Rebekah Moan - Rebekah Moan

March 7, 2025

And Then There’s a Bloom

As a Bay Area freelance journalist and a ghostwriter for therapists, I notice that progress is not usually linear but rather happens in bursts and often when we least expect it. For instance, I ghostwrote a book for a therapist client and we pitched it to various publishers. The process has been at least a year in the making. She kept hearing, “no, no, no” until finally a publisher said “yes.” What happened? Did we tweak our pitch? Revamp the opening chapter? Nope. It was the exact same book and the exact same pitch.

I can’t tell you what was going on for the publisher that they said, “OK, we want this,” but what I can say is life is like this. Several years ago, I planted California poppy seeds in January. In March, everyone else’s poppies started to bloom. Mine did not. I checked my poppies frequently, searching for signs of buds. Each day I stared at verdant green leaves, but no hints of orange. Finally, in about mid-May, the first bud appeared, and then suddenly, a flower. It thrilled me to see orange after so many months of waiting. I beamed from ear to ear and pride swelled within me. But note, it took months, MONTHS, for my poppies to catch up to everyone else’s.

California poppies — Not my poppies but they could have been! Photo by Dan Akuna on Unsplash

When we compare what’s happening in our lives with other people, we might feel behind the times. Some therapists might wonder, “Why are they getting published in Psychology Today and I’m not?” “Why do they have a book and I don’t?” The truth is, everyone has their own timetables.

I’ve found over and over again that progress is systaltic, like a heartbeat. Do you know how a heart pumps blood? I learned this ages ago in AP Bio. A heart is like a syringe – it fills up with blood, pauses at fullness, and then pushes all the blood out. In all of life, we experience this cycle. It’s the natural order of things to expand, pause, and contract.

It can be so hard to remember this, especially when we compare ourselves with others. LinkedIn and Instagram make it seem like everyone else is crushing it professionally, and maybe they are. But that doesn’t mean your time won’t also come. Like with the California poppies, you may have to wait and wait and wait but then all of a sudden, there’s a bloom.

What do we do in the meantime? How do we keep pushing forward when it seems like nothing is happening? In my experience as a Bay Area freelance journalist and ghostwriter for therapists, you keep creating and then you wait. Because eventually the tide will turn. Eventually, you’ll write a blog that’s accepted by Psychology Today or a publisher will say, “We’d love to print a book on this topic!” If you’ve planted the seeds and tended the soil with care, eventually at least one of your flowers will bloom. I’m sure of it.

If you’d like support with your writing process, I’m here. Reach out to me and let’s see if we’re a good match.

January 7, 2025January 17, 2025

Maybe It’s Not Time Yet

It’s true in romances and finances: Timing is everything. I’ve been in business as a freelance journalist, ghostwriter, and marketing content writer long enough that I’ve had people circle back to me about working together.

Maybe they reached out because there was initial interest but when they looked at their budget or their availability, they realized it didn’t make sense to work together. But sometimes they come back.

I wrote a sample piece for one client, a sex therapist in the South, and he loved it but he told me he needed time to figure out his SEO blog writing strategy. I figured that would be the end of it, a polite brushoff, but then almost exactly a year later, he emailed me out of the blue and said, “I’m ready to work together.”

Hands shaking — Yes! Let’s work together! Photo by David Trinks on Unsplash

If it had been a few months prior, I wouldn’t have had availability, but because of the timing, I did. Now I’m writing two blogs a month for him. It reminds me of that saying, “What’s meant for you will not run past you,” even if initially it seems that way. Something similar happened years ago, not related to my work as a freelance journalist, ghostwriter, or marketing content writer. It has to do with a piece of jewelry.

My Miracle Pearl Bracelet

In 2007 when I worked in Washington, D.C., my coworkers had a Mother’s Day jewelry sale. I went looking for a gift for my mom and passed by a mother-of-pearl shell bracelet with a T-bar and circle clasp. I didn’t think my mom would like it, plus I don’t like buying parts of animals, so I went back to my cubicle empty-handed. But I kept thinking about the bracelet. I wanted it – not for my mom, but for me. I rushed back upstairs and purchased it (and said a prayer for the mollusk who died to give it to me).

