In this article, we will be talking with Gabrielle Seunagal, a full-time freelance writer who is passionate about adventure, health and fitness, and social causes such as human trafficking, anti-child marriage laws, and women’s rights. Gabrielle shares her journey into freelance writing and how she finds and secures new clients. She also talks about her process for managing her workload and ensuring timely delivery of projects. Gabrielle provides insights into how she stays current with industry trends and her long-term goals for her freelance writing career. In addition, she discusses how she balances her personal life and professional