Today we’d like to introduce you to Miranda Mullings.
Hi Miranda, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I always joke that my mom chose my career for me. She read aloud to me every night – even in the womb – until I could read on my own. Reading seamlessly flows into writing, and so did I. I was the kid writing the next hit singles for my neighborhood girl gang (this was the era of the Cheetah Girls).
I was the only kid in middle-school home ec class who opted to write a 20-page essay rather than tote around the plastic, screaming “baby” for a week. For most of my life, I’ve been deathly afraid of public speaking and anything that would draw attention (hence my avoidance of dragging the fake baby around the school). For the longest time, I couldn’t speak without my pubescent voice cracking, stuttering, and turning beet-red in embarrassment. Putting my thoughts on paper was the best way for me to communicate.
My life changed when I joined my high school paper. I spent four years interviewing other students and writing stories about community happenings. It felt like having a mini-job and hobby wrapped up in one. I went on to study writing in college, where I had even more fun writing for the campus newspaper and helping students with their papers in our library’s writing center. Part of my graduation requirements was to study abroad. I had never traveled overseas and was reluctant to leave my family, cat, and comfort zone behind. If I had to do it, I decided that I would go to France for a summer school program (the shortest possible option). I put this off until the summer before my senior year, and the only trip my university was offering was to Rome. I begrudgingly registered, not knowing anything about Italy and feeling slighted by France.
What I didn’t realize then was that my life would, quite literally, change forever. And not in the annoying “studying abroad changed my life” internet meme kind of way, but in a real way. That summer, I caught la dolce vita fever and applied for any internships that could take me back to the Eternal City. To my surprise, after I had already committed to grad school at WashU, I was accepted as a communications intern at a UN agency in Rome. WashU gave me their blessing to take a gap year, and the next thing I knew, I was living in an apartment in Rome with three strangers. I was writing for a living at a stable 9 to 5, working with the kind of people who have parents from different continents and speak five languages fluently (while I, on the other hand, spoke barely two words of Italian). I spent the next year living this whirlwind life that left me feeling like I had somehow cheated the system.
The kind of opportunity I had dreamed of my whole life was in St. Louis, but my new life intoxicated me. WashU patiently awaited me to join them the following fall, and, honestly, I didn’t want to go. I agonized over whether to come back at all. Ultimately, with lots of tears and more-than-a-little pressure from my mom, I returned for my Master’s degree. I’m beyond thankful that I did. Doing my graduate studies here in St. Louis was an equally life-changing experience. This community gave me more than I could have asked for. Today, I split my time between Italy and Missouri. You might see me hanging out in Tower Grove, my family home in southwest Missouri, or central Rome – who knows! I work in corporate communications by day and freelance by night. I have the best of both worlds – home, adventure, stability, and freedom. Because life is all about balance, right?
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Being a writer is harder today than it’s ever been. (Well, except for when women had to publish under male pen names or ‘Anon.’) Like many things, the internet has turned the word “writer” into a contorted beast: an unemotional, capitalist monstrosity that will do or say anything to get “conversions,” Black Mirror style. I don’t want to be that. Being a freelance writer today is a constant balancing act – feeling the pressure to be online 24/7 to market yourself, yet feeling the overload of blue light killing your creative brain cells. I’m bombarded with advice from self-proclaimed “coaches” about boosting my SEO, driving website traffic, and making seven figures (I wish, right?!)
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a generalist! I have a unique background in the sense that I’ve long worked in “communications,” which, if you are in the industry, you know means that we wear about 25 different hats. For example, I’ve written and edited speeches for high-level officials, press releases for international media, academic papers, promotional video scripts, and social media content. My goal is to help small women-owned businesses in St. Louis. Women run this city! I’m extra enthused about working with women in travel, equestrian, true crime, and fitness (fun fact: that’s my personality in five words).
I’m known for being a hawk for detail. I’m used to working in the big picture sense, like creating content for an entire website or an organization’s marketing strategy, but I completely nerd out about the little things. Punctuation mishap? Spelling error? Not on my watch. What’s different about me? I’m not a business person. I’m not in this for a “get rich quick” scheme or to be an Instagram influencer. Writing is my identity. I’m a creative copywriter who lives to tell people’s stories. Everybody has a story worth telling. As humans, we are hardwired to care about stories and emotions. I intuitively draw out these genuine stories that speak much louder than clickbaity headlines or inflated statistics.
How do you define success?
Finding success isn’t a linear path toward some measurable goal. My idea of success is happiness – every day, I do whatever is in my power to shape a life that excites me to hear that early a.m. alarm. The reason I (finally!) decided to start freelancing is to shape a future where my work doesn’t feel like “work” (in other words, it isn’t soul-crushing and exploitative). What I do isn’t a chore because I truly love it. I hope that everyone can find that in life. Otherwise, what are we doing here?
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mirandadoescopy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirandadoescopy/
Image Credits
Portrait Novella (for personal photo only)
