Maya Chendke
Q What do you do?
“I’m a senior freelance writer and career marketer who specializes as a trusted agency sub-contractor working across a variety of industries and formats.”
I have a creative + analytical background and leverage my experience in marketing and strategy to create content that hits the mark. I’ve also worked across B2B and B2C and am known for developing accessible, friendly, non-jargon-y content that can straddle both worlds. From branding to websites to ghostwriting thought leadership posts, I flex words into meaningful material that elevates brands and individuals to connect with authenticity. I love working across different industries including healthcare, automotive, real estate, tech, and financial services.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
I began my professional writing career at the age of 15 as a teenage journalist who interviewed and profiled celebrities, musicians, athletes etc. I did my undergrad in journalism and pursued an MBA with a concentration in strategy and marketing, working agency-side, client-side, and freelance along the way.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
With a background in data and analytics as well as client service (agency-side), I bring a different perspective to writing and creativity. I don’t just write off of a brief and hand in a copy deck — I leverage my skills and experience to provide ideas, recommendations, and rationale that helps my clients (and their clients) to make meaningful decisions and create compelling content. I’ve worked as a Marketing Director and Account Director and so I also understand the ins and outs of marketing strategy and client services which makes me an extra layer of muscle for the agencies and companies that I partner with.
Q What are you working on right now?
I write for a variety of clients in healthcare, real estate, and tech. I’ve worked on brands like UCLA Health, Google, Bayer G4A, Deloitte, Nokia, and the Canadian Medical Association. But on the side, I’m working on a passion project about healthcare advocacy and meditation to help patients diagnosed with chronic illnesses to better advocate for their care (and regulate their stress to help manage symptoms). I’m a certified mindfulness and meditation teacher and have been practicing for over a decade. I’m also working on another novel.
Q What’s your style?
I would say that my style is a B2B/B2C-friendly style that is able to distill often really complex content into material that is public-friendly and accessible but grounded in intelligence. Some of my favorite work has been for UCLA Health. I’ve worked on content ranging from campaigns for specific conditions to very complex medical content for physicians to social media content that debunks myths and misconceptions (particularly intensive during the course of the pandemic). I’m also super proud of the work that I did to establish the personal brand and content of a CEO who is a woman entrepreneur smashing the glass ceiling (I wrote various awards applications for her and her business and they won 9 last year alone).
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
I would love to get more projects in the health and wellness space and the retail/e-commerce space because I am obsessed with customer journeys.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
I keep avoiding my administrative stuff. :) I really hate doing my paperwork.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Probably to help me with my paperwork! Or help me with meals - I sometimes get so engrossed in what I’m doing that I kinda forget to eat, drink water, or pee!
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
When I first started my freelance journey, I wish I could have told myself that it’s totally ok for projects and clients to ebb and flow. Sometimes budgets and priorities change, and that changes to your client mix will happen (and sometimes very on-the-fly).
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
Value-based pricing. This is a hot topic in my network and I am always really interested in learning how others package themselves and their offerings to keep evolving.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I am looking for a senior copywriter and content strategy opportunities where I can leverage my depth and range of experience to help brands.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
I can share an awesome client/agency relationship! There is this agency head who I absolutely love working with because she views her freelancers as whole people — they’re not just resources completing tasks to get the project done. She is an amazing leader in the field and hosts the most productive and structured client discovery sessions I have ever attended and I have learned so much from watching her in action with clients. She fired a client because they were exceptionally difficult to work with and even shipped me an entire case of wine as a thank you for having dealt with said client super patiently.
Q: What is your rate?
I typically estimate projects and engagements in a tailored way because the effort required can vary significantly (for example, am I writing off of a super detailed brief with helpful materials or am I doing extensive research and strategic thinking). I typically average out at an hourly rate of $150/hour but try and package things in a way that can maximize efficiency both for the work required and the client’s needs.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
I typically book a preliminary call to get more information about your needs and requirements, including due dates, budgets, stakeholders and contributors etc. We would meet on Zoom and chat through things and I can often provide top-line thoughts and whip out some referrals if working with me is not a fit. I typically book projects anywhere from 2-4 weeks in advance so I’m not a great fit for new clients who need a rush job done.
Q Who is a creative you admire?
There are so, so many - I will need to update this!!
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
I am passionate about creative writing and always keep a notebook nearby to jot down ideas. I’m always working on a creative project to keep myself inspired and anchored. And I also love browsing art galleries and beautiful spaces. And if all else fails, I meditate.
This member profile was originally published in March 2022.