E-mail: writer@carolynettinger.com

CHARLOTTESVILLE WRITER & PET SITTER SELECTED TO TEACH AT AWARD-WINNING CONFERENCE

Carolyn Ettinger to Teach Pet Writing for the Beginner at 2009 Muse Online Writer’s Conference

     "Pet writing is an excellent market for the beginning freelancer and animal enthusiast," says Carolyn Ettinger, Charlottesville-based cat sitter and freelance writer.

     She knows how difficult breaking into the world of published writing can be. That is why she submitted a proposal to teach Pet Writing for the Beginner at the 2009 Muse Online Writer’s Conference. Now, with her proposal accepted, Ms. Ettinger wants to use her knowledge to help other would-be writers and animal lovers develop their skills.

     The annual internet-based conference is free and open to writers of any level who register. This year it is scheduled for October 12-18. During the conference, Ms. Ettinger will teach a workshop and also offer a live-time chat session for specific questions.

     Ms. Ettinger says about her workshop, "I want to cover where to look for article ideas, what pet publications are and aren’t looking for, how to define the right market for an article, and the challenges and opportunities the pet writing market presents."

     Carolyn Ettinger is a long-time animal lover and advocate.  Her earliest experience with animals began with pets, yet she was only nine when her heart yearned to do more.  During her youth and teen years, she volunteered at her local SPCA and at the Wildlife Center of Virginia.

     After graduating with a B.A. in history from University of Virginia, Carolyn attended Vermont Law School specifically for its animal welfare course offerings.  While there, she founded and published the Animal Advocate Newsletter, served as president of the VLS chapter of the Animal Legal Defense Fund, and volunteered as a feral cat socializer for the Lucy McKenzie Memorial Humane Society.

     After school, Ms. Ettinger held several positions writing for various organizations, including covering animal shelter and court issues as feature reporter for a weekly newspaper, and creating activist materials, magazine and web articles for a national animal welfare group.

     Ms. Ettinger now offers cat sitting in the Charlottesville area and is also a freelance writer, blogger, and researcher.  She was recently featured as a guest blogger at Cryptomundo.com and writes and distributes the bi-monthly newsletter for the Central Virginia Cryptozoology Club.

     Carolyn Ettinger’s pet sitting website can be found at www.pawsforabreak.com. Her freelance writing website, currently under construction, is at www.carolynettinger.com.

     The website for the free annual Muse writer’s conference is www.themuseonlinewritersconference.com.

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If you’d like more information or to schedule an interview with Carolyn Ettinger, please e-mail writer@carolynettinger.com