User:Annie Dean

Annie Dean Editor/Writer 2008 discussion Technical writing

Where in the world am I, and what do I want to achieve?

 * I am in Sydney, Australia, though originally from South Africa.
 * My goals are: I would like to be happy (:-; to focus my career in an area where I can learn, grow and make a decent living in the long term; to live in a comfortable beach cottage with the sound of the waves crashing below and a waterfall not far away... dreaming.

My background
I'm a bit of a jack of all trades, as long as no-one asks me to do sums :-). Those trades refer mostly to correctly positioning apostrophes, writing and making presentations and documents look pretty. I love words. I have a dislike of global corporate restructures and a love of quality output, as it pleases the eye and the mind and enriches lives (in my world anyway). I am currently on my way to finding a fantastic new job (i.e. I've quit my job and am frantically hunting for a new one).

I've lived and worked in Auckland, New Zealand and in Holland. My qualifications are in English and Linguistics and I completed a graduate certificate in Editing & Publishing in 2007. I love writing and am a keen learner. I have also held a range of jobs -- (in lieu of em rule) chemist assistant, aerobics manager/instructor, tracer (draughting)... and have done a bit of world travelling on a very small yacht. I love the beach and dancing around (though nothing I do is likely to make me famous in my suburb :-) I also love exercise (swimming, spinning, Pump classes), red wine, bread, fish, nice salads and risotto; my husband loves beer, red wine, steak, corned beef and paella.

I like to read...
Oh boy. I have read one impressive book that I really enjoyed - 'Anna Karenina'; then I have also read and enjoyed 'Fools Die' by Mario Puzo, where a main character complains about the long-winded pointlessness of Anna Karenina. Some interesting and strange books such as 'Only Forward' (Michael Marshal Smith) and 'Anansi Boys' (Neil Gaiman) appeal; The Poet (Michael Connely) etc. There's Kurt Vonnegut too and (cough) Ken Follet.

I will now attempt some minor edits on Wiki that will hopefully contribute in a small way to this global resource (which I think is just fabulous, darling).