[stylist] bios and cover letters

[Applebutter Hill]

Thea,
Thank God, I had my man before dating sites came along. But, if I were to
use them, I would not include a mention of blindness. If you talk about the
things that interest you, that you love, that you enjoy and then someone
wants to get to know you and gets mad that you didn't tell them you're
blind, that says something about them that is best for you to find out
sooner than later.

However, if you try to avoid that by telling them up front, you risk two
things. First is the predator factor that you mention and second is the fact
that people have a knee-jerk reaction about blindness. If that's  the first
thing they learn, they are likely not to notice the other stuff. I believe
that the people who like you for other reasons will have to grapple more
with the blindness thing before dismissing you and everything they initially
liked about you. So, I would avoid mentioning it for as long as possible.
You aren't obligated to mention your blindness. If someone called  me on it,
I'd ask them why that is such a big deal to them? It's all a grand
experiment, so be a scientist about it, and whatever happens is less likely
to hurt you.
Donna
Donna

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Miss Thea
Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2014 11:18 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] bios and cover letters

Donna, if you joined a dating site, would you mention your disability in
your profile?
I always have, but it makes you vulnerable to would-be scammers.
I have because I didn't want to get people's hope up, then have them express
disappointment or even anger that I didn't tell them.
I suppose I could tell them after we start getting to know each other?
Just a thought.
Thea

-----Original Message-----
From: Applebutter Hill
Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2014 11:07 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] bios and cover letters

Atty,
Some of the blindness and disability publications want you to include
something about it, but other than that, I am trying to say as little as
possible about it. I decided to leave something in on my LinkedIn profile,
because I am trying to connect with people in the blindness professions and
activists. But, that said, I still push it down into the text as far as
possible. Blindness is part of who I am, but I want people to know about
some of the other parts of me before they find out.

I wouldn't personally say that I am a blind writer. I'm a writer and write
about this that and the other thing. I was the first legally blind kid
mainstreamed in my school district. That way they don't pigeonhole your
writing yet they find out you're blind in a way that keeps it in
perspective. Just my two cents.
Donna

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Atty Rose
Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2014 5:28 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: [stylist] bios and cover letters

Hi gang,

When you send a bio to a magazine, they want cover letter, brief bio, that
sort of thing, do you write that you are a blind writer working blah blah,
living blah blah....

In other words, do you mention your blindness? I did for Breath and Shadow
but none of the other ones.

What are your thoughts on the matter?

Atty
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://writers.nfb.org/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/applebutterhill%40gmail
.com



_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://writers.nfb.org/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/thearamsay%40rogers.com



_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://writers.nfb.org/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/applebutterhill%40gmail
.com