Each month, we sit down with a team member at Digistorm to talk about their life, career, and experience since joining our team. In this edition, we chat with Tara; our Content Lead here at Digistorm. We cover Tara's journey into content, the qualities she thinks are essential for writers, and how she balances working remotely.
Timo: Can you tell us about your role at Digistorm?
Tara: Sure! I'm the Content Lead here at Digistorm. In my role, I look after all things content. From strategy to execution and everything in between, I write, edit, proof, and manage all of Digistorm's content. In addition, I look after our website, blog, resources, social media — basically, anything and everything to do with words.
Timo: Why does working remotely work for you?
Tara: My flexible working arrangement is perfect for my role and my working style. When I write, I need much focus to get into a flow state, so working in my own environment allows me to create my best work.
Timo: What does your professional journey look like? Was content writing always the plan?
Tara: Growing up, I've always loved reading, writing, and exploring my creativity. My favourite subjects were English and Drama. I ended up studying Journalism and Communications at The University of Queensland, so I think a passion for storytelling has always been there. During my time at Uni, figuring out what to do with myself, I wrote for local cultural publications, theatre reviews, and myself! With all of this in mind, I think ending up where I am has been a natural transition.
Timo: Why did you decide to join Digistorm?
Tara: I've been with Digistorm for a couple of years now, but at the time, I was ready to take on my next challenge and saw that Digistorm was on the hunt for a writer. The ad was written quite well (brownie points for that), and I could immediately sense the passion and culture of the team. So, I applied, and the rest is, as they say, history!
Timo: How would you describe 'Digistorm' to someone outside of our company?
Tara: I think a 'Digistorm' is what happens when the brightest, most talented experts come together.
Timo: What do you like most about working at Digistorm?
Tara: My answer is definitely not original, but it's the people. I get to work with the friendliest, most switched-on bunch of humans, who make logging on every day a joy. As someone who works remotely, it could be easy to feel a little disconnected from the team and culture, but I've never felt that way at Digistorm. There's also a tonne of trust between our team and a willingness to try new things.
Timo: Can you tell us about a project that you're proud of?
Tara: It would have to be one that I'm working on now. I can't say too much, but our audience can expect exciting changes to our blog and resources! It's a project that I've been advocating for and will play a central role in driving it this year, so stay tuned!
Timo: What qualities do you think you need to be a good content writer?
Tara: I think many people assume that being a good writer means nailing grammar and punctuation or having a rich vocabulary at your disposal. Don't get me wrong, that's important, but you also need to have empathy, a passion for storytelling, self-discipline, and perseverance. You're not always going to open a blank document and create a killer piece of content on the first try. Here is where perseverance, a passion for the written word.
Timo: What's something that you think people would be surprised to know about you?
Tara: That's a tough one! Maybe, that I'm half Italian? Although my excessive hand gestures probably give it away. My Mother's family are from a little town in Sicily at the foot of Mount Etna. I've actually been scratching up on my Italian speaking skills for a little while now and am hoping to be fluent by the time we're able to travel again.
Timo: How do you keep creativity flowing in your life?
Tara: I absolutely crave creativity in my life — whether that's watching or participating in it. I spend my free time dabbling in painting, cooking, and ceramics. As long as I'm creating in some way, I'm happy! I also need a regular dose of nature to keep the creativity flowing, so you'll rarely find me in Brisbane at the weekend.