“So, what do you do?”
When I worked a boring corporate job, I always had a great response to this question. I’d simply let my wife answer first, and the conversation naturally shifted toward her far more fascinating work in Alzheimer’s disease research. I could retreat like Homer into the bushes.
Now, though, as a freelancer and business owner, I want to let people know what I do. Have to, really. The problem is, it’s become a tougher question to answer. Every day, every client, every project is different.
But I’ll give it a shot. Here’s what I’ve been up to since launching KBL Communications a little over a year ago…
Writing
After a decade-plus of meetings, performance evaluations, more meetings and reviewing what other people wrote, I’m getting to do a lot more hands-on, creative work. One of the joys of my current arrangement is the ability to block time to write, uninterrupted by emails, crises, pop-in visits or even more meetings.
In fact, that’s one of the reasons clients rely on me. Even if they have writers on staff who could do the work, often they don’t have time. (See previous paragraph.)
Recently, I’ve written a brochure for a new renewable energy project, video scripts, several LinkedIn profiles and even a eulogy. Next up are a few press releases, marketing emails and a speech for the renewable project’s dedication. I have a series of three in-depth news articles that’s just about finished but not yet published. I’m very proud of this one and excited to see it “in print” (aka online).
Editing
Yes, I still spend some of my time reviewing what other people wrote. I’ve done a lot of editing in my career. I’m a natural editor. I’ve had more conversations or text chains about hyphens and commas than is probably healthy. If you use an apostrophe to make a last name plural, I may unfriend you.
More importantly, I like editing, I’m good at it, and there’s a market for it (which, frankly, was a pleasant surprise).
There have been a variety of editing projects, similar to the writing. Sometimes I’m lending subject matter expertise. Other times I’m a second set of eyes or the final backstop before publishing. A particularly fun niche is editing material that comes from people who aren’t writers and “translating” it into something a layperson would understand.
Consulting
This always comes with a follow-up question: “What exactly does that mean?”
Cop-out answer: it depends.
Usually, it means I’m working with a client that doesn’t have a communications function. I serve as a one-man outsourced communications team doing everything from recommending strategy to managing social media channels to handling media relations, plus all the aforementioned writing and editing.
In some cases, I work with an in-house communications staff as a strategic advisor or extension of the team. In my corporate career, I had the opportunity to work in different areas and learn different skills, including employee communications, advertising and marketing, customer outreach, external communications, social media and web. I’m like the Farmers Insurance guy – I know a thing or two because I’ve seen a thing or two.
Like I said, it’s a long and complicated answer. Which is why sometimes, during the smallest of small talk, I simply respond: “I’m a writer.”