We recently connected with KC Orcutt and have shared our conversation below.

Hi KC, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

As a writer, learning the craft has always been exciting to me, because there is no straightforward or linear path to take. You inevitably make it entirely your own over time, the more you practice, the more you read, the more you experience and the more you spend time facing an empty page. About a decade ago, a friend of mine told me he believes no one should write a memoir before the age of 30, because there’s so much life to be lived throughout your 20s and society places pressure on its youth to have it all figured out by a certain age. The sentiment was intended to be encouraging, which I happily interpreted it as. I think it’s wise to keep in mind that building and maintaining a daily writing practice, regardless of if its work to be shared publicly or work that will never see the light of day, holds more value than we often give credit to. Your writing practice, and commitment to your craft, is your foundation. I was crushed when I turned 30 without having published a book, but then I realized how ridiculous I was being, especially considering the sheer volume of writing I’ve produced, both in the notebooks I’ve filled and in my professional work as a journalist, copywriter, editor and creative partner. It’s not always about the highlight reel, but in learning to love the process and building a practice that really makes a difference. As far as speeding up the learning process, sure, there are times when my formal journalism training and experience has allowed me to work quickly and efficiently, and that has certainly helped make a difference, but as a writer, there are no shortcuts, even as we enter this age of AI. Mastery of language is an essential skill set, but so is committing to sitting down and getting started. No one is going to do the work for you.

KC, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is KC Orcutt and I am an upstate New Yorker currently based in Los Angeles. I have been working as a writer since 2010 while I was still in college, where I found my footing by contributing to independent blogs and getting out of the house. Immersing myself in local culture, from attending art shows to going to community events to checking out live music, helped serve as inspiration that translated to building connections and building a name for myself as a writer. As time has gone on, my job title has evolved to include a wider umbrella and today I am a writer, editor, creative strategist, branded content expert, project manager, enthusiast, candlemaker, partner and friend. Working with words and people is at the core of what I do, and I’m thankful for my ability to be mercurial and adaptive in my skill set.

Professionally, I am currently available for freelance hire while I look for my next full-time position. Like so many media and tech workers this year, I was impacted by non-performance related layoffs over the summer, and am seeking new opportunities. It’s been an interesting chapter, and I’m thankful for the freelance clients who have commissioned me during this time of reflection/reinvention; helping me keep busy and stay creative has been imperative to my mental health, financial well-being and confidence. For those who may not have realized the extent of the landscape the current labor/job market is in, there have been at least twice as many layoffs in 2023 than there were in 2022 (in media/tech), and I am in solidarity with everyone who is currently going through this experience. Being laid off for reasons outside of your control is devastating, and not the easiest thing to put into words, either. The best way to support a friend or former coworker who recently lost their job is to keep bringing their names up in conversations, as you never know where casual outreach can lead to next.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

There are so many resources are available for media, creative, freelance or remote workers and plenty more I don’t even know about. There are ample newsletters that round up opportunities and do the compiling work for you, and you can find different resources depending on what type of work you are looking to do. Knowing that while much of what I do as a writer/editor is done alone in a room (or anywhere with a wi-fi connection, for that matter) can be an isolating experience at times, there are many communities out there that will happily welcome you and make you feel supported in your work.

My favorites:

https://opportunities-of-the-week.ghost.io/about/
https://www.wordsofmouth.org/
https://www.freelancingforjournalists.com/
https://www.journoresources.org.uk/
https://www.annfriedman.com/weekly
https://freelancingwithtim.substack.com/
https://katemckean.substack.com/
https://1000wordsofsummer.substack.com/

I also am a huge fan of The Creative Independent, which sends daily Q+As with people across industries: https://thecreativeindependent.com/

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think one of the biggest misconceptions is the idea of a “real job” and how professional career paths are increasingly non-linear. There are so many different ways to make a living, and not every gig you do will fulfill your soul. Some jobs just pay the bills, while others ignite what feels like true purpose. Also, remote work is work; it does mean I get to hang out and do whatever I want all day. I think the misconceptions around remote work in general are changing as we enter a post-pandemic world, and I think offering people flexibility to work on their terms and schedules is the absolute best way forward. I am so angry whenever I read about a CEO who “ordered” people back to the office – or else! – because that is so short-sighted. If you are able to and would like to work from home, that should be as commonplace as choosing an iced latte or a hot espresso. I also think in creative industries, I would like to see more normalization and transparency around the fact that many people have to have full-time jobs outside of their chosen craft and that does not make anyone any less of an artist, musician, writer, etc. It’s increasingly difficult to make a living as a writer, and social media tends to only show the wins, not the realities, which can absolutely destroy someone’s motivation to keep going. I’d like to see more transparency around things like rates or expenses, and I hope that we move away from being a culture that demands immediate results. Things of quality have no fear of time, as the saying goes, and I’d like to add that having resources, the humility to practice and fail and try again, and a support system go a really long way too.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.kcorcutt.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kcya/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kcorcutt
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/kcorcutt
• Other: https://www.getinyourfeelings.com/

Image Credits
Everything is labeled in the image file name but photographers are Matt Mauldin, Corbin Tyler and I’m Still Developing (the image of me and polaroids on the ground, haha)