Years ago, I temped for someone that was on vacation at M.D. Anderson in the department that handled the writing and editing for a lot of the doctors there. I loved it, and I was so good at it that they actually offered me a part-time job working with the department that handles promoting their annual Christmas cards. Unfortunately, I needed a full time job at the time, so I couldn’t take something part time.
Over time, I worked at the law firm I was at for 5 years for some time with the Corporate Communications department, helping them out with making demo websites for some of the largest clients. I handled writing up content for the sites, and I also helped them with their descriptions of what we could offer. I loved the creative aspect of the work.
When I started Sudsalicious, I wrote all the content for the site. I also helped out with my fragrance supplier’s website, Bramble Berry, both doing design work and writing content and fragrance descriptions. Some of my work still exists on the site, even years later.
Moving on to working in the web world, I was in sales – writing proposals and working with clients. I never knew what type of website I would be working with in any given day – I had corporate sites, sites related to printing companies, and even one client that wanted to set up a gay matchmaker site. (Including porno shots that people submitted of themselves.) Fast paced and changing was my favorite thing. Eventually, I moved in to project management – and thanks to the poor attitudes of many of my co-workers (2 hour lunches with no regard to the project deadline will drive me mad pretty fast!), working in the web world lost it’s luster – even though I loved what I did.
That moved me back in to the legal world – but there isn’t much creativity required in drafting discovery responses. I loved it in many ways – people respect deadlines, I find the law very interesting, and the variety of clients was fun – but I really needed this creative outlet on the side.
(Leslie, if you’re reading this – stop now. I don’t want to come across as too zealous! *wink*)
Last week, Leslie e-mailed me about a need for a temp copywriter at her company. I didn’t know a lot about the company, but a chance to WRITE? I mean, really? Could it be a dream come true?
Then she called me today and told me more details, and even now an hour later I’m buzzing like a bee. They do a huge variety of work, and she needs someone that can shift gears as needed. I’ve checked out their website to get a feel for what they do, and … wow. I’m just giddy! They actually had an employee leave last week (thus explaining the sudden need for someone to fill in) and who knows – maybe if it is a good fit for everyone, it could turn in to more than just a temp job. Yes, a shift in my plans – but we have always said that if the right job came along we would rethink our plans. Even temping over the next few weeks or months would put us over a minor hurdle of running two households on one income between now and the wedding.
I’m meeting with her and her co-workers tomorrow at 10:30 – we’ll go from there. One perk? I don’t need to send her writing samples because she reads my blog every day. Seriously now, could it be a dream come true? I feel like I’ve gone full circle – I have always loved to write, and I love getting in to a project to learn all I can about it to learn what I need to create for it. I’m still almost speechless.
I’m telling you – door closes, window opens. Seems to happen every time. I’m so giddy that it makes me want to wiggle in my chair! (tm Emily)