{"id":4902,"date":"2015-03-26T12:30:05","date_gmt":"2015-03-26T16:30:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bsuenglish.wordpress.com\/?p=4902"},"modified":"2021-11-17T21:47:52","modified_gmt":"2021-11-18T02:47:52","slug":"how-to-live-a-writing-life-an-interview-with-matt-gonzales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/english\/blog\/2015\/03\/26\/how-to-live-a-writing-life-an-interview-with-matt-gonzales\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Live a Writing Life: An Interview with Matt Gonzales"},"content":{"rendered":"

Okay, here’s the back story<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Matt Gonzales<\/strong> graduated from Ball State in 1997 with a B.A. in English<\/a>, and then returned to Ball State in 2003 to earn a graduate degree in\u00a0Digital Storytelling<\/a>. He also launched his own webzine and\u00a0kept busy writing\u00a0music criticism for Popmatters.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In 2005, the Indianapolis Star<\/a><\/em> hired Matt to write for INtake Weekly<\/em>, where he became a columnist and a blog editor. He was soon recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists<\/a> for his long-form writing.<\/p>\n

In 2008, Matt left the\u00a0Star<\/em> because he realized “the newspaper business was dying a slow, grisly death,” and jumped to the advertising business.<\/p>\n

After spending some time working as a\u00a0freelancer, Matt finally began work at\u00a0Well Done Marketing<\/a>, a full-service ad agency in Indianapolis.<\/p>\n

Recently, we talked to Matt Gonzales about his journey through the job market. Here’s what he had to say!<\/span><\/h4>\n

My Advice to English Majors<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
\"Photo<\/a>

Photo provided by Matt Gonzales<\/p><\/div>\n

English professors are a huge help.<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

I learned some of my most important lessons from English professors.<\/p>\n

Lauren Onkey<\/a> was a tough and\u00a0incredibly<\/em> smart professor. Her\u00a0Irish Lit class was one of the most fun– and grueling– classes I ever attended.<\/p>\n

(Keep your eye out for our Spring 2015 alumni newsletter, Re:Vision<\/em><\/a>, in which Matt and Lauren talk about this class and the difference good teaching can make.)<\/p>\n

Overall, the quality of my English professors at Ball State was top-notch, and the skills I acquired in their classes are still valuable; I brag on \u2018em to this day.<\/p>\n

Be prepared for new challenges every week.<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

As associate creative director at Well Done Marketing, I\u00a0make sure all of our creative work aligns with our clients\u2019 goals.<\/p>\n

It might sound cliched, but the\u00a0fun part of working in a small (but growing) ad agency is that there isn\u2019t a typical week. Every week brings something different because my clients come from various industries, and they all need different things.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"office<\/a>

The office of Well Done Marketing in Indianapolis.<\/p><\/div>\n

When I’m not figuring out how to help clients draw attention\/sell something, I mostly write a lot of website and ad copy.<\/p>\n

I occasionally write TV spots and interview clients, employees, and customers to help them determine their positioning and messaging.<\/p>\n

It helps to immerse yourself in new experiences.<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Like many English majors, I graduated college with no intention of getting a real job.<\/p>\n

I just wanted to go to a place I knew nothing about. I wanted to experience something new<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In a recent addition of Brain Pickings<\/a><\/em>,\u00a0I found an important bit of advice for aspiring writers<\/em><\/span>:<\/p>\n