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Mia Culpa
My name is Mia Wood. I have two intersecting careers: I am a freelance writer, and an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Pierce College.
Updates for mid-October 2008: I have started writing essays for the online lifestyle and entertainment site, buzzine.com. I am also editing a memoir I ghostwrote for Arbor Books. In addition, I am making (slow) progress on my dissertation. Finally, I am finishing another project — a series of video tutorials — for textbook publisher, Pearson/Prentice Hall.
Misc:
If you're in Los Angeles, visit Natalie and Greg at the Traveler's
Bookcase on 3rd Street @ Orlando (east of LaCienega and west of
Crescent Heights). They'll help you with all your travel reading
needs. Through them, I've become immersed in quite a few mystery
novels from a variety of European writers.
For more information about my writing services, please send an email tomcw@girlzillawrites.com.
Read on within this page to learn more about my writing interests. You can also click on the relevant links above to read a variety of writing samples. In addition, I've provided links to information about my entertainment industry, equestrian, and academic experience.
Whether the writing style is fiction or non-fiction, my main writing 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 you to re-evaluate beliefs you once held, leaving you no option but to amend your views. It can be, as Plato tells us, a rather uncomfortale experience. Such is the case with me. I attempt to see where the topic leads me, and draw a conclusion accordingly — although admittedly sometimes my essays can be a bit strident in the construction of arguments to support a particular conclusion.
My philosophical interests range from metaphysical and epistemological topics such as free will, causation, conditionals, consciousness, and personal identity, to the concept of punishment. More generally I am interested in the history of logic to most every aspect of epistemology and metaphysics. I greatly enjoy teaching introductory courses in the history of philosophy, logic, and ethics. Perhaps my greatest joy is connecting philosophical topics with the details we take for granted in our daily lives. Looking, for example, at the purpose of marriage yields interesting discussions about what it means to be human. Indeed, most, if not all, topics do just that!
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.
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Writing and Editing Experience:
Since 2003, I have written and edited ten non-fiction books for New Jersey-based publisher, Arbor Books. In addition, I have written a variety of essays, articles, and reviews for print and online publications. As a professor and graduate teaching assistant, I have edited literally thousands of student papers, which 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.
Ghostwriting
projects include memoirs and other non-fiction books. What's
been fascinating about ghostwriting is how much I've learned about
getting a client's voice right. 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.
For further details, please email me:
Worthy Link: Kiva.org
is a non-profit organization devoted to helping people in economically
stressed parts of the world build businesses. (I'm hoping they'll have
a Kiva U.S. arm soon!) When you go to the site, you see photos and
bios of folks to whom you can loan money. 100% of the money goes
directly to the recipient. They agree to pay it back within 6-12
months. Once the full amount of your loan is paid back, you can put
that money back into the system, loaning it to others, or you can take
it back. The loans are all interest free — it's a great way to
charitably invest in a business! Check out their site. The
organization was featured in a "Frontline World" documentary. If you
want to do your own research, there is reliable information about the
company to be found on the Web sites of various news organizations.
For example, check out a story on CNN.com: http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/17/pf/kiva_microfinance/index.htm
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