Shortly thereafter I went to a WNBA game with a friend of mine. When the game ended and we started walking toward the exit, I looked down at my wrist and realized my bracelet was gone. (The bracelet is a little bit too big for me so the T-bar tends to slip from the clasp.) I started searching in a panic, checking my pockets, my sleeve, the ground. I retraced my steps, went back to the bathroom to see if it had fallen on the tiles. I scanned the crowded hallway and couldn’t find it. My friend and I went back to our seats and there it was, on the cement, directly below where I was sitting.

Then about two years later when I worked at an office for a radiology publication, one of my coworkers came up to me with my bracelet dangling from his fingers and asked, “Is this yours?” I hadn’t even realized I lost it but nonetheless, my bracelet found its way back to me. And then the next night, walking home from work I realized I lost my bracelet again! I scanned the pavement; I kept my eyes trained on the ground for six blocks searching to no avail. I probably lost it somewhere in the mile between my place and the office. I couldn’t check the office because the next day I worked from home so I called one of my coworkers and asked her to keep an eye out for it.

What were the odds I would find it? It could have fallen off anywhere. Someone else could have picked it up; it could have been thrown away by someone sweeping the sidewalks. It could have fallen into a sewer grate. In all likelihood, my bracelet was gone.

sad girl — Me when I couldn’t find my bracelet, except not really because this isn’t a picture of me. Photo by Carolina on Unsplash

The next morning, I went to the basement to do some laundry and I looked at the windowsill in the stairwell. Lo and behold, there was my bracelet, waiting for me! (Side note, since losing the bracelet so many times I changed the clasp to a lobster claw so it doesn’t keep slipping off.) Of all the places it could have been, of all the possibilities, my bracelet found its way back to me. Some things seem completely illogical, unreasonable, and far-fetched, but if they’re meant to be, they will happen. If you’re meant to have something, you will. In other words, if it’s yours, it’s yours. That goes for not only bracelets but clients too. Sometimes people also circle back.

If you contacted me previously and the timing wasn’t right, I’d love to hear from you now if things have changed. I can’t promise I’ll be free but you won’t know if you don’t ask.

November 7, 2024November 5, 2024

Should You Still Have a Blog?

The other day I had tea with a friend and she asked half-jokingly, “Should I still have a blog? Does anyone even read those anymore?” The short answer is yes, you should still have a blog, but use it like a Swiss Army knife.

Search engine optimization (SEO) and googling are weird these days with AI. Gemini and ChatGPT will summarize content so people aren’t clicking individual links as much. Because of that, should you still bother writing anything? It may feel futile but you still need a blog to show the search engines that you’re an active website. People still search for things like “freelance marketing content writer” and you want your website to pop up (if you’re a freelance marketing content writer).

It may feel like this is the best course of action but it’s not. Photo by Siora Photography on Unsplash

Also, you never know how people will find you. I have a client I ghostwrote a blog for on a very niche topic. We wrote that post YEARS ago and she’s number two when people google for it. She gets a thousand page views every month from that topic alone. So yes, people still read blogs. And even if people don’t read blogs, they consume content in other ways, which leads me to my next point.

People (Mostly) Read Their Emails

People may not check out your blog every month or every week, even if you’d like them to but you know what they will check? Their email. Obsessively. Professionals check their email 15 times a day. Email marketing is an industry that is here to stay and just keeps growing. But what do you say in your emails? Should you only send an email blast when your business is having a sale? Unless you’re a Big Box store, no.

Talk to your customers and clients. Tell them stories. Answer their questions. Entertain them. Inspire them. Whatever you feel moved to do and fits in with your brand. And here’s where a blog is like a Swiss Army knife: Use your blog to create the email newsletter. As a freelance marketing content writer, I do this all the time. I write a blog, case study, or profile for my clients and then they email everyone on their contact list. They’re directly communicating with their clients and customers without creating totally new content. But wait! There’s more.

Use Your Blog to Create Social Media Content

Not only can you use your blog to create an email newsletter, you can use it for everything, which is why I say a blog is like a Swiss Army knife. Take a segment of your blog and create an Instagram post, something for Threads, a TikTok video, and a snippet for LinkedIn. Use your blog content for social media creation. Have one feed into the other. If you’re smart, you’ll direct people to your blog post so the whole thing comes full circle and then people will read your blog.

oakland freelance content writer — If you write it, they will come, or something like that. Photo by charlesdeluvio on Unsplash

Should you still have a blog? Yes, you should. That said, not everyone has the time or capacity to write one. I know many people who have ideas burning a hole in their brains but they’re busy focusing on other things. That’s where I, a ghostwriter and freelance marketing content writer, come in. I excel at writing blogs and I can write them in such a way that it sounds like you. To really reap the benefits though, use the content in other ways. Make a blog a multifunctional tool like a Swiss Army knife. You’ll be glad you did.

