Month: November 2023

Posted in General

Hi. I’m Mandi. I scribble.

Posted on by Mandi McRay

Hello, and welcome to the first post of this blog. Glad you’re here!

Since this is an introduction, let me get down to it, hmm?

The essentials = my name is Mandi. I write things. Lots of things. Lots of different things.

Thing 1 – School Things

Macbook keyboard on a worn wooden table top. Next to it sits a white mug of coffee and a black notebook.
Macbook, coffee, and notebook on tabletop by Social Mode 

As a graduate and post-grad student, I’ve focused on rhetoric and writing studies.

For that, I’ve written discussion board posts, emails, résumés/CVs, cover letters, outlines, seminar papers, and a master’s thesis. I’m currently tackling my doctoral dissertation.

Thing 2 – Instructor Things

Light brown fold-down wooden seats fill a lecture hall.
Wooden fold down seats in lecture hall by Nathan Dumlao

I’ve taught high school and college writers effective ways to communicate and make meaning over the past decade.

For this, I write syllabi, essay prompts, comments and student feedback, lesson plans, and discussion and activity prompts.

Maybe even some borderline illegible board notes in more classrooms than I can count. Allegedly. I neither confirm nor deny.

Thing 3 – Creative Things

A lake is foregrounded against a rugged mountain face wrapped in clouds. Short, orange and yellow scrub color the ground while snow dusts the visible portions of the mountain top.
Mountain lake in clouds by K B

And, because I’m a word nerd, I couldn’t stop there, could I? Of course not, so what’s a word nerd to do when she earns a break from school reading or the blinking cursor of her thesis?

She escapes and makes new worlds on the blank page. She tells stories, first to just herself and later to others. And, that, folks, is how I also became a creative writer with one polished manuscript and a few others in the works.

Thing 4 – Coaching and Editor Things

A open macbook sits atop a warm, dark brown tabletop. Near it lies a collection of items, including a white wireless mouse, pens, an open notebook, a cup of coffee, a magnifying glass, earbuds, and a glasses case.
Macbook, coffee, and writing materials by  ian dooley

I’ve recently branched out and launched a business, too!

Calling on a decade of experience working with writers in classrooms, writing centers, offices, conference rooms, and workshop spaces, I now coach writers of all kinds and offer a variety of editing services to them, too.

I write emails, leave comments/feedback, and create reports and memos. I work to find just the right words to help the writer in front of me do their best work and achieve their writing goals — whatever they may be.

I’m Mandi, and I scribble, and in this space, I’ll explore writing related things, including —

  • the different kinds of things we write
  • how and why we learn to write well
  • the rules we apply (and why they exist)
  • how we can be better, clearer, more effective writers and communicators
  • AND my lessons learned, tips and tricks, approaches and processes, and other insights gained by working with writers as we work with words

Thanks for joining me. Again, I’m glad you’re here. Until next time, take care!

What are some ideas/suggestions/topics you’d like me to discuss?

Drop them in a comment below, and I’ll start a working list.