Tag: Professional Writing

Dr. Christopher Minnix is the Director of Freshmen Composition and an Assistant Professor in UAB’s English Department. He came to Birmingham from Tucson, AZ in 2012. Dr. Minnix served five of six years with the University of Arizona as the Assistant Director of the writing program.

Dr. Minnix started his academic career at Grace College, a four year liberal arts school in Indiana. He earned his undergraduate degree in Biblical Studies, now referred to as Theological Studies. His interest for language and literature blossomed when he started at Radford University in Virginia. He met his mentor, Dr. Linda Bensel-Myers, when he took EH 505, a required teaching practicum course for graduate students. It was here he was able to fuse his interest for language, philosophy, and history into a master’s degree in Rhetoric and Composition.

Upon completing the graduate program at Radford, Dr. Minnix moved to Knoxville to attend the University of Tennessee. While there he continued teaching while working on his Ph. D. in Rhetoric, Writing, and Linguistics.

As the Director of Freshmen Composition in UAB’s English Department Dr. Minnix hopes to develop the writing program through collaboration with his fellow colleagues. He feels the art of teaching writing goes beyond a focus on grammar and style, but should be geared towards critical thinking and showing students how to develop a relationship with their writing. Dr. Minnix’s goals include providing sufficient resources for other English Composition professors that will open up the discussion for innovation in the classroom. So far, the department has started using new website resources like First Year Composition Resource (FYCRES). The site offers professors a place to share ideas on materials used for first year composition classes. Dr. Minnix encourages a more multi-modal approach to help students develop their writing.

When asked to offer students a single piece of advice, Dr. Minnix responded by advising students to think of their time in college as more than a list of requirements to be met for a degree. He hopes students can see the opportunities college presents for them to collaborate and innovate the future of their program.

Dr. Minnix also teaches graduate students in the Rhetoric and Composition program. In his free time he enjoys playing with his dog, Stanley, and watching Newsroom

BY Olalekan Dada

Choosing to pursue a major or minor in Professional Writing may be nerve-racking. Students who study Professional Writing (PW) may have chosen the concentration because they want to explore the realm of corporate communication or they figured that professional writing would produce more prospective job opportunities. Professional writing is a profession that does not receive as much attention as other disciplines, so many PW students do not know what professional writing is, nor do they know what they can do with a professional writing degree. This, at times, causes students to stress about after-college plans or even forget why they signed up for the Professional Writing program in the first place.

What is Professional Writing?

Professional writing is such a broad, puzzling concentration; many think it refers to writing works of literature like books or poems. However, professional writing is a completely different genre of writing. According to the Department of English at UAB, the Professional Writing program is for students who are “interested in non-fiction writing for corporate and public life.” UAB’s Professional Writing program works towards teaching students “academic and critical writing skills” that will prepare students for careers such as “technical writing, publishing, teaching, editing, and business.”

Professional writers use language to deliver information in a comprehensible manner. Publishing company Pearson asserts that the professional writing industry “is becoming a field of its own,” branching off from its counterpart of literary writing. Professional writing is a practical form of writing that is geared towards the specific needs of a corporation and the desires of an audience. Professional writers use clear and concise language to ensure that the copy they create is easily understood by an audience. This copy can range from an instruction manual for a laptop to a policy handbook for a company to a press release for a non-profit organization. This type of writing is not artistic; however, professional writers must have the finesse to use perfect rhetoric in order to achieve a desired result. Sometimes, this requires professional writers to adopt the “voice” of the organization they are affiliated with in order to convey a message in a certain way. In business contexts, professional writers need to be able to persuade an audience to complete an action desired by a company, whether that is purchasing a product or simply getting the audience to view the company in a good light.

