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1961 I was born with a yellow #2 pencil tucked behind my right ear and bearing the Irish storytelling genes from my two grandfathers. 1969 Wrote and published three issues of "The Neighborhood Advocate" newspaper, photocopied by my dad at the office, and circulated to six neighbors. 1973 Received my first official rejection slip, from American Girl magazine, for a short story called "The Trouble with Gerbils." 1976 Received my first paycheck as a freelance writer ($15) for an article in a county magazine. 1978 Wrote my older sister's English paper about a John Donne poem and earned a measly $2. 1979 Learned the meaning of "direct response writing" after writing and publishing (with the help of a few equally rebellious co-conspirators) an alternative to the high school newspaper. (The administration was not amused.) 1979 Matriculated at Georgetown University. Earned tuition money by typing fellow students' term papers. Earned more tuition money by editing fellow students' term papers. 1983 Graduated with a B.S. in Russian Language. Began a career of Russian-English translation for the government. Occasionally regretted not majoring in marketing. 1990 Upon the birth of my first child, quit my job and parked my higher brain functions in the garage for several years. Avidly read about marketing to keep brain synapses from withering completely. 1995 After the birth of my third child, began writing and teaching about the one-income lifestyle. 1999 Got offered a column syndicated to four Maryland newspapers. Wrote about the one-income lifestyle with four kids. Began to panic about college funding for four kids. 2000 Began writing for magazines in an attempt to break free of the one-income lifestyle. Started helping out friends with business copywriting as a favor. Read books about marketing the way most people read John Grisham novels. Collected and studied junk mail with growing fascination. 2001 Got a few bylines in national publications. Continued to help out friends with business copywriting as a favor. 2002 January: Despite continuing modest successes with magazines, got fed up with the magazine querying process, "no simultaneous submission" rules, editors, and sinking $1,328 into postage for SASE's that never got returned. 2002 February: Got focused. Paid attention to what friends were saying about business writing. Cleaned out the craft room in the basement and turned it into an office. Launched Coale Communications. Left the one-income lifestyle behind. Today Write web content, brochures, direct mail, articles, elevator speeches, press releases, advertorials, and other fun stuff. Help business owners, consultants, and sales professionals find the right words. Watch their businesses grow. Cease panicking about college funding for four kids. Life is good.  |
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