I know there are some SHARP teachers in this community, Reader.

And still…not everyone hits reply and says the thing they are thinking.

But I got a really good question after my last email and I’m honestly so excited about it!

Because here’s the thing— it led me down a rabbit hole of thinking:

How can I most fully support these incredible women into and through what I KNOW can be a powerful next chapter? (Even if they are still struggling to see it?)

(TL;DR: I’m adding a fantastic bonus for anyone who joins now —and everyone who is already inside obviously!

But Keep reading, lol!)

So… someone replied and said:

“But is that the only way to do this?”

Meaning—the path I shared:
Learn → practice → put yourself out there → get a client → build from there.

Validate (again and again… and again) before “leaping.”

And the answer is:

No.

That’s just one way.

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The truth is, there are actually a few different ways teachers make this transition.

I’ve seen people walk this path in each of these different ways… and do it successfully.

Some people:

→ Start small
​Keep teaching, take on 1–2 projects, and build income slowly on the side.

Some people do this for years. Maybe they eventually go part time if they are able (I did for this a bit), maybe they stay in this mode for a long time because actually it suits them.

Education companies are getting the benefit of your ongoing “boots on the ground” perspective through the quickly changing education landscape after all!

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Others:

→ Build momentum first, then step away
​Spend a few months building skills and portfolio pieces, land a couple of clients, and then make a more confident transition.

This is closest to the path I ended up taking. It felt right for my family’s financial situation (a dual income household that wasn’t prepared to go down to 1 income) and for what I knew I wanted to build.

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And some people:

→ Decide they’re ready for a bigger shift
​And move more quickly once they see the opportunity and traction.

Sometimes this looks like applying for in house, remote, jobs once you have some skills under your belt.

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Let me say this part loud and clear:

None of these are “right” or “wrong.”

They’re just different paths depending on your:

• financial situation
• energy
• timeline
• level of “readiness”

… and maybe your tolerance for perceived risk and discomfort. (I could write a whole book on this one…)

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And this is the part I wish I had when I was starting:

Someone to help me figure out which path made the most sense for me. (New Bonus Alert!)

Because for a long time, it felt like a shot in the dark.

I was guessing.

Piecing things together.

Hoping I was doing the “right” next step.

So for the final days of enrollment, I decided to add something new.

​If you join From Classroom to Copywriter, you’ll now receive:

A 1:1 Personal Transition Roadmap Call with me

We’ll map out:

• Which is the path that makes the most sense for you!
• What your first steps should look like
• How to move forward without burning out or making a leap that doesn’t feel safe

And paired with that, you’ll also get the bonus I spoke about over the past few days:

Your Personalized LinkedIn Profile Audit (when you’re ready!)

So once you know your path…

You also know how to position yourself and start connecting with the companies who can hire you.

Because learning the skills you need for this next chapter is one piece.

But knowing how to actually transition is the part that keeps most people stuck.

If that’s been the thing holding you back—the real, nitty-gritty “but how would I actually do this?” logistics of it all question—

Well… This bonus is designed for exactly that.

You can learn more and join here. And as soon as I have everyone’s info, I will start booking those Personal Transition Roadmap Calls.

I am REALLY excited about this!

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Got questions? You know where to find me! (also stay tuned for an FAQ (with YOUR questions answered!) coming your way soon!)

Meredith

P.S. This bonus for a 1-1 roadmap call is available for the final 48 hours (+7 !!), and enrollment closes Thursday at midnight.

P.P.S You don’t have to figure this out alone—but you do have to decide if you’re ready to start.

P.P.S. If you know this isn’t for you right now and you’d like to opt out of these emails but remain on the list—click here! ​

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From Classroom to Copywriter

As I am launching my course for teachers who want to learn how to be paid copywriters, I will be sending more emails than usual this week!

