Writing tip:

Avoid clichés like the plague. They are a dime a dozen, and you will look as dumb as a doornail. Obviously this is an extreme example, but you see the point. Overuse of trite and hackneyed phrases can distract the reader and may reflect poorly on the writer.

Personal Interests

A professional writer should be comfortable with a wide range of topics. Without a breadth of general knowledge, the writer's voice lacks authority, and every sentence becomes research. I have yet to find a field of endeavor in which I do not maintain at least a passing interest; however, some topics have captured my attention and persisted long enough to become hobbies.

Technology-Related Interests

Although technology has become the dominant force in my ever-changing career, the topic remains so broad that it cannot be considered a monolith. I enjoy a range of activities for their own sake, regardless of whether they yield any income. Examples:

History of computing
Information security
Application programming
Flash animation
Ray-traced rendering

Creative and Lofty Pursuits

Much of my personality was established during childhood. My father was an engineer, and my mother was an artist and musician. Their influence helped establish my eclectic personality, as they showed me a world filled with both precision and beauty. Examples:

Photography (digital and film)
Music performance and composition
Art and music appreciation
Chess and other games of skill
Cooking and gourmet cuisine

Academic and Philosophical Topics

Some topics and activities I enjoy are a bit more esoteric. Although most people leave these subjects behind upon graduation, I have never been able to do so. These fields of study have tremendous implications for the future of our species. Examples:

Astronomy and space exploration
World history and geography
Politics and political theory
Psychology and sociology
Environmental science

Personal Memberships

My current personal memberships include:

American Mensa
Internet Society
Planetary Society
U.S. Chess Federation
National Geographic Society
Nature Conservancy
Skeptics Society
CSICOP (a skeptic organization)
Electronic Frontier Foundation
Photographic Society of America
Libertarian Party