Meet Simone Keelah | Writer & Creative Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Simone Keelah and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Simone, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was born in Queens, New York, and grew up in the suburbs of Orlando, Florida, during a period of massive expansion. My parents are immigrants from Saint Vincent and Panama, and I was raised in a community filled with other immigrant families. On weekends, you were liable to catch me at a Filipino karaoke party, eating Lebanese delicacies, or watching Shottas with my Jamaican friends. Everything was on the table because everyone got a seat at it.

My upbringing, combined with my own unique wiring, led to my quest to figure out where I — a silly, curious, and ambitious Black girl– was supposed to fit. Before landing in LA in 2021, I worked in Public Relations and Marketing for the better part of a decade. I moved around a lot: New York again, Atlanta, Minneapolis, back to Orlando. Each new experience reinforced the idea that my most important task while on this planet was to listen and follow what my soul called me to do. Whenever I ignored my internal nudges– whether to leave a job or move to a new city– I felt misaligned. Eventually, I adopted a “live with no regrets, move with intuition” mindset.

Today, I fully embrace a creative life. As I prepare for my opportunity as a TV writer, I use my marketing and PR background to support other creatives through coaching and work as a speechwriter for executives at a Fortune 50 company. In true multi-passionate fashion, I also share my experiences as a writer and creative coach on TikTok and host a podcast called Sol Talk: from Corporate to Creative.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is my words. I try not to get too caught up in the vehicle I use to communicate them, but so far, it’s been through TV scripts, creative nonfiction, and social media content. Screenplays let me play– using words, worlds, and characters to convey universal truths in subtle ways. Creative nonfiction– whether essays or a more casual Substack– allows me to be more direct about what I want to say. And these days, TikTok has become a platform I use for sharing ideas, words of encouragement, and creative strategies that support other artists.

I joke that my genre is hopecore. No matter the medium, I see myself as a vessel for something bigger than me. I’m constantly battling my ego– not because it’s bad, but because when I create from an ego-driven place, I lose the soul of the work. And soul is everything to me.

The creative journey hasn’t always been easy. When you spend most of your life resisting your own creative impulses, and not developing systems and habits to actively pursue them– you step into your creative life limping and thirsty. You’re desperate for quick wins and validation, yet lack the discipline and stamina to make them happen. That was me in early 2020. All of a sudden, I had all the time in the world to create, but I didn’t know where to start. I also made the mistake of thinking time was the only thing I needed to be an artist. We don’t talk enough about how self-doubt and fears around visibility or success can paralyze artists on the rise.

It should come as no surprise then that my journey has been full of stops and starts. When I left my corporate marketing job, I thought I’d quickly write a book of poetic musings. Instead, to earn money, I spent most of my time building my brand as a freelancer. My energy became splintered as I pursued anything that paid and could accelerate my move to LA. Landing a part-time role as a speechwriter changed the game for me. I had already committed to living a creative life, so once I had reliable paychecks, I was able to truly invest in it. I started a podcast, wrote my first script, and moved to LA. But as they say, “new levels, new devils,” so it’s been important that I continuously seek the tools and resources that support me at every phase of my evolution.

The creative life is an ongoing experiment. We outgrow things that once sustained us. We question whether we’re making enough progress because an artist’s journey is rarely linear. We compare our creations, our processes, and our results to strangers on the internet. I’ve learned that the most important qualities I must cultivate on this journey are my audacity, resilience, and faith. Will I try? Will I bounce back? Will I move forward, KNOWING that every dream placed in my heart is actively unfolding?

When I land in a writers’ room or step onto a TED stage– I hope it serves as a reminder to other late bloomers that there is no expiration date on becoming exactly who we want to be.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d structure our days by neighborhood, with plenty of time on the West Side since that’s where I live.

Mornings would start with a nature walk at Kenneth Hahn, followed by a quick breakfast at Underground or Hilltop on Slauson. Alternatively, we’d grab coffee at Alana’s in Venice (highly recommend the honey oat latte!) and sip it while strolling through the Venice Boardwalk or exploring the Mar Vista Farmers Market.

Afternoons would be all about culture. The Broad is my favorite museum, but I get that first-timers want to see the Hollywood sign, so I’d be open to taking them to the Getty for some art with a view. On our way back, we’d stop in Inglewood– since all my people love getting a shot in front of The Dunes (the apartment from Insecure)– before picking up a slice of red velvet cake from Sweet Red Peach. If the weather’s great, we’d instead head south for a beach day at Manhattan Beach, grabbing brunch at MB Post and ice cream at the local creamery while we’re there.

If we’re not completely exhausted, we’d catch the sunset at High Rooftop in Venice while snacking on fries and sipping French 75s. Later that evening, dinner at Linden followed by a nightcap at the adjoining speakeasy, The Dot. Or if they’re in the mood for Mexican, we’d go to Hideaway in Beverly Hills, followed by espresso martinis at Wally’s BH.

Before heading to the airport, we’d have to spend Sunday morning at Smorgasbord. But if we wanted to keep it simple, we’d check out Two Hommes (since I’ve been wanting to try it) or hit Roscoe’s on La Brea for chicken and waffles.

Honorable mentions: A Pilates bounce class at Sweat Marina, followed by a Hailey Bieber smoothie at Erewhon (honestly, it really is that good) and a walk down Abbot Kinney; renting a tennis court in Westchester; a work day and lunch at The Gathering Spot; a relaxing afternoon at Burke Williams Spa in Santa Monica with a drive by the Santa Monica Pier; horseback riding in Palos Verdes; dinner at Sommerville; and jazz at Sun Rose on Sunset.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My family. When you’re in the infancy of dream creation, it’s important to be intentional about who you share those dreams with. My mom has always been that safe space. When I decided to leave my last corporate marketing job to figure out how to center my life around storytelling, she was the first person I told. For 18 months, my parents let me stay in my childhood bedroom, largely rent-free, as I rebuilt my life. That lifted a huge financial weight off my shoulders– but more than anything, it’s their unwavering love and encouragement that have truly shaped the woman I’ve become.

Then there’s my sister. 23 months my senior, Shari was my living example of what it meant to balance hard work and play. To this day, I know I count on her to support my projects, brainstorm ideas (even when I insist we don’t have to), and validate the array of emotions that come up on my journey.

I also have to give a shoutout to my coach, Aubrianna. In the summer of 2023, I realized I couldn’t keep knocking on Uncertainty’s door without professional support. I was deflated from an inbox full of writing rejections and questioning whether I could be taken seriously as a creative coach while still pursuing my own creative dreams. Aubrianna helped me develop strategies and habits that transformed my approach to creativepreneurship. But more importantly, we worked on mindset shifts that empowered me to push past the self-doubts and fears keeping me small and stuck.

Website: https://www.simonekeelah.com

Instagram: @instagram.com

Other: TikTok: @simonekeelah

Substack: https://simonekeelah.substack.com/

Image Credits
Monica Henriquez (for the professional photos)