Experienced Humor Writer
Subject: Experienced Humor Writer
From: Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com>
Date: 5/21/09, 20:19
To: job-4rvnf-1180875740@craigslist.org

Howdy-

I understand that you're looking for a comedy writer to compose scripts for your radio program, and I'd like to be considered. I currently write for Vanity Fair and a few other publications, and my other work has appeared in National Lampoon, McSweney's, Skeptic, The Onion A.V. Club, Cracked, and dozens of others. I've also done some comedy writing for television and radio on occasion. My first book, Flock of Dodos: Behind Modern Creationism, Intelligent Design, and the Easter Bunny, a work of political humor, was released in 2007, and my second book, also political humor, will be released next year.

I've pasted a resume and a sample below; it's not my best, but it's the only one I have on hand that's less than 500 words, as specified in your craigslist ad. Let me know if you'd like to see other samples as well.

Thanks,

Barrett Brown
Brooklyn, NY
512-560-2302

BARRETT BROWN

WRITER/ EDITOR/ WEB CONTENT PRODUCER

Brooklyn, NY

512-560-2302

barriticus@gmail.com


Communications Industry Skills


Published Work/ Media Experience

Vanity Fair – Contributor to publication's Power and Politics blog. March 2009 - present

Fortean Times – Book reviewer for monthly, London-based magazine. January 2009 – present.

Thomas Riggs and Company – Contributed 20,000 words of material for academic publishing company's upcoming reference book on U.S. cities. January 2009.

Studio 2a – Part-time marketing consultant for Chicago-based architectural rendering firm, handling all sales letters, marketing copy, and long-term branding strategies. 2007 – 2009.

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 – in support of firm's integrated search engine. 2007 – 2008.

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

National Lampoon – Contributor, 2004 – 2005, 2008 - 2009

Sullivan Perkins – Served as junior copywriter at Dallas-based advertising firm. 2003.

Evote.com - Weekly columnist and feature writer for political analysis site. 2004 – 2005.

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

Additional magazine work - Ongoing, have contributed feature articles from serious political commentary and book reviews to humor pieces and dining overviews for outlets including Vanity Fair, academic publications Skeptic and Fortean Times, 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, literary journal Swans, dozens more.

Other writing projects - Crated both print and online marketing collateral for New York tech start-up Organic Motion, Inc. Wrote 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 produced website copy for design firm NPCreate.com, provided public relations pieces for Texas energy companies EBS and S.K. Oil and Gas and Dallas real estate firm Dunhill Partners.

Education

B.A. in Journalism, University of Texas at Austin, College of Communications


A Guide to Gainful Employment

by Barrett Brown


These days, what with the recession and whatnot, blah blah blah. Go get a job.


Finding a Job


Check the want ads in your local newspaper for jobs editing the want ads section in your local newspaper.


Don't apply for that job listing you keep seeing on Craigslist about making $40,000-$60,000 a week from home. Wealth can change people.


The Application Process


Fib a bit on your resume. If you are asked to come in for an interview, confess to your dishonest behavior and break down in tears in front of the prospective employer. This will help to break the ice. Another good option is to ask the interviewer if he or she is a fan of a local sports franchise.


Although many job applicants are reluctant to bring up matters of salary during an interview, the subject is best dealt with immediately. Make sure that your potential employer understands that you require payment in gold or some other hard currency in order that you might better escape the attentions of certain "factions” within the “so-called American government." Repeat this six or seven times during the interview for emphasis.


Appearance is important. Dress up in bright apparel decorated with images of beloved cartoon characters like Tweety Bird and the Tasmanian Devil. Or, if there was ever a cartoon with "baby" versions of the characters of in question, such as perhaps a Baby Tasmanian Devil or some such, try to wear something with that on it.


During the interview, pretend that your cell phone is ringing, ask for the employer to excuse you for a moment, and pretend to engage in a very important conversation with someone on the other end. Here are some things you can say:



Settling In


When you arrive at work, explain to your co-workers that this is not your real job, and that you are actually an artist. They will admire you for your honesty.


Try to get your boss to give you a pager so you can wear it to Chili's when you go have lunch with all of your little co-workers. Nice pager, bro.