Finding “And”: How Comma Helps Me Grow in All Areas of Life (Michelle’s Story)

“Getting hired by Comma reignited my passion for writing and helped me find my “and.” I could be a writer and a mom. I could have stability and flexibility.”

My first published writing hit the press when I was six years old, aptly named “Neighborhood News.” 

As a young entrepreneur always looking for a side hustle before I knew what a side hustle was, I decided to try my hand at writing. I put a story suggestion box on my front porch, gathered news-worthy stories from around the neighborhood (everything from new move-ins to a neighbor's garden update), designed the one-page newspaper complete with Microsoft WordArt, and delivered copies to my neighbors every two weeks.

My suggestion box stayed empty, and it's debatable how many people actually read the newspaper, but I didn't care. I was hooked. I loved writing.

As life progressed, I worked my way through various career ambitions, but everything always revolved around writing. I wanted to do it all: a movie director and a whale trainer. A forensic scientist and a talk show host. But I always came back to writing. 

I studied public relations in college but was happy to focus on the writing aspects of projects over anything else. What I loved more than anything was the flexibility and many options PR provided — giving me solid, marketable communication skills no matter where my career and life went. Every step I took — from writing for the campus newspaper to drafting personal essays about study abroad trips — solidified my love of writing. 

Things got serious when I landed my first post-grad job and got to write and edit a magazine. Was this reality? I got the thrill of seeing my byline and the chance to tell amazing stories. 

But then my life changed dramatically.

I checked off nearly every major life change box within a few weeks of each other — something I definitely don’t recommend — including having my first baby, moving out of state, and quitting my writing job. Left in a new situation and overwhelmed by the newborn phase as a first-time mom, I turned to my constant love: writing.

Writing Meets Motherhood

A few weeks after my baby was born, I created a profile on a popular freelance website. My first freelance writing assignment was short, probably nothing of consequence, and likely earned me pennies for every paragraph. But I could tell it was the start of something great. I could get paid to write and stay home with my baby? It felt like the best of both worlds.

I started taking on more freelance projects — none of them big or particularly impressive, but enough to support my family as my husband went through law school. Slowly, I felt myself coming back from the haze of new motherhood. I could be a mom and a writer.

Over the years, my list of freelance clients grew alongside my kids. I adjusted my workload and schedule through different seasons of life, often writing and working in the margins of motherhood. I loved the variety of freelance work and being able to go from editing an investment brief to writing about business leadership and skincare routines all in one day. I realized that writing made me a better mom, and being a mom made me a better writer. 

Finding My Dream Team at Comma

Freelancing is a constant hustle, and I was almost always looking for new clients and projects. The need to always find work to make money was draining, and I wanted something more dependable without taking away my freedom and flexibility. The search felt futile — was there such a unicorn in the writing world? 

Through alumni groups and writers' circles, I found Comma. And something clicked. I was instantly drawn to the team of accomplished writers and amazing clients.

I kept my eye on Comma for months, waiting for the next hiring round to open. When the time came, I submitted a writing sample and application, cautiously optimistic in what I’m sure would be a deep talent pool. Getting hired by Comma reignited my passion for writing and helped me find my “and.” I could be a writer and a mom. I could have stability and flexibility.

Writing With Care

For a while, I balanced Comma work with other freelance clients. But I started noticing a growing gap between the quality of work for Comma clients and my other freelance clients. Many of my other clients simply wanted me to hit a certain word count and throw in a bunch of SEO keywords. It wasn't so much about the quality of the writing as it was about getting something to put on their website. 

On the other hand, Comma clients provided resources and connected me to subject matter experts to create quality writing. Instead of pushing out tons of content, Comma helped me focus on quality and ensuring every word mattered.

The tipping point for me came as ChatGPT and AI took off. I had clients asking me to haphazardly use AI to rewrite my content, focused only on the goal of publishing a blog. At the same time, Comma took a strategic and intentional look at AI — moving quickly but purposefully to adapt to new technology without sacrificing quality and human-ness.

The stark difference between these two approaches highlighted Comma’s commitment to quality writing. In a world filled with an abundance of AI-generated content, I didn’t want to just add to the noise. I wanted to write things worth reading and share meaningful messages that stood out from the noise and made an impact. Comma was right there with me.

Finding My “And”

More than three years into my Comma journey, I’m proud of what I’ve written and the clients I’ve worked with. More than that, I’m excited for the future. Comma’s value of Care resonates with me. I’m inspired by a team of fellow word nerds who put their heart into their writing every day. It’s not just about the word count or hitting publish on a blog post, it’s about sharing meaningful messages and writing content worth reading.

Through Comma, I’ve been able to add so many “ands” to my life:

A writer and a mother.

A writer and an editor.

Quality and quantity.

Cutting edge and caring.

Independent and a team member.

If my six-year-old self could see me now, I think she’d be blown away by the life and career I’ve created. That little girl had no idea what path she would take to become a professional writer, but I’m sure she’d be thrilled at the results (even if the whale training dream never panned out). She would love the care I put into every word, knowing it's the same way she created that newsletter years ago. More than anything else, she’d be proud of the stories I tell and the way I tell them.