Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Abby Flynn. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Abby, appreciate you joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I kind of listlessly went through high school and college, not knowing what I wanted to do for a living. After graduating from college, I went into the music industry, then tech, then publishing. But it never really felt like I fit anywhere. I desperately wanted to do a creative job but still make enough to live.

Since childhood, I always loved writing – stories, songs, all of it. So I started offering to write and do social media for a few friends who owned businesses. Eventually, I got a little braver and shared online what I was doing, and I started to hear from people I knew from past jobs.

At that point, I took the risk, and quit my job to see if I could do this long-term. The first year or two of freelancing was a lot of stumbling around, not really knowing how to charge or what I was doing. But I learned the work I loved, what I absolutely dreaded, and the types of clients I wanted to be working with.

I realized when I did really good work – when I was communicative, reliable, consistent, and easy to work with, my clients told their friends. Some of those relationships turned into retainers that gave me a nice base income. Now I’m getting to explore other things like building a community, selling digital products and more. I can now genuinely say I LOVE what I get to do.

Abby, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a copywriter and a content ghostwriter! I work predominantly with marketing agencies and small business owners. They understand the importance of posting content regularly but don’t have the time or know-how to create that content themselves.

An average day for me can look like everything from writing blogs for a client website, to crafting website copy for a new entrepreneur or writing a launch sequence for an author’s new book. I love the variety and the work I get to do.

Through a decade of experience in marketing and entertainment, I’ve learned how to help others hone in on their voice and use that to develop trust and grow their platforms.

For a lot of my clients, what’s so different about working with me is it’s like working with a trusted friend. I believe putting your work out into the world and sharing what you do should be FUN! And when it’s done right, working with a copywriter can be fun too. By focusing on building a relationship of trust, we see better and better results in our work together.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to learn that ultimately, people-pleasing will NOT benefit you in business. If you have an inkling or feeling that a project or a client isn’t the right fit, don’t be afraid to trust your gut and say no.

Early on, I said yes to pretty much anyone who reached out to work with me. I found myself running social media accounts, something I did NOT love doing. I was a new mom with young kids and the 24-hour nature of social media wasn’t a great fit for me.

With one client, the scope of work kept growing… and growing. Texts were sent late at night and on the weekends. It felt like I could never take a break. Eventually, I had to put my foot down and say it wasn’t working for me anymore. It was definitely awkward and uncomfortable. But the whole experience helped me realize warning signs that I’ve since been able to avoid with other clients.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

More than anything, I’m doing what I’m doing for my family. I want my two-year-old daughter and five-year-old son to know that the things they’re good at MATTER. The gifts they have were given to them for a reason, and there really are no limits to what they can accomplish.

I didn’t come from wealth, but I believe we can change the financial trajectories of our families – and that’s what I’m determined to do. It’s not really about becoming really popular online or owning a huge company. But I do want my kids to be proud of me, and to know that they don’t need someone else’s permission to build a life they can be proud of.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://abbyflynn.com
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/abbyflynnco
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbyflynn/

Image Credits
Morgan Hill