My name is Rob and once upon a time, I was a cranky copywriter.
Why was I cranky? Because copywriting, as fun and satisfying as the work can be, often was not fun or satisfying at all.
In fact, it made me hopping freaking mad when I worked so hard to craft a clear, compelling message from a dearth of information, on a fire drill of a deadline, only to have the strategy change three times or some fresh-faced young intern ruin my work because she thought she could write better than me.
(See also: when clients dictate copy and design, when legal departments destroy good marketing copy, and when management trips balls.)
Almost every one of my printed pieces had typos because the people I worked with changed my copy without even letting me proofread it.
It broke my heart. It was making me sick. Every morning, I woke up and dreaded where I was going and what I was about to do.
Then one day I realized: This is not me. This is not for me.
I said to my manager, “Do you think I like feeling this way? Cranky, frustrated, always in a funk about something? No. In the outside world, I am a happy person. I love to laugh. I like what I do. I want to do great work. But I can’t do it here.”
That was the moment I knew I needed a change.
I decided to stop wasting my time working with people who only wanted to do the bare minimum, who didn’t want to excel, who saw my commitment to quality as some kind of character flaw.
So I quit that job and set out to do things my own way.
And you know what? It was the best decision I ever made.
Leaving that job gave me the push I needed to start my own freelance writing business. I bought a domain name and built a website. I found clients and work.
I met new people. Smart, hardworking people I liked and respected. I gained incredible experiences that grew me as a writer, a marketer, and a person.
I learned that conflict and adversity can be catalysts for positive change.
Best of all, I rediscovered my love for copywriting.
My only regret is that I didn’t quit that shitty job sooner. I might have if I’d been able to find the strength and validation I needed from other creatives who had lived through similar experiences.
And that, dear reader, is why I created this blog.
Comfort and community for marketing creatives
Some years ago, one of my colleagues suggested I start a monthly support group for local creatives. We’d meet at the bar and share stories about our successes . . . and especially our struggles.
It would be a way for us to blow off steam, refill our life gauges a little.
This site is not that, exactly. (Even if it is better enjoyed with alcohol.) But I hope these pages will bring you a little courage, some conviction, a few smiles, and maybe even the ammunition you need to stand tall and stay strong when you have to fight for something important but you feel discouraged and alone.
So, consider this your invitation.
Together, let’s find solutions to the challenges that keep us from doing our best work and being the happy creatives we are.
Bookmark this site and stop back often. It’s OK—from time to time, we are all cranky creatives.
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Yes, Rob, we creatives love to whine and complain. Sometimes it’s actually warranted. But either way, it’s nice to have a venue where we can vent, and maybe even be understood. Thanks for getting this going!
Hi, Mike! Thanks for the post and follow. I hope you continue to dig the site. The next several months will see articles on a wide range of topics, including: how to deal with overzealous legal departments, why the client is not always right, and how simple changes in employer behavior can make all the difference in worker happiness and productivity. Plus, some light-hearted stories I think you will get a kick from. Stay tuned!