Thank you for this opportunity to share a little bit about myself and why I am the next, greatest decision Editor World will make.<br /><br />I am an individual that believes in a clear presentation of meaning in communication, so audience member(s) understand what they are digesting and why. Such an assertion should not be mistaken for a stoic view of communication - to the contrary. If metaphorical speech is appropriate, then I believe in allusions and descriptions that foster audience understanding. Should the text be more scientific, then concise descriptions of problem, hypothesis, experiment, outcome and applications become paramount. This belief system lays bare the great importance of an author's choice of words and the equal weight carried by those she chooses to omit. Consider these statements as examples:<br /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">"Words - so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ~Nathaniel Hawthorne from&nbsp;<em>Passages from the American Note-Books of Nathaniel Hawthorne&nbsp;</em>(1868)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">"Speak only when you are sure that your words are better than your silence."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ~ Anonymous</div>
<br />Mr. Hawthorne describes the inherent strength of words and an author's selection&nbsp;of them, while Anonymous provokes the reader to remember the absence of them can be just as powerful.&nbsp;<br /><br />Regular practice within this belief system that included News Editor for the University of Hawai'i at Hilo and a student representative for the Communicators! Committee at the same university placed a variety of audience types and needs before me as an editor and writer. After graduating with high honors from the English program, I continue to use this skill set for regular communications with federal agencies and local organizations regarding my mentally disabled sister-in-law and in editing assignments and term papers for my wife's Specialist program at Walden University. It also fostered an understanding of the English language in both the written and spoken forms. The time (even if constrained)&nbsp;that can be given to prose allows me to consider a piece of writing and the grammatical structures that formulate it in matters of context, comparison and contrast, audience, topic, accuracy and connotation (a strong part of any written piece as alluded to by Mr. Hawthorne).&nbsp;<br /><br />I find my editing and writing skills to be invaluable&nbsp;to my success in every aspect of life. I am particular about all of my correspondence and apply the same care to another's writing entrusted to me; from a social media quip to a term paper, I demand writing be contextually correct in both spelling and meaning. Accurate spelling and grammar use puts a confidence in the reader that what he is reading is trustworthy and of value. Clear meaning as it relates to an intended audience leaves little question in the most educated reader's mind and still has the power to inform those whose understanding wanes. It is here - this point of great concern for the written word and the power it has over nternational, national, state, community, local and interpersonal relations - that my desire to become a practicing editor finds it rigor and a place for positive change.<br /><br />Outside of my primary concern for appropriate communication, but certainly not separated from it, is the person I am in daily life. My wife and I live in Pahoa, Hawai'i located on the southeast portion of the Big Island. We have a 22 month-old son who attends a Hawaiian immersion program, and my wife's father and sister live with us as well. I label myself a stay-at-home dad, but caring for my sister-in-law and maintaining the acre of land we live on also fits into my role at home. I enjoy reading, walking with my son and our dog, hiking through the local rain forests and finding those seldom traveled paths and camping spots here on Hawai'i Island.&nbsp;<br /><br />How might I bring together all of these aspects of the person I am while at the same time find a way to use my skill sets to complement my family's economic status?<br />I believe the answer lies in the editing profession through the digital medium of today's technological zeitgeist. In other words, I would make the perfect, home-based editor for clients who are comfortable with the online environment and digital files. This, in turn, makes me the perfect candidate for an editorial position with Editor World.<br /><br />Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions regarding my submission, and many thanks for your consideration. I look forward to hearing more about my future with Editor World.&nbsp;<br /><br />~ Michael Pankowski