Andrea Danelak - Freelance Writer + Social Media Manager

The scariest thing this Halloween? 👻

Not ghosts, ghouls or things that go bump in the night—it’s the Oxford comma. 😆

No matter which side of the Oxford comma debate you’re on, have a happy Halloween! 🎃

This is 38 (and a different hair colour and 60-pound weight loss)!

TBH, I still feel like a bit of a dinosaur when compared to most folks working in social media.

But then I remind myself—I’ve got nearly 20 years of marketing, communications and publishing experience under my belt. My journey into entrepreneurship confirmed what I’ve always known: I need to be directly involved in the creative side of my work.

Cheers to another fantastic year of (word) nerd-ing it up!

I’ve got a secret! 🤐

I’m cooking up a new service package with a fellow creative here in Winnipeg! I don’t want to spill the beans just yet, but I’ll give you a hint…local businesses, you’ll want to stick around for this announcement. It will make your lives a whole lot easier!

Any guesses what it is? Stay tuned to find out!

My love of my work + and the people-pleaser in me = I have a hard time saying no to new projects.

And I’ll be honest—I’ve been feeling a bit burnt out as a result.

So, I’ve made the call: I’m not taking on any new social media clients for the rest of the year, but I’m happy to refer you to some amazing professionals if you need support!

I’ve got VERY limited space for new writing projects. If you’re hoping to kick off a project before the end of the calendar year, please connect with me now.

I can’t thank you all enough for another successful year!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! 🍂

Fall and spooky season are my jam, and after a hellish few months full of illness and losing my pet, I’m ready for fun again! 🎃 👻

What's your favourite part of autumn?

Think the Oxford comma is the only punctuation I loathe?

ENTER: THE AMPERSAND.

It’s National Ampersand Day and I couldn’t resist poking fun at the typographical symbol with Latin roots. The ampersand (&) represents the conjunction ‘and’—and is the subject of my next writer rant! It should never, ever be used in formal writing unless it’s part of a company’s or organization’s name. You’ll never catch me using one if I can help it!

Are you a fan?

Anyone else hesitate when posting their availability?

I don’t know if it’s the feast-or-famine mentality that lurks in the back of my mind or what, but I’m always scared of turning away work.

Buuuut… I also need work/life balance, something that has been sorely lacking as of late. (As always, thank you for keeping me so busy and fulfilled!)

So, I’m closing my books to social media and large(r) writing projects until the end of September. I’m still open to booking VIP Writing Days since they’re easy to squeeze in!

If you’d like to work together in October or later, reach out to me now!

“I’m so happy with everything.”
“You made this process so easy.”
“I should have done this sooner.”

I love receiving feedback after my VIP Writing Days! In case you missed the memo, my VIP Days are a great way to get:

Time back
My undivided attention and focus
Professional copy or content, turned around in one day!

I only book two VIP Days a month, so if you’re hoping to tackle a project this fall, secure your date now!

Sharing this quote by Stephen King in advance of Book Lovers’ Day on Friday! 📚

If you haven’t already guessed, I’m a HUGE nerd. (Heck, it’s in my IG handle!)

Right from young, I’ve had my nose stuck in a book. I was *that* kid reading on the swings during recess. (Funny story: When I ran into a former elementary school classmate a few years ago, she told me, ‘We would have made fun of you for that, but you were just too darn nice.’ Aw, shucks!)

Now, I’ve got two or three books on the go at any given time. Not only do I read for my personal enjoyment, but also to continue to learn new writing techniques.

What are you reading right now? ✍️

Oh, hey! If we haven’t already met, I’m your new writing unicorn. 🦄

I’ve been in the biz for nearly 20 years, working in corporate environments until I branched out on my own two years ago. I’m a huge word nerd (hence the username) who lives for telling brands’ stories via web copy, blog posts, social media and other channels.

What’s it like to work with me? I usually describe my style as “professional with a hint of weird” and would love to extend my expertise and nerdiness to your project!

On the rare occasions I’m not in my office, you can find me reading, camping, gardening and watching horror movies.

If you’d like to learn more about my services, head on over to my website. I’m currently taking on new writing and editing projects but am at capacity for social media clients. I can’t wait to hear about your project!

Early in my career, I worked for a women’s magazine, telling stories about local women doing incredible things in the community. A recent project was a throwback to those days in the best possible way!

