Episode 22
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[00:00:00] Uh huh.
Welcome back to the Women in Writing podcast. This week, I have Allie on the podcast. She's also a freelance writing coach, and she did amazing things in her life. Her dad said that she's the daughter that always gives him almost a heart attack. And I can definitely relate to that. So stay tuned for this amazing episode.
Hello and welcome to my wonderful guest. Hi, Ali. How are you? Hi, so good to be here. Thanks for having me. I'm so excited. We had a couple of good conversations before we recorded that podcast. And yeah, I'm so grateful to have you here. You're such a, an amazing, inspiring freelancer as well [00:01:00] and freelance writing coach.
And yeah, I just always love your stories, your work, like everything you share online. And it's just so meaningful to others. It's like we're on the same mission, right? Yeah, absolutely. And I feel the same way about you. I just, I love, again, like connecting with other like minded women that have similar goals and passions for running their own business.
Yeah, I think it's such a great network. We said before in our kind of pre chat that, you know especially when you have your feelers out there, you like. take master classes, like maybe get coached. And it's like always like that growing network of like female empowerment or however you want to call it.
Obviously nothing against like male coaches or mentors or whatever. There's obviously tons of great people out there, but I think it's special to be that lady entrepreneur. Yeah. And also, especially I think growing up, there wasn't as [00:02:00] much Of this connectedness with women. I think over time Women have gone from being kind of income in competition with each other and just because there was such a scarcity for opportunities that now it feels Less and less like that.
And there's so much growth and, you don't have to look at people as competition as much as it is helping each other because they're really, they're, there's so much opportunity out there, a hundred percent. I love that because it's almost like we are like one of the first generations, that can profit like from. First of all, like social media and growing our audience is our kind of like fans, if you will, like that we help. It's not, obviously it's not about fame or anything, but it's about really like that support. And I think like you said it exactly right.
I think also like even like my. Parents generations, they're like in their mid sixties now. It was like a different story. It was more like the classic role model. Okay. You stay at home with the kids and, my [00:03:00] dad went to work, but I think it's so cool. And I thought that this morning, actually, when I was cleaning, like classic housewife tasks that.
Now when our new baby comes into the family, for me, it's great that I don't have to choose. Like I can stay at home and I can still work, I think like it's such a great flexibility. I don't have to, take care of have anyone, for childcare, whatever. So I can leave the house, obviously sometimes it is beneficial.
And if I will do that, if I have a project or a client or whatever, but I think it's just a great opportunity, great time, great like network and yeah, I just love like growing together. Yeah, it actually, there was a gal I just got to know in my area and she's a graphic designer and I told her that I do copywriting and I work for myself and she said, Oh, that must be so hard.
And she was basing it off of. I guess mad men or something. And I was telling her, that I've gotten into [00:04:00] coaching and coaching other entrepreneurs. And that's actually where I came up with my handle, the freedom trail, because it's a nod to Boston anyway, but it's just, I think a lot of people want that freedom and they just want it in their own way and what feels right for them.
And I was talking to her last night and she. I said, you can always go the, she works for an agency and she hates it. She was sick yesterday and saying she still had to be there. And I said, you can do so many other things. And just seeing that, I want to save for a house. I don't think I'd make enough money.
And I just remembered feeling that way. And I know you and I had talked about previously growing up with that. belief that, you have to have a traditional role and that's what's safe. And it just always boxed in my belief about possibilities and what I could do. And there's just, there's so many options.
Like I was telling you, our last call, I know somebody that does, organizing. And now she's branched off to doing virtual organizing sessions. And I feel like truly, if [00:05:00] you can dream it, you can build it out. And you just really, like you said, have to have a community and people that want what you are bringing to the table.
A hundred percent. Like it's so well said. And it's Marie Forleo says it, like everything is figureoutable. I think I love it too. And it's because it's true, especially like if you keep like doing the things and I think for a lot of for a lot of like my clients, They when they started out, they don't really have so much clarity around like what they want to do.
And I was definitely there like for a couple of years, I didn't really know what I wanted to do. I always had my writing to fall back to, but I knew there was more. And now with the coaching, it brings together, for me, at least, my people skills working in hospitality, everything I learned during my master's degree, personal development, like also bringing people together.
