jo thompson, writer et al

Everyone is, indeed, a writer. I just happened to make a living at it. Starting out as a copywriter at a New York City advertising agency more than 30 years ago, I eventually reached the role of Executive Creative Director. I've mentored and worked alongside teams of writers and art directors as we created print campaigns, websites, Facebook apps, radio and TV spots, and more. These days, I telecommute from Sedona, Arizona.

Now, as a bonafide AARP-eligible person of a certain age, I have assembled quite a toolbox of writing skills. Depending on the day, you can refer to me as an executive creative director, copywriter, content strategist, content creator, digital strategist, AI prompt writer, content workshop facilitator and UX writer. These I do for love and money.

I am also a former journalist, a published author, a short story writer, long story writer, even longer story writer, non-fiction writer, memoirist and so-so poet. These I do for love and very little money. Either way, words do flow.

My back story?

Directly after graduation, I headed to New York City with a BA in Journalism and worked for a few years in publishing before transitioning full time to advertising. In my former life as a journalist,  I was assistant editor of Smart Living, a now-defunct local lifestyle magazine in New York City, a freelance reporter for LAN Times, a Novell publication; and I've collaborated with other writers on two Movies on TV books published by Random House Publishing Group.

In advertising, I reached the "lofty" heights of executive creative director, until my husband died at a young-ish age, which forced me to re-evaluted my work/life balance. I think I've found it. When I'm not earning a paycheck, I write three to four times a week with fellow authors. I finished the fourth draft of my second novel, and am close to finishing the first draft of my third novel. Make sense?

Now, I'm just waiting for publishers and agents to discover me, which I think is how it works, right?