Writing Careers: How Not To Sell Your Soul
I have been one of the lucky few who've had the opportunity to prostitute myself as a writer. For the past 20 years, I've worked as an advertising copywriter and creative director for some of the world's greatest brands. Thousands of young copywriters are eagerly filling out job applications to pace that same poorly lit corner day in and out, for the rest of their young lives.
I was only in the ad biz about two months before I realized it was going to be an unfulfilling, soulless relationship. Me, kissing someone's butt or stroking some big, well, ego. Same difference. But, hey, the pay has been good.
Fortunately, I was wise enough as a young writer to know my true love was fiction and poetry, and so, while I worked in advertising, I pursued and received my MFA in Writing. I must recommend, if you're about to sell your soul in the writing field, go for it. Make some cash. But do continue putting words on the page each day that feed you in a different way, fill your coffers with valuables other than money. And, who knows? Maybe someday that novel will make it big.
I'm hoping mine does.
The pieces in this website are my un-labors of love, my inspirations. I welcome you to browse around, read, comment. I'll be adding literary pieces to this site regularly, plus blogging about my creative process and the things in life that glimmer.
Come on in. I'm glad you're here.
Marie