​If you know this isn’t for you right now and don’t want to receive these emails, please go ahead and click here to opt out of this sequence! Don’t worry, you will stay on my email list (yay!) and will still receive my regular weekly newsletters! Thanks

Also, if you didn’t make it the training last week and want the replay, respond to this email with the word REPLAY. I’ll send over the recording + a discount I offered those who watched!

Hi Reader,

I want to share something quickly—especially with enrollment closing on Thursday.

I want to show you what this actually looked like for me—because sometimes when you only have small glimpses, or a snapshot, it can feel a lot more mysterious than it really is.

In November 2021, I decided I needed a way out of teaching. And that I wanted to try copywriting.

I didn’t have a clear plan.
I didn’t have a roadmap.
I just knew I wanted something different.

So I started the only way I knew how:

I learned everything I could about it.

Then after I had been able to land a few small random gigs—and prove that I could get paid for my writing—

I decided to invest some of that income in learning from someone who stood where I knew I wanted to be.

In a writing community, I practiced specific writing skills—not just writing for the sake of writing, but actually learning how to write the specific types of projects I was interested in.

From there, I created a few very strategic sample pieces so I had something a little more specific to show the companies I knew I really wanted to work with.

Then I moved into the part that felt the most uncomfortable at the time:

I started connecting and reaching out to some of these companies on LinkedIn.

Not because I felt “ready”—I didn’t ( 😬 spoiler, you never REALLY feel “ready.”)

But because I realized readiness wasn’t going to come first.

Action was.

Eventually, in September of 2022, I got my first education client.

It wasn’t perfect.
I was figuring things out as I went.

But I did the work, got feedback, improved, and then charged more for the next one.

By November 2022—one year from when I started—I had built enough:

Momentum
Evidence
Confidence

(yes, all while still teaching!)

…That I told my head of school it would be my last year.

And on June 8th, 2023, I walked out of that school and into the freedom I had started building over a year before that.

Here’s the part I think about a lot, though…

It felt like a shot in the dark for a long time.

Because I didn’t have this framework when I started.

Which is exactly what one of my students described when she said:

​

Because what I was missing back then wasn’t effort.

It was structure.

It was knowing what to focus on, in what order, and how to actually turn practice into progress.

That’s also why feedback became such a big part of how I improved.

Not just writing more—but knowing how to get better.

As Laura also shared:

That’s the difference between guessing your way forward…
and building real momentum.

And eventually I realized:

Learning from someone who had already done it would have saved me so much time and energy.

​

That’s the difference.

Not more time.
Not more research.

Just a clearer path forward.

​

​That’s a big part of why I built From Classroom to Copywriter the way I did.

• So you don’t have to guess your way through it.
• So you can follow a path that actually builds momentum.
• So you can skip over the parts that keep people stuck.

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Because when that shift happens, it’s not just about skills.

It’s about what becomes possible.

Like Cara L. shared:

If you’re in that place right now—knowing you want something different, but not fully sure how to get from point A to point B—

I’d love to be that bridge for you.

You can learn more about the program here:

Enrollment closes in 48 hours so if you know you don’t want to wait any longer to take your first steps towards something new…

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​

Meredith

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📖Turn the Page📖

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Hi Reader!

After the last email, I kept thinking about the question underneath the question. (There’s always a sneaky one you want to ask but can’t)

Not “How did you do it?”

But:

Can I do it too?

So let me say something clearly:

Copywriting is not some mysterious creative gift.

It’s not about being witty on command or having a journalism degree (Not to say you can’t go this route but 🤷‍♀️).

What it is about is clear, precise communication.

And let’s be honest—teachers are professional communicators.

In fact teachers (and this includes anyone formerly known as teacher, lol) are top notch freakin’ communicators.

Think about what you already do every day:

• You take complex ideas and break them down clearly.
• You deeply understand your audience (very different energy from kid to kid or in first period vs. last period).
• You anticipate objections before they happen (“When you get to problem 3, be sure you reread the instructions (lol) before you begin”.)
• You adjust your message when something isn’t landing (How many times have you taught a lesson in 2nd period, watched it flop and had it completely rebooted in the 4 minutes before 3rd period??).
• You guide people from confusion to clarity. (Every. Damn. Day.)

