23. Bestselling Self-Taught Writer
Cathy Scott
An L.A. Times bestselling author and blogger for Psychology Today, Cathy Scott left a secretarial job and broke into journalism. She wrote eleven books and taught journalism at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Her work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine. Recent TV appearances include Dateline and the Today Show.
How Did You Start Using Your Talents?
Unsatisfied with her secretarial job at a California phone company, she freelanced for a new local newspaper, paid by the story. Self-taught, she studied the work of leading reporters. Quickly winning awards for her work, she found a calling writing crime stories, often drawn to the underdog.
The Most Impactful Turning Point?
Landing a full time job on a small daily newspaper and leaving behind a freelance job as a business editor, she realized she never wanted to write about business again. At The Vista Press, her skills won recognition and she bagged an assignment with the first marines sent to Somalia.
The Most Powerful Lessons Learned?
A line of dialog in the film, An Officer and a Gentleman, crystallized her motivation: “If you want something, go get it!” She recalls, “That just resonated with me. You have to go with your gut. That’s what I went with. And it was hard.”
On Her Bookshelf
Along with the writings of leading journalists, Cathy is filling bookshelves with books she has researched and written. Two that went behind the headlines are:
The Killing of Tupac Shakur, by Cathy Scott
The Murder of Biggie Smalls, by Cathy Scott
Murder of a Mafia Daughter: The Life and Tragic Death of Susan Berman, by Cathy Scott
Top Tools on Her Browser
Two groups for artists on Facebook: Magically Mixed Art Community, and Artful of Soul. There are also public groups searchable under Mixed Media and More.
Connecting With Cathy Scott
Website:
Twitter:
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/cathyscott
LinkedIn:
