How I Started Writing
My grandma taught me how to write. But she had to die to do it.
Here’s what happened…
My grandmother brought color, light, and joy to my life.
She gave me fairy tale worlds to immerse myself in.
And then she got cancer.
By the time they found it, it was already to her bones.
I was in third grade when we moved two hours away to be with her.
Despite my age, I knew my grandma was sick. I didn’t want to imagine a world without her in it.
But I was forced to.
Her death violently ripped my heart away.
The pain that grew inside me was an unhealing wound. I had no way to express it.
I searched for ways to process my pain, finally writing a note to my mom.
In it, I said I wished I’d died instead of grandma.
I poured my grief into this letter.
Pain, tears, aching loss.
A child meeting death for the first time.
I scrawled out the letter in large, clumsy cursive.
As tears fell onto the paper, they blurred the blue lines.
I hid the note in her shoe. I made sure I wasn’t there when she found it.
I just needed to be heard.
The first thing she said to me after reading it: "That was beautiful."
At the time, I didn’t want to hear it.
But she was right - it was beautiful.
Little did I know that writing would be my way to “fix it” for years to come.
Writing didn’t make the pain go away, but it eased it.
When my mom sent me to grief counseling, journaling became an integral part of processing my emotions.
Even now, writing is how I process the world around me.
So in a way - yes - my grandma did teach me to write.
She just didn’t live to see it. It was her parting gift to me.
How I Became a Content Writer
I knew I could write - but life happened.
I lived a lot in the years between my grandma's death and the pandemic.
Poetry got me through my angsty teen years and into my twenties.
Parodies made their way into my life from my 20's to my 30's (through marriage, having kids, and becoming a stay at home mom). Short stories also made an appearance, because it helped me nurture my kids' imaginations.
Then in 2020, COVID hit. I don't need to tell you that it was a rough time for many.
I found my way back to poetry.
Every day, I was writing 2-3 poems. Posting them in a literature community.
I realized that I didn't need someone to tell me I was a writer.
I was already doing it.
When our family needed an extra source of income, my husband said he would like me to look for remote work (so I could still be near the kids).
I agreed - and started looking for remote writing roles.
Content Cucumber is the company that gave me a chance to be a (consistently) paid writer.
The learning curve was massive - but I was ready for it.
In three short years, I learned how to write on a wide range of topics, for several industries.
Industries I've Served
Transportation
Manufacturing
Small business
Technology
Real estate
Marketing
Education
Insurance
Finance
Health
Retail
Law
What Can I Do for You?
Need a versatile writer who's fun to work with? I'm your gal.
I especially love working with people who share my values.
(Not sure what those are? Check out the FAQ below!)
Types of Content I Can Write
Email newsletters/drips
Social media posts
Landing pages
Press releases
Sales pages
Ebooks
Blogs
Need something else?
Ask! I love creative projects.
FAQS
How can content marketing help my business?
Content marketing enables you to do more with less. Paid ads can be expensive to run - especially if you're chasing high-value keywords.
With organic content marketing, you can pay less money for a greater reward. There is a significant time investment required, however - which is why you should consider hiring me to help with your content marketing efforts!
How do you come up with a content strategy for me?
Before I come up with a strategy, I become your superfan. I use my powers of nosiness (or as I say, "journalistic tendencies") to learn how you position yourself, who your target audience is, and where there are gaps in your content.
If you grant access to analytics tools, I'll use those, too, bringing them to bear on your content goals. Some tools I'm familiar with include Mangools and SEMrush - but I'm happy to dig into other tools like Google Analytics and Go HighLevel.
What makes your content marketing services different?
I take a personal approach to helping businesses. My goal is to serve you and help you attract your target audience, so I won't bog your customers down with jargon or marketing terms. If you've got a question, I'll offer my honest thoughts (even if I think someone else would be better equipped to help you).
I'm here for you - whether or not you choose to work with me. I'll do my best to assist you in any way I can, and if that means passing along voice docs because you've found a better fit elsewhere, I'll do that.
That said, I'm going to do my best to learn as much as possible and keep you as a client - so if there's anything I can do to improve your experience, please let me know. I'm happy to help!
How much do you charge?
During the fall/winter season, my rates are discounted to $65 an hour. If you'd like to order a monthly retainer, the cost is $600 for a maximum of 10 hours.
(My spring/summer rates start at $75 an hour*, but I offer monthly retainers at $700 a month for a maximum of 10 hours.)
Benefits of a retainer:
Discounted price
I save a spot for you every month
Flat rate month to month, notice of rate increase given ahead of time
The first monthly payment is due up front, and prices are subject to change depending on how busy the season is.
What are your brand values?
My brand is centered around these things:
- Creativity. I am a creative person and bring that into everything I do - whether it's content writing or my recreational time.
- Family. I love my family and chose this career path because I want more time with them. My goal is also to give you more time with yours.
- Quality. I have high standards when it comes to the written word, because I know great writing can make a major difference.
- Freedom. We all deserve more freedom to do what we love - it's why neither of us are out here chained to a desk working a 9-5.
- Faith. My faith guides me, and I work best with clients who are aligned to that same faith in Jesus.
