I owe my career as a writer to Joni Mitchell.
In the winter of 1974, I was in Grade 11. My marks were mediocre. I had a permanent sneer and did whatever I could to piss off my parents. But I had three things going for me: I loved to read and write — and I loved music.
I followed rock and jazz critics closely. After I racked up my dad’s Ford LTD station wagon in a rear-ender collision while driving my band to our first gig, I sat in my room late that night and I thought I should do something to endear myself to the world. I had just bought Joni’s “Miles of Aisles” album. I listened to it a few times and then sat down and wrote a review. That was a Friday night. I rewrote it over the weekend and submitted it to my school paper on Monday. A week later, the paper published that review. And so began my career. (And I think my parents began to see I might turn out all right.)
I earned a journalism degree from Ryerson University and then built a career writing about everything from how mining explosives are made to why humans invented religion. I’ve written magazine features, news articles, annual report and brochure copy, essays (Globe and Mail and Toronto Star), and speaking remarks for executives.
I have particular strength in writing creatively and effectively about complex research into all kinds of areas and in fund raising cases for support.
Since 1980, I’ve been a writer and editor for a weekly newspaper, a major manufacturing corporation, communications agencies, fund raising consulting firms and, from 1998-2018, for the University of Toronto. As an editor, my publications won awards from the International Association of Business Communicators, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education.
I’m now on my own and eager to write for you.
Please take a look at my work and if you like what you see, give me a shout.