Allow Me to Introduce Myself...

Who Am I?

I’m Britta! I’ve been a writer for most of my twenty-one years, having grown fond of reading and writing from a very early age. There was no computer in my household growing up; there was just a vast collection of books – mainly my father’s treasury of science fiction (Asimov, Bradbury, Keyes, Crichton) and my mother’s trove of Stephen King. I fell in love with these writers and their unique writing styles. I loved their stories so much that I began to try my hand at creating my own. I soon discovered other writers whose work interested me – Tolkien, Kafka, Sartre, Sagan, and so on – and my love of reading and my desire to follow in these writers’ footsteps only soared that much higher. 

My interest has generally been in writing short stories of fiction – I was never fond of journalism or nonfiction until I took a creative nonfiction course in college about a year ago. I had also never considered the idea of blogging until I began my Tolkien blog, “Use Well the Days” last July. With the success of that blog, and the writing jobs that soon followed, I decided to start a second blog – this one dedicated to writing and editing (as you’ll find out, I’m a stickler when it comes to spelling/grammar). 

What is the Purpose of This Blog?

I have been growing increasingly shocked and disappointed by all the mistakes I see in writing today. Common mistakes which can easily be corrected. Simple spelling errors that accidentally went unnoticed or were deliberately disregarded. I cannot correct the latter scenario, but I can help with the former by frequently posting tips and information regarding the “Do's” and “Don't's” of spelling and grammar. My aim is not to criticize those who do make mistakes – we all make them – but to discuss why they are wrong and how they can be corrected for future reference.

It is also my hope to be able to post some of my personal writings as well – film/book reviews, perhaps some short stories (or excerpts) here and there, and so on.

What Experience Do I Have?

Beyond the aforementioned life-long experience as a writer, I am nearing the end of my college journey, and will soon have a Bachelor’s Degree in English/Linguistics. (I currently hold an Associate's Degree in Liberal Arts, with a concentration in English.) Once my B.A. is obtained, I’ll likely go on to graduate school. 

As of June 2011, I have been a contributing writer for the Middle-earth News (part of the Middle-earth Network) and recently became a volunteer writer for the Mythgard Institute. These projects mainly showcase my abilities as a journalist/reporter; it is my hope that this blog will display my other writing talents.  

I am always open to feedback and suggestions. If you have any questions or would like me to cover a certain topic/issue, by all means, let me know and I’d be happy to take care of it!

-Britta