I can schedule afternoon class visits and out-of-town poetry readings, and even travel for brief teaching stints, readings, and residencies. In 2011 I was able to accept a two-week residency fellowship at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and this summer I’ll be a Peter Taylor Fellow at the Kenyon Review Writers Workshop, where I’ll spend a week assisting poet Stanley Plumly with his workshop.  

What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life?

I’ve never been a “joiner.” Maybe that’s why writing poetry has always appealed to me—it’s not a team endeavor. I did work on the college literary magazine, though, and I loved it. I enjoyed seeing what my peers were doing, and I liked curating each issue with an eye toward how different pieces writing could speak to each other. But the one thing I did in college to prepare me for my post-grad life was writing. I wrote. I wrote and wrote and wrote. I took a year off between college and grad school to see if I’d keep at it, without the motivation of deadlines and grades. If I didn’t, then maybe I wasn’t a “real” writer—and maybe I shouldn’t go to grad school for poetry. But if I did keep at it, I’d let myself give an MFA a shot. And that’s what happened.

What is your advice for students and graduates with an English degree?

I’d suggest thinking about a potential career in practical terms. Think about the logistics. How much education or experience is required? What is the average salary? Could you do the job where you currently live or would you need to move to a place where the industry is more developed? Do your research. If you can intern, do so. If not, perhaps your alumni relations office could put you in touch with an alum in the field you’re considering. Also keep in mind that there are plenty of careers in which writing and editing skills are extremely important, even though they may be less obvious choices than writer, editor, or teacher.

And for the creative writers out there: write. Find some aesthetically compatible people with whom to share your work. Maybe you meet a few friends at a coffee shop once or twice a month, or maybe—like me—you email poems or stories back and forth with a few close friends, because your best readers live hundreds of miles away. Submit when you’re ready, but don’t be in a hurry. Read literary journals, buy them, subscribe to them. And don’t take rejection too personally. Some pieces or books get snatched up quickly. Others you may send out for years. All that waiting will give you plenty of time to write some more.

Visit www.maggiesmithpoet.com to check out more of Maggie's work!

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Nicki Krawczyk: Copywriter, Copy Coach & Founder of FilthyRichWriter.com

Robert S. Gerleman: Freelance Author & Editor

Sara Shepherd: Freelance Writer

Mo Hall: Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Name: Mo Hall

Age: 35

College & Majors/Minors: University of Puget Sound; Major: English w/ emphasis on Writing, Rhetoric & Composition; Minor: Business & Public Administration

Current Location: Long Island, NY

Current Form of Employment: Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Where do you work and what is your current position?

I'm currently a Marketing writer and content coordinator at Michael C. Fina just outside New York City; my team is responsible for content creation and distribution, as well as lead generation.

I've always held Marketing/Communications jobs in the past, but this is the most writing-heavy position I've ever held. Our industry is small and niche, so our work is often picked up by leading publications, which not only serves our Marketing objectives, but is rewarding to see. 
In past jobs, I've mostly been responsible for updating and editing marketing collateral, as well as managing their production. It isn't particularly creative, especially when it comes to retirement and annuity products, where my previous background lies. Here, it's been a complete 180 and I'm happy with the contrast.

Tell us about how you found your first job, and how you found your current job (if different).

When I first moved to NYC, I applied to anything and everything related to writing— I had no idea what I was doing. PR firms, ad agencies, you name it. Watching an episode of Mad Men once, I remember hearing one of the names of a rival ad agency and saying, "They called me up once just to berate me for having the nerve to apply for a job there." Granted, I had faxed them my lame excuse for a resume— that's how naive I was. Fortunately after 3-4 months (and I don't exactly remember how), I received a call from who would become my first manager.
I had two meetings— one with my hiring manager and the next with the rest of the team. It wasn't an ordeal by any stretch. No writing tests either. Honestly, I couldn't remember what skills my manager was looking for, because I had no experience! I'd love to see the resume I presented at that time. All I had was the piece of paper that confirmed I'd passed all of my required classes. I had no idea how big of an opportunity I'd been afforded— working in NYC at a Fortune 500 company and industry giant, making more money than I'd ever seen. I thought that people just graduated from college, got jobs and settled in for the next 30+ years.

What was another writing-related job that was important in your career?

Besides my first and current job, the only other MarCom position I held was with another financial services industry. I had the same responsibilities, just more of them and with higher visibility. What I learned most from that job had nothing to do with skill or experience. It was that being a person came before being an employee. I worked with the best Marketing department. Our team's senior management made sure that everyone knew they were doing important work, it was noticed, and appreciated. Even while I was working on a difficult or boring project, knowing that I had management support gave me the motivation to step up and take on the challenge.

