Professional Writing – Page 4

The Creativity of Grant Writing

By Carli Doyle

Rivka Levin, grant writer

Before I transferred to UAB, I used to tell people that I was a Theatre Major and their first response was to look crestfallen and offer a consolatory: Oh.After transferring and switching my degree track, I can now proudly state that I’m an English major and receive a marginally softer oh instead.For me, a traditional corporate job was never an option, and I know many others in the English department who feel the same way. So what do you do when you have a passion for the arts and a knack for writing? Simple: grant writing.

What is grant writing?

Rivka Levin has been writing grants for The Atlanta Shakespeare Company (ASC) for twelve years, and lives as proof that there can be a happy marriage between corporate writing and creativity.

With a musical theatre background and a passion for writing, Levin ensures that the ASC’s programs—such as their Shakespeare Intensive for Teens summer camp, and In-School Residencies—receive sufficient funding from charitable sources.

To secure this funding, Levin crafts letters to prospective investors/donors, such as the Georgia Council for the Arts or the National Endowment for the Arts, and appeals for grants. In her appeals, Levin outlines what programs the donations will support, the impact of the programs on the community and how the donations will be handled.

What makes writing for a theatre company unique?

Levin:My grants are allowed to be a little more passionate and descriptive than if I was writing for the American Heart Association. Though we use hard, quantifiable data to prove the economic, academic and social value of what we do, many times it comes down to the emotional response of the reader

So there’s a significant difference?

Levin:Yes. In some cases, I have to explain the benefit of the arts. No one needs an explanation of why cancer research is worthy of funding.

Why pursue grant writing?

Being a grant writer for a company that, at its core, is a massive proponent of the arts has allowed Levin to toggle back and forth a bit from dry business-speak to something a bit more personal.

Why write grants for the performing arts?

Levin:Many of the people who need our programming the most […] benefit from grants. The grant money often subsidizes programming, allowing an arts organization to offer free or discounted programming for those who can’t afford it. Not only is the act of grant writing personally fulfilling, the result directly impacts the lives of the children and teenagers who gain self-worth and insight from the ASC’s programs.

In your opinion, why should prospective English majors should consider grant writing?

Levin:If there is something about which you’re passionate—animal welfare, cancer research, the arts, prevention of domestic abuse—grant writing can be a way to earn a living as a writer…and advancing your cause at the same time.

Professional Writers Wield Power on Society

By Hunter Freeman

digital illustration — Media is influencing our lives more than ever before

Professional writers have the ability to destroy the world—hard stop.

The Status Quo

Every day, people make decisions based on available information usually sourced from the Internet or social media. Most of the time, these decisions are insignificant: Should you wear a jacket? What drink should you buy at Starbucks? On the grand scale, taking a left to avoid traffic will not detonate the Earth.

Contemporary professional writers play the role of the information middleman. Businesses and organizations hire them as a buffer between the institution and the audience: to perform upkeep on public appearances, to report the demands of the people, to rally the forces against opposition.

More and more, professional writers are assigned to positions in the public sphere as social media managers, technical communicators, and content editors. At the same time, society is increasingly turning to social media and the Internet for news and information it can depend on.

This is to say, the work professional writers do affects public opinions more than ever. Professional writers choose what is displayed on the platforms that people are turning to for information.

The Shift in Responsibility

But what happens when society’s information platforms (Facebook, Twitter, websites) are corruptible? Fake political ad campaigns plagued Facebook and Twitter in the 2016 presidential election. It is still up for debate (at the time of writing this) how much the manipulation affected the results, but it certainly played a role in the election.

The argument is not that professional writers can’t handle the task. Writers are uniquely trained to create messages: they consider the audience, fact check the data and correct mistakes. But the adage about great power will become a central operating philosophy for professional writers of the future.

In a scenario that would make George Orwell cringe, professional writers will determine what the public sees. They choose what information is displayed on a landing page. They assign a hierarchical importance to data. They shape your opinions. They influence your thoughts.

The job is changing with the landscape. With the advent of information technology, messages and videos now go viral, potentially reaching millions of people in a few hours. Wordsmiths will have to be more careful with the messages they create. The same skills that make a person a capable professional writer are the same that can wreak havoc on the public.

By selecting information responsibly and considering the impact of words, professional writing will become a new occupation in civic service. Borrowing from the words of Senator Richard Burr, professional writers will stand as our first line of defense from the damage that words can do.

Professional Writing in Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama

By Daniel Kim

Job Openings for Professional Writing Graduates

Hyundai manufacturing building — Hyundai offices

Graduating with an English (Professional Writing) degree has inherent implications to limited career paths. Contrary to this belief however, there are increasing demands for professional writers in a wide variant of industries. The ability to communicate effectively, organize events/launchings and comprehend complex textual information are all necessary skills within a given industry.

Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) is no exception. Since the grand opening of a $1.7 billion manufacturing plant in Montgomery, AL (2002), the Korean motor company, along with its respective 72 supplier companies, provides more than 8,000 jobs to Alabama residents—among which, P.W. graduates are in high-demand.

Hope on Wheels

Aside from engineers and technicians who participate in the manufacturing process of the vehicles, HMMA is involved with more than 20 community organizations under their effort Hope on Wheels. Hyundai’s Hope on Wheels is a special initiative to fight children’s cancer by funding medical research and hospitals across the country.

Because the company works with many of the American organizations, such as NAACP, American Red Cross, American Cancer Society, etc., recruiting individuals with strong literacy skills to adequately plan and collaborate with other organizations is an essential part of their mission’s success. Writing newsletters, coordinating special events (for children), updating/designing websites and writing for donations are some of the fundamental tasks that are required of the professional writers. For more information, visit Hyundai Hope on Wheels.

Diverse Career Paths in HMMA

Aside from Hyundai’s mission to fight children’s pediatric cancer, the company offers even more diverse career options for P.W. graduates. Corporate Communications, Purchasing, Product/Corporate Planning, Marketing, Administrative Services and Sales Operations are some of the most common titles for P.W.’s employment.

For all of these positions, because daily tasks require writing summary reports based on collected information, corresponding with the media to promote company’s image and organizing communication methods (both internally and externally), HMMA requires a minimum bachelor’s degree in English for all applicants.

Furthermore, due to the extensive collaborations that are required with other organizations, being aware of cultural trends and the city’s working environment are also important requirements for the company. P.W. majors are in a great position to start a career with HMMA. For further information, please visit Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama.

Whether working toward a noble cause or working to provide safe and high-quality vehicles, UAB English graduates can contribute to our communities with HMMA.

To discuss future career opportunities, contact HMMA’s Administration Office at (334) 387-8000.

Professional Writing and Video Games

By Abby Kullman

Gaming Journalism

screenshot of a video game on a desktop — Screenshot of a desktop video game

I used to think that video games existed in a small vacuum, lacking a community worth acknowledging. It was only when I got older that I realized the content made by fans far outnumbered (and many times outweighed) the original content itself.

Many sites dedicated to video games and its subsequent journalism have risen to fame over the past few years (IGN, Kotaku and Polygon). Articles on the games are very important in understanding and appreciating the context of the game itself. For me, it is important to understand something on a basic level before I throw $60 at it and hours of my time.

Gaming journalists constantly employ the skills a professional writing major would know firsthand. Using the knowledge gained from writing professionally, they are able to inform their audience of things both writer and reader care about.

While some people may think that these websites only feature reviews, most gaming websites include a plethora of different stories. This includes anything from news articles on various hardware sales to advice on certain games (i.e. guides on how to play them). Even the impact of certain games in/on society can be found on these sites.

So What Does this Mean?

Sometimes these sites cover certain games to the point where they are so eagerly anticipated that the public consumes any and all journalism on the subject. This can usually be considered a good thing, but other times, it doesn’t end so well.

A few years ago, I remember a specific example where professional writing caused a game to crash and burn horribly—both in sales and in the eyes of the gamers. This particular game was called No Man’s Sky, and I was one of the people who was super excited to finally get my hands on it. I had read so many different articles on how amazing this game (which promised hours and hours of fun planetary exploration) was going to be.

And then the game came out.

I noticed that the articles started to show up less and less when I first began to play the game. The more time I put into it, the more I found myself disappointed. Not only was this not the game I thought it was going to be, I was lied to by the creators themselves and the websites I had viewed the articles on. All the cool things (you know, the hours and hours of fun planetary exploration) we were showed were false. I haven’t been able to play the game since.

We’re all Gamers Now

Since then, I have come to learn that professional writing is very influential even in the video game market. Without these thousands of articles and their writers, this explosion of positive content (and subsequent backlash) probably wouldn’t have happened at all. The power of creating content on such a professional level gives these games the ability and culture to perform well—or not so well.

Complementing a PW Major

By Laura Jane Crocker

Notebooks

Professional Writing is a versatile field that combines the creativity and beauty of language with logical instruction and organized information. Although Professional Writing skills are valued in many fields, an interesting minor can make new graduates stand out from their peers.

Computer Science

We are living in a time where technology is thriving and innovation is second-nature. Employers like to see that prospective hires are well-equipped to deal with tasks that require a secure grasp on programming; those with a Liberal Arts degree are no exception. For example, jobs in Technical Writing require skills from both Professional Writing and Computer Science. With a minor in Computer Science, a Professional Writing degree becomes more appealing to employers in the tech industry.

