design, well written.
Just because I’m a writer doesn’t mean it’s easy for me to write about myself,
So let’s pretend you’re interviewing me, shall we?
You:I've tried using other writers in the past and it just hasn't worked. Their stuff either doesn't sound like me or it's clear they don't know the first thing about interior design. How can I know you're the writer for me?
Me:
Candidly, I think hiring a writer is a bit like going to a new hairstylist. You can see their work on some one else and you can tell them what you think you want, but you won't really know if they're for you until they actually get in there and do their thing on your hair.
It's a little scary, I know. But what I can tell you is that with me, you won't waste time bringing me up to speed on your industry. I understand both you and your clients. I know your processes from initial sales calls all the way through to final installations.
I even speak the language - "High Point," "procurement," "8-way hand tied." See?!
All joking aside, I've worked in and around the interior design and luxury home industries for nearly a decade, both as a writer for print and online magazines and in-house as a Client Coordinator for a major design firm in Charlotte, NC. And before that, I worked in high-end retail management, which means I'm well versed in selling to luxury clientele.
My background actually makes me a bit of a misfit among other writers. I'm not like most copywriters because they don't ascribe to a soft-sell approach and they typically don't understand your needs as a lifestyle expert and tastemaker. But I also don't fit neatly with bloggers, who write for themselves instead of for clients, or with magazine writers, who create content for entertainment rather than for marketing purposes.
Yep, it's a lonely life this writing unicorn leads. And I love every minute of it!
You:I'm actually a pretty good writer but I'd like another set of eyes on my copy and content. Are you good with that?
Me:
Ooohh! I love working this way. While I don't offer basic editing services, I'm a huge believer in the whole "two heads are better than one" thing when it comes to ideation and the actual writing. A lot of pro writers shun collaboration (which is my nice way of saying they can be divas!), but I think the results are often even better when my clients and I work together to come up with the "what" and the "how" of their communications.
You:What makes you different from other professional writers?
Me:
I like to think it's my killer cookie-baking talents.
But the one thing I think makes for truly great writing above anything else - more good grammar, succinctness, or even an innate talent for finding the exact right words - is empathy.
When a writer has empathy, they're able to put themselves in the shoes of everyone involved in a communication. They can understand the message sender and their intent on a deep level while also anticipating how that message might land with the receiver.
For better or worse, empathy is all over my DNA. My epitaph may very well end up being, "No one ever cried alone with her around."
But my empathy also makes me insatiably curious about others and makes me obsessed with wanting to connect people who can benefit from knowing one another. I consider copywriting the perfect way to scratch that itch while providing my clients with a service that lets them connect with the prospects who'll help grow their businesses. #winwin!
Are you more the totally buttoned up, professional bio type?Keep on scrolling.
Deb Mitchell’s career as a professional writer began when she responded to an ad in a local Charlotte, NC magazine seeking volunteers for a readers’ panel. On a tour of the magazine’s offices with the other selected panelists, the idea for an article came to her and when she mentioned it to the editors, they hired her on the spot as a writer. Nearly ten years and hundreds of articles later, Deb decided to blend her design feature writing experience with her pre-writing career experience in high-end retail sales to help interior designers move their businesses forward with strategic copywriting and content marketing services.
Today, Deb’s client list is ever growing with designers at nearly every stage of business. Most recently, she’s joined forces with two experts, a branding designer and a website developer, to offer designers an all-in-one option for fully custom designed and copywritten WordPress websites.
Deb has by-lined articles in publications such as Casual Living, Design Texas, Lake Norman Magazine, and Today’s Charlotte Woman, and on The Renegade Writer blog. Her ghostwriting has appeared in dozens of top shelter publications and design blogs.
