Monica’s Story

Before becoming a freelance copywriter in 2002, Monica had all but given up on making a career as a writer. She had earned her degree in Creative Writing and English Literature from Mills College a decade earlier in 1992. But writing in an ivory tower – and playing the game of academic publishing politics – held no appeal for her.

So she left writing behind and took on a series of jobs –

As interesting and stimulating – and occasionally frustrating – as these opportunities were, Monica’s desire to earn her living as a writer never died. She decided ten years of putting off her dream was long enough. After giving birth to her second daughter, she resolved to never be traditionally employed again. One way or another, she would make her living by putting words on a page. Once the intention was made, the path to writing full-time revealed itself…in one strange coincidence, inconvenience and twist of fate after another.

Today, Monica is a full-time direct mail copywriter. She primarily writes for clients who have information products in the financial, travel, and self-improvement industries. Within her first two years she broke through the six-figure ceiling and established herself with some of the biggest mailers in the business, including Nightingale-Conant, American Writers and Artists Inc., and several divisions of Agora Publishing.

Together with colleague and business partner Krista Jones, Monica began Copy Protégé in April 2006. She writes a weekly issue of the eletter for other beginning copywriters, and works with individuals and small groups in the Copy Protégé Mentoring Program.