Conversations with Natalie Jamali

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and raised in Orange County, California. I spent five years in North Carolina, where I studied Literature and earned a Bachelor’s degree. I fell in love with the South’s landscape, food, people and most importantly, the literary icons from the past. After I graduated, I decided to move back home to California to be closer to my family and started my freelance career.

Currently, I write a weekly column for Seattle-based creative lifestyle magazine, Créateur. Along with my column, I write a spread for the brand’s quarterly Zine including my own designs and photography. In addition, I manage analytics and create email campaigns for weekly blog posts. Also, I just launched my very own micro copywriting firm!

During my free time, I write some poetry and prose, re-read my favorite classics (I’m a big fan of Southern Gothic Literature), collect vinyl, record a podcast called “Sorry, I’m Nosy” with my best friend, and spend time with my husband and fur baby, Lola.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth road for me and finding my path in the freelance world has been a difficult process. For the longest time, I took odd jobs to make ends meet, waitressed and even worked in finance (not my thing). I never really believed in myself until recently. I always thought “what if my work is total garbage and everyone hates it.” Then the pandemic happened and I took something so horrible and tried to make the very best of it as much as I could. This is when I really dived into my freelance career head first and so many opportunities came my way because of it. It was for sure scary but I had to make it work. Slowly my insecurities melted away and I just went for it.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a writer. Wow, I really hate saying that. “I’m a writer” just sounds so ostentatious. When I think “writer” I think Faulkner and Dostoevsky. Not lil ol’ me. Isn’t every writer a little self-conscious? Not James Joyce. His grandiosity is daunting. I’m not hating on Joyce. In fact, I love the guy. Ulysses is probably one of the greatest novels of all time. I’m annoyed with him because how can anyone be that great? I’m jealous.

Enough about writers who came before me and who I admire greatly and whom I will never live up to. This is about me. Yes, I’m a writer. I write a column for a pretty bad ass publication called Créateur and I ghostwrite for some awesome local businesses. I am not a social media marketer though. I make that clear with everyone I work with. I’m a writer. And I get that marketing is important…you gotta get your brand out there…how else are people going to access your stuff? But I write. That’s what I do.

My passion for writing came at a young age. I was an avid reader by ten and that’s when I decided I wanted to write for a living. I wanted to be like the greats before me. Naive, I didn’t realize how hard it would actually be. I have to make a living. And unless I make it big by publishing a cliché poetry-coffee-table-book and sell out, I have to make ends meet. That’s why I write copy and do some ghostwriting work. I’ll write whatever you want me to write and honestly, I enjoy it. I get paid to do what I love. And that’s pretty amazing to me.

What does success mean to you?
Success to me is doing what you love, whether you make millions or just scrape by. Money doesn’t define success. It’s the people, the places, your surroundings, your day-to-day that makes it all worth it. I know so many people who sell out and work for corporate America and hate their lives. Sure, they’re making a sh*t ton, but they’re miserable. I think if you find your passion and go for it, whether you fail or succeed, the act of believing in your craft and pursuing it, that’s success, right?