Enjoy this 385-word “Micro-Interview” with copywriter, Stephanie Sta Maria.
Thanks, Stephanie.
Let’s get started:
"Do you have a work routine?”
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My day starts with a 3km (1.8mile) walk to my local café for a large flat white with one sugar. Always the same order.
On the walk, I listen to a podcast/audiobook or work on a creative brief in my head.
That’s my only work routine. It warms up my physical and mental muscles.
No work gets started without it.
"What do you wish you'd known about your work when you first started?”
That a good content system can make ideation and creation so much easier.
Now I’m constantly studying other people’s systems to see which bits I can use to improve mine.
“What did your biggest professional failure teach you?”
That no work or job is worth my mental health.
I once took on a social media role which caused me massive stress and anxiety. But I stuck with it for a year because I didn’t want to be a quitter.
That was my biggest professional failure because I was too focused on survival to care about learning and growth.
“Has anything helped you shorten your craft's learning curve?”
Reading other writers. This taught me different thinking and writing styles and that original ideas are rare but there’s always room for an original approach.
My reading list:
Eddie Shleyner Dan Nelken Anne Lamott Dani Shapiro Stephen King Ann Handley Greg McKeown James Clear Oliver Sacks Sahil Bloom The horoscope writer for the Chani astrology app
“Do you have a book recommendation?”
Effortless by Greg McKeown
“Any parting piece of advice?”
Understand how to build staying power on your chosen path. You want to be in the game for more than one season.
For me, this meant pacing myself rather than going all in at the start.
Also eat well, sleep enough and exercise regularly. This trio will help you reach the highs and carry you through the lows.
