Name: Larry Gilstad ~~ (www.gilstadmedia.com)
First clue you wanted to be a writer; summarize the situation: I’ve never considered myself a writer in the literal sense (pun intended) since I’ve spent the bulk of my career in video production. I considered writing the scripts and narratives part of the creative process. Writing for print was and remains an agonizing process for me. There was no ‘eureka’ moment. However, when I was a junior in high school a speech class requirement was participation in a district declamation tournament. The teacher, Florine Dooley, suggested I compete in ‘Radio Announcing’. I won. Then I won the regional. Instant gratification, and my career plans changed.
Earliest remembered writing and publishing experience: The high school newspaper, the Cedar Post in the fall of 1966 printed my two-inch story on the muddy student parking lot (I think) after the paper’s adviser, Mr. Hamilton, had drowned my copy in red-ink corrections. My first ‘commercial’ publication was for the Sandpoint Daily Bee. That three-inch story paid $4.50
What part of your education helped you most on your path to writing?
- Writing. Even though it was painful, the more I wrote the easier it became.
- Reading. I started reading science fiction in first grade (Robert Heinlein’s Have Spacesuit Will Travel). It opened my mind to the concept that anything’s possible.
- Required Courses. I took a course in communications law that confirmed I didn’t want to be a lawyer. A history of architecture course taught me to look at buildings in a new and delightful way. And, a dreaded graduate course in modern poetry that I actually enjoyed.
Who influenced you most along your way and how? Mr. Hamilton. He taught me how to write a decent lead sentence that, in broadcast journalism, is just about all the time you get to tell a story. Florine Dooley assumed I would do my best, so naturally I tried
Your publications or venues for writing: When I was working for the University of Miami, a few of my video news releases made it to the networks along with regionally and nationally televised football ‘halftime spots’ between 1983 and 1999. The Hurricanes were winning bowl games and national championships on a regular basis back then. It was always a thrill to see my work and hear my voice on national TV.
I’ve written, produced, and directed freelance projects ranging from fundraising videos for a new medical school in Samoa to a ‘comeback’ video for Gabe Kaplan, to local commercials for car insurance and dental services.
I’m currently a visual information specialist at the Miami VA Healthcare System, a job I got as a result of a freelanced video my wife and I produced for them. It won a ‘Best in Florida’ film festival award, which probably helped. Most of my writing now involves video news stories for the Veterans’ Administration (VA) Knowledge Network, information and training videos, and award submission/acceptance segments. The hospital was just named the “Best in VA.”
Nuggets of advice for young writers in middle school and high school:
Learn the basics. You’d be surprised at the number of people who have a problem with simple sentence structure and grammar. If you don’t have the tools, you can’t build the house.
Know your audience. Write to and for them.
Define the goal of your writing. I’ve had more than one client ask me to write a ‘fund raising, promotional feel-good’ multi-purpose piece. Sure, it can be done. But is it effective?
