life serial
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Matthew Allard is an author, freelance writer, and Internet geek. Some of his stories were inspired by illustrations from Ian Dingman and made into a book called To Slow Down The Time.

This is his blog.

Misc Q&A Session

Anonymous asked: What is your job right now? And what did you do when you were fresh out of college?

My first job out of college was as a writer’s assistant for a screenwriter living in Santa Monica, CA. I responded to a blind Craigslist ad. I didn’t know it when I applied, but I had met the out-going assistant at a bar a couple of months earlier. He’d asked for my telephone number. I wasn’t interested (or available) and my friend told me to give him a fake one. I gave him my real number anyways. He never called, but when I sat down for my job interview I noticed “I know this guy” had been scribbled on the top of my resume.

Now, I work freelance. For most of this past year I managed Disney•Pixar’s social media presence on Facebook and Twitter. In October I decided I wanted to do something new and I left that gig. I have done freelance copywriting for various companies in the past, but there seems to be more of a demand for social media management right now, so that’s been the majority of my recent work. I did some non-profit campaigns in November.

Anonymous asked: You seem like someone that would live in NYC. Why don’t you live in NYC?

I much prefer the West Coast. I like California and the Pacific Northwest. It’s slower and more laid back near the desert and ocean in Los Angeles. There’s room to breathe, wide open spaces.

Anonymous asked: As a writer, what is your daily routine like? How do you stay motivated and not end up lounging all day?

My daily routine could have a bit more structure, to be honest. I’m just getting back into the swing of things while working from home. When I worked for Disney, I didn’t work at home. Most mornings now, I will spend a little time with my dog before heading over to a local coffee shop to write (hopefully!) for a few hours. Errands or chores for a while in the afternoon. I might read a little, then I’ll try to work more before my boyfriend gets home from work in the evening. Some days that falls apart and I do some writing at night. If I have a gig, I slot my “non-paying” writing around that and try my best to juggle. Right now, I should be writing but I’m answering these questions.

The motivation simply comes from wanting to make something. If you’ve ever completed something you were proud of, then you know the feeling is the best. And I want to be a good writer. That’s not going to happen unless I write. I read a lot, too.

Anonymous asked: Do you prefer writing on a computer or by hand?

Computer works for me.

  1. lifeserial posted this