Putting the Fangirl Network to Good Use: Looking for Work

[rsadelle]

Amongst all the other things fandom is, we're a community, and Gretchen is reminding me it's okay to ask for help, so I'm asking you, my community, for help.

As most of you know, I quit my job last year to try out being a writer. It's been a great experience in a lot of ways. I'm now at the point where I don't have financial resources to keep it up, which means it's time for me to get some paying work of some sort.

If you or someone you know has work or ideas for me, you can leave me a comment here or email me at my personal address or my professional address.

What I Really Want
I would love, love, love to do editing work. Of all the work tasks from my previous job, the editing was my favorite thing to do. I'm very good, very fast, and my freelance rates are negotiable.

Amongst the other things involved in my previous job, I was essentially the managing editor for Working Strategies, a leading industry publication that grew, in the six years I was there, from an eight-page, three-color publication with a circulation of about 3,000 to a sixteen-page, full-color publication with a circulation of over 9,000. I did all of the layout and much of the editing, and I was the leader of the workgroup that chose themes and produced or procured all of Working Strategies' articles.

In addition to my nonfiction experience, I've been a member of the Chico Writer's Group since its inception. The central part of our meetings is critiquing each other's work, which has given me a strong foundation in fiction editing. For the past year, I've been in charge of our craft chats, which means I create a handout and a writing exercise on some aspect of writing technique for each of our meetings.

Also Taking Other Ideas
Editing is not my only marketable skill! I'm handy with a spreadsheet, able to facilitate meetings in person and via teleconference, and a well-received trainer. You might take a look at my resume below to see what else I have experience with. If you have other freelance opportunities or ideas for me, please let me know! Leads for other kinds of work in Chico would also be appreciated. Just because I've never been a barista before doesn't mean I couldn't learn how.

Location, Location, Location
I'm not interested in relocating, so I'm looking for things I can do from home or in Chico.

Resume
Below is my loosely formatted for LJ editing and office work centered resume. I do, of course, have a much more nicely formatted version for emailing or snail mailing, which I can send on to anyone you think might be a good source of work for me.

Ruth Sadelle Alderson
ruthsalderson@gmail.com

Summary of Qualifications
Independent, creative, organized individual with strong writing, editing, computer, and database skills. Brings a sense of humor and team spirit to the workplace.

Professional Experience

Writer, 2008-Present

• Write, edit, and revise novel and short story drafts.
• Create writing exercises and technique lessons for writing critique group.
• Edit and critique other writers’ work.

Strategies Program, Youth for Change, Paradise, California
Project Analyst, 2005-2008; Design and Publications Editor, 2002-2005

• Edit and lay out training flyers and Working Strategies, a quarterly publication distributed to over 9,000 individuals and organizations.
  
• Lead team dedicated to all editorial aspects of Working Strategies, including editorial direction and article production.
• Edit, track, and distribute current policy and procedure manual documents.
• Edit, print, and collate training materials.
• Schedule and facilitate meetings of inter-office workgroups.
• Compile data for required state reports using Microsoft Excel.
• Act as liaison with editing, database, printing, and mailing vendors and contractors.
• Lay out and design publications and graphics using Microsoft Word, Microsoft Publisher, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop.
• Provide training to Strategies and Youth for Change staff in the Strategies database, Microsoft Outlook, and Microsoft PowerPoint.
• Provide database and other computer technical support to Strategies staff.

Peg Taylor Center for Adult Day Health Care, Chico, California
Intern, 2002-2004

• Provide administrative support to Executive Director and Program Director.
• Maintain and update client database.
• Train Peg Taylor staff to use client database.
• Create and revise forms.
• Write fundraising letters and other business correspondence.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Academic Technology and Networks Classroom Hotline
Student Support, 2001-2002

• Provide tier one customer support and assurance to university community.
• Provide immediate response support for classroom technology concerns.

Education
Bachelor of Arts, 2002
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

References available upon request.