If you want to chat about creating a blog or email newsletter for your business, contact me. Let’s see if we’re a good fit.

October 7, 2024October 18, 2024

How to Hire a Ghostwriter

You have a book (or a blog) idea burning inside, waiting to get out. The trouble is, you don’t have time to write it or maybe writing isn’t your forte. You’ve accepted you need a ghostwriter. The question becomes, “How to hire a ghostwriter?” I’m glad you asked. As a ghostwriter myself, I can walk you through the process.

Step 1: Research

You knew that was going to be the first step, right? The first thing to do when you contemplate hiring a ghostwriter is research ghostwriters in your field. I ghostwrite psychology blogs and books but there are ghostwriters for all sorts of things. I have a friend who ghostwrites biographies and oral histories. Other people ghostwrite business books. Some ghostwriters specialize in celebrity memoirs. What are you writing? From there, google and find someone who works in your field.

Step 2: Make Sure They’re Reputable

A lot of people claim to be a ghostwriter but they aren’t actually. They write something in their voice, not yours. Or they don’t know how to translate someone else’s ideas. Or they’re a scammer. Or. . . As you’re hiring a ghostwriter, you want to make sure they’re reputable. Some websites specialize in this. I just signed up for Reedsy, which is a publishing marketplace filled with writers, graphic designers, and editors. They have a vetting and verification process so you know the person you’re working with is a real person.

Step 3: Ask For a Writing Sample

You’ve done all the research, you’ve made sure the person is reputable, you’ve read some of the things they’ve written. Now you’re ready to hire the person, right? Sort of. The next step is to do a trial run. Just because all the other criteria match doesn’t mean they’re the best ghostwriter for you. It’s like dating — someone can seem perfect on paper but when you meet them in person, you struggle to carry on a conversation. The same principle is at play in ghostwriting. Before you sign a contract and spend potentially weeks or months working together, do a paid sample.

Identify a short topic you’d like to write about. Maybe it’s a vivid memory or a principle you want to explain. Go through the process that works best for you (bullet points, a voice memo, a recorded Zoom call, etc.) and ask the ghostwriter to take it from there. Once you receive the sample, assess it. Did the ghostwriter convey what you wanted? And how you wanted to convey it? Do they “get” you? Did they use words that you would use? Does their writing voice sound like yours?

If the above answers are yes, then proceed. If the above answers are no, then you’ll want to repeat the steps I mentioned.

So there you have it — how to hire a ghostwriter. And if you’d like to hire me I have some availability. Get in touch and let’s see if we’re a good fit.

September 7, 2024September 30, 2024

How 3 Months of Working With a Ghostwriter Boosted Business

When Anna (name changed to protect her identity) started working as a psychologist in the South, business boomed because she took insurance. She constantly had people reaching out to her but she realized she wanted to break free from the confines of insurance companies. As you may or may not know, there are certain rules and restrictions that therapists have to follow when they take insurance — they’re bound by diagnosis codes, which then affect their treatment plans, and that may not be what’s best for the client.

Frustrated by the limitations of insurance, and the low pay, Anna decided to strike out on her own and start a private practice that only accepts out-of-pocket payments. At first, she maintained a steady client roster. Her previous clients stuck around but then they started to drop off one by one. Anna found herself in a predicament: Did she abandon her out-of-pocket payment model where she had more freedom to practice in the way she felt was best? Or did she keep doing what she was doing?

Anna decided to keep doing what she was doing but enlist some help. She reached out to me, a ghostwriter for therapists. Together, we researched the most appropriate keywords for her market to determine where she stood a chance to rank on search engines. We brainstormed ways to help her search engine optimization (SEO) and together we wrote keyword-optimized content that people wanted to read. We wrote about how to know when you should see a psychologist, the best ways to interrupt anxiety, and more.

