We recently connected with Rachel Werner and have shared our conversation below.

Rachel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

-Connection (I’m a HUGE believer in the power of networking! Especially for women and BIPOC…I also think it’s especially helpful to push yourself to engage with people who work in other industries).

-Organization (*Oh man, I could write a dissertation on the importance of timely correspondence, meeting deadlines, being consistent etc)

-Creativity (I finally just started to refer to myself as an artist this year. That’s what I am…and honestly, always wanted to be. I’ve accepted that I just love the process of “creating”….coming up with an idea and bringing it to fruition. Whether that’s an essay, a short story, a photoshoot; a ‘zine. At my core, I am a true creativepreneur.)

-Growth Mindset (There are ALWAYS ways to expand one’s “toolbox” and hone your craft. Especially now, since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, with so many institutions, orgs and businesses offering virtual development opportunities and resources for low to no cost).

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am the founder of The Little Book Project WI as well as a teaching artist for Hugo House, The Loft Literary Center and Lighthouse Writer’ Workshop. I also regularly contribute content to The Spruce Eats, Mother Untitled and Fabulous Media Group. My first cookbook “Macro Cooking Made Simple” (Chartwell Books) was released in April 2023. And my debut science book for kids “Floods” is one of the titles in Capstone’s Wild Earth Series. My next two books for younger readers, “Moving and Grooving to Fillmore’s Beat” (Capstone) and “Glow and Grow: A Brown Girl’s Positive Body Guide” (Free Spirit Publishing), are forthcoming in Fall 2023 and Fall 2024.

I first started freelance writing 10 years ago as a side gig while working in the fitness industry full-time. In less than four years, I went from being a newbie contributor to an assistant editor, then digital editor, for a women’s lifestyle magazine. Perseverance and passion for foraging a new path (and life) for me and my daughter is what kept me going through those initial years of living just above the poverty line and a plethora of late nights working on the article pitches I was sending to editors at local, regional and national publications. Much wisdom—personally and professionally—was been gained while figuring out how to earn a viable income from a creative profession. But I have zero regrets because the time and energy I’ve invested has manifested into even more attainable, marvelous dreams for myself and others.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I used social media sparingly at the beginning of my freelance writing journey. Eventually managing the social media accounts of the magazine I worked for became my responsibility. And I got ‘zero’ on-the-job training or guidance. I literally learned by doing every day. If someone had told me back then that six years later I would someday be teaching digital marketing classes multiple times a year, I would have laughed aloud for a long while. But consistency pays off in spades if you are willing to work hard initially on crafting a brand (whether it be for yourself or a business).

Create a daily (or weekly) schedule as way to hold yourself accountable to brainstorming new content and establishing promotional priorities. This could include:
• Doing a “giveaway”
• Offering a FREE webinar or downloadable resource which you can link to on your profile pages &/or in bio lines
• Responding to comments on blogs or social media platforms at least 2-4x/week
• Pitching guest posts to bloggers, publications, influencers etc
• Soliciting brand deals/partnerships. (*I recommended starting with local companies or your “inner” network to pursue such opportunities.)
• Creating an e-newsletter.
Also regularly peruse what’s trending online (in the genres you are most interested in)—especially on the platforms your target audience is most active on. Same goes for making an effort to show some digital love to others in your industry. It never hurts to PAY IT FORWARD in terms of likes, follows, comments and reposts.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Indeed! Alive Academy is an academic institution based in Canada that I completed a Holistic Nutritionist program through during the recent pandemic. My time as an Alive Academy student surpassed my expectations in terms of quality and usefulness. The course content, although challenging at times, provided a level of higher education which I needed to continue advancing my career. In fact, it ended up being a crucial component in landing my first cookbook deal. Plus I now have the ability to create a wider array of culinary content for clients related to the nutrition concepts I learned while getting my CHN certification.

Another resource that recently cropped up on my radar is Help A Reporter Out (HARO). It’s a connection tool for media outlets and potential expert sources. If you could be considered an expert in your field (or on a variety of topics), it is free to sign up for. Then you will get email notifications three times a day (on weekdays) with curated lists of writers and editors needing to interview a pro and/or obtain quotable knowledge for an article or blog post she/he/they are currently working on.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rachelwerner.pressfolios.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealscript/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/therealscript/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealscripts
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@therealscript
• Little Book Project WI website: https://www.littlebookwi.com/ (= *The community arts initiative that I founded.)

Image Credits
*Office, living room and yoga shots: Alive Academy *Images with food: Anna Bisch-Sendelbach