Finding Freedom with Comma (Maddie's Story)

I’m happiest on the days I write. The first time I recognized this was in second grade. I know it’s no coincidence that I had a fantastic, memorable teacher who directly told me I could be a writer someday. Those words stuck with me, even when I had to refuel my belief in them years later.

My dream of being a writer was always coupled with a practical side of me that, let’s be honest, probably started in second grade, too. A small but loud part of my mind always wondered if writing regularly would actually be feasible, attainable, or sustainable. But there’s a sixth-grade career fair photo of an optimistic Writer Maddie with a pencil behind her ear, hoping it could be true. Word-loving people just come this way.

Waiting for Writing

Writing was a defining part of both my education and personal life, ultimately leading to my degree in Communications and Public Relations. I had a few marketing jobs I loved, especially when I could take on a client’s voice and tell their story. Then, my career took a pause; my husband began a grueling hospital residency program as we also began growing our family. I chose to stay home with my new baby and felt grateful for that time.

That first year of motherhood became the year I unintentionally stopped writing. I lost myself in learning my very new, very consuming role. I won’t play the blame game (my baby never asked me to stop writing, but he did have a habit of only taking naps when being held), but I let my writing slip away for a while. Never by an active choice, but a passive lapse in priorities.

As my babies grew, so did my desire to better grasp what makes me feel like myself. The hours and situation of my husband’s residency had meant that my hobbies became part interests, part side hustle efforts. We needed any boost to make ends meet, which found me wrangling regular dog-sitting, a short cross-stitching gig on Etsy, teaching piano, and so much mystery shopping (Google that… it’s a fun rabbit hole).

I don’t regret those short-term fixes for a little more financial freedom while being able to be with my kids full-time (I mean, they totally loved the dog-sitting). But those side hustles felt temporary. I felt like I was waiting for writing.

I had a degree in marketing, but no time to market myself. I had agency experience, but no desire to leave my kids for a 9 to 5. I needed something more efficient than freelancing. I needed to hit the ground running (well, writing) during my precious few spare hours. 

If only, right?

Enter Comma.

Comma Connected My Dots

I had sold myself a story that a writing position wasn’t in my cards until I had more time to invest in making that happen. I thought I needed to wait for a stage of life when I could market myself more and build that client base. I assumed writing was my pipe dream, and I had to wade through other side hustles until my stage of life was better suited for what I actually wanted to do.

When I read that back, I’m more grateful for Comma than ever.

I learned about Comma through my friend Brooke, a fellow playgroup mom who had figured out how to write from home with a company that respects a life-first, kids-exist philosophy. As I researched the company more, I immediately admired Comma’s core values and company culture. 

After my first interview, I just felt like I’d found my people. Word-loving, story-telling marketers who want to write and want writing to work for them. I jumped at the chance to be involved and Comma has been a bright spot in my days ever since.

Freedom for Life-First Living, Plus More

Comma’s core value of Freedom focuses on a life-first culture, and I love that. I’ve personally found multiple levels of freedom through Comma. Freedom to recognize that I can add value and be valued. Freedom to be with my kids full-time while also writing from home. Freedom to know that work will be there when I want it, or I can slow my hours down when other parts of life speed up. Comma meant having clients lined up, ready for writers to step in and help with content plans. We receive monthly capacity surveys respecting all the weeks I want to scale back or ramp up my writing hours. I earn financial compensation that respects the time and talent that goes into quality content. And all of this under women-led leadership that values what matters most. 

I feel very grateful to be a writer inside the truly remarkable culture of Comma.

Written by Maddie Daetwyler as part of the Comma Culture series. Are you looking for experienced writers to support your marketing content? Schedule a free 20-minute consultation today. 

Maddie Daetwyler is a lead writer and editor for Comma. She’s a Northern Colorado boy mom (four of them!) who loves to be outside with her family finding trails or taco trucks. She is a children’s book author and lives to travel. Her favorite punctuation mark is the semicolon; there’s more to every story.