What if …

Have you ever wondered what you’d be doing if you’d chosen a different path? I never have in the past, but I do think about it occasionally now.

For me it was easy. I was about 12 years old when I decided I wanted to work in advertising. Originally I wanted to be an art director and I did go to art school after high school. My mother wasn’t surprised because she used to say I was always doodling, that I didn’t have a notebook or school book that didn’t have sketches in it.

When I graduated from art school my first interview was

A little shameless self promotion …

Forgive me, I don’t often do this (self promote). But I’ve wanted to do more
editorial writing for years. And as many of you know, it’s easier said than done for all kinds of reasons.

What I’ve discovered is, there’s a separation between church and state — in other words, the editors of most magazines and newspapers don’t care how long you’ve been writing advertising copy, it doesn’t make you a

The perfect spot …

The other day Michelle (The Green Study), a blogger I follow, wrote about her quest to find the perfect place to write; and then asked us, her fellow bloggers, to share how we “create space and time to work.”

When I reviewed my rather long-winded (sorry, Michelle) comment I thought, to myself, “This isn’t a comment, it’s a blog post.” So I decided to keep Michelle’s idea going by sharing what works best for me; and hopefully you’ll be inspired to do the same.  Here goes:

I am one of the lucky ones. A career as an ad agency writer/creative director has

Blog tour: The writing process

Pete Armetta is a writer whose work I love. I love his thoughts and I love how he expresses them, whether it’s through poetry, short stories, essays or fiction. Yes, he is that versatile, that able, that talented. I ‘met’ him here, on WordPress; and from the very first moment I read one of his posts I became a fan. And a follower.

Here’s your chance to do the same.

A couple of nights ago he invited me to participate in The Writing Process blog tour. He’d been invited by a friend and fellow blogger. Read what he shared, with just one click.

Some info I knew, some I didn’t. But none of it surprised me. Because along with being a terrific writer, he is committed and passionate and determined.

The Writing Process:

1. What are you working on?

A bit of background, first. My mother used to tell me as far back as when I was 11 or 12 years old, I routinely re-wrote (and re-thought) ads I saw in magazines. So I suppose it wasn’t ‘news’ when I told my parents, at age 15, I wanted to work in advertising.

And it is what I ended up doing. First as a copywriter, then as a creative director — for the Montreal and Toronto offices of some of the world’s biggest

Don’t take it personally …

I’ve been surrounded by creative people all my life, and I am one, myself.  And I’ve never known one, including me, who isn’t sensitive and easily hurt.  Guess it comes with the territory.  We do lay our souls bare for everyone to see, after all.  And stomp all over.  Who wouldn’t be insecure?  So needless to say, today’s Daily Post resonated with me:

“Tell us about the harshest, most difficult to hear — but accurate — criticism you’ve ever gotten.  Does it still apply?”

Of course this could be taken any one of a number of ways.  The way you dress, the colour of your hair, your weight, your cooking skills, your breath, your driving, whatever.  But seeing as how we’re all here to share our creativity — be it writing or photography or art or baking or crafting — I thought I’d talk about how it feels when people criticize our work.

Having worked in the advertising industry as a writer/creative director for more years than I care to think about, I am VERY familiar with criticism.  While it sometimes feels like you’ve been slapped in the face, I have

Day 345. A Byline

My friend, Marilyn, is probably the only person, outside of myself, who knows what I’m about to tell you.  Not that there’s any reason for it to be a deep, dark secret.  It’s just something I’ve never talked about, before.

Have no idea why, either.

And the only reason I’m mentioning it now is, because of a recent WordPress Daily Prompt:  “If one experience or life change results from you writing your blog, what would you like it to be?”

I don’t even have to think about it.

You all know I’ve spent my career in advertising.  As a copywriter and creative director.  It’s what I always wanted to do, from the time I was a very young girl.  I’ve worked for some of the largest agencies in the world, on some of the best brands.  And I’ve had a fabulous career.

No complaints.

But outside of the industry, I’ve not been taken seriously, as a writer.  None of us are.  It’s not really a reflection

Day 276. Gimme Five!!

Yesterday’s WordPress Daily Prompt really caught my eye.  The theme?  “Success”.  “Tell us about a time where everything you’d hoped would happen actually did.” Well, I thought to myself.  This one has my name on it.  

One of my earliest memories of myself is when I was about four years old.  I’d been a flower girl at my great uncle’s wedding.  My dress was ankle-length, pale pink tulle and it had tiny pink silk roses randomly tacked on the skirt every here and there.  A true fairy princess gown.  Needless to say I wanted to wear it every day.  I even wanted to sleep in it.

I loved looking at the wedding photos.  My favourite, obviously, was one of me, walking down the aisle.  It was in black and white.  I am probably the originator of  the hand-tinted photo craze.  Because much to my mother’s dismay she walked in on me one morning, colouring over the photograph.

“What are you doing, Fransi?” she yelled.  “My dress is pink”, was my answer.  Really, could you argue with that logic?

From that day, I always had crayons or pencils or pastels or a paint brush in my hand.  I went through reams and reams of paper.  My mother used to tell me, even as I got older and went to school, every text book and every note pad and work book

Day 109. Telling Stories

I just can’t let “W” go by, without talking about how much I love writing. I have, ever since I was in grade school. English was my best subject, all the way through, from my very first class to the day I graduated. Both literature and composition. I have been telling stories my whole life.

So how lucky am I that I not only get to do what I love, but I also get paid for it.

When I write, I lose track of time. It could be ten in the morning. It could be ten at night. Sometimes I don’t even stop to eat. I am that engrossed in what I’m doing. I’m unaware of what anyone else is doing. Or saying. Or even if they’re talking to me. It’s like I’m in a trance. A world of my own. I find it very peaceful. Calm. It’s almost like a meditation. I don’t know how else to explain it.

Now to be completely honest, sometimes I don’t look forward to getting started. Some days I’m just not in the mood. And so I might procrastinate a little. But I have never missed a deadline, so I put if off for only so long. And I’m the same way with my blog. I know I have to publish a new post every day, and there is no way I am going to miss one.

Because being a good writer, a successful writer, is as much about discipline, as it is about talent. I take the writing I do for