Oh my goodness, it’s almost Christmas. How did that happen? It’s been a busy few weeks.
Now you know me, I’m not normally one to use my blog for a ‘what I’ve been up to lately’ kind of update, but this time I’m making an exception because I’ve been up to a lot lately. And you’ll find that this post is a bit link-tastic, but that’s because I genuinely think they’re worth a look if you’re interested in finding out more – think of them as my Christmas gift to you.
First up, Meet the Megs
These interviews have been a great way to get to know other freelancers and have some fun. You can catch up on all the fun here…
I said I’d try to put my own answers to the questions on here before Christmas, and woohoo I’ve managed it! They’re going to form the last section to this post, so scroll on down if you’re impatient, or have a read of the other bits and pieces I’ve been up to first, if you’re in more of a meandering mood.
All Good Copy
That’s right! I was lucky enough to be subjected to the wonderful Glenn Fisher’s interview quizzing, and it was a lot of fun! I’m still not sure if I did enough to hide my crazy side, but we keep being told it’s all about authenticity online, so authentic is what he got. Quirks and all. The website tells me it’s an 11-minute read, so if you have that many minutes, skip on over and take a look.
Pinocchio!!
I was invited to go along to our local Christmas show at Hertford Theatre this year and write a review on behalf of my friends at Hertford Arts. Did I say yes?
Oh no I didn’t.
Oh yes, I blimmin’ well did.
I think we’ve established by now that I’m just a (slightly) oversized child, so I had a fantabulous time. Read all about it.
Pasta making
Slightly more grown up, but not the way I did it… The lovely Kate from Cooking and Carafes was after guinea pigs for her new pasta making classes again (I obliged earlier in the year and it was only polite to say yes again). This time we were at The Mill House in Hertford and there was a photographer involved (Kasia Burke from Hitchin Studios). Eek. Needless to say, I managed to create mayhem and get raw egg all over the table before anyone else had even started. I like to think I was testing Kate out with an ‘awkward customer’, but I think she’s forgiven me. I made this fresh pasta and pesto, and I’m still proper proud.
Christmas #ContentClubUK
Under the inspiration of Fi from Digital Drum, a group of us started up this Tuesday-morning Twitter chat a few months back, and it’s gone from strength to strength. Seriously, it’s pretty humbling for us all I think. Anyway, when it came to talking through who might host the Christmas chat, I was keen to get festive. But I was also snowed under (pun not intended… well, not much) and didn’t want to take responsibility for the whole thing in case I crumbled in the midst of it all.
But it all turned out perfectly, with the LOVELY Laura Parker (look at her shiny new website!) taking the chat-reins and steering us through the questions, while I threw on tinsel and baubles from the sidelines in the form of Bitmojis and videos. Oh and maybe this too (I’m the one with Christmas lights in her hair)…
Anyway, let’s get back to those Meg questions (it’s all a bit weird interviewing myself, but hey ho)… Meet THIS Meg!
Early bird or night owl?
Very much a night owl.
Favourite fictional Meg?
Meg (and Mog), of course.
Most used emoji?
I have a real problem with over-using the laughing face emoji, and I know it.
What did you have for breakfast this morning?
Oats and fruit. And tea.
Any Meg-related nicknames?
Too many to list them all, but Meglet (thanks to a friend I’ve almost forgiven), and Meggy Meggy Moo Moo (thanks to my lovely nephew).
For anyone who’s stumbled on this and doesn’t already know you, tell us about your work – what do you do?
I’m a copywriter, so I help businesses and not-for-profits work out what they need to say and how to say it with personality. And I love it!
What’s the best business advice you’ve ever been given?
I’ve talked about this in a few places, so apologies if you’ve heard this before! I was told to view your career as a climbing frame, not a ladder. Feel free to move sideways, down, across, and to do the odd forward roll as you go. It’s not all about moving up all the time – you might have fun somewhere else.
What superpower would make your work easier and why?
Being a mindreader? Some of my clients come to me because they struggle putting what they want to say into words, so it would be great if I could jump right in there and understand the tone, feel and core messages of what they want to get across.
Other than your computer or phone, what’s the most important thing you use for your work?
Paper and felt tip pens. Colour really helps me plan out my work and identify themes, and it also plays a part in bringing out the emotion as I write. I find that pen and paper is often a better starting point than anything techy.
There’s a zombie apocalypse coming. Which three people (living, dead or undead) would you have on your team?
David Attenborough. If anyone’s going to understand these creatures it’s him.
My friend Alan, because he knows his zombie films better than anyone else I know (he’d be a great deputy to David).
Ben or Jerry. If it’s just a matter of time for us all, there should at least be ice cream in the meantime. I’m taking access to an ice cream factory as a given.
And finally, if you could use a time machine to help you research or plan your work, where would you go, what would you do, who would you meet and why?
I’d use it to hunt down The Doctor (if time machines exist, so does s/he). I’m not sure it’d help me with my work but it’d be an amazing chat.
WOW
Busy times. Strangely enough I’m a bit tired and I feel like I could use a rest.
So I’m going to go off for a bit now. I’m pretty sure you’ll be doing something similar.
Have a very Merry Christmas, and I’ll see you in 2019!
Megan Rose Freelance Copywriter 