Shelley Seale
Austin, Texas, United States
Video Call
In Person
Life as a freelance writer is never boring. I’m able to “try on” and live many different people’s lives as I investigate stories. I travel often and can work from anywhere in the world where there is an Internet connection.
Since 2005, I’ve been self-employed as a freelance journalist and author. I work for myself with no employees from my home office, or anywhere else in the world there is an Internet connection.
Here’s just a bit of what we can cover in our PivotPlanet sessions:
• How to get started as a writer
• How to contact editors and begin getting work
• Building clips and a portfolio
• How to self publish
• How to utilize websites and social media for work
• How to market yourself
• And anything else you want to ask about the profession I love!
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Although I have been writing since I was a small child, it never really occurred to me that I could do it as a profession. Life works out as it’s supposed to, but I wish someone had told me this was a possible career path. Some people believe that freelancing is less secure than working for a company, but personally, I’d rather create my own security, running my own business and doing something I truly love.
My early work was in real estate. I liked it well enough, but wasn’t passionate about it. However, it did help me springboard into my dream career as a freelance writer. They say you should “write what you know,” and so I did. My first articles were about real estate.
Creatively, I love the aspect of being able to "try on" and live many different people's lives, every week. Writing about different people, places, experiences and stories is never boring, and allows me a taste the variety of life. Work-wise, this is a fantastic way to be independent and flexible, working from home and not having to punch in at a corporate office. I am thrilled to be able to be doing my dream work, on my own terms.
I’ve written many things, but I am especially proud of writing and speaking about my book The Weight of Silence: Invisible Children of India. My writing has been published by National Geographic, USA Today, CNN, Yahoo and The Seattle Times. I look forward to helping you get your writing career started.
