L.C. Spotlight: Palak Kapadia

Welcome back to the Literary Copywriter spotlight where I feature professional writers with creative pursuits. Today I interviewed Palak Kapadia, an award-winning copywriter/storyteller with literary ambitions. Palak’s love of language has led her to learning 6 languages and creating content for over 50 brands. She even taught ESL in France and is now taking a deeper dive into advertising. Let’s hear from Palak!

Literary Copywriter: Tell me about your writing journey. When did you first realize that a.) you are a writer, and b.) you want to make a living off of your writing?

Palak Kapadia:I think I always knew I wanted to be a writer. As far back as I can remember, I've had a voice in my head that talks constantly. One day, I decided to humor it and start writing everything down. As it would turn out, people enjoyed reading it. I then went on to become the kid whose essays were read out in class by the English teacher and there was no turning back. When I was 16, I found out about a short story writing content that Harper Collins had organized. I wrote an epistolary short story about love in the times of technology. It was picked as a winner from among 500 entries and was published in an anthology of short stories by Harper Collins.

When it came to picking what I wanted to do for a living, writing was a natural first choice. I often am awestruck by the fact that everyday I wake up and think, "All I have to do today is write". And that I can get paid to do something I would do regardless. How lucky am I?

L.C. Please describe your copywriting career. How did you get started? Who are your ideal clients.? Do you freelance or work for an agency?, etc.

P.K. When I figured I wanted to make a career in writing, I joined an undergraduate programme in Mass Media hoping to do journalism. Copywriting wasn't even on my radar. But one day, there was an inter-college Copywriting competition. Our teammate who was supposed to participate fell sick and couldn't show up. My team figured I should go instead because I write (even if I didn't know the first thing about Copywriting!). I went without knowing what to expect but actually ended up winning. My prize was a summer internship with MullenLowe. The next fall, I changed my major to advertising :)

Right after graduating, I got a job doing branded content with Terribly Tiny Tales - an Indian storytelling platform. I got the opportunity to create content and tell stories for over 50 brands. It was there that I discovered and honed my voice as a writer. I worked there for a little over a year and then I took a year off to teach English abroad in France. Then, I went to Miami Ad School to get more hardcore copywriting training. After doing my first year in Mumbai, I travelled to New York City where I interned at Ogilvy, VMLY&R and Droga5. Currently, I'm freelancing at Wieden+Kennedy.

When it came to picking what I wanted to do for a living, writing was a natural first choice. I often am awestruck by the fact that everyday I wake up and think, "All I have to do today is write". And that I can get paid to do something I would do regardless. How lucky am I?

L.C. I love supporting copywriters who are also hard at work on a creative, personal project. This could be a novel, memoir, poetry collection etc. Tell me more about what you’re working on and what you hope to gain from the experience (book deal, more publications, career change, personal growth, etc.). Feel free to share how you balance work, life, and writing. It’s okay, if you’re struggling with this. It’s all part of the process!

P.K. When I worked at Terribly Tiny Tales, in addition to creating content for brands, I also wrote a lot of the editorial content which included poems, musings, open letters and short stories. Some of my work there has also been published in 3 books by Penguin. I also created an Instagram account dedicated to my words where I publish all the writing I do for myself. I hope to turn it into a book of poetry someday.

To be very honest, ever since I started working in advertising I am struggling with finding time and energy to write outside of it. After spending all day writing for brands, I'd much rather read than write more. But I'm making a more conscious effort to find a balance and do more writing for the soul.

Some of my work there has also been published in 3 books by Penguin. I also created an Instagram account dedicated to my words where I publish all the writing I do for myself. I hope to turn it into a book of poetry someday.

L.C. Writers are needed but often undermined/underappreciated. Especially those of us with literary goals in mind! If applicable, could you speak to how you’ve faced/overcome challenges in your career? It’s okay if these challenges are ongoing (they often are). Feel free to share any words of wisdom you may have from mentors, literary heroes, etc.

P.K. I think as artists, it's very hard to learn how not to take criticism personally. What you do is such a huge part of who you are, it becomes hard to separate the two sometimes. That has been a challenge for me but I'm learning how to overcome it. In advertising, something you write may not work for myriad reasons - none of them being your talent. I'm slowly learning that often negative feedback means "This is not a good piece of writing" and not "You're not a good writer".  I've been lucky to always have mentors who are very invested in my creative growth so it helps to know the criticism is always constructive.

And when all else fails, I find myself going back to a moment from the Gerwig's version of Little Women where Beth tells Jo, "You were a writer before anyone knew or paid you for it." Those are wise words that really help when I'm placing all my self-worth in finding a creative way to sell tampons :) 

I think as artists, it's very hard to learn how not to take criticism personally. What you do is such a huge part of who you are, it becomes hard to separate the two sometimes. That has been a challenge for me but I'm learning how to overcome it.

L.C.  Say someone much younger than you says, “I want to be a writer, but I’m afraid I won’t succeed.” What would you tell them?

Ask yourself - if I win the lottery, will I still do what I do? If the answer is yes, then you aren't writing for the money, fame or success. You're writing for yourself. It is its own reward. Then what is there to be afraid of? Failure is a part of the process. But you have a lot more to lose if you never try!

Connect with Palak Kapadia!

