At a 1998 audition for Lilith Fair, Ord met Canadian music impresario Terry McBride of the Vancouver-based record label and management company Nettwerk.
In 1999, after her sister told her about a talent contest from Edmonton contemporary hit radio radio station Power 92, Maren entered four songs she had written that night, and two of them—"Eternity" and "Falling Slowly"—were recorded on the station's compilation CD, Power Picks Volume II.
Once signed with McBride and Nettwerk, Ord continued to perform and record and embarked on years of progressive promotion, including use of her songs on several episodes of the American television series Felicity and her performance of "Shining Time" with Neil Donell to the 2000 motion picture Thomas and the Magic Railroad.
Her debut album, Waiting, was produced by Stephen Hague and recorded in London, England and New York City.
Pretty Things marked the beginning of Ord's production career as she co-produced the entire record herself at a studio in Orem, Utah.