NYU SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES CENTER FOR PUBLISHING & APPLIED LIBERAL ARTS CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS (PALA/CE)

Continuing Education Programs in Publishing, the Humanities, Arts, Producing, Design, Writing, and Translation.

writing

The Art of Translation: An Interview with Literary Translators Elizabeth Lowe and Katherine Hedeen

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Elizabeth Lowe and Katherine Hedeen co-teach the NYU SPS PALA course In Other Wor(l)ds: An Online Generative Literary Translation Workshop, which starts January 9th. Lowe is an erudite translator and writer. She’s published books on Latin American culture, including The City in Brazilian Literature (1982) and Translation and the Rise of Inter-American Literature (2007). Lowe has received many accolades, recently the NEH Literary Translation Grant in 2020-21 and a 2022 Fulbright appointment to Brazil.

Hedeen specializes in Latin American poetry and has established herself as a forefront translator of this region. She has been a finalist for the Best Translated Book Award and the National Translation Award, as well as a recipient of two NEA Translation grants in the US and a PEN Translates award in the UK.

We had the opportunity to speak with Lowe and Hedeen about the art of translation, and what students can expect from their upcoming workshop.

translation workshop

What can students expect from the In Other Wor(l)ds workshop?

EL: Participants will work with a diverse, international cohort of translators in both synchronous and asynchronous sessions, to generate new translations, workshop with the group, perform bilingual readings, and process feedback to their translations to ready them for publication. The workshop seeks to promote a collaborative, supportive, and enriching environment that will encourage participants to become a part of the larger translation community, and to expand their networking skills. In addition to practical information about translation and the translation world, we will focus on the aesthetics of translation, the agency of the translator as a socially engaged member of the artistic community, and the joy of translation as an act of creative writing.

What language skills do students need to take the workshop?

EL: Students must feel confident about their writing skills in English, and have a highly proficient reading ability in their source language.

What is your favorite part of teaching this workshop together?

EL: Kate and I have established a dynamic creative partnership over the past years, which began with our founding the Kenyon Review translation workshop. We bring not only different genre perspectives to the art of translation (Kate specializes in poetry and I work with fiction and creative non-fiction), but we also have life experiences in the field that reflect the path of two generations. Kate and I are aligned philosophically about the importance of the intellectual and artistic freedom of the translator, and we also benefit from sharing the work we do in different languages and world regions. As a mutually supportive partnership, I believe we model the best of translator collaboration and nurturing, which is an important value we seek to impart to our participants.

In your words, what does it take to be a literary translator?

EL: In the words of Gregory Rabassa, I prefer to be thought of as a writer. It takes a keen interest in other languages and cultures, curiosity about the plasticity and wonders of language itself, a dedication to writing practice, and a personal mission to be an agent of cultural change and growth.

KH: For me, it’s all about passion. Passion for knowing, reading, writing. This is what drives all writers. It’s no different for literary translators.

Why is the art of literary translation important to you?

EL: Jhumpa Lahiri, in her recent book Translating Myself and Others, writes of translating as “looking into a mirror and seeing someone other than oneself.” Translation is a creative practice that I have cultivated my entire professional life; it has grown with me, and helped me grow. As an avid reader, I apply the lessons learned in reading to my creative writing practice and my teaching, which require a totality of focus. Translation is an art that keeps one connected to the world, demanding alertness to what others are experiencing and writing. I relish the personal ties I have made with writers, and take pride in expanding their readership. I likewise receive immense pleasure in teaching and mentoring rising translators. Translation is a generous profession that encourages artistic autonomy, and I like to think that my work plays a part in enlarging the community of readers, writers, and translators.

KH: It is the perfect combination of an intellectual, creative, and political endeavor. It is an amazing way to approach knowing as well as to recognize all the things we don’t know. Translators are generous; they create connections.

Read on below for two excerpts of Lowe and Hedeen’s translations!

Entre facas, algodão, de João Almino
The Last Twist of the Knife, by João Almino
Translated by Elizabeth Lowe
Dallas: Dalkey Archive Press, 2021

April, Easter
April 21

Clarice is the exception. My memory of her is as clear
as a photograph kept with care in the bottom of one of
my drawers. In it she looks at me with an expression that
I feel is one of love, and which even today sends quivers
through my body.

