Meet Kathryn H. Ross | Freelance Copywriter, Editor, Author, and Professor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kathryn H. Ross and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kathryn H., can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started freelance writing when I was a sophomore in college, and that work carried me through to finishing my graduate program in 2018. After I got my Master’s, I thought it was time to get a steady “big girl” job, which meant a 9-5 at a company where I’d have a set number of hours each week and benefits. I found that “big girl” job about seven months after graduating, and I lasted about five weeks in that environment. I quickly learned that the typical 40-hour workweek was not for me: I was depressed, overwhelmed, and unfulfilled, and my days became a blur of going to work and coming home with little time or energy for anything else. After I left that job, I picked up freelance writing again, but the work wasn’t as frequent as I needed it to be working as an independent contractor for different companies or other freelancers. Then, of course, COVID-19 and I had a lot of downtime to think about what I really wanted to do. One day while talking it all over with my mom, she asked why I didn’t go back to freelancing, but for myself. She noted I’d always been good at it: meeting deadlines, talking with clients, getting the information I needed to produce the right deliverable, being open and accommodating to revisions and edits, and I realized she was right. By that time, I had seven years of freelance writing experience under my belt and she suggested that instead of looking for contracted work with others as I’d done before, I should start my own business and work with clients one-on-one. So, after a few more talks with my mom and a lot of prayers, in August 2020, I did just that! I built a website, figured out my rates, established my services, and tapped into my amazing community of former professors, classmates, and colleagues to get the word out on my new endeavor, and in that same month, I had my first client and project.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
One of the best parts of my career is that creativity is a huge part of it. When I was going off to college, all I knew was that I wanted to be a writer, but in school so far I’d only heard about two options: either you hit it big as a novelist, or you teach. When I began my work as an English major at APU, however, the options expanded before me. Being a writer looked like more than hopes of cranking out a bestseller. It looked like poetry chapbooks and writing groups, like readings and publications in the university journal. In fact, I would never have gotten into freelance copywriting and editing if not for a posting on the APU Career Network way back in 2013. I wouldn’t have learned the importance of writing groups and community when starting out as a writer. I wouldn’t have read the books that have inspired me and my own creative work, and I wouldn’t have learned firsthand how sacred the writing business truly is when done with passion and integrity. Today, I get to pull creativity in all my work, whether I’m helping a client with their novel, editing and writing copy for Hallmark Mahogany, working with my students, or working on my own creative writing. I utilize principles I learned in poetry and fiction courses to make the words I produce lyrical, attractive, relatable, and informative. I use my collaboration skills to help clients find their unique voices in their writing while teaching them the tools of the trade to find success in not just sounding nice, but story structure, character development, and storytelling. I think it all boils down to the fact that writing is not as easy as people may think and it’s not something to be done totally alone. You need a community around you to do it well, like the great writers of the Harlem Renaissance and the classic American writers had. This career is not to be done in a vacuum, and that’s not something I knew starting out. I got to where I am today with help, and so I want to give help and encourage others to take it at any moment.

I’m currently on a mini local book tour for the second edition of my book, Black Was Not A Label, released by Red Hen Press on December 6, 2022.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m pretty lowkey and don’t run around the city too, too much, but would definitely take this friend to my top 5 spots:

1. The beach: truly, any beach will do but Newport Beach is my favorite. Corona Del Mar or Crystal Cove are great spots that don’t get too crowded and have a lot of great places to eat and shop nearby.
2. The Huntington Library Botanical Gardens: This is one of my favorite spots in Pasadena. I basically grew up going to these gardens and I tend to bring all my friends here when I get the chance. If you like gorgeous blooms, tranquil strolls, light hiking, and art, the Huntington is the perfect place to go! It also has great places to eat, like the Tea Room, which makes for a cute dainty experience with really great food.
3. The California Science Center: I’ve been going to the Science Center since I was a kid and it never disappoints. This spot is fascinating and right in the heart of LA. It’s also one of the many museums in Exposition Park, so once you’ve been here, you can walk over to the Natural History Museum or the African American Museum for even more adventure!
4. Disneyland: This one goes without explaining and I’m sorry if it’s a little cliche, but if you’re in SoCal, you have to visit Disneyland!
5. Thrifting: Okay, this isn’t a “spot” but rather a few spots. I love thrifting and thrifting in and around the city can yield a lot of cool stuff! From Claremont Village to Old Pasadena and the Rose Bowl Flea to ANY Goodwill in the area, you’re sure to find some great vintage stuff for an even better deal.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The English Department at Azusa Pacific University deserves so much of my thanks. The professors and staff in that department nurtured me throughout undergrad and graduate school, and have continued to support me well beyond graduation. They show up for my events as an author, have bought and distributed my books, recommend me to their friends, family members, and current students in need of a copywriter and editor, and have even invited me back to teach undergrad English majors Freelance Article Writing as an elective and minor requirement. The APU English department has given me SO much over the years: friends, mentors, support, guidance, opportunities, and encouragement. I wouldn’t be who I am today without them.

Website: https://www.speakthewritelanguage.com/; https://www.wearecreatedtocreate.com/

Instagram: @speakthewritelanguage; @weare_createdtocreate

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-h-ross-84494893/

Image Credits
Kami Arant Bailey Yettaw