I've been a professional writer since 1986,
when I joined the United States Navy and worked as a cryptologist for four
years. After earning an undergraduate degree in Print Journalism with a minor in
English, I took a position as a general assignment reporter for a small paper in
rural Tennessee. Then, the Internet and its World Wide Web arrived.
In 1994, I combined my technology training from the military with my reporting
skills and spent the next 15-odd years writing in the corporate workforce in
such positions as technical writer, project manager, marketing coordinator, marketing director,
and Webmaster. I did so many different jobs at one company that the Human
Resources Department created a special position for me, calling it Cybrarian.
This was a particularly fun job, combining the duties of a proposal editor &
Webmaster. Unfortunately, when the Internet bubble popped in about 2001,
Cybrarians were the first to be shown the door.
Creative Writing Career
A Kentucky native and longtime Nashvillian,
I've published my journalism, poetry, and prose in such publications as The
Tennessean, The Hendersonville Star, The News Examiner, The
Trunk, The Record, Muscadine Lines: A Southern Journal, The
Tennessee Writer, Popmatters.com, and the British Web journal Chapter&Verse,
but I am perhaps best known as a passionate promoter of the arts throughout
middle Tennessee. After studying creative writing in London, England and earning
a MFA in Writing from Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky, I founded The
Writer's Loft, a creative writing program at Middle Tennessee State University,
as well as created, edited, and published the program's literary journal, the Trunk.
For the program's first four years, I promoted the written word by establishing
public readings, panel discussions, and workshops throughout middle Tennessee.
And in 2006, I helped the Paris, France bookstore Shakespeare and Company
promote their Summer 2006 Travel Writing Festival throughout North America.
@ 2008 R. L. Burkhead
email Roy @: roylb@tds.net
Last updated: 08/24/09.
I've been a professional writer since 1986,
when I joined the United States Navy and worked as a cryptologist for four
years. After earning an undergraduate degree in Print Journalism with a minor in
English, I took a position as a general assignment reporter for a small paper in
rural Tennessee. Then, the Internet and its World Wide Web arrived.
In 1994, I combined my technology training from the military with my reporting
skills and spent the next 15-odd years writing in the corporate workforce in
such positions as technical writer, project manager, marketing coordinator, marketing director,
and Webmaster. I did so many different jobs at one company that the Human
Resources Department created a special position for me, calling it Cybrarian.
This was a particularly fun job, combining the duties of a proposal editor &
Webmaster. Unfortunately, when the Internet bubble popped in about 2001,
Cybrarians were the first to be shown the door.
A Kentucky native and longtime Nashvillian,
I've published my journalism, poetry, and prose in such publications as The
Tennessean, The Hendersonville Star, The News Examiner, The
Trunk, The Record, Muscadine Lines: A Southern Journal, The
Tennessee Writer, Popmatters.com, and the British Web journal Chapter&Verse,
but I am perhaps best known as a passionate promoter of the arts throughout
middle Tennessee. After studying creative writing in London, England and earning
a MFA in Writing from Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky, I founded The
Writer's Loft, a creative writing program at Middle Tennessee State University,
as well as created, edited, and published the program's literary journal, the Trunk.
For the program's first four years, I promoted the written word by establishing
public readings, panel discussions, and workshops throughout middle Tennessee.
And in 2006, I helped the Paris, France bookstore Shakespeare and Company
promote their Summer 2006 Travel Writing Festival throughout North America.
