1. SUBJECT: INTEREST IN WRITING OPPORTUNITY
In Your Own Words
_________________________________
!!! ATTENTION MALE STUDENTS OF BADER UNIVERSITY !!!
Are you a participant in the tradition of violent, albeit organized, sport? Are you a capable writer? If the answer to both of these questions is yes, then this opportunity is for you. Get paid to write 2-3 emails per week and help one of your fellow students capture the male narrative.
If interested, please tell me about yourself via email; you can reach me at cassandra.belford@baderu.com
_________________________________
to: cassandra.belford@baderu.com
from: m.onesi@kasiriwelsman.com
subject: Good news!
sent: January 6, 2017 at 9:05am
Ms. Belford,
I'm writing to express my congratulations. We at Kasiri and Welsman are all so excited to be working with you on your debut novel. As discussed, there is a lot of work to be done in the next few months. I want to assure you that you will have K&W's full support throughout the editing and publication process.
I spoke with Julie this week, and we both agree that Braiden's narration doesn't feel quite as authentic as Olivia's sections. If you think that character research would help rectify the imbalance, I am glad to support that course of action. Interviewing one of your peers in order to best capture the voice and experience of the character seems like an excellent way to meet the novel's potential. It's unorthodox, but a very worthwhile experiment.
If you'd like help recruiting a young man to interview, please let us know. You've got all of us here rooting for you; a 21 year old with a bestseller is a dream for our marketing. We all want Stamp of Approval to be a big hit with readers!
Best regards,
Mike Onesi
Editor
Kasiri & Welsman Publishing House
. . .
to: cassandra.belford@baderu.com
from: kevin.harper3@baderu.com
subject: Flyer
sent: January 8, 2017 at 12:47am
Hey,
I saw your flyer and am interested in helping you. I play soccer. I'm second string this year but I'm only in first year, so I'll probably be starting in the fall. I also play football for fun. Your flyer wasn't super clear, so I'm not sure what exactly I'm supposed to do. I know it's writing emails, but school is busy, so I don't know how much I can write every week. We could do phone calls for sure. Or maybe text.
Some other things about me:
1. I restored my dad's old motorcycle
2. My parents are both doctors and I don't have any siblings
3. I grew up in Kentucky, but I was born in LA
4. When I was 15, I broke my arm and the bone showed
Let me know if you want to know anything else.
Kevin
. . .
to: cassandra.belford@baderu.com
from: lee.bowman@baderu.com
subject: In response to your flyer
sent: January 11, 2017 at 9:01am
To Whom It May Concern,
I happened upon your flyer in the weight room this morning, and I'm very intrigued by the opportunity. While I'm not involved in any team sports, I stay in good shape and am very into healthy living and (as you can see) I'm an excellent writer. I am in my third year, doing a double major in bio and psychology, pre-med.
I'm interested in this opportunity for the experience more so than the financial benefits, as I'm certain the other applicants will be. I am a very motivated and enthusiastic individual who commits himself fully to every task at hand. I would be happy to provide you with references. My work experience has included lab work, fundraising, and office support; all positions that required team effort and attention to detail. You can read more about my qualifications in the attached resume.
I look forward to hearing from you,
Lee Bowman
. . .
to: cassandra.belford@baderu.com
from: dean.barnes@baderu.com
subject: Hey
sent: January 14, 2017 at 1:22pm
Hey Cassie,
I saw your flyer in the locker room. I'm not much of a writer, but I remember you from intro to Spanish. I was wondering if you wanted to hangout. I think you have my number from the conjugation assignment we did together, but you can email me here if you want.
Later,
Dean
. . .
to: cassandra.belford@baderu.com
from: weston.maguire@baderu.com
subject: Interest in writing opportunity
sent: January 16, 2017 at 2:35pm
Hi Cassandra,
I'm writing in response to your flyer. I found a bunch of copies in the SRC. One was actually on my locker door, staring me right in the face.
To quote the flyer, I am "a participant in the tradition of violent, albeit organized, sport." I'm on our varsity hockey team. The season is basically over, now. In case you don't know, Bader's team was complete shit this year---we didn't get anywhere near the finals.
Without games and regular practices, I have a lot of free time. If I read your flyer right, you're going to pay people to send some emails? Colour me intrigued. (I don't usually say things like that, but I'm trying to show you that I'm a good and interesting writer. What colour is intrigued? Maybe orange?)
Sorry, I'm just trying to be cute here, but I'm really interested in the job.
A little bit about me: I turned 22 on Tuesday and I'm in my last year at Bader---I majored in history. I know, right? What does a guy do with a history degree after graduation? I guess I'll find out at the end of the semester. My grades aren't great, but I'm a decent writer. I've actually done a few articles for The Journal. They're mostly sports pieces, but I've been told that they're pretty good.
This sounds like an interesting project you've got going on. I'm working a little after classes, but being a student is expensive, y'know? I could use the extra cash. I'm a hard worker and an open book kinda guy. Honestly, I'll be whatever you need me to be.
So, what's next exactly? Do I just wait to hear back, or should I send you my resume? I am writing to express my interest (obviously.)
Thanks,
Weston Maguire
. . .
to: weston.maguire@baderu.com
from: cassandra.belford@baderu.com
subject: Re:Interest in writing opportunity
sent: January 19, 2017 at 10:16pm
Dear Weston,
Thank you for your email. Your response was, without a doubt, the best of a bad litter. You seem more than capable of filling the role. I was looking for someone who can tell stories and write with their own voice, and lucky for me, your email is proof that you can do both.
