Welcome to my digital portfolio where you can view by category some writing excerpts and designing samples. Be advised that all works have been copyrighted; any unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission is strictly prohibited. Should you wish to view additional pieces not listed here, please feel free to contact me.
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Academic Essays
“Chronology in Memoir: Sequencing Events” [excerpts only]
25-page instructive piece about a prominent craft aspect
“The Perennial Philosophy: What Is It, and Does It Exist?” [excerpts only]
11-page exploration
Business Profiles
Asheville Made Magazine
Asheville Print Studio + Gallery
Issue 60, pages 40-43 of 74
Resident Community News
Pier 21 Realty
Volume 16, Issue 04 | Riverside-Ortega-Avondale-Murray Hill edition, page 29 of 48 | San Jose-San Marco-St. Nicholas edition, page 27 of 44
Mission Power
Volume 15, Issue 10 | San Jose-San Marco-St. Nicholas edition, page 25 of 40
Pine Castle
Volume 15, Issue 09 | Riverside-Ortega-Avondale-Murray Hill edition, page 25 of 44 | San Jose-San Marco-St. Nicholas edition, page 25 of 44
Dr. Balbona
Volume 15, Issue 09 | Riverside-Ortega-Avondale-Murray Hill edition, page 28 of 44 | San Jose-San Marco-St. Nicholas edition, page 19 of 44
Creative Projects
Published Haiku
These three pieces were accepted for print on page 23 of 42 for the inaugural issue of Haiku Pause, a monthly online publication.
Award-Winning Poem
This untitled poem won first place at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee’s poetry festival in 2011.
Calusa Chronicles Magazine [selected pages only]
“Calusa Chronicles” is an imaginary Native American magazine designed as if in the sixteenth century.
Personalized Poem
This is a custom piece written for a 75th birthday.
Flyer Designs
Instructional Flyer
Distributed on Henderson County, North Carolina doorsteps to guide voters.
Event Flyer
A sample of the types of flyers I design for organizations needing to announce events.
Advertising Flyer
Distributed to advertise a new service being provided.
Human Interest Articles
Resident Community News
“Mr. Humphrey Turns 102!”
Volume 16, Issue 04 | Riverside-Avondale-Ortega-Murray Hill edition, page 44 of 48 | Announces a milestone birthday.
“Community Comes Together to Help WWII Vet Achieve a Goal”
Volume 15, Issue 12 | Riverside-Avondale-Ortega-Murray Hill edition, page 53 of 56 | San Jose-San Marco-St. Nicholas edition, page 43 of 48 | Covers a 97-year-old bridge walker.
“Plans Underway for Cynthia Saben’s 5th Annual Breakfast in the Park”
Volume 15, Issue 10 | San Jose-San Marco-St. Nicholas edition, page 34 of 40 | Appeals to the public for assistance with a holiday meal for those unhoused.
“Rotarian Pat Mulvihill Serving Country and Community”
Volume 15, Issue 07 | Riverside-Avondale-Ortega-Murray Hill edition, page 39 of 44 | San Jose-San Marco-St. Nicholas edition, page 31 of 36 | Focuses on veteran services.
In Memoriam
Resident Community News
Mary Virginia Terry
Volume 15, Issue 12 | Riverside-Avondale-Ortega-Murray Hill edition, page 43 of 56 | San Jose-San Marco-St. Nicholas edition, page 46 of 48
David Foerster
Volume 15, Issue 01 | Riverside-Avondale-Ortega-Murray Hill edition, page 46 of 48 | San Jose-San Marco-St. Nicholas edition, 38 of 40
Joe Joseph
Volume 14, Issue 11 | Riverside-Avondale-Ortega-Murray Hill edition, page 46 of 48 | San Jose-San Marco-St. Nicholas edition, page 38 of 40
Bart Colbert
Volume 14, Issue 09 | Riverside-Avondale-Ortega-Murray Hill edition, page 38 of 48 | San Jose-San Marco-St. Nicholas edition, page 30 of 40
Informative Feature Articles
Mountain Xpress of Western North Carolina
“No Age Limit”
Volume 30, Issue 19, pages 14-15 of 48 | Reports on what toy stores in and around Asheville, North Carolina are focusing on in order to appeal to a broad clientele beyond children.
