Meet the team : Erica Louise

Introducing the always eloquent Erica, our senior writer and editor here at Creative Little Soul. If you follow us on our social media, chances are one of her brilliant articles has probably popped up on your feed. Learn a little bit more about one of our favourite wordsmiths and her journey prior to working at CLS.

Tell us a little about your role at Creative Little Soul and what you do?

I am the Senior Writer and Editor for CLS. I research, write and edit interesting articles, and craft press releases and newsletters for Chrissy and the team.

You’re originally from the UK why did you decide to move to Australia?

I grew up in a small “garden city” town in Hertfordshire, located approximately 30km from Kings Cross, London. In my 20s I moved to North London and commuted into the heart of the city for work. I met an Aussie man in a bar. After living together for a few years in London, he wanted to return to Melbourne to live and I was ready for a change, so that was that!

You also have your own blog called KidTown Melbourne could you tell us a bit about it and why you created it?

There’s a long story and a short story behind KidTown Melbourne. The short story is, when I became a mother, I wanted to expose my kids to Melbourne’s many family-friendly theatre shows, cafes, museums, exhibitions, wildlife sanctuaries and so-on. KidTown Melbourne is a platform for me to document the amazing places I take my boys to in the hope to inspire other parents to get out there and make the most of our fabulous city.

I truly believe that exposing my own children to such experiences has made an enormous impact on their development as human beings by expanding their imagination, curiosity and creativity.

You’re a gal with a passion for fashion could you tell us a bit about your time as a fashion blogger?

I quit my full-time job as the co-founder of a successful company shortly after my first son was born. I was left feeling a little lost, so I started writing. I love fashion, op shopping and writing so I combined all three and started a blog called Recycled Fashion. Once my second son arrived and KidTown Melbourne gained momentum, my attentions were pulled elsewhere so I stopped writing about fashion and focussed on family-friendly entertainment instead.

Any tips for overcoming writers block?

I find the best way to get my stagnant mind ticking once again is to walk away from my work for a little while. I tend to immerse myself in the creativity of others, such as visiting an art gallery, going for a walk and listening to an audio book or I’ll watch a thought-provoking movie.

Have you got any advice for those who would like to pursue a career as a writer?

It’s a tough gig and hard to get your name out there as a writer, but it can be done. There are many different writing pathways you can follow. The best place to start would be to determine what sort of writer you want to be. You could be a journalist, a copywriter, technical writer, SEO writer, content writer, editor or even a screenplay writer.

Do your research and see if you can sign up to courses that will better equip you to follow your chosen writing path. Sign up to newsletters in the field you are most interested in. Follow the social pages of the industry experts you admire to get a feel for the work that is involved as a writer.

Blogging is a little different to what it was a decade ago, however, writing your own blog is a great place to practice your craft, work out your niche, and to build your portfolio.

How have you been keeping yourself entertained in lockdown?

The children have been keeping me very busy with remote learning. Aside from that, I’ve been catching up on Netflix shows, movies, and walking a lot. I’m loving audio books. Walking along my local beach and listening to a fictional story is my new favourite thing!

What do you love to do in your spare time?

I love the theatre. Musical theatre is my favourite, but any show will do. Visiting art galleries come in close second and I enjoy tap dancing.

I also love travelling. I have been very fortunate to have travelled to 30 countries in my pre-pandemic lifetime. I hope to continue exploring the world with my family once it is safe to do so.

Does pineapple belong on pizza yay or nay?

Yeah, nah.

The era you should have been born in?

I always think how amazing it would’ve been growing up in the 60s. Such a progressive time in music, fashion and culture.

What would you choose as your final meal?

A 40-baht Pad Thai noodle dish from a street vendor in Bangkok. Followed by a Gulab Jamun, which is a deep-fried sweet from India.

What’s your dream holiday?

I don’t like to sit still. I prefer to visit adventurous places where I can explore beyond the tourist trails. Favourite holiday destinations so far have been: Japan, Vanuatu, Portugal and Iceland.