And I just love it, and I knew that it's my path. Like at one point you just know, and I'm sure like that girl that, [00:06:00] like she didn't wake up one day and say I'm going to be a really, professional organizer. It just, sometimes, we just follow the steps or One of my podcast guests, she is writing wedding speeches and she makes like super good money doing that, and she, she didn't start out doing that, but now she has like a following on TikTok and Instagram and like people just contact her, like sometimes she told me like four days before the wedding and she has an express express like package or whatever, that's fun.
And she said she loves it, supporting other people. Yeah. And that's what it is about really like supporting others with our gift writing. Yeah, and I love what you touched upon about finding your path, because for me, I feel like before I started working for myself, I really felt comfortable having a job, knowing how much I made, and just, Knowing what my next few steps were.
And when you go down the entrepreneurial path, you have no idea. It is so [00:07:00] unpredictable. And while that's scary, I think you can really lean into the excitement and the openness that it does. How many doors that open. When I started getting into writing, it was. I wanted to start with travel.
I didn't expect to go down this path. And I also didn't expect to get into coaching. Like it was just something that might, this path has led me on. And the more I am willing to broaden my Oh, that's where I'm looking for. If I'm, as long as I'm just being open minded to what the potentials are, it just, it makes the journey more exciting.
It's cool to see where it takes us. 100 percent because like that insecurity that we face, especially like starting out like that's I had so many sleepless nights, I always say my transition from like a full time, like normal job and hospitality to I was like freelance writing on the side for a couple of years already, but then going full, like full [00:08:00] time freelance writer.
And then now from full time freelance writing into coaching and freelance writing still on the side. It's scary. It's just so scary. And it always I shared that with my students on Monday. Like we had like our first call of, my program. And I said to it's these transitions that are really difficult.
But when you look back, you're like just grateful for it. And like you said, you can lean into that excitement of that time. And. you assure that, the reward is coming at one point, you just have to keep going, but it's you'd be, it's like being in a dark room and you don't find the light switch or so sometimes.
Yeah. And I think as I've been on this journey, I'm like a recovering perfectionist and I, that kind of all or nothing mentality, really held me back from even doing this in the first place. It was just what if you fail or what if this and I've really started now that I'm moving into a totally different arena with [00:09:00] coaching I'm taking the approach so differently as really embracing mistakes and not in realizing it's okay, like I'm doing a workshop, I think either next month or the month after, and.
I started having anxiety about it yesterday of what if no one signs up? But it's I won't know until I just do it. And then I can learn from it. And I think it was I forget who, or I forget who said it, but it was failing. It's a first attempt at learning first attempt in learning. Yeah. And I just, I think that's so true.
And you can look at it as a failure or you can look at it as a way to narrow down the path of where you're going. Exactly. My, one of my coaches, she's, she also says it like, okay. Like we were in a coaching call with her and she said Oh, she like launched something. And she just had the card open for 24 hours.
And she launched in the middle of the night because she wanted to see, what's happening, but we asked her like, what if it would be like a failure? [00:10:00] And she was like Then, nothing would have happened, it's just learning experiences, like a lot of times when we think, and I was the same way, a lot about like Instagram.
And I thought no one will, get in touch with me just, for the coaching or whatever, and it's maybe pointless, but now I see like more traction just because, I keep going and that's just amazing. I'm just so grateful for that as well, because it's just, that kind of like growing into that new role.
Yeah. Yeah. And I, there was a coach that said one time, I think we were talking about me getting into coaching and, uh, she said something about it. Just think of, your first workshop as. Your first round, like it's just your first time doing it, and you can just have that almost mindset of, Oh, this is going to be the first iteration, but then I'm going to do the second one.
And if you go into it like that, it doesn't seem so well, no one showed up. That's the end. You can find out why, or you can reach out. There are things [00:11:00] we can do to gain perspective from that experience. webinar last year. And I thought I knew what people wanted and what they were looking for.
And then. People came and it was a good experience and I reached out and it allowed me to connect with people. And apparently they wanted to learn about pitching and that was something I wouldn't have really known, even though, the webinar went fine and everything. It's still, people wanted something different and it still gave me that opportunity to change what I was, how I was approaching things and what people were looking for.