The major theme of Professional Writing is clarity. Unlike creative writing, professional writing requires writers to refrain from using highly decorated language in their writing. This is a skill that seems to be a simple task; however, it is not as easy as it sounds. For example, think about all of those times where your high school teachers told you to keep the “excess fluff” out of your papers and only include information relevant to the topic. Remember how difficult it was to meet the page requirement when you took all of those extra adjectives and unnecessary explanatory phrases out? This is typically the case in professional writing (especially technical writing). There are times when the required word count is higher than you think you can meet, which means you must find more necessary information to place in your writing. Other times, the required word count may be significantly lower than you expect, which may require you to remove a little information. Either way, professional writing requires writers to know when they are saying too much and when they are not saying enough.

Careers for Professional Writers

Since professional writing is such a broad subject, the number of careers available to professional writers is huge. Some professional writers land careers in the technical writing industry. Technical writing is a form of writing that is used to relay information about products in a simple manner. Projects for technical writers range from writing owner’s manuals for products to creating procedure handbooks for companies. This field requires writers to learn about the various tasks that occur at their company and be able to effectively communicate these tasks with others. Having knowledge of technologies and corporate software is also of significance for many technical writers because, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, they work with “engineers, scientists, computer specialists, and software developers.” Technical writers work with a variety of disciplines, so they must be flexible and able to learn the basics of a company’s work in order to successfully complete their work.

Business writing is another field professional writers can be found in. Also known as “corporate communicators,” these writers work towards building and maintaining the brand of a company or organization. Much like technical writing, business writers must keep their language simple and easy to understand. Dana Driscoll of the Purdue Owl states that “[b]usiness writers should consider the tone of their message, whether they are writing a memo, letter, report, or any type of business document.” A business writer acts as the voice of the company she or he is working for, so it is imperative that their work is not offensive or harsh. The work of a business writer ranges from conducting research to create strategy statements to writing press releases for a corporation. Business writers adopt the voice of the organization they are representing by carefully analyzing the company’s mission statement and purpose.

Although there is a range of careers to follow in writing, not all professional writers have the desire to write for a company. Many students pursue a degree in professional writing to supplement their law career. According to University of Texas blogger Wayne Schiess, lawyers must be professional writers for there are various people and things at stake with their writing. Schiess says the written work of lawyers is “subject to serious scrutiny.” So many people have to approve or hear the writing of a lawyer (the client, opposing counsel, judge), so it must be clear and accurate. Being a professional writer allows lawyers to communicate their message effectively.

Professional writing may be a concentration that does not call for literary creativity; however, there are opportunities for professional writers to use their ability to summarize and get to the point in advertising. Copywriting is a career path for professional writers who have a passion for clear writing, yet still want to hold on to their creativity. Copywriters write text for advertising purposes. These writers may work on create brochures and flyers for companies, television commercial scripts, and company slogans. A professional writer that goes into copywriting has the ability to condense the values and mission of an organization and communicate it to varying audiences. Copywriters typically work for public relations businesses or marketing departments in a company.

Pursuing a degree in professional writing does not have to be as scary as a decision as it seems. There are numerous opportunities available for professional writers, and this may be the concern of many students in the professional writing disciple. Professional writing is a far-reaching concentration that is beneficial in any discipline. So if you plan on going to graduate school or directly into the workforce after graduation, keep in mind that there are many opportunities for professional writers.

BY Ethan Gissendaner

The ever-growing creative community within Birmingham is a field of opportunity for the skills unique to a professional writer. Revitalization efforts in the city are largely spearheaded by an up-and-coming generation of city residents who have taken great personal stake in the social and business success of Birmingham. This affords them many chances to utilize numerous channels to send their projects and work across the city. Loose social ties are the currency that keeps this community going and within it, connections to almost anything social or professional exist. Exposure and experience are two crucial components in the field of technical writing and like dots on a map they can lead to the x-marked career you are seeking. The easiest way to plug into this community of writers and creators is to go where they find inspiration and common ground: the creative space that is the Desert Island Supply Company in Woodlawn (DISCO).

