Name: Cheryl Wright
Job Title: Freelance Writer
Where: My home, FL, Trinidad and Tobago
Employer: Employers are a thing of the past. Now I only have clients who pay and clients who don't.
Years of Experience: 10
Prior Experience: Administrative work in the interior design field which involved writing letters, reports, and decorating programs for clients.
Education: GCE O Level certificate - St. Joseph's Convent, St. Joseph Pitman's Secretarial Certificates - St. Mary's Secretarial Collage Interior Decorating and Design Diploma - Penn Foster Career School Freelance Writing Diploma - Penn Foster Career School
Annual Salary: Use the PayScale Resource Center to find a list of job salaries for writers, including freelance writing jobs.
Cheryl Wright loves her freelance writing job. And what's not to like? She's able to make a living from her passion, help people in the process, and instead of a cubical surrounding her office space, Cheryl has the Caribbean. Sound like an ideal work environment? Of course it does. But before you go drifting off into dreams of a freelance writing paradise, be sure to do some thorough investigation.
In this Salary Story, Cheryl Wright shares her thoughts, feelings and the challenges that face her as a freelance writer. With freelancing comes freedom, but it also requires hard work and self-motivation. Read on for an inside look at the practices of a successful freelance writer. Then find out if a writing career is right for you. With PayScale's salary data, you can find the average salary range for a copy writer, salary range for grant writer and a writer's average salary in other industries.
PayScale: How would you describe your Freelance Writing job?
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Cheryl: I’ve long since stopped writing the decorating features and columns that launched my freelance writing career. I broadened my horizons and found my true voice. Now lifestyle articles, as I call them, are my specialty. They include inspiration, motivation, setting goals, finding and pursuing one’s dreams, self-care and so on. My weekly inspirational column, Wright Words of Wisdom, in a Sunday pullout magazine, allows me to write on the topics that interest me and are common to women. My three blogs are the perfect avenues for me to share some of my more personal thoughts on life, writing and my Christian faith. My work can be found on content sites like Author Nation, Syndicated Journalist and Triond.
I enjoy writing feature articles, but I would always choose the option to write a regular column. I thrive on the discipline required to produce work on a regular, tight deadline. Response from readers is a real boost to my confidence and undeniable sparks of inspiration. I’ve thought about copywriting and commercial writing but they are not for me, at least not right now. I enjoy the personal touch in the writing that I do.
PayScale: How did you decide to become a Freelance Writer?
Cheryl: After receiving my diploma in interior decorating and design, my passion soared and I sought to fill a void in a local print magazine. After two years I realized that my childhood dream to be a writer had become a reality. That’s when I began exploring the world of freelance writing. So I parlayed my experience writing a decorating column into a reputation for consistency, dependability and professionalism and my publication success increased. When my first personal essay was published online, the response from readers propelled me to define my true voice and enhance my penchant for a more personal and conversational writing style. I found my true voice and my home. My column, blogs and articles on content sites have a faithful and growing readership and I remain passionate about the topics I write about.
Name: Mazy
