Carol Sklenicka

Cal Poly - B.A. English, 1971; History minor

Other degrees/certificates:

Ph.D English and American Literature, Washington University in St. Louis, 1986

Current city/state:

Duncan Mills, CA

Employer:

Self

Job Title:

former teacher (high school and college), now full-time writer

How Long in Current Position:

I've been self-employed since 2003.

Brief description of position duties/responsibilities:

I have been writing one book most of this time, a biography of Raymond Carver published by Scribner.

What specific qualities/abilities, skills are necessary for this position:

Independence, research skills, interviewing skills, writing ability.

While at Cal Poly, what resources did you take advantage of that have helped you in your current position:

Literature and writing courses.

What advice would you give to someone interested in your profession?

Learn to do original research.  Don't rely on the Internet.

Is there anything you'd like to personally add about how you found your way to your current career since graduating from Cal Poly as an English major?  Any memorable epiphanies that marked major turning points on which path you chose?

I was a teacher for many years before I was able to write full time, but I do feel that being an English major at a place like Cal Poly (where there were not many humanities majors) taught me to work independently.