Meet Jayde Spooner | Writer & Editor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jayde Spooner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jayde, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
The writing industry is alive and well. I’d argue it’s just as lucrative and in demand as IT. Think about it — nearly every business needs a website, social media, etc. And all of those mediums need copy, whether it’s for landing pages, blogs, case studies, ads, you name it. Good writers are critical to the success of businesses.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The road has been anything but easy. I’ve always wanted to be a professional writer, but I let “practicality” get in the way. I was in a new city, trying to figure it all out. During my undergrad at Georgia State University, I started off as a criminal justice major. Then, a pre-accounting major (I don’t even care for math.) Shortly thereafter, I switched to pre-marketing. Between working, classes, interning, and serving as the student president for NSLS GSU, I had no time to write for fun. After about a year and some change into my marketing internship, I realized writing was what I truly wanted to do. I switched my major one last time — to English with a concentration in Creative Writing. As soon as I walked into my first workshop, I knew I had made the right decision.

A few months after leaving my marketing internship, I landed a marketing assistant role, then moved into a digital marketing manager role at another company to pay the bills. I’d graduated, but long hours, stress, and a toxic working environment left me in a bind. I needed an outlet, so I began applying for grad school. The plan was to continue working while attending. A few weeks after I applied, my position was cut due to the pandemic, but not long after, I was accepted to SNHU’s online MFA program. Later that year, I landed my first remote writing/editing role at a great company in Europe and also started freelance writing. I’ve also finished my Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing a few months ago.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
ATL has a swagger like no other. For food, I like Divan Restaurant in Midtown. The owner is a gem and the food matches its amazing ambiance. Not too far from there is the High Museum, that hosts an array of incredible art from around the globe. And, of, course, you can miss out on ATL’s skate culture. I’d set my sights on rolling down the Beltline, or we could even skip over to the famous Cascade roller rink. And if you wanna dance all night, I recommend going to a silent party. You will leave sweaty, sore, and oh-so happy.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Special shoutout to all of the amazing writers, famous or not, who lit the path for me to express myself and help others do the same.

Website: jaydespooner.org

Instagram: instagram.com/j.nachala

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayde-s-65118bb3/

Image Credits
Photo: Rafael Bossio