April 19th @ 11am

Critiquing the Written Portfolio

for: Writers (of all kinds)

Writing professionals from a variety of disciplines will visit Columbia to look over writing samples and portfolio-in-progress.  Guests will advise students on organizing and formatting text-oriented portfolios.

* Also, please post your website addresses here, so I can view progress. Between now and next week, just continue working on your websites.

 Thanks!

Students: Have you been to the portfolio center recently for a portfolio advising appointment? A Show Off portfolio review, class presentation, or to meet with someone to discuss your portfolio? Please help us continue to best serve you by filling out the following Student Survey and enter in an end-of-semester drawing for a free iPod!

Send me the final copy of your resume (microsoft word attachment). Make sure you are up to date on all work to this point.

Second, please make sure that you all check the course syllabus FIRST. I will always have the assignments assigned and due there. Sometimes I make changes, as I did today, and the only way you will know is if you either take copious notes or regularly check the syllabus.

Third, the work that you are doing is all working off of previous work (either in class or as assigned); by the time you complete this course, you will have a number of things that you will have to have ready — so do not get behind, because that’ll make it all the more work you will have to do (as it piles up).

FOR NEXT CLASS:

• Revise your 2nd piece (or at least what you think are the five best pages)
• On both your 1st and 2nd piece, choose 2-3 paragraphs (or the equivalent thereof) that you think are the most compelling, descriptive, interesting — (what you might want to use in the short blurb on the web to draw people into wanting to read more)
• Create the first draft of your artist statement, using what you wrote in class (If you weren’t in class, write the best artist statement you can — go to other sites and/or read other artist statements to help you determine what is and isn’t working, so you can apply it to your own) 
• Try to read a few book reviews between now and next week, and take note as to how they are written (if you find any particularly good example, bring it in). Read them with an eye towards how reviewer’s approaches to writing about someone else’s writing might be useful to how you write about your writing.
• Read “Bios and Artist’s Statements for Web Portfolios” by Tim Long 
• BLOG about your first informational interview and/or portfolio advising appointment. You should already have your appointment for your informational interview AND portfolio advising appointment; but if you don’t, you must make sure that you complete at least ONE for next week and blog about it.

 Come into class with your work printed and be prepared to discuss what you’ve been doing or have read. Email me with any questions.

 Please post those three places and/or people HERE (name, company/mag/etc. name, website address, location) and then write just a very short bit about who they are and what they do.

• Working independently: what strengths and weaknesses do you possess when it comes to working independently? Are you good at creating your own tasks? setting deadlines? meeting those deadlines without someone pushing you (or without having someone to answer to)? are you motivated to constantly seek new opportunities?
• Working with and under others: do you need structure in your work environment? do you work better if someone else is setting deadlines for you? Do you prefer to work with people (or by yourself)? when working with other people, do you tend to lead or follow? what are some of your pet peeves, when it comes to working with a group of people and/or under someone else?
• Writing flexibility: do you mostly write within one genre? or do you believe you have skills that enable you to cross over to a number of different genres? what are your writing strengths? weaknesses? Think about the various kinds of writing we’ve discussed in class and think about whether you would be successful at those differents kinds of writing.
• Atmosphere: what kind of atmosphere do you need to be in to write successfully and enjoy your work? Do you need complete silence and the ability to be alone? Are you able to write in areas that are busy and teeming with people? What kind of people do you like working with? People who are laid back, funny, intellectual, etc.?
• Financial goals: we would all like to make millions of dollars, but what would be the absolute least you’d settle for (and you don’t have to put an actual amount – but rather speak in terms of what you’d be happy with in terms of goals . . . i.e., “enough to rent a small apartment and have a few perks every now and then” or “I would have to make enough money to buy a house and travel”).
• Time: what amount of time do you need to dedicate to the writing that you MOST want to do?
• Interests: what do you like to do when you are not writing? movies? sports? comics? playing video games? hanging out with friends? Make up a list of activities that you most enjoy and be specific.

THEN, in list form, write out some of the potential jobs and/or freelance gigs you could imagine getting paid for (and being happy about), while pursuing your ultimate writing goals. Also, reflect on the kinds of jobs and/or freelance opportunities you absolutely are NOT interested in.