Graphic Design

Alongside technological innovation is the rise of aesthetically-pleasing design. Consumers want more than well-placed subheadings and bulleted lists; they want to be dazzled by interesting graphics and professional photography. For a Professional Writer who decides to freelance, a minor in Graphic Design is an excellent choice. One can both design websites and create copy; they can become a one-stop shop for clients looking to incorporate digital marketing strategies into their business plan.

Marketing

Professional Writers are trained to write with clarity, creativity and meaning; these are all necessary for those considering in a career in Marketing. Learning the tricks of the trade when it comes to Marketing can be a bit difficult, so it is better to take some courses to familiarize oneself with technical terms. Whether a job requires one to write copy for ads, a website or social media posts, Professional Writing never disappoints. When paired together, Marketing and Professional Writing can be a powerful combination for the success new graduates want to see in their career.

Employers today like to see that prospective hires are versatile. Studying Professional Writing is the first step to develop a skill set that reaches across a wide variety of careers. However, choosing a minor that may not seem to quite fit with Professional Writing can help one become more well-rounded.

Write With Fun: Professional Writing Odd Jobs

By Amy Reid

The Birmingham Zoo

Professional writing is often surrounded by the stigma that it is boring and monotonous, and honestly, a lot of times it can be. But does it have to be? Of course we all enjoy writing, that’s why we do it, but I wanted to take a look at some careers that aren’t what you’d consider when you think about professional writing.

I first sat down with Jackson. Jackson earned a degree in environmental science with a minor in professional writing from Blackburn College in Illinois. He currently works for The Birmingham Zoo, previously at The St. Louis Zoo.

What kind of things do you do at the Zoo?

“When I worked in St. Louis, I mainly worked in the Animal Food and Nutrition Center. We started our days separating what food goes where. All of our animals had specific diets depending on their species, age, and health. It was up to me to keep track of all these animals’ feeding. I normally took buckets of fish to our penguins as well. We hand fed them so we could keep track of who got what, and it allowed us to get a good, up close look at them to make sure they were healthy.”

How do you use professional writing at the zoo?

“The writing aspect was a major part of my job at the zoo. After each feeding, it was my job to write up reports about the animals I had fed. I had to write how much they ate, and document any ailments or health issues I might have noticed. This was important because my reports were sent to our veterinary staff for review. They chose me for that job specifically because I had a background in writing. Actually, most of my day was spent writing up reports, but I looked forward to each day because I knew I got to see my animal friends.”

Next, I caught up with Jeanette who works as a professional dog groomer. She has a degree in professional and technical writing from the University of West Georgia. Before opening her own pet grooming business, she served as a technical writer for an engineering company in Georgia.

Could you explain what it is you do now as a Professional Dog Groomer?

“I am a Certified Pet Stylist, and just like a human stylist would do, I cut and style hair-only it is people’s pets’ hair. Sometimes I do simple trims, and sometimes I even dye their hair funky patterns. That’s the really fun part. Everything I use is completely safe and doesn’t harm the pet at all. The pets are always my number one priority.”

How do you incorporate professional and technical writing into pet grooming?

“I do a few things actually. When we first get a new client, I always write up a report about what the client wants, any special requests or needs that they have. All of my employees read these reports and they are extremely important, so we don’t mess up a client and so that everyone is always on the same page. I also run our website. That is our main form of advertisement, so it is very essential for us. I also run a sort of ‘dog blog’ where I write about the experiences I have every day. This allows people who are skeptical or worried about us and our process feel more comfortable. I absolutely would not have been successful in my business without my writing knowledge.”

Jackson and Jeanette are two great examples of professional writers who go to work every day to have fun. They both talk about their jobs with such enthusiasm. I think all professional writers could gain something from them. They show us that we need not sacrifice our hobbies and interests for our career. Professional writers, let’s remember to keep our minds open when looking for careers, and not just settle for one of those boring, predictable jobs.

Professional Writing in Small Businesses

By Camrie Latham

When telling people that you study Professional Writing, the most common reaction is confusion. Few people actually understand what it is, and even less know how to make it a career. Many people fail to realize that Professional Writing studies are applicable to any career field.

One such field is small business ownership. Although most degrees can aid one in owning a small business, professional writers have a special skill set that gives them an advantage. Professional Writing classes prepare students to write in both technical and corporate communication.

Presence

Businesses must have an enjoyable or respectable presence to attract customers and build a loyal following. Being able to create attractive flyers, an entertaining website, or even compose a relatable social media post can improve the image of the company and influence potential customers. Some Professional Writing courses address these subjects directly, teaching how to prioritize and influence the audience through writing.

Informing the Customer

Additionally, the customers should be kept in-the-know, so to speak, with what is happening with the company. The ability to create and maintain blogs, social media accounts, or digital newsletters goes a long way in this area. Providing information directly to consumers allows for a better connection between businesses and clients and prevents confusion.