Resident Community News of Jacksonville, Florida
“Assumption Catholic School Celebrates 100 Years”
Volume 16, Issue 03 | Riverside-Avondale-Ortega-Murray Hill edition, page 46 of 52 | San Jose-San Marco-St. Nicholas edition, page 35 of 44 | Offers a brief history and future plans.
“Joe Barrow Takes the Governance Helm of Baptist Health”
Volume 15, Issue 07 | Riverside-Avondale-Ortega-Murray Hill edition, page 10 of 44 | San Jose-San Marco-St. Nicholas edition, page 8 of 36 | Provides the backstory of a community leader.
“Jacksonville Film Festival Returns to San Marco”
Volume 15, Issue 02 | Riverside-Avondale-Ortega-Murray Hill edition, page 48 of 52 | San Jose-San Marco-St. Nicholas edition, pages 26-27 of 44 | Several interviews were conducted to create this piece, offering background information about an upcoming event.
“Foerster, Isaac & Yerkes, P.A. Relocates”
Volume 15, Issue 01 | Riverside-Avondale-Ortega-Murray Hill edition, pages 28-29 of 48 | San Jose-San Marco-St. Nicholas edition, pages 24-25 of 40 | News of a prominent neighborhood business reported with background details gathered during interviews.
Inspirational Pieces
Remembering Oneness
Aha!
Versions of these article were published in issues of DaySpring, the international newsletter of the Alliance of Divine Love.
Blog (former)
“Everyday Enlightenment” was my forty-post inspirational blog.
Literary Analyses
“In Defense of Her Solitude: The Inner Vistas of Emily Dickinson” [excerpts only]
9-page essay that demonstrates how the poet’s reclusiveness did not hamper her experience of a full life
“Fateful, but Not Fated: Macbeth’s Murderous Free Will” [excerpts only]
16-page essay that considers the cause of the main character’s downfall in William Shakespeare’s play
“Flowers Speak: Exploring the Floral Motif in Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway” [excerpts only]
9-page essay that deciphers what the flowers in the novel are saying
Magazine Spreads
Historic Life: Community and Newcomers Guide
“Six Reasons to Love It Here”
Volume 8, pages 6-11 of 102 | Gives reasons to love living in the historic districts of Jacksonville, Florida.
“Looking Back, Looking Forward”
Volume 7, pages 21-57 of 106 | Tells the backstories of eight historic neighborhoods in Jacksonville, Florida and gives readers appealing reasons to visit today.
Circles: Social Datebook and Charity Register, North Florida’s premier philanthropy magazine
“Persevering Through Crisis”
Volume 7, pages 30-32 of 132 | Based on interviews with three nonprofit leaders who dealt with pandemic change.
“Many Passions, One Purpose”
Volume 5, pages 46-54 of 192 | Based on seven interviews conducted with folks who have made a positive difference in the Jacksonville area and beyond.
Empowered Women
Volume 4, pages 48-64 of 174 | Based on interviews with several female leaders and on research about what non-profit organizations are doing to help empower.
