Can I Just Have ChatGPT Write My Blog Posts?

As a ghostwriter for therapists and a freelance marketing content writer, a question I’m getting a lot is, “Can I just have ChatGPT write my blog posts?” The answer, of course, is you can, but think about what you’re getting: something that sounds like ChatGPT wrote it, and something that’s interchangeable for anyone else’s blog.

Here’s the thing about ChatGPT: It can’t create something original. It was trained on high amounts of data, and so whatever it writes for you will be a derivative of someone else’s work. Period. It will lack personality — even if you tell it to write with personality. It will lack your voice, your contribution, and your humanness. If you’re OK with that, awesome, full steam ahead. But if you want your blogs to sound like you, you can either spend hours and hours training ChatGPT to write in your style, or you can write the blog yourself.

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

 You might be thinking, “I don’t have time to write the blog! That’s why I want to use ChatGPT!” I hear you. Your time is precious and writing a blog takes away from other things you could be doing. But here’s the thing: You don’t have to write it. You can hire a ghostwriter.

As a ghostwriter for therapists, nearly all of my clients say, “I love to write but I don’t have the time to do it.” They hire me because I do have the time to do it. And not only that, I can mimic their voice without countless hours of training. All it takes is reading one piece of their writing, tracking the speech patterns and grammar tics, and I’m set. Many of my clients use me like they would ChatGPT: They send a little prompt, “Write a blog about overcoming sex addiction,” and then I write it. Based on what I know is important to them. Based on their style of writing. 

work objects - marketing content writer
Photo by Ian Dooley on Unsplash.

I write something original they can use on their website, in a book, or for a course. As ChatGPT becomes more mainstream, people are increasingly identifying when AI wrote something, and they’re turned off by it. Especially in the human-centered professions where personality is important, ChatGPT robs you of the opportunity to showcase that. I’m not saying ChatGPT can’t have a personality — it can — but can it have your personality? I don’t think so. 

If you still want to use ChatGPT to write your blog posts, go for it. But think about the message you’re conveying to your clients and potential clients. If you’re OK with it, use AI. But if the issue is time and effort, know there are other solutions available to you, namely, hiring a ghostwriter. 

If you’re interested in seeing whether we’re a good fit, reach out to me

Why Your Therapist Website Matters

I read a horrifying news article today. In rural California, it can take TWO AND A HALF YEARS to find help for a mental health problem.  One woman was turned away because she was told her mental health problem wasn’t severe enough. She had to get to a point where she contemplated suicide before she could see someone. 

California has a “major, ongoing” shortage of mental health providers, and it’s “especially dire” in rural areas, according to a 2022 survey commissioned by the state. Nearly one-third of California’s residents were living in an area with an insufficient ratio of providers to patients, the report found. 

That’s tragic given the breadth of people struggling with their mental health. And you might be saying, “Just use AI! Chatbots to the rescue!” but that comes with its own problems. In a high-profile case, a Florida mom is suing Character.ai because she alleges her son committed suicide at the behest of the company’s chatbot.  Even Dartmouth, which developed a successful therapybot,  admits that early versions of its AI were spectacular failures.

ghostwriter for therapists
AI is not the cure-all it’s made out to be. Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash

Therapy is nuanced. It’s a very human thing. Sure, you can talk to ChatGPT when you’re going through a breakup — it’s there for you 24/7 after all — but it can’t replace human connection and human insight. This is why a therapist’s website is invaluable. Many therapists use their website as a static calling card. It lists their bio, contact information, and what insurance they take. That’s fine but there’s so much more they can do.

As a ghostwriter for therapists, I’ve written numerous pieces that were empathic and offered valuable insights to readers. Most of the pieces were optimized for search engines (because SEO blog writing services is one of my specialties), but that’s primarily for therapists who want to drive traffic to their websites. If you’re looking to boost your client list, your website is the best place to differentiate yourself from the other therapists who are in your area. 

But to get back to the CalMatters story I read, your website can also be a place of healing. You don’t have to give content away for free. You can create courses on inner child work, healing from trauma, improving relationships, etc. You can build something that’s the culmination of your experience in this healing field. And you can help people who really need help. Someone shouldn’t get to the point of suicide before they hear, “The therapist will see you now.”

ghostwriter for therapists
More this. Less AI. Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

As a therapist, I know you value mental health. I know you want others to be well. It may feel daunting to create a course or write a book but you don’t have to do it alone. As a ghostwriter for therapists, this is what I do. I give you back two hours a week to focus on your current clients but can also help you reach more people. We can partner together so everyone, everywhere, receives the tools to thrive in this world, not only survive.

If you’d like to work together, reach out to me. Let’s see if we’re a good fit.  

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.

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. 

Email
Be honest: How often do you check this? Photo by Solen Feyissa on Unsplash

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. 

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. 

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?

writer for therapists
What to do? Photo by Tachina Lee on Unsplash

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.  

 

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.

 

ghostwriter for therapists
It’s like looking in the mirror. Just kidding! Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

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?

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. 

Don’t Go Chasing Turkeys

When I was a freshman in college, I was so desperate to make friends I sat with random people in the cafeteria and tried to make small talk. It didn’t go well, as I’m sure you can imagine. I am equal parts embarrassed and proud of young me. Embarrassed because you could practically see the desperation coming off me in waves. Proud because it was a gutsy thing to do, approaching stranger after stranger. It’s also a skill that came in handy later because as a Bay Area freelance journalist, I’m forced to talk to strangers all the time. 

