My name is Anastasia, and in May of this year, I said “goodbye for now” to Kennesaw State University’s English Department to join hands with my classmates, my close friends, in facing off against a business world with its back turned to new graduates; the Atlanta area has been hit hard by the recession.
In January prior to graduation, I spoke to a professor and an editor in Chicago about freelance writing. Being familiar with my writing, they thought I would be perfect for that career. My ego was boosted hearing those words (especially from “real life writers”). I was ready to start right away. I even bought vinyl lettering to go on a wall in my newly decorated home office: “Make each day your masterpiece”…what an inspiring thing to see each day before writing brilliant materials for several clients. I would start early that year, add credentials through a completed degree, and be highly successful by graduation. My chickens had been counted.
As the weeks continued, the recession worsened and the negativity rained down–the words impossibly competitive, overqualified writers recently laid off are flooding the freelance market, no experience-no work killed my self-esteem and the home office became the throw-the dirty-clothes-in-here-before-the-parents-come-over room. I still had weeks before graduation, and my excitement of writer dreams still beamed. I planned to find a position with a media or publishing group as an entry-level coffee seeker. Being an employee meant having some kind of job security that freelancing couldn’t provide. Four months after graduation, daily job board searching, I realized that I had clicked the apply button for an apple picker position. Please show proof of visa or citizenship upon applying. How desperate was I to break away from customer service in the corporate world? What exactly did I want to do, and what was keeping me from doing it? Initiative.
Then came the words of a loving editor. She said that she tried for a while to no avail to be published, and finally had a big bite in the freelancing world. A writer who caters to many markets and many clients can utilize more of their talents than working on the routine projects of one particular office . I have looked at my potential competitors. They are amazing! I’m not going to surrender my bravery now though. Derek is an amazing graphic designer, and compliments the writing world brilliantly. Together we are an amazing team. That is where we got the name Tandem media–two things that go hand in hand with one another. Derek provides spectacular graphic design, and I provide creative writing and copywriting services. He is more seasoned in the freelance department, and has created and designed materials for a number of companies. He has been staffed at four businesses as a graphic designer, and is working towards owning a printing company. Our dream is to one day own our own publishing company. We start small. We do things together.
Our first design project will be for a magazine, and my first writing piece is for a local event in Cartersville. We look forward to working with any and everyone. Unlike other professional communication teams, no job will be too small. Derek and I have written and designed things as small as print and web materials for families and churches to advertising for companies and organizations across the country. The website should be launched by the end of this week where we will feature some of our past projects. Derek and I want to make this blog as a place for ideas, special offers, or other fun things we may come across and want to share with you!
AmericanGirl
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