Assignment: Blog
You’ve been asked by a client to create a blog. The first phase of the project is to produce the following materials.
- A persona that represents the primary target audience. (One or two pages, similar to the examples in Class #2.)
- A list of topics to be covered over the next three months. (At least 12 topics.)
- ONE complete blog post (at least 400 words), which should include a suggestion for at least one image.
You can base this project on a real company or organization, or an imaginary one. This project could also be for your own blog.
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Persona:
Name: Julie
Persona: The writer
Age: 45
Marital status: Married
Occupation: Educational Assistant (E.A.)
Location: Winnipeg, MB
Income: $38,394
Bio:
Julie is a mother of one and became an educational assistant to have the same schedule and time off as her daughter. She loves to travel with her family but struggles to budget the money required to do so. She would like to be able to use her talents as an aspiring writer to earn more money for her family.
Julie is having trouble finding her niche or knowing which direction she should head in. She loves reading fiction, creative non-fiction, and autobiographies but believes the odds of getting published in the fiction world are slim. She is looking for a way to continue using her writing creativity but also turn it into a side-hustle. Looking for real-world examples of people just like her who have been able to make a go of writing in different capacities has been a bit of a hobby for Julie, but she has yet to find anyone she personally relates to.
Needs:
- To find the right ‘connection’ to another writer who has had some success at parlaying their writing into a successful business.
- To find suggestions for a reasonably priced, yet high-quality online course to help her find her way.
Pain points:
– Worried she won’t find a unique voice.
– Lacks confidence in her abilities.
– Doesn’t know where to start.
Ideal experience:
– Work remotely
– Make her own scchedule around her current working hours
– Create an online presence
– Earn money to supplement her current wages
Twelve topics:
1. Why I Decided to Become a Freelance Copywriter (and What I’ve Learned So Far). This is a personal peek into my ‘aha’ moment, including the spark, the stumbles, and everything in-between.
2. A Self-Taught Scribbler Meets A Strategic Student: My Very Own Copywriting Learning Curve. Comparing my DIY writing experiments with my experience in the U of T certificate program.
3. My First 30 Days as a Baby Copywriter: All Those Small Wins, Awkward Pitch Attempts, & Mild (or Major) Panic Attacks. Spoiler: it’s messy, exciting, and involves a bit of Googling “what is a CTA?”
4. Skills I’m Building as a New Copywriter (Because Apparently Just Loving Words Isn’t Enough). A roundup of what I’m learning; from research tricks to writing that actually converts.
5. How I Put Together My First Portfolio With Zero Clients and a Whole Lot of Imagination. Student projects, made-up brands, and a sprinkle of insanity.
6. Free (or Cheap) Tools That Are Helping Me Fake It ‘Til I Make It as a Freelance Copywriter. A love letter to Apple Notes, Grammarly, LinkedIn, and caffeine-fueled Trello boards.
7. How I’m Figuring Out My Copywriting Style (One Mood Board and Existential Crisis at a Time). Finding the sweet spot between “professional” and me—weirdness and all.
8. Is Quirky Too Much? Writing with Personality When You’re New to the Game. For writers who wonder if they should tone it down. (Hint: probably not.)
9. Imposter Syndrome & Me: Learning to Call Myself a Writer Without Apologizing. Because confidence doesn’t come pre-installed (and that’s okay).
10. How I Set My First Freelance Rates (and Survived the Emotional Rollercoaster). The behind-the-scenes math, mindset, and minor meltdowns of pricing my work.
11. Six-Month Freelance Copywriting Goals (and Some Friendly Accountability). Dreamy, realistic, and a bit terrifying… just how I like it.
12. A Letter to Future Me from a Newbie Copywriter (P.S.: Please Be Thriving). Honest, hopeful, and maybe slightly unhinged in the very best way.
ONE complete blog post:
Why I Decided to Become a Freelance Copywriter (and What I’ve Learned So Far)
Let’s get one thing out of the way: I didn’t just wake up one morning with a lightning clap revelation that I was absolutely destined to be a copywriter.
It was more of a… slow burn. There was a little editing here, some blog writing there, years of correcting grammar in group chats (sorry not sorry), and suddenly I realized: oh. This is a thing people do. For money. Willingly. And I. Like. It.
Cue the internal screaming.
For years, writing was just this quiet, reliable part of me; the thing I turned to when I needed to process the world or add a little sparkle to it. I wrote stories and essays and emails that were maybe a little too enthusiastic. I edited papers for students. I obsessed over sentence rhythm the way some people obsess over skincare routines (though I respect a good daily SPF 50 moment, too).
But I always saw writing as a side dish and certainly not the main course.
That started to shift when I enrolled in the Strategic Copywriting certificate program through the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies. I signed up partly because I wanted to sharpen my skills, partly because I love a good learning adventure, and partly because I kept Googling things like “how to be a freelance copywriter with no experience and two cats sitting on your keyboard.”
Spoiler: this program didn’t just teach me how to write copy—it taught me how to think like a copywriter. Audience-first. Goal-driven. Word nerd with purpose.
So, why freelance?
The short version? Flexibility, creativity, and the deep satisfaction of making words work.
The slightly longer version? I wanted to carve out a space where I could use my voice (and help others find theirs), keep learning, work with people who value good storytelling, and have the freedom to build something of my own; something that fits around my energy, my health, and, yes, my chihuahua-centric lifestyle.
And what have I learned so far?
Oh, just a few tiny things like:
- You don’t have to wait until you “feel ready” (you can start now, imperfectly.)
- Everyone starts with zero clients.
- Portfolio shame is real, but so is progress.
- Grammarly is helpful, but your instincts matter more.
- And charging for your work isn’t selfish. It’s survival. (Ooh, also: coffee isn’t free.)
But maybe the biggest thing I’ve learned? You don’t have to do it alone. The copywriting world is full of kind, curious, generous humans. And if you’re just starting out, too—hi! Pull up a chair. You’re in good company here.
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Let’s Chat
Just starting your copywriting journey, too? Thinking about dipping a toe in those warm freelance waters? I’d love to hear from you: whether you’ve got questions, stories to share, or just want someone to cheer you on! Leave a comment, send me a message, or let’s connect over coffee (virtual or otherwise).
Here’s to building something beautiful… one word at a time.
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Suggestion for image (created by AI):
Karly Stornel 