Specky Scribbler is four!

Yep, back in 2017 Specky Scribbler got a new logo, a new domain and a new lease of life. I'd been writing blogs for years and then in 2017 I got a logo and a domain and went for it. I'd been applying for full-time jobs and freelancing on the side, primarily using awful websites such as UpWork (never again) and then went 'screw this, I'm gonna commit' and now here I am. And to celebrate I'm going to run through some career highlights and reflect on what this work means to me.

2017 - The Beginning

This is where it all started; with a blog, an UpWork profile and a lot of risk and hope. I remember asking for my logo to be made, and trying to come up with a name. Michelle O'Connor didn't feel right for a writing business. It was just… me. I needed something that was separate but similar, and that was Specky Scribbler.

This was a great foundation year, probably the best. On a whim, before I had made any proper money, and while tearing through my savings, I joined The Tara Building. I walked through their doors in April 2017 and the doors that opened to me then are still open and revolving now, in 2021. 

I also reached a milestone in 2017: I was a finalist in the Irish Blog Awards. Not bad for a newbie freelance copywriter with no business experience under her belt. 

2018 - The First Year

In 2018 I did a LOT of book-related work. I edited a report published by the Higher Education Authority on the Internationalisation of Higher Education. I indexed a book about the history of Cork University Hospital and I also did a lot of blog-writing. It was a very wordy year. I also spent hours upon hours transcribing audio, yes, to be used in a book. 

But the biggest milestone for me in 2018 was developing my first tone of voice. I remember having a conversation with a graphic designer and CEO about how your brand voice is as important as your verbal identity. Then, he offered me the chance to develop his latest company's tone of voice and that company is Krayon. I've been working with Keith and Krayon ever since, and I'm still proud of the voice I developed for them.

This is when, for me, it really started to fall into place. I knew I was doing the right thing. I knew I was going to help people tell their stories, and I fell even more in love with my work.

2019 - The Second Year

In 2019 I started to broaden my horizons a bit more, by leaving the blog-writing behind to a certain extent, while opting for larger website and identity projects. I decided to go and make my own website, which is this one. And I decided that I wanted to focus on establishing myself as a tone of voice creator and developer. I worked on a number of projects in this space but I also got the chance to write video scripts.

I've always been a creative writer. I've written poems since I was an angsty pre-teen, a 'troubled artist' in my teenage and college years, and then I kind of... stopped. I had a bit of a struggle with how to marry my creative writing with my professional writing, and then the perfect opportunities came along: video script writing. 

I got to write purely poetic video scripts for the GAA and Renault Ireland (one of which was on the telly!) and I got to write an emotive storytelling script for Anew Support Services. This is when I realised it's possible to do both.

2020 - The Third Year

This year was a tough year for most people on a personal and professional level. For vast periods of time, I had no work to do. I lost clients, I stopped getting requests for proposals. I literally was sitting wondering what was going to happen. This happened to both sole traders and employees. 

Luckily, I was in my third year, so had built up a solid network of contacts. I leaned into my network and offered one-off free blog strategy consultations to people. This served as a way to promote myself and my work, but just as importantly, introduced me to new connections. These connections have led to incredibly valuable conversations and collaborations. I also got to work on amazing projects towards the end of the year. 

But the main takeaway from my third year? I'd be nowhere without my network of connections, their support and their vouching for me. It's also just really nice to talk to others who have similar business challenges as you do. 

2021 - The Fourth Year

I know we're only 6-ish weeks into 2021, but this will be my fourth year in business, having registered the name back in Feb 2017. I have to start with what I know and what I know is that I'm surprised. I'm surprised by the journey I've taken to get here and how much I genuinely still absolutely adore the work that I do.

I wrote an email today that said:

I will always tell people to write; it's one of the things that brings me the greatest joy in life.

It's true; right up there with reading and dogs lies writing. I'd probably put it ahead of coffee and chocolate too if I'm honest. I've been writing for as long as I remember and I genuinely feel so lucky to have been able to make a living from writing. But not only that, I help people to communicate. I empower them to tell their stories. This year I'm working with Anew again, this time to help them tell not only their story but also the stories of the women they support. I don't think I could imagine doing anything else.

Thank you to my clients, my connections and those of you who read my blogs and subscribe to my newsletter. It helps keep me going. I love telling your stories and helping you to be heard.