Just outside of downtown Birmingham along First Avenue North lies DISCO—as it is lovingly called—like treasure beneath the sand. DISCO is a creative writing non-profit organization that provides a safe creative space for students in the Woodlawn neighborhood and the greater Birmingham area. Throughout the year writing and design workshops as well as after school tutoring are offered by day. By night the space hosts events such as concerts, adult spelling bees, and live storytelling.

Captain on the desert island and University of Alabama professor Chip Brantley created DISCO loosely based on similar programs across the country that provide literary and creative services to children in at-risk parts of large cities. Each has a unique theme that permeates the space and workshops held there. DISCO’s angle creatively provides its visitors with all one would need to survive on a desert island: stories to keep the mind engaged and body prepared for all possible scenarios one could encounter while stranded. Workshops, which take place all over Birmingham, focus on various forms of writing and creativity.

The physical space is picturesque—maps adorn exposed brick walls, hodgepodge globes cover every flat surface. Ropes knotted and tied litter bookshelves that overlook massive oak tables worthy of the ship captain’s quarters. A giant swordfish swims amid exposed rafters overhead. The store front provides all one could need to survive on a desert island like original-bound story books and unique writing utensils, of course.

Finding one’s place on the island is as simple as walking through the front door and picking up a pencil. Volunteers are readily welcomed and have so many outlets to choose from. Workshops and tutoring sessions require proctors who can facilitate discussion and have a creative eye. More than that though, DISCO manufactures a lot of signage for events and maintains a very modern website. The skills of a professional writer are highly useful in the organization’s marketing and branding ventures as well. Preparing write ups and publicity statements, posting online to social media, and creating digital designs are some tasks professional writing volunteers could do while at DISCO. The small staffing structure of the organization allows for volunteers to have significant roles in the execution of projects and take leadership at times. Volunteering is an excellent component of a résumé that shows dedication to a profession or field. Having the specialized experience that DISCO provides is a strong addition to a résumé as well.

The professional writer’s skills will be most cultivated by the interactions DISCO facilitates and the relationships it fosters. Volunteers have a plethora of resources just by working with Chip Brantley and Lillis Taylor, the directors of the organization. Chip is a journalism professor who has his hands in most everything happening in the creative sector of Birmingham. He is a published author and feature writer for AL.com. His academic connections stem throughout the Birmingham and Tuscaloosa collegiate systems—did I mention he is also married to UAB poetry professor Elizabeth Hughey Brantley? Talk about an impressive and effective recommendation letter.

Lillis Taylor, artist extraordinaire and DISCO’s hands and feet, serves as program director for the organization. She networks and plans for workshops and events held at DISCO. Lillis is the contact and the face of the organization which puts her face to face with notable professionals and people in Birmingham. Knowing Lillis is knowing many others. Volunteering at DISCO puts one right in line to encounter so many influential people in the city as they are patrons and loyal supporters of DISCO and its mission. Leaders of non-profits throughout the city, professors, and city wide movers and shakers fill the space weekly. DISCO has been featured in Birmingham Magazine and Southern Living publications so chances are—even as a volunteer— you can be seen.

Loose social ties are one of the most influential components in attainting a job and success throughout life and even more so in professional writing as one’s exposure to the job market is very important. Time and time again a job has been secured because of a casual conversation that turned into business or a positive word of approval that tipped a decision. Solid, long-standing relationships are important, but people and potential employees who have more loose social ties in their respective communities experience more success. When applying for positions, having connections within a potential employer can be the needed edge in a highly competitive job pool. Not to mention many opportunities can spawn from those casual conversations, chanced interactions at a read-a-thon or spelling bee.

