Katie Gaines - Writer
Jon Webster - Writer
Maxine Gallagher- Writer

Katie Gaines - Writer

My first three months at Writing Machine

How can I describe my first three months at Writing Machine?

Fun… educational… but above all else – challenging.

Having relatively limited professional writing experience, I was understandably apprehensive about joining such a successful, close-knit team. OK – I'd impressed them at interview... but these guys had a string of international clients to their name; they needed someone who could keep up with their pace. What exactly would they want from me? Witty wordplay on demand?

My worries were soon put to rest.

One of the first things I learnt was that being a writer here at Writing Machine is undeniably a creative process; hence the casual dress code, relaxed atmosphere – and the privilege of being allowed to listen to music as you work. Nobody will demand anything of you; you are trusted to get the job done.

All of this made such a refreshing change from my previous job, where my manager's eye over my shoulder had been conducive to nothing but mild insanity.

But this doesn't mean that my first three months haven't been testing.

From the very first week that I started work, I have been actively involved in every aspect of my new role as a writer. I've been to meetings with respected clients, and interviewed industry experts from around the world. I've written case studies, features and opinion articles on behalf of some very prominent people. What's more, Writing Machine's work with overseas clients enables me to put my modern language degree to very good use.

And all the while, the kind folk I work with have been on-hand with astute guidance and plenty of encouragement. Learning on the job may be tough, but with each piece that I write, I get the chance to digest the fair and constructive criticism I receive, and polish up my text using my own words.

It's so great to feel stretched again.

After a year of temporary employment, it's truly a relief to do something intelligent, that I genuinely enjoy, with a bunch of great people who are equally passionate about it. I've been given responsibility early on, my opinion is always made to count, and I'm learning so much about areas of expertise that I never even knew existed. I still have a fair way to go. But wouldn't life be dull if everything was easy?

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Jon Webster - Writer

Questions and Answers on my first week with Writing Machine

Question 1 - What exactly is it you do?

Ooh… hard ones first hey? Well I am a junior writer. A typical piece of work for me would run something like this:

I get a brief from a senior writer or account manager telling me exactly what is required for a particular project. Then we discuss it and I go away and research it. (That may mean a telephone interview with the client, tracking down information on the web or even just reading up on previous work done for the client). I then form a structure for the piece based on my research and put written flesh to its bones. The project is then edited between myself and who ever set the work until we are both happy with it.

Simple.

One really good aspect of working here, is that we work as a team suggesting words and phrases when someone is stuck. I have received genuine support here and everyone is always keen to help me out.

Question 2 - What is the office like?

The office’s atmosphere really changes by the hour. Some moments it’s bubbly and noisy and others it’s quite tranquil.

Question 3 – How did you find fitting in?

Everyone is very professional at the same time as giving you the impression that you are on an equal footing with them. So much so that they have even asked me to critique other people’s work despite this being only my first week. I was told by our head of writing that: "Good comment is always helpful no matter who is making it. Understandably there are some projects which you are not qualified to make a qualitative judgment about but there is still plenty of work which you can get your critical teeth in to."

Question 4 - How did you fill a typical day at Writing Machine during your first week?

Well, there have been a lot of meetings and tutorials that I have attended this week. I think I saw a bit of everything, from brainstorming new website concepts to thinking up new ways to attract business.

The thing I enjoyed most was getting real work to do. In fact this is actually one of the first pieces they asked me to write and it’s great to see your work in print…well on the Internet at any rate! I have also written a magazine piece for one of our clients and I am presently working on my first case study. It’s quite exciting knowing that you are not just doing exercises of no consequence, but work that matters to the company and which is ultimately paying your wages.

Question 5 - What is the link between marketing and writing?

As Bertrand Russell said when he criticised a common failing in philosophers, ‘When you are finished making your point you should stop writing!"

At Writing Machine you are taught to only put text on the page that helps achieve the purpose for which you are writing - the marketing objective. So we write to the point and we don’t mind swapping formal writing conventions for the odd contraction where it makes the point clearer.

However, there is still a lot of room for interesting and creative writing - the skills that produce it are an expected part of the job!

Question 6 - What is it you enjoy most about working for Writing Machine?

A friendly vibrant atmosphere full of people who enjoy life, enjoy their work and enjoy working with their colleagues. It's good to discover people who are not afraid to laugh in an open plan office. And it's good to find work which challenges and delights in equal measure. After all, if a piece of marketing is not entertaining to write then how on earth is it going to be entertaining to read!

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Maxine Gallagher- Writer

Waking up and smelling the coffee

My cover letter could have prompted one of two reactions. One: we like her style, let's give her a try. Two: this girl's mad, call the men in white coats.

Thankfully, they chose reaction one, and I was henceforth plucked from obscurity into the fascinating world of word-smithing – well either that, or they wanted to actually meet the person who boldly declared their love for Richard Whitely in their job application.

Whatever the reason, I couldn't help feeling grateful that someone had put their trust in me, an engineer, to put their efforts into constructing sentences from now on, rather than bridges.

The awakening

So I sat at my new desk on my first day, happily clutching my cup of (fresh, fairtrade) coffee, already having been assigned my first job. Surrounded by the comforting, rhythmic tapping of keyboards, I contemplated how friendly and welcoming everyone had been. But all the while I wondered, what was that annoying grinding sound?

After an unsuccesful search of the office space, the innards of my computer and my desk drawers, I located the source of the noise. It seemed to be coming from inside my head.

I realised, in alarm, that it was the sound of my brain working. I was convinced I could actually hear the team of oompah-loompahs singing in unison as they cleared away the cobwebs, while the cogs rustily began to turn once more.

It was hard to conceal my delight that this grey mass, so long in hibernation, was awakening again. Glad too that I still had a brain, and it hadn't withered after months of temporary employment.

I learned quickly that when you come to work for Writing Machine, you can forget your sharp suit and killer heels, even your hairbrush, but whatever you do, don't leave your brain at home.

Literary heaven

The office is truly a word-lover's paradise, with an in-house library and heated debates so far ranging from the difference between antennas and antennae, to the present day use of the word callithumpian (look it up, it really exists). I have even got away with sending a series of horrifically pun-filled emails – only to be outdone in the replies.

But this is not to say it has been a breeze, with ground breaking prose flowing from my fingers like obscenities from Colin Farrell's lips. Well it wouldn't be fun if it were. From constructing readable articles from very technical background material, to carefully rewording pieces to give them a new angle, every step of the way has been a learning process.

With limited knowledge of IT terms, I was initially concerned this would hinder my writing ability. But I have been proved wrong, and assured at all stages that this is no obstacle to writing effective marketing copy. And frighteningly, I think I'm developing an interest in the computer world. How did I live so long not knowing what VoIP was?

So at last, I can consign the term ‘clock-watching' to the scrap heap. I'm finding that mostly I don't even know what time it is, and am genuinely surprised when five o'clock comes around. A rare luxury.

There's really nothing quite like the satisfaction of working in a field you are passionate about, surrounded by people who feel the same. I have always liked the motto ‘choose a job you enjoy and you will never have to work a day in your life' and now I think I actually believe it.

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