Meet the Team: Copy Writer and Hipster Extraordinaire

Jake Uitti: bearded, a little windblown, and plaided from head-to-toe, it doesn't get any more "Seattle" than him. Jake, who can't make up his mind whether he goes by Jake or Jacob (his email signature says one thing his introductions say another) is an editorial and copywriter who has been along for the ride since the moment I got my start in the creative and editorial world. I've seen him grow as a writer who didn't have a website to someone who wins awards for his words. He's a micro-brew enthusiast and heavy into the local music scene - I rely on him to let me know when the next Kurt Cobain will come around because I don't have the patience to listen to 100 shitty bands to find 1 good one - but he does. He knows every good eatery, every upcoming brewery, and responds to emails within 30 seconds of you sending them and THAT my friends is someone worth latching onto.

Working as a writer, what's one thing you've learned along your journey that you wish you knew five years ago?

Everything. I look back on my earlier years five or ten years ago and I can't believe how green I was as a writer. I didn't even know what the word "pitch" meant outside baseball vernacular. In many ways, I can't believe I was given a shot (though I'm eternally grateful I was). More specifically, concision would be an important one. "Don't fall in love with your quotes," meaning cut, cut, cut. And get to the point.

What time do you wake up in the morning?

Usually around 10 or 11 a.m. But there are often mornings with meetings or phone calls that require a 9 a.m. wakeup call, or earlier. As a person, in general, I tend to want to stay up late at night. I'd sleep 3 a.m. to noon, if I could.

Coffee or tea?

Coffee all day e'ry day. I just moved into an apartment building that has a communal espresso machine and I'm pretty sure it's paid my rent in saved coffee shop bills.

What do you do to maintain a work life balance?

It sounds cliche, but I try more and more to live in the moment. Which means that if the moment presents itself as an interesting story opportunity, I'll jump on it and not say, "Well, it's dinner time, I shouldn't be working." But if it's 3 in the afternoon and I'm interested in reading a book for leisure, I won't force myself to work if I'm not on deadline.

Tell us something interesting about yourself that we don't already know?

I'd live in New Orleans if I could wave a magic wand. The food, music and culture of speaking kindly to one another in that city is unlike any other.

LA or New York?

I'm from New Jersey (and have the state tattooed on my left arm). So, I miss New York City almost every day. But I'm also drawn to the idea of living in L.A. and working in T.V. or movies. If I had to make the choice this minute, I'd say New York. Can't beat the walking and the 24-hour corner store delis!

What is the one thing that you'll lavishly spend money on?

Food. I'll spend $100 on a plate of pasta if it feels like Jesus Christ (or some other Top Chef) made it with divine expertise.

Reality TV shows or Netflix?

I don't watch a ton of T.V., honestly. At home, my fiance and I tend to watch HBO (Insecure being one of our favorites). But we do watch a ton of movies. So, given the choice, I'd say Netflix. Unless you count sports as reality T.V., in which case, I could never give up my NBA basketball addiction!