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More from The Literary Copywriter

L.C. Spotlight: An Interview with Alicia Jones

A Guide to Publishing in Literary Magazines

L.C. Spotlight: An Interview with Evan Brown

If you’re a professional writer with literary ambitions, I’d love to hear from you

Your Friend in Craft,

Emily

L.C. Spotlight: Alicia Jones

Welcome back to the Literary Copywriter spotlight where I feature professional writers with creative pursuits. Today I interviewed Alicia Jones, a creative writer/blogger and founder of AJ’s Diary. I sat with Alicia to learn more about her journey. Let’s hear from Alicia!

Literary Copywriter: Tell me about your writing journey. When did you first realize that a.) you are a writer, and b.) you want to make a living off of your writing?

Alicia Jones: I think I was around 12 or 13 years old when I got my first diary.  Back in the day there were mobile libraries where the bus would come up to the school and the students would have about an hour to buy whatever they wanted.  I recall begging my mom for money just to buy one book.  When you stepped inside this mystical bus, it was a book lovers dream.  Books upon books, beautiful bookmarks and little quirky boxes with locks and keys.  That is when I saw my first diary.  My eyes lit up, and I'm certain my heart skipped a few beats.  The smell of the new pages turn after turn is something that is hard to describe.  You either love it, or run towards the nearest exit.  I couldn't begin to tell you how much I wrote in my diary or what I actually had to say.  As much as I would love to see that old diary I would likely cringe at my thoughts back then.  At that age I am sure it made absolutely no sense or perhaps it would have gone down in history as the most profound writing from a pre-teen.  Either way, buying that diary on that day sparked something in me that would be everlasting. Self expression is an art and a gift, all in one.  Learning how to get into that special space in your mind and convey your feelings for others to enjoy is simply magnificent.  Would I love to make a living off of my writing?  Most definitely.  But even if I never make one single penny from my work I will always love it, forever cherish the process and appreciate the journey.

For me I truly felt like that I could claim the title of author when I wrote my first short story, 'The Scent Of A Woman'.  I allowed myself to have fun creating the characters and just going with it.  My readers have requested a sequel, so we shall see what happens with part two of this story.  Stay tuned!

Self expression is an art and a gift, all in one.  Learning how to get into that special space in your mind and convey your feelings for others to enjoy is simply magnificent.  Would I love to make a living off of my writing?  Most definitely.  But even if I never make one single penny from my work I will always love it, forever cherish the process and appreciate the journey.

L.C. Please describe your writing career. How did you get started? Who are your ideal clients.? Do you freelance or work for an agency?, etc.  

A.J. I watched a show a couple of years ago and a woman mentioned that she was working on building a website for her blog. I thought it was amazingly cool and highly adventurous to create your own website.  I also thought it would be great to hire someone, however I am not wealthy, and I wanted it to be a labour of love, so I decided to do it myself.  I am the queen of research, so I decided to look into the different ways of creating a website and realized it was something I could achieve in about a decade.  It truly seemed impossible, but I felt it was my go-forward, so onward and upward I went.  Anyone who has embarked upon this journey knows what its like to want to throw your whole entire computer out the window so you truly understand my pain. The end result is everything and then some.  Are you wondering if I would do it all over again? The answer will always be yes each and every time.

AJ'S Diary was brought to life in 2018.  When I launched my website I cried, I celebrated with a champagne toast, and I smiled, a lot.  It was a very happy moment for me and it felt so damn good!  I will never forget the moment I hit publish.  My site is live???  Oh my God, my site is live!   I have made changes to my site here and there but overall I am very happy with the end result.  It is authentic, it will always convey peace and it has not only allowed me to grow as a writer but to get back to the thing I have loved for so very long.  I am independent, not currently working for anyone, but I'm open for the possibilities.  I did freelance work for an online magazine for about a year as a contributing writer which was amazing.

L.C. I love supporting writers who are also hard at work on a creative, personal project. This could be a novel, memoir, poetry collection etc. Tell me more about what you’re working on and what you hope to gain from the experience (book deal, more publications, career change, personal growth, etc.). Feel free to share how you balance work, life, and writing. It’s okay, if you’re struggling with this. It’s all part of the process!

 A.J. I started writing my first book at the beginning of the year.  I can't tell you what it's about because I only have about two sentences.  My goal was to have it completed at the end of this year however this year has thrown me for a loop.  I've learned never to rush the process, just appreciate the journey along the way.  When it is done I will most likely self-publish however I would love to have a book deal.  Over the past year I have met so many amazing writers and had numerous conversations about their experiences and what they have learned from years of writing.  I have taken so much knowledge from those interactions and it has shown me a great deal for the next steps I will take as a writer.  

My vision is clear and precise, to create great work.  I often go back to the very first post I wrote, it wasn't bad however I can see my growth in so many ways.  There have been moments I wanted to purge anything I deemed unworthy from my writing catalog but that would almost be the same as permanently erasing moments from my mind because they hurt too bad.   Good or bad it all strengthens you for what is to come.  Until my first book is completed, I am always writing and working on my next blog post.  Check me out, subscribe or contact me to find out what's coming next.

The fine art of balance lies somewhere in between my 9-5, exercising, making the perfect cup of tea, an occasional cup of coffee, champagne, calling my mom 15 times a day and running after two cats.  After all of that is done, I release my mind into my love of writing.  I wear as many hats as I possibly can without tumbling over, but I am always careful to understand my limits.  If I need to rest, I get plenty.  When I am in search of my portion of peace for the day I turn on my music and dance like a maniac and hope and pray my neighbors can't see me through the blinds.  It all boils down to knowing when to woosah, knowing when to boogie and knowing when to grind and get to work.  Just flow with it and the rest will fall in line.