I recover pieces of myself to create this contradictory
and true story that torments me. That’s why I have to
share it. It is as contradictory and true as the backlands;
my mother punished me and protected me, and my
godfather, Clarice’s father, was severe and affectionate.
I accepted their mood changes the same way I accepted
the mood changes of nature. I thought my joys and
sorrows were normal.

In winter, rain covered the green land, our boots
trampled mud over the floor, the conversation and
laughter lingered on the porch of the big house of my
godparents, the songs of the cowboys rose up from the
pastures, the mosquitos bit me in our red brick house.
I’d roll myself up in the hammock, cover myself with
the sheet, leaving just my nose exposed, and listen to the
raindrops on the roof.

At the height of the drought, the merciless sun pun-
ished Black Creek Ranch and blinded me. The dust
whipped the gray fields, with its bare trees, dazed people
stewing with irritation in the heat, the wells were dry,
the reservoir and the barn were empty, the cattle had
migrated to Piauí.

Here again I might be mixing up time periods.
Forgive me. I may be conflating the drought of one
year with the prolonged summer of another. But I’m
not inventing anything; at most it’s my memory that
betrays me here and there. It’s my age; at seventy your
memory falters. What is true is that the landscapes of
the drought always display the same calcified trees, the
same ashen ruins and the same irritation. I think that
above all it is the landscapes of the drought that brand
backlands people like me.

Original Portuguese:

Abril, Páscoa

[21 de abril]

…
Clarice é exceção. Minha lembrança dela é nítida como a fotografia bem guardada
no fundo de uma de minhas gavetas em que ela olha pra mim com olhar que sinto ser
apaixonado e até hoje transmite vibrações por meu corpo.

Recupero pedaços de mim para criar esta história contraditória e verdadeira, que me
atormenta. Por isso tenho que pôr pra fora. Como contraditórios e verdadeiros, além do
sertão, eram mamãe, que me punia e me protegia, e meu padrinho, pai de Clarice,
severo e carinhoso. Eu aceitava as mudanças de humor deles como aceitava
mudanças de humor da natureza. Achava normais minhas alegrias e tristezas.
No inverno a chuva cobria o campo verde, o chão ficava marcado com o barro das
botas, as conversas e risos se prolongavam no alpendre da casa-grande de meus

padrinhos, os aboios se animavam no campo, as muriçocas me picavam na nossa casa
de tijolo aparente e vermelho, eu me enrolava na rede e envolvia o rosto com o lençol,
deixando só o nariz de fora e ouvindo os pingos bater nas telhas.
Já na seca, o sol impiedoso castigava a fazenda do Riacho Negro e me cegava a
vista. A poeira açoitava os campos cinzentos, de árvores despojadas, o açude
minguado, as cacimbas sem água, as pessoas zonzas cozinhando irritação no calor, e
o curral vazio, o gado tangido para o Piauí.

Nisso pode ser que de novo misture tempos, me descuplem, a seca de um ano com
o verão prolongado de outro. Mas não invento nada, no máximo é a memória que me
trai aqui e ali, coisa da idade, aos setenta anos a memória falha. O que é certo é que
as paisagens da secura traziam sempre as mesmas árvores calcinadas, a mesma ruína
cinzenta e a mesma irritação. Acho que são sobretudo elas, as paisagens da secura,
que marcam os sertanejos feito eu.

Epitafio del extranjero vivo, de Jorgenrique Adoum
Epitaph of the Living Foreigner, by Jorgenrique Adoum
Translated by Katherine Hedeen and Víctor Rodríguez Núñez
Action Books, 2021

with hunger and hembra this hombre
his reality surreal
dispictured in his passport
discontent in this discontext
working and worqueen
to be deagonizing from badlyloved
even wanting to disencruel himself
to stand erect to correct and recorrect himself
but this republic public sepulchershop
doesn’t give him enough time
and he keeps redying in a virtuous circle
from his long inhurting disdeath

Original Spanish:

con hambre y hembra este hombre
surreal su realidad
desretratado en su pasaporte
descontento en este descontexto
trabajando y trasubiendo
para desagonizarse de puro malamado
queriendo incluso desencruelecerse
pararse a reparar y repararse
pero no le da tiempo
esta república sepulturería pública
y sigue remuriendo en un círculo virtuoso
de su larga desmuerte enduelecido

Sign up for Lowe and Hedeen’s course, In Other Wor(l)ds: An Online Generative Literary Translation Workshop.

