Diana Z.

Accomplishments Experience as a journalist and feature writer since approximately 1989. Worked in both freelance and staff positions. Learned how to be a self-starter and meet deadline, as well as how to work in a creative, passionate, deadline driven environment. Clients include: Chicago Tribune Joliet Herald News Lisle, Bolingbrook, and Romeoville Sun Newspapers Currently teach creative writing classes and run the Creative writing Club at Indian Creek High School in Shabbona, IL. As advisor to the club I teach about both prose and poetry, lead sharing meetings and workshops, mentor young writers to pursue their talents in the way they most desire, and sponsor trips to writer’s workshops where my students associate with published authors and learn from their experiences. The group also plans to publish their own literary journal at the end of the year. Founded the Teen Writers’ and Artists’ Project a non-for-profit corporation whose mission is to mentor and support teenage writers and artists, ages 14-18, as they discover their talents by providing training and publishing opportunities in their various disciplines. While on staff at the Lisle Sun, I was one of the first reporters on the scene of the Plainfield tornado in 1990, arriving just minutes after it occurred. The City of Naperville, IL used copy I wrote, under the name of Diana Fatima, on their web site to promote the community. The copy was originally written for a Sun Newspapers special section promoting the highlights of Naperville. Reproductive Specialists. A local infertility clinic uses copy I wrote on their web site. This article was originally written as a feature story in The Joliet Herald News, also under the name Diana Fatima. The story describes one of their annual picnics and features interviews with nurses, doctors, and parents. Strengths Can write fiction and non-fiction in both print and broadcast formats. Quickly understand the implications and ramifications of a situation and how it impacts the target audience Imaginative, can perceive a story’s potential and find creative angles Experienced and thorough proofreader and mentor Varied life experience includes a background in the Arts, Real Estate, and Education gives me a wealth of contacts and knowledge to draw from in order to create timely, interesting stories with strong impact Very comfortable in high performance situations where results must be instant and accurate the first time Computer literate and able to pick up new computer skills quickly Experience with Web page Creation Experience with electronic submissions Experience writing for daily and weekly newspapers since 1989 Experience working on staff and as a freelancer Professional Experience Ghost Writer Freelance 6/2009-Present Reggio McLaughlin Memoir Tap dancer and partner to the late Ernest “Brownie” Brown, the last living Copasetic. He hired me to write chapters and design the narrative line for his memoir. The work consisted of interviewing McLaughlin and converting his life story into a readable format. McLaughlin is a very good tap dancer but definitely needed an author to write his story. The project has been put on hold while he pursues other projects. English Teacher Indian Creek High School District 425 8/2005-Present Shabbona, IL Teach Freshman, Sophomore, Junior English, Film Analysis, and Creative Writing Junior Advisor – responsible for fundraising and organizing the Junior Prom Creative Writing Club Sponsor – teach about prose and poetry techniques, lead sharing meetings and workshops, mentor young writers to pursue their talents in the way they most desire, and sponsor trips to writer’s workshops where my students associate with published authors and learn from their experiences. The group also plans to publish their own literary journal at the end of the year. Co-directed Holiday Play – Dec. 2006 – Colleague had back surgery, so I took over direction of the play so that it could be performed on time and to ICHS standards. Design Lights for ICHS plays – Dec. 2005, May 2006, Dec. 2006 Freelance Copy Editor/Journalist/Newspaper Correspondent 11/1994—Present Write feature and news stories for various area newspapers Client list includes: The Chicago Tribune Joliet Herald News Lisle, Bolingbrook, and Romeoville Sun Newspapers Provide coverage of various governmental including Village/City Boards (Plainfield, Romeoville, Lisle and Crest Hill, IL) School Boards (Plainfield and Lisle, IL) Park Board (Lisle, IL) Township Boards (Homer and DuPage, IL) Features are my specialty. Areas of emphasis include: Health, Parenting, and family topics Profiles of interesting community members and their activities Travel Profiles of Business Blogs The “F” Word [login to view URL] a blog on being 40 Demand Studios (e-how listings) Full Time Staff Reporter Lisle Sun 08/1990-08/1991 Wrote feature articles and covered government and police activities for this local newspaper Covered the activities of local businesses, wrote press releases, obituaries, birth announcements, etc. One of the first reporters on the scene of the Plainfield, IL tornado in 1990, arriving just minutes after it occurred. Freelance Journalist/Newspaper Correspondent Joliet Herald News 10/1989-01/1990 Wrote about the Plainfield, IL Village Board Created profiles and features on local personalities Other Experience Admin. Asst. Warrenville Public Library District 10-1992-05/1995 Warrenville, IL Assisted the Library’s Executive Director with the day-to-day operations of the library Wrote, edited, and arranged for the publication of the Adult Services Newsletter, distributed to all library patrons. Created press releases detailing library activities Created various procedures manuals for staff positions Inside Sales Flo-Com, Inc. 08/1991-10/1992 Downers Grove, IL Received and recorded orders by telephone from existing customers Created desk manuals. Composed business correspondence while performing various administrative duties and inside sales activities for this valve distributorship.