Living the Writer's Life:
Michele Peterson
By Mindy McHorse

Michele is happy to lounge by the pool, surrounded by her garden,
when she’s not busy with a writing project.

Michele Peterson’s enthusiasm for writing — and life — is contagious the minute you start talking to her. But a good chunk of her zest comes from getting to do something with clients she feels connected to. Read on to discover how she backed her way out of a family business and built a career she has full ownership over and thrives in.

What drew you toward copywriting?

Michele jokes that her
office companion and big dog Max
has the home title Head of Security

I wanted to build something of my own. I was working for my mother-in-law’s company, and it’s a small family-owned company, so I was wearing all the hats, right? My title was general manager, but I did everything: the sales, the marketing, the bookkeeping, the operations, supplies, etc. But what resonated with me was the marketing. I got on AWAI’s list and got the letter “Can you write a letter like this?” And I said, “Well, yes, I think I can.” So I jumped into the Accelerated Program for Six-Figure Copywriting.

How did you make the leap from there to freelancing on your own?

First, I put the word out to everybody I knew. And I told my mother-in-law what I was doing. So I transitioned from all of my time there to more part time there and building my own thing. I was active in several networking groups here locally, and I just told them, “Hey, this is what I’m doing.” And it took off from there.

You went boldly forward. Did you have any fear?

I had fear, and I still have fear when I’m talking to a new potential client. But I was enthusiastic. I believe enthusiasm can get you through almost anything. And I was so enamored by this idea that I could do this and have this copywriter’s life that I was excited about it, and I shared that with other people.

What niche did you settle into?

More content and short-form stuff. I get bored easily. Mostly for local service providers. I still write for that family company, which is a housecleaning company. I’ve worked with pool companies and gardeners and landscapers, pest control, that kind of thing. I have a bookkeeping/accounting firm that is one of my retainer clients. I have a lawyer on retainer. I’m also one of AWAI’s mentors, so I’m doing mentoring and coaching.

What challenges have you overcome?

Not being willing to say no to something that I really didn’t like or want to do. I had a couple clients that weren’t right for me. My gut told me that I should just say, “We’re probably not a good fit. My strength is not what you’re looking for.” I do that now, and I’m very comfortable with saying no. But at first I thought I had to say yes to everything.

I dabbled in the wine industry for a while. That’s a real tough industry, because they have a couple of agencies that all the wineries are using. So it was tough, but it was wonderful. So I’m not doing much with them. Occasionally I have some people call me up for that, but not as much anymore.

What has been your biggest reward so far?

Autonomy and all the things that encompasses, right? The freedom of choice, the choice of who you’re working with, the choice of when you’re working, the choice of how much you’re going to work, so how much money you’re going to make.

And you really can’t put a price tag on that. How are you able to really make the most of that autonomy?

I enjoy a full-time revenue, and I totally work part time. I swim, I go out and play in the garden, get my hands dirty. I’m very much a homebody. I could travel if I wanted to, but I really don’t. I have my commitments and everything, but if I wanted to put everything together and just work a three-day week, I can. Or if I want to just work three or four hours every day for the five days, I can do that, too. And I have done both.

I was also able to be there for my son while he grew up. He played baseball all through school, and it was our car who went around and picked up all of the teammates and dropped them all off at practices and games and stuff. I was able to be present. I’ve helped family members when they’ve been sick, because you can write from anywhere. Just being able to have that freedom of choice to say, “Okay, this is what I’m going to do today because these people need me today.”

What advice would you give to someone just starting out?

To stop waiting and to do it faster.

Michele's Living The Writer's Life story was originally published in Barefoot Writer. To learn more about how you can start living your dream writer's life too, click here.

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