Reilly, Wordsmith

I'm Jim Reilly, and writing has been a component of most of the jobs that I've had in my life.  Long before I offered seo copywriting services, I'd created procedures manuals for the administrative staff of a large investment company, distilled the notes from three-day annual meetings into concise prose for a childcare agency, and crafted humorous emcee material for black-tie fundraising galas.  Additionally, I'd edited marketing documents for an $12 billion hedge fund.

I'm building a green-roof house, only the fifth in the state of New Jersey.  I designed the house myself, guided it through the approval process, and have carried it over 50% of the way to completion with the help of many amazing friends and neighbors.  Here's where the construction stands now:

        Driveway View                Roof of Living Room

       Front Wall Detail                   The Crane

 I also work as an actor, having played dozens of major roles at regional theatres all over the United States, and appeared in numerous commercials in the United States and Europe.  My appearance as a labor expert in a webcast on The Onion, like so much of the comedic acting work I've done, has informed my sensibility as a writer.  My current spot is for the anti-smoking Truth campaign.

Those writers who have influenced me the most are Thomas Merton (The Seven Storey Mountain), Norman Vincent Peale (The Power of Positive Thinking), Woody Allen (Without Feathers), William Manchester (The Last Lion), Steve Martin (Cruel Shoes, Born Standing Up), and Monty Python's Flying Circus (The Brand New Monty Python Papperbok).  These people wrote with personality, style, and great quirky humor, and they offer a welcome antidote to the blandness that characterizes so much writing today.  Fortunately, the growing sophistication of search engines has made them better able to recognize good writing.

I try to lead an active, outdoor lifestyle.