How A Fish Out Of Water Found The Courage To Swim For Her Dreams

I was a homeschooled kid who grew up in a traveling band. Needless to say, creativity and “non-traditional” career paths were cornerstones of my childhood. 

You’d think that would mean I would be trying to stay as far out of the box as possible — but that couldn’t have been further from the truth.

My Love For Writing Started Early

I discovered my love for writing at age nine, after typing a short story into a painfully old version of Microsoft Word. A time when lifting a computer monitor could trigger a herniated disk.

I finished my first novel by the time I turned 11 (yes, it was very bad). But completing that story made it crystal clear that writing was an integral part of what made me “me”. I fell in love with telling stories — especially about people. And by the time I was 16, I’d written 7 more (again, very bad) novels.

The best part? 

I refused to let anyone read anything I wrote — ever.

I was terrified that my writing wasn’t good enough or that I wasn’t good enough. Being told my writing was “bad” might have led to me never writing again — so I protected my love of writing by keeping it a secret.

I Didn’t Want To Be A “Starving Artist”

As I got older, I put my dreams of being a writer aside, and stumbled through a series of “grown-up” jobs because I thought that was what I was “supposed to do.” Jobs where I was doing everything but what I enjoyed.

It was… rough.

To a large extent, I think I’m still working through the “trauma” of always trying to fit myself into the box I thought I was supposed to be in, but kinda failing. Never feeling good enough. Never feeling like the work I was doing (and, by extension, “myself”) mattered.

But I kept trying to “fit the mold,” while (no matter how hard I tried to ignore it) the little voice in my head kept hissing: “You should be WRITING, idiot!”

But one winter morning, there’d be a new “little voice” that I couldn’t ignore.

You Can’t Ignore Your Calling Forever

One chilly March morning, I found out I was pregnant with my son. The greatest thing I will (or could ever hope to) create.

By that point, I’d been with a company for six years (wasn’t loving it), and had just found out they weren’t open to the “remote working environment” I needed for my family. I’d been in their marketing department for many years, writing blogs, catalogs, and product descriptions. But I never imagined what I was doing was a career in itself. 

At least, not until a close friend and coworker came to me saying: “You should be a copywriter, Kenz” and I was like: “I don’t know anything about intellectual property law!” (because the only thing I’d ever heard of back then was “copyRIGHTing”.

But when I started looking into copywriting — my world changed. 

People get paid to write? 

People could WRITE for a JOB–and it was a RESPECTABLE JOB? 

YOU COULD WORK FROM HOME?

IN PJS?

WHAT!?

Needless to say… I was intrigued. 

Freelancing Was A Door–And Comma Was The Key I Didn’t Know I Was Missing

After a lot of research, encouragement, and elbow grease, I started copywriting in 2019. As my freelance network grew, a cold email scored me a wonderful friend. She and I collaborated on a few projects, and one day she referred me to a writing agency she was working with.

Comma Copywriters.

I Was in Awe Of What a Mom With a Dream Could Achieve

A woman-owned and operated content remote agency that prioritized integrity, inclusion, diversity, quality, and putting “life first”? A place where everyone encouraged and supported each other? It seemed like a dream too good to be true — but I applied anyway. 

Soon after, I became an official Comma Copywriter — and it has been a dream to be a part of this team. 

I Work with Experts Who Know Empathy is Key to Effective Work

The people I work with are some of the smartest, most genuine, and creative professionals I’ve ever met. It’s so motivating to work alongside such skilled writers, editors, and project managers.

No matter the distance (or time zones) between all of us, the Comma community is inspiring and encouraging. We’re a fully remote team, yet the bonds I’ve made are some of the strongest professional relationships I’ve ever had. 

Every Project Nurtures Creativity, Adaptability, and Courage

The projects I’m assigned are broad and exciting, giving me the opportunity (and confidence) to try unique industries, assets, and topics I probably wouldn’t have the chance to work on otherwise.

And it was thanks to this team of talented and supportive creatives that my confidence grew to a point where I did something I’d always been too terrified to do.

I entered a writing contest.

I was sick with anxiety when I hit “SUBMIT”, but writing professionally, honing my craft, and getting feedback from peers I respected motivated me to take a chance on myself. 

Thanks to Comma and a career in freelancing, I’ve learned repeatedly that the old saying is true: 

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

–Wayne Gretzky 

I told myself: “You want to be a published author one day, Kenz? Well, you can’t do that unless you let people read your work!”

You Won’t Always Succeed… But You’ll Never Succeed If You Never Try

To my immense shock, I was washing my hands in a gas station bathroom, waiting for a tow truck, and feeling pretty not great…when I found out I’d won the contest. But not only had my story won — the organization hosting the contest actually reached out and asked to publish my story in their magazine.

And so… I’m now a tried and true published author — and I would’ve never had the courage to take that chance without the inspiration, support, and confidence I found in the Comma Community (Comma-unity, as we like to call it).

Comma’s life's first mission isn’t lip service. It isn’t a “nice to have” or a false promise. When I’ve gone through one of the hardest times of my life, the Comma community showed me support, kindness, and compassion. They made space for me, and gave me flexibility, patience, and grace when I needed it.

I am honored to work with incredible people who value creativity and human connection as much as I do. It’s rare to do work you love in a place you love to work in… but I found all of that — and the confidence to believe in myself: all thanks to one well-placed Comma.

Written by Mikenzi (Kenz) Ross as part of the Comma culture series. If you’re looking for a talented team of writers to support your marketing content, schedule your complementary 20-minute consultation today.