Meet Mary Wallace | Writer

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

Hi Mary, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’ve always been drawn to the arts ever since I can remember. Whether it be painting, photography, writing, fashion, makeup, music, etc. I’ve tried it all at one point or another! Creativity gave me the capacity to express myself, how I was feeling, and how I viewed the world without saying a word. I feel most alive when I am creating because it’s what I’m passionate about, and I want my career to be something I’m passionate about. So when it came time to decide what career I wanted, after a very long time of indecision and fear, I decided that writing was what I loved best and would pursue the most.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The great thing about writing is that you can customize it to fit your needs, goals, and lifestyle. I started writing to become a published author–that’s still a goal of mine. Along the way, I learned about content and copywriting for websites and small businesses.

So now there are these two sides to me, the creative side and the “corporate” side. With the creative side, I write short stories, work on my novel, and post personal essays and film discussions on my Substack. I write a lot about introspection, feeling lost in the world, and coming to terms with things like change, growing up, and discovering the parts of yourself that you like and don’t like. It’s a struggle sometimes but I feel proud that I can take my feelings and experiences and turn them into something beautiful that people can relate to.

With the corporate (I use this term loosely) side, I write web content and copy for clients, and it ends up still being creative because I have to imagine the audience I’m writing for; for example, when creating a blog post for a car dealership, I kind of get to use my skills as a storyteller to imagine the ideal customer for this car dealership and create a post that speaks to their needs and desires and makes them feel seen. I particularly enjoy writing for small businesses because I’m helping to support other creatives, entrepreneurs, and families rather than a huge corporation.

I think I’m still overcoming challenges and learning lessons. It hasn’t been easy and still isn’t easy because I get in my own way and doubt myself, which makes it hard to push forward. But when I have those moments of clarity, particularly when I’m creating, and I get this feeling that I am doing what I’m meant to do–it’s the best feeling in the world and makes the challenges worth it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
You know, this is a great question because I feel like I don’t hear anything about tourists coming to Cincinnati. There are so many cool places here!

My first thing would be the art museums. We have tons of them and most of them are free admission! Cincinnati Art Museum, 21C Museum Hotel, Taft Art Museum, and the Contemporary Arts Center are all great museums.

No trip is complete without a chill night at the cinema, and Esquire Theater is my go-to spot. It’s an independent theater and they regularly do interactive screenings of Rocky Horror and other cool things. Then, we can go next door to Sitwell’s and chat about the movie over a cappuccino.

Speaking of coffee, there are plenty of great local coffee shops! For coffee and a little treat, Square Mile Coffee Company has the best seasonal menu in the city; their fall and winter menu is especially to die for. For a little breakfast or light lunch, Coffee Emporium has a great selection of pastries, sandwiches, salads, and lattes. For some cozy, artistic vibes, Black Coffee Lounge not only has great coffee but also has a bunch of cool artwork to look at and they’re open late, so they’re perfect for a night-time pick-me-up.

When it’s a nice day, just around the corner from Coffee Emporium and Black Coffee is Washington Park, with a beautiful view of the historic Music Hall. We can read, watch the dogs play, and admire the beautiful architecture. Speaking of beautiful architecture, not too far from there is Findlay Market, where we can admire the colorful, historic buildings, get some amazing local food, and shop from small businesses. BQuirke in particular is the perfect stop for curated vintage thrifting.

After all of this caffeine and running around to different art museums, parks, and shops, we’ll need some serious fuel, and there’s no meal more filling and satisfying than Swad Indian Restaurant. Their naan and chicken curry has put me in a blissful food coma on multiple occasions.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to shout out my mom. There’s a common fear among many parents when their kids tell them they want to go to art school and pursue a creative career, especially in today’s economy. There was a period when I had to fight with her to see my side of things. But I know that this disagreement between us only came from a place of love on her end. She just wanted to see me do well. She’s supported me in countless ways ever since my decision to become a writer and continues to be my biggest supporter. It’s very cute, actually, she’ll see me writing something on my laptop and ask to read it, and she’s always the first person to like and comment on my newsletter. And when I have doubts about my abilities, about the path I’m on, she’s there to hug me. So, Mom, I know you’re reading this–thank you for your love and support, and I hope I can support you one day the way you’ve supported me.

Website: mjewrites.substack.com

Instagram: mjewrites

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-wallace-b185b7143/