That's so amazing. So how did you get into writing and how did you get that from writing into the coaching? Like, how was that for you? So I always wanted to be a writer. And as I had mentioned to you before, my dad wanted to be a writer and he Went to college for England or got his first degree in English, and he ended up going back to school to get a [00:12:00] degree in computer science because he, or he felt that there was no career in writing and that he, had to be the breadwinner and have, something practical.
And so I just had this voice always around that just said that there is no career in writing. And unfortunately, Like I think a lot of us do we listen to people around us versus let you know listening and trusting ourselves and so I think in the back of my mind, I was always like one day that's gonna happen and I used to Always I was like a very lonely child and I did a lot of things play music and stuff and I used to sit in my room by myself and I would spin a globe and wherever my finger landed on I would read about that country and I would think about the places I wanted to go and just deep down I knew at some point I would be a writer and I would get to travel and then I went to college.
I almost went to law school and I just had this Just all my friends, they all went to get their masters and had this very [00:13:00] clear, path. And that felt very safe. And being a lawyer isn't a terrible job and it pays well, but it just wasn't my calling and it was definitely a bad time to go to law school anyway.
So I ended up around this time I had discovered Austin, Texas, and I decided to uproot and move down there. So I, as I, so I uprooted my life. I didn't have a job. I didn't have a place to live. I didn't know anybody there. And I just started my life over. And I actually started a website design company around that time.
I was 25 and it was a couple of years later. I went through a really traumatic event. That totally changed my world. It, I developed PTSD from it. And then I had a really bad substance abuse problem with alcohol. And so that, because of that, I like had to let go of my company and I just was in a very bad place.
And it wasn't until I Turn 30 that I was just like, I know that I [00:14:00] meant for more and I couldn't stop thinking about writing and it was always in the back of my head. And I got sober and I spent years being single and working on myself and doing a lot of therapy. And it was about a year and a half after that.
Everything started to shut down because of the pandemic. And I just, I had seen an online publication I wanted to write for. And I just, I was so desperate. I was ready to just say I'll do it for free. Just let me write for you. And I just reached out to them. Like people overlook just asking people and they were still willing to pay, even though, there was like the lockdown and everything like that.
And. Yeah, they started hiring me for some articles and then I met someone who introduced me to platforms. And so I just started working from there and then tried, Facebook groups and just any place that I could find an avenue to get work. I used it and it was yeah, it was so awesome. And I just feel so lucky [00:15:00] that.
I, and now it's crazy. Like I get to travel whenever I feel like it and I get to do what I always want to do. And it's just, the best thing ever. I still, I get still is a pinch me moment that I get to live out exactly what I wanted to do my whole life. I was exactly the same.
I was like, Oh my God, can I create that for myself? And yeah. I was also like really stuck in my kind of like hospitality career. Everything was set in stone. I was in a relationship and, like everything was like, okay, that's it now that's, that will be your life for the rest of your life.
But, I. Never believed that, I could change it, but then I did, and it felt like a dream come true. So it's just amazing. And I'm a hundred percent sure that everyone can create that for themselves. And I think that's why it's so important to have like someone to inspire you and maybe also guide you to like, realize that for yourself.
Yeah. And And, oh, you had asked about what kind of led me into coaching [00:16:00] and I've always. I've always loved learning. I also love inspiring people and encouraging people. I think that's just one of my best qualities is really helping people see the strengths that they have in themselves.
So through this writing journey, since I'm very open on my social accounts about the struggles that I've had with like drinking and mental health and all those things. And so people saw my whole journey of going through that and then, being able to travel and work for myself and all of these things.
So people started to just ask me, how I got there. There was a friend I have from college and she just, she was like, I'll pay you. I, which I ended up doing for free. She was a friend. So I was like, it's fine. But I just had people start to ask me if I could help them. I have to get there. And I just, I really truly love coaching because I want to be able to help someone achieve the same things I've had.
And it's just the [00:17:00] greatest thing. And, being that cheer, like my friends always say, I'm like the cheerleader of life. Like I'm always rooting for people. And because I don't know. So for me, I had, my parents were just very negative about a lot of things. Like I think they come from a very fear based mentality and I know that they mean but I think sometimes they would really, say that's not going to work and they give all the negatives and I didn't really have that kind of, go get it attitude from my parents.