CALA Faculty Karen Heuler Has Three New Books Being Published This Year!

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Congratulations to CALA writing instructor Karen Heuler, who is preparing to launch three new books with three different publishers this year! How exciting is that? At CALA we are celebrating this wonderful achievement and are delighted to share a brief synopsis of Heuler’s upcoming publications and some tips for writers.

Karen Heuler Photo by Tracey Sides Photography

When she began teaching at NYU SPS in 2005,  Heuler thought it was remarkable to see how many people write well. However, an editor once told her that magazines receive a lot of really good stories, but they’re looking for the great ones. The field is crowded and competitive so any insight or advice from Heuler, an award-winning professional, is so valuable.

We asked Heuler about her inspiration and here is what she shared.

“I have the highest expectations for The Splendid City. It’s appeared on a number of lists about anticipated books this summer. It’s fast, quirky, snarky and fun – and it’s also political, but in a sneaky way. An apprentice witch loses her temper and changes an annoying coworker into a cat – which is against the rules – and so she and the cat are exiled to Liberty, a state that seceded from the US.” There’s stolen water, a missing witch, endless parades and animatronic presidential heads, and it’s all a bit spectacular and crazy. Angry Robot Books, which has tremendous followers known as The Robot Army, will ensure a successful launch. Pub: June 14, 2022. See The Splendid City

Heuler’s second and third upcoming publications are collections that incorporate stories written over many years. “My mother’s dementia was a shattering experience, and the stories in Forgetting were written as things went from bad, to worse. The stories are mostly realistic, though some are definitely odd and some are funny. They also incorporate magical realism occasionally, and the final one (dear to my heart) is a very dark fairy tale. There’s really nothing to do about tragedy other than write about it. Stories make sense out of horror as well as the ordinary. I’d been sending this collection around for a decade. I knew it was going to be a very hard sell – who wants to read a downer? Saying that some of it is quirky and funny, while it’s true, doesn’t convince anyone to publish it. I knew I would have to find a small press that was willing to take a chance, and I did.” Pub date: August 1, 2022, Bitingduck Press.

The final book, A Slice of the Dark, is a collection of speculative fiction – an umbrella term now used to encompass science fiction, fantasy, dark fantasy, and horror. These stories were also written over a number of years. “I write both literary and speculative fiction, and this one is mostly what’s referred to as dark fantasy. Most stories are recognizably our world, but things are not right.” In the title story, a man finds that objects are turning “dark” – meaning that they become shadowless and black. A woman’s fingers revolt. Neighbors get boxes marked “Do Not Open”– but they open them! This collection will be published by a beloved small science fiction and fantasy press Fairwood Press, in November, 2022.

Heuler says the best advice she can give is “to learn who you are and embrace the kind of writing only you are capable of. And have some humility. You can learn from everything in life, or you can remain a block of wood. Choose learning.”

Congratulations again, Karen and thanks for being an inspiration!

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Are you interested in writing and ready to take the plunge? Take a look at some of our Summer 2022 courses:

Fiction Writing

Writing a Strong Introduction to an Article or Essay

Multimedia Storytelling

Fundamentals of Storytelling

Interviews and Profiles

If you have already decided that you’re all in our Storytelling Certificate is a great option – see the link below for details:

Certificate in Storytelling: Narrative Tools and Applications

Journaling and the Value of Writing Our Way Through a Tumultuous 2020

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“I discovered what all writers know: most of the time you write not to set down what you think, but to figure out what you have to say.”

Janice Nimura, biographer and historian

 

In this short video, “The value of writing our way through a tumultuous 2020,” Nimura shares her perspective on the value of journaling.

