Writing Workshop- Version 1.0

Me and Restaurant Baby at our very first Writing Workshop session.

One of my goals in 2011 was to become a writer professionally. Writing has always been my passion and I had come to a point where I was willing to give up my day job for one that incorporated more of a writer's role whether it be in corporate communications, journalism, public relations, or freelance. This was an industry switch for me and I was encountering the same problem over and over again with every job I was applying to. I had no applicable writing samples to share.

Over a year ago, I was talking with my friend Madeline, who writes the blog Restaurant Baby. She proposed for us to start and commit to a writing session every month. This session would entail one hour of writing with half an hour of feedback. The common goal was to take time out of our busy lives and commit to writing. These sessions, dubbed Writing Workshop, would give us time to work on blog content, writing portfolios, and overall improve our writing skills.

We structured our sessions in this manner:

• 5-10 minute introductions of what we were writing about and any concerns we had regarding our writing topics
• 1 hour of solid writing
• 15 minutes of critique

The formula worked well and Writing Workshop was serious. Towards the end of the year we decided to try a new method and adopted the Southeastern Louisiana University writing program writing marathon method.

The approach was similar to ours. Write for an hour uninterrupted. The difference at the end was that we did not critique each other. Each participant was to read out loud their writing sample. The point was to hear your own voice. Reading what we wrote out loud gave our words a new dimension. It is a challenge to feel comfortable with one's own voice.

After one year of Writing Workshop, we evaluated our method again. It is working well. Future changes may include adding in short 10 minute writing exercises whether it be to focus on descriptions, answering questions, or something like a writing rant.

Are you a part of a writing group? Do you use writing exercises to polish your craft? What has worked for you? Please post your comments or advice here. We'd love to hear about your experiences.


Restaurant Baby

Southeastern Louisiana University Writing Marathons

Publicity Posters- Old School

One of my favorite jobs was working in the Marketing department for an independent private arts school in Oakland, California. The school focused on music, dance, and art. It was an amazing environment to be in.

Throughout the year, the school had a variety of programs. From fundraisers to music performances and art shows, I spent plenty of hours pushing events and setting up to making sure everything ran smoothly and everyone was in place. The time I spent there was extremely rewarding.

I recently came across these posters I designed. They really take me back to the old school. It's a new year but I'm gonna enjoy this quick trip through memory lane.

Beacon Day School
2101 Livingston St.
Oakland, CA 94606

My, That's A Big Shoe You Got There

New Balance BB888HW, Size 16 "4E", Retail Price: $99.95

Why yes, yes it is.

This is not an optical illusion. I am holding up this shoe and it is wider than my body. It is a men's size 16, 4E width New Balance Basketball shoe. It is black and white, free of air pockets, and there are no gel elements in the sole. This is all to adhere to government regulations.

I buy and sell shoes for a living. Did I mention that all of my customers are inmates in federal prisons? Quite a conversation piece, isn't it?

Aside from peddling shoes, I write. I maneuver around the web and I have a bevy of virtual friends. I enjoy what I do. Sometimes I feel like I lead a double life. In a way, I do. My day job keeps me stable, pays my rent, provides me with benefits and grants me the funds to live a luxurious life. When the day dwindles down, of course I report back and share my experiences through social media. I love the interwebs but my sales training has taught me how important face-to-face communication is. You can paint any picture you want of yourself on the internet but a real life meeting is going to tell all. In upcoming posts, I plan to share the things I've learned and observations I find thought provoking. My blog is varied and will really be about anything on my mind for the moment. I hope you are enjoying it.

Thanks for tuning in thus far.

There is much more to come from Spam Is Better Fried!