Writing Your Own TicketMaking a career out of your passion and

talent for writing

JULIE WRIGHT

Feb. 22, 2014

PRESENTATION

2

THE BEGINNING…

3

4

THE MIDDLE…

• College degrees• First writing jobs– Script reader for the

Canadian Broadcasting Corp.

– Freelance journalist– Newspaper columnist– Radio newscaster– Public relations consultant

THE END...

• Founded PR agency 16 years ago

• Hire other writers – full-time & freelance

• Enjoy sharing my knowledge & experiences

• SELFISH: I want more great writers!

6

THINGS I’VE BEEN PAID TO WRITE

• Ad copy• Product names• Press releases• Op-eds• Letters to the editor• Classified ads• Websites• Video scripts• Signs

• Brochures • Annual reports• Packaging information• Posters and billboards• Email blasts• Employee newsletters• Company newsletters• Speeches• Obituaries• Tweets, posts, Instagrams

PROFESSIONAL WRITERS

• Creative writer – Self publishing, novelist,

playwright, script writer, etc.

• Advertising copywriter– Creative and strategic, writes

taglines (Just Do It), creative headlines, jingles, etc.

• Blogger– Social media has created new

opportunities and is a great entry point

PROFESSIONAL WRITERS, cont’d

• Journalist (hack)– Freelance, staff writer, editor, multimedia

journalist (TV, radio, print, online)– Specialize: food, science, entertainment,

fashion, business, environment, etc.

• Public Relations (flak)– Press releases, speeches, social media

content, ad copy, newsletter articles, op-eds, etc.

• Grant writer– Help nonprofits and others secure funding

based on your proposals

• Technical writer– Software manual, policy and procedures,

etc.

ADVERTISING COPYWRITER

10

ADVICE FROM AD PROS

11

BLOGGER

12

ADVICE FROM BLOGGERS

13

JOURNALIST

14

ADVICE FROM JOURNALISTS

15

PUBLIC RELATIONS PROFESSIONAL

16

ADVICE FROM THE PR PROS

17

GRANT WRITER

18

TECHNICAL WRITER

19

FINDING A JOB

• Craigslist – Email subject line– Email body message– Resume attachment– Writing samples

• Job Sites– Ex: Monster.com – Keywords

• Interviews– Prepare– Focus answers on the

needs of the employer– Come prepared with

some questions of your own

– Always ask for the job

20

WHAT IF YOU COULD DO ANYTHING?

AND WRITE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO?

21

AND INSPIRE OTHERS TO CARE?

22

23

Q &A