What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life?

I wish I could answer this question better— I didn't prepare very well for after college. I thought about it constantly and always wondered, "What am I going to do?" I never ACTUALLY answered the question, though (my move to New York was sudden and unexpected). My final semester, I got an internship for a class requirement and juggled my schedule so that I worked two 8-hour days a week. I was on the baseball team in college, and even missed practice on those days for that commitment. That probably gave me a small taste of what life would be like after graduation.

What is your advice for students and graduates with an English degree? 

In no particular order...

1. Always remember is that an English degree is what I consider transparent. As long as you can write, you can work a number of jobs in a number of industries.
2. Read books and articles that inspire you to sharpen your writing and always get better. On the same note, write. Keep a journal. Write an op-ed on a current event news item. Write a mini biography on your favorite musician. Whether you share it or not, it's perfecting a craft— similar to hitting golf balls at the driving range or training for a race.
3. Work for/with someone who can't write a lick (it doesn't hurt to boost the ego a little bit); also, work for/with someone you consider brilliant (when it comes to writing, there's always room to learn).
4. When providing feedback on others' writing, always provide direct and honest suggestions. Holding back to preserve someone's feelings isn't productive for anyone, but allow room for the other person to completely disregard your notes. It's their writing, not yours.
5. This applies to anyone, but the most important factor in an ideal job isn't the best company, the most money, or even doing what you love. While all are important, no aspect matters more than a mentor and leader who appreciates what you do and gives you the motivation to succeed. So when interviewing for jobs, be annoying with tough questions. Find out about company culture and management styles; what makes employees want to stay or leave; are they treated as people or commodities? You'll find that interviewers will be refreshingly honest and admire that line of questioning. If not, it isn't a place you want to work anyway. (Full disclosure: coming from someone who's job has been a casualty of the recession, I understand the difficulties of those with financial hardships, and being selective isn't always an option. So once those opportunities present themselves, take full advantage.)

Connect with Mo on LinkedIn!

Cathy Higgins: Newspaper Editor

Name: Cathy Higgins

Age: 44

College & Majors/Minors: Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, AL. I majored in Mass Communications with a double concentration in print journalism and public relations. I also minored in English.

Current Location: Elberta, AL

Current Form of Employment: Newspaper Editor

Where do you work and what is your current position?

Since 2010, I have worked as an editor at Gulf Coast Newspapers. For the first one and a half years, that consisted of editing and writing articles for the front section of The Baldwin Times in Bay Minette, AL. Then in March 2012 I was moved to the same position with The Foley Onlooker in Foley, AL, which is a larger market. To elaborate, my duties include seeking out and covering news in the local area, as well as writing articles and editing both my own work and that of colleagues. This is for both print and online publication. I also help develop ideas for annual publications and manage freelancers. 

But this is not the only current position I have. I am also contributing writer for Sports Events Magazine, which is a monthly national magazine for sports business industry. I periodically conduct interviews and write articles on a freelance basis.    

I have been working as a journalist since graduating from college in 1998. I freelanced at local newspapers in Murfreesboro, TN, my then home, before getting my first full-time job as a staff writer at a biweekly newspaper in Pulaski, TN, in spring 2000. After working there for two and a half years, I went on to work as either a staff writer or copy editor at newspapers in Alabama and Georgia. Each time, I have written and edited articles for both print and online publication, as well as designed newspaper pages, taken pictures and produced videos. 

Tell us about how you found your first job, and how you found your current job (if different).  

I found both my first and current jobs on JournalismJobs.com, the go-to employment website for my industry. This has been the case for all but one position I accepted. For that one, I was contacted by the editor, who said they were given my resume by a colleague.

Applying for every position except my current one was very pleasant. I spoke in person with the people who would be my supervisors and received tours of each workplace. However, interviewing for my current job was conducted completely over the phone— not a practice I recommend. I will say that in each case, the employers were looking for someone who could write and edit articles well and quickly.    

I have only had a writing/editing test for one job I accepted. That was for the copy editor/page designer position at The Albany Herald, a daily newspaper in Albany, GA. That test was to show not only my skills in writing and editing, but also my knowledge of current events and legal terms commonly used in daily newspaper reporting.  

What was another writing-related job that was important in your career?

When the features writer position at The Albany Herald opened six months after I had been at that paper, I applied and received the position. This turned out to be important to me because it helped me develop my craft as a feature news writer, which has its own style. It also helped me cultivate a different way of looking at things, as well as to think visually when working on my projects.    