So I felt like I had to do it for myself and I love doing that for others. 100 percent I love that. My parents are like similar and that's difficult because you know when you grow up it's obviously that's what you always hear and then you might have that voice inside of you and you might have like even that inner wisdom like you will realize it for yourself but then it's also difficult to believe sometimes right?
Yeah but it's so cool because I think that as much as there's a lot [00:18:00] of negatives to social media I think What it's done for our generation is what made me realize this is possible is because I actually saw people on social media. And like we were talking about earlier, just connecting with other people.
And that's where, I'm helping my fiance. He's a carpenter and he had this again I'm going to take over my dad's business and it's going to be what I've always done. And then when he saw that, I was like, Oh, I can do this. And I feel like doing this. And so he. He got really inspired to, start doing woodworking.
Cause that's what he really wants to do. And, it's, again, it's, he had to see someone do it themselves in order for him to realize, Oh, wait, that is possible. And that's how I got started in this. I saw really awesome women that just. started something out of nothing and continue to, do it all.
And you have the best, and he has the best cheerleader with you, right? I know. I was like, do you know how much I charge? [00:19:00] That's amazing. Yeah. Please pay me. So when you said someone introduced you to platforms, what do you exactly mean? Was it like platforms like Upwork or something? Or like what kind of platforms?
Yeah, I, Upwork is the main one I've used. I've also used Contra and Pay Per, I think it's Pay Per Hour. So yeah, I've used platforms. And that's one of those things that I think that There's some good and not so great things about using platforms because I think if you are starting out from scratch, it can be a really great way to see what you like, because at the time I, didn't work for a copywriting agency or anything like that.
I had no formal expertise in copywriting. So it allowed me to See what kind of writing I wanted to do or do I like writing emails or blog posts better? And so it helped me with that and it gave [00:20:00] me a good foundation And portfolio to feel more comfortable about outreaching to other people and that Became a lot easier for me to just you know, reach out and say hey here's my pitch let me know what you think.
That's another thing that's changed over time for me is when I first started, I was so terrified of rejection. And that also really made me fearful about, reaching out to any sort of publication. But just having that experience and having I, I see platforms sometimes as training wheels and not, I don't think everybody really needs them, like I've met plenty of people that.
You know have paved the way without them So I think it just depends on where people are at and what they're comfortable with. But I definitely I don't think that it's one. I don't think it's super sustainable too It takes a lot of your income away and you can make so much better money off of platforms.
So there's definitely pros and cons but It's definitely taught me [00:21:00] to really diversify. At least that's worked for me of where like I'm looking or where I'm pitching to things like that. A hundred percent. Yeah. I think like you said, I'm, I was on platforms for a couple of years as well, like when I started out, but I got a few clients that kind of started to be like returning clients, like they would reach out to me and say Hey I just contact you directly and stuff.
But I try to, save as many people as I can from them. Not that it's a bad thing. It's a great thing. Like you said, starting out and maybe also for a lot of people, like getting more clarity of what they want to write, because, some people say Hey, I just love writing and I want to make money with it.
So I don't care what I write. So It gives them a lot of clarity like, hey, I want to write articles. I want to, write copy or whatever it might be. So yeah, definitely. I that's one thing I learned is like when I got into writing. I as much as [00:22:00] I love it. It's very different when you're writing for somebody else.
And I also learned that when I was doing types of copy that I wasn't exactly in love with, it sucked out some of the love I had for writing overall. And that's just not worth it. So yeah, definitely. I think it can help you narrow down, what niche you want, or like I said, what types of copy you want to do.
And this, I really believe, you can be passionate about what you do. You don't have to Stick with clients that you don't like or topics that you don't like just because you feel like you need to have work. You know what I mean? Yeah. A hundred percent. Wow. Yeah, definitely. It's so cool.
That we live different lives, but we have so many things in common in terms of like our experiences. And it's just so amazing because like it gives, people just the hope that they can do it as well. Like [00:23:00] we said, I think it's I think it's a brilliant way, actually.
