Gabrielle Marchese
Q What do you do?
“I’m a writer and creative.”
I make sense of the world through my words– it’s my favorite medium. I write branded copy, scripts, poems, stories – you name it. I encapsulate the story, mission, and identity of individuals, brands, and businesses and find the words to deliver it to the world in a beautiful way. I take the dynamic experience of life and funnel it into my writing and creative ideas.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
I’ve written poems and stories since I was a kid, which naturally evolved and developed into a career freelance writing and doing more long form work for magazines, online publications, and blogs. Then I started doing more script and branded copy work and really enjoyed more of the creative freedom in that and felt like my passion for poetry, creative writing, and visual art translated better into that kind of work. Got a job as an in house senior copywriter and here we are.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
Even if it’s branded work, I don't just write to sell, I write as a way of creating art, to evoke feeling and provide a pleasurable experience for the reader. Whether I'm writing a poem or the description of a colorway for a shoe launch, I approach it the same and take pride in bringing forth an elevated and artful tone in all of my work.
Q What are you working on right now?
I’m inchworming my way to writing my first book – likely a collection of poetry and or creative non-fiction. I’m finding a lot of joy in the slow unfolding of piecing my works together and dreaming up the final creation.
Q What’s your style?
My taste is refined, elevated, evocative, and I'm drawn to beauty in understated and unconventional ways. I showcase brands, products, etc in an artful way and approach my work with the goal of putting something beautiful out there, something that feels really good to read and look at.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
Creative direction / creative strategy. Often in my work the direction and strategy is already laid out for me and I handle filling in the words based on that idea, but those initial dreaming and conceptualizing phases are one of my favorite parts of any project.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
The perpetual gray in Southern California. If you know, you know.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Any kind of technical and admin stuff. Handling the organizational and tedious parts of my work and day so I can save that mental energy to let my creative mind run wild. Oh also, to do the dishes. I hate doing dishes.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
You don’t have to have it all figured out. Trust your impulses and what you’re gravitated towards. What’s meant to stick will stick and what isn’t will naturally fall off. Let yourself experience the joy and levity of life with trust that it’s all working out for you.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
Writing a novel. The key to writing distinct and quality fiction, the arc of a good story. Tell me your secrets.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
Writing jobs of all kinds– copywriting, scripts, treatments, creative strategy and direction.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
I’m feeling really drawn to film and script work at the moment– something that allows for a poetic narrative and or some storytelling paired with evocative and ethereal visuals. Any collaboration with a like minded brand or business conceptualizing and bringing something beautiful into the world feels really fulfilling for me.
Q What is your rate?
My day rate typically starts at $400, but depends on the scope of the project.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Shoot me an email and give me the rundown on your project, budget, and timeline. We’ll go from there!
Q Who is a creative you admire?
Ari Bre Bre
@aribrebre
A dear friend and exceptional film editor and creative director. She’s the real deal.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Daydreaming, colors, clothes, poems, salt water, coffee.
This member profile was originally published in August 2023