WRITING

THE JOURNEY

Artistic skills run in the family, but the only way to make a career out of art is advertising. At least, that’s what my 18-year-old brain thought going into college. But, as I worked my way through art classes, I picked up a part-time job with the college newspaper where I wrote campus-related articles. By the time I picked up another part-time job, this one at the Writing Center, I’d shifted my major to Journalism. The combination of helping fellow students through the editorial process and writing my own pieces shifted my focus entirely to a writing career.

Between graduating from Grand Valley State with a BA in Journalism to where I am now, I’ve written beyond any page boundary I thought possible. And I say that with complete humility and awe, because I’ve been able to write on a variety of topics in a slew of mediums, ranging from news weeklies and quarterly magazines to brand and company websites. I’ve interviewed thought leaders, celebrities, and everyday people. And through this journey, I have learned Art exists here, too.

As I’ve stumbled onto the advertising path through marketing and brand communications, I’m learning other mediums, as well. In addition to learning scriptwriting (“Save the Cat!” by Blake Snyder is amazing), I’m learning more about the editorial process of filmmaking.

Writing has provided me the means to live and the meaning to create art.