Have you ever wanted to try journaling or establish a consistent journaling practice? Journals simultaneously mark the present and become traces of the past. In the new CALA course Journaling: Writing Today for Tomorrow students will be given regular journaling assignments and read and respond to excerpts from writers renowned for their journaling including David Sedaris, Anne Frank, Sylvia Plath, Nelson Mandela, and Carrie Fisher.

As Nimura states, “The rhetoric of powerful people can persist for millennia, but that kind of writing is a polished mask for an audience. Journals, on the other hand, are scribbled in private and full of naked feelings. They preserve the voices we don’t usually hear…”

Make keeping a journal one of your new year’s resolutions for 2021 and join us in Journaling: Writing Today for Tomorrow.

Registration for the course is now open.

MS in Professional Writing alum, Laila E. Dreidame, publishes “Bringing your whole self to work: Arab or Muslim Welcome” in Medium

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Laila E. Dreidame, an alum of the MS in Professional Writing (MSPW) program, recently published “Bringing your whole self to work: Arab or Muslim Welcome” in Medium. Exploring multiple experiences of what it means to be Arab or Muslim in workplaces across the U.S., Laila was inspired to write on this topic by the timing of the beginning of Ramadan in April, designated as National Arab American Heritage Month (NAAHM). “I wanted to share the important distinction between the Muslim religion and the Arab people,” Laila explains. “There are so many people from these communities who feel their identity is invisible or misconstrued. With the overlap of NAAHM and the start of Ramadan, I was compelled to share my understanding of these two different groups with my family and friends.”  

Laila hopes that her piece will increase awareness of Muslim and Arab identities and experiences and will create opportunities for discussion across professional networks and workplaces. In 2019, Laila was awarded the Professional Writing Impact Award, presented to a graduating student in the MSPW who has demonstrated a commitment to writing and communication endeavors that seek to impact society in positive ways. 

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To learn more about the MS in Professional Writing, visit sps.nyu.edu/mspw or email sps.mspw@nyu.edu.

CALA adjunct professor Lourdes Olvera-Marshall honored by Crain’s 2020 New York Business

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Congratulations to CALA adjunct professor Lourdes Olvera-Marshall on being named one of Crain’s New York Business 2020 Notable Women in Talent Resources! 

Lourdes is Global Manager of Diversity & Inclusion at the law firm Fried Frank, where she has launched diversity initiatives globally. She has increased diversity rankings by five points nationally and improved LGBTQ representation from below average to national average. Here at NYU, Lourdes teaches courses on networking, diversity and inclusion, and how to gain workplace influence. She speaks regularly on these topics to diverse associations, universities, and large institutions, including the U.S. Senate staff members at Capitol Hill. She is an attorney in both Mexico and New York, an Executive Coach (graduate from NYU SPS), and the president of MexPro, a Mexican professional association linked with the Mexican Consulate. She also holds a culinary Cordon D’Or degree and previously worked as a Cultural Representative at Walt Disney World, Epcot Center.

This summer, Lourdes will be teaching Virtual Networking: Fostering Professional Resources in a Virtual World. The two-session class is ideal for recent graduates or established professionals seeking to cultivate a professional network or explore new career options. Class begins on June 2!

CALA “Writing Parenthood” student Holly Rizzuto Palker publishes article on parenting during quarantine

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Adjunct professor Estelle Erasmus has alerted us to the publication of an article, “My 6-year-old has calmed me during quarantine,” by CALA student Holly Rizzuto Palker. Holly worked on the article in Estelle’s “Writing Parenthood” class prior to placing it in the New York Daily News.  

Congratulations, Holly! 

Do you have an experience or reflection to share about parenting in these strange times? This summer could be the perfect time to put your words to paper or to polish up a piece of writing you never quite finished. Join “Writing Parenthood: Writing for a Growing Market,” beginning June 22nd, to workshop your drafts and learn to navigate publishing opportunities. The class is self-paced to fit the busy schedules of parents, many of whom are juggling more responsibilities than ever under quarantine.