(Do you see where I’m headed, Reader?)

These things are at the core of copywriting.

Not fancy words or ivy league grad school degrees.

Not hype.

Just clarity.

When I started, I didn’t magically become someone new.

I mean yes, I needed some foundational skills to do this work. But mostly I just redirected skills I had already built in the classroom.

The difference?

In the classroom, those skills were capped by the salary SOMEONE ELSE believed the job should pay.

Outside of this environment, these skills are valued by the results they get for a company.

That’s a very different game. Can you feel how different?

Imagine your salary went up every time one of your students had an “aha” moment.

Every time each kid went on to the next grade.

Every time a student or parent or colleague told you how good you are at your job and why.

But outside of teaching, these things—the results of your hard work—build your portfolio. And yes, allow you to reap the benefits of the blood, sweat and tears you’ve invested. (So many tears, y’all)

Most teachers think they need:

More credentials
More training
More time
More confidence

What do they actually need?

A clear path for foundational upskilling + applying what they already know.

That’s what I’ll be breaking down in the upcoming FREE masterclass.

Not just “copywriting is cool.”

But:

• What it actually is
• Where teachers fit
• How to build skill without having to quit your job
• What the first few paid projects realistically look like

Because momentum doesn’t come from hype.

It comes from competence + strategy.

And that combo is built Step by Step (Ooooh baby).

(Sorry. IYKYK. Although I hear they made a comeback.)

If you’ve been wondering whether you could walk this path…

Stay tuned.

Next week I’ll share the details.

And if you’re already thinking, Okay Meredith… I’m listening.

Just hit reply and let me know which part you’re most curious about…I’m shaping this training around what YOU need most!

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I’ll just be over here practicing my moves until then…

​
Meredith

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p.s. I will be sending out the link to register for the free training in the next email! If you know you want to sign up to attend live (or to get the limited time replay) make sure you are getting my emails!)
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Hi Reader—

​
In the last email I wanted to show you clearly how Just STARTING—regardless of how— is really the way to begin building confidence.

The first time I got paid for writing, it was not life changing money.

But it WAS the match that lit the fire.

Within a month, I landed my second client—ghostwriting LinkedIn posts—and she was paying me $75 per post.

Suddenly, I could see it. The way projects, income, monthly payments could begin to build—one on top of the other.

Within three months, I was taking on more projects, raising my rates as I practiced, applied feedback, and learned.

Although it still felt a bit intimidating, I knew at that point that I could reliably replace at least half my teaching income with copywriting.

So in June of 2022, I told my principal I wanted to come back part-time the following year.

Honestly, Reader?

It felt like a celebration.

No, I hadn’t “made it” by any stretch.

But I COULD already begin to taste the time freedom. To see the next version of myself more clearly because I was taking steps forward to become her.

What most teachers or entrepreneurs don’t realize is that income doesn’t appear in one giant, cinematic moment when you’re starting out.

It stacks.

One project turns into two.
Two small retainers turn into consistent monthly income.
A $75 post becomes $100. Then $150.
A one-off project becomes a three-month contract.

You don’t wake up one morning having replaced your salary.

You build toward it.

That second client paying me $75 per LinkedIn post?
It wasn’t glamorous, necessarily.

But it was work I was more interested in and—more than that—it taught me:

• How to deliver on a deadline
• How to invoice
• How to communicate revisions confidently
• How to see my work as valuable to the client(this one matters a lot)

And as my skill improved, my rates did too.

Not because I randomly decided I “deserved” more.

But because I could create more value for the client I was working with.

That’s the part people skip over when they say:

“Well sure, that worked for you.”

But it wasn’t one-off magic or luck:

It was skill + repetition + positioning.

Within a few months, I wasn’t scrambling for one-off gigs.

