Living the Writer's Life:
Matthew Troncone
By Mindy McHorse

Eight grandchildren join Matthew and his wife during a family holiday celebration.

One lively conversation with Matthew Troncone and your mind will be swimming in all the possible directions a writer’s life can take you. Since he started exploring the world of copywriting in 2007 following a health scare, Matthew has gone in a variety of directions with his writing and made waves at every step. He continues to follow what interests him, works hard to make it a success, and really lives it up in his free time. Enjoy Matthew’s story.

Why did you end up choosing the life of a writer?

I was a sales rep for a material handling company and I had got diagnosed with cancer. While I was recovering from one of my many surgeries, a letter came across my desk that said, “If you can write a letter like this, you can make more than a doctor.” I was skeptical, but I said, “You know what? I don’t know if I’m going to be able to get back in my car and drive around visiting clients. This would be ideal. I’d be able to do it at my leisure from home or whatever.”

What kind of writing did you move into and what are you doing now?

Matthew and his wife enjoy a busy social life,
made easier by his flexible schedule.

Because of my illness, I’d met a vitamin and health nutrition specialist, George. I brought him my blood work and he put a regimen together, which I still follow to this day because I had a reoccurrence this year, which I’m still going through. I wrote an e-book about all the supplements. Then I started writing material for him. At that time, I was still working for my other employer, so I used what I wrote for that material handling company as my first samples.

Aso, I’ve been a real estate broker for 26 years, so I’m writing material for that. And I’m working toward getting AI certified to do consulting for companies. I started a series of children’s books as a legacy for my wife, for the grandkids. I have three so far. We’re doing all 50 states: “Nana Visits New York,” “Nana Visits New Jersey,” “Nana Visits Florida.” I’m doing Pennsylvania and North Carolina right now.

Proof that writing can take you anywhere and you’ll never get bored. What does a typical week look like for you?

My alarm goes off at 6 Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and I go to the gym. The other two days I’m doing my tai chi. I ride my bike between 6 and 10 miles a day. And then I sit down at the desk and go through emails.

Then if I have any assignments that I’m working on, I’ll do the research. I try and break it up — research, writing, whatever I have to do. I live in a community that’s like being on vacation every day. I host karaoke twice a month. I run the bocce every Monday. I was hosting the shuffleboard but it became too much.

I applaud your self-care. How did switching to a writing career affect the people around you?

Everybody gave the same response: “Get a real job.” They think you’ve got to be going onto the time clock, staying there for eight, 10, 12 hours, getting yelled at by somebody who you’ve come to despise. It doesn’t have to be like that. I say, “You’re as successful as you want to be. Because if I want to make $200,000 this year, I’m going to work my butt off and I’m going to do it. If I want to make $20,000, I’m going to go lay on the beach for eight months.”

I just came back from a cruise in Europe and they’re like, “How’s he doing that?” Just because I’m home and I’m going to the grandkids’ baseball and soccer games, doing a lot of family stuff, doesn’t mean I’m not working. They don’t realize I get up early and get my stuff done, and then the rest of the day I can do whatever I want.

You made it happen. How did AWAI help you move forward?

I learned how to tell a story and how to say what was on my mind. That’s where the training comes in. And there are always people willing to help you. You walk up to somebody and say, “Hey, I want to do this.” At the last in-person Bootcamp I walked up to Rebecca [Matter] and said, “I need to know about getting my books published.” And she said, “Oh, you got to do this, this, and this.” I took that information, did some research when I got home, and now I’m going to have five books published.

Matthew’s story was featured in December’s Barefoot Writer magazine issue.

Every month, Barefoot Writer magazine brings you over 30 pages of motivation, inspiration, and practical advice for turning your writing dreams into reality.

You’ll learn things like the best opportunities for writers, where to find clients who value your skills, how to rock your writing assignments so companies call on you again and again … and a whole lot more.

Again, you can have ALL the confidence-boosting bonuses and 12 months of Barefoot Writer magazine for just $12 when you go here.