Jim Martyka
JIM MARTYKA
Freelance Writer
(818) 497-3701
EXPERIENCE
Freelance Writer (May 2000 – present)
*Author, ghostwriter, and/or editor for over 50 published books including best sellers. Some top titles include The Eight Characters of Comedy, Closing the Gap with NFL Hall of Famer Willie Davis, Towards the Moon with Fellini, Breaking the Silence, Try Not To Suck, Paddle Out, Shadows on the Heath, Doc: The Life of Roy Halladay, Outre, A Water Color Dream, The Super Bowls: The Greatest Moments, and The Power of Truth.
*Professional editor with several publishing firms, including Triumph Books.
*Work with L.A.-based producers and directors in TV, film and theatre, editing and rewriting scripts.
*Accomplished playwright, having written the acclaimed stage play It's a Wonderful Life: A KAWL Radio Play, along with several short plays produced nationally and worldwide.
*Help with content development for websites for small businesses and indy publications.
*Write for several regional and national newspapers, magazines, websites, etc., including The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal, National Scholastic Press, Broadway World, Franchise Times, Minnesota Monthly, LA Weekly, Airport Revenue News, Sacramento Business Journal, Oakland Tribune, Inventing Tomorrow, Pulse, All Access Magazine, Upsize Magazine and The Business Press.
*Teach a Book Writing/Pitching/Publishing Seminar and provide individual coaching and consulting to writers of all experience levels.
*Work as a PR specialist and consultant for local and national businesses in a variety of artistic fields, including several Los Angeles-based theatre companies and artists.
St. Paul Pioneer Press (July 2000 – March 2003, Aug. 1998 – Nov. 1998)
*Music critic, reviewing concerts and writing feature stories on local and national acts.
*Worked part time as an on-call business news reporter, writing daily stories and tech articles, as well as laying out and copy-editing for the business section.
*Worked as a clerk for news dept. and helped with breaking stories and team reporting.
CityBusiness (November 1998 – May 2000) *now The Business Journal
*Worked as a staff reporter covering sports, entertainment, real estate, retail, printing.
*Served as a researcher/reporter, gathering data for industry lists, writing stories, posting breaking news online, and laying out sections of the weekly publication.
*Freelance work for the paper’s special publications and Focus sections.
The Minnesota Daily (April 1995 – September 1998)
*Served as an associate editor for the city desk.
*Worked as a senior reporter on several beats, including police, courts and administration.
*Trained on several parts of newspaper production, from copy editing to online reporting.
Resonance (March 1998 – June 1998)
*Helped develop one of Minnesota’s first completely online music magazines.
*Edited all story copy, wrote stories and helped post online content.
Community Newspapers Inc. (June 1997 – January 1998)
*Worked as an intern and freelance writer for the chain’s 23 community newspapers.
*Initiated group project ideas and trained on various parts of newsroom production.
AND MORE
*Graduated with a Journalism bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota with an emphasis on Reporting and minor degrees in Theatre and American Indian Studies.
*Trained in both AP and Chicago Manual of Style.
*Have written and produced several award-winning short films with Hold For Plane Pictures, a production company I founded in 2015.
*Three-time recipient of the prestigious Society of Professional Journalists Award.
*Short+Sweet, Scenie and TUny Award winner for theatrical writing.
*Broadway World Best of the Decade nominee for playwriting.
*Proud member of the Dramatists Guild.