Why I Write for Comma Copywriters (Stephen's Story)
I love writing for Comma, but I had never thought about why until I was assigned this topic. Writing about writing, right? So just what makes writing for Comma different from my other clients and writing sources?
Before learning about how I came to write for Comma, here’s a bit of background. For many years I worked as a copywriter and editor for the corporate mega-giants, Wells Fargo and Salesforce, which was financially lucrative for me but spiritually and creatively bankrupt. After a final, disastrous stint with the world’s worst real estate startup, I decided to go back to the freelance business I had run with good success before selling my soul … er … going corporate. I needed to reclaim my career, my life, and my sanity.
When Stephen met Comma
My little business grew steadily for two years. Then I came upon Comma in 2021 when I noticed a call for new Comma writers posted on LinkedIn. I felt connected to what I saw on their website, especially the “damn good writers” part, so I reached out and scored an interview and was then asked to complete a writing test.
I knew I was onto something good when my writing test topic was: “Lessons on Content Marketing from Star Wars.” Now, I’m an unashamed nerd, and I love all things Star Wars (well, maybe not “Episode One: The Phantom Menace” but that’s for a later discussion). I don’t know how editor Sarah Acheson knew my fetish, but it proved to be serendipitous.
I summoned my Jedi writing powers and produced a blog post that was topical, educational, and fun to write. The folks at Comma thought so too, and I was invited to join the team! It seems the Force was truly with me, and I got the feeling my association with Comma Copywriters would be something special.
That's exactly how it has turned out. So far, my experiences with Comma have been fulfilling, rewarding, and most importantly, fun (there’s that word again). After giving it some thought, here are some of the reasons I enjoy writing for Comma Copywriters. Coming from a marketing background, I feel compelled to lay them out a la bullet point:
A commitment to excellence
This is very important to me, as it should be to every writer. I’ve written for content mills and there’s a reason why I stopped: they demand quantity over quality. At Comma, I’m given a generous amount of time to produce work that is well thought out and deeply researched. Rather than churning it out, I can carefully craft something that works on every level and delivers on the wants and needs of our clients. After all, if it’s not working for the clients, it’s not working at all.
Serious writing from serious writers
Crystalee and her team make it abundantly clear that clients can expect only the best content from “a tribe of word nerds and storytellers” and we’re definitely people who value excellent writing. As a writer herself, founder Crystalee understands that writers speak their own language and look at the world a little differently, and she has created a community (Comma-unity!) that understands and nurtures deeper aspects of writing. What professional writer would not want to be part of that?
Ability to work as much (or as little) as I want
To be clear, writing for Comma Copywriters is not currently set up as a full-time job for me. But as a freelancer who is now part of Team Comma, I appreciate how they let me call the shots when it comes to my workload. I can take on a lot of work or little, depending on my available time, which I report in Comma’s monthly capacity survey. This lets me shift gears when it comes to juggling my other clients and alleviates a lot of time-related stress. Truth be told, I take on as much as is realistic, because in my time with Comma I’ve written some of my best stuff in years.
A company on the rise
I’m caught up in the excitement of being part of an organization with a track record of success and happy clients, one that’s continually growing and moving forward. Comma has recently signed a number of significant new clients (hello, Facebook!) and is close to fulfilling its goal of working with a client that starts with every letter in the alphabet. (We’re only missing J, K, Q, U, and Y.) By delivering great work, I feel like I’m contributing to that growth. At Comma, I don’t feel like I’m on the fringes; I feel like I’m in the middle of it all. And that’s a really exciting place to be.
Comma Cares
I’m all about aligning myself with organizations that care about the less fortunate, and Comma Copywriters does just that. By partnering with the non-profit Kurandza, the Comma Cares program is helping to give young girls in Mozambique the power of education with the goal of creating the next generation of female leaders. Comma’s social enterprise philosophy is that “everyone deserves the access to the power of words” and that statement is more than just words. It’s altruism in action and another reason why I like being a part of Comma Copywriters so much.
Comma Copywriters celebrated its fifth birthday this year, I’m excited and proud to be part of this fast-growing community of incredibly talented writers and editors. If the first five years is any indication of what lies ahead, the next five years promise to be spectacular. And I hope to be there every step of the way.
About Stephen: I’m a writer and editor who recently relocated to Chicago from San Francisco, and, yes, it seems I’ve left my heart there. Amongst many other things, I’m an avid sports fan (go SF Giants!), a photographer, a cinephile, a traveler, and afraid of roller coasters. I also like to cook but I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I will never be on “Chopped.” Oh, and I love writing for Comma Copywriters.
Are you a professional writer looking to write for a flexible company that cares? At Comma, we hire top talent two or three times each year. If interested, check out the details and apply here.