Today we are excited to check in with Comprehensive Copywriting Academy student Kristin Donnelly.
Kristin is a successful food writer and cookbook author who was trying to figure out how to increase her income. After joining the CCA, she gained more confidence working with well-seasoned copywriters and has hit her income goal writing copy. Listen in as Kristin shares copywriting tips she’s learned throughout her journey to becoming a 6-figure cookbook author and copywriter.
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A Sneak Peek at the Episode
[1:06] Nicki kicks off the show by asking Kristin to share a little bit about her background. Kristin explains that she is a cookbook author, and that she started writing cookbooks while working in content at Food and Wine magazine.
[3:06] Kristin explains what a typical day in her life looks like. She shares that her day to day schedule changes every quarter as she works with different clients from different time zones.
[3:58] Kate asks Kristin to speak to the types of clients she works with. She mentions that because of her strong food and beverage background, a lot of her clients are in that space. However, she currently has a contract with Apple, and she’s enjoyed working in a different industry than she’s used to.
[5:38] Kristin shares the similarities and differences between writing copy for clients and writing cookbooks. While the two are very different, Kristin talks about some of the overlap between the two.
[9:02] Because Kristin does amazing work both writing cookbooks and copy, she knows the importance of balancing the two. She says that she consciously schedules her time in blocks and she sticks to them to ensure that she hits her deadlines and leaves time for necessary breaks.
[12:52] As part of her career puzzle, copywriting has added a little more consistency to Kristin’s bottom line. She notes that cookbooks pay in large chunks that are super spread apart. So, she uses copywriting as a way to fill in the gaps between payments and keep a continuous income.
[15:12] One of Kristin’s favorite things about copywriting is getting to step into the shoes of a new brand voice each time she works with a client. She also loves the empathy in trying to think like the customer and solve a problem for them.
[17:22] Kristin speaks to the fact that she was a total beginner when she picked up copywriting. Although she worked in content at Food and Wine, she wasn’t at all familiar with copywriting.
[23:02] Kristin explains that it’s totally possible to balance copywriting with another career and your personal life. She speaks to the fact that it’s worth it for the stability that copywriting gives you versus the hidden uncertainty of a full-time job.
[27:22] Another piece of advice Kristin gives is to use LinkedIn to find more opportunities. She points out that she has had companies reach out to her on the platform along with the large number of copywriting jobs that are posted on LinkedIn.
[28:34] Nicki asks Kristin to call out where prospective clients or interested listeners can find her. See the links below to find Kristin on Instagram, her website, and in her podcast!
Mentioned on This Episode
- Kristin’s Portfolio
- Follow Kristin on Instagram
- Listen to Everything Cookbooks podcast
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About the Build Your Business Podcast
Ready to turn your love of writing into a successful copywriting career?
Join professional copywriters Nicki Krawczyk and Kate Sitarz to get the tips, tools, and training to help you become a copywriter and build a thriving business of your own. Nicki and Kate have 20+ and 10+ years of experience, respectively, writing copy for multi-billion-dollar companies, solopreneurs, and every size business in between.
Whether you want to land an on-staff job, freelance full-time and work from wherever you want, or make extra money with a side hustle, the best place to start learning is right here.
See Previous Episode
Ep. 78: 5 Ways to Improve Your Copywriting
Last Updated on April 24, 2025
