We recently connected with Laurie Filipelli and have shared our conversation below.

Laurie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

Back in 2008 I was working f/t as a nonprofit education programs manager, training writers to teach workshops in public schools and overseeing programming in three districts. As a poet and educator, I absolutely loved getting kids excited about creative writing. “But when I had a kid of my own, I realized that working in the nonprofit sector without health insurance wasn’t sustainable. I sat down with my husband and started drawing concentric circles. What are my creative talents? What do I value most in a work environment? What do I wish for in terms of flexibility and pay? In short, how can an educator with an MFA in Poetry earn a living that aligns with her creative work?

I discovered that what I valued most about writing and about teaching writing is forming an authentic connection with others. There is simply nothing like sharing beliefs and personal stories to help you feel better about the world. I also owned the fact that despite my sometimes risk averse nature, my creative skills made me well-suited to being an entrepreneur. Setting my own schedule could also allow for more time to write poems. The question became: how can I do what I love, stay connected to my writing, and earn enough to contribute to my family?

Because I’d taught high school in the past, I knew there was a market for college application essay coaching, and that many families who paid for help were apt to receive boiler plate advice, and false promises of “ticket” into the school of their dreams. With a bit of networking and luck, I met a wonderful college consultant, Irena Smith, who shared my values and needed extra help. We began a collaboration that continues to this day. At the same time, I incorporated as Mighty Writing, gradually grew my own client base, and formed additional partnerships serving a wide range of students.

Of course, being a writing coach who specializes in college applications is not the same as earning a living from poetry. But, the truth is, I can’t name one American poet who makes a living solely from selling poetry books! Fortunately, the seasonal nature and flexibility of college admissions allowed me to set aside more time for writing. I published two books of poems in the past ten years (one has yet to turn a profit) as well as a college app essay writing guidebook, in collaboration with Irena. At work, I never leave my poetry self behind. While guiding students in the craft of personal narrative, I help them draw on poetic skills like imagery, metaphor and concision, as well as important qualities like honesty and voice that are consistent with good poetics. Because most students are invested in their application process, they listen, try new things, and become better writers. I feel satisfied when students are proud of their work, and when nervous parents shift their outcome-based perspective to support a more process-oriented approach.

The journey has been slow at times. To be honest, it probably took ten years for me to earn a salary that is equivalent to a decent full-time wage in Austin, where I live. But I feel good knowing that I was deliberate in my approach. I didn’t compromise my beliefs about writing, education, and the power of personal growth. So much of developing my own business has felt serendipitous that I’m not sure I could have done anything to make it happen more quickly. Often it seemed that the more I forced things, e.g. marketing on social media or hustling around town in search of partners, the less productive my actions were. I’ve met most of my clients through personal referrals. I’ve met collaborators through friends at the YMCA. I am now embarking on work with a college consultant who literally lives on a small hill in the San Juan Islands that I inhabited in my early 20s. Though he has a fine house and I lived with college friends in double-wide trailer, I can still recognize the view from his window!

So, the good parts often feel a bit like magic. But I have one bit of pragmatic advice for my younger self: learn more. This summer I’m completing a College Access certificate through Rice University and, as a result, feel much more confident and well-versed in my field. Why didn’t I do this five years ago? Our culture focuses so much on output, that it is often hard to justify the time and financial commitment of furthering skills and credentials. It’s surprised me how good it feels to embrace new knowledge and to develop new offerings for my clients.

Laurie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a poet, educator, writing coach, and founder of Mighty Writing, LLC. I have built my business on a belief that everyone has a story to tell, and that each writer’s capabilities can grow through a trusting editorial relationship. Whether guiding students to uncover imaginative poetry or leading them with precise feedback toward a clear and polished college admissions essay, I honor the written voice of each individual, coaching them to effectively portray their truest selves on the page.

Given my background as a writer and educator, starting a coaching business was a natural fit. I especially enjoy helping young people become more introspective and hone their self-presentations skills. In my view, college application essays are an excellent vehicle for this kind of growth.

To help students on their path, I provide in-person or video consultations, written feedback, and friendly step-by-step advice. I am proud when students are accepted into their top choice colleges, but more proud when they say they learned new things about themselves and became stronger writers through our work together. I want future clients to know that they have a story to tell, we all do, and I can help them to uncover it.

I have also authored two collections of poems, Elseplace (Brooklyn Arts Press, 2013) and the 2019 Writers’ League of Texas Discovery Prize winner, Girl Paper Stone (Black Lawrence Press, 2018) as well as Mighty Writing College Application Essay Guide, in collaboration with Irena Smith, PhD.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Like many artists, I am a pretty sensitive and empathetic person. I listen attentively to my clients and feel am genuinely interested in their stories. I think my attention and enthusiasm, combined with expertise, helped me build trust with clients. This trust is conveyed when clients write testimonials or refer me to their friends. One relationship at a time, my reputation has grown.

I also think that creating content, both as a published poet and as an essay application coach, have lended legitimacy to the work I do. I think to effectively coach others, it’s extremely important to be doing the work yourself, and struggling with its challenges. I also think it’s good to make this work visible, and I’ve been fortunate enough to be a panelist at various book-related conferences and events.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

In my field, both partnerships and personal referrals have been invaluable. Probably nine clients out of ten tell me a friend or colleague sent them. My favorite referrals are from student to student. When a highschooler tells a friend about me, that means a lot.

Contact Info:

• Website: lauriefilipelli.org
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-filipelli-27704031/
• Twitter: @mighty_writing
• Other: Blog: mightywriting.org Books: https://blacklawrencepress.com/authors/laurie-filipelli/ https://brooklynartspress.com/portfolio/elseplace-by-laurie-filipelli/ https://www.amazon.com/Mighty-Writings-College-Application-Essay/dp/1521300224

Image Credits
Mario Champion