Hi there! Thanks for visiting my website, Queen of the Quill. My name is Deena, and I’m the writer behind the scenes here. I’ve worked as a freelance copywriter with several clients over the years, ranging from local start-up media companies to large PR firms, to grassroots non-profit organizations.
You might be wondering, how did all this begin?
I started my freelance writing journey back in 2014, after a chance encounter with a friend of mine from college, who started a local publishing company and lifestyle magazine, Almost Free. It was a 30-minute coffee date, in between my shift at an office supply shop, to discuss the possibility of a new column for her magazine. We had been friends and colleagues at the same student club on campus, so she remembered I used to write their weekly newsletter.
While sipping decaf espresso, she asked if I had any ideas. I told her I had a background in arts and culture and pitched a story to her covering the local arts and entertainment scene that summer. She accepted and gave me my first trial assignment. The rest, as they say, is history.
To understand the full story, we must travel back in time to the early 2000s. During my twenties, I was an active performer onstage and a burgeoning playwright. I had roles in dozens of local community theatre and music productions, with the hopes of one day becoming a full-time thespian.
In pursuit of this dream, I attended the University of Victoria, where I majored in theatre and drama, and eventually obtained a BFA in 2007. For six years I was immersed in creative courses ranging from video production, and scriptwriting, to theatre criticism, publicity, and acting. One could say I became an SME or subject matter expert in all things arts and culture.
In my spare time, I worked as a fledgling arts and lifestyle journalist for the university’s campus paper, The Martlet. I wrote a number of reviews, and features, and conducted lengthy interviews with experts and community members from all disciplines.
In 2006, I tried my hand at playwriting, developing a piece for the stage. It was a historical drama (set in the Romantic period) called Composing Clara, about the turbulent childhood and budding romance of 19th-century piano prodigy Clara Wieck and her husband Robert Schumann. The play first appeared onstage with the student alternative theatre company at the Phoenix theatres at UVic and was later produced at the Victoria Fringe Festival to receptive audiences. It should be noted: I played the lead, Clara, performing her and her husband’s music onstage during the show.
Funnily enough, it wasn’t through my university courses but through these extracurricular activities that I discovered, a real passion for writing and storytelling. I soon learned how powerful the written word could be, and how writing could also be a vehicle for creating social change.
Many years later, I decided to switch careers and pursue a post-degree diploma in marketing at Camosun College in beautiful British Columbia, turning my side hustle into a real job opportunity. Although going back to school as a mature student, and a mother of a small child had its own set of unique challenges.
I should also mention that I self-identify as neurodivergent, and over the years I learned how to turn what some may call, “a disability” into strengths. For example, I use technology to my advantage, implementing audio and visual recording devices to record important team meetings, take detailed minutes, or transcribe interviews. And I never forget to carry a handy notebook and pen in my purse at all times. As a creative writer, you never know when inspiration will strike!
Now that you know a little more about me, let’s talk about YOU!
Are you an owner of a small business, start-up, or non-profit organization? Then you’ve come to the right place. I am a dedicated, educated copywriter and marketing professional, who believes in producing quality content while increasing audience engagement through the use of effective marketing and communications tools and techniques–at a reasonable rate that doesn’t break the bank.
Queen of the Quill is the name of my freelance writing and marketing business. I hope you enjoy browsing through the site and don’t forget to check out my portfolio page or leave a comment below.
Happy reading,
Deena
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