My
name is Mia Wood. I have two intersecting careers: I am a philosophy professor in the Philosophy/Sociology Department at Pierce College, and a freelance
writer. My
combined skills, experience, and broad range of interests make me a thorough and efficient researcher, concept analyst and developer, and writer.
Currently, I write intermittently for the culture and entertainment magazine, Buzzine (check out my author bio) and for the community college section of the L.A. Examiner. I also ghostwrite memoirs and other non-fiction works for Arbor Books. To read more about my writing experience, please scroll past the Q&A section on this page. You can also contact me for more information at mcw@girzlillawrites.com.
To read writing samples or peruse my resumes
and CV, click on one of the links above in the main menu. You can also visit the Web site I maintain for courses in progress.
Three Major Questions About Philosophy and Your Project:
1. What does philosophy have to do with my project?
Everything! The academic discipline known as Philosophy has branches and subject areas that range across the curriculum. Historically, the 'love of wisdom' is at the heart of all studies and the human condition.
Now consider non-academic environments, such as public policy in the political world, end-of-life issues in medicine, and green technology in engineering. Each of these directly or indirectly enlists philosophical concepts and modes of reasoning. Whether we analyze how we are living our lives, or trying to determine what we should or ought to do, we use or assume philosophical concepts.
If you want a thorough, clear, and coherent approach to your project, you should not overlook the philosophical writer's contributions!
2. How are a philosopher's skills relevant to my project?
The philosopher can make sense of difficult or otherwise complex concepts, problems, and reasoning. In short, a philosopher can cut through the messy conceptual stuff to get at the salient features of an argument, theory, and so forth. This is a terrific time-saving skill when there is, for example, a lot of research material to wade through, or when you've got a vague idea of what you want to accomplish, but you're not sure how to proceed. Maybe you've got a solid idea of what you want to do. The philosopher can almost always point out something you've missed — something that can make your work stand out.
The philosopher can also develop ideas into a meaningful and coherent whole. When it comes to writing, many people have difficulty making themselves understood. The philosopher's commitment to careful, meticulous, and thorough reasoning is an indispensable tool to creating, for example, a political speech that transcends mere emotional button-pushing.
3. Will you turn my project into a philosophical essay?
No! I mention my work in philosophy only to explain its relevance to your work. I am experienced in writing non-philosophically — just read from my samples!
If your question has not been answered, or you want more information, contact me: mcw@girlzillawrites.com.
A Brief Overview of My Writing Interests:
Whether
I write fiction or non-fiction, my main interests involve societal
issues and culture, primarily from a philosophical standpoint. What
that means is that I not only attempt to investigate and inquire into
the ideas that underpin or permeate certain issues and topics, but also
to remain open to changing my own views. It is often the case that
inquiry forces one to re-evaluate and amend one's beliefs. It can be a
rather uncomfortable experience, but worthwhile nonetheless. Such is
the case with me. I attempt to see where the topic at hand leads me,
and question what sort of method I use in my investigation, and then
draw a conclusion.
My philosophical interests
range across metaphysical and epistemological subjects such as free
will and moral responsibility, causation, conditionals, consciousness, personal identity, punishment, and metaphor, to contemporary issues such as same-sex marriage. I
greatly enjoy conducting introductory courses in the history of
philosophy, logic, and ethics. Perhaps my greatest satisfaction comes
through connecting philosophical topics with the details of daily life
we take for granted. Looking, for example, at the purpose of marriage
yields interesting discussions about what it means to be human.
Some
of the writing I've posted here has been published, some not. All of
it is always in some stage or other of revision. It's hard not to
continue sculpting words and concepts for clarity and correctness...
Needless
to say, I'm always writing there's too much to read and write about and
not enough time! and looking for new connections between ideas that
will make concepts come alive. Sometimes that life is best created in
fiction, sometimes in an essay. In all cases, however, it is a
privilege to pursue the love of wisdom.
A Brief Overview of My Writing and Editing Experience:
Since 2003, I have written and edited over ten non-fiction books for New Jersey-based
publisher, Arbor Books. One of the most valuable lessons learned through these experiences is how to authentically capture an author's voice so as to believably tell his or her story. Since it's their story I'm telling, I've worked
closely with each client to help them figure out what they want to say
and how best to say it, all while making sure the resulting writing
exclusively reflects their personality and character. In addition, I have written a variety of
essays, articles, and reviews for print and online publications.
As a
professor, and previously as a graduate teaching assistant, I have edited literally
thousands of student papers. Needless to say, this experience has taught me a great deal about
substantive and line editing, proofing, and structure. Please see my
CV ("Academic Experience" link) for more details about my academic
work, including freelance content authoring, fact checking, and other
writing and editing experience.