Over the past year I have met so many amazing writers and had numerous conversations about their experiences and what they have learned from years of writing.  I have taken so much knowledge from those interactions and it has shown me a great deal for the next steps I will take as a writer.  

L.C. Writers are needed but often undermined/unappreciated. Especially those of us with literary goals in mind! If applicable, could you speak to how you’ve faced/overcome challenges in your career? It’s okay if these challenges are ongoing (they often are). Feel free to share any words of wisdom you may have from mentors, literary heroes, etc.  

A.J. The greatest challenge since I started this writing journey is getting out of my own mind.  There is enough doubt in the world and what is most damaging can be your own thoughts.  My own words of wisdom came after a conversation with a friend who is an author.  (There are levels to writing.  The one that matters the most is when you know your work is great no matter what 'they' say.  ~A. Jones)  Wondering what someone thinks can be draining and overwhelming.  Trust in the full and complete power of your own words. 

There are so many literary greats who have helped to pave my way and so many others like me.  A few of my favorite authors, J.D. Salinger, Erma Bombeck, Maeve Binchy, Clive Barker, James Baldwin and so many others.  Reading their works of art have inspired me to keep going. 

"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced."  -James A. Baldwin

L.C. Say someone much younger than you says, “I want to be a writer, but I’m afraid I won’t succeed.” What would you tell them?  

A.J. Take that fear and put it into words.  Start from within and just let your mind run free.  If you don't submit to the power and magic within writing you will regret never taking that leap of faith.  Maybe the first time you won't succeed and just maybe the first time you will blow them away, knock their socks off and make them say whoa! It takes courage to write your heart out, hit publish, or walk into a publishing house and ask them if they liked it enough to leave a comment or to draft up the papers for the book deal you are about to sign.  What happens if they say it was horrible and you have no talent?  There is not one single person who can take that power from you so pick up your crushed ego, cry in private if you need to, smile and remember that you created something all on your own and that speaks volumes.

Start from within and just let your mind run free.  If you don't submit to the power and magic within writing you will regret never taking that leap of faith.  Maybe the first time you won't succeed and just maybe the first time you will blow them away, knock their socks off and make them say whoa!

Connect with Alicia:

Twitter: 

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Interested in being featured in the L.C. Spotlight? I you’re a professional writer with creative pursuits, I’d love to hear from you.

More from The Literary Copywriter:

A Guide to Publishing in Literary Magazines

L.C. Spotlight: An Interview with Evan Brown

L.C. Spotlight: An Interview with Callahan Herrig

Your friend in Craft,

Emily

Literary Copywriter Spotlight: Evan Brown

Welcome back to The Literary Copywriter Spotlight where I feature professional writers and copywriters with creative pursuits. Today I interviewed Evan Brown, an award-winning copywriter and creative director. Evan has developed iconic advertising for some of the most well-known brands in the world. He is also the author of New Roman Times, a novel based on a Camper Van Beethoven album of the same name, and a short story collection called A-Sides & B-Sides. With a second science fiction novel currently forthcoming, Evan took advantage of the pandemic downtime to write his first cookbook. He currently lives on the west coast with his wife, daughter and two rambunctious cats. Let’s hear from Evan!

Literary Copywriter: Tell me about your writing journey. When did you first realize that a.) you are a writer, and b.) you want to make a living off of your writing?

Evan Brown: I owe a debt of gratitude to two people. The first was my copywriter mom. For some reason around the age of five or six, all I heard from her was that I had the personality for advertising and would have a ball if I ever got in to it. She explained what she did and how fun it was. To my ears, it sounded like she worked with a group of artistic adults who somehow kept their imagination from atrophying. Neat as that was, I was more interested in stuff like toys and video games at that age.

 The second person was my tenth grade creative writing teacher, Marilyn Bates. She was a fantastic writer and a gifted poet in her own right. She taught the basics of storytelling and imagery. But she also did something incredibly significant for me personally. She saw the writer inside that I didn’t see at the time. Treating me as an equal even if I was a diamond in the rough had a huge impact on me, although I didn’t realize it until much later.

 I spent two summers in high school attending the Young Writer’s Institute program at the University of Pittsburgh. I don’t know why I decided to rebel against my creative nature by studying journalism at Ithaca College but it only lasted a semester. I quickly transferred to Pitt because the creative writing department was highly regarded at the time. I never looked back.

 After publishing a few poems and short stories here and there and attempting a novel during college, I realized there was no way I was going to make a living off that kind of writing. I didn’t have the temperament or patience to be a teacher which is what most of the poets I knew were doing. Somewhere along the line I recalled what my mom said and decided to give this advertising thing a try.

 After fits and starts and a lot of rejection, I sucked it up and went to the Creative Circus to get a decent student portfolio. After that, it started to fall into place.

 L.C. Please describe your copywriting career. How did you get started? Who are your ideal clients.? Do you freelance or work for an agency?, etc.

 I landed an internship at BBDO in Atlanta which turned into a full-time job. Five years later, I moved sight unseen to Montreal to work on adidas for a shop called Sid Lee. I’ve spent the past ten years in Los Angeles working at places like 72andSunny, Chiat Day, Saatchi, and Media Arts Lab. I’ve been fortunate enough to work on brands like Apple, Activision, and adidas, but to me there’s no such thing as a bad brand. Only a bad brief.

