Start Freelancing to Change Your LIFE! (Featuring a TRUE STORY)

Start Freelancing to Change Your LIFE!

I had no idea when I started freelance writing on the side almost two years ago where it would take both my business and personal life. It’s true, I was looking to it as a way out.

My Way Out

I didn’t have it bad per say at work, I just wasn’t really passionate about what I did all day/week/month/year long as a financial adviser and support person to a large financial planning practice in my area. In fact, I had it pretty good.

I had:

  • A 10-minute drive to work
  • A decent salary (that supported our family of four)
  • Nice co-workers (that were family and treated me as the same)
  • And a whole lotta potential to grow

But it wasn’t what I wanted to be when I grew up.

Even if there was a lot of opportunity for advancement and pay. I had already spent the previous decade figuring that out.

And since I had another 30 working years or so ahead of me, I didn’t want to succumb to something I wasn’t passionate about so early.

So after I became honest with myself, I decided to buck the trend of Corporate America by starting a freelance writing side hustle instead.

And then I added virtual assistant services. And it grew – so much so that I was grossing $4,000 per month WHILE working full-time and having two toddlers at home.

Less than six months after I looked into it in the first place. And I’ve since more than quadrupled that since going full-time. In fact, in November 2015 I grossed over $18,500 from my little freelance business.

How’d I Do It?

It’s simple.

  1. I got started. And I learned a heck of a lot on the fly.
  2. I put myself out there. A lot.
  3. I asked to be hired, rather than waiting for clients to find me. (Because trust me, they won’t!)
  4. Then I started teaching what I learned. (‘Cuz, that’s the best way to start building an audience.)

Gina Horkey E-course cover

I launched 30 Days or Less to Freelance Writing Success. Read More

3 Writers Dine Together in Toronto!

Kerri and Glenda and Me outside Crepes Club in Toronto

Kerry, Glenda and Me outside Crepes Club in Toronto

During my October 2015 trip to Toronto (where I went to help my sister with my niece), I had the pleasure of meeting one of my online author/writer/blogger friends, Miss Kerry Kijewski.

Kerry is the blind woman whom I interviewed a while back. I’ll tell you more about her in a minute.

Geography First!

To put things in a geographical perspective, Kerry lives about an hour-and-a-half away from Toronto, whereas I live about a twenty-hour drive away. (But it’s only a two-hour flight, and I flew there!)

Because I generally don’t travel much, I decided to ask Kerry if she could meet me in Toronto while I was there. Of course, it didn’t dawn on me to ask her beforehand if we could meet; my main purpose of going to Toronto was to assist my sister with my niece, and I didn’t actually think I’d have time to do anything else while I was in the big city.

Once my niece was unexpectedly released from SickKids a bit earlier than anticipated, I realized that I could find a few hours to have lunch with Kerry, providing she could journey to Toronto to do so.

After sending her a message on Facebook, she told me that her mom would be able to drive her to meet me. YAY!

So, on Monday, October 19, 2015, I met both Kerry and her mother, Janet.

Lovely ladies!

We, upon my suggestion, decided to dine at Crepes Club.

My cousin, who lives in Toronto, and whom I was supposed to meet for dinner one evening but who cancelled on me that day, had suggested going to Crepes Club because it was close to Ronald McDonald House (RMH), where I was staying.

I had done some research on this place when he first suggested it. I read some Yelp reviews, took a look at their menu, and selected the three dishes I wanted to try.

Needless to say, when he cancelled on me, I was disappointed!

But then, when I learned that Kerry and I would be meeting face-to-face, I suggested we go to Crepes Club.

Unbeknownst to me, she had also invited a friend of hers to our gathering; a freelance writer named Glenda.

I was not disappointed or angry with Kerry, however. Instead, I was pleased to meet yet another writer!

Kerri and her mom inside Crepes Club

Kerry and her mom inside Crepes Club

Kerri and Glenda outside Crepes Club


Kerry and Glenda outside Crepes Club

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Can You Be a Freelance Writer and a Fiction Writer? You Bet!

Alicia Rades's image for How You Can Be a Fiction Writer and A Freelance Writer

As some of you may know, I am a freelancer who is also an author.

Alicia Rades can say the same.

That’s why I asked Alicia to share with you her story about how she became BOTH… and provide you with some inspiration so that YOU can become an author, too!

Take it away, Alicia!

This is a picture of Alicia Rades.

Alicia’s Story

When I was 12 years old, I wanted to be an author. At the time, that’s all it was—a desire, a want. I didn’t even write that much, although I was an avid reader.

Eventually, I decided that I’d never be an author. It was something only a handful of really famous, really successful people did—or so I thought.

I didn’t think about becoming an author again until I was 19, two years after I started making money freelancing. When I discovered that I could actually write for a living writing blog posts and marketing copy for clients, I figured I could take a shot at fiction writing. Besides, all my friends were doing it.

At 19, I became a fiction author, and here’s what I learned. Read More

A Blind Man’s Journey to Publishing a Print Book

Today The Blind Blogger shares how he overcame the struggles he had with making his book available in print to the world.

Please welcome Maxwell Ivey to center stage as he shares his story of how he became an independently published author in 2015.

It’s quite inspirational, and leads me to wonder why more people aren’t becoming authors nowadays!

The Writing Journey Ends – or Begins?

Imagine this scenario:

You have written your first book. You have fought through writer’s block, endured many sleepless nights, overlooked the criticism of friends and family, and overcome questions about whether or not you are good enough or have a story worth telling. Now you are asking yourself, “What do I do next?”

I was at that place a few months ago. I had responded to a challenge from a friend to create an online product, and started a book, Leading You Out of the Darkness Into the Light: A Blind Man’s Inspirational Guide to Success.

We’ve all heard how selling our own e-books, and audio or video courses on our websites can be great for our businesses, right? So, in addition to this challenge providing a chance to share my story, I saw it as an opportunity to bring in some much-needed income. Oh, and maybe become famous! (“wink wink”)

After I finished the e-book, the question remained: What do I do next? I knew I had to edit it, but I wanted to publish it, too. Read More