The Side-Hustle Story

Here’s a short list of things I get asked on a daily basis:

So how is the “writing thing” going?
What do you do exactly?
Wait, so you like, edit people’s books?

Let’s all agree that my job is strange and uncommon. I get that. I’m okay with it. I actually thrive in navigating this unchartered territory.

But explaining what I do as a freelancer is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I don’t have a good elevator pitch yet. I’m working on it, but it’s still rusty. Usually, when people ask me what I do, I have a mild panic attack and try to make it out alive while still speaking the English language. If you’ve ever asked me what I do for a job and seen me become a potato, I’m sorry I put you in such social pain.

Here is my attempt to answer your question...

What do I actually do?

Well. First, you should know that I work a smorgasbord of part-time jobs. Or side-hustles, as I like to call them.

I never thought that I would be the side-hustle girl. The concept of growing up and getting a job was always just that -- a job. One job. Singular. But nothing could be further from my current reality, and I’ve grown to love it.

The easiest piece to explain is Pine Cove.

I work part-time for Pine Cove’s Recruiting Department, supporting our hiring teams and managing the behind-the-scenes administration of our hiring process. For five hours a day, I hang out with google docs, hiring software, summer staff contracts, and full-time camp staff. I have an office that is actually a closet, I burn a lot of tobacco scented candles, and I work with people who love Jesus -- so life at Pine Cove basically rocks.

With the rest of my time, I work as a freelance creative assistant to authors & bloggers. And if I’m being totally honest, I came up with that job title just now.

I currently work for 7 clients, all writers. 3 are published authors, 1 is a blogger, and 3 are unpublished writers working on their first book.

What I do on a daily basis changes, depending on what client(s) I’m focused on that day. But for the most part, writers hire me to do one of four things:

1. Virtual admin - calendar management, booking & scheduling events, responding to emails, social media, etc.

2. Copywriting & Editing - drafting & editing any words that need to be written (blog posts, flap copy, web copy, social media posts, email newsletters, show notes, etc.)

3. Content Development & Planning - THIS is a fun one. I basically help clients plan content for the future, make sure there is clear communication about what is being produced when, organize the published content so that it’s easily accessible to rework (or repurpose) for the future, and make sure my clients have content that is a good fit for them. (I probably say the word “content” about 873 times a day).

4. Help with Book Writing - I’m still figuring this one out, but this is where unpublished writers hire me to help them start the book writing process. We work on drafting their book proposal, finding an agent, structuring (and restructuring) their book, and knowing their next step in the process.

If you don’t know anyone else doing this, you’re in good company because neither do I.

But I absolutely love what I do, and figuring it out has been one of the most fun parts.

I love that I get to create my own hours. I love that I can work from home or a coffee shop or an airport or a cardboard box. I love that I get to climb into the creative trenches with people and wrestle with passion, logic, intellect, and emotions to create something beautiful and original with them.

I get to build relationships and art, and honestly that’s all I ever wanted to do with my life.

Now, it’s hard as freaking hell. Sometimes I get overwhelmed, I feel like a fake, I don’t know if I’m doing my job right. And the growing pains are so real. I feel like I’m sprinting forward in the dark most of the time, whacking my head on the low-hanging branches of invoices, self-employment taxes, and time management. But I’m learning. And I love what I’m doing. What a terrifying, humbling, exhilarating opportunity.  

How did I get started?

So how did this happen? How do humans from all over the country somehow trust me with their brand, their content, and their friendship?

I started with one.

A little over a year ago, I worked for one author in a 3-month unpaid internship to help launch her first book. And I fell in love with it. It was hard-work. It was not at all what I expected book writing to be. But it confirmed that writing and humans are the two loves of my life.

After working hard on this book launch for several months, I basically came to her and said, “Hey, I really like this. Do you know anyone who would want to hire me?”

So yeah, I just asked. And got 2 more clients almost immediately.

My clients graciously taught me everything they knew. All I could contribute was a ninja-like eye for grammar errors and outspoken opinions about independent clauses and the Oxford comma. Other than that, I knew nothing. But I learned. One day at a time. One task at a time. Most of the time I felt like I was advancing into the dark, because I was, but I kept going. And because my clients are compassionate and kind, they invited me into their process and had patience as I learned the ropes.

From there, it has just been word of mouth, trial and error, reaching out to potential clients and facing both interest and rejection. Honestly, most days, I still feel like I have no clue what I’m doing. I ask a lot of questions. I reach out to people that intimidate me and ask them for help. I do things the best way I know how even if I’m not sure it’s the right way yet. This is how I learn, how I hustle, and how I stay energized to do what I love.

Is this a long-term thing?

Dude. I have no idea.

But here is what I do know:

1. I love people, I love words, and I get to work with both right now. I’m happy about that.

2. I’m interested in working with authors and book publishing full-time and am currently asking the Lord to open doors for me to do that.

I don’t know if I will do this client-work forever. But I’m doing it now, and I want to do it well.

I absolutely have massive goals, ambitions, and an independent streak that sometimes scares me. If you’ve talked to me for more than two seconds, you’ve heard an earful of this. But for now, I am truly thankful to be exactly where I am. I’m digging into the right now. I know that things will fall into place in the right time.

I’ve had a handful of moments in the last year where I feel like I’m killing it, but mostly, I’m crying out to the Lord in weakness. 

Piecing together an income through side-hustles has driven me to deeper dependence and intimacy with the Lord. Because it’s hard. It’s scary. And I feel weak and incapable a lot of the time. But I’ve repeatedly come to Him in weakness and known His power to rest on me. It's the most beautiful season I've been in yet.

Honestly, it doesn't matter what I do with my life professionally. My calling in life is to love God, and as the He guides me into the unknown, I'm holding onto Him like a literal koala bear. Being in relationship with my God is the sweetest thing on earth -- and that’s the long-term thing.