My mom also loved to joke about the content of these
bios. It seemed that as a child
all of my accomplishments worthy of inclusion in the “About The Author” section
were sports related. I recounted
the tale of how I was born hours after a football game between my favorite pro
team and one of their rivals. I
shared the tale of my first football game in which I sat at the 50-yard line
for the Rose Bowl. Obviously when
you are so young you don’t really have any achievements worth bragging
about. Yet still, it’s funny how
my sports memories were what stood out about my life then.
Sports have continued to play an important part in my life;
too important perhaps. My mind is
a constant clutter of stats and stories from games long since over. I can
remember the minutiae of a game more than a decade ago. However, I have to write down what I
need to get at the grocery store.
Otherwise I’ll come back without the beans when we’re planning on making
tacos (I’ve done this so many times, I can’t even count. Of course, if forgetting the beans were
a sports statistic, I’d know the exact number of times it had happened).
I enjoyed playing sports as a child, but soon after
elementary school I realized that my skills were far below those of my
peers. I like to think that my
athletic career was cut short because of a bout of encephalitis when I was 5
that left me without the ability to walk for more than 2 weeks. The real reason I’m a poor athlete is
because of genetics. That doesn’t
seem as a dramatic or memorable however.
And thus it would make a pathetic plot point in the upcoming movie about
my life (scheduled for release in the Fall, 2042). That’s why I’m sticking with the former reason, not the
latter.
I’ve dabbled in writing a few times over the course of my
life. When I was in high school, I
attended a summer camp for young writers.
That inspired me to write the following poem:
The smelly pig is no longer fat. For he is dead.
Surprisingly, that poem made it into my high school’s
literary magazine my senior year.
Much to the anger of those who’s works weren’t included.
In college, I wrote for the comedy page in my school’s
newspaper. I stopped doing that
when the editor of the page started changing my jokes without asking me to
rewrite them instead. After that I
started a website devoted to reviews and commentary about TV and movies. I would still be doing that site if
hackers hadn’t decided to destroy it several years ago.
That has all led me here. Now I am a digital media producer by day (actually mostly by
night, since I work the late shift), and a student by night (or day). I’m here to learn about all the various
areas of production to make up for the fact that I spent my undergraduate days
as a psychology major. I’m also
here to help move my career forward after spending the last several years stuck
under the oppressive reign of an idiot boss.
And now, in true “About the Author” fashion, let me close
out this section in the style all authors I read as a child did. The author lives in Connecticut, with
his girlfriend and his two wonderful cats.
- Otto
Otto,
ReplyDeleteI, too, know all about idiot bosses. Somehow, they're always in charge. I digress. I want to give you kudos' for your blog tittle. It's smart and sophisticated, and who wouldn't want to play off the gentleman's tee? Your "About the Author" is endearing. I got the sense of who you are, and I like you. Like so many of us, you've dabbled with a few interests and ideas and are well equipped share your thoughts.
I think you could focus on the economy of your wording, however. You could eliminate qualifying words like, "...[quite] endearing," and, "[It seemed that] as a child all of my accomplishments..."
In your third paragraph where you write about your ability to remember stats and trivia, I suggest you consider eliminating what comes after, "[However], I have to write down what I need to get at the grocery store." Returning without an ingredient is implied, hence the list. So, too, is likening "forgetting" to a sports statistic.
In general, there are instances where, as Zinsser says, you could have one word doing the job where you currently have two.
Sincerely,
E. Bump
It's unfortunate that we are to remain anonymous for this class, as I'd love to hear more about your job and your cats. As a liberal arts major myself, I can relate to your experience. If only I had known what to study as an undergrad...
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Bump says about using one word instead of two. For example, do you really need the "though" in "I’m not sure why though"? (I'd also put a comma before "though.")
On the other hand, I do enjoy your conversational tone, and I question Zinsser and Strunk's minimalist approach. I LIKE extra words.
:)
---Zero's Narrator
Otto,
ReplyDeleteYour personality shines through in your writing. I love that you engage in storytelling. In chapter 14 of "On Writing Well," Zinsser states, "The best gift you have to offer when you write personal history is the gift of yourself. Give yourself permission to write about yourself, and have a good time doing it." You do a good job accomplishing this with your writing. I love the "About the Author" theme you have to this post. It is a clever way to break from "bio" convention.
I know 3 on 1 is no fair. But I have to agree with Bumpnoggin and thisoneisbroken on economy when it comes to writing. Page 10 and 11 of Zinsser show a sample manuscript that has been simplified well. For example, you write:
"That’s why I’m sticking with the former reason, not the latter."
This sentence is not needed and softens the humorous aside you gave the reader in the previous sentence. Writing like music should have a cadence. Extraneous content inhibits your rhythm and flow.
Keep up the good work. Your humor and personality are appreciated.