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      My earliest memories of writing were using the dotted lined example cards of the alphabet. I vividly remember my mom showing me how to slowly and carefully trace the space between the dots to eventually form a single letter. My mom insisted that I used a pencil because she told me I should be erasing and retrying multiple times to ensure I got the closest match to her exemplified letters above. I then remember playing “school” with my friends and sitting at a pretend desk and attempting to transition those skills that my mom had taught me, to practice writing the alphabet as neatly as I could muster, entirely on my own. 

       I decided to promote myself to the use of a ballpoint pen and I quickly learned that I preferred writing using a pen on paper rather than a pencil. I felt the eraser shavings were messy and itchy and I liked the smooth strokes that the pen promised. The smooth strokes of a ballpoint pen proved to be somewhat addicting as I experienced a time period where I would copy down poems, songs, or practice writing my name just to better familiarize myself with the joy of writing and having something worth writing about. I loved the impressions my words left. I would trace over the indents with pride for my completed work and felt like I had imprinted a part of myself onto those pages.

      Once I felt I had the hang of writing I was thrown into a typing class in third grade that gave me great anxiety and stress. As a class, we were taught the patterns of how to type quickly and efficiently. We were forcibly encouraged to learn without looking at our hands by placing a towel over the keyboard and proceeding to type meaningless phrases and trite stories that gave my eight-year-old brain a headache. I felt the stress of my classmates ticking away at the keyboards surrounding me and wondering if was typing at an average pace, matchable to them, or lagging behind. This pressure proved such a stress to me that I still have very unhappy memories of the computer lab at my local elementary school and I can vividly picture in my mind’s eye exactly where I sat and how the itchy white and blue striped kitchen towel felt draped over my hands. I would cringe at the irritating fabric scratching across the tops of my knuckles as I awkwardly struggled to find hard to reach letters such as “q”, “b”, “p” or “z”. All the while feeling the embarrassment of having to backspace and try again when I tapped on the wrong symbol, stealing occasional glances under the towel, incredulous at the realization that my pinky was expected to stretch all the way to reach the plus sign while simultaneously holding the shift key. 

      Previous anxieties associated with the permanence of writing and conquering the shame of using the backspace key have long passed. I have come to understand, over my lifetime of composing, that writing is a developmental tool and has a massive impact on how the writer perceives his/her space around themselves, and more importantly, how the reader responds to that claim of space. Without writing, emotion and history is temporary, and ideas are lost and never built upon

      We write daily, whether that be through messaging or signing our name to a credit card receipt verifying a purchase. There is consistency and quiet regularity that writing demands and we leave traces of ourselves through the process of it. What we say has immense significance and consequence. How we say it is all the more predominant.

      The written word is a means of communicating beliefs and ideas. It is an important social function because it fosters understanding and relativity in one another that creates bridges of group identity. Language use and words chosen, are the catalysts to not only hearing, but to understanding and relating. Appropriate word choice has a power that can directly resonate in an individual which, in turn, has the potential to compel them to agree, buy, or commit. What we say and how we say it alters realities and changes or aligns perspectives. Words spoken or written serve as proof of self. It is a medium in identifying oneself with another, whether that be through a screen, a brochure, an ad, or pages of a book. Relatable words directly sync to the possible convincing people of a products relatability to them, even personally, across a wide marketing audience. This is powerful in a world of consumers! This identification to language and how we speak and persuade is what makes individuals who they are and what they use and purchase. Readers are inherently a part of different realities and the job of a writer is to bridge that gap between what the writer is representing  in a way that will reach the reader and stir them to compel to agree, click to subscribe, or add to cart. 

      Bridging the gap between writing and understanding can be described with different writing styles consumers anticipate and what information they can expect to draw form differing styles. 

For example, it is very indisputably important to give factual and precise instructions on a bottle of prescription medication while avoiding the nonessential addition of words. Juxtapose this to the importance of being convinced through appropriate, descriptive marketing if a cute graphic tee is going to be the next staple piece in your closet or not. In the case of prescriptions, singular words alone, have immense responsibility to define and direct uses pertaining to immediate health effects. However, in the case of the tee, strings of words have the capability to build a story; like how many different ways you can dress up or dress down your recently purchased, new addition to your wardrobe. Similarly, it is equally as important to know the dimensions of a couch before you buy it, as it is to be sold on the fabric quality and style. One writing style defines the detentions and technical uses of a product within a designated space, while the other effectively persuades in relation to the romanticized element behind decorating a space in which you can see yourself relaxing, gathering and enjoying. Fitting in a room and fitting in a perception are two different styles of writing that require juxtaposing marketing tactics. Knowing the difference between the two is knowing how to use them appropriately, whether that be separately or in tandem. 

      As a person who has spent a great deal of time in literature, I have found that I have a love for expression of the written word and what it can motivate people to do. I know the effect that persuasive words can have, and I have cultivated skills in persuasive writing that is reinforced by research, thorough editing processes, and analyzing content and audience response. I excel in communicating and reaching others on a personal level. I am an effective communicator, and my communicative strengths are directly transferrable to the written word. 

      I understand how to problem solve using self-found resources and seeking factual evidence to back up claims. I have developed appropriate navigational and applicational experience in key technologies and work well in a team setting. I consistently adhere to and respect project deadlines and understand that there will always be learning curves and mastery in upcoming projects. This understanding is essential to fuel participation in active roles in developing appropriate skills that are essential for my success and the success of my team. I have learned careful and educated decisiveness in the search of clarifying sources to ensure legitimacy of required information to complete projects not only effectively, but also factually. 

      My own personal campaign is to remain mindful that the written word has immense significance and consequence. What we say and how we say it is everything. My writing and editing processes are for a purpose and I find joy in diligent and meaningful work. I affirm that well marketed words can inspire action and point consumers towards you!

      I am eager to make your acquaintance! 

     - Shelby Fisher