Hello Barrett,

Thank you for your help. You don’t have to critique or respond if you don’t want to because you’ve already led me in the correct direction. Also, as it turns out, I was able to find some sample writers’ resumes.

I have completed a functional draft of mine that I can edit until its more complete. I haven’t included the dates of employment, however, because this is only the 3^rd month I’ve been working and I’d probably lose jobs due to inexperience.

I tried not to copy your format and I’ll organize my awards later and put my education when I feel its pertinent. Thank you Barrett. I hope you see this as being a concise query letter, attached resume with a few writing samples.

Good luck. If you’re the mysterious flagger, keep it up. You have my support and those who are knocking you on Craigslist are likely to be the spammers themselves.

Thank you again.

JlB

_______________________________________

 Jordan l Brooks

__________________________________________________________

 

First and foremost, I will efficiently tailor my skills to suit your needs, when I have an assignment it just directs my creativity.

 

To whom it may concern:

 

                        Thank you for your consideration. Modestly speaking, I’m a gifted writer: I’ve won over 8 awards for poetry and creative writing. I have the understanding that you’re in the market to hire an author. I believe that my passion for writing, my experience writing (personally and professionally), and the desire that I maintain to perfect all (acquired) assignments could be some of the mandatory traits that you may require in your venture to hire a writer. I also employ many other strategies to maintain a mutually beneficial relationship with my clients. Located below are a series of links that will lead you to some of my different blogs and other online writings; also pasted to the bottom of this message is some work experience that I’ve accumulated for you in resume form.

 

Briefly, about myself, in late 2006 I was a featured writer at a writer's conference in Hollywood, CA. Writers flew to LAX from around the world and I was an honoree. The writers there told me that I was an exceptionally profound writer. So although I am just a student and merely 21 years old, these thirty-something writers (settling into the prime of their respective careers) highly suggested to me (when I was 19), that I pursue my writing career to the fullest of my ability. They exclaimed that when I become their age I will have already established myself as a prolific entity in the writing community; they detailed that I was exactly what publishers were looking for right now. Although I will be a famous novelist one day, I am not yet. While I am on my path, however, I will be a freelance author. If you would like me to schedule-in the required time to complete your short or long-term assignments, please give me favorable consideration for your writing position. I assure you that you will not regret it. Thank you.
 

Respectfully,

Jordan Langston Brooks

 

 

*                                  *                                  *
Samples:

Blog: Please visit Jpinions.blogspot.com

You can access JpinDaily from Jpinions, also.

Creative Writing:  JlBaSilentMovie.blogspot.com

Other writing: www.artculture.com/art-news/deadly-arts

           

www.myspace.com/JelBrooks
*                                  *                                  *

 

 

A brief note regarding fees:
           

Fees should be discussed on a case-by-case basis; I’m negotiable. *PayPal is almost the only way that I’ll accept payment these days. I’m sorry for the inconvenience, but there are too many people who are not trustworthy. It takes too much time to sift through potential clients/employers to determine whose check will actually come in the mail. I cannot decipher that efficiently. I say to you, consider PayPal as your preferred method of pay.  PayPal is instant, free and it facilitates the trust in our working-relationship. Trust provides the groundwork for lasting partnerships as well.

Also, we may soon be discussing the details of our first assignment together. You should be considering a retainer to show your commitment to the endeavor. Don’t worry, I’ll show you my dedication too. I aim for us to have a mutually beneficial venture. Retainers are crucial for instilling the trust that is required for our relationship to thrive.

The (frequently) required retainer should be at least 1/3^rd of the estimated fee for the assignment, but usually about half of it. The retainer should be paid as soon as you (the client) has satisfactory proof that your assignment is (or will be) achieving completion. A retainer is to help prevent the aforementioned occurrence. Also, in the future, by keeping your account updated you will help to keep things running smoothly. I have major difficulties working with people who put forth little to no effort to achieve trust in our working relationship. The opportunity-cost outweighs the opportunity-benefit and oftentimes I have to pass on potential offers no matter how tempting they are.

 

I have an approximate schedule of fees for your reference; if you’d still like a copy of it, please send a request.

 

Thank you for taking the time to consider me; I’m available to answer all of your questions.

Best regards,

JlB

*If you intend to pay with a check (in order to prevent the formerly too-common theft of my time, work and money), I’ll need a couple of references or something similar to that.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Jordan L. Brooks

Writing History

NYC Venue Guides – Created content for NYC-based Company (that specializes in event planning); generated copy for their book, website, and entertainment guide; created the introductory letter that will appear on the front page(s) of the book, published twice yearly.
 Abroad Culture Center – Generated articles to highlight the English language and stimulate, but not bore, the minds of foreign businessmen and other ESL students; wrote their mission statement and other valuable information also.
I Want Ultimate Health.com – Rewrote/wrote reports for a chiropractic practice on back-pain, bad posture, common aspirin misconceptions, neck and spinal chord impairments, etc...
SportsiPlay.com – Produced articles concerning the instructional and creative aspects of sports for coaches and players, also writes an occasional sports feature about newsworthy articles. Sometimes features specialize in putting the reader in the shoes of the player in a game (a cornerback or wide-receiver, for instance), then it teaches them what the well-prepared (and often successful) player thinks and feels in reaction to a game. Informative, instructional articles just teach about different aspects of the sport directly; half-and-half.
ArtCulture.com– Produced articles designed to have a unique style and the ability to stimulate the traffic in the site to more action in the site and to increase hits on the website. The written articles focused on controversial art issues and other comment-generating art matters. Covered long-term international art projects.

