The World of Freelance Writing with Laura Gariepy | Ep. 66

• Tiffany introduces Laura Gariepy, noting they first connected on Twitter and later met in person at FinCon 2019.

• Laura runs Every Day by the Lake, LLC (freelance writing services) and Before You Go Freelance (resource hub for new freelancers).

• Laura shares that some writers earn $20k–$30k per month, though this requires high volume and long hours.

You can definitely bring in a really nice salary just by writing.

• Start a niche blog to build a portfolio of published work demonstrating both writing skill and subject expertise.

• Network with writers, bloggers, and potential clients while building initial content.

• Pursue guest posts on other sites (often unpaid) to gain published clips and credibility.

• Laura quit her job in 2018 without a clear plan; freelance writing "jumped up and bit" her and she ran with it.

Just becoming aware of that as an avenue to make real money [was] one of the best things that's ever happened to me.

• Workflows differ: some clients provide full content calendars, others collaborate monthly, and some expect the writer to generate all ideas.

It always depends.

• Laura started in personal finance but expanded into HR/career topics, small business, and one-off projects like pest control and medical writing.

• Writing across niches allows her to research new topics, avoid boredom, and qualify for more specialized work.

• Familiar topics may need minimal research, but new or technical subjects require reading reputable sources or conducting interviews to ensure accuracy.

• Laura began at $50 per article and now charges $500 per article by consistently acquiring better clients and retiring lower-paying ones.

• There is a ramp-up period; success depends on treating writing as a business and actively seeking improved opportunities.

• Some writers use virtual assistants for research and proofreading, but the writer must maintain oversight to ensure quality.

At the end of the day, you're turning in the piece and you want to make sure that it's a quality product.

• Proper training and clear expectations are essential when hiring; poor onboarding leads to subpar results.

• Tiffany shares a personal story of attempting to delegate without adequate training and realizing the fault was hers.

• Laura's original blog (Everyday by the Lake) now primarily serves as a service advertisement.

• She launched Before You Go Freelance in 2020 for freelancer resources but struggles to keep it updated due to client demands.

It's easy to drop the ball on those things that don't necessarily have an instant yield.

• Main resource site: beforeyougofreelance.com

• Email: [email protected]