Curriculum Vitae

Geoff Kirsch
www.geoffkirsch.com; geoff@geoffkirsch.com
3009 Goodwin Rd., Juneau, AK 99801
(H/B) 907-523-5935

EDUCATION

New School University Graduate Writing Division, Master of Fine Arts in Fiction, 2005
Cornell University, Bachelor of Science in Communications, Concentration in Creative Writing, 1998

FREELANCE/COPY WRITING EXPERIENCE

WGN America, Chicago, IL: Fall 2009

  • Scriptwriter: Wrote on-air material for nationally televised retro-movie and retro-TV nights, hosted by Michael Winslow (from Police Academy) and Rick Dees (of “Top 40 Countdown”).

Juneau Empire, Juneau, AK: August 2009-Present

  • Columnist: Write bi-weekly humor column for Alaska’s third-largest newspaper. Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, Juneau, AK: April 2009-Present
  • Writer: Pitch ideas, research and write news stories for publication in magazines/newspapers emphasizing the beauty and importance of the Tongass National Forest.

Chicago Tribune Media Group, Chicago, IL: April 2009-Present

  • Writer: Conceive/write “advertainment” pieces for major newspaper and TV conglomerate.

Huffington Post, New York, NY: March 2009-November 2009

  • Writer: Pitched ideas and wrote weekly news-based humor pieces for regular feature of hightraffic news analysis Web site.

23/6 (236.com), New York, NY: October 2007-December 2008

  • Writer: Pitched ideas and wrote weekly news-based humor pieces for national comedy Web site.

Indecision2008.com, Comedy Central, New York, NY: July 2007-July 2008

  • Writer: Pitched ideas and wrote humor pieces for companion website to regular segment on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report.

Clear Channel E-cards, Clear Channel, Denver, CO: May 2006-May 2007

  • Head Writer/Producer: Led team of writers, animators, audio engineers to create targeted, audience-specific, humorous electronic greeting cards for nationally-syndicated radio company; Developed animated TV commercials for local radio affiliates; Developed animated segments for Clear Channel annual convention; Developed “Online Boot Camp” animated Web tutorial; Won 2007 Telly Award: “Dem-O-Crats” St. Patrick’s Day E-card.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL WRITING EXPERIENCE

Fifth Avenue Committee, Brooklyn, NY: Summer 2004

  • Americorps VISTA Intern, Media Relations: Developed and instituted comprehensive media plan for non-profit community advocacy group; Wrote press materials and pitched stories to local and regional media outlets; Trained media team to write effective press materials.

The Advertising Council, New York, NY: August 1999-July 2001

  • Publications Manager/Staff Corporate Communications & Speech Writer: Ghost-wrote opinion-editorials for President/CEO to appear in national publications; Wrote speeches for President/CEO, Senior Staff; Wrote event script and remarks for annual awards dinners and luncheons; Wrote press materials for 30+ public service advertising campaigns; Wrote, trafficked Ad Council newsletter and annual report; Wrote and coordinated Web site content.

NON-FICTION PUBLICATION CREDITS

New York Times (ghost-writing)
USA Today (ghost-writing)
Waterways magazine
Juneau Empire
Capital City Weekly
Citizen Culture magazine
Thirsty magazine
FHM magazine
Hardcore Muscle magazine

PUBLISHED FICTION

“The Danger You Know,” 34th Parallel, Issue 3, April 2008
“Join the Club,” Guernica, January 2008
“A Dish Best Served Cold,” Paper Street, Vol. IV, No. 2, Fall 2007
“90 Consecutive Life Sentences,” Northwest Review, Vol. XLIV, No. 1, Fall 2005

EDITORIAL EXPERIENCE

LIT, New York, NY: 2004-2005

  • Prose Editor: Solicited professional author manuscripts; vetted submissions; edited all fiction and non-fiction for Vols. 10 & 11 of nationally-distributed literary journal.

One Story, New York, NY: 2004-2007

  • Editorial Assistant: vetted “slush pile” submissions to a highly-acclaimed, nationally-recognized literary magazine.

PRODUCED STAGE/SCREEN PLAYS

“Intro to Necromancy,” Juneau Douglas Little Theatre, Juneau, AK, staged as part of 24-Hour Miracle 2009
“Climb Every Mountain,” Juneau Douglas Little Theatre, Juneau, AK, staged as part of 24-Hour Miracle 2008
“Relationship Insurance: A Comedy in One Act,” Juneau Douglas Little Theatre, Juneau, AK, March 2008
“Intelligent Design,” Juneau Douglas Little Theatre, Juneau, AK, staged as part of 24-Hour Miracle 2007
“Friends Like These,” Pennyseal Productions, New York, NY, screened as part Ripfest 5, October 2004

TEACHING OF WRITING

Juneau Community Schools, Juneau, AK:

  • Instructor, Fiction Workshop: Fall 2007; Spring 2008

College Preparatory and Developmental Studies, University of Alaska-Anchorage, Anchorage, AK:

  • Adjunct Instructor, PRPE 108: Introduction to College Writing—Fall 2005; Spring 2006; Summer 2006
  • Adjunct Instructor, PRPE 086: Writing Strategies—Fall 2005

Humanities Department, Matanuska-Susitna College, Palmer, AK:

  • Adjunct Instructor, PRPE 108: Introduction to College Writing—Summer 2006

English Department, Kingsborough Community College, Brooklyn, NY:

  • Adjunct Instructor, English 12: Freshman Composition—Summer 2005

PEN American Center, New York, NY: Spring-Summer 2005

  • Mentor, PEN Prison Writing Program: Mentored, critiqued and edited prison fiction writers via mail and one-on-one.

OTHER EXPERIENCE

Juneau Douglas Little Theater, Juneau, AK: July 2008-Present

  • President: Coordinate and oversee activities of non-profit community theater, including two original production runs each year.
  • Producer, 24-Hour Miracle: Coordinate annual one-day theater festival in which four teams of writers, directors and actors get 24 hours to produce four original one-act plays.

Plants Need Water Sketch Comedy, New York, NY: 2002-2005

  • Wrote, directed, performed original sketch comedy for shows and festivals.

Three Jews And A Persian Sketch Comedy, New York, NY: 1999-2002

  • Wrote, directed, performed original sketch comedy for shows and festivals.

AWARDS

First Prize, Juneau Playwright Project One-Act Play Competition 2008
Cornell University Arthur Lynn Andrews Prize for Undergraduate Short Fiction 1998