I had:

• Ongoing clients
• Predictable monthly income
• And something even more important…

PROOF.

I had proof that I could do this.

And that proof changed everything.

Because once you see money coming in from something outside the classroom—even a few hundred dollars—the story in your head starts to shift.

You stop asking:
​“Is this possible?”

And start asking:
​“How big could this become?”

Because momentum is incredibly powerful.

It makes fear quieter.
It makes risk feel measured.
It makes the next step more clear.

You don’t need to replace your entire salary overnight.

You just need to replace the belief that it’s not possible.

And that begins with one paid project.

Then another.

Then another.

If you’ve been waiting to feel fully confident before starting…

Here’s what you need to know:

Confidence is a byproduct of action. Income is a byproduct of skill.

I’ll be sharing more soon about what that path actually looks like—a masterclass that will show you how to build the skills, the portfolio, and the client pipeline one step at at time.

I’m clearing some time on my calendar to chat with people who know they are interested in taking steps towards copywriting. Hit reply with the word “me!” and I’ll send you a link to book some time.

​
With you every step of the way,

Meredith

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Hiya Reader—

​

The question I get the most from teachers isn’t what you’d think.

They’re not always looking for the step-by-step breakdown of how I got from THERE to HERE.

They don’t ask about whether my colleagues or principal knew what I was doing.

The thing people most want to know is:

How do I know if I can be successful at this copywriting thing?

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For me, it actually wasn’t a big dramatic experience that allowed me to understand it was all “working.”

I sat down on a normal Saturday to pay bills—something I usually avoided until the last minute.

But when I opened my bank account, something caught my eye.

I stared for 2 long minutes at the top line—a small direct deposit from a consulting firm—a mixture of disbelief and excitement rising in my body.

Someone just paid me for my writing.

I got paid to write.

​

When I tell people I became a copywriter, I know some imagine I landed some big-time, glamorous, household-name client right away.

But that’s not what happened. That’s rarely what happens. (I’ll tell you why this is OK)

My first real copywriting job was with a consulting firm. I had been bold and reached out to someone in a business community I was part of that had said they needed a copywriter.

The scared part of me—that hadn’t officially been hired for copywriting work yet—tried to talk me out of it.

“But you’re NOT a copywriter…” my inner critic reminded me. (RUDE)

By this point I had practiced reminding that annoying voice that everyone has to start somewhere. So I brushed it off.

And I emailed the guy. I was honest about my experience, about wanting and being willing to learn.

He gave me a shot.

They paid me $90 per blog post at first to write SEO articles about… honestly… pretty random topics.

​

I wrote four in my first month…and made $360.

Not life changing dough by any means.

I whooped.

And then I bought my husband dinner (+ paid the babysitter!).

Because when that first payment hit my account, it didn’t matter…

I had proven I could be a paid copywriter.

I had proven a business would pay me:

Not for grading papers.
Not to manage behavior.
Not to sit in endless meetings (THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AN EMAIL … IYKYK).

They paid me to be a copywriter. From the peace and (relative) quiet of my home.

It felt small—but it felt really, really real.

And that’s the part no one talks about:

The path to copywriting doesn’t usually start with a dramatic leap.

It starts with proof that you can.

That first $360 wasn’t about the money.

It was about that first bit of momentum.

On March 10th, I’m hosting a live webinar that walks you through how you can build your own copywriting momentum.

The link to register will be in the next email(ish), so stay tuned.

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In the meantime, I’d really love to know where on this path you are RIGHT NOW.

This will help me to tailor the info in the webinar so it’s a perfect fit for what you need at this moment in time.

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You can simply click on the phrase below that best describes your current situation:

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👉 I’m still teaching but exploring options​​
👉 I’m planning my exit within 6-12 months​
👉I’m already copywriting/running a business and want better clients​

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Don’t see your description? Hit reply and let me know where you stand.

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Rooting for you,

Meredith

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