Jane Roper

The stereotypical advertising writer always has a novel on the side, always unfinished. The advertising writer Jane Roper (website, LinkedIn) has already published two novels, and her third is underway.

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I first met Jane at the Partners & Simons agency in Boston. Then we collaborated on the VW advertising business at Arnold. In this conversation we discussed the importance of briefing (as useful for marketing as to inspire fiction).

“I want a creative brief that isn’t just a dumping ground of information. I want to know why [the audience] wouldn’t choose this product or offering—what are the objections that we need to overcome?” - Jane Roper

And we addressed the challenge of writing novels, the commitment to muscling out the words every single day, despite the challenge of work and family. Jane finds her time in the mornings, before the day overwhelms. She’s not enamored with or driven by a muse. She just puts in the work. All while recognizing the perils of consumption, the ever-present smartphone.

“I think it’s so important [not to] fill every down moment looking at our phones. Because then I’m not leaving space for the ideas to come in. You’ve got a daydream, you’ve got to be bored. Maybe that’s why the shower moments and walking ideas come—they happen because I’m not filling every second with something. I’m leaving space for ideas to come in.” - Jane Roper

Let’s be honest, Jane’s not a huge fan of AI. We talk at length about ethics, creator rights, and job replacement. Where AI does intrigue her is when it can unlock new approaches to creativity.

“I find it exciting [when AI is] bringing in a new capability rather than trying to replace something human... when it’s trying to replace human activity, then I find AI depressing.” - Jane Roper

Rooted in Jane’s work—from advertising to novel writing—is a keen sense of balance, where writer and audience find room for each other, and the magic happens.

Episode Notes

Jane’s watching season 3 of Somebody Somewhere.

Jane mentions short story writer Frank Conroy at the Iowa Writers Workshop.

And the advertising writer Kara Goodrich.

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