Maintenance and Growth

Lastly, businesses use professional writing to maintain and grow their company. Creating memos, letters and reports maintains order within the business, while grant writing and online fundraising involve help the company grow. Learning to appeal to an audience is, again, crucial to be successful at either of these, and Professional Writing courses emphasize this.

To successfully run a cafe or shop, professional communication is vital. The company must have a likable public presence, customers need to be kept up-to date and the business must be able to communicate to both maintain itself internally and grow externally. Courses offered at UAB such as Developing Digital Documents, Business Writing, Digital Publishing, and Visual Rhetoric can provide students with a deeper understanding of what it means to communicate effectively and reach these goals.

These are only a few examples of how Professional Writing can apply to running a small business; the fundamentals of Professional Writing play a big role in a successful small start-up.

The Impact of Social Media on Professional Writing

By Genni Boatwright

Kalyn Wolfe

It doesn’t seem that long ago that social media was just starting out and people were still reading a newspaper or turning on the TV to get the news. I remember when Myspace first started and was more of a dating site than a way to connect with friends. I was on Facebook when only college students were allowed.

It wasn’t long after Facebook began that we saw the social media explosion. Now, there are so many social media sites that I can’t keep up with them all. Social media is no longer just a way to connect with friends and family. It has seeped into professional writing world. It has changed the way we receive our news and advertisements. So many people now rely on social media for their news that news outlets are being forced to adapt their methods of delivering content in order to stay relevant.

Interview

To get more insight on the effects of social media on professional writing, I spoke with Kalyn Wolfe. Kalyn is a weekly columnist for the Pensacola News Journal, freelance writer for the New York Times and the Digital Media Specialist for Meyer Vacation Rentals. One of her duties for Meyer is handling their social media accounts; their Facebook profile alone has over 200,000 followers. We spoke about what caused the shift in social media and the impact it had on professional writing. She says,

“Links are what really affected professional writing. Things are now easier with a click of a button, eliminating steps. You only have so many characters to get your audience’s attention. People are learning to work with less but providing more impact. Also, we have new ways of gathering information and people have become less inhibited.”

Professional writers must be careful to avoid writing with the sole intention of getting followers and likes. An article’s title is important, but writers need to avoid being considered clickbait by not giving misleading headlines. Kalyn says,

“You can be a little tongue in cheek with a headline but don’t get too cutesy. Don’t treat it like a teaser and state the facts.”

I asked her what advice she would like to give young professional writers:

“Stay authentic. If you write a story to get more followers, then you won’t be your authentic self. Also, don’t be afraid to have fun but know that as a writer it comes with responsibility.”

My Role as a Social Media Intern

By Erica Turner

screenshot of the UAB Twitter page — Screenshot of UAB’s Twitter page

During the summer leading into my senior year at UAB, I decided to pursue an internship within the Professional Writing career field. I chose to apply for a social media internship posted by UAB’s University Relations for the fall semester. University Relations manages and creates content for the UAB website, UAB News, GreenMail, UAB Reporter, and UAB’s social media platforms. Luckily, I was given the opportunity to partake in this internship. Continue reading “My Role as a Social Media Intern”

Braving the Professional Writing Department

writing in a notebook — My first professional writing class

By Anne Marie Lovell

As someone who is not an English major, signing up for a professional writing class can be intimidating. I was nervous not only because I am an Art major, but also because it had been years since I’d written anything that could be described as professional.

What would it be like to be in a class full of people who’d been honing their writing skills in college via beautifully crafted essays, with nothing to offer in comparison aside from my rough, run-on sentences?

Before finding the proper resources and receiving encouragement, I doubt I would have enrolled in any of these classes. Now, I am planning to get a minor in professional writing.

Professional writing is something that non-English majors can benefit from, but that many probably haven’t heard of. It isn’t only about writing and editing articles; the professional writing department includes classes on medical, business and technical writing. You can learn how to build a website or how to develop digital documents.

The professional writing club even hosts resume and cover letter workshops—something that all students could use. The professional writing minor (or even just a class) is something that any future professional should seriously consider.

I was lucky to have been told to look into writing classes by my academic advisor. After some research, I found Dr. McComiskey, who is both the contact and director for the Professional Writing program. I wrote to him, explaining that I was an art major interested in taking one or two classes to work on my writing skills, and I promptly received a response.

He told me about classes that would be offered in the upcoming semester, as well as other classes that would be offered in the future. Dr. McComiskey also suggested that I consider the minor in Professional Writing, which was something I never would have done on my own.

With the encouragement of my academic advisor, the helpful email from Dr. McComiskey and a little bit of nervousness, I signed up for my first professional writing class. A few weeks in, I’ve realized that this is something that many students should be doing. Instead of intimidating, the class is interesting, and will no doubt be of help when applying to jobs. I earnestly suggest ignoring any fear of writing you may have, and to look into these classes yourself.