So today I’m super excited to introduce this awesome lady, Ms. Andrea Spanik. Who’s been more than willing to share how she started her freelance writing business.

You may want to save this post because this interview will sure to inspire you to start your own career/ business with freelance writing at the comfort of your home.

She’s just like everyone else, Her life is not always a walk in the park. But she took her chances and decided to make a career out of writing. Let’s begin.

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Can you tell me something about yourself?

My name is Andrea, and I’m a freelance writer from Canada.

I started off blogging about 5 years ago with a fashion blog. I then went to school for Fashion Marketing and Merchandising in Toronto for a year and a half. Long story short, my program disappointed me, I stopped blogging, moved back home, and tried to figure out my life… (sound familiar?).

I stumbled through the job market, but I was determined to work for myself. Even at 25, I already knew I wanted the freedom to design my own life. I couldn’t imagine myself in a traditional 9-5 job, so I researched like crazy to figure out how I could work from my laptop.

I entertained full-time remote positions, and I even dabbled with making money from online surveys, but it wasn’t until I found Upwork that I realized I could totally make money as a writer! And so, to keep this short, I set myself up on Upwork, and since then, I’ve been working online, full-time, and making my own opportunities.

Sometimes I have to remind myself how awesome it is that I actually made this whole thing work, and now, I want to share this lifestyle with more of you!

What do you do?

I work as a freelance writer, while also running a creative lifestyle blog called Hustle and Hearts. On Hustle and Hearts, I share freelance writing and business tips, along with topics that I’m passionate about (fashion, beauty, home decor, etc.).

I also just recently released my ebook, “Freelance Writing Simplified,” which is a 100+ page ebook that dives deep into my exact process of how I’ve been able to build my business as a freelance writer.

When and why did you start it?

I started freelance writing in the summer of 2016 and started my blog as a side project about 6 months later.

I started looking for remote working positions because I knew I didn’t want to work a traditional office job. And wanted the freedom to be able to set my own hours, and design my life around things I’m passionate about, rather than around an office job.

My boyfriend also works remotely and has ever since I’ve known him. I was exposed to the benefits of working for myself early on, and I knew if I wanted to be able to travel with him, I had to figure out the remote working situation. So I gave myself a deadline of when I needed to start making income online, and if I didn’t reach it, I would start applying to full-time jobs in an office. I guess it’s pretty clear how that turned out 🙂

Aside from running the business, do you have another job?

No, my entire income is online based. I had a part-time job in retail when I first started out, and I kept that job until I felt confident that I could take my writing full time, which was about 3 months after starting.

Is it a home-based business? Or do you have an office? What are the advantages of being home-based and or in an office?

I don’t have an office; however, at least once or twice a week I go to a cafe in my city to work (I’m currently at one as I write this!).

I’ve found this combo of working at home and at cafes is ideal for me because whenever I start to feel a little stir crazy being in the house all day, I simply pack up my laptop and walk over to one of the cafes in my neighborhood.

The benefit of this is largely that I’m not paying rent for office space, and I always have full control over where I work. I remember one week last winter I actually worked from a cafe every day, but then they’ll also be other weeks where I’m perfectly content at home. It really just depends on the week!

Why do you think freelance writing is one of the best business to start?

I’ll be honest, there are so many online business opportunities out there. I can’t claim that there’s one way that works best for everyone. Having said that, if you’re someone who enjoys writing, freelance writing is, in my opinion, one of the best ways to go!

Why do I believe this? Well, largely because there is so much opportunity out there for people who want to write! Think about it: almost every brand and business needs to have an online presence these days, and they need people who can create content for them. You might think that anyone can create content, but there are a lot of business owners who don’t enjoy writing. They don’t want to come up with content for their blogs or social media. They need creative people like you to help them! And oh yes, they will absolutely pay you good money to do so (I’m proof of that).

Keep in mind, though, this doesn’t mean you need a ton of experience, or a jam-packed portfolio in order to be hired. There are other ways you can show off your experience. I can almost guarantee that there will be clients out there who want to hire you.

And hey, not to mention, freelance writing can be a zero expense based business. Meaning you don’t have to invest a single penny into it. Personally, I’ve never invested money into my writing business, but I’ve gotten so much in return! An income, of course, but even more importantly, complete and total freedom to work whenever and wherever I want. That kind of freedom is something I value immensely.

How do you balance your work life with at home and family, college life?

Phew, good question. My motivation levels are constantly fluctuating. I go through phases where I’m in total work mood. And then there will be other times where I just want to be out doing things. This can get tricky, because when I’m in work mood, my anxiety levels go way up. On the other hand, though, when I start neglecting my work, I feel guilty for not investing time into my business.

The short answer here is that I still haven’t perfected the art of balancing. I simply try to tell myself that whatever phase I’m in, it’s okay. It’s a constant balancing act, and I don’t think I’ll ever perfect it, to be honest.

Financially, has having this business been rewarding? Why or why not? Can you give your average monthly income with freelance writing if it’s okay?

Freelance writing has been very financially rewarding for me. As mentioned, I don’t have any other source of income, and I’m able to live very comfortably off my income, without any need for another job.

Having said that, I intentionally don’t share income reports.

I know this isn’t popular in the online business world, but I think it’s important that we all stop comparing our incomes to each other. Base your income expectations off your own financial needs.

If you have 4 kids, a mortgage, and a student loan, you might have to work a little harder than someone who is single and traveling through Asia, for example. Understand that freelance writing is completely flexible.

Work as much, or as little as you want to suit your own income needs. Whatever income you require to support yourself is possible with freelance writing! 🙂

Can you share some tips and other information that could guide anyone who wants to start their freelance writing business?

There’s so much I could say about freelance writing. As I mentioned, it’s provided me with so much, so I’m extremely passionate about sharing those benefits with more people. Seriously, anyone who has the determination to make freelance writing work can do it! I know everyone says that, but I truly believe it.

When I started, I had never been paid to write. Ever. But within my first month of discovering Upwork, I made $453! While, of course, this wasn’t even close to a full-time income, making that money provided me with the confidence to realize this writing thing could work. And again, I had no idea what I was doing at this time.

Whether you have experience or you don’t, freelance writing is possible for you. You just have to be strategic about it, and dedicate yourself to it. If you’re looking for a “get rich fast’ scheme, freelance writing probably isn’t for you. But if you want to build a business that allows you to work from a laptop and design your own life, I really think freelance writing could be it.

My ebook is all about providing a simplified approach to freelance writing. With my approach, you don’t have to build an elaborate website. Hell, you don’t even have to blog if you don’t want to!

I’ll show you how to get set up on Upwork, and how to use the platform in a strategic manner so you’re connecting with the right clients. And, you’re building up that business from day one.

Give “Freelance Writing Simplified” a peek and see what you think! And remember, if you have any questions about the book or freelance writing in general, I’m happy to chat! (hustleandhearts@gmail.com) If anyone has any questions for me about my ebook or freelance writing, it’s always best to reach out via email. While I do have social media channels, I’ve recently been focusing more of my time on content creation. So I don’t always see social media messages.

Happy freelancing, friends!

You can start your own freelance writing business even if you have no degree or zero experience. Check Andrea Spanik’s awesome ebook on  how to start a freelance writing business here

You can also check Contena. This site provides a lot of writing jobs that you might not find anywhere else. They do have tons of clients waiting for freelance writers. You can create a free account and try it yourself.