Courtney L. Annan
Writer
Skills & Expertise
Persuasive,
Credible
Content
Dynamic Product
Marketing
Computer
Proficiency
Copywriting
And
PASSION
for my Craft.
My Story in a Nutshell
I am a wildly, passionate, and prolific writer, with over 20 years copywriting, general business, and marketing experience. I have (hundreds of?) thousands of product descriptions to my credit, and most all standard marketing communications you can imagine. I have also been journaling and recording my life since age 10 and still have most every entry. Something to read in the nursing home, I think to myself. To relive it all… but I digress.
I grew up in rural Pennsylvania, an only child, with various normal-to-odd pets as playmates. My youth seems idyllic compared to most kids today that live much of their time in a cyber vortex. I built forts in the forests, raced alongside trains on my horse, and came home to a dinner bell.
My bold imagination coupled with need for life-altering experiences and colorful adventures have not waned as I’ve gotten older. I’m about to embark on my second trip around the USA. I will be traveling and living (primarily) in my second pick-up truck that I’ve converted into a tiny, self-sufficient, camper-cocoon, capable of long stays in remote and beautiful lands. I have been many places, seen amazing things, and gained more than a lifetime of experience, adaptability, and skills that I can’t begin to list.
My ideal career would be one that inspires and challenges me to produce my best, unmatched work. I feel passionate and excited to put the pen to paper and get into the flow on something new. I love to coordinate with others to bring in new ideas and approaches/views, to light. Simultaneously, it would be slightly flexible, granting me the freedom to travel, while working remotely. But I am open to any grand opportunities!
Career highlights
Marketing Coordinator
Pottery by Me! - Hagerstown, MD
January 2014 - March 2020
Web Coordinator & Copy Editor
123print.com - Hagerstown, MD
2004 - 2008
Sales & Marketing Director
Jordan Marketing International - Remote
1998 - 2004
Copywriter
Xoutdoor.com - Hagerstown, MD
September 1999 - 2000
Portfolio Samples
The Fight: Depression and Motivation
Eat the Elephant
The second century CE Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher, Marcus Aurelius put it like this: “It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.”
Do you feel alive? Can you feel the blood coursing through your veins? Can you feel the world hanging on your next word, your next move, your next accomplishment? DO you feel the deep desire to change your existence into a passionate, fulfilling life? Is your attention on your intention? What is your intention? What are your goals? Are you filled with the drive to pursue your goals and dreams with every fiber of your being? If you’re currently suffering from Depression, chances are you answered “No” to most of these questions. The struggle is real, Fabulous Traveler. Few people are in perfect harmony with their life and themselves. Add Depression and the mountain seems all that much harder to climb.
How would you feel about your life if you knew you were going to die tomorrow? Your whole life passes before your mind’s eye: all the wins, the losses, the joy, and disappointment. What are you proud of? What do you regret? What would you do different? Would you be happy with your life thus far? Will you be? What will other people remember about you? People may assume your life has been one sad story after another if they know you suffer from Depression. But that’s not entirely true, is it? If you died tomorrow, though there may have been better choices made - they weren’t. You are who you are because of the choices you make in the whole life experience. People make mistakes — no exceptions. If it’s been crazy ride, you’ve probably learned a LOT! Every detail mattered in some way, distinguishable or not. Take stock of all that you are. You matter because you exist. You are here because you have a purpose and unfinished business to attend to. Although trauma, cruel words, or being seriously wronged will either continuously eat at your heart, bring you pain, even PTSD. OR, you can truly let it go. Tough job, yes?
(continued)
So how do you eat an elephant???
Yes, the elephant is HUGE, and overwhelming. It is the never-ending to-do list, that memory that haunts you, your health, happiness, habits you want to start or change, appointments, calls, bills, the dream future that seems so far out of reach…
Desmond Tutu, a South African Anglican bishop and theologian, logically stated that “there is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.”
And to avoid argument, The Elephant is cryogenically frozen in sections for your delight, for as long as it takes. Beware of freezer burn.
If you take one bite of that elephant, there is one bite less worry with. Every tiny bite counts as well as sustains you. Every tiny step. just as you’re learning on your Fabulous Path. Just put one foot in front of the other, who knows, the other may follow. That’s the magic of small steps. You just keep moving forward.
