The Not-So-Glam Side of Content Creation (AKA Why I Sometimes Miss Retail…Sort Of)

Being a content creator is like living inside your own head for 8 hours straight with a coffee IV and a cursor that mocks you if you stop typing. It’s satisfying, yes. Creative and purpose-driven? You bet. But let’s not pretend it's all “flow state” writing sessions, and viral LinkedIn posts.

There are some things I hate about it. (Maybe “hate” is strong but these are the itches I just can’t seem to scratch.)

1. Solitude Is a Real Thing, Even for Extroverts

I used to think working from home in yoga pants was the dream. No commute, no office politics, no snarky gossip in the breakroom. Glorious, right?

But the silence gets loud. The walls don’t talk back. Sometimes I fantasize about working retail just so I can say, “Can I help you find anything?” and get a real, human reply. I want the banter, the spontaneous conversations, the energy of other people existing near me.

Content creation is a solo sport, but every now and then, I wish it were a team one.

2. Convincing People I Can Capture Their Voice

Oh, the irony. I can write like you better than you can, but I have to spend time convincing you of that.

I get it, your voice is personal. It’s yours. You think no one else can channel it. But I listen and ask the right questions. I absorb your style, rhythm, tone, and quirks like a literary sponge. And then I give you content that sounds like it fell right out of your own mouth on your best day, when you're witty, articulate, and caffeinated.

Still, this is a hill I climb regularly. “Can you really sound like me?” Yes. Yes, I can. (And sometimes, I even make you sound better.)

3. Putting a Price Tag on Creativity

Want to give a content creator an existential crisis? Ask them to price their work.

Every proposal I write walks the tightrope between what I’m worth and what I think you’ll pay without blinking. And don’t get me started on the “this should only take you 30 minutes” crowd. It didn’t. It took me 30 years to be good enough to do it in 30 minutes.

We don’t sell hours, we sell impact. We sell clarity, engagement, trust, visibility, SEO, and the spark that makes people click, buy, or say “Tell me more.” That’s not a paragraph you can slap a price tag on.

4. The AI Conversation. Again.

Let me say this louder for the folks in the back: AI isn’t taking my job.What is exhausting, though, is how often I have to say it.

Yes, AI can spit out words. But content creation isn’t just about word count, it’s about connection. It’s about strategy, voice, nuance and humor. Brand alignment. Emotion. Human-to-human resonance. All the things that come from having a heartbeat and a brain that can read the room.

AI’s great for generating lists or first drafts. But if you want messaging that sounds like you, tells your story, and drives real results? You still need a human. One with sharp ears, sharper wit, and experience that goes beyond keyword stuffing.

5. People Think It’s Just “Writing”

“It’s just a post, right?”

I mean, technically, yes. But let’s zoom out a bit. That post supports your brand. It shapes perception and builds trust. It nudges a reader into your funnel. It gets shared and attracts eyeballs, clicks, and revenue. It’s not just a post. It’s strategy. It’s marketing. It’s how your brand talks when you’re not in the room.

And someone, like me, is behind every word, headline, caption, call to action, and blog. It's “just writing” the way a house is “just bricks.”

Bottom Line?

I wouldn’t trade this work for anything. I get to tell stories, shape brands, and help people sound like the best version of themselves. But like any profession, there are things that make me want to scream into the void (or at least take a mid-afternoon tequila shot).

So the next time you see a well-written post or beautifully crafted brand message, know that there’s a writer behind it, probably in sweatpants, definitely talking to herself, and definitely worth the rate on the proposal.