Small Success

On Tuesday I applied to Examiner.com to write for them. I chose Baltimore history as my topic and put together a sample. Submitted, received, thanks you'll hear from us in two weeks blah blah blah...and 24 hours later, there's a mail in my inbox saying I've been accepted. Someone liked my writing. That alone is pause worthy.

It's small, and it's not remunerative, but it's "published". It will look good on my resume.I expect it will be pretty fun to do the research and write the pieces. My sample piece had a 250 - 300 word max, which was hard for me. My original piece was 500 words, I had to do some major evisceration on it to meet that maximum. For interested parties, here's my sample:

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Federal Hill is renowned for both it’s beautiful views and it’s role in Baltimore history. With panoramic views of the Baltimore Harbor, the hill provides visitors with an opportunity to see the historic waterfront in a park setting.

Digging deeper into the history of Federal Hill uncovers some important episodes in the city’s history . Federal Hill was known a until 1789 as Signal Hill, and was the location of a maritime observatory. During the celebrations to commemorate the signing of the Constitution, it was renamed Federal Hill.

There are a number of tunnels under the hill. The original purpose of the tunnels is unclear, with local speculation ranging from mining excavation to storage for ammunition. The city has made no archaeological efforts to study the tunnels.

Federal Hill played an important role in the Union’s plan to control Baltimore during the civil war. The southern sympathizing city was an important railroad , and the Union need it to move men to southern battlefields. Early Union troop movements through Baltimore resulted in angry mobs of Baltimoreans harassing Union soldiers , culminating in the Baltimore Riot. In 1861, Federal Hill was occupied by Union troops under the command of General Benjamin F Butler. Earthworks and gun emplacements were built, with the guns faced into the recalcitrant city’s business district. Legend has it that one of the tunnels under the hill was built in this era to allow soldiers enter the fort.

Federal Hill today is a beautiful park. In the summer months, the free “Flicks on the Hill” series at the American Visionary Art Museum brings families to the hill to watch free movies projected onto the Museum wall. Tourists and locals alike climb the hill for fresh breezes and a beautiful view of the waterfront, among the whispers of history.