Ashley Tibbits
Ashley Tibbits
Copywriter / Editor / Content Creator
Los Angeles, California
www.cleverla.com
instagram @ashley_tibbits
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I am—and have always been—a storyteller (see my preschool report card for evidence).”
Never having a shortage of words has benefitted me in helping others better explain who they are and what they do, but having skills to edit and style also help me paint a complete picture. The past few years I've specifically focused on the areas of fashion, style, beauty and wellness, and lifestyle, acting as a tastemaker and spotlighting the coolest creatives, makers, and brands.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
For me, writing was a byproduct of studying Art History. I became an art critic after graduating college and have been expanding my content ever since. Having that background means I'm great at analyzing and can speak intellectually on many topics. After working as a stylist, it was a natural progression for me to work in the fashion realm and of late I'm incredibly flattered to find myself specifically working with many independent designers and artists.
FOR OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR FIELD, WHAT DO THEY USUALLY LACK?
Writing comes very naturally for me, but I know that that's not true for most people (so I'm told). At this point, it's not just about knowing the right words, but it's also how to approach press, how to effectively reach your audience, and how to know where and when to edit yourself. I'm also always complimented when people use me as a source to know what's new, what's trending, where to eat dinner/get an amazing cup of coffee/go on vacation etc.—staying current and connected has been a real asset for me.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
I work for a number of outlets as a blogger and editor, primarily in the fields of fashion and lifestyle. For many of those companies, this involves more than just providing copy, but doing regular research and providing original imagery and/or styling. Additionally, I have my own site, CleverLA.com, which is an outlet for me to curate content: directing editorials, telling the stories of influencers/movers-and-shakers, and occasionally putting together pop-up shops.
Copywriting
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
Honestly, giving Clever a good read will tell you so much about who I am and where my interests lie. I choose brands and individuals with inspirational stories to tell, whether it be because of their sustainable approach, their contribution to a charitable cause, or their unique strategy. Personally I favor a less-is-more approach for design, but I can appreciate a range of aesthetics, which I attribute to my art history background.
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
I'm always interested in learning more about analytics. It's not just super fascinating to me, but I think it would make me that much more valuable.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
I say yes to everything (which for everyone else is an awesome thing!) but at the end of the day, knowing when I should say no would help me do everything else better.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
Can they clean my apartment? Because I hate doing that, ha! But actually I'd have them manage pitches and organize what comes into my inbox. I receive tons of emails from brands and PR people—which I love, but some days it can take a chunk of time just to sift through it all and figure what's most interesting or significant to me.
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
Oh gosh, I might have taken a business class or two! I don't regret taking a butt-load of art classes back in the day because I can say that I genuinely loved what I studied and those professors were hugely influential. But, as a right-brained person I could always benefit from more of that left-brained stuff.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
Again, it would be analytics. I know what I know from patterns I see but it's actually a serious science that I'd like to dig into.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Providing cool, original content for blogs, copywriting for brands that inspire me, and helping businesses tell their unique stories.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
Anyone who is open-minded, creative, and positive.
WHAT IS YOUR HOURLY RATE, RETAINER, OR SALARY RANGE?
For copywriting, my rate is typically $1/word but I can negotiate, particularly for anyone who can commit to working with me on a set amount of projects.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
Email me! Tell me who you are and what you're looking for. We can go from there.
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
By staying curious.
This member profile was originally published in May 2017.