Tutor profile: Amanda Y.

What is one method to overcome "writers block"?

Go somewhere new to write. It is amazing how much our environment can influence our ability to create. When I face writers block, I take a break. Then I move to a different location. Then I start writing. When I write, I try to set time blocks for myself. I do not let myself wallow in all the possibilities for the start of a sentence. I just start writing as much as I can. Even looking away while typing (if you are comfortable enough with keyboard orientation) can be helpful. Once you get the words on paper, you can start narrowing down ideas and threads of thought that you want to keep or throw away. And so the editing process begins!

Under the general umbrella of marketing - how do you find your niche?

Go back to the basics, start with why marketing stuck in the first place. For me, the seed was planted through Pixar movies. Then, an Extra gum advertisement on YouTube. My niche is storytelling. Pixar inspired me with their ability to reach across all age groups and tell meaningful stories to the toddler and the aging parent. The Extra gum advertisement made me pause my YouTube watching for a full minute, engaging me in a love story drawn on shiny silver gum wrappers. Both experiences share a story that you begin to associate with the brand. I see marketing as a platform for relationships.

What is the key to understanding a formidably complex passage while reading?

A curiosity to make it relevant! Every time you come across a word that is unfamiliar, jot it down. Look up that word and find the closest synonym that is simplest to understand. Find a way to fit that word into your story - make it relevant. Whether it be a Shakespearean play or a modern day nonfiction novel, there are always underlying themes pointing to our shared human experience. Dig into those themes and do not be intimidated by unfamiliar concepts or foreign words.