After three months of consistent blogging, Anna’s business started booming. Her client roster filled up and she was able to do what she wanted: help her clients with their mental health in the way that was best for them and her. The secret to Anna’s success? Working with me.

SEO blog writing services — This could be us! Photo by Kraken Images on Unsplash.

As a ghostwriter for therapists, I’m deeply familiar with therapeutic concepts and I’m adept at conveying those to the general public. And because of my SEO blog writing services, I ensure web content is not only valuable for humans but that it signals to machines (aka, the search engines) that they should take notice of the website and show it to people who are searching for exactly what Anna provides: mental health services.

If you’d like to experience the same results as Anna, reach out to me. I have an opening and I’d love to support you with your business.

August 7, 2024August 13, 2024

The Difference Between a Copywriter and a Ghostwriter

Let’s say you’ve hired someone to design your therapy website and they ask you for website copy. They might say, “What do you want your homepage to say?” “What will go in your bio?” Do you have any specialties?” Suddenly, you may be sweating because you want to make sure you write something good that’s also optimized for search engines. In other words, when people google “(geographical area) therapist” you want your name to come up.

Web designers will help you with search engine optimization (SEO) and picking the right keywords buuuuuut you still need someone to write the copy, or in other words, the text. In that case, you might hire a copywriter.

A copywriter is someone (like me!) who writes content for your website and ensures that it sounds snappy and appealing. They persuade website visitors to schedule their first consultation call with you or at least shoot off an email. A copywriter’s only agenda is to write website copy sprinkled with SEO keywords. They can claim credit for their work, it can show up in their portfolio, and they aren’t trying to sound like anyone other than themselves because that’s not their job. They aren’t a ghostwriter.

What a Ghostwriter Does

A ghostwriter for therapists, on the other hand, has a different agenda. They will write website copy sprinkled with SEO keywords but they won’t claim credit for their work, show it in their portfolio, and they’re trying to sound like their client (you).

When I write for someone as a ghostwriter, I’m trying to do it in their style. You know how some writers use short sentences (Hemingway) whereas others employ long run-ons (Faulkner)? You don’t need to be a literary giant to have your own writing voice; everyone has their own voice. It comes across not only in sentence length but also in word choice. For example, some people might want to use words like “escapade” and “superfluous” whereas others prefer “adventure” and “repetitive.” Those things matter and coalesce to form your writing voice. A good ghostwriter picks up on those things and makes sure to write with them in mind.

Something else that people may not pay attention to is punctuation. I don’t mean the standard comma, period, and question mark punctuation. I also mean, do you use dashes? Or semicolons? Or even full colons? As someone who’s been a professional writer since 2006, these are all things I notice and take into account as I’m writing a piece for a client.

punctuation -- SEO blog writing services — These things matter! Image by Dorothe from Pixabay

What a Ghostwriter Can Accomplish

One of the reasons I love being a ghostwriter for therapists is that we establish a relationship and work together for six months or even years! It’s not only a one-and-done job to write website copy (which, again, I also do) but a chance to write blogs together and even books.

One of my clients, Renee (name changed to protect their privacy), has seen a 500% boost in traffic to her website after we started working together! Not only that, articles I ghostwrote for her have been placed on prominent websites that reach an estimated 7 million people per month through a variety of partner and advertising networks. Not just one article either — several. On top of that, I’ve ghostwritten THREE chapters for her that were published in anthologies. In fact, based on an article I ghostwrote, one publication reached out to Renee specifically and asked her to contribute a piece to their upcoming anthology. We didn’t even pitch to them! They came to us!

A Ghostwriter Frees Up Your Time

To be clear, Renee is an excellent writer herself. She enjoys writing blogs but she doesn’t have time to write them. As you’re likely aware, the U.S. has a shortage of mental health professionals. Currently, more than 150 million people live in federally designated mental health professional shortage areas. Within a few years, the country will be short between 14,280 and 31,109 psychiatrists. Psychologists, social workers, and others will be overextended as well, according to the report. “People can’t get care,” Dr. Saul Levin, CEO and medical director of the American Psychiatric Association said in an article.

phone a friend -- ghostwriter for therapists — When a therapist isn’t available, people turn to their friends but a friend is not a therapist. Photo by Dustin Belt on Unsplash

You’re strapped for time and prioritizing client/patient care, which makes sense. But wouldn’t it also be nice to share some of the things you’ve learned with people who may not be able to see you because they live somewhere else or you’re fully booked? That’s where I, as a ghostwriter for therapists come in.