 In 2018 I decided to take time off and write a novel. While I did write the novel, I never took any time off. I’ve been permalancing as a creative director ever since. I’ve been on seven and eight month contracts working at Garage Team Mazda and Faceboook. It’s the best of both worlds as I’m there long enough to make a mark, but I still have enough time to write.

L.C. I love supporting copywriters who are also hard at work on a creative, personal project. This could be a novel, memoir, poetry collection etc. Tell me more about what you’re working on and what you hope to gain from the experience (book deal, more publications, career change, personal growth, etc.). Feel free to share how you balance work, life, and writing. It’s okay, if you’re struggling with this. It’s all part of the process!

 I often feel like I had to wait for my ability to catch up with my purpose. After a decade and a half of cranking out scripts and headlines and decks, probably writing tens of thousands of words in the process, the ad industry forced me to get better, often at a frenetic (and usually unhealthy) pace.

 The day David Bowie died, I was laid up on the sofa with pneumonia and a high fever. In that weird state I wrote a short story, the first since I lived in Atlanta. Then an idea took hold to take the titles of my favorite songs and use them as inspiration to create something new. The result was a short story collection called A-Sides & B-Sides. One of the titles of the story came from a friend of mine, who then asked if I’d be interested in turning his band’s album into a novel. With that brief, I wrote my debut, New Roman Times. Finally, in March, during month one of California’s pandemic lockdown, I wrote a dark-humored cookbook called Joy of Pandemic Cooking. And since last month, I’ve started publishing articles for sites like Spectator and Splice Today, so in a sense I’ve even come full circle on the journalism route, too. I’ve been more prolific in the past four years than at any other time in my life.

 While all of my books have been self-published by choice I’ve managed to find an audience that has been receptive to my work. Now that I’ve finished a final draft of novel number two, I’m exploring the traditional publishing route, and with it the barrage of form-letter rejection slips from literary agents that come with it. But it’s all part of the process.

 As for work-life balance, I have a routine of getting up at five in the morning and writing for a few solid hours before work and family time. Sometimes it’s seven days a week. Once I’m involved, it is total immersion. If anything, my wife will sometimes have to force me to take a day or two off.

 L.C. Writers are needed but often undermined/unappreciated. Especially those of us with literary goals in mind! If applicable, could you speak to how you’ve faced/overcome challenges in your career? It’s okay if these challenges are ongoing (they often are). Feel free to share any words of wisdom you may have from mentors, literary heroes, etc.

 It comes down to knowing your creative worth. I once worked for a horrible creative director. The kind who thinks they are the only one in the agency who can write and will rewrite everything anyone else rather than actually direct the creative as their name would imply. At first his snide and patronizing comments like “you’re just not really getting it,” or “the voice of this brand is hard, not everyone can do it,” made me question my ability and my worth. And by this time, I was an ACD.

 I was really disheartened about it. But it gradually dawned on me that I was being gaslit by an arrogant jerk. I found out later I was the seventh copywriter in his group in two years to feel that way. That validated my opinion of him and of myself.

 Having said that though, it is important to keep learning, and never rest on your laurels. You can always get better. You just have to know who to learn from.

 Whether it’s advertising or literary work, if you can surround yourself with a support group of people who will read your work and give you honest and straightforward feedback, fantastic. You only need one person you can trust. Their value is immense.

 L.C. Say someone much younger than you says, “I want to be a writer, but I’m afraid I won’t succeed.” What would you tell them?

 I would tell them nobody comes out of the womb a fully-formed writer. Published authors work with editors all the time. Writing will always be a work in progress and this is something to embrace not fear. The only way someone doesn’t succeed is if they never begin.

 On that note, I would also ask them to define what success looks like. Obviously, very few of us will ever make Stephen King money. But if you can support ourselves with your words, year after year? I’d call that a success.

 Connect with Evan

Portfolio

Twitter

Amazon

Interested in being featured in the L.C. Spotlight? I’d love to hear from you.

More from The Literary Copywriter:

Literary Copywriter Spotlight: An Interview with Callahan Herrig

A Guide to Publishing in Literary Magazines

Literary Copywriter Spotlight: Jessica Leibe

Your Friend in Craft,

Emily

Literary Copywriter Spotlight: Callahan Herrig

Callahan Herrig

L.C. Spotlight 9/14/20

Welcome back to The Literary Copywriter Spotlight where I feature professional writers and copywriters with creative pursuits. Callahan is currently a Grant Writer and Freelance Copywriter. He studied English in Illinois, and currently lives in Iowa. He is also working on a novel with a growing list of short stories and poetry. Callahan has freelanced for the past few years with various agencies and businesses, currently looking to expand his client base for his next opportunity. He's working on his first novel and hoping to merge his love of copywriting and reading into a career. Callahan occasionally puts down his book and coffee to travel (though COVID has put a damper on that), solving a crossword puzzle, and enjoys the occasional Twilight Zone marathon. 

Let’s here from Callahan!

Literary Copywriter: Tell me about your writing journey. When did you first realize that a.) you are a writer, and b.) you want to make a living off of your writing?

Callahan Herrig: Not sure when I finally realized it, I always loved writing and reading. I wasn’t always the most expressive person and it’s hard for me to convey my thoughts aloud so often I would use writing and it seemed to just flow more smoothly. I’ve always admired writers, the way they observe and convey humans and their emotions has always appealed to me. 

