Monday, April 22, 2013

Be Your Own Hero

It's official. Spring has forsaken us. So, what else can we do but shake our dry, cracked fists at the sky and get busy creating spring for ourselves? Whether through crafting, cooking, writing, beer-making, running or whatever you're into, let's consider channeling our thorny frustration into something that bursts with newness and energy. There's a certain punk rebellion in saying "forget it, I'm going to crank some Alabama Shakes and paint/craft/fix/write/sing/build/plant something." This way, you take back your power over everything you can't control, and create a little island of content for yourself.

And yes, I'll take the liberty of slapping myself now. Thank you and you're welcome. Now that I've recovered, know that I wholeheartedly forgive you/me. There's yet another winter storm on its way, and the events of our world have knocked the wind out of us. All the more reason to find a moment of quiet, close our eyes and connect with the goodness of humanity. Let's remember that the good will always, always win. Let's comfort ourselves and make a great meal or write something thoughtful or funny or honest. When the weather or the news or our country's many issues won't deliver warmth, abundance, security and well being, you've just gotta do it yourself. Or, like the banner on the wall of the YMCA told me as I shamelessly danced like this, but far worse: be your own hero.  


Today, for me, it's writing and watching my twin daughters harass each other on the floor while my husband cheers them on. And this week, one of my clients is launching a beautiful new website, so I'm having fun writing SEO copy that hopefully doesn't sound too awkward. The site features graphic elements that have a vintage yet polished feel. The communities this business serves are uber-quaint and historically rich so the site's look pays subtle homage. I love it when it all comes together and the details are deliberate and thoughtful. This is the joy of my work and the pleasure I take in collaborating with really talented folks like Jason Werownski of Minnesota Website Company.

Take heart. Stay warm. Be your own hero. 

Monday, August 6, 2012

Baby's First Logo


If this doesn't say "You are so beautiful ... I must write you," then I don't know what does. 



Big thanks to designer Rachel Williams for whipping this up and making it look easy, as always.  

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

The Digital Marketing Manager ... He Just Gets Me


As recommended on Linkedin: 

“Let’s say you have the insanely good fortune of starting an NBA franchise from scratch. And let’s say LeBron James is a free agent and wants to play for your team. YOUR team! He even called you. You’d scoop him up in a New York minute, and then go figure out your ring size. Now swap ‘NBA franchise’ with your business, and swap LeBron James with an equally swaggerific Kate Rusciano, and you’re ready to take on all comers.
 


Kate is a phenomenal writer (and a ridiculously fast typist). She understands how words and stories spur engagement, shape culture, tug on emotions, and drive business results. She’s a sharp conversationalist who gets down to brass tax and makes sure everyone is on the same page and ready to plow forward. She knows that writing for email and your intranet and your newsletter and your blog and your website are not the same thing.


Hmph, and you wanted LeBron James. You can do better. Connect with Kate. Have a cup of coffee. Fire off an email to say you’re curious about what she brings to the table. Ask for a writing sample. Throw a stubborn communications issue her way. You can do better than LeBron, but not much better than Kate (I worked with her long enough to know this).”July 10, 2012
1st Randy BunkerManager, E-Growth and Digital Marketing, OptumHealth
worked directly with Kate at OptumHealth

Sunday, June 24, 2012

The Manifesto

Give me your tired metaphor, your huddled adjectives yearning to make sense, the wretched rough drafts of your overwhelmed office space. Send these, the tongue-tied, the verbose, the inarticulate, the virtually illiterate and the brainstorm-tossed to me. I lift my laptop beside the revolving door!

Now accepting new business, I am an independent copywriter seeking to not just move, but unhinge your audience.  

Straight-forward to storytelling, with nary a single corporate euphemism ... it's all in my wheelhouse. Oops. 

Reach out and hire me at copykatempls@gmail.com