W. D. W. |
Paladin New York Candidate
Writer/Editor
Available For:
All types of positions
Ideal Position:
As a writer and editor, I would ideally work where I need to find le mot juste, for myself or someone else; where my affinity for words can enliven and streamline communications. Broadly, I look for the best use of the written word; and narrowly, I pore over such fine points as whether or not to avoid phrases like le mot juste as too pretentious.
Ideal Environment:
I'm adaptable to various settings, but I've thrived best in an environment of serious objectives and eccentric creativity. I've worked at a 100-year-old media company (Billboard) as well as an internet success (CDNOW), and at their best, both had an atmosphere that reveled in news and culture, absorbed and critiqued by a sharp, clued-in staff.
Past Experience:
I've interviewed people from Charlton Heston to the Red Hot Chili Peppers for national magazines. I've written for MTV and the Food Network. I've been a Billboard columnist and the author of books about the space program and rock stars. I've helped produce such Random House bestsellers as George W. Bush's Decision Points and Kitty Kelley's Oprah
Currently:
In my most recent role at Random House, as a freelance copy editor and proofreader, I ensure a book's adherence to house style and other professional standards. But I must also block errors and inconsistencies, catching things the author didn't. Every book is an important project that doesn't leave my hands until I know it's been properly vetted.
Additional Notes:
I've performed comedy at Caroline's, Gotham Comedy Club, Stand-Up NY, and other New York stages. I've been a PR account executive for Frank Zappa. I've written movie reviews that went national via the LA Times Syndicate. I wrote a Metallica biography that was translated into German, Dutch, and Spanish. I've created crossword puzzles for TV Guide.