During my freshman year, the energy I gave off to every person I met was, “Are you my friend? Are you my friend? Are you my friend?” similar to the baby bird in P.D. Eastman’s Are You My Mother? who goes around and asks every animal if it’s its mother. The baby bird eventually found its mother but going around and asking, “Are you my friend? Are you my friend? Are you my friend?” did not win me any friends. Shocking, I know! We already understand this about friendships — how relationships are built when people are open and receptive rather than clingy and aggressive — but somehow we think the same doesn’t apply in business.

mental health blog writer
Openness works far better than desperation. Photo by Katerina Pavlyuchkova on Unsplash

In business, we’re told it’s a numbers game and to reach out to as many people as possible. It’s tricky because on the one hand, people must know you exist. One of the biggest hurdles I face as a ghostwriter for therapists is people don’t know such a job function is out there. Whenever I tell people what I do, they ask, “What’s that?” I have to do some education, let people know I’m available. But on the other hand, no one likes a pushy salesperson.

Someone contacted me on LinkedIn multiple times pitching their offer and I very much was not interested. I didn’t seek them out, didn’t respond to their first message, and yet they contacted me again. And then again. If that works for you, great! But it doesn’t work for me. 

I notice whenever I chase people, including potential clients, they run away. But when I sit still, they approach. It reminds me of a story from my favorite spiritual teacher, Tosha Silver, who wrote about a farmer in her book It’s Not Your Money

mental health blog writer
Stillness and receptivity work better than the chase. Photo by Vitolda Klein on Unsplash

You may even find that what you’ve been pursuing forever will begin to pursue you [once you practice detachment]. A farmer had one such wild experience. For months, she’d tried with no luck to sell the turkeys on her land, which had been a massive headache. One day someone called who wanted them all — ironically, right after she’d cleared years of junk from her home. ‘Fantastic,’ she said. ‘But now I have to catch them. What a nightmare!'”

She offered it all over [to the Divine Beloved]. Why wouldn’t God be as good with turkeys as anything else?”

And lo and behold, when she stepped outside, the turkeys began to chase her for the first time ever. Even while roaring with laughter, she quickly gathered them all.”

mental health blog writer
Let the turkeys chase you. Photo by Mikkel Bergmann on Unsplash

This is indeed how it works! When you give everything over to the Divine with detachment, things start to happen in a way that’s the opposite of what we’re taught.”

In other words, sometimes the best thing you can do is stop chasing turkeys and let them chase you. In my work as a ghostwriter for therapists, almost all of my clients have sought me out as opposed to the other way around. It can be incredibly difficult because patience is NOT my strong suit but it’s better than acting from desperation, which never pans out. 

If you feel called to work together, I have a few slots available. Reach out to me and let’s see if we’re a good fit. 

Just Wait

I’ve been in business as a freelance writer for therapists for a while now — long enough to notice some trends. As much as I wish business was consistent, it’s not. Some months are slower than others. While this is the busiest time of the year for some industries, it’s not for me. People don’t really think about ramping up their business unless they’re in retail. They’re not pondering how to improve their search engine optimization (SEO), which they can achieve by hiring a content writer like me. Most people are focused on the holidays, whatever that looks like for them.

In terms of my business as a freelance ghostwriter for therapists, that looks like waiting, which of course I hate because I want everything to be here as of yesterday. And yet, this is also what this time of year encourages. So many winter stories are about waiting and watching. I want things to happen quickly like a thunderstorm – swift and noticeable. Instead, things happen like a seed planted in soil – slow and subtle.

writer for therapists
Such a perfect winter photo, right? Photo by Denys Nevozhai on Unsplash

We are in the winter season in the northern hemisphere and even though many around us are encouraging us to speed up, if we take our cues from nature, what’s called for is slowing down. What can I learn from allowing that to be the case? Timing is not something that can be controlled or rushed as much as I would like it to be. 

Here’s a true story: In January 2018, I planted California poppy seeds. 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 do that.

business writing help
Not my poppies but they could have been! Photo by Dan Akuna on Unsplash

There are things we can do to improve business — networking, writing blogposts with specific keywords, cold-calling — but ultimately everything has its own cycle, including business. When I think of my poppies, I’m reminded things may take longer to bloom (both literally and figuratively), but that doesn’t mean they won’t.

And just like me, the clients that would work best with me have their cycles as well. Maybe this time of year feels too intense, maybe their budget is being directed toward holiday travel and gifts. Or maybe they don’t feel ready to work with a freelance ghostwriter for therapists. That’s OK. The question becomes how can I allow what’s happening to happen? 

business writing help
If we let ourselves wait, good things will come. Photo by Chungkuk Bae on Unsplash

I am a spiritual woman and even though my business doesn’t sell spirituality, that doesn’t mean spirituality is separate from my business. It imbues every aspect from how I treat people to how I conduct myself. And one of the biggest spiritual lessons I’ve had to learn over and over again is patience. So that’s where I am again, over here, waiting, trusting that the right clients have already been selected and I’ll be guided to them easily and gratefully. And I know all right actions will be shown.

If you feel called, reach out to me. Maybe your right action is emailing me about working together. If so, I’d love to see what we can accomplish together.