Dana Covit
Dana Covit
COPYWRITER / WRITER / CREATIVE STRATEGY
Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California
danacovit.com
Instagram @danamolly
Instagram @weeknightcollage
Pinterest
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I’m a brainstormer, a work-shopper, a researcher, and a writer. I am an idea-muller and perfect-word-finder.”
I work with creative people, brands, agencies, and friends to fulfill and help execute any number of storytelling needs, from long-form editorial to copywriting, social media management, and consulting.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
I come from years of editorial experience working as an in-house editor and writer as well as a freelance contributor to lots of different publications. I also have a masters in film and media studies, which is just to say that I am not shy when it comes to research, spending time with ideas, talking, and workshopping.
Discovering copywriting was a bit of an accident... I was working as the market editor at a design and lifestyle publication and learned very quickly what intangible magic (heart, story, honesty, genuine enthusiasm) endeared me to certain products and designers over others. I found that I really loved talking to creative individuals about their ideas and inspirations, and helping to harness and translate those very honest beliefs and motivations to the written word.
FOR OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR FIELD, WHAT DO THEY USUALLY LACK?
A willingness to slow down, talk things through, and let things ruminate. We tend to work at such an incredible pace these days and we are rarely afforded the luxury of pausing and letting ideas sit. I find that making that a part of your process often yields amazingly clarified, sincere results. There's a magic in finding a balance between gut feelings—getting the big idea on the paper, quick—and taking a step back to reassess and let the idea evolve.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
Developing the brand story, voice, and identity for a few new clients and continuing to collaborate with my friend, Kimi Lewis, an amazingly talented graphic designer. I am also telling everyone who will listen about a new personal project called These Favorite Things, which right now is comprised of a semi-regular newsletter and a growing collection of vintage objects and texts, soon to be available to peruse and purchase.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
This is hard! I love what Local Creatives and Anyone Girl are doing and would love to bring my copywriting + content writing skills to something that feels equally as elevated, thoughtful, idiosyncratic and considered. I love how The Line approaches editorial content. Apiece Apart, too. Two publications that I think are really raising the bar right now are Space Matters/Unconditional and Double or Nothing.
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
Helping to create tangible things, spaces, and experiences. Telling stories that enrich the communities from which they originate.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
Wanting to have my hands in too many pots, always :)
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
From what I have seen (and have been told!), plenty of entrepreneurs, creative people, and budding business owners would benefit from someone who is obsessed with words and developing stories. It'd be such a treat to have someone help lead the charge on connecting me with people who HATE doing these types of things—or maybe just don't have the time to think about it all. I so want to do this for them!
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
I would have told myself that we're all figuring this out together, and that no one (at least no one my age) is an *expert* at this stuff quite yet. The landscape is changing every other day. The real victors are those devoted to having conversations, innovating, and figuring it out. It is that collaborative, scrappy, we-got-this attitude that will be your biggest asset
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
Timelines and project management! I love the idea-phase. I love it. But, I am also a detail-oriented perfectionist. I geek out over processes and organization. I often find that balancing those two prongs of business is just inherently tricky. I want to do both, but there are only so many hours in the day to really get both right.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Working with amazing people, initiatives, and brands on copywriting, content development, and strategy.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
Someone who is passionate, curious, and has vision for their brand/project/product (even if they don't totally know it yet!). It is a treat to work with people who have both that excitement and openness to discovery as well as a rich, intuitive understanding of their brand.
I'm also increasingly excited by the idea of working to create something that is tangible and lives in the world—that people interact with—whether it's a restaurant, shop, gallery...
WHAT IS YOUR HOURLY RATE, RETAINER, OR SALARY RANGE?
My hourly rate starts at $70 and project rates scale from around $500 depending on the nature of your goals and needs! Every project is different, so I like to encourage people to get in touch and tell me what they're looking for. At the end of the day, I'll always try my best to make it work if I'm excited to work together.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
Say hey via email! In addition to all the boring basics like timeline + budget, I love hearing origin stories.
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
Be irrationally inspired by the most mundane things.
This member profile was originally published in December 2016, Updated April 2018.