Bader's hockey team might be shitty, but I have a feeling that everyone on campus has heard of you. You're the big shiny star of the team, right? The Player with Promise. Maybe you can bring the same level of talent to this project.
I'm majoring in English Lit, and like you, I'm prepared to regret choosing such a subject to study. Alas, I have nothing to complain about so far---I might be one of the lucky few who sees publication. I'd asked a professor of mine, Julie Brison, for feedback on a manuscript that I wrote last summer, and she liked it enough to help me send it out. And now the people at Kasiri & Welsman are planning to publish it.
The expectations are pretty high. K&W are putting a lot into my book and its potential. I'm a young author who will look good on the back of the book; they intend to capitalize on any and all selling points.
The issue at hand is as follows: I've finished writing the book in its entirety, but the male character I've created needs work, more specifically, a stronger voice. He's narrating half the book, and his perspective makes a huge difference in the quality of the final product---the character I've written is an athletic guy whom everyone likes.
I have never been athletic, male, nor am I well-liked.
What I need is for someone who possesses these qualities to help me create a character and voice that are more than a bunch of clichés and messy ideas.
You will be paid twelve cents per word to provide me with answers and anecdotes via email. I want to know everything: what you go through in a day, what your childhood was like, the things you worry about, your fears, how many girls you've slept with and who was the best, when you stopped wetting the bed, etc.
By the end of the semester, I should know you better than just about anybody else. I only have one rule:
1. Be completely and unabashedly honest.
Your candour is important here. We have a tendency to filter ourselves, but that won't do me any good right now. Your writing has to be authentic to be valuable. The quality of our work together will directly translate to the quality of my character, and the book itself. I need this book to be amazing. I need you to be amazing. So, I'm going to require you to write at least 1500 words every week. I know that this might seem like a lot. It is, however, necessary that I get to know you on this level.
I believe that you and I have actually crossed paths before. There's a good chance you don't remember, but we were both at a party in September of my freshman year, right after we moved into the dorms. I went with some people I didn't particularly know very well or like very much. The hosts (strangers to me) had rented a bouncy castle, and there were way too many kegs in the backyard and kitchen. It was hot and stuffy, and drunk bodies packed like sardines in a can in the already cramped rooms of the house. Maybe you remember the bouncy castle? They had one that night. It was a pretty ridiculous prop, and almost definitely a fire hazard.
You were with a couple of burly looking guys, probably other hockey players, and you were wearing a baseball hat backwards. By the way, that basically defeats any purpose for a hat in summer.
Do men call each other to coordinate outfits like girls do before a night out?
"Are you wearing a hat? Because we can't both wear hats."
"You shaved right? Okay, good, because I still have a full beard."
"Yeah, he's gonna wear a hat. I'm wearing flannel to accentuate my lumberjack beard."
Are you starting to understand how little I resonate with the male experience?
Anyway, I initially noticed you because of your height. You had to duck when you went into another room to avoid grazing your head on the doorframe... I found that funny at the time.
I ended up on the same couch as you at some point in the night with one of your hockey friends. He tried to stick his tongue in my ear. Eventually, he stumbled away and it was just the two of us. You leaned back, kind of splayed out, and took up even more space than you and your pal had shared.
Why do men feel the need to splay out like that? Is it because of the patriarchy, or does biology dictate that you must present yourself proudly to an unassuming audience like a peacock?
You apologized on behalf of your friend.
I accepted.
You left to rejoin the party.
Again, you probably don't remember. Anyway, I'm hiring you. If you want the job, it's yours. Please let me know if the terms I've laid out are acceptable.
Regards,
Cassie Belford
. . .
to: cassandra.belford@baderu.com
from: weston.maguire@baderu.com
subject: Re:Interest in writing opportunity
sent: January 20, 2017 at 8:50pm
Dear Cassie,
No, men don't call each other in advance to coordinate outfits. And yes, we take up so much space because of the peacock thing.
You've got my attention and my time. You're funny, and it'd be fucking cool to help someone write a book (I hope I'm allowed to swear. Otherwise we might run into problems.)
I can be honest, as per your one rule. I'm generally straight forward, and I've never been one for secrets, so you can ask me whatever you want, and I'll do my best to tell you everything I can. I get that this is important.
Will you send me questions? Will you reply?
Question: if we both go to Bader and presumably live in Kingston, then why don't we just meet and do this over coffee? It might be easier, not to mention time effective.
I remember the party you're talking about, and I remember you. A couple of seniors on the team busted up the bouncy castle, and the guy who tongued your ear was Doug Hodge. He was a shitty goalie and a shitty guy. He dismissed everyone younger than him and made a lot of people uncomfortable. I was glad to see him graduate.
I was a freshman then, too. You were annoyed that night, and tense, but your face was still really pretty. So yeah, I remember you. When do we start? How do we start?
Weston
. . .
to: weston.maguire@baderu.com
from: cassandra.belford@baderu.com
subject: Re:Interest in writing opportunity
senf: January 22, 2017 at 11:04pm
Weston,
No time like the present. Let's start with something easy; I'd like to know about what a day in your life looks like (what you did, where you went, who you talked to etc.).
Cassie