The Story of My Life Continues - My Writing Resume

Looking for freelance or full-time writing work.

 Olivia Leigh

[email protected]

 Objective:

            After reading one of my essay assignments, one of my Professors of Literature in college asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, to wit I answered that I wasn’t sure. He then astounded me by saying that if I did anything with my life other than write, I was wasting my time. So, I suppose my objective is to not waste any more time.

 

Writing Experience:

 

            The majority of my accomplishments and experience in writing have been freelance, as I have never actively sought a career using my talents as a writer for a full-time occupation. I have samples of my work available upon request.

 

• Author of several hundred poems, some of which have been published in various anthologies.
• Author of many essays on various themes, such as: literature, philosophy, science and metaphysics.
• Author of a creative writing blog, as well as short stories.
• Sports column reporter and writer for a school newspaper. I won a bronze medal for journalism for one of my submissions from a society of educators affiliated with the school.
• While working for TELPAC, Ltd. in the Fiji Islands, along with office management duties, I served as Staff Writer by collaborating with the CEO to write, revise and edit all news articles and press releases regarding the company, which were submitted and printed by the Fiji Times (portfolio of articles available upon request).
• Also while working for TELPAC, I wrote, revised and edited all correspondence from the CEO to the Fijian Ministries of Government and other official entities.
• I still do freelance writing work for the previous President of TELPAC, at this time regarding his new project of a green energy initiative for the country of Fiji. I am currently doing research for and am writing a bio-energy initiative proposal to be presented to the Ministries of Government of Fiji. I will also be writing all related news articles and press releases to be submitted to Fijian news agencies.
• I have co-authored three screenplays for film thus far; two of which were accepted for review, evaluated and considered for production based upon requested re-writes by A Band Apart Entertainment, before that company was dissolved.
• My third screenplay is still a viable project which is being actively shopped to directors for production by my co-author (one of the Producers who previously worked for A Band Apart Entertainment), who remains an active producer in Hollywood, now with his own production company.

 

Employment Experience:

 

            Although I have diverse employment experience in many fields, areas and departments of the corporate world, I have edited my history down to only include those facets of my past positions which have utilized my talent and creativity as a writer or editor. Therefore, gaps in my employment dates will reflect positions I held which did not necessarily take advantage of my writing skills. (A full, chronological employment history is available upon request.)

 

Director of Operations

September 2006 – September 2009     Ashton Energy Group, Inc.     Addison, TX

I was head-hunted from my previous company to help organize and launch this start-up oil and gas investment company, taking it from a one-man operation started in the CEO’s home office to evolve into a drilling company expanding nationwide.

 

• Coordinated the initial set-up of the corporate office.
• Created all business forms, models and protocols to ensure the functionality of all departments.
• Initiated and monitored the completion of the company’s first website by designing the layout and functionality for all users; as well as writing, revising and editing copy for website content, including sections such as: a vision statement/Letter from the Founder (splash page), company and subsidiary information and history (About Us), corporate biographies for the executive team and consultants.
• Also wrote scripts for video biographies for members of the management team; these were proposed for a second version of the website, but were never used, as the company decided to stay with written biographies rather than expend money for video production.
• Maintained the company’s website by writing and posting frequent project updates (with corresponding uploaded photo galleries) and helped to write or revise and edit all press releases and company news to be posted on the site.
• Created and maintained a company intranet site, in a similar manner to the company’s internet site, for use by the various internal departments to be able to track on-going business operations - both local and nationwide.
• Other duties for Ashton included: collaborating with various departments in order to write marketing materials, legal and investment subscription documents, investor, client and prospect correspondence, and inter-departmental communications.

 

Director of Operations

April 2003 – September 2006     Gulftex Operating, Inc.     Dallas, TX

During my tenure with Gulftex, I held several diverse positions in this oil and gas industry operating company as the business grew and evolved to eventually include an affiliated licensed broker/dealer and become a turnkey, energy investment based, exploration and production corporation with a publicly-traded parent firm.

