Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyhi Conley.
Hi Tyhi, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started writing when I was 21. At first, I wanted to be a pharmacist because I thought selling medicine over the counter sounded like an easy way to make money and have a good, legal career. But I was terrible at math. When I got to college and failed a couple of chemistry tests, I knew had to get out of there and fast.
I started asking around to see what other people were doing and one of my best friends said he was a mass communications major and wanted to do something in film. That sounded so fun to me and I had no idea it existed. The only professions I knew of were doctors, engineers, lawyers and teachers. So I took a step back to think about what I knew in life and what I was good at. I knew sports, and growing up my teachers, and even my college professors, often pulled me aside to suggest I be a writer. I ignored every single one of them because all we wrote in school were research papers and that sounded tedious as a profession. Once I learned more about creative writing careers from my friend, I realized how far writing could take me. Then I learned my writing process and developed an actual passion for it. So at 21, I started as a sports journalist and wrote short stories on the side. Now, I work in advertising as a copywriter for brands.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I’ve mostly enjoyed my time as a writer, so I think the hardest part was figuring out my career path. But I guess there was a time when I was freelancing and doing Uber Eats on the side. I didn’t have much freelance experience so it was hard to make ends meet and I had to move back in with my mom. She kept me uplifted during that time by telling me to embrace my time as a starving artist. She framed it like it was an investment in myself. I think I listened because I had to. I had already made the decision to become a writer and there was no plan C. So I worked on my craft, experimented with different genres, and got to know more people with similar interests, that way I could be ready whenever I got an opportunity.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Right now, I’m what they call a copywriter. It’s kind of like a ghostwriter for brands. I write all things from simple social captions to taglines and scripts. As a team of advertisers, we try to sell campaigns and ideas. It’s like public relations meets journalist meets marketer meets scriptwriter. I love being able to write in different styles and mediums, but most importantly, I love thinking of ideas we can bring to life. I also love the collaboration. In creative departments, copywriters are paired with art directors, and as a team, we work under creative directors. Ideas are constantly flying everywhere. Like most recently, we created a T-shirt for a brand that an NBA player named Russell Westbrook wore. I love sports, so that was dope to watch it happen in real-time.
I still love to write on my own, too, but it can be tough to find the energy after a workday full of copywriting. It’s like working at Starbucks and then going home to drink coffee. However, I did recently get a piece in McSweeney’s. That was exciting and big for me. I’m proud of everything I’ve put out equally so far because they all have their own moments. Winning some festival awards for my short film was up there though because it did well in LA and NY, which are the biggest film markets – I just want to do more is all.
Overall, I think what sets me apart from others is my perspective, coupled with my hunger to make those thoughts real.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
It’s funny because I’m used to interviewing but not being interviewed. Since this is my first one, I’d be remiss if I didn’t give my mom and family a shoutout. My mom is an avid reader. She has so many books and she reads them all so fast. After watching her as a kid, I naturally picked up some books every now and then. I think that prepared me to become a writer later on. Just gaining an interest in stories. And no matter how amazing my editors and creative directors are, I don’t think they can critique like my mom. It’s actually a goal of mine to write something she’d like to put on her nightstand one day. So, let’s cross our fingers on that one.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tyhiconley.wordpress.com
- Instagram: tmclovin24
- Linkedin: tyhi conley
- Twitter: t_mclovin24