I’ve worked as a journalist since 2006 and in that time have honed my interview skills. I know how to draw information from a person they may not think is relevant or interesting, which I also apply to ghostwriting. By working with me, I can zero in on what matters and expand upon that information. Plus, I have the time to do what you cannot.

If you still have questions about ghostwriting and whether it will work for you, contact me. Together, who knows what we can accomplish?

July 7, 2024August 5, 2024

Is it Ethical to Hire a Ghostwriter?

As a ghostwriter for therapists, people often ask me, “Is it ethical to hire a ghostwriter? Isn’t that like cheating or plagiarizing?” I understand the concern — if you’re not writing something, is it OK to put your name on it? The short answer is yes.

Think of a ghostwriter as a more ethical, better version of AI. As you’re likely aware, last year several authors banded together to file a class-action lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft. The writers, including John Grisham and George R.R. Martin, assert that OpenAI and Microsoft are raking in billions from their unauthorized use of these books, and the authors were not fairly compensated. There was no permission to use their books nor is their intellectual property being respected.

Books -- SEO blog writing services — Photo by Mari Potter on Unsplash

Contrast that with me, a human who is a ghostwriter for therapists. It’s more ethical to work with me because we have set it up in advance that I will be compensated for my time. We’ve also entered into an agreement where we both understand that I’m just the fingers doing the typing. When I ghostwrite for therapists, the ideas aren’t mine — all concepts are coming from my clients. That means it’s their intellectual property.

Also, the reality is not everyone has the time or the ability to write. Therapists are busy seeing clients or catching up on paperwork — adding in SEO blog writing services gets pushed to the bottom of their to-do list. However, the problem with that is then their SEO (search engine optimization) suffers. I know the importance of SEO as a marketing content writer. Without proper SEO, you might as well be screaming into the void. And the best way to boost your SEO? Blog writing.

typing on a computer -- SEO blog writing services — Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

The beauty of working with me, a human instead of ChatGPT, is that I can sound like you, not a generic version of a person. In our work together, I study your writing samples and ask myself questions such as, “Do they use big words or small ones?” I notice the grammar, the punctuation, and do my best to sound like you, which AI is not capable of (yet) unless it’s read pages and pages of your work. AI can write a short story in the style of George R.R. Martin because it’s been fed his books. But that’s not the case for most people. Most people just want some blog writing services that sound like they wrote it. When you hire a ghostwriter such as myself, that’s what you get.

In an ideal world, everyone would have the time, energy, and ability to write down their ideas and share them with the world. But we don’t live in an ideal world. We live in a world of diversity where different people have different skills. I love being a ghostwriter for therapists because I get to use my skills of writing, researching, and analyzing to help therapists reach beyond the consulting room. Together we can accomplish great things — like with Renee, one of my clients who wrote a book (meaning, I wrote her book) and now has interest from a publisher!

If you’d like to do the same, or if you’re just interested in increasing your web traffic via something like SEO blog writing services, reach out to me. Let’s see if we’re a good fit.

June 7, 2024July 2, 2024

Don’t Pour Arsenic on Your Dreams

Sometimes I suffer from “chicken little syndrome.” For the unfamiliar, it’s a children’s story where a chicken believes the sky is falling because an acorn fell on her head. The chicken then goes around to a bunch of other animals and tells them, “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!” As a marketing content writer, freelance journalist, and ghostwriter for therapists, I fall into this trap frequently when I have a lighter work week.

Business has its ebbs and flows but somehow I always interpret an ebb as a sign of the times, not a natural part of the cycle. However, I can take comfort from Chicken Little because there are multiple versions of the Chicken Little story. In one version, Chicken Little and all her friends are lured to a fox’s den and never seen again. In another, they tell a king their worry and the king reassures them the sky is not falling, plucking an acorn from Chicken Little’s head.

acorn -- marketing content writer — Who knew something so little could cause such a ruckus? Photo by Nicolas Ruiz on Unsplash

Remembering there are multiple versions of Chicken Little offers me perspective. I could be like Chicken Little and let my fear lead me to a metaphorical fox’s den where I’ll be devoured. Or I could be like Chicken Little and let my fear lead me to a metaphorical palace where I’ll be reassured. The choice is mine and not at all a foregone conclusion.