My duties included developing feature story ideas for the daily paper and to manage the Arts and Entertainment Calendar. Plus, I managed the section’s intern and freelance columnists, which were valuable things to learn. I also learned how to work efficiently and develop sharp organization skills while in this position.  

What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life?

I did quite a lot in college to prepare for my career. That included getting my feet wet in newspapers by becoming a social columnist for my home town’s weekly community newspaper. Plus, I served a year as staff writer for my college newspaper. I also wrote articles for my college alumni magazine and for the newsletter of my college’s Baptist Campus Ministry. These were great real-world experiences, as they helped me develop my interviewing skills. They also helped me develop my ability to write with a quick deadline.    

My internship was in public relations at a boutique music-industry firm in Nashville, TN. While this was a fun experience, it really didn’t do much to help my career. I would have benefitted more from an internship with a newspaper or magazine publisher.     

What is your advice for students and graduates with an English degree?    

For those with an English degree preparing to enter the workforce, I have several thoughts. One of them is that when you select your chosen field of work, seek out a mentor who will give you useful guidance and advice.    

Another thought is to see the value in online networking. I really get a lot out of connecting with professionals on LinkedIn. The groups are a great way to share ideas and cultivate those professional connections.   

But with this advice, I strongly suggest keeping your connections list on such sites for professional networking only. Anything else is a distraction from the designated purpose. And I do have to say that I have to quite frequently decline connection invitations from people who just know me and have no professional networking value.

My final thought is on which career path to follow. If you’re interested in journalism, I’d suggest looking for positions at business-to-business publications or magazines. I also advise trying technical writing positions or corporate media.

I do think you might want to steer away from the newspaper industry. With the shift to online media in the last few years, newspapers haven’t figured out how to stay viable. That doesn’t translate to a very stable environment from an employee’s perspective.

Connect with Cathy on LinkedIn. 

Chrystal White: Technical Editor

Name: Chrystal White

College & Majors/Minors: I graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno as an English Literature major with a minor in Linguistics and Language.

Current Location: California

Current Form of Employment: Technical Editor

Where do you work and what is your current position? 

Currently, I work as the sole Technical Editor for an engineering consulting firm. My duties involve assisting the engineering staff with review of the documents they produce for our clients, correspondence and reports for corporate staff, and editing of confidential documents and correspondence for members of the Board of Directors. During my first year I was tasked with creating a style guide for the Western Region; five years later the guide is still used as a reference by administrative staff and others in lieu of specific style direction from our clients. Recently, I was asked to try my hand at developmental editing, which included working with the engineers at the beginning of a project rather than seeing the report just before it is to be delivered to the client. This has been an interesting challenge and I continue to work to develop that skill.

Tell us about how you found your first job, and how you found your current job (if different).

My first “official” editorial job was the result of discovering a need shortly after being hired as a seasonal employee to perform data entry of information collected from the field. I overheard some of the scientists complain about how their manuscripts were rejected even before being read because they hadn’t complied with the journal’s publication policy, so I offered to review their documents on their behalf and study the different journals’ style requirements to ensure all style guidelines were met. This worked very well and I was able to convert a summer job into a 10-year permanent assignment until I eventually moved on.

My current job was the result of a cold-call by a recruiter who saw my resume on Monster.com. I had just been the victim of a reduction-in-force at my previous company due to the collapse of the housing market so this was very fortuitous.

What was another writing-related job that was important in your career?

Right now I work as a volunteer editor/proofreader for my church’s two newsletters (one weekly and one monthly) and only recently have been asked to give writing a try. This is a challenge as I have not been asked to write since creating the style guide for my current company. It is forcing me to develop my writing skills and is also teaching me a new form of writing. This has the added benefit of helping me appreciate the process from a writer’s point of view.

What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life? 

In college I started by offering my services as a typist for students requiring assistance with their research and other class papers. It was a way to earn a few extra dollars (something every college student needs), and I found that some of the students I typed for suffered from poor spelling and sentence structure. So I began offering, for an additional fee, to correct spelling and sentence structure errors and to help with clarity when needed. Word of mouth referrals kept me quite busy and helped me to hone my editorial skills. At the time I had not considered editing as a career. As it turned out this was one of my best learning experiences; not only influencing my future career choice, but teaching me how to tactfully work with writers.

Once I determined my career focus I took advantage of other editors in the company– asking questions; seeking their expertise; and offering to assist with editorial backlog just to gain more experience. Soon I was sent on details (short-term work assignments) to offices nationwide that were in need of editorial assistance with report completion for a study or to publish the proceedings of a symposium. This taught me how to “hit the ground running” because to be effective I had to quickly get up to speed on the project, learn the objective, and become productive in a short amount of time.