Next time you begin to write your To Do List for the day, instead, do the first thing on your list that you were going to write down. You may stray from your imagined list. That’s ok. Write down everything you do! “Cleaned up dried chili stain on the cabinet”, or, “paid phone bill”, or even, “Put on a mud mask and meditated.” It doesn’t matter how big or small. Write it down. You may find it a sort of game to make your “I DID THIS TODAY” list as impressively long as possible. Just do! And feel good about it!
(continued)
Objects in motion tend to stay in motion. But remember to rest when you’re weary. Care for yourself. You won’t/can’t always expect to be perfect. Throw that thought right out the window and give yourself a pat on the back for all you HAVE done!
You already know. It’s up to you. But Depression can be severely debilitating. Doing ANYTHING can seem insurmountable. But that’s why you’re here, no? Because you’re searching for that key that unlocks to door to the stairway that leads out of the deep dark hole that seems to be caving in all around you. Take heart, you’re here now, which means your are moving forward with the key in your hand right now. Step right this way toward your passage out of the pit of Hell and point your toes toward the steps that will lead to a new Fabulous you.
By Robert Frost, from “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening” —
“…The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.”
For the last 10 years or so, Van Life and Truck Camping have reinvented mobile camping. The #VanLife hashtag took the internet by storm with amazing “builds” within tiny spaces. Adventurers, travelers, sportsman, and the self-employed found a new way to see the world and and go places many campers or RVs could not.
Following March 2020, and the COVID Pandemic, with more people working remotely, or not working at all, many decided to try their hand at the new COOL way to travel. And with some rigs boasting nearly all the comforts of home, why wouldn’t those with a sense of wanderlust be curious? I was!
Truck Camping and Van Life: 10 Things to Consider Before Setting Sail
In January 2018 I began the build of my truck camper, with the intention of traveling from Pennsylvania to California and back on a five week journey staying primarily in remote, off-grid, free (“Dispersed” or primitive camping) locations. My “rig” was a 2003 F-150 with a high-top campershell that I outfitted entirely on my own. Though nothing as fancy as most you see now, it was equipped with solar power, a sink, emergency bathroom solutions (for Stealth camping) and a comfortable set up with just enough storage.
My trip was an awe-inspiring success on realizing what’s important. And I’m about to start a new adventure in my new truck and in-the-process build. Let’s take a look at some top considerations.
#1 - Do you have ingenuity and mechanical ability? Thing break. Rigs break. Pants rip. Storms come out of nowhere to rip and damage your canopy or tent. All sorts of scenarios arise that require quick thinking and the ability to find imaginative solutions.
#2 - Where do you plan on camping? Have a basic list of places you want to visit and good stops along the way. But don’t worry. It will change!
#3 - Have you tested your rig in extreme conditions? To know how well your vehicle and gear will work, you must test everything in all sorts of temperatures and weather. (e.g. How long does a bottle of propane last to heat your rig under freezing? How much power will you have after four days of rain if you have solar? Are there any leaks? Do you have room for all your cold and warm weather gear?)
#4 - Do you have a comprehensive list of basically every item you’re bringing? Make one. And make it from experience while you test your rig. You’ll find the things you need are often different than what you think.
#5 - Are you tough enough, really? Truth is, this lifestyle is not for the faint of heart. It is not glamorous. Quite the opposite - it tips it’s nose at glamour and materialism. They don’t matter where you’re going.
Truck Camping and Van Life: Ten Things to Consider Before Setting Sail
Truck Camping and Van Life: Ten Things to Consider Before Setting Sail
#6 - Do you love to drive your rig? This may sound like a no-brainer, but your life depends on it. If driving stresses you out, you should probably find a different solution.
#7 - Please tell me you: 1) Know where your spare tire is, and 2) You know how to change it!
#8 - Alone or with a partner, you better REALLY like your passenger(s). You’ll learn things you never knew about them for sure! And if flying solo, you best appreciate solitude. And be ready to learn a lot about yourself!
#9 - Expenses add up fast. Especially campgrounds, gas, and food. This is not a free way to live. Plan accordingly.
#10 - Dealing with your own waste is a real deal, even if you have black and gray tanks that hook to dump stations. Otherwise have a shovel and #1 container at least. Be ready to deal with some shit. Pun intended.
EasyAcc Battery Bank Model: PB20000MS
After testing several portable battery banks, including solar enabled, I decided to try a slightly heftier version with a larger "bank". The EasyAcc brags a 20000Ah/74Wh Capacity. Comparatively speaking, this daddy should keep things running for awhile. Let’s check it out.
