2023 was a year of finding the balance between effort and ease, working with amazing clients, navigating the highs and lows of toddler parenting (including two months without childcare), and getting back to the joy of running again after two years of recovery from injury. Let’s dive in.

Returning & Retainer Clients

This year I experienced some of my slowest months ever in business, which is a story I’ve been hearing from business owners everywhere lately. I was especially grateful for my returning clients and retainer clients during these seasons; our symbiotic relationship allowed me to have consistent income while supporting their businesses month after month. It’s been wonderful to help them with a variety of different writing projects and build on our strategy and momentum over the years.

New Clients

One big realization from this year was that while my clients don’t fall into a specific industry, they’re all businesses that truly care about the people they serve. This year, a few of those new clients included a people-first real estate agent, a thoughtful brand experience design studio, a friendly local butcher, and even my favorite cozy coffee shop where I’m sitting as I write this post. It’s been a joy to help these business owners find their voice and connect with their people on a deeper level than ever before.

Generative AI

I don’t know any copywriters who were prepared for the way generative AI exploded this year. Personally, I went from thinking tools like ChatGPT were overhyped, to feeling intimidated by how much they could do, to realizing that they could actually be a powerful tool in my business. 

So far, I don’t feel that AI writing can fully replace everything I do to help my clients craft strategic copy that connects with the right people. Still, it’s helped me with tasks like quickly outlining a post, rewording sentences I’m stuck on, or pulling out the highlights from my research. Overall, I’m thankful that most business owners still understand the value of human-centered copy rooted in research and thoughtfully crafted to connect.

Balancing Business & Motherhood

One of the most stressful things as a new mom was how quickly my work schedule could go up in flames whenever my son got sick or the nanny had to cancel. In the back of my mind, I was always worried about having to delay a project and disappoint a client (which never actually happened).

Now that we’re more than two years in, I’m feeling more comfortable with the unpredictability of it all — especially after navigating two busy work months with zero childcare while our nanny was away this past summer. I’m so grateful for the privilege of having childcare most of the year, and I also appreciate knowing that I can juggle both work and motherhood when I need to. As tiring as it was to do both this summer, it was also so special to spend more time with my son as he found his voice and explored the world with endless curiosity.

Return to Running

This was a big one. Up until about two years ago, running was my go-to exercise and stress reliever. I ran two marathons in college and loved going on long runs with friends or a podcast. But in 2021, I ended up with an irreparable injury that might have been the end of running for good. It felt like losing part of myself. 

Fast-forward to this past May, and after two years of hard work and physical therapy, I was finally able to lace up my shoes and cautiously ease back into running. It's still hard to believe I can run again, and it brings so much joy.

Reading

I read a lot of fiction and memoirs before bed to help my brain wind down from the day — here are a few favorites from this past year:

• “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin

• “This Time Tomorrow” by Emma Straub

• “Tom Lake” by Ann Patchett (the audiobook ready by Meryl Streep is amazing)

• “Happy-Go-Lucky” by David Sedaris

• “You Could Make This Place Beautiful” by Maggie Smith

• “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt

Listening

I’m always listening to a podcast. Most of my favorite shows are just for fun, but there are some I turn to for work and parenting advice, too. Here are a few I loved this year:

• “Creative Pep Talk” with Andy J. Pizza

• “Freelance Writing Coach” with Kaleigh Moore and Emma Siemasko

• “The Retrievals” from Serial Productions

• “Good Inside with Dr. Becky” with Dr. Becky Kennedy

• “This American Life”

What’s Next?

In 2024, I’m excited to continue supporting my wonderful clients from 2023, and also create more flexible options to serve business owners in all stages. I’m already testing some day rate and hourly pricing models for projects that don’t fit within my typical packages, and it’s been fun to collaborate with business owners who are just starting out or who need something simple. So if you’re looking for support on any kind of copywriting project, feel free to reach out! I’d love to collaborate with you.