Think Tank Dev – Achieved completion in writing a letter to the clients of this business. The letter illustrated the valued decency of their traditional business practices and beliefs; it also stated the realities of their competition. Required significant precision and revisions.

My Home Improvement – Generated articles that overviewed the yearly weather patterns of various large cities in America; related them to specific gardening tips relevant to those particular communities: complete with occasional brief city history, suggested plants to grow and methods to grow them (watering tips, etc…).

City Articles – Arvada, CO – Researched the city of Arvada, Colorado and wrote 20 articles about it. The topics ranged from city-services of the local firefighter (for the community) to articles that were similar to one written about a fugitive murderer, wanted since September 2007, who robbed a bank in the same city that I reside in today (coincidentally). That man was featured on America’s Most Wanted.

Additional Writing work

Consultant for frequent different students’ writing projects —contracted online, on campus OR via word of mouth.
Content provider for a funeral home: articles that help people cope with death, plan for funerals, go green in funerals, etc…
Content generator for a San Diego-based kitchen and bath design site’s blog: granite flooring, countertop options/solutions.
--Many SEOs, some book entries, one transcription, many samples, a few resumes, numerous rewrites, reviews (electronic and art), two proposals, one exclusive writing contract (re: weddings). Also writes 2,000 words daily in his book.  Occasional biweekly poem. Blog… advice for writers… short creative ventures and more…. 

 

 

Thank you for your extended consideration. References can be supplied upon request. Conferences can be made via phone and email with occasional personal encounters to those within reach. Thank you.

Good luck.

JlB

 

 

 

 

Jordan-

I've pasted my current resume below for you to take a look at it. Basically, there's no one particular right way to format things like the names of past employers. As for you, I would leave in records of your employment with the computer firms, but take out things like Subway. You'll get a basic idea, I think, from my resume as to what should be included.

If you made $800 last month, you're off to a damn good start. It only gets easier once you've accumulated some clips and references and all that.

Barrett

BARRETT BROWN__ 512-560-2302 barriticus@gmail.com

 

Copywriter/ Feature Columnist/ Contributing Editor/ Book Author

With focus on political satire, policy analysis and contemporary humor.

Published Work/ Freelance Media Experience:

Studio 2a – Currently serve as marketing consultant for Chicago-based architectural rendering firm, handling all sales letters, marketing copy, and long-term branding strategies. 2007 – present.

PoliticalBase.com – Created content and served as paid blogger for online political news start-up founded by CNET. 2007-2008.

Fox Business Channel, Yahoo, Minyanville.com – Writer on freelance creative team for animated humor series Minyanville, which aired on Fox Business Channel's Happy Hour program as well as on Yahoo Finance. 2007

The Onion A/V Club - Freelance copywriting for The Onion's features department. 2006-2008.

Sterling and Ross Publishers – Authored nonfiction book of political humor, Flock of Dodos: Behind Modern Creationism, Intelligent Design, and the Easter Bunny, released in March 2007. Book received praise from Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, Rolling Stone, Skeptic, Air America Radio, Huffington Post, others.

Anglesey Interactive, Inc. – Produced online marketing collateral (web text, press releases, blogging, etc.) in support of firm's "Riight.com" integrated search engine from June 2007 to March 2008

Dining Out - Feature writing for national restaurant publication. 2006-2008

National Lampoon - Occasional contributor; past features included "Pick-Up Lines That Don't Seem to Work," "Craig's Conspiracy Corner," "A Guide to Dealing with Housecats," more. 2003 - 2006

Evote.com - Weekly columnist and feature writer for political analysis site from October 2004 to November 2005.

AOL CityGuide - Web content writer from 2000 to 2004 – Researched/ created coverage of event and entertainment venues. Served as regional correspondent for Dallas, Austin, New Orleans, Houston and Little Rock markets.

Additional magazine work - Ongoing, have contributed feature articles from serious political commentary to humor pieces to fine dining overviews for outlets including business-to-business publications Pizza Today, 360, Club Systems International, Destination Dallas, D.C.-based public policy journal Toward Freedom, London-based public policy journal Free Life, humor magazine Jest, regional publications The Met, Austin Monthly, Dallas Child, Oui, literary journal Swans, dozens more.

Additional writing projects - Created both print and online marketing collateral for New York tech start-up Organic Motion, Inc. Created online marketing collateral for New York corporate training firm Illuminata Global. Researched and wrote entertainment/dining/venue content for Dallas ad agency Avacata and clients' marketing collateral, including that of luxury resort real estate firm. Have created marketing copy for Verizon via Dallas ad agency Sullivan Perkins, produced website copy for design firm NPCreate.com, provided public relations pieces for Texas energy company EBS and Dallas real estate firm Dunhill Partners.

Education:

1999 - 2003 University of Texas at Austin, College of Communications