Like maybe not everyone is made for the freelance work, like writing from home or whatever, because like we said, initially it's especially in the beginning, a lot of kind of like insecurity. But like it can, I think it can start out for a lot of people like on the side. And then when they like trust themselves enough, like they can definitely create like a great income from, writing from home and just being successful doing that, yeah. And it's even it's super cool that like the gal I was talking about earlier, the graphics designer, I suggested, why don't you, while you have a job, since she was very nervous about the stability and everything. And I always tell this to people, just do a little bit on the side, play around with what you want and Kind of dip your toe into it while you still have that income.
And then, as you grow, you can make the decision for yourself. Do I want to branch [00:24:00] out? What do I want to focus on? Is this something I even want to do full time? Because I think, that's something important that people need to figure out what's right for them. But it's just awesome that, if you do want to go down this path, you don't have to.
Quit your job and then work for an agency. You can do it like little bit at a time and then go growing, go from there. Yeah, a hundred percent. Wow. Yeah, definitely. And that's the thing, like for everyone, it's a little bit different. I had people in my program that didn't really, have a job in two years.
And for them, it can be like that kind of pressure. can be good for them to like, keep them moving, but also it can hinder their creativity. Obviously there's all different types of people. And I'm not sure, I think we talked about human design a little bit on our call, right? I think obviously the human design like defined route or not, like how you react to pressure or whatever.
But I [00:25:00] think, Like you said, everyone has to know that from, for themselves, like there's definitely people like, for example, me and my sister, we are completely different, like she. would not want to be like freelance or, like she's happy, like being employed. She knows what she's doing.
She knows, how her day will be structured and that she gets her money at the end of the month. And that's obviously great. But some people like us, we are more risk takers and we Hey, we would just make the most out of it. And then, yeah, we just realized that for ourselves.
Yeah I think about that a lot because my whole family is risk averse and I'm the only one that like, I've gone cage diving with great whites and I've swam in the Amazon river. Like I love adventure, I love taking risks and if you're an entrepreneur, you need to be willing to bet on yourself because if you aren't going to bet on yourself, no one else will.
And I just, I don't think people. Are willing to always take that risk. Yeah, and that's what holds them back. And [00:26:00] if you never try you'll never know So they call you crazy a little bit as well it's actually it was funny one time I went to my dad's work and one of his One of his co workers is from calcutta and she said She was like, Oh, you're the daughter that scares your dad all the time with your trips.
Because I'd also gone to India when I was 22 and she said, yeah, I lived in Calcutta and I would not have gone the way that you did at all to like Delhi and everything like that. So she was pretty surprised. Wow. That's amazing. Just really quick. So you're, so you did the traveling and the writing, like, how did you use that?
Was it a blog that you wrote or like? How did you like use that like like travel writing? Oh so I initially started out wanting to get into travel writing, but because of the pandemic, I couldn't really pursue that. And also, that's when I first started to educate myself on that [00:27:00] industry and The travel industry is just really competitive and I found that the only jobs at least I have found this far are not as great of paying jobs.
However, I am interested in getting back into the travel space, but I think that it's one of those things that I'm probably going to have to work on some of my own personal pieces. To really send to, different agencies or publications, things like that, and really pitch. And I do have a lot of friends that did go from blogging and now they do travel groups and things like that.
So it is possible. I think it's just a lot. More challenging and a hundred percent. Yeah, it's not on Instagram yeah, I get paid a hundred k like a hundred KA year traveling and be in all these like nice five star hotels and stuff. Obviously there's ways to do that, but.
I always say to my students, I cannot students, I cannot teach you what I haven't achieved. So [00:28:00] yeah, I would be able to do that, it was a dream come true, but you can create that flexibility for yourself traveling if you have the income and kind of, and if you can work from wherever, it's just great.
I just love the flexibility as well. Oh yeah. The flexibility is just the best. And that's the other thing too, is. When I initially wanted to get into travel blogging and get paid to go on trips and everything, I pivoted into not where I started with just general generalized writing because I really needed it out of necessity because of the pandemic and everything in my circumstance at that point, that was really my best and quickest option to make money.
So that's why I leaned into it. But I also saw it as, it's still, I'm still getting to do somewhat of what I want to do. I think it was maybe Two years into writing, I booked a one way ticket to [00:29:00] Peru and stayed there for almost three months. So it's, it's not exactly, I'm not writing per se about Peru, but I'll take writing in Peru any day.
