The Quad at the University of Redlands, my alma mater. Memorial Chapel in the distance.
Currently a freelance writer, editor and photographer, I formerly wrote music articles for The Flying Inkpot website based in Singapore and have edited on Wikipedia since January 2007. Learning (1) to write for an encyclopedia instead of a reviewing site, which is a different style of writing altogether, and (2) not simply to state something but to explain and simplify it so that others can understand it no matter what their background has been a slow but steady process. While I am far from perfect in these things (as well as everything else), I'd like to think that I am at least getting better at it.
I was bitten by the writing bug in high school. Competing in a national scholastic writing competition started the ball rolling; writing my first published article on a subject I really cared about (Tchaikovsky'sManfred Symphony) accelerated that rolling to high speed. Going through the writing program at the University of Redlands was followed by a five-year stint teaching English as a Second Language, test preparation and composition for a private school and a little over 10 years in publishing. The division for which I worked was closed in 2000 but I still work in the field as a freelance writer and editor.
Along with the writing program, Redlands boasted an excellent music program, of which I took advantage as much as possible. Eventually I studied 20th-century music history with composer Barney Childs, who in turn was taught by Aaron Copland and Eliott Carter. I also studied writing and literature with him at Johnston Center, then called Johnston College and a semi-autonomous offshoot of the university. Childs was one of the two teachers who encouraged me to not just say whether I liked a book, a poem or a piece of music but to take it apart, find out how it worked and why I liked it; this way, I would know what I was talking about and could incorporate it accordingly. This is something I still practice today and use in my Wiki writing, not just for my personal growth but to benefit readers as much as possible.
A couple of things you may read about me:
He is difficult: Debatably so, but not always. I'm entitled to my view and have some idea from my editing and writing experience on what to say in an article, how to say it and how to strucure the piece. This does not mean I am not going to listen to you. Quite the contrary: One of my pet peeves is the Wiki editor who bellyaches about how bad, poorly-written or poorly organized an article may be but won't do anything about it. This is, after all, the reference tool that anyone can edit. What part of anyone does not include you?
He is opinionated: Well, I try to know what I am talking about before I say anything. That does not mean I think I am always right. (If you think I'm wrong, please let me know and give me enough info with what you say to back up your case. I'd greatly appreciate it.) But I am going to comment with some conviction.
He is a pain in the ass: If we disagree or you don't like how I come across, yup.
He is mean: Nope. I am blunt and direct and am forthright and honest enough to say something to your face. At least I'm not saying it behind your back (a bad habit of human nature and the microcosm known as Wikipedia).
He is negative: I am realistic. Also see He is mean above.
Now that you've been warned about my faults and you may realize I don't sprout horns and a forked tail (though I will admit an extreme fondness for Hellboy, who fits this description), how about we work together?