What is your advice for students and graduates with an English degree?

My best advice is to know your strengths and look for opportunities where one might not be advertised or readily apparent. It is how I got my start.

Connect with Chrystal on LinkedIn. 

Christine Stoddard: Writer/Filmmaker, Co-owner & Creative Director of Quail Bell Press & Productions

Name: Christine Stoddard

Age: 25

College & Majors/Minors: Virginia Commonwealth University, School of the Arts (VCUarts)—Film B.A., English/Creative Writing B.A., Product Innovation Certificate, and minors in French, Spanish, and European Studies.

Current Location: I go between Greater Washington and Richmond, VA, but I also travel frequently, depending on where work takes me.

Current Form of Employment: Writer/Filmmaker, Co-owner & Creative Director of Quail Bell Press & Productions

Where do you work and what is your current position?

I am very lucky to write and make films. Most recently, I co-wrote the book Images of America: Richmond Cemeteries (Arcadia Publishing) with Misty Thomas. The book has a companion documentary that I am directing called Richmond's Dead and Buried. Richmond's Dead and Buried centers on the stories of Richmond's cemeteries, including a developer's controversial proposal to build a baseball stadium over a slave burial ground. The documentary will be released later this year. 

Richmond's Dead and Buried - the documentary

Quail Bell: Issue 4—Fall/Winter 2013 print 'zine

Images of America: Richmond Cemeteries

Airborne: An Anthology of The Real by Quail Bell Magazine

Falling Hard

The Nest: An Anthology of The Unreal by Quail Bell Magazine

While at VCUarts, I studied under experimental filmmaker Mary Beth Reed, a student of Stan Brakhage, and have since become fascinated with the process of experimental stop-motion animation in particular. This spring, I will be showcasing some of my animations and experimental shorts at the New York Transit Museum in Manhattan and the Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Richmond. Many of my writing and film projects fall under what I call the Quail Bell umbrella, after Quail Bell Press & Productions. That is the arts, communications, and media production firm I run with Kristen Rebelo, an illustrative graphic designer. We work directly with clients and also creative original projects. One such project is Quail Bell Magazine. That is our fairy punk magazine dedicated to the imaginary, the nostalgic, and the otherworldly. I am the editor and Kristen is the art director.

Previously, I have done work for the Smithsonian Latino Center, WashingtonPost.com, WETA-PBS of Greater Washington, Teatro de la Luna, Virginia Living Magazine, Maryland Women's Journal, Washington Life Magazine, and others. I am also a proud AmeriCorps alumna.

Tell us about how you found your first job, and how you found your current job (if different).

I guess you could say that my first job was as a freelancer writer and collagist. I've been getting paid to do what I love for a while now, thanks to hard work and a network of great mentors. In high school, I wrote for different online clients, especially AssociatedContent.com. I also won poetry, playwriting, and essay-writing contests with cash prizes. Every once in a while, I made illustrative collages for 'zines and private clients, too. Those collages became the basis for the animation work I do now. I tutored regularly, as well: Spanish, French, and English composition. That tutoring experience became very handy later on when I applied for AmeriCorps and eventually a contract position at Writopia Lab. My first big break came when I was 16. Editor Betsy Franco selected my poem for publication in her book Falling Hard: Love Poems by Teenagers (Candlewick Press). And what do you know? The New York Times gave the book a positive review. These early opportunities and accomplishments formed the basis for a successful freelance career.

What was another writing-related job that was important in your career?

Definitely anything I've done related to film and television production because it's helped inform my written stories. But also teaching. As an AmeriCorps volunteer, I served at a Title I elementary school my last year of college. Everyone—even the smallest of children—has stories, and these stories matter.

What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life?

I chose what I wanted and I pursued it. I knew that I wanted to keep writing and get into filmmaking, so I thought strategically about how I could achieve such things. I actively freelanced, interned, contributed to university media, and sniffed out undergraduate research and travel grants. The library, the student media center, and the editing studio were my on-campus havens. I also did an independent study two semesters in a row with the aforementioned Mary Beth Reed. That being said, I was also selective. I generally knew when to say no. I tried to participate in activities I knew would be genuinely worthwhile.

What is your advice for students and graduates with an English degree?