Professional Writer at Work: Interview with Katherine McCabe, Head of Content and Digital Marketing, beqom

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Katherine McCabe, an experienced professional writer, has worked in Marketing for nearly two decades, assuming progressively more senior leadership roles. Katherine is currently the Head of Content & Digital Marketing at beqom, a global provider of compensation management software delivered via cloud computing. Her role involves extensive strategic and management responsibilities, but Katherine still carves out the time to take on writing projects. 

Q:   Describe your current role and your daily professional tasks and responsibilities.

A:   In my 17+ years of marketing, I’ve stepped into many roles, some widely different from where I set out. Along the way I’ve gotten to do everything from technical writing to writing content for social media, recruitment, events, content strategy, and digital marketing transformation. Whatever I’m focused on in the world of marketing, I’ve never abandoned my writing roots, so you’ll still find me churning out everything from ad headlines to in-depth industry reports.

Today I am the Head of Content & Digital Marketing at beqom, a B2B software company headquartered in Switzerland with a US base in Connecticut. Along with my team, I create and have overall responsibility for the breadth of content used by Marketing and Sales, including theme development, editorial calendar, collateral, videos, press, social media, webcasts, emailing, ad copy, and web copy. On the digital marketing side, I oversee the company’s global digital marketing strategy and efforts, including web development, SEM/SEO, paid social media campaigns, and third-party lead generation. To round things out, I also manage our PR agency relationships, our department’s global budget, and our reporting, analytics, and dashboards.

Q:   What made you realize that writing was something you wanted to pursue professionally?

A:   It’s been so long since I knew I wanted to be some kind of writer, I can hardly remember. By sixth or seventh grade, I was leaning heavily into writing as my favorite activity, which mostly took the form of student journalism. That continued all through high school, where I eventually became editor of our school newspaper, and I first entered college as a Communications major intending to pursue print journalism. After a semester, my mother suggested that English majors could be journalists, but journalism majors may not have as many options, so I switched to English. 

By the time I graduated in 2001, the prospects of print journalism did not seem so bright. I had always enjoyed fact-based writing more than fiction, and from working as a writing tutor at the campus Writing Center for a few years I had discovered the field of technical writing. That’s when I decided to pursue the Master’s in Professional Writing.

Q:   Talk about a mentor, book, or experience that helped shape who you are as a writing professional.

A:   Far and away the most significant experience in my career was my Master’s program. It’s been 18 years (yikes!) and I still use the principles of those classes daily. One of my professors was Dr. Erwin Steinberg, who helped found and pioneer the field of technical writing in the late 1950s. I find myself repeating his lessons to every new writer I onboard. 

Q:   In your role and industry, how important is collaboration? With whom do you collaborate?

A:   I’ve led teams of writers for 10 years, and in anything we create, at least one other writer is called in to be an editor or proofreader. The adage about a second set of eyes exists for a reason. 

This morning I worked on creating a new page for our website, which was only about 400-words long and minor in our scope of work. This simple page involved a team writer to work with an SME to create the draft, me as the editor, our creative lead to design the graphic elements, our SEO specialist to optimize the page, an outside translation agency, and two colleagues in Europe to validate the translations of text.

I also collaborate with our PR agencies, our website development agency, my boss and CMO, company executives, sales and pre-sales, other marketing departments, advertising vendors and partners . . . more groups that I can probably remember. Collaboration is all day, every day.

Q:   What do you look for in assessing potential new hires?

A:   My outlook has always been to look for writer talent first. Finding new hires who can see the spark of a story in a technical product release, turn it into something compelling, then write cleanly and to our style guide is the most important piece. After that, I look for people who have experience with reporting and technology.

Q:   Is there anything else you would like to share?

A:   I often review resumes for both interns and full-time hires, including resumes from recent graduates. When I’m assessing these candidates, I appreciate that they may not have had direct experience with, say, marketing for a B2B software company. Here’s what I look for when determining whether to progress:

  • Relevant degrees, coursework and  major projects
  • Leadership experience, whether it’s as part of a sports team, student organization, or volunteer group
  • A strong work ethic, as evidenced by consistent employment, extracurriculars, and/or GPA
  • Technical certifications, such as HubSpot or Google AdWords. These courses are free, and when I see one on a resume I know the candidate has initiative and the capacity to pick up our technology and systems.