Tosha Silver talks about this choice in her book Outrageous Openness. She says she offers her problems to a power greater than herself and that doing so is like planting a seedling. “You put the fledging roots into the soil, and then fertilize and water to allow for flowering,” she writes. “The more you protect the plant, the better it grows. So would you pour arsenic on that delicate thing to see if it could survive? Would you stick it in [the] burning sun for a week just as an experiment?” Good question, Tosha. Real-life plants I would never pour arsenic over, nor would I stick them in the burning sun without any water. But metaphorical plants? In this case, my faith, hopes, and dreams? I do pour arsenic on them. A frequent refrain in my mind is, “It won’t work out! Everything will crash and burn!” But, well, it doesn’t and hasn’t.

brown bottle — Pretend this is arsenic. Photo by Denise Chan on Unsplash

I’ve worked as a marketing content writer, freelance journalist, and ghostwriter for therapists for a while now and every time one client drops off, another one comes on. Every time I fret I’ll never write for a certain magazine again, they contact me about an assignment. Maybe it’s time to stop drinking the poison I keep offering myself and instead marvel at how things work out. Because they always do!

How does this relate to clients? My current clients already took the leap of faith and said, “Yes! I want to work with you! I think it will help me!” Potential clients are often nervous and have numerous questions about ghostwriting. Will it work for them? Will it actually help their business? I can give them tons of stats and case studies and testimonials to show that it does but ultimately the decision has to come from them. Do they want to be Chicken Little? Do they want to pour arsenic over their dreams? Or would they rather believe that everything works out?

I’m a pragmatic marketing content writer, freelance journalist, and ghostwriter for therapists so that means we always start with a paid sample or a one-off project so really, what is there to lose? If you’d like to give hiring me a shot, reach out. I’m here.

May 7, 2024May 24, 2024

Business Isn’t Really About Business

I heard an expression that stuck with me the other day — business isn’t really about business. When you think about it, it’s true. Is your business about trying to sell something? Or is it about relationships? Is your business about providing a service? Or is it about making an impact in the field of humanity? I wear many hats — I’m a Bay Area freelance journalist, marketing content writer, and ghostwriter for therapists.

In each area of my business, I’m trying to accomplish something different. As a Bay Area freelance journalist, business is primarily about relationships. I’m connecting with the people I’m interviewing and trying to tell their stories accurately. It’s one reason I never excelled at breaking news (although I’ve written my fair share of breaking news stories).

typewriter with news written on a piece of paper — So much of the news is impersonal and that’s not what I excel at. Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

With breaking news, it’s about the facts, not relationships. Breaking news is always something along the lines of, “There’s a fire on 12th Street!” or “The Supreme Court issued a new ruling!” There isn’t time to share impact, like how the fire on 12th Street means that a single mom no longer has a place to live, or the new Supreme Court ruling means Daisy Lopez can send her daughter to preschool for free.

Breaking news is usually impersonal but I’m an empath and a highly sensitive person. I feel deeply and so my greatest gift is the ability to connect with others. That’s what I do as a Bay Area freelance journalist.

My work as a marketing content writer is slightly different in that the relationship is less about connecting with someone to share their story and instead connecting with someone to serve their business. When I conduct SEO blog writing services, I’m supporting someone else so that their relationships can improve.

Two women talking while sitting down — Being a marketing content writer is about supporting someone **else’s** relationships. Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

If no one knows your business exists, there is no relationship and that’s where SEO blog writing comes in. It may seem weird or annoying or icky but ultimately, there’s so much noise on the internet the way people find one another is through using search engines. And like it or not, search engines want to show people relevant information. Those search engines determine if information is relevant in part based on keywords. So that’s my work as a marketing content writer, which includes SEO blog writing services and a case study writing service.

The other work I do is ghostwriting for therapists. This aspect combines both relationships and the impact that relationship will have on the field of humanity. The relationship matters tremendously in ghostwriting because if I don’t understand someone, there’s no way I can write something in the way they’d write it. We have to get along and be a good fit. But more than that, I love ghostwriting for therapists because of the content. I get to write pieces like, “How to process trauma” or “Signs of emotional abuse and where to get help.” The pieces I’m writing matter to me because they’re contributing to the healing of humanity.

