Why Sell Words?
Born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, Tom Valcanis (that’s me) could be found sat in school "reading the dictionary." The story is beat up, of course, by my best friend Aaron Brooker. He’d also say I got my pen licence months after the rest of the class because my hands couldn't keep up with my handwriting. This is undoubtedly true.
Communication isn't my passion. I’ve never devoted patches of grey matter for pouring through books, coining memorable phrases or putting words to others' thoughts. Writing flows through me like electricity does a light-bulb, like a purr does a day-old kitten.
When I took to high school, I threw myself at humanities. A Bachelors' degree in Political Science followed. My academic itch wasn't quite scratched after graduation, though.
I returned to university to complete a Masters of Communication and Media Studies, focusing on journalism. Emerging with a coursework GPA of 4.00, I was accepted into the advanced dissertation program mid-way through Semester 1.
The program is reserved for the top 10% of students and applicants are only considered at the end of Semester 2. My paper 'An iPhone in Every Hand: Media Ecology, Communication Structures and the Global Village' was published in ETC: A Review of General Semantics in 2011 and has been cited numerously by students and academics since.
Thus, words are my world.
Let’s turn the world around with some words, shall we?
COPYWRITING AND JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE
I’ve worked as a freelance journalist since 2009. You can read my journalism blog here.
If you want to see my CV, click here for my LinkedIn.
From 2010, I’ve worked as a copywriter, content author and media consultant. See all my clients, past and present, here.
From January 2012 to April 2014 I was the Marketing & Communications Officer at the .au Domain Administration.
I left auDA to realise my childhood dream of becoming Editor of a magazine - Hysteria Magazine - from 2014 to 2019.
I also publish writing on Flying Solo, a website chock full of advice and resources for small and micro business. Read my articles here.
Accreditation
Tom is a member of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance Freelance PRO initiative and is covered for professional indemnity and public liability relating to media work.
Team I Sell Words
Chloe Bennett - Copywriter
Chloe started as a junior copywriter in 2022. Her background is in social media marketing, and her work has primarily been centred around visual communication and community engagement.
She’s currently undertaking university (2022), where she studies biomedical science and commerce. In her spare time, she: agonises over lectures; reads (strictly fiction); makes jewellery; and drinks “ok” cups of black instant coffee.
Tess Oliver - Copywriter
Tess has been working as a writer since 2010. Since that time she has written thousands of pieces on dozens of topics – ranging from finance, insurance, marketing and building through to solar energy, nutrition, health & lifestyle and more. Her work has included blog posts, web pages, white papers, training modules, e-books, copy, and articles for websites and magazines.
In her spare time Tess also enjoys playing the harp and the piano, as well as gardening, going for walks in the lovely Victorian Yarra Ranges, and drinking great coffee!
Tess is also proprietor of copywriting service Gold Star Writing.
Community Outreach
123Read2Me
There are over 770,000 children living in poverty in Australia. Many of them struggle with literacy as they lack access to books and reading materials.
As someone who believes strongly in promoting literacy, I Sell Words provides pro bono marketing and communications support to 123Read2Me. 123Read2Me helps deliver free books to disadvantaged children to help them succeed. To find out more about their efforts and to volunteer, click here.