A: Connect with me! https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinemccabe/

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Thank you to Katherine McCabe for sharing her professional writing journey with us. 

To learn more about the MS in Professional Writing program at NYU School of Professional Studies, visit sps.nyu.edu/mspw

Professional Writer at Work: Interview with Sandra Darkwah, Technical Writer, DoubleVerify

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Sandra Darkwah is a technical writer at DoubleVerify, a company that authenticates the quality and effectiveness of digital media for its client businesses. After graduating pre-med with a degree in English, Sandra ultimately chose to apply her skills to a career in technical writing. Her ability to grasp technical information and convey it to a non-specialist audience is an asset in her current role. In her interview below, Sandra comments on the significance of mentors in professional development, and the positive outcomes that can result from taking a chance on a career that resonates with your interests.

Q:     Describe your current role and your daily professional tasks and responsibilities.

A:     I currently work as a technical writer for DoubleVerify, a digital media authentication company. Authentication is a process enabling the validation of user identities or of the origin and integrity of data in order to reduce fraud. My role involves writing product glossaries, how-to guides, and other client-facing documentation for the products and features that our company  creates. This means working closely with the Product Department to understand any new updates or product releases. 

Q:     Talk about a mentor, book, or experience that helped shape who you are as a writing professional.

A:      I’ve been lucky enough to have three great mentors in my professional writing journey. Two were wonderful professors that I had in college, Dr. Paula Marantz Cohen & Dr. Miriam Kotzin. Both women were published authors who not only encouraged my love of literature and writing, but were also great resources in navigating the possibilities of writing professionally. The third mentor was Geri Outwater, who was the outgoing technical writer at my first job at Rockwell Collins. I had absolutely no idea how to write about trains or which resources to use to craft the massive engineering manuals that were needed.  Geri patiently gave me a crash course on how to do this work. My biggest thanks to these three amazing women!

Q:     In your role and industry, how important is collaboration? With whom do you collaborate?

A:     Technical writing is an interesting mix of collaboration and solo work. My process always begins with a collaboration between myself, project managers, and engineers. They provide the bulk of the information that I usually need to craft documentation by explaining the more technical aspects of a new product or release. Depending on the documentation, I may also work with account managers, client services, or the marketing department to get a better understanding of tone or client concerns.

From that point, the solo part of technical writing begins, which involves me essentially translating what they’ve told me into plain speech while still maintaining the essence of a product’s function or process. At DoubleVerify, we have an established review process where all involved parties give notes or request changes. Once these have all been incorporated or addressed, then the documentation is published.

Q:     What advice would you give to a professional writer interested in a career like yours?

A:       I would encourage them to give technical writing a chance! It may not be the most well known career path,  but it’s a great way to learn more about different technologies. I’m constantly researching or sitting in meetings with people who are so knowledgeable of systems and processes that I would probably never learn about otherwise. So if you are someone who enjoys tech and always learning new things, this is a great career.

Q:    What do you look for in assessing potential new hires?

A:      I look for someone who is organized (time management is so important!) and can work independently, but can also be a team player when it’s needed. As mentioned above, technical writing is both a collaborative and solo job so the ideal candidate would be someone who can navigate both. I would also look for someone who is genuinely curious and asks a lot of questions. You have to be interested in the things you write about in order to convey information in a way that offers solutions or answers questions, instead of raising them.

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Thank you to Sandra Darkwah for sharing her professional writing journey with us. 

To learn more about the MS in Professional Writing program at NYU School of Professional Studies, visit sps.nyu.edu/mspw

Professional Writer at Work: Interview with Kathleen Fischer, Assistant Director of Communications & Engagement for the Americas Financial Services Organization, EY

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Kathleen Fischer is a communications professional with over 15 years of experience. Fischer graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with undergraduate and graduate degrees in Professional Writing, honing her skills as a communications strategist. In her current role at the professional services firm EY, Fischer is a manager of an executive communications and employee engagement team. She also contributes to the development of new workflows. Her responses to our interview questions, below, highlight the importance of well-rounded communication skills and social media engagement.   