I had so much fun writing articles for the Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada’s ExportHUB. Hearing the stories of these incredible female entrepreneurs was so inspiring, and the ExportHUB is sure to help other entrepreneurs in their respective journeys.

Check out my articles (and others!) at weoc.ca and give them a follow at Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada to learn more about their programs and resources.

Today is World Emoji Day!

Emojis are a great way to add a pop of personality to your posts (gosh, I love alliteration).

Buuuuut, make sure that you’re using them in an accessible way. If someone is using a screen reader, emojis can impact the clarity of your message.

Use them sparingly, and never use them as a replacement for text. Also, be mindful of where you place them—at the end of your sentence or caption is best. (I’m still working on that one!)

Emojis can also vary across platforms, creating another level of complexity for a simple symbol.

I’m still learning more about accessibility and encourage you to seek out resources, too. Let’s make social media as inclusive as possible, folks!

Photo by the talented Reanna Khan Creative

I’m often asked if people can hire me on retainer for writing or social media projects.

My answer is… Yes, absolutely!

I work with a few clients this way, and lemme tell you, it’s a stress-free solution for many small businesses. Typically my retainers offer a set number of deliverables per month, but I’m also happy to customize a package by hours, too.

Connect with me today if you’d like to explore how we can work together. Let’s tell your brand’s story!

To niche or not to niche: That is the question.

Ask 10 freelancers their thoughts on niching down and you’ll receive 10 different answers.

Me? I’ve niched down…a bit.

When I first started my biz, I wanted to do all things digital marketing. I’ve since narrowed it down to my fave service: social media marketing.

On the writing side, I’m still very much a generalist. Magazine article? Yes, please. Annual report? Let’s do it. Blog post? Sign me up!

The same goes for industries. I tend to seek out opportunities to write about topics I’m passionate about (see previous post), but I love learning and writing about new things all the time. I never want to paint myself into a corner where I’m not able to do so!

So, fellow freelancers, creatives and entrepreneurs, what are your thoughts on niching down?

Hellooooo, summer! 🌞

I’m not taking on any new social media clients over the summer, but I’d be tickled pink to help with your web copy, blog posts or other writing projects. If you’re hoping for a quick turnaround, my VIP Writing Days are just the ticket. ✍️

Topics I love writing about: skincare and beauty, health and wellness, pet care, entrepreneurship, travel and other lifestyle topics. Buuuuuut, I’m ob-SESSED with learning about new topics, too! Over the years, I’ve penned content about everything from wine pairings to oil fields to concrete flooring.

If you’re looking for a word nerd on your project, send me a message or connect via my website at andreadanelak.com! 🩷

Photo courtesy of the lovely Reanna Khan Creative

Well, Instagram, you sure like to keep us guessing! 😆

The head of the platform recently announced that post share rates are a key driver of reach (more so than likes, comments and watch time).

My recommendation? Focus on creating high-quality content that folks are more likely to share with others. This is where knowing your audience (and the types of content they’re most likely to consume and enjoy) is critical!

What is your favourite type of content to share?

Photo courtesy of the lovely Reanna Khan Creative

I LOVE VIP Days. Not only do I get the chance to flex my creative muscles, but I also experience a rush of adrenaline with the compressed timeline.

I’ve spent previous VIP Days writing web copy, blog posts, social media captions…whatever the client needs!

I’m booked until the end of June but can squeeze in a VIP Day before then. If you’re hoping for a quick turnaround on a project, get in touch!

What I wish I knew when I started my own business…freelance writer edition! 🖊️

🩷 I wear all the hats. Admin and bookkeeping and marketing, oh my! Working with numbers is not my strong suit, but I’m proud of my progress in basic bookkeeping.

🩷 Imposter syndrome will creep in. It took me a while to learn this, but don’t let it consume you. Keep reminding yourself you’re a rockstar and there’s a reason people call on and pay for your expertise.

🩷 Not every client is the right fit—and that’s totally OK. I know the scarcity mentality is a real struggle for many freelancers, but it’s fine to say no to projects or recommend other pros who may be a better fit. It will benefit everyone in the long run!

🩷 I’m never really “off” / feel guilty when I take a break or vacation. (Still working on this one, TBH.)

Did any of these resonate with you?