Life in So Many Words

Thoughts2024-07-17T12:36:08+00:00

Getting Started as a Writer on Reedsy: My Interview with Kent Sanders

So many folks ask me how find I client ghostwriting clients, and the answer is multi-faceted. I have a killer website, a great network of of previous clients, and I use a website called Reedsy. In this interview on the Profitable Writer with Kent Sanders, I discuss how to get started on Reedsy and my tips for how to create a compelling profile and communicate with leads. Reedsy can be an excellent tool for finding new clients, but it has some downsides, which we'll dive into in this interview. If you're new to ghostwriting and looking to connect with clients, or [...]

My Interview with Souvenirs Podcast

I recently had the privilege of chatting with Suzi Minor about how I went from "library kid" to "I can't believe they're paying me to do this" to NYT best-selling editor and ghostwriter. This interview covers how I started in this mysterious niche, from earning ribbons for reading as a kid to tutoring my classmates in college and then being paid to edit for my professors.   I also discuss how I began working at a traditional publisher and then transitioned to working for myself. To learn more about my history and my process, check out the full interview.  

Writing a Compelling Memoir: My Interview on The Profitable Writer Podcast

One of my favorite things is getting to talk about the craft of writing memoir. And this podcast interview gave me the perfect opportunity to share what I've gleaned from 23 years as a freelance editor and ghostwriter. Host Kent Sanders is working on his father's Vietnam memoir and wanted some pro tips on how to take an amazing story and commit to the page in a compelling way. I discuss finding the narrative thread of a story, figuring out your structure, how to transition between chapters, and much more.   I'll share some of my best tips for crafting [...]

Writing Better: My Interview with Timmy Bauer

Recently, I had the chance to chat with Timmy Bauer, host of the Writing Better podcast. We discussed success, confidence, Reedsy, and how to find the right clientele for your skill set and price point. I talked about my journey from working in the publishing world to venturing out on my own as a freelancer. We also spent a lot of time discussing how much to charge clients, and I told him how I honed in on high net-worth individuals and became confident charging what I'm worth. "I moved up to $30,000, and that felt uncomfortable. Because I was hanging [...]

What Gardening Has Taught Me about Life

May marks the start of my 24 th year in the publishing industry. At 44, that’s over half my life! I’ve gone through many roles, projects, and iterations since 2001, and I imagine there are many more ahead. But one thing I hope to never give up—apart from my wit and my literary abilities—is my love of gardening. My grandparents on my mom’s side were epic gardeners; my grandpa even had an award-winning rose garden. I grew up walking through the rows in a makeshift towel cape, like I was queen of the flowers. My mother is a fantastic gardener [...]

The Cowboy Rides Away: A Tribute to a Legend

The Cowboy Rides Away: A Tribute to Author G.R. Hester, a True Legend Sometimes during the process of writing a book, a genuine friendship is formed between the author and the freelancer. It’s an easy progression. You invest your time, energy, storytelling ability, and listening ear as someone tells you all about their life—hours and hours of stories. And then, weeks and months after the book’s publication, you continue checking up on each other, calling just to talk about the day. Planning the next time you’ll meet for coffee. Except sometimes, the next coffee meeting never happens. On Saturday morning, [...]

My Interview with NashvilleVoyager Magazine

Recently I had the pleasure of sitting down with NashvilleVoyager Magazine and sharing about my life and work. Check out the full story to hear more about how I got started, what I've learned, and how I dealt with the one client who called me at 2:00 a.m. to share her ideas (spoiler alert: boundaries are essential!).

What I’ve Learned In 15 Years As A Freelancer – 8 Business-Focused Lessons

It’s time to start a new series about the many lessons I’ve learned as a freelancer over the past (gulp) fifteen years. Of course, there are too many answers to put in one post. So, here’s the first of a two-part series illuminating what it looks like to work for myself. I’m starting out with my favorite business lessons. I’ll get to the fun, personal lessons later, but these are important, too! Plus, the business-related lessons help me optimize my time and talent, which, in turn, fund my lifestyle, my multiple hobbies, and my steady travel plans.  1. Save 30% [...]