Curriculum Vitae: Michael James Ryder
If you require any more information please email me at mjryder@rgpublishing or contact me via the contact form found here.
Self Description
Self-published author and passionate, pro-active freelance writer, I have been highly commended for my creativity, my exceptional organisation, and my ability to deliver high quality output to tight deadlines.
Key skills include: highly adaptable writing style; attention to detail; extremely good grammar; proficient researcher; extensive knowledge of literature; extremely well-read.
Technical skills: MS Office, Content Management Systems (inc. Wordpress and MODx), HTML, Bulletin Boards, SNS.
Education
BA (Hons) English with Creative Writing
Sept 2007 to July 2010: Brunel University, Greater London
- Graduated with a First Class Honours degree, with straight A-grades in final year.
- Awarded the 'Gompertz Prize for English' for achieving the second-highest overall average.
- Sub-editor and columnist in the student magazine LeNurb.
- Involved in the creation of the Brunel Writers' Society.
- Acting treasurer of the Brunel Rock Society.
- Candidate in the university executive elections for Media Officer for the 08/09 session.
- Received an excellence award at the Brunel Student Volunteering Awards 2009.
A Levels
Maths (A), Physics (A), History (A), General Studies (A), Government and Politics (B), Business and Economics (B)
AS Levels
English (A), Film Studies (A), Sociology (A)
GCSEs
11 GCSE's A-C (7 A*, 2 A, 2 B)
Writing Credits
- Widely published in the dental press (both online and print), writing on behalf of some of the biggest names in the industry.
- Content Writer for NASDAQ listed MMORPG publisher ChangYou.com.
- Self-published author of The Powers that be trilogy (ISBN: 978-0956615800).
- Currently seeking representation for my first children’s book A Door to Nowhere.
- Product test reviewer for PGUK.
- Blogger on www.limebirduk.wordpress.com
- Writer / Reviewer on www.thefilmpilgrim.com.
- Blogger / Reviewer / Content Writer for personal website www.mjryder.net.
- Author of a complete 45+ page unofficial online guide to PC game C&C Tiberian Sun.
Work Experience
Senior Writer / Journalist: EK Communications Ltd
August 2011-Present
- I am currently working as a writer / journalist for a PR company that specialises in the dental sector. Tasks include researching and writing articles, interviewing clients for testimonials, attending trade shows and events, and supervising / proof-reading the work of junior writers.
Freelance Writer
June 2011-Present
- In part due to personal circumstances and in part to help advance career I have recently started working as a Freelance Writer, still maintaining ties with ChangYou.com, supplying them with web-content while working on other projects to help expand my portfolio.
- Key Skills: time management; research; independence; tenacity.
Content Writer: ChangYou.com (EU)
October 2010-May 2011
- Content Writer for EU version of the MMO Tian Long Ba Bu (TLBB). Work has included writing news posts, compiling newsletters, blogging, proof-reading, dealing with content requests, creating a staff style guide, and working to re-write and enhance website content. From my start date in October 2010, my role expanded significantly beyond the scope of my job description, and I finished my employment at ChangYou working in a number of additional areas including PR, QA and Community Management.
- Key Skills: detailed and comprehensive working knowledge of the game; time management; organisation; inter-departmental communication; writing for specific audiences; community awareness; copy-writing.
Personal Website: www.mjryder.net
November 2008-Present
- Created as an online portfolio of my work, I work tirelessly to keep content current and up-to-date. As well as using the site as a means to showcase my work, I also run a regular writing-related blog and maintain an associated Facebook page and RSS feeds.
- Key skills: familiarity with MODx content management system; working knowledge of HTML/XHTML (all self-taught); social networking skills including Facebook and Twitter.
Forum Administrator: www.cncevo.info/forum
July 2010-December 2010
- Work involved forum moderation; liaising with other community sites; creating content; managing members; running the CNC:EVO Facebook page; and general work to grow the community.
Admin Assistant: St Mark’s Church, Ramsgate
August 2010-September 2010
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Work has involved typing up hand-written orders of service; creating PowerPoint slideshows; researching suppliers and printers for various church projects; and keeping in regular contact with church wardens to ensure smooth running of church activities.
Volunteer: The Old Bank Book Shop, Margate
July 2010-September 2010
- Having gained the trust and confidence of the store manager I worked with ever-increasing responsibility, supervising other members of staff; organising the newly-completed stock room; sorting stock; filling shelves and fulfilling other general customer-service related tasks. I was also given responsibility for the entire organisation and layout of the second floor.
Columnist and Sub-Editor: Brunel University LeNurb Magazine
December 2007-June 2010
- Regular columnist in Brunel University's LeNurb magazine.
- Entered into the Guardian Student Media Awards 2009 in the ‘Columnist of the Year' category.
- Entered into the Guardian Student Media Awards 2010 in the 'Writer of the Year' category.
- Most published writer in the magazine for three years running.
- From September 2008 I was appointed News and then later Features sub-editor and have retained the role for two academic years. Work has involved communicating deadlines, information and so forth with writers; collecting, organising and editing submissions; taking on assigned feature-writing tasks; and actively taking a part in the general running of the magazine
Reviewer: www.nintendolife.com
September 2009-February 2010
- DS reviewer for the largest independent Nintendo fan site in the UK, a site that receives over 300,000 unique hits per month.
- Published reviews: Drawn to Life: the Next Chapter, Rayman DS, DJ Star, MechAssault: Phantom War, Big Brain Academy.
Forum Administrator: www.gamerwarzone.com
May 2007-August 2009
- Forum administrator for small gaming community.
- Familiarity with IP Boards Admin Control Panel.
- Day-to-day work involved overseeing board layout, resolving member disputes, providing technical support, overseeing the board's moderators, keeping the forum active with new posts and competitions and general work to ensure the smooth-running of the forums.
- Responsible for writing a complete 49 page .pdf guide to the multiplayer game aspect to Command and Conquer Tiberian Sun.
Sales Assistant (Book department): WHSmiths - Ramsgate
Mid 2002- April 2006
- Sales assistant on the book department.
- Trusted to handle money both on the shop floor and in the cash office.
- Required to refresh knowledge of the department on a weekly basis to help aid customers with their shopping.
- Entrusted with organising book charts, newspaper returns and at times given specific tasks to reorganise areas of the stock room.
Other Work Experience
- Regularly do readings in church and participate in church service 'features'.
- Involved in running various local church youth groups and Sunday School sessions.
- Worked in an unofficial capacity for the Burma Star Association, Ramsgate Branch.
- Worked for two weeks as a CAD designer for Blaze Neon, made a presentation to management at Tesco’s Manston on coffee-shop potential efficiency savings, and worked a spell at Thanet Council I.T. department.
Personal Interests
- Avid gamer (Xbox 360, PC, DS) — FPS, RTS, RPG, MMORPG, Racing, Puzzle.
- Bibliophile — read a book a week.
- Sports — MotoGP, football, rugby union, badminton.
- Other hobbies — hiking, visiting museums, writing poetry, war-gaming.