So cool. Yeah. Before I met my husband, like just before that I got accepted in a program that's called the, I think it's called the remote year. I'm not sure if they're still around. I've heard of it. Yeah. It's so cool. It's such a cool concept. Like it's basically a group of people and you travel to, you live in 12 countries for a year.
So basically like everything, and there's always like a surprise country where you go and you have a place to stay and you like travel with that amazing community. And then I really wanted to go. And like I said, I met my husband, obviously it worked out well, but that was something that I really wanted to do.
And maybe when I'm retired or something and the kids are out of the house, maybe I'll do it then. But yeah, it's just cool. So many opportunities. Yeah. And it's, I was thinking about it this [00:30:00] morning that growing up, there were so many different things I was interested in. And I remember thinking, Oh I want to do this and I want to work with animals and all this stuff.
And because I've taken this path, which is, again, the opposite of what my family would have wanted. They would have wanted me to have a 401k and do computer science. But. I get to do everything I want to do. Like I get to travel when I feel like it, I get to help other people achieve their dreams.
I get to write, I get to, I wanted to work with animals. Like I do a lot of volunteer with animals because I have that flexibility and that I have, and I also don't work the same amount of hours that I did at a traditional job. So it's left more room for me to like volunteer and do things that just mean so much.
So I got to. I got to live the, untraditional life that just incorporates so many elements of what makes me who I am. And that's such an, yeah, it's such a inspiring thing. [00:31:00] Amazing. Thank you so much for sharing that. That's amazing. How can people get in touch with you? What is the best way?
I guess your Instagram and you said that you will run a masterclass, right? Yes, so anyone can reach out to me via it's freelance freedom trail on instagram. Just shoot me a message No problem. And yes, then the next month or so. I will be running a master class for people getting started in writing Perfect.
Yeah, I will definitely pop your links below as well. Do you have a traditional website as well or? I'm actually in the middle of redoing that. I might've told you I'm hiring a brand voice coach. As we've talked about, I'm always hiring coaches. So yeah, we are working on the copy and all of that at the moment.
That's amazing. Can you write copy for yourself? Last question. I okay. So I struggle with it because I have a hard time [00:32:00] writing about myself sometimes. So that's the thing with us we are like personal brands, right? So difficult to write that the good thing is, with the people we work with some of my girls in my community, they said, Hey, we can just write your copy.
And then, It's good. Like it would be a good practice. And I was like, like they came up with that on our coaching call last night. And I was like that's actually a good idea. We could do that if you need anybody, I love that. It's really, I find it for me and the person that I hired, I really like how blunt she is and just.
I know she just will say what she's thinking and that's I want someone to challenge me on my copy, especially for myself because I don't know. I think that it's easy to just overlook things or not see a certain angle or see things the way other people see you. So I felt like Having somebody come in and especially with the brand voice, I [00:33:00] know that's not my strong suit.
And I'm big on hiring out your weakness. So I just felt like that would give me a good direction with like my social and my website and all of my copy can be really nicely aligned with that foundation. Amazing. I love that. Yeah. Hi what did you say? Hire hire your weakness.
Exactly. That's a, that was from if do you know what Spanx are? Yes. Yeah. The CEO, Sarah Blakely. I love her, but she said that on somewhere, she said that's her number one recommendation is you hire out your weakness. Cause when. Because it's like for, and I think we talked about this I'm not great with Canva and graphics.
It's not that I can't, it's just the amount of time it would take for me. It makes more sense to give it to somebody. And use my time to build out my business in ways that, I think I can. A hundred percent. Cool. Thank you so much for all the inspiration. That was really good. Thank [00:34:00] you. Oh my gosh.
Thank you for having me. I love this. Yeah. I love it too. Definitely. Thank you so much for your time. Yeah, absolutely.
Thanks so much for tuning in again in the Women in Writing podcast. Ellie is so inspiring and actually we will collaborate and she will take over some of my coaching calls in the summer while I'm on maternity leave. Thank God for Ellie. She's just amazing. Follow her, get in touch with her and please review this podcast if you like it.
And then if you have any questions, just reach out to me. Thank you so much for listening.
Uh huh.