As a seasoned volunteer of two years, I can vouch for the experience DISCO has generously given me. I’ve seen the inside operations of a non-profit organization from start up to full scale operation. I’ve gained invaluable writing experience from Chip’s influence and I have seen my personal writing style evolve since my discovery of the desert island. My knowledge of professional writing as a practical skill has been heightened and expanded. Relationships have been formed at DISCO—that otherwise would have never been created—that have benefitted me academically and already professionally. DISCO has been a very common and beneficial thread between me and others in the young professional scene in Birmingham. I have been exposed to current opportunities that I never knew existed in Birmingham and some that will be available later on by being a volunteer with DISCO. Volunteering at DISCO is as easy as visiting this website to sign up and stopping by the location at 5500 First Avenue North.

Connectedness is just as much a component of being a successful professional is as having the ability. In a city that is so rich with opportunity, having connections in a field that will later become the source of a career is a strategic and highly beneficial move. DISCO is an epicenter of sorts for the creative community in Birmingham and the connections that exist in within the organization almost outnumber the nautical decorations that cover most every space in the building. Volunteering positions one full access to those connections and social resources afforded by the directors and patrons of the organization. One conversation, one contact could very well be the difference in beginning a career or seizing a new opportunity. It really is all in who you know.

BY Edward Ashton

A common question asked of professional writing students—particularly by relatives—is something like, “Oh, professional writing, is that kind of like journalism?” One answer to this would simply be to say no, but that would be an incomplete answer. This is partly because journalism is yet another field in which professional writers are not explicitly required, but where they often do very well. Professional writers, as well as anyone with some degree of training and skill in professional communication, can find a place or role for themselves in nearly any industry. When the industry in question is journalism, it is especially easy to see why that is the case. Both professions, at their very core, involve the clear and effective communication of information. One major distinction is that they are generally written for different audiences, but when you get to the heart of the matter, the fact is that both jobs are centered around writing.

What is particularly nice about professional writing is that it is broad-based and widely applicable. Good professional writing is useful to almost any business one could think of, and there is no reason that a news organization should be excluded from this list. Quite the contrary is true; newspapers and other media outlets are for communicating and transmitting ideas, and good writing is key to that. Hopefully, reading this article will provide you with a bit of useful information, and the next time you get that common question at a family gathering, you will be able to answer with a bit more confidence.

First, it is important to know that there are jobs out there for professional writers in journalism, and in fact, UAB can help you if you are serious about locating one. Lindsay McDuffie, a graduate of the UAB Professional Writing program, has been working in professional and technical writing, including in journalism, since before she even graduated. While still a student at UAB, she got a job as a professional editor for Tuscaloosa-based paper Planet Weekly. This job involved both editing and writing articles and documents for the paper, both of which provided useful experience. In particular, she learned the importance of knowing how to talk to writers, and how to make sure that they are happy and that you, as the editor, get the material you need. Being able to collaborate smoothly with other writers like this, she said, was one of many of the skills she learned from the professional writing program at UAB.

Lindsay got the referral for the editing job from a friend, but she credited her professional writing training for actually getting her the job. In fact, she offers words of encouragement to people who are majoring in English in general, saying that English majors are seen as competent communicators and just desirable employees overall. When her boss at her current job asked what her degree was in, he was enthusiastic when she told him it was English, saying that he knew she would be putting out good work. “When they hear that you have an English degree, people have a lot of trust in your ability from the start,” she says. For example, as Lindsay explained, “they know that if you send out an email it’s going to be grammatically correct, it’s going to make sense, it’s going to get the point across.” Her current employer expressed some degree of frustration about having hired people who were very qualified for their job, but then finding out that those people did not have very good command of the language. This, Lindsay says, is one of the things that makes English majors very attractive to companies, and professional writing majors in particular.

Part of the technical editing job involved passing finished writing work on to a creative director, also informally known as “the layout guy”. Essentially, this is the person who takes the raw written material and turns it into a finished product that is ready to be printed. This kind of skill is another thing that professional writing majors learn, since working with the industry-standard Adobe Creative Suite is something students focus on in some of the professional writing classes. One example from this past semester was EH 330: Designing Digital Documents, which covered many aspects of what a “layout guy” would do. In fact, it was this particular class that was responsible for creating the layout and content of this newsletter, starting from scratch and working up to a finished product. So you could say that the professional writing program provides the skills necessary not only to be a good writer in a journalistic setting, but also to work as an editor, or as a creative director setting layouts and visual designs. This is more evidence of the versatility of a professional writing degree.