I was about halfway through my college career studying business. I absolutely hated it, didn’t want to take the classes or pursue that career, I just saw it as how I would make money in the future. I ended up switching to English, absolutely loved the program and my professors. I had heard for so long about being an English major, what’re you going to do for a job? Frankly, there are a ton, you just have to find the right paths. Currently, I’m a grant writer for my full-time job as well as doing freelance and things on the side. It is absolutely possible to make a living off your writing, it can be a grind but it is absolutely possible. 

L.C. Please describe your copywriting career. How did you get started? Who are your ideal clients.? Do you freelance or work for an agency? etc.

C.H. To be honest, not sure when it really started. As I said, as an English major I did some work for local magazines and newspapers. I worked for several creative agencies and then eventually got hired to another agency in the area. I worked for a number of clients ranging anywhere from doctors/dentists, industrial companies, chambers of commerce, hospitals, etc. Not sure I have an ideal client per se, just prefer that communication is open and they’re willing to try new things. Love learning about new industries and coming at them with a fresh perspective. Currently, I do freelance for several clients and more than open to accept new businesses! 

L.C. I love supporting copywriters who are also hard at work on a creative, personal project. This could be a novel, memoir, poetry collection etc. Tell me more about what you’re working on and what you hope to gain from the experience (book deal, more publications, career change, personal growth, etc.). Feel free to share how you balance work, life, and writing. It’s okay, if you’re struggling with this. It’s all part of the process!

C.H. I finally got my brand and things going this year (the one good thing to come from COVID). I finally made Callahan Creative, my hub for all my writing, book reviews, freelance work, creative work, and everything in-between! Though I’ve done freelance work over the years I finally have a place to house everything. Aside from that, I have been working on a novel, (book deal/publication would be wonderful) and trying to juggle the full-time job, freelance work, and my own creative endeavors is definitely a challenge. 

 Managing your time is the best way to maximize your efficiency. Especially with work and life. With writing I feel it’s more of a personal thing, finding time in the day, taking a break when you aren’t in a creative space. Especially balancing writing and reading. I believe you need to read as much as you write to be a decent writer. Read from those that came before you, understand the process, the structure, and develop your own style.

L.C. Writers are needed but often undermined/unappreciated. Especially those of us with literary goals in mind! If applicable, could you speak to how you’ve faced/overcome challenges in your career? It’s okay if these challenges are ongoing (they often are). Feel free to share any words of wisdom you may have from mentors, literary heroes, etc.

C.H. Many write, few well. I think one of the bigger challenges is compensation. Writing takes time and effort, oftentimes these go overlooked because as I mentioned everyone can do it but not everyone does it well. Don’t be afraid to ask what you are worth. Another challenge is finding your place in the writing world. So many different pockets, writing, marketing, communications, public relations, don’t try to fit yourself into a box. Try out various avenues, find what you enjoy and what works best and expand. Learn from those in the industry, talk, see what they’ve done and continue to build yourself up. 

L.C. Say someone much younger than you says, “I want to be a writer, but I’m afraid I won’t succeed.” What would you tell them?

C.H. I would tell them to be comfortable in not succeeding. Writing is failure. You must continually write and rewrite and editors will then make corrections and you must rewrite again. We are in the business of continued failure, but when it’s finally right, it makes everything worth it. Frankly, you, the writer, needs to decide what you define as success? Is it getting an article published? Paid to write for a living, or your book deal finally coming through? Keep writing and you will succeed in some capacity. 

Connect with Callahan:

Callan Creative

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

 If you’re interested in being featured on the L.C. Spotlight, I’d love to hear from you!

More from The Literary Copywriter

L.C. Spotlight: An Interview with Lauren Wood

A Guide to Publishing in Literary Magazines

Use Your English Degree Like a Writer

Your friend in Craft,

Emily

Literary Copywriter Spotlight: Lauren Wood

Lauren Wood

L.C. Spotlight 9/8/20

Welcome back to the L.C. Copywriter Spotlight where I feature professional writers and copywriters with literary pursuits. Today I interviewed Lauren Wood, a copywriter, independent book store proprietor, and regular contributor to Medium and The Fusion Press. She’s also looking to launch a new publication that aims to bridge literature, history, commerce and art. Let’s hear from Lauren!

Literary Copywriter: Tell me about your writing journey. When did you first realize that a.) you are a writer, and b.) you want to make a living off of your writing?

Lauren Wood: I realized I was a writer at a young age. I found that writing was a much easier way to communicate and started journaling in grade school. To this day I still have doubts that I can make a living entirely by writing alone but it’s a fun thought.

L.C. Please describe your copywriting career. How did you get started? Who are your ideal clients.? Do you freelance or work for an agency?, etc.

L.W. I got started creatively writing and self-publishing my own titles, I even formed an independent publishing company (Paradisiac Publishing) that focuses on comedy titles. From there I started doing guest blogs and columns for a number of websites and publications and moved into ghost writing. I currently freelance but would be open to working for an agency. I regularly contribute to Medium and write for The Fusion Press and will occasionally ghost write for private clients.

L.C.: I love supporting copywriters who are also hard at work on a creative, personal project. This could be a novel, memoir, poetry collection etc. Tell me more about what you’re working on and what you hope to gain from the experience (book deal, more publications, career change, personal growth, etc.). Feel free to share how you balance work, life, and writing. It’s okay, if you’re struggling with this. It’s all part of the process!