Q: Describe your current role and your daily professional tasks and responsibilities

A: I’m an Assistant Director of Communications & Engagement for the Americas Financial Services Organization within EY. I oversee two communications professionals and report to the Communications & Engagement Leader, who reports to the Chief Communications Officer for EY Americas.

I provide executive communications support for the managing partners, ranging from writing and editing emails to drafting and producing video webcasts. I’m constantly looking for ways to leverage metrics to influence change and form best practices in how we communicate. At EY, change happens quickly, creating new opportunities for communications professionals. For example, with the recent announcement of EY’s commitment to be carbon neutral by the end of 2020, I  joined a workstream focused on the change management and communications to help our people support sustainability.

In addition, I am in constant communication with my direct reports, providing them guidance and coaching as needed (I learn plenty from them too!).

Q:       What made you realize that writing was something you wanted to pursue professionally?

A: I always wanted to write. I never wanted to do anything else. I just didn’t realize how many possible career paths exist for someone who’s passionate about communications until I got into college.

Q:       Talk about a book, mentor, or experience that helps shape who you are as a writing professional.

A: I had a lot of jobs and internships in college and graduate school that exposed me to the wide variety of potential career paths for someone interested in writing. In particular, the summer before I graduated I had a pretty informal internship at a marketing company that gave me exposure to leadership. I was very challenged by the project, which required me to do research and create a report that would be submitted to the FCC. It was energizing (and a little scary!) to work on something real – that the CEO would eventually review my report and it could really impact the company’s future. I also realized that the key to effective communication in the workplace is getting a message across clearly and concisely – and that’s actually paramount to perfect grammar!

Q:       In your role/industry, how important is collaboration? With whom do you collaborate?

A: Throughout my writing career, I have had great teammates who help my creative juices flow. But I also work closely with subject matter experts and stakeholders, where our knowledge and strengths are completely different. It’s a great feeling when we can collaborate on a project and produce a piece of work that neither party could’ve done on our own.

Q:       What advice would you give to a professional writer interested in a career like yours?

A: Get real-world work experience! It’s eye-opening to take what you’ve learned in the classroom and apply it. You will probably also be very surprised at the wide variety of career possibilities for professional writers! 

On a related note, LinkedIn is a great tool, no matter where you are in your career. Connect with friends and colleagues, but also follow thought leaders, companies that interest you, communications experts, etc. Start your day by spending a couple of minutes on LinkedIn to help you stay on top of the latest news that’s influencing your professional life. (By the way, I got my current job and my previous job through LinkedIn!)

Q:       What do you look for when assessing potential new hires?

A: First, do your homework. Come with thoughtful questions. Bring samples of your work and be able to explain why you picked these samples. Beyond the interview, we want a well-rounded communicator, not just someone who’s awesome at writing. I want to see someone who’s passionate and excited about writing for sure, but a candidate who can also show a comfort with or interest in technology and metrics is important to this field.

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Thank you to Kathleen Fischer for sharing her professional writing journey with us. 

To learn more about the MS in Professional Writing program at NYU School of Professional Studies, visit sps.nyu.edu/mspw

MS in Professional Writing student, Suzanne El Khechen, publishes “The Power of Pronouns” in Medium

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Suzanne El Khechen, a student in the MS in Professional Writing program (MSPW), recently published “The Power of Pronouns: “He” Versus the Rest of Us” in Medium. The article is a personal reflection about the impact of pronouns on readers. Suzanne explores the history of debate over third person pronouns and interrogates options for modern writers, ultimately advocating for the use of “they” as the optimal choice.

Suzanne developed “The Power of Pronouns” as part of her Style and Rhetoric course, a core course she completed last spring. “At the end of the Style and Rhetoric course, Dr. Gerben asked us to write two articles about subjects of interest that were covered in the class,” Suzanne recalls. The assignment led her to think about pronouns, and the dynamics of inclusion/exclusion that pronoun selection can create or reinforce.

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To learn more about the MS in Professional Writing, visit sps.nyu.edu/mspw or email sps.mspw@nyu.edu.