Readers ask me all the time if they can turn a passion for writing into a full-time career. Today’s featured writer, Susan M. Anderson, has managed to do just that. By day, Susie  juggles gigs as the Entertainment Editor for LimeLife and the Boston Community Manager for Groupon (the original deal-a-day website). By night, she’s blogging at We Are Not Martha, the food and lifestyle site she launched in 2008 with her best friend. In the following interview, she talks about breaking into the business, juggling demands from multiple editors, and leveraging the perks and drawbacks of self-employment...

After double majoring in English and Communication at the University of New Hampshire, Susie headed to grad school at Emerson College, where she got a Master’s in Writing and Publishing. She’s been living and writing in the Boston area ever since.

How did you get started in the writing business? I started writing professionally in 2006. I was in graduate school and working for the state government. My job was supposedly related to my field, but as I advanced in the workplace, I actually got fewer opportunities to write and definitely wasn’t fulfilled at my government job. So, I started scoping Craigslist for freelance work and once I had a client I had a solid relationship with, I quit my job!

It was not a huge decision for me to quit my job because I was still in grad school and had over a year left. I had personal loans and a pretty good savings. Also, I had insurance through grad school. I figured, I’d try freelancing for a while and if I didn’t like it/couldn’t do it, I’d get a “real” job when I finished school (this was before the economy took a major downturn).

A lot of young writers think that they have to immediately move to New York City if they want to make it in media. But you’ve been successful even though your entire career has taken place in Boston. Any thoughts on that ?  For most freelance work, it’s totally not necessary for you to be in NYC! In fact, for the 3 main companies I work for, one is based out of Chicago, one LA, and one Seattle. Being in NYC isn’t necessary at all unless you want a staff position at a major magazine (and even then it’s not always necessary). But the best ways to establish a good relationship with your editors (no matter where they are!) is to be prompt about answering emails and setting up phone calls. I talk to my editors on a daily basis, mainly over email and the occasional phone call.

What kind of writing do you do and how did you end up working for your current clients? I’ve worked for TONS of different clients, but my main beats are food, Boston, celebrities, and fashion. Some of my earliest jobs entailed writing Boston travel advice and since I’ve lived here all my life, I consider myself an expert. This led me to my job as Community Manager with the Boston division of Groupon. The job doesn’t entail much writing, but is mostly about social media, another one of my passions. A good piece of advice is to expand on your writing talents. When it comes to freelance writing today, social media is an incredibly important skill and can help make or break your chances of getting some jobs.

I’ve been a blogger since longer than I’ve been freelancing and I often write about fashion, celebrities, etc. on my blogs and Tumblr. So, when I saw an editor job open at LimeLife.com, I applied and got it. Now, I write for their fashion and celebrity/television columns for work every day (dreams do come true!) This means I get to analyze what celebrities are wearing and watch a lot of TV. Does life get better?

How much do you get paid as a freelancer? Do you think freelancing is a sustainable long-term career? Since I started freelance writing, I’ve made anywhere from $30-50K a year, earning more money each year. I now make enough to live comfortably in a nice Brookline apartment, while paying off grad school loans and enjoying life, so I definitely think freelancing is viable, but it’s not easy at all. Sometimes I work from 7 a.m.- midnight and weekends. And I never feel like I’m done. It takes A LOT of time to become successful at freelance writing (at least for most people). I know tons of people who have quit jobs to freelance and then 6 months later feel like a failure and go back to a full-time job. You need to go into it knowing it’s going to take time and that hopefully some day it will pay off. But it’s not likely going to be in 6 months. It’s been almost 3 years for me and I’m finally feeling like I’m getting the jobs I want and am being more noticed in the freelance world.

What are some of the benefits and drawbacks of freelancing versus taking a salaried position? I love that I can work from home, but I hate that I’m often working way more than my friends with office jobs. Paying for your own insurance is not fun at all. Getting laid off is normal and I never feel secure at all. If I get laid off from a job, I don’t get severance or unemployment. That means, I’m constantly looking for more work, even when I don’t necessarily need it at the moment. My best advice is to find jobs that are steady. Many of my jobs, I do work for every day and receive regular paychecks for. This makes me feel a little more secure than if I was constantly starting and finishing jobs.

Did you have any misconceptions about the business before you started freelancing? I don’t think I had ANY idea what to expect. I didn’t realize I would be able to get so many long-term jobs… I always thought freelancing meant you wrote an article and then looked for another job. With the Internet, all that has changed. So many start-ups are web-based and need content on a daily basis. Look for the jobs that give you at least a little sense of “stability.”

You are not your own boss! Everyone always says, “Wow, it must be awesome to be your own boss as a freelance writer!” But actually, the exact opposite is true. Instead of having 1 boss like most people, I have about 5 bosses at all times, trying to control my schedule and thinking they’re the most important. You just need to let them think this. Also, sometimes I have to write on topics that I’m not crazy about and that really feel like true work. But those just pave the way for  better, more fun opportunities.

Any horror stories from the trenches? Getting laid off all the time. Sometimes I feel like the better I do my job, the more likely I am to get laid off. Lots of the companies I write for are startups and once they reach a certain level of success, they get sold. Which is generally when I lose my job. It’s frustrating.

Your food blog We Are Not Martha has become really successful. How does that fit in? My blog is definitely one of my biggest accomplishments because it’s something I did on my own (well, with a friend), not as a job. We grew it from nothing and now make some pretty decent money from it and absolutely LOVE it. I certainly don’t make a living on blogging, but it does add to my annual salary. I would love to some day make enough money to survive from my blogs, but right now it fits into my writing schedule perfectly and let’s me do writing I really love.

What are some ways a new blogger can garner a following?  My advice to new bloggers is ALWAYS to be original. There are sooo many blogs out there, you really need to do something that sets you apart. I’m a food blogger and it drives me crazy to see SO many bloggers taking the same opportunities from the same brands, to the point that I feel like I’m just reading the same things over and over. Also, if you want people to read your blog, you need to read other blogs. Read blogs every day, comment on the ones you like, and those bloggers (and maybe some of their readers) will likely head to your blog too. That’s the best and easiest way to attract an audience! Don’t expect overnight success because you most likely won’t get it. You need to work hard and over time, good things will come!

Where do you want to be career-wise five or ten years down the line? I hope to still be doing what I’m doing, but to have bigger clients and maybe even a book deal. I’d also like to have more work as a managing editing, where I can manage a team of writers. While I work way more than 9-5, I do believe my schedule is more “flexible,” meaning that as long as I get my hours in, I can write them whenever. So, I can continue this freelance path even if I choose to have a family.

What have been some of your best experiences in the business?
A couple years ago, I wrote a piece for The Boston Globe Sunday Magazine. While I don’t have much of an interest in writing for print any more, it was pretty awesome to see my name in the paper (something I once dreamed of) and I’m glad I took the opportunity. Of course, being with Groupon from the start and seeing the company grow so much has been a complete thrill! Plus, any time I get the chance to be on Twitter (and be paid for it) is awesome!

To find Susie online, you can read her personal blog, Everyone Loves A Boston Girl, and her food blog, We Are Not Martha, check out her portfolio, and follow her Twitter.