In the field of writing, we often listen intently to others as part of our work. We listen for big-picture ideas when working within a team on a project. We listen for small bits of information we can craft into a story during a one-on-one interview.
But how often, as writers, do we listen to ourselves?
Slowing down during the first months of the pandemic gave me that opportunity. And when I listened, I knew it was the right time for me to quit my job and pursue a self-employed writing career. I wanted to work on my own terms.
I am grateful for my employment as a writer over the past six years, ever since I completed my undergraduate certificate in Public and Professional Writing (PPW) in 2013 from Pitt. At the time of completing that certificate, I had already finished my undergraduate and master’s degrees at other universities and was working as a research project coordinator at the Pitt School of Nursing. In pursuing a certificate in PPW, I strengthened my skills to advance in my career in the not-for-profit and education fields.
My favorite class at Pitt was a nonfiction writing course with Dr. Mark Kramer. We wrote a long form nonfiction piece in the course, guided by our experience in reading the memoirs Brothers and Keepers by John Edgar Wideman and How Eskimos Keep Their Babies Warm: And Other Adventures in Parenting by Mei-Ling Hopgood.
When I took Kramer’s class, I was pregnant. With this inspiration, I chose to focus my written piece on becoming a mother biologically while having been an adopted child myself.
I remember listening intently while writing for the assignment. I interviewed and listened to my mother who raised me, my birthmother who placed me for adoption, and I listened to myself during a time of personal uncertainty. As fate would have it, Kramer had invited one of the authors we read that semester, Mei-Ling Hopgood, to speak to our class. This was especially meaningful to me as Hopgood was also adopted as a child and had written a memoir, Lucky Girl, about her experience meeting her birth family. I was able to join Hopgood for dinner, and I enjoyed every minute talking about her life as a fellow adoptee and a writer.
A couple of years later, I submitted the article I wrote in Kramer’s class to Guideposts magazine. When my story “A Question of Motherhood” was published in the September 2015 issue of the magazine, I mailed Kramer a copy. I would not have written that story without Kramer’s assignment. The step-by-step methods in his course helped me craft a deeply personal reflection.
After I earned my certificate from Pitt, I moved to South Dakota. There, I worked in media relations and marketing for a small university for five years. It was my dream job. I was a professional writer. But reality tends to surface eventually. I wanted to have more options and influence on my career trajectory. I did not want to live in fear of being furloughed. I wanted to work on my own terms and build a professional future for myself.
Are there aspects of your life you see in a new light, thanks to the magnifying glass of the pandemic? For me, I wanted and needed more flexibility to care for my family. I wanted to create a day-to-day life where I could prioritize my family while also pursuing my professional goals.
Living in a small, rural town, I needed to create that specific opportunity for myself. I contacted my local U.S. Small Business Administration office, the South Dakota Center for Enterprise Opportunity. I met with a business advisor, drafted a business plan, and received feedback. There was much personal reflection about my strengths and my weaknesses as I prepared to leave my job.
After completing my business plan, I signed up on Upwork, an online platform where freelancers and individuals connect to conduct business. My goal in applying for writing jobs on Upwork was to see if I could indeed make money and gain confidence as a self-employed writer/business owner. The online freelance market is competitive. I listened to and read Upwork community forums to gain enough information to land my first job. Again, there was more personal reflection on what skills and knowledge could set me apart from the pack. In listening to myself, I was able to narrow down jobs I chose to apply for, saving me time and effort in the early days of finding freelance work.
Within a few weeks, I landed jobs on Upwork in crafting website copy, writing review questions for a graduate program, and creating a grant for a business partnership. I was named a “Rising Talent” on the platform, for my strong background in the field of writing and early success with Upwork clients.
Financially, I wanted to make the most money possible in the hours I was working. I was at a point in my career where I was ready to take on more responsibility and flex my expertise, and I wanted to be paid accordingly. At the same time, my goal was quality of work versus quantity of work. I researched and adjusted my pricing structure. I continue to work on my negotiating and business skills in this area. Every new client is a chance to flex this business-minded muscle. Early in my freelancing journey, I met with an accountant for tax advice and utilized an online legal company for general legal questions and contracts.
When I quit my day job in the summer of 2020, I had established strong working relationships and built my professional network, both in my region and with my connections back in Pittsburgh. I reached out to a few contacts to let them know I was available for work. I also joined a women’s networking group. The leaders invited me to speak at their first statewide networking event in South Dakota, which was held virtually. As a result of sharing about that event on social media (LinkedIn and Facebook), additional members of my network reached out to me with work requests.
Today, I am still working to discover the specific niche for my writing business (Am I a freelance reporter? Am I an expert in the field of grant writing and management? Or do I provide the most value to my customers in other ways?). I am enjoying the various jobs that come my way including writing grants, editing transcripts, creating educational materials, and writing for my local newspaper.
I am one of many who took a pause from their professional jobs to care for their families at home during the pandemic. For many, that pause was a choice made for them rather than it being on their own terms. For me, the theme of listening continues. If I can help any T5F readers navigate getting back to work on your own terms, I would be glad to listen and help by sharing my experience. My commitment to listening for my own growth and to promote the advancement of others does not end here.
—Kimberly Talcott
Kimberly Talcott, MPA (PPW certificate, 2013) is a freelance writer based in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Find her on LinkedIn at www.LinkedIn.com/in/KimberlyTalcott.
Photo Credit: Laura Howard