Lindsay’s experience at Planet Weekly was eye opening for her, in that it showed her that her prospects were very diverse, and it affirmed that the skills she learned in the program would be useful ones. She said that she had concerns about whether the degree she was pursuing could really lead to much employment, but she reports that luckily, as you can see, she didn’t have anything to worry about after all. She left the paper after working there for a little over a year, a split that coincided roughly with her graduation from UAB with her degree in Professional Writing.

“Be confident in your skills, remember what you’ve learned, utilize technology, and understand that research is a big part of the job that you will always have to do regardless of what kind of writing you do. That’s part of knowing your audience, which is huge.”

One interesting offshoot of this relationship between professional writing and journalism is that Lindsay has found her experience with the newspaper to be useful in her new position in a business setting. As a Training Curriculum Developer for a private business, she has to work closely with her co-workers, including bosses as well as people who work under her. In particular, her interviewing skills, learned at UAB and sharpened by working for the newspaper, have been very important to make sure that she is getting as much information as she can. Furthermore, the information must be as high quality as possible, so that it will be of use to her in planning the curriculum for the future.

Her job largely involves organizing information into usable documents, which is almost a dictionary definition of professional and technical writing. This is obviously a skill learned from the program here at UAB, and the tie-in with journalism is that in both applications it is extremely important to know your audience. That is to say, when writing an technical document about cars for mechanics’ use, it would be easier to use technical terms. The other side of this is that if that article were written for a popular audience, such as in a newspaper car review, the language would have to be understandable to an average car buyer, who would not be familiar with—or very interested in—the complexities of a transversely mounted engine. Just as journalists must do this, so must a curriculum developer for a company. Whoever will be training the candidates must be able to understand the information contained in the documents so that the information can be transmitted to the audience. This theme of transmitting information to an audience is as central to journalism as it is to professional writing in general, which further strengthens the link between the two disciplines.

On the whole, Lindsay is very satisfied with her role in her current job, but she says that journalism was a great experience. She would be glad to go back to journalism if provided the right opportunity in a capacity she wanted to fill. There are many different types of jobs in journalism, from working on the business side of an organization to actually working in the newsroom as a reporter or copy writer. Both of these sides of the industry have job opportunities for professional writers, again demonstrating the versatility of the discipline. Depending on one’s capacity at a given news organization, there may be some real flexibility in deadlines, as well as free reign as far as content and subject of stories. Also, there may well be an opportunity to telecommute, which for some people is a very desireable trait in a job. Spending time in the field is often exciting as well, and nobody wants monotony.

Lindsay had a few bits of advice for those of us who are students in UAB’s Professional Writing program. For one thing, she says, “Be confident in your skills,” as it is important to realize that your time and effort is valuable. Another bit of advice: “Remember what you learn.” This sounds fairly obvious, but the memory is a bit unreliable sometimes, so perhaps keep some notes of things that you consider particularly useful. Also, Lindsay says, “Become familiar with technology, and use it to your advantage,” because you can really impress a prospective employer by being able to make a nice looking presentation, for example. And finally, Lindsays offers that you must not get out of the habit of doing research, because if you are going to write about any topic, you have to have a good working knowledge of it. Otherwise, the ideas you are trying to get across may end up lost in translation, so to speak.

There you have it: first-hand information from someone who writes for a living, in this case specific to journalism. If you are the type who has an interest in writing for a publication, remember this article, and don’t think for a moment that you won’t be able to land that position. Professional writing’s uses are, after all, tremendously versatile, and tremendously important. Being able to communicate effectively with your words can only serve to assist you in your job search and career.