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John McParadise

John McParadise

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Career Roadmap

John's work combines: Writing, Technology, and Learning / Being Challenged

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Day In The Life

Senior Technical Writer

Author/Tech Writer

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    English Language and Literature, General

    Cleveland State University

Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Technical Writers:

Bachelor's Degree: Computer Science

Learn more about different paths to this career

Life & Career Milestones

I've taken a lot of twists and turns

  • 1.

    First, I read Jack Keruoac...

  • 2.

    Then, I traveled around the country...

  • 3.

    Then, 9/11 happened...

  • 4.

    Then, I wrote Road Trippn' (novel).

  • 5.

    Then, I moved to Florida to teach during a historic hurricane season...

  • 6.

    Then, I enlisted in the Navy, and deployed my first day of duty onboard the Last Tomcat Cruise...

  • 7.

    Then, I returned to VA Beach and harmonized to beach bum mode, beginning book 2...

  • 8.

    Then, I tried a new career and got Road Trippn' published by a publisher from back home in Cleveland.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Society in general:

    You need to stop dreaming and grow up, stop being so naive and nice to people who don't deserve it all the time, be more serious for a change...etc.

  • How I responded:

    An innate stubborness predicated on a firm belief in the value of life's inevitable Karmic equation.

Experiences and challenges that shaped me

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  • Part of the reason I joined the Navy was to alleviate student loan debt. My family had very little money growing up, but my faith in God, and the value of treating others fairly and working hard and honestly sustained me.

  • Growing up was challenging. My father's alcoholism and subsequent physical and verbal aggression left no small stain of trauma; simultaneously, it strengthened me and broadened my sense of compassion.