I’ll start by saying the bank is only a few weeks old and has not been used more than once in a month. I charged the bank to capacity two weeks ago and it has been unused since. I plugged it in to top it off and it reads as fully charged. Let’s put it to the test!
Test 1- April 12-17, 2017
A. Bank was used to charge an iPhone 6s exclusively, without any additional power during the test. The phone was in high use approximately six hours a day (which would require 2.5 full recharges per day from a wall outlet.)
B. Notations and Observations During Testing
(Continued)
C. Conclusion
The EasyAcc Battery Bank takes 12+ hours to charge from a “dead” state using a wall outlet. Its construction makes it fairly heavy at 23.4 oz and it’s not water resistant or padded. It was initially purchased to use with a portable folding SoKoo Solar Charger. I was never able to get any real charge that would be suitable for an extended use utilizing the panel. The bank did, after fully charged, charge my heavily used phone for over 67 hours. With minimal (emergency) use, you could probably use it for up to 30 days in a survival situation if you used it solely for your phone. It does hold a full charge when not in use for two weeks or more. This could be a useful tool in many scenarios.
*Update from December 2018:
I have owned and utilized my EasyAcc Bank several times a week consistently, since first testing well over a year ago. I take it everywhere I may not have convenient access to power. I usually top it off before it over gets too low on power, but it has served me well. It’s my favorite bank to use when at the beach or pool, camping, etc. I should all add, for iPhone users, that I’ve found that some banks are not very compatible and can actually suddenly drain your battery. Rebooting sometimes fixes it, but I’ve rarely had any issues with this model. At times you do need to hit the power button to initiate the charge at first, and occasionally in the middle if it’s taking a long time. You figure out it’s quirks quickly. Overall, I highly recommend.
EasyAcc Battery Bank Model: PB20000MS
Product Description Edit
This is a random product description from Amazon that I’ve edited to make to copy more appealing and readable.
*White=Original Copy from Amazon *Red and Strike-through=My Corrections and Additions
A 2.5' '(firm) sponge (base) supports a 1.5'' layer of soft memory foam, achieving a wonderful (perfect) balance between body supporting (Full Body Support) and enough softness (Superior Comfort). Our (This amazing ) folding mattress is a perfect (THE) choice for houseguests, campouts, and placing at home for relaxing (or in place of everyday mattresses at home. Yes! It’s that comfortable!). Coming with the (The high-quality,) high-density memory foam which is soft (,stress-relieving,) and resilient(.) , you will feel comfortable and stress-relieving. Featuring with the removable bamboo fiber filaments cover and inner flame retardant glass fibre cover, our tri-fold mattress can provide you with both cozy and reassuring. (Featuring a soft, smooth-zippered, bamboo fiber cover that removes easily for washing, while protecting the mattress from everyday dirt and skin oils. What’s more, the cover can be removed for cleaning with smooth zipper. Furthermore, (A handsome) oxford storage bag is equipped for convenient carrying and moving (storage). This mattress can be folded into a compact size when not in use for space saving. Because of the modern and concise design, our mattress is perfect for an unexpected sleepover guest, camping and (, or) traveling. | |
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Feature(s:) 1.5“memory foam over a 2.5'' sponge base provides super comfortableness Breathable bamboo fiber filaments cover ensures soft tactile (touchably soft protection) Flame retardant inner (enclosed inner) glass fiber covers for long time use (ensures long-term safety and durability) Quick folding design with storage bag for easy transportation and storage Multi-functional use, (it may) can be used as a bed, lounge and (,or sofa) Compact(,) and portable design is great for (overnight) guests, family reunions, camping or (, and) traveling This mattress passes the test of CFR1632 and CFR1633 for safety CertiPUR-US Certified mattress for healthy (components) Removable cover with smooth zipper for easy cleaning No assembly needed |
Specification(s:)
Material: 25D Sponge, 45D Memory Foam, Bamboo Fiber Filaments Cloth, Sandwich Mesh Cloth, (Fire Retardant) Glass Fiber Fabric
Overall Dimension: 78''x38''x4'' (LxWxH)
Folding Dimension: 38''x26''x12'' (LxWxH)
Net Weight: 20 lbs
Package Includes:
1 x 4'' Folding Memory Foam Mattress