B R I E F S
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER:
WRITING WITH A J.D.
B Y TAY LOR A L LYN
Professor James Sheehan J.D. ’77 teaches at Stetson Law and
is the author of four published fiction novels. Drawing upon
personal experience and real cases, Sheehan creates tales of
murder and mayhem that work to humanize both those accused
of committing a crime and the attorneys representing them. As a
former civil litigator, he was tasked
with representing
people every day who
put their lives in his
hands and wants to
bring fresh perspective
to those whose lives
are on the line. By
taking the time to flesh
out three-dimensional,
sympathetic, realistic
characters, Sheehan
crafts stories that urge the reader to think critically about crime,
context, and capital punishment.
Sheehan began writing to deal with the stress of practicing law and
sees it as his creative outlet. He urges anyone who wants to write
to do it for their own self-satisfaction. “When you have something
you enjoy doing,” Sheehan said, “you find the time to do it.”
Matt Towery J.D. ’87 is a former Georgia state representative,
political analyst, and current corporate strategist, blending his legal
expertise with years of experience as a corporate CEO. Towery’s
diverse background has allowed him to tackle many kinds of
writing throughout his career, from general news columns to political
commentary. His latest book,
Newsvesting, is based
on a formula
he created to
measure how
news impacts
the stock market.
Towery never
let his political
background affect
his writing, instead
seeking to write only
what made sense. He
credits his legal education with instilling this neutrality in him,
allowing him to see issues from both sides and to analyze them in
a methodical, measured way.
Towery’s advice to writers: Write because you have a passion, not
because you want to make money. It’s all about being in the right
place at the right time and knowing the right people.
Christine Platt J.D.
’05 is a historian and
former environmental
policy advisor turned
children’s book author.
Her most recent
publications are a series
of children’s books
centered around the
African-American
experience. After
struggling to find
books for her daughter,
Platt discovered a startling lack of literature written for and about
African-American children. She said that she wants to write books
for children that operate as both a window and a mirror—shining
a light on a particular experience while depicting characters and
events that are often intensely familiar to the reader.
Platt said that her legal career and education gave her the thick
skin and appreciation of constructive criticism that help writers
excel in the harsh world of publishing. She encouraged prospective
writers to keep at it and to believe in their writing and story.
Nora Bergman J.D. ’92 is a business coach for attorneys and the
former executive director of the St. Petersburg Bar Association.
Her most recent book, 50 Lessons for Women Lawyers from Women
Lawyers, comes out in May and is what Bergman calls “one of
the most fulfilling projects of her
career.” Driven by
her own experience
as a woman in law,
the book combines
the knowledge of
nearly 50 women
lawyers and functions
as a platform
for these women to
share what they have
learned working in
such a male-dominated
sphere. Bergman said
that she wants to share stories of success in the face of adversity
and provide lessons that are relatable on both a personal and
professional level.
Bergman stressed that there is no such thing as time management,
only self-management. If writing is something you want
to do, don’t be dissuaded by the time it takes. She urged aspiring
writers to reach out for support.
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