In a world where many of us are chasing the dream of a fulfilling career, Camille Prairie's journey is a testament to the power of listening to your inner voice and embracing change. From an aspiring doctor to the founder of Camille Prairie Copywriting and Creative Solutions, LLC, Camille's path is a story of resilience, self-discovery, and a relentless pursuit of passion. She transformed her life from the structured world of medicine to the dynamic and creative field of freelance writing, all while maintaining a deep connection to her roots in patient care and biology. Camille’s journey is an inspiring reminder that success isn't just about following a set path—it's about creating your own.
1. Can you share more about the journey that led you from aspiring doctor to founding Camille Prairie Copywriting and Creative Solutions, LLC?
So in 2021, I finished a one year post-graduate program that was very intensive. It was meant to mimic what the first year of medical school would be like. I finished with great grades and an offer from a medical school where I was living at the time(Philadelphia), contingent on me taking one more MCAT. I finished my second semester of this program very excited I was finally doing it. I was finally going to be a doctor, all of this hard work had paid off. And I found I didn't want to go to med school. I didn't want to spend the next few years of my life the way I had just spent the last one. So I moved home, to North Carolina. Shortly afterward, I met my now husband, and in our first year together, just job-hopped. I had a degree in Biology and a Pg.Cert and I tried out community gardening and research in a lab and became bored, quickly. It wasn't that I didn't like the work itself(although I did hate how mindless it was working at LabCorp), I just hated doing the same thing every day.
By the time I started freelancing full time in 2022, I had actually been freelance writing part time for 3 years. I started in 2019 when I was living in Argentina. I was a junior in college there on an unpaid cooperative education opportunity and I was running out of money so I picked up freelance writing gigs. And once I returned to the states, I kept freelancing whenever I could throughout my senior year of college and grad school. I worked and volunteered as an EMT, and shifts were a perfect time to do these assignments since there was down time. So 3 years after I was writing freelance pieces on my phone or on my computer in Buenos Aires, I started doing it full time. It took about six months to land a client that felt "real". Before, I had worked for content mills or used other 3rd party platforms to land clients, and I wasn't very well paid. Once I got my first client, I just kept getting clients, and since I started, I've picked up more work than I've lost. Clients from the healthcare industry started to gravitate toward me because of my background, so that's what I focus on now, but it's not what I do exclusively. I wanted to grow, so I incorporated my LLC in January and currently work with 2 contractors.
2. What inspired you to shift from a potential career in medicine to freelance writing and eventually starting your own business?
I think I answered this in #1, but the "inspiration" I would say was a desire to have autonomy over my time, live life on my own terms, be more rested and live a balanced life, and do something that excites me without burning out.
3. How does your background in Biology and patient care influence your approach to copywriting, particularly for healthcare and medical clients?
My background in Biology is honestly really helpful. While I don't write a lot of technical documents (I'm trying to find the time to upskill, but I just don't have it right now), I do write a lot about health and wellness, as well as pharmaceuticals, and I'm often in the same room when more complex topics are being discussed. Experience writing and reading primary journal articles and learning about extremely minute, specific biological processes is a huge asset. I can think critically, read critically, and have that skill of translating complex topics into easier to understand language. And having a patient care background helps tremendously, at least personally. I loved patient care, so knowing that I'm indirectly helping patients when I help some of my clients is extremely rewarding. Additionally, being able to get into my clients' heads and understand the challenges they face as care providers in this healthcare system helps me connect with them.
4. Can you describe a specific moment or experience that made you realize writing was your true passion?
I've always loved to write. That was my first big career dream when I was 6 or 7. I just never thought it could happen, and I didn't understand it could look like this. Probably the first time I picked up a book or had my own journal as a kid.
5. What were the initial challenges you faced when transitioning from a traditional career to freelance writing, and how did you overcome them?
Transitioning to full-time freelance writing presented a lot of challenges: fear of failure, self-doubt, overwhelm(everyone offers so much advice and you don't know whose to take or what to do first), struggles getting clients, difficulty determining what rates were fair. Those were the main ones. I still struggle with self-doubt at times. I still struggle with what to focus on - there's never enough time in the day for everything. But self-doubt was probably the biggest obstacle.
6. Self-doubt and fear can be significant obstacles for many creatives. How do you manage these feelings, and what strategies have you found effective in building your confidence?
I manage self-doubt and fear by reframing the "what if I fail" fear. Instead of looking at something as failure, I look at everything as a learning experience. I think about how lucky I am to be alive and having a human experience. I think about how amazing it is that I've made it this far. I remind myself of all that I've done so far, how far I've come, and how I would have reacted this time last year if I told myself I'd be where I am now.