L. W: Currently I am the proprietor of The Secret Bookstore It is an online bookstore that gives six weekly book picks as well as weekly expert book reviews by several writer friends of mine (Ryan Buynak, Sarah Elgatian and Callahan Herrig). People can place a book order through Instagram for any title they choose. Additionally I am launching a new publication in downtown San Diego called The Gaslamp Quarterly which aims to bridge literature, history, commerce and art.

L.C. Writers are needed but often undermined or unappreciated. Especially those of us with literary goals in mind! If applicable, could you speak to how you’ve faced/overcome challenges in your career? It’s okay if these challenges are ongoing (they often are). Feel free to share any words of wisdom you may have from mentors, literary heroes, etc.

L. W. To-date the dumbest thing I have done was to write a nonsense graphic novel about a holiday lawn ornament and then nominate it for a Pulitzer Prize. Yes, it is true that I tell people I was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, and that tends to garner initial attention, however if the conversation ever gets deeper the truth comes out and usually ends in laughter. It wasn’t that I was meaning to disrespect the most coveted literary honor on the planet, however, I do like to make light of things and I just hope I haven’t tarnished my name in the literary community for life.

L.C. Say someone much younger than you says, “I want to be a writer, but I’m afraid I won’t succeed.” What would you tell them?

L. W. Everyone who wants to be a writer can and will be successful if they simply commit to writing regularly. Make it a habit. Make it your passion. And define your version of success. If success means writing and publishing a book then take the necessary steps to accomplish that goal because if you put your mind and heart into it the sky is the limit.

Connect with Lauren!

www.laurenalexiswood.com

More from The Literary Copywriter

L.C. Spotlight: An Interview with Jessica Leibe

A Guide to Publishing in Literary Magazines

L.C. Spotlight: An Interview with Shannon Fletcher

If you’d like to be featured on The Literary Copywriter, I’d love to hear from you

Your Friend in Craft,

Emily

Literary Copywriter Spotlight: Jessica Leibe

Jessica Leibe

Literary Copywriter Spotlight 8/31/20

Welcome back to the L.C. Copywriter Spotlight where I feature professional writers and copywriters with literary pursuits. Today I interviewed Jessica Leibe, a Productivity & Organization Copywriter based out of New Jersey. She also writes about Personal Growth & Wellness. When she isn't reading, watching horror movies, or earning her next belt in taekwondo, she can be found running, playing with her nephews, and daydreaming. She is currently working on a memoir.

Let’s hear from Jessica!

L.C. Tell me about your writing journey. When did you first realize that a.) you are a writer, and b.) you want to make a living off of your writing?

 J.L: I knew I wanted to be a writer when, in first grade, I wrote two very short stories. Literally, they were one page each. I showed them to my teacher and she told me to “never stop writing.” I’ve always loved stories. Hearing them, telling them. There’s nothing more cathartic than listening to a story that touches you. When I realized I could make a living as a writer, I was thrilled. It was probably in middle school. I finally figured it out that the authors of all those books I devour get paid to do this. Well, if they can, I can, I thought.  

 E.C.: Please describe your copywriting career. How did you get started? Who are your ideal clients.? Do you freelance or work for an agency?

 J.L. I got started in copywriting when I was scrolling through Instagram and came across Sarah Turner’s “Write Your Way to Freedom” course. Dubious at first, I kept scrolling. When the ad kept showing up, I finally did some research and signed up for the free videos. In the first one, I swore Sarah was talking to me. She got that the 9-5 was not the life I wanted. She got that I wanted the freedom to write whenever and wherever. As storytellers, being stuck under fluorescent lights eight hours a day is draining. I always kept a notebook on my desk when creativity arose. After the free videos, I officially signed up for her course in June 2020. I put in the work, followed her steps, and have since landed three clients in three months.

 My ideal clients are people in the Productivity, Time Management, Organizing, and Project Management field. I am a planner by nature and love talking about the many methods people use to be productive. Coaches and consultants are my primary clients, though I also work with planner companies. I freelance. Still doing it part-time, but hoping that come 2021, I can officially switch to full-time.

 L.C. I love supporting copywriters who are also hard at work on a creative, personal project. This could be a novel, memoir, poetry collection etc. Tell me more about what you’re working on and what you hope to gain from the experience (book deal, more publications, career change, personal growth, etc.). Feel free to share how you balance work, life, and writing. It’s okay, if you’re struggling with this. It’s all part of the process!

J.L.: I’ve written fiction for as long as I can remember. But presently, I am working on a memoir. I don’t like giving away too many details, but I will say writing non-fiction is definitely a different beast. Starting my copywriting journey has helped a great deal because it put me in the right mindset. I still love reading and writing fiction, but my memoir is the story that needs to be told now.

 I hope to get it published. I’ll actually be submitting proposals to agents soon. Already I’m gaining a deeper understanding of myself. This story is about self-acceptance in an area of my life I wasn’t always comfortable with. Looking back on my experiences and writing about them have been therapeutic and eye-opening. 

 I balance work, life, and writing by implementing the productivity hacks I’ve picked up along the way. I do my best to work on each thing at least 25-30 minutes a day with a five-minute break before starting the next task. I prioritize projects per their due date. My weekdays are usually the time I work on my copywriting and the weekend is when I focus on my writing projects, though I often dedicate time to work on both everyday.

