Surabhi Mathur, Writer

I am a writer based out of Mumbai, who has spent five years in advertising, last working as a Sr. Copywriter at Tonic Worldwide. I was born in Delhi and spent my growing up years in places like Bhutan and Assam. I have studied Economics from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi, and Master’s in Agribusiness Economics from Gokhale Institute of Politics & Economics, Pune.

While my academic pursuits were right for the school ranker in me, they did little for the creative spirit in me. So, I often found myself going back to reading books, lifestyle magazines, and weekend supplements of newspapers more than my coursework. As my college came to an end, it was a no-brainer to work in a more creative sphere.

So, I spent the next five years working in advertising in various roles – content executive, copywriter, Sr. Copywriter on brands like Aashirvaad, Sony SAB, Triumph Lingerie, Nykaa, Kotak, Groww, Sula and more. So why now this shift to feature writing? Maybe the answer lies in the remarks I received on my English essays in school of “word limit exceeding,” showcasing a glimpse of my love for long form early on. Or perhaps the time during my advertising years, where I’ve felt the most creatively satisfied while writing a two-page advertorial, or writing a 1-minute rap jingle. But the most obvious of all has been writing on Film Profile, a film blog I started in 2016, to share my appreciation on films and people of cinema.

To align myself more with my natural strengths, values, and the form of writing I enjoy, I am making a transition to a full-time feature writing role. Below are the highlights of what I’ve done to make this shift.

1. Got certified in creative writing from Xaviers Institute of Communications, Mumbai.
2. Built a personal website where I write long-form pieces regularly.
3. Published pieces on travel, films, food, and people to build a portfolio of feature writing work.
4. Took my first solo trip to prepare myself mentally for this transition.
5. Worked as an Editorial Intern at The Lab Mag, a digital lifestyle magazine.

Me in my natural element: