From Byline to Business Owner: Why the Heck We Do What We Do

For my early career, I was simply a byline. I spent a decade as a journalist in the Kootenays delivering valuable news, before deciding I wanted to get my feet wet in the non-profit realm. Leveraging my writing skills, I built campaigns that increased awareness, highlighted important work in my community, raised funds, and helped vulnerable populations find support. This experience eventually led me to launch Writer’s Block Solutions, as I realized that what I love most about writing is its ability to help others. 

Writing content for small businesses and community-minded organizations in the Kootenays and Lower Mainland of BC is a bit like ghostwriting. We rely on the voice and passion of our clients to capture the essence of who they are, what they do, and the difference they make in Canadian communities so we can help raise their profile and elevate their efforts. I’ve learned that sharing stories makes a big difference in people’s lives — so much so that I’ve built a business around it! Now in our seventh year, my all-female communications team is drawn to working with clients who share similar values. Often, our work revolves around raising awareness for non-profits or giving impactful community-level initiatives a boost. Through storytelling, we’ve helped organizations and businesses promote philanthropic and grassroots programs and initiatives that educate others and increase community resilience, making a tangible impact on the lives of British Columbians — and beyond!

As the cost of living soars and the price of food skyrockets, we feel compelled to help our communities survive and thrive. We work with many organizations and businesses making a difference on the ground in the Kootenays and the Lower Mainland; by amplifying their voice, we create a ripple effect that sparks progress. We’re inspired to use our skills as a tool for change, producing effective copy and content for crowdfunding campaigns, newsletters, press releases, cases for support, social media, and more. 

Each year, we’re proud to offer reduced rates or in-kind services to a select number of value-aligned clients that meet specific criteria. We’ve written about communal gardening, food literacy opportunities, and coupon programs supporting low-income individuals and families with free, nutrient-dense fresh produce. But food security is only one example of a cause we’re passionate about. We’ve also handled the marketing for a major fundraising event to support inclusive community programming for people of all ages and abilities, worked with local emergency management professionals improving resilience and educating rural communities in emergency response, assisted a youth mentorship organization with attracting volunteers, and helped other small business owners find and apply for valuable grants and funding.

While we also work with other clients — including larger for-profit businesses, authors, lifestyle magazines and more  — in the end it all comes down to effective storytelling. My team genuinely wants to help make the world a better place; we do that one story at a time, showing the people around us that stories are more than just words that connect us — they’re agents of change.