Do you ever feel like Sam from Quantum Leap?
I do.
I’m a freelance interactive copywriter that makes her living working on all manner of projects, “leaping†in at all possible points in the process. I enter during initial concepting phases (ideal!), chaotic middle points and even make cameos in the polishing stages. Each gig is different, the project team is often made up of strangers, everyone has a different working style, and the jargon I need to work into the copy is often new. Also, I’m not always sure where the bathroom is. Or the coffee machine. And by the time I get up to speed on all these things, the website is ready to launch and I’m on to the next assignment. It’s enough to make you mutter Sam’s sheepish opening catch phrase below your breath: “Oh boy.â€
Yep. Just like the early 90s TV hero I come in as an outsider, and have to improvise my way into the world of the project. But like Sam, I’ve gotten good at jumping into the middle of things. Relying on my web know-how and way with words, I get my bearings quickly and dive into the work. Okay, so I’m not exactly like Dr. Beckett. I don’t save marriages or lives or prevent murders before I leap out in a laser show of glory. But I provide solid content strategies, smart and scannable copy, attention-grabbing headlines and meaningful links. And that ain’t bad.
Just one question: Where the hell is Al with his Ziggy-powered calculator when you need him?
3 Comments
Stephanie – congrats on your first post. It’s a nice analogy.
I always feel strange writing emails to copywriters. I always feel like they’re goign to pull out a magical red pen and send my email back to me all marked up.
So, when I get to point out something a copywriter has done, or question something they’ve written, I feel a great sense of worth — which is slowly beaten back down when they point out errors in my correction of their work.
For what it’s worth, I think it’s great to finally be able to read stuff here on MNteractive that deals directly with our local industry.
HA! I watched that show a lot back when, a ZIGGY would be a great thing to have on my IPOD lol