Karen is vivacious, fun, smart, and beautiful. Below is the rough draft of her original profile for an online dating website. After I interviewed her, I constructed the following SuperYenta version. Following that, you’ll find my edits with comments. Enjoy! --SY
Before
About Me:
You could say that I am a walking contradiction (aren't most humans?!). I prefer to think I am multi-faceted.
- Sometimes I'm the life of the party, and other times I'm happier putzing around the house
- Urban life suits me, yet I miss being close to nature. Ideally I’ll have both (and plenty of farm animals!)
- Staying healthy is important to me, and so is life balance. In other words, you'll sometimes find me on a juice fast and others with a frosty vodka-based beverage
- I'm just as happy to get dolled up to paint the town red as I am to bundle up and head to the mountains
- I love to entertain. I often plan theme parties to support my love of costuming. My attic has since been turned into a giant costume closet.
- I have a beautiful case of wanderlust, and I hope it never goes away. I live to travel
About you:
You know what you want in life and are working in that direction. You understand yourself and can communicate your thoughts and feelings. You are confident but not narcissistic, ambitious but not a bull, emotional but not needy, able to give and receive love, and you are looking for someone to be your partner in crime, love and life.
And then of course there is that beautiful thing we call chemistry – that is a must-have.
Bonus points if you are handy and love to travel.
…….
Notes from SuperYenta: Your online description needs to be personal and specific but not so specific that people wonder, “What the heck is this person talking about? Farm animals?” Write something that needs no explanation and does not sound mysterious, illegal, bored, or over it. In Karen’s interview, I discovered that she goes to great lengths to make children comfortable in her home. I highlighted this as an attribute, because with all her partying, it is important for men to know that she loves kids and is comfortable around them.
Karen’s About You was well-thought out. I liked its breadth and that it didn’t sound like a checklist of bad attributes from her prior relationships. I also liked that she mentioned communication. I think bad communicators will read that and move on, exactly what she wants them to do.
After
About Me:
I am the antidote to your boring dating life. Growing up in the country gave me down-on-the-farm earthiness (I entered a prized goat in the county fair) yet I love nothing more than my urban life here in (city withheld). I am happy out and about, and I love to entertain and throw parties at my own house. I also cherish quiet moments at home with my dog.
I am professional, but I am more of a “work to live, not live to work” person. I love to travel and when I go, I like to spend a big chunk of time in interesting places, such as Buenos Aires or Tulum.
Socially, I love to attend public festivals and big goings-on and plan and attend theme parties in costume. At Burning Man to Carnivale or the Pride Parade, you’ll typically find me either as part of the action or as an enthusiastic cheerleader on the sidelines, or the one hosting the costumed after-party.
Family is very important to me and I hope it is for you too. I grew up nearby and see my extended family often. Many of my friends have children and I love including them in my life. Oftentimes, they themselves are the life of the parties.
I am old enough to know that I need someone who can join me at all of these places: from the outrageous and high-spirited to the restful and family-focused. I can guarantee a terrific time. Can you?
Okay Karen, you’ve been Yenta-fied! Let us know how the revised profile fares online.
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