Comic Books, Localization and Magazine Writing

Manga and Manhwa

One of the most enjoyable parts of my work is a bit unusual: I am a rewriter for several companies that import and publish comic books from Japan and Korea. My job for these companies is to take a rough translation and smooth it out so that it sounds like it was written by a native speaker of American English. I also do some copy editing on these texts and apply special formatting that helps in-house editors get them ready for layout.

The manga and manhwa I've helped rewrite include:

For TOKYOPOP, Inc.:
• Saver, an action/adventure title from Korea.
• Issues 10-14 of Japanese romantic comedy Tramps Like Us. (This was called Kimi wa Petto in Japan, where it was a successful TV show.
• Momo Tama, a shonen (boys') adventure comedy.
• Japanese teen drama Nosatsu Junkie.
• Devil's Bride, a TOKYOPOP original series.
• Castle of Dreams, a two-volume anthology of short stories by Masami Tsuda, author of the popular series Kare Kano.

For Viz Media:
• The Magic Touch, a high school romantic comedy about massage.

For Seven Seas Entertainment:
• Inukami!, the story of a high school boy and his exasperating but loyal dog-girl companion.
• Strawberry Panic!, a romance title set at a Japanese all-girls school.
• The Last Uniform, also a girls' love title set at a boarding school.
• First Love Sisters, another high school romance.

I have also done a small amount of localization and editing for legal journal articles.

Magazine Writing

I have stopped actively pursing magazine writing work because everything else keeps me too busy! However, my background is as a journalist and I do still enjoy writing for a general audience. Perhaps more important for visitors to this site, I have a collection of magazine writing clips that help me show off writing chops that go beyond Web sites. Here are a few:

• "Stop a Cold Before It Stops You," February 2010, Whole Life Times
  A service piece on natural ways to fight off or treat a winter cold, using things you probably already have in your kitchen. I was pleased to have the expert advice of a doctor and herbal medicine specialist from UCLA, as well as numerous academic studies, to draw on for this.
• "It's a Privilege," February 2008, GC California (Premium subscribers only)
  A short piece about a court decision that expanded attorney-client privilege slightly for in-house counsel in California.
• "A Freelancer's Legal Primer," December 2007, The Writer magazine (Subscription only; available on request.)
  A Freelance Success column with tips for writers on following copyright law and avoiding bad contracts.
• "Sweets in Manga," October 2007, Shojo Beat magazine
  A short article on the depiction of Japanese sweets, both traditional and modern, in manga.
• "Fourth Circuit Invalidates FMLA Waivers," September 2007, Inside Counsel magazine
  The Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in July of 2007 that employees may not waive their rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, unless it's approved by a court or the U.S. Department of Labor, even if they do it voluntarily, and after their employment is over. This article takes a look at what that means for employers and their in-house attorneys.
• "Illinois Expands Damages in Wrongful Death Suits," August 2007, Inside Counsel magazine
  This piece explores how in-house attorneys in Illinois could limit their liability under their state's May 2007 law permitting "pain and suffering" damages.
• "Group Hopes Gaucher Becomes Household Name," November 2006, The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles
  A news piece about one man's attempt to raise awareness in the Jewish community about a rare but devastating disease that strikes Jews of East European descent disproportionately.
• "Super-Size That Lawyer," February 2006, Ward's Dealer Business
  A business and legal news feature for an automotive industry magazine.
• "Protect Your Network from the Enemy Within," (PDF format) November 2005, Law Firm, Inc.
  A service article advising information technology staffers at large law firms on how to avoid having their networks compromised from within.
• "Cellular Divide," (PDF format) October 2005, Los Angeles Alternative Press
  A feature for an alternative weekly about the potential of California's stem cell research initiative, and how it affects one family in Los Angeles struggling with Parkinson's Disease.
• "Just Married! (after 28 years),," (PDF format) April 2004, Los Angeles Alternative Press
  An alternative weekly feature about the 2003 explosion of same-sex marriage in California.