This is an entry into the Damn Fine Words Writing Contest. Our SEO copywriter, Sara Bradley, is writing for a chance to win an entry into a writing class valued at $1,400.
I had just walked in after a workout at the gym, burning off stress and clearing my head after a long day working as an interactive copywriter, when I saw my boss pop up on chat. I jumped to the computer.
“This is crap,” she wrote. ‘This’ was the latest blog post I’d written.
I was mad and tried to focus on deep breathing before writing back, “I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.”
She replied, “It’s okay, you are learning, I just need you to learn faster.”
Once the anger wore off, I felt empowered. I didn’t want to have this conversation again. I knew there would be more mistakes, but I had to keep trying. I wanted to do better.
I graduated from college in the summer of 2010 from The Ohio State University. The proud owner of a Journalism degree and a newborn baby, I landed a job as a copywriter at an interactive agency in Columbus, Ohio. That’s where I am now.
Prior to copywriting, I had written for a few newspapers during college. The experience and skills I earned there were good. They bulked up my resume, but they didn’t give me a full set to excel as a copywriter.
To me, being a writer as a living is an [altered] dream come true.
In 2008, I was in my second year of college, failing miserably. Having marginal science and math skills, I was floundering in my nutrition major and business minor. The only classes that I was doing well in were writing-based. A little pressure from my parents beckoned me to either choose a new path and do well, or come home. I decided to switch to Journalism.
From there, I thought I would merge my two passions: writing and fashion. I was going to get multiple internships at magazines in big cities and eventually become Anna Wintour. In my mind.
My path veered a little from my dreams. I had a baby in college. I was obviously not moving to any big city that published any reputable women’s magazine. I was going to have to make the best of my situation.
I have made the best of my situation thus far and have realized that dreams aren’t always set in stone. I’m happy in my position as a copywriter. But I want to continue to grow and change my dreams. To me, writing is not just my current job. It’s a skill that is always changing.
But it won’t come in my sleep. I need to work for it. I don’t believe in luck. I believe that good things come to those who work hard. I was ‘fortunate’ to find the job that I did after college. I wasn’t lucky. I worked 20 hours a week as an intern, then 40 hours a week as a full-time employee both while finishing college, while taking care of a baby alone.
I know I can do anything I want with hard work. I know I need to keep learning and working hard to become a better writer. If I won the Damn Fine Words writing contest, I wouldn’t be just earning a free writing class. I would take opportunity to learn and combine it with my own hard work. With that formula, the only outcome is success.
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Contact Sara at: Sara@cementmarketing.com