A Black person and a white person clasping hands — Words matter because they can touch people’s hearts. Photo by Aarón Blanco Tejedor on Unsplash

As you’ve likely noticed, everyone is wounded in one way or another. They’re struggling with feeling worthy, or overcoming perfectionism, or recovering from narcissistic abuse. Everybody has something but not everyone is able to work with a therapist for one reason or another. That’s where SEO blog writing for therapists comes in. The content I write for them provides valuable information that people can use AND raises the therapist’s visibility so they can reach more people. Even thinking about it I get chills.

What would the world be like if everyone got the mental health support they needed? What would the world be like if they had the tools to heal from the things that hurt them? That’s what excites me — knowing I’m supporting someone who doesn’t have time to write to share valuable information with the world. Information that really and truly can impact humanity.

Is business just about the act of business? Nope. In my case as a Bay Area freelance journalist, marketing content writer, and ghostwriter for therapists, it’s about relationships and impacting the field of humanity. If either of those things sounds good to you and you’d like to work together, reach out to me. I’m here.

April 7, 2024April 2, 2024

Trust the Nudges

The writing world is going through a weird time as you may or may not be aware. There’s a lot of fear that AI will take away writing jobs, and it has, to some degree. AI is great at writing posts that don’t require a human such as, “The Top Ways to Promote Your Small Business” because it regurgitates information that’s been written about extensively. Some companies are extremely price-conscious and would rather get a blog post for free from AI than come up with something original. So it’s true, AI has taken away writing jobs but they aren’t jobs I as a marketing content writer want to do anyway.

So that’s the AI problem. But then there’s the issue of companies slashing their marketing budgets. When times are economically tough, marketing is the first thing to go. I’m a part of several marketing content writer Facebook groups and I hear over and over again that this is a slow year, that people are struggling to find work. There are numerous requests for commiseration and tips because the work isn’t flowing like before.

work objects - marketing content writer — The tools of the trade. Photo by ian dooley on Unsplash

It’s been the same for me — the publications and agencies I used to work with regularly have stopped calling because they don’t have the same income anymore (hi, news publications) or the work has dried up (marketing agencies). It’s rough out there AND not all hope is lost. I have a little story to tell.

I’ve cried many tears over the past few months watching my savings dwindle, unsure what I would do about it. I’m not someone who can work a full-time job unless they are VERY accommodating. Working as a freelance marketing content writer who offers SEO blog writing services and a case study writing service is a good fit for me and my lifestyle. But where to go for the work that I want to do? The stuff I’m good at? The stuff that requires creativity and a brain?

lights - marketing content writer — I want to do the things that cause my synapses to fire. Photo by Skye Studios on Unsplash

I joined job boards galore and threw my hat into the ring for several positions. I didn’t get so much as a screening interview. Fear gripped me and I prayed my buns off, asking for help and guidance daily. Finally, one day while I was napping, a name popped into my head. About 3.5 years ago, the CEO of a company reached out to me and asked if I was available to write some blogs for them. I couldn’t at the time because I was doing a lot of work for a publication that covered the company’s industry. Writing for the company would compromise my journalistic objectivity so I turned him down and gave him some names of people to contact.

Fast forward to last month and I reached out to him saying, “Hi, I know it’s been a long time and you may not need this anymore, but I’m interested in writing for you.” And you know what he replied? “You have great timing! We’ve expanded our marketing operations and would love to have you write for us.” After 3.5 years of not being in touch and an email out of the blue, I have more business again.

The experience reminded me there is a greater intelligence at play, that I am connected to a giant web of something, and that intelligence wants to see me succeed if I only stop to listen. It can be hard sometimes when the fear voices are so strong and they tell you to just try anything, to throw spaghetti at the wall. But I bet if you get quiet enough, you’ll hear a whisper, a nudge, telling you what to do. And if you haven’t heard it yet, maybe it’s not time yet and things are still getting worked out behind the scenes. At least, that’s been my experience.

If you’re getting the nudge that you need a marketing content writer who offers SEO blog writing services or you’re looking for a case study writing service, reach out to me and see if we’re a good fit. Maybe you’ll be the person for whom I say, “Wow! You have great timing.”