 Of course there are days I don’t follow my plan exactly or at all. Some days my brain just says, “Time for a break,” and I listen to it. A few years ago I burned myself out trying to do too many things at once. I made myself sick. Now I’ve learned to listen to my body and mind. All it takes is one day of rest and I am ready to go. 

L.C. Writers are needed but often undermined/unappreciated. Especially those of us with literary goals in mind! If applicable, could you speak to how you’ve faced/overcome challenges in your career? It’s okay if these challenges are ongoing (they often are). Feel free to share any words of wisdom you may have from mentors, literary heroes, etc.

 J.L.: Whew! I’ve been kicked down so much. I started pitching fiction (novels) to agents since I was in college. I had a lot of projects that garnered interest from agents but while they would read the whole manuscript, they always came back with, “Thank you, but no.” That’s been going on for ten plus years so I’ve bounced back from a lot of setbacks. I’m sure I’ll get plenty of rejections for my memoir as well. But no matter what I will keep going. In this business it’s all about timing.

 I love Ray Bradbury’s quote, “You fail only if you stop writing.”

 The trick is knowing that your time will come. People say all the time in this industry, it’s subjective. And it’s true. We’re not all going to like or feel passionately about the same thing. You can’t beat yourself up if a few people don’t prefer your story. The right one will come along. A practice I do to keep my head clear of negative thoughts is journaling. I don’t try to write profound prose. Sometimes I may just write a bullet list of things that bothered me that day. By getting all frustrating and negative thoughts out, I can greet the next day with a better attitude and clean slate. A motto I often repeat to myself is, “the struggle is worth making.” I can’t remember where I heard it, but it’s one I swear by. 

 L.C.: Say someone much younger than you says, “I want to be a writer, but I’m afraid I won’t succeed.” What would you tell them?

 I’ll quote what Sarah Turner tells us in her course: Success is what YOU make it to be. Don’t try to emulate someone else’s success because then you are setting yourself up for failure. The most important thing I learned in my twenty-something years of writing is that everyone’s journey is different. “Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.”

 I would also say don’t be afraid to declare yourself a writer. I think people are afraid to say “I’m a writer” to people because they’ll get the third degree. But if you claim it with confidence and pride, no one will doubt you. If they ask you more, answer their questions with confidence. “Yeah, I write short stories. I write poems. I love it.” You don’t have to justify what you do to anyone other than yourself.

 And know that your success is not going to look like someone else’s. Success for you might be finishing that manuscript you’ve had sitting on your computer for years. Success may be reading a poem at an open mic night. It’s important to sit down and decide what you want and not copy what someone else has because it’ll only drive you crazy when you don’t get it.

 Be yourself and the success you gain will be worth it.

Connect with Jessica

Copywriting Website

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIn 

More from The Literary Copywriter

L.C. Copywriter Spotlight: An interview with Shannon Fletcher

A Guide to Publishing in Literary Magazines

Use Your English Degree Like a Writer

Your Friend in Craft,

Emily

Literary Copywriter Spotlight: An Interview with Shannon Fletcher

Shannon Fletcher

Literary Copywriter Spotlight 8/24/2020

Welcome back to the L.C. Copywriter Spotlight where I feature professional writers and copywriters with literary pursuits. This week I interviewed Shannon Fletcher, a powerhouse of a writer with marketing and literary chops. As a poet and academic, Shannon knows how to bring the magic and critical analysis to all her projects. She’s a copywriter at SixSpeed and founder of Err, an artist collective/DIY arts zine/variety show featuring up-and-coming writers, artists, and musicians of all genres.

Let’s hear from Shannon!

L.C.: Tell me about your writing journey. When did you first realize that a.) you are a writer, and b.) you want to make a living off of your writing?

 S.F.: I was always a bookish kid. I devoured a lot of fiction, and remember being a mixture of impressed, intimidated, and mystified by the idea of something becoming a “classic” and remaining in print for a long time. I grew up in Minnesota and loved reading Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books. If not for 120-some years, Laura was me. A tomboyish girl in Minnesota with school, chores, family shit, and brutal winters to deal with. Being inside the head of a person who lived on earth long before I did was MAGICAL. It’s time travel. It’s witchcraft. It’s a mutual experience with someone you’ve never met and could never have met if not for their writing. I was enthralled with this phenomenon in a spiritual way, and I aspired to speak to future readers of my own through my writing. 

 Later during high school and college, I fell in love with poetry, which felt like not only being inside the head of another but being in their soul too. It became my primary creative writing pursuit and remains so to this day. This interest led me to become an editor at the undergrad literary journal at my university. There, I met some of my best friends, taught myself how to typeset a magazine, and drum up interest for it. This included papering campus with cheeky posters encouraging students to submit work and read the magazine. We never called them such, but these posters look a lot like my first ads now. 

 L.C.: Please describe your copywriting career. How did you get started? Who are your ideal clients.? Do you freelance or work for an agency?, etc.

 S.F.: As a college student, I turned a very sharp, analytical eye to the act of writing, majoring in Comparative Literature with a Critical Theory focus. I fully expected to go on to earn a Ph.D. I would live the professor’s life, which sounds glamorous until you meet a modern one. (Most younger humanity-focused American scholars today live in or near poverty. They sacrifice so much for their work and have so little power at their institutions of employment. THIS IS NOT OKAY!) As my graduation date got closer, the reality set in that the kind of life that pursuing a Ph.D. entailed was not for me. So, I graduated with a lot of skills and passions, and no plans about what to do with them. Good times!

