Testing: 1, 2, 3

Sometimes, when you don't have the exact type of industry experience to land a specific gig, it's helpful to show a client what you can do in spec form. In 2007, I applied for a copywriter position with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Online. (Update: I did eventually get it, some four years later--finally a bride!) Applicants for the position are asked to complete a test, submitting concepts and sample copy based on Disney's instructions. The following are the verbatim instructions and the concepts I submitted.

1. Brief Description Assignment (250 characters max)
Write a Brief Description for the Caro-Seuss-el at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure.



2. Detailed Description Assignment (450 characters max)
Write a Detailed Description for the Dueling Dragons attraction at Universal Orlando’s The Lost Continent.



3. Brand Feature Push Assignment (400 characters max)
In a one-of-a-kind adventure, Walt Disney World is offering Guests the opportunity to purchase a trip on the first ever commercial space flight to the moon. Though the flight will depart weekly, there are a limited number of seats on this inaugural trip. Feel free to make up details — be creative! — and write the Brand Feature Push that would appear on the homepage of disneyworld.com to announce this groundbreaking event.



4. Promotion Assignment: Banner Ads
For a limited time, in an effort to encourage Guests to stay “on property” longer, the Disneyland Resort is making a special offer available. The details of the offer, for which Promo ads will be placed on the disneyland.com site, are:
It’s exclusive to Guests staying at Disneyland Resort Hotels (Grand Californian, Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier)
Children under age 12 get free breakfast and lunch
The offer is only available Monday – Friday
Children must be accompanied by an adult and no more than two children per adult qualify
Offer does not apply to dining establishments within the Theme Parks, with the exception of Character-dining experiences. Otherwise, meals must be at one of the Disneyland Resort Hotels; however, Guests can dine at ANY on-property hotel—they are not limited to the Hotel at which they are staying
Proof that you are staying on property will be required; Guests room/charge passes will be accepted as proof.
Please provide copy for three alternate versions of this Promo and indicate which your preferred choice is. Though your task is only to provide copy, please feel free to give input into what you think the graphic presentation should contain in order to best work with your copy.

(Note: The first ad represented here is the one I felt was the strongest.)

Beauty a la Raquel

I created copy for this direct-response brochure for Raquel Welch's skin-care line, which JOL Management worked with the actress to develop, market and distribute.

Vital Signs

Founded in 1989, Gero Vita International, now JOL Management, is a direct-response nutraceutical company that produces state-of-the-art nutritional supplements branded toward seniors. One of my tasks at this L.A.-based firm was writing the weekly Vitality Update e-newsletter, featuring wellness information tied directly to the company's products as well as links to related topics of interest.

Creative Advertising

My work for L.A.-based nutrition company Gero Vita International included writing copy for its direct-response print advertisements for products ranging from vitamin supplements to hair-care formulas. One of the biggest challenges was trying to sell the products without making any specific health claims or using any of the FDA's and FTC's verboten words and phrases. Here are a few approaches that avoid structure/function claims and focus more on the emotional and qualitative aspects of what the products are purported to do.

Gero Vita's Best Sellers Brochure

In addition to writing newsletters and advertisements for Gero Vita, I also created the copy for this direct-response brochure introducing the consumer to the company's best-selling supplements.

Fighting the War on Drugs

One of my freelance reporting assignments was this in-depth article about teenage drug use for the Parenting section of  Inside Roseville Magazine, a now-defunct entertainment, arts, travel and dining publication based in South Placer County, California.

Can't Stop the Music

These album reviews were written for the New Music section of Inside Roseville Magazine, a now-defunct general interest lifestyle publication based in South Placer County, California.