7. In the early stages of your business, what were some of the key challenges you encountered regarding finding clients and managing your finances?
The biggest challenge I encountered finding clients was... finding them. I know that sounds overly simplistic, but when you're first starting out, you have a much smaller network, so referrals aren't as likely. Most people start finding clients through cold outreach or pitching on platforms like Upwork or applying to contract gigs against incredible competition. Finding clients is always a numbers game, but in the beginning, it's really a numbers game.
You have to be willing to put yourself out there, day after day. My experience has been that the longer I've done this, the bigger my network has gotten, and the more business I get through referrals. Additionally, the more resources I know about. But in the beginning, you don't have the money to pay for a premium version of a newsletter with daily freelance jobs. You probably don't know that newsletter exists. I, personally, just pitched, and pitched, and pitched, and worked for low-paying jobs, until I finally got a break. And then everything took off. The biggest challenge in finding clients was the finding itself and being patient enough. Not giving up. I was lucky to have financial support when I started doing this - my husband encourage me to go for it - but the biggest financial challenge is that you aren't making money for a while, or you aren't making a lot of money, so it's hard to invest in your business.
8. You mentioned considering email marketing as a potential strategy. What other marketing approaches have you found successful or challenging in growing your business?
My most successful marketing approaches have been cold outreach and social media marketing. Cold outreach is really hit or miss; social media has really allowed me to build an incredible network. I'm currently working on amping up my own SEO and hopefully email marketing down the line!
9. How do you balance the creative aspects of writing with the practicalities of running a business?
It's hard. I find it helpful to make my desk a place I like to be. I minimize distractions. I make however much coffee I want if that keeps me motivated. I work in chunks. I take breaks. I try really hard not to switch between writing a piece and doing something else for the business.
10. Can you discuss how mental health has impacted your journey as an entrepreneur, and how you maintain your well-being amidst the challenges?
One of the reasons I started my own business was to be more mentally healthy and peaceful. I was so burned out throughout college and graduate school and never really learned how to just ... stop. Entrepreneurship has taught me that there is only so much I can control. Knowing that has really helped me let go of a lot and live in the present moment. I also use meditation, yoga, and frequent exercise to maintain my health and sense of peace and I set boundaries around work time and rest time. It's hard, sometimes, but I'm really proud of how much progress I've made even this year! I also take six weeks off a year, roughly, so I schedule vacations far in advance and plan work around those to avoid burnout.
11. What advice would you give to other women who are contemplating starting their own creative or freelance business?
Go for it. Find support. Do your research first. Make sure you have money saved up. Know it will be hard. Plan your workdays so you don't over work yourself.
12. How do you stay motivated and inspired, especially during times when self-doubt creeps in?
I remember how far I've come and I remember that tomorrow will be better. And I usually stop working and take a nap if I'm really feeling down.
13. What role do meaningful connections with clients and their audiences play in your work, and how do you foster these connections?
Creating meaningful connections is really the heart of everything I do. I love connecting with people, and I center that through the way I work with my clients and the way I connect with people - whether it's having a quick chat with a colleague or offering advice to a newer business owner. I'm really interested in what each individual client and colleague of mine is struggling with - or loving - right now and how I can help them or support them with my work. I foster these connections through consistent interactions and communication.
14. Can you share a particularly rewarding experience or project that has reaffirmed your decision to pursue a career in writing?
Sure! Two come to mind: I worked with a client in the gender equity in medicine space recently. I loved the project because it was my first with a nonprofit, and it felt really good to write for a company doing so much good to advance equity among physicians, and more broadly, in healthcare. The second in a client of mine who just gave me a glowing review when I asked her for mid-project feedback. She said she really saw the value of the SEO work we had done together and it felt so good to know she saw the effects of our work and felt positively about how she had invested in her business. I'm honored people choose to work with me, so I hope everyone has that feeling of, "what a great investment this was!"
15. Looking ahead, what are your future goals for Camille Prairie Copywriting and Creative Solutions, LLC, and how do you plan to achieve them?
I'd like to continue to grow in the healthcare space, particularly doing healthcare copywriting, content marketing, and SEO. I'd love to work with more clients, grow the business a bit, and work with mission-driven companies and organizations. I'll be doing a lot of outreach and marketing to reach those clients and also taking care of myself to sustain future growth!
IG: @camilleprairie_creativeco
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camille-prairie/