 

• From Sales Department, moved to Office Administration - responsible for creation and implementation of all forms and correspondence related to each corporate department, clients, vendors, as well as active and prospective investors.
• Promoted to Executive Administrator - wrote all business and personal correspondence for the President and other acting executives of the company.
• Designed, wrote and put into operation all protocol guidelines and employee training materials in order to hire and then train new staff for Reception, Mail Room and Office Administration positions as the company expanded.
• Moved to Compliance Administration upon the acquisition of a broker/dealer firm – assisted the Compliance Officer in all state, federal and local compliance issues; including performing background checks for Brokers, facilitating the licensing of Jr. Brokers in Series 22 and Series 63 certifications, and managed all associated clerical duties by creation and maintenance of department forms and protocols.
• Promoted to Director of Operations – managed the daily operations of exploration, drilling and production. Completely reorganized all well files, drilling and completion files, and production files into a standardized, uniform filing system. Served as Liaison between the Director of Field Operations and all field and service companies, national, state and local authorities, landowners and investors. Facilitated the drilling, completion and production phases of approximately 20 natural gas/condensate wells in the Barnett Shale in North Texas.
• In order to maintain compliance with the EPA and state and local environmental agencies - researched the format and requirements of, and then wrote a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan, as well as the employee training materials on the implementation, use and maintenance of such a plan.
• Also maintained the company’s website by writing and posting project updates, pictures, drilling, field, and production reports, company news and press releases.

 

International Director of EVO

October 2002 - January 2003     TELPAC, Ltd.     Suva, Fiji Islands

An Internet-based telecommunications company that revolutionized and deregulated the once monopolistic telecommunications market in the country of Fiji.

• Aided in the design and implementation of Electronic Virtual Office (EVO) technology platform for an international E-commerce hub.
• Generated clientele via authorship and distribution of marketing materials and coordination of promotional events.
• Served as Public Relations liason for the local press and Ministries of local government.
• Served as Staff Writer by assisting the CEO in authorship of press articles, news releases and letters to government and other officials.  

 

Executive Administrator

January 1999 – October 2002     Telephone Pacific     Dallas, TX

During my time with Telephone Pacific I was promoted several times to hold positions including Customer Service Representative, Manager of Customer Service Department and Executive Administrator.

• As Customer Service Representative - handled issues and concerns of telecommunications customers (mostly large corporations) by phone, fax, email and letter; served as liaison between corporate clients and executives and performed basic clerical duites with heavy office computer use.
• Promoted to Manager of Customer Service Department - served as employee administrator for over 100 Customer Service Representatives and liaison between clients, employees and Executive Officers.
• Promoted to Executive Administrator - assisted in planning and execution of new international telecommunications initiative: TELPAC, Ltd. Managed executive's affairs during their absence for international travel. Managed employee affairs and performed basic clerical duties and accounting.

 

Other Skills & Interests:

• Literature, poetry, creative writing and art. Freelance writing in all genres.
• Notary Public for the State of Texas.
• Articulate and effective verbal and written communications skills.
• Careful attention to detail and an excellent memory for minutiae.
• Very adaptive and a quick-study of new ideas and processes, without requiring extensive or supervised training - willing and able to employ my own research for self-edification.
• Very easy-going and personable, can be an effective leader or a productive team player as needed.
• Adept at organizing disjointed brainstorming notes into neatly flowing documents which convey a central theme, no matter how many topics might be touched-upon.
• Able to revise and edit any sort of copy in any genre, willing and able to do my own research to strengthen a document's impact by backing it up with facts and figures.
• Able and confident enough to write to any audience, as long as that audience and the intended impact are well-defined.
• Excellent spelling, grammar and vocabulary, but also willing and able to use resources to double-check and improve these.
• Self-motivated, able to still work effectively, efficiently and creatively under pressure; able to meet deadlines without micro-management.
• Appreciative of constructive input or honest opinions.
• Very proficient with any style office computer, experience with myriad software programs and capacity to learn new programs with ease.
• Experience in web and graphic design; proficient use of the internet.
• Able to put together useful and aesthetically-pleasing multi-media presentations or other formats of marketing materials.
• Artistic eye for color, design, form and scheme.