My friend’s daughter is an aspiring writer and recently interviewed me. This is what I told her:

1. Do you work for someone specifically or do you have an agent or have to find someone new to write for after you finish a project?

I own my own freelance writing business and spend around half my time asking people if I can write for them and the other half actually writing. I don’t have an agent.

2. What kind of writing is it?

Tech and travel writing for websites, newspapers, and Fortune 500 companies. I’ve also written a couple of books.

3. Do you enjoy it?

No. I LOVE it. Doesn’t feel like a job. More like a calling really. I have no plans of retiring and intend on writing until I die, I like it so much. 😃

4. Is there something involving writing that you wish you could be doing?

Great question! Not really. Maybe more time to write my next book, which doesn’t pay as well as magazine articles.

5. Does it make enough money not to not need a second job?

Yes. Great writers can make a lot of money and raise a big family. I’m not a millionaire but I’m a fortunate thousandaire.

6. Is it an everyday thing or is it just went you find someone who wants you to write for them?

I write everyday but I probably only write a few paid articles a week. Sometimes more. Sometimes less. It comes and goes, but I enjoy the free time.

7. What would you have wanted to know before getting into it?

How much hustle is involved in landing work. Most editors ignore my emails. Some say no thanks. And fewer still say yes, which is the best word in the world. You have to face a lot of rejection to stand on your own two feet. If you can stomach that (if not enjoy it sometimes), you will succeed.

8. Do you know of any other jobs that involve writing?

Lots! Hollywood hires a ton of script writers for TV and movies. Ad agencies hire copywriters and so do companies.

9. Do they pay for you when you travel to them or to write for whatever they need you to?

Yes, usually everything is covered. It’s an amazing gig and I’m so blessed to have found this calling. A little lucky too. But I also believe the harder you work, the luckier you get, so our efforts can have a big impact on our success.

10. How did you get your first gig? How did you get someone to trust your writing?

I emailed 50 editors until one of them said yes. Once I emailed nearly 80 before someone said yes to a story I believed in.

11. What did you major in?

Business.

12. Can you send me some of the things that you have written?

You can find my writing here.