Featured MultiTalented Writer: Sarah Turner
Whether you write for fun or for pay, it’s always great to make a connection to others with similar interests. That’s why once in a while, you’ll see a featured writer on multitalentedwriters.com.
Show our featured folks some love by checking out their blogs and leaving a comment.
This week’s featured writer is a MultiTalented person after my own heart. An avid traveller who manages chronic illnesses while going on adventures despite her challenges, Sarah Turner shows us what’s possible when you set your mind to something—even when you have to work a little (or a lot) harder than everyone else.
She also says something that should be every MultiTalented person’s mantra: find something to do that pays your necessities, but leave time for your passions. In other words, if you’re a writer, write in the niches that pay, but be sure to leave yourself some time to write what really gets you fired up.
Sarah also has some super wise words about why every writer should consider going the multi-niche route, and I couldn’t agree more. Read on!
1. What is your name and where are you located?
My name is Sarah Turner and I currently live in Leeds, UK
2. Please tell us about your blogs!
I currently have two blogs. The first—Wayfaring Sarah—is about travelling with a chronic illness. The second is my newest project and has a whole team of talented individuals behind it. It’s called Your Happy Place and celebrates the strength and diversity of those suffering with mental health problems. I also blog about cybersecurity, online business, and digital marketing for my “day job.”
3. Why do you choose to write in multiple niches?
When I first started writing in multiple niches it was out of necessity. I’d started working as a travel blogger for a company that then wanted some tech content. This gave me confidence to tackle different subjects and I soon found it was incredibly rewarding.
Not only does it diversify your workload so you’re not always doing the same thing, it provides an avenue to learn about new topics and dive into a whole new community. I loved researching and exploring corners of the internet that I never previously knew existed.
As my writing developed, I felt driven to write about things for which I had real passion. The mental health niche isn’t very well paid at all, but it was where my heart lay and it was incredibly rewarding to contribute my opinion. Having the ability to write about anything meant I could fund my life, while still giving me the time to follow my passion and create content that I really loved.
Today, I couldn’t imagine being held back by only sticking to one niche. My writing skills are more diverse and thorough as a result – and I’m more employable!
4. Do you blog and write as a hobby, as a part-time job, or do you do it for full-time income?
Even as a child, I’ve always written for my own pleasure. Words were always an easy way to process my emotions and thoughts. It wasn’t until after university—when I was painfully unemployed—that I realized it was something I could do for a living. Since then I’ve [freelance] blogged full-time, although my own blogs are still side projects that are yet to fully finance themselves.
5. Do you blog on your own platform, for companies, for publications, or for a mixture of these?
All of the above! I started ghost-blogging for other companies until I realized I was actually quite good at this whole writing thing. Eventually I graduated to writing articles under my own name for other content marketing sites. However, I soon realized that it was more fulfilling to create and develop my own platform.
I first started my travel blog mainly for my own amusement as I love to travel, and am now working on developing “Your Happy Place” so it can be my main income source.
The other benefit of blogging for lots of companies across different niches is that you very quickly build up other skills. Through my work, I’ve learned about on-page SEO, link-building, social media marketing, affiliate marketing and website development. I’ve never studied any of the above, just picked up an understanding along the way by saying yes to all opportunities!
6. Where can we read more of your writing? Let us know some of the favourite pieces you’ve had published!
I have been published all over the shop! Perhaps my favourite article is one of the first I ever wrote about my physical/mental health conditions. It was first published on the Odyssey. However, it eventually made it onto my travel blog as well.
The other jewel in my writing crown is my most recent post on Your Happy Place. It documents everything that I’ve learned about the reality of healing yourself with online wellness resources. It’s a monster, but I’m pretty proud of it. If you want to check out some of my more technical work, I’ve written a lot for ‘Website Planet recently about logo design. I’ve also written for nearly every VPN and antivirus review site on the web, but most of those were ghostwriting projects.
7. Why do you believe multi-niche writing is beneficial?
I think multi-niche writing is essential—not just beneficial. If you only limit yourself to one area, then you may be an expert in that area, but you won’t be a skilled writer. Understanding the difference between technical writing and promotional content, personal storytelling and SEO-optimized articles is how you develop your career. Multi-niche writing ensures you can pay the bills and allows you to take on any new project confidently.
It also has major benefits for your mental health. Doing the same thing every day can quickly become a chore, but being able to jump between niches and styles can easily counteract that. You wake up every day excited about what you’re going to tackle, rather than dreading doing another post on the same topic.
8. Is there anything you would like to add?
Writing, like most other things in life, is an ongoing journey. The more you do, the greater your understanding is, and the better you’ll be. In my experience, it’s those who step outside of their comfort zone and embrace new opportunities that do the best.
If you limit yourself to what you already write, you won’t ever be able to explore your own potential. Keep an open mind, a strong work ethic and you’ll find writing success – even if it wasn’t in the way you were expecting!
Thanks Sarah for a great interview!
Latest posts by marianamcdougall (see all)
- Writing for the Sake of Writing - August 9, 2021
- Should You Start a Writing Business in a Pandemic? - May 22, 2021
- COVID-19 Mind Map for Content Creation & Freelance Writing - January 18, 2021
- Where to Find Freelance Writing Gigs, Part 2 - December 31, 2019
- Self-Editing for Beginners - November 30, 2019