About Pen2Profit

More than a business, Pen2Profit is a mission.

I started writing professionally at 16. That was sixty years ago.

This is the story of a wannabe Lois Lane who became a well-paid professional writer/mentor for a long, long time and helped thousands of writers grow.

WAIT! If you are looking for a 20-year-old "guru" who became a millionaire last Tuesday using a ChatGPT hack, you are in the wrong place.

If you are looking for someone who has navigated the publishing world through the era of typewriters, the desktop publishing revolution, the dot-com boom, and the bot-com boom—pull up a chair.

I am a writer, editor, mentor, and unapologetic Baby Boomer. My career began when I convinced the editor of The (Chicago) Daily Herald to let a teenager run a weekly section. That bold move launched a career that has spanned dozens of major newspapers, magazines, twelve books, and thousands of articles. Don't forget the tribe of writers making great money since connecting with my systems.

I learned my craft from some of the wisest (and meanest) editors in the business. They taught me that talent is a starting point, but clarity is what gets you paid.

Why Pen2Profit?

Since the turn of this century, I’ve focused on a specific mission: helping writers over 50 realize it’s not too late to build a satisfying business.

We often feel squeezed out. We aren't digital natives. But we have something the algorithm can't generate: Life Experience.

I prefer my "Thriving Artisan" approach to the "Starving Artist" myth. I write about the struggle, the victories, and the nuts-and-bolts of making money with words. I respect my readers too much to bore them, and I respect the craft too much to let you publish less than your most polished work.

Cartoon of a friendly, tech-savvy grandmother

The Digital Grandmother Approach

Having once worked as a columnist pen-named the Digital Grandparent, I describe myself as an upbeat, energetic, Buddha-centric, tech savvy grandmother. When I'm not wearing my supersuit, I dote on my 15 grandchildren (yes, 15).

There is a funny dynamic with my grandkids. They each have an iPhone attached to their hand and consume content at the speed of light, but they struggle to understand spreadsheets. I have a different approach. I don't just consume tech; I figure out how to use it to my (and your) benefit.

A couple of years ago, I wrote a children's book, Ivy and Her Not Magical Tablet, which I illustrated using AI. My grandkids thought it was created by magic; I knew it was just a new tool in the shed.

That is my promise to you: I will be the bridge. I will translate the scary new tech (like Funnels, SEO, and AI) into plain English so you can use the right tech to sell your hard-earned wisdom.

How I can help you right now

The newsletter: Subscribe to get my weekly thoughts on writing and the business of words. Join here.
The course: If you are ready to stop treating writing as a hobby and start benefiting from it as a micro-business, check out my flagship course, Write-Earn-Repeat. Learn more.
The mentoring: I offer limited slots for developmental editing and mentoring. Rest assured—I am never mean, and I am never dishonest. Explore options.

Maryan off the clock

(A few things you want to know before we hook up... metaphorically speaking.)

I'm currently reading The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate.
My vibe: I make pottery in my basement and do not have a dog. I don't love cats. I seldom take moonlight walks on the beach, but I am a well-rounded package of fun and opinions.
My music: Authentic blues, Janis, and 60s/70s singer-songwriters.
My pet peeve: "Ultracrepidarians." (Look it up. It’s people who express opinions on subjects they know nothing about. The internet is full of them. I try not to be one.)
My happy place: Writing, teaching, and watching my grandkids create chaos that I am not responsible for fixing.
One thing I’d rather not admit is that I’m not 20 years old anymore, and while minds endure (and mine is always brewing up a storm of ideas for you), bodies may not do so well (groan).
My best writing tip—respect your readers and don’t make them struggle to figure out what you meant. Polish, polish, polish until the story shines.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read about me and my work. I will help you make the most of your writing endeavors. Let me know what you need. May you be well.