Tracy (or Trace, as friends call her) Larrua lives and works between Hawaii and L.A. A seasoned pr/marcom specialist who has worked primarily in the hospitality and entertainment industries, she enjoys teaching her “Get The Word Out” pr workshops and volunteering her time with non-profits. When not glued to her sassy MacBook, you can find her relaxing at the beach, enjoying live theatre, or at a BBQ with friends.
There was a time in my pr and marketing career when I began writing more than what was expected of me or of my current job description. At first, my initial thought was typical of someone that age who just wanted to do the deal, and get to the bar after work to meet up with her other pals. I thought, “Great! Just mooooore work to add on to my already seemingly full plate.”
During that time, I was with a pr/ad agency that specialized in the real estate market. One of my jobs was to write about these 50,000 square foot industrial commercial spaces and make it sound… sexy. Were they kidding? How do I do that? Seriously folks, that was challenging for me because up to that point, I thought you could only write about what you experienced first hand. And, I believed that you could only really write about something if you truly believed in it i.e. the product, the service, the etc. I struggled. I’m not gonna lie. There were times I’d sit in front of my computer and hit keys aimlessly until I formed words.
Eventually (and thanks be to god and whatever other gods were watching over me), I got over my fear and began really digging in and actually found the writing experience… fun. Fast forward now, and I really am thankful and appreciative of that time in my life. Why? Well, it forced me to spread my writing wings beyond headlines for ads, or the copy box for some brochure, or the beloved invitation paragraph for a special event. I soon began to realize that you didn’t necessarily have to believe in what you’re writing about, but you needed to have an interest in the info and find an angle in the story that would make others want to read it. I mean, you’re eventually going to share this story with others and bring them on a ride of sorts through your words, no? Obviously writing about a subject that you actually have a real passion for is awesome- but, those assignments don’t come around very often. But when they do, that is one of the best parts about having a gig like mine.
In the end, the belief system goes beyond what I’ve just penned above but also translates into believing in yourself and your god-given talents, whatever they may be. I’m not a super religious person (I was raised Catholic but am not practicing, am more spiritual now and feel like the vibe at Agape in Culver City really suits me better) but all I know is when I’ve written something good that makes me feel like I’ve just accomplished something great, I always find myself muttering “Thank you God!!!” Go figure.