Take an academically rigorous workload, but balance those courses with professional experiences that will build your real-world skills. Read and read a lot—just don't end there. Start engaging with your campus and your community your freshman year. You'll regret waiting until the semester you graduate. Sometimes you'll have to make the hard choice of doing what you have to do versus what you want to do. Baking Club might be fun, but unless you want to become a food writer, your time might be better spent on the library committee or on staff at the school paper. 

If you have to work to pay for school (and the reality is that most students do), try to take work that will lead to the sort of opportunities you want after graduation. If you want to teach English in a foreign country, for instance, get teaching experience now. Tutor in the campus writing center or at the neighborhood elementary school. If you want to get into publishing, see if a faculty member or local author will pay for proofreading, clerical tasks, or social media promotion. Be resourceful and don't be afraid to ask your professors for guidance. Most of them want to help. You just have to take the initiative. You'll find that some of them won't let you give up! When you're taking 18 credits and wondering how you're going to pay your expenses one semester, that encouragement will fuel you. Treasure that encouragement because if you think school is hard, the real world is harder.

Christine's portfolio of work can be found online:

• quailbell.com

• quailbellmagazine.com

• worldofchristinestoddard.com

• wordsmithchristine.com

• rvadeadburied.com

• poerichmond.com

• forgetfairytales.com

Emily Williamson: Marketing Coordinator

Name: Emily Williamson

Age: 31

College & Majors/Minors: University of Central Arkansas, BA in Writing with a minor in Linguistics. Northwest University, Masters in International Community Development.

Current Location: Seattle, WA

Current Form of Employment: Marketing Coordinator for Rainier Health & Fitness

Where do you work and what is your current position?

Currently, I work for Rainier Health & Fitness, a gym in South Seattle’s diverse community that’s dedicated to providing high-quality fitness services at affordable prices. The gym is a program of Urban Impact, a non-profit focused on community development. In this role, I get to write everything from e-mail content to blog posts to brochures. I manage all of our social media channels (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Google Plus), created a new website that I update regularly, attend networking events, establish relevant partnerships and manage the front desk two mornings each week.

Tell us about how you found your first job, and how you found your current job (if different). 

My first full-time job as a writer was for zulily. I actually started working there as a temp in the studio because I had severely injured my back and didn’t think I was capable of a desk job. My second day there, I heard the company was hiring copywriters so I inquired about it and saw that they accommodated people who had injured backs with stand-up desks. I connected with the recruiter, emailed him my resume and completed a writing test. After that, I was called in for a three-segment interview that included an on-the-spot writing test. At zulily, they were looking for creativity and speed. I learned a lot about time management and cranking out massive amounts of copy while working there (the craziest was 500 product descriptions in 10 hours for a sale that went live the following day).

What was another writing-related job that was important in your career?

During my final semester of grad school, I began working for Lusso Bags as the Social Media Manager and Communications Director. Lusso Bags was a social business that sold travel bags made by women at Freeset who are able to leave the sex trade of Kolkota to work as seamstresses. I toured Freeset while in Kolkata doing fieldwork for Sari Bari (see below) and connected the Lusso Bags founder Nicole to their operation. Nicole then asked me to come on as their communications persona and manage the social media channels. I got a lot of hands-on experience with Twitter, Facebook, blogging, e-mail marketing and SEO from that experience. I learned that twitter could be a powerful networking tool and that websites can drive a lot of traffic to them through relevant blogging.

What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life? 

In grad school, I was in a very idealistic program (“international care and community development” was the full title— come on now!). Our program director encouraged us to do thesis projects that could be immediately useful to an organization. He steered me in the direction of social media, so I wrote my thesis as a handbook for non-profits and social enterprises on the topic. The handbook was built around research I did on the topic and a case study of Sari Bari where I had done my fieldwork. Sari Bari is a social enterprise located in Kolkata that enables trafficked women to leave the sex trade to work as seamstresses. They make beautiful blankets and bags from discarded saris and sell them through their website.

What is your advice for students and graduates with an English degree?

Figure out where you’d ideally like to work and what topics you’re interested, then volunteer to write them for free. Charlie Hoehn talks about this approach in “The New Way to Work” TEDTalk. Either you’ll prove your value to the company and they’ll choose to hire you, or you’ll round out your writing portfolio a bit more and have something to show the next relevant potential hire.

Leverage LinkedIn. One of our guest speakers in grad school who works in HR told us that many employers will disregard your resume if you’re not on LinkedIn. I’ve been active on LinkedIn ever since. It’s also where Alyssa and I first connected.

Start a blog and post consistently on it. Share it across social media platforms.

Check out Emily's blog A Community Entrepreneur to check out her weekly posts on social enterprise, community development and international development. You can also connect with Emily on LinkedIn.