Newspaper Columns
“Local Folks” – monthly biographical stories based on live interviews with young, working Jacksonville professionals | April 2021 – January 2024 | Resident Community News
Dr. Azi Yavari
Volume 17, Issue 01 | San Jose-San Marco-St. Nicholas edition, page 29 of 48
Mike Kovacs
Volume 16, Issue 10 | Riverside-Avondale-Ortega-Murray Hill edition, page 32 of 48
Laura Lothman Lambert
Volume 16, Issue 10 | San Jose-San Marco-St. Nicholas edition, page 32 of 48
Bil Reed
Volume 16, Issue 07 | Riverside-Avondale-Ortega-Murray Hill edition, page 33 of 44
“The Way We Were” – monthly biographical stories based on live interviews with senior Jacksonville residents | August 2020 – September 2023 | Resident Community News
Dick Barker
Volume 16, Issue 08, pages 40-41 of 44 | Riverside-Ortega-Avondale-Murray Hill and San Jose-San Marco-St. Nicholas editions
Phyllis Geiger
Volume 16, Issue 07 | Riverside-Ortega-Avondale-Murray Hill edition, page 42 of 44 | San Jose-San Marco-St. Nicholas edition, page 38 of 40
Bill and Barbara Ketchum
Volume 16, Issue 05 | Riverside-Ortega-Avondale-Murray Hill edition, page 46 of 48 | San Jose-San Marco-St. Nicholas edition, pages 40-41 of 44
Mary Virginia Skinner Jones
Volume 16, Issue 04 | Riverside-Ortega-Avondale-Murray Hill edition, page 45 of 48 | San Jose-San Marco-St. Nicholas edition, page 40 of 44
“Ask the Expert” – as the featured tutoring expert, wrote a five-article series of answers based on readers’ questions in the Sparta Independent of Sussex County, New Jersey Q&A
Personal Essays
“To Anonymous A”
Feminine Collective online magazine, which is owned by a nonprofit corporation of the same name, whose mission is to educate the public about issues facing women and children
“Enchained”
My Other Ex: Women’s True Stories of Losing and Leaving Friends women’s print anthology published by HerStories Project, LLC
Poetry Explications
“Mother to Son” [excerpts only]
Langston Hughes’s poem is explored in depth in this 8-page analysis.
“Sonnet 9” [excerpts only]
John Milton’s sonnet is analyzed for form and content in this 7-page paper.
Press Releases
Boy Scout Aiden Arias Achieves Eagle Rank
Advertiser-News (North and South editions), Sussex County, New Jersey
Florida Real Estate School Hosts Grand Opening
Resident Community News (two editions), Jacksonville, Florida
Leadership Jacksonville Honors Three Leaders
Resident Community News (two editions), Jacksonville, Florida
New Minister Takes Pulpit at Unity of Sussex County
Lafayette, New Jersey church news about Reverend Shea Maultsby released to a variety of media outlets
“Sparta High School Graduate Publishes Third Book”
Sparta Independent, Vol. 36 No. 21, Sussex County, New Jersey and New Jersey Herald | about author Greg Renoff
Public Speeches
Commencement Address
I wrote and delivered this address at my MFA hooding ceremony at The University of Tampa. An apt title would be “Courage-Confidence-Community.”
“I of the Storm”
This piece is an original dramatic monologue I wrote and performed at Unity Church of Citrus County in Lecanto, Florida for a class based on a book of the same title by Gary Simmons.
“Why Optimism”
I wrote this brief speech for a history class, Western Civilization II, led by Mr. Ruhnke at Manatee Community College in Bradenton, Florida.
Song Lyrics
Just Believe
I am the lyricist of seven songs on this album.
Technical Projects
Circles: Social Datebook and Charity Register, North Florida’s premier philanthropy magazine
“Help & Hope: The Current Crisis of Homelessness in Northeast Florida”
Volume 8, pages 16-26 of 139 | marquee piece
“Genderosity: The Difference Between Men and Women in Giving”
Volume 6, pages 99-103 of 132 | Explores how men and women differ in their approaches to philanthropy.
State of the Nonprofit Sector
Volume 5, pages 56-58 of 192 | Reports on Jacksonville and Northeast Florida.
Insurance policy amendatory endorsement – Generated an insurance application, warranty letter, and amendatory endorsement as a packaged proposal for a liability coverage extension on a nanny policy.
Patent submission – Revised an inventor’s claim for a US patent.
Pawn regulations legal proposal [excerpt only] – Initiated Kathleen’s Cause by sketching a 17-page legal proposal that led to a statewide movement to enact legislation change.
Pitch decks aimed at financial investors – Proofread, edited, and offered feedback on several multi-page pitch decks designed by venture capitalist clients.
Syllabi for education courses – Designed syllabi for community college composition classes to meet state-required objectives.
Contact me today by phone, text, or email. I look forward to working with you very soon!
Phone: (352) 422-0592 | Email: Mary@MaryWanser.com