Subject: Re: Experienced Blogger, Writer, Author |
From: "Barrett Brown" <barriticus@gmail.com> |
Date: 1/6/09, 15:23 |
On Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 2:10 PM,
<penstinct@gmail.com> wrote:
Thank you for replying to the ad.
Normally, I would supply further instructions and ask you to take a small writing test.
The quality of the tests that Ive received back so far has been horrible, so I'm going to ask you a couple of questions beforehand so that we aren't wasting each others time.
Are you someone who can sit down and write a 500-1000 word article in 20 minutes?
No research, I'll give you a topic like dog grooming or ski shoes, and ask you to write 500 words on it.
That's it. It doesn't have to be great, but it has to be something on topic and easily read.
This is a skill that comes easily to me.
Because of this, I wrongly assumed that anyone can write this way.
This is not to say that I am a great writer because I'm not.
I need the people who are writing for me to be people whose work doesn't need checking or editing.
If this is something you think you can do, reply to this email.
I will then ask you to perform a writing task that a minimally acceptable candidate for this job will be able to complete in 20 minutes..
Do a good job, and I will offer you plenty of writing assignments.
I'm sorry if the nature of this letter is condescending, I sincerely don't want to waste your time.On Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 1:17 PM, Barrett Brown
<barriticus@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi-
I understand that you're seeking bloggers to write about New York, and
I'd like to be considered. I'm a Brooklyn-based freelance writer and
author, and my work has appeared in dozens of publications including Skeptic, The Onion A.V. Club, McSweeney's, The Fortean Times, and National Lampoon. My first book, Flock of Dodos: Behind Modern Creationism, Intelligent Design, and the Easter Bunny, was released in 2007 to praise from Alan Dershowitz of Harvard Law School, Matt Taibbi of Rolling Stone, and Cenk Uyger of Air America Radio,
among other sources. I also serve as director of communications for
Enlighten the Vote (previous known as GAMPAC), a political action
committee that advocates for the Establishment Clause of the First
Amendment and for which I've done some media appearances, most recently
on Fox News last week. I've also worked as a journalist for online
political news outlets like evote.com,
which
folded in 2005, and Politicalbase.com, a CNET spinoff which
launched last year and for which I composed news summaries, humorous
political commentary, and other items under the pen name "Augustus."
During college and immediately afterwards, I wrote for several city
mags and regional guides and served as a copywriter for America
Online's CityGuide features division, writing up descriptions of
various venues, events and attractions in Dallas, Austin, and other
locales.
I've attached a recent sample; please take a look and let me know if you'd like to discuss this further.
Thanks,
Barrett Brown
Brooklyn, NY
512-560-2302