My parents supported but never fully understood my studies—but they did understand the business world. They had both been effective salespeople in their early careers, and then later started a salesperson-centered business together. In my directionless state, they sent me to speak with the few of their friends/former colleagues who’d managed to make a living off of their creative skills. These folks all worked in marketing or web development. During one of these meetings, a family friend put the word “copywriter” in my mouth for the first time. I did some reading, as one does. It sounded like a lot of fun, exercising the one muscle I had that was totally JACKED: my divergent, yet analytical brain. After a few more informational interviews, and a successful summer internship, one of those friends offered me my first copywriter job. It wasn’t a super creative gig, but it was a job where I got to do a little bit of the writing witchcraft that I admired so much as a girl. I got better at it every day. 

 In the following years, I freelanced, worked on an in-house creative team, and at a couple of ad agencies, too. I just began working at SixSpeed this summer, a pretty damn cool agency in Minneapolis. I’m thrilled to be on the team there and know we’ll make some cool stuff together. My ideal client is anyone with a people- or planet-centered purpose beyond just making a buck. My favorite brands are those that understand gratitude and feel a duty to give back to the world that helped them succeed.

 L.C.: I love supporting copywriters who are also hard at work on a creative, personal project. This could be a novel, memoir, poetry collection etc. Tell me more about what you’re working on and what you hope to gain from the experience (book deal, more publications, career change, personal growth, etc.). Feel free to share how you balance work, life, and writing. It’s okay, if you’re struggling with this. It’s all part of the process!

 S.F.: Earlier, I mentioned the undergrad literary journal I helped publish in college. Well, the editor in chief of that magazine turned out to be my work wife for life and dearest friend Hanna. Hanna went on to become a bonafide literary powerhouse at a hybrid publisher in Minnesota. She, myself, and a few other pals founded Err in 2014. Err is an artist collective, a DIY arts zine, and a monthly variety show featuring up-and-coming writers, artists, and musicians of all genres. In 2016, we published a huge anthology of our community’s work, designed and typeset by myself. That same year, I wrote and self-published my first poetry collection, Here Lies Salt. I billed it as "a collection of verses for the salty ex."

My passion for local artists and book design/arts has brought me some pretty cool self-publishing side projects throughout my career. I designed The Music of the Soul Lives On by Henry Mackaman, Richfield Poems by Trevor Simmons, and most recently SPECTRA: Poems of Growth as Told through the Chakras. I’m currently working on a short story collection with a talented writer and musician friend of mine, Daniel Patrick Rosen. AND, slowly but surely, I am writing more poetry. I have loose plans to publish a companion to Here Lies Salt. It’ll be about love, the complex history of sugar, and life’s small, infinitely sweet moments.

"Work/life balance” is such a loaded concept. Life itself is an artistic work, in my opinion. But having healthy boundaries between myself, employers, friends who pay me to help them publish their work, friends who don’t pay me to help them publish their work, my Err comrades, my work wife, and other artistic collaborators is vital to getting anything done with a smile on my face. And I have a nice smile, so I make these boundaries a priority. 

 L.C. Writers are needed but often undermined/unappreciated. Especially those of us with literary goals in mind! If applicable, could you speak to how you’ve faced/overcome challenges in your career? It’s okay if these challenges are ongoing (they often are). Feel free to share any words of wisdom you may have from mentors, literary heroes, etc.

 S.F. I treat my job as a copywriter like a pro athlete treats team practice/gym time. I lift weights and do sprints of headlines, brainstorms, blog stories, pitch decks, and whatever else my team needs. I take feedback, swerving back and forth conceptually at any whistle blow from my CDs. I play with and pass the ball to teammates. I hype them up in the locker room and cheer them on from the bench when they amaze me. I get stronger, quicker, and more agile as a writer every day. I get paid to show up and sweat. This is a privilege. In the end, I walk away with skills that I couldn’t get on my own. Skills that I bring to the bigger game: my poetry. 

 One day, after making enough money in advertising to comfortably do so, I intend to retire and go back to school for a poetry MFA. I hope to transition to a slower life. A writer’s life. I could see myself teaching creative writing part-time, but other than that, I just want to live in a “little house in the big woods," practice poetry magick, and sip tea by the window until my time here is up. More books are definitely a part of this dream. If a more professional, non-DIY book deal or two comes out of those years, cool. 

 L.C.: Say someone much younger than you says, “I want to be a writer, but I’m afraid I won’t succeed.” What would you tell them?

 S.F.: They don’t tell ya this in school, but it’s YOUR life and YOU get to define what “success” means in it. Tailor your definition to when and where you’re at. “Today, success is reading for one hour.” “This year, success is getting published in an online magazine.” Etcetera. Set yourself an attainable bar with a reasonable timeline. Reach it, rinse, and repeat. For me, this often turns out to sound like: “today, success is writing a poem that I feel better after having written it."

P.S. Everything in life worth doing comes with the “but what if I don’t succeed” thought. Get used to sitting with that thought. Constantly. Befriend it if you can, and pursue what you want with it by your side. (It will keep you humble when you start killin' it.) In YOUR life, it can and should be okay to fail. That’s how you learn. 

More from The Literary Copywriter:

L.C. Spotlight: An Interview with Laura Messer Jackson

A Guide to Publishing in Literary Magazines

Use Your English Degree Like a Writer

Your Friend in Craft,

Emily