Rose Petal Writings

So, who is Rose Petal Writings?

My name is Olivia Shirk. I live in Pennsylvania, USA, and I am the Rose with the Most! Please read on to learn more about me and why I am the writer for you.

Graduation May 2021, where I completed my Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in Creative Writing

My first cat, Kitnen, who came with me to college and kickstarted my passion for animals!

My interests aside from writing include crystals, gardening, reading, and animals. My favorite genre to read is supernatural/fantasy, but my favorite genre to write is a supernatural mystery set in a modern setting.

So, what are my credentials?

I have been blogging and writing creatively for over 10 years. In that time, I have witnessed the writing scene change, evolve, and adapt. With the advent of AI, writing as a career choice is certainly a challenge. However, I feel that nothing can change the impact of a human writer. There is thought and feeling behind each word that AI cannot match, even with the great advances science has made.

As for formal education, I attended Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. There, I learned how to research reputable sources, became comfortable using different writing styles like MLA, APA, and AP, and learned how to look for even the smallest of details to continue learning and growing.

The Wilson Billboard, Wilson College’s student-run newspaper, also gave me many opportunities to grow my skills as a journalist as well as a creative writer. I was a part of their staff from 2018 to 2021. We used Adobe InDesign to make our pages for the printed version of our newspaper and I was able to attend the ACP/CMA Media Conference in 2019 with our editor-in-chief, Hannah Middaugh. While in Washington, D.C., we visited the Newseum and I was able to see the history of journalism itself unfold in the various exhibits and displays. It was an honor to attend and we were devastated to not attend another conference before graduation due to the lockdown in 2020.

Myself (left) and my editor-in-chief and close friend, Hannah Middaugh (right) at the ACP/CMA Media Conference in Washington, D.C. in November 2019

While at Wilson, one of my graduation requirements was to complete an internship. I had the opportunity to intern in social media marketing for Evolution Power Yoga Studios, with locations based locally in Harrisburg, York, and Lancaster PA. During my internship, which took place from the fall of 2020 to the spring of 2021, I learned how to copywrite, learned what a brand voice is and how to follow a brand voice, and grew even further as a writer while getting to know a local business.

After graduation, I was invited to officially join the Evolution Power Yoga team as their Digital Marketing Assistant. A few months later, I was promoted to Digital Media and Marketing Coordinator. Over time, my responsibilities expanded to managing social media accounts for Instagram and Facebook, drafting, scheduling, and monitoring posts for these platforms, drafting, scheduling, and sending monthly newsletters to our EvolutionGO subscribers, and writing analytics reports for our social media engagement. I will forever be grateful for the opportunities given to me by my internship because not only was I able to grow as a professional copywriter, but it also allowed me to meet my freelance mentors, Raeya and Paige, with Kylee Social.

They inspired me to branch out into freelancing and have provided me with not only wonderful advice but also incredible support as I stepped out on my own into the world of freelancing.

With their encouragement and guidance, I have created Rose Petal Writings and am here to serve my community’s needs for written content, along with the recent advent of some graphic content as well. I even hand-designed the logo for my business, pictured below! I hope you enjoyed getting to know a bit about me professionally and will consider commissioning me or looking over my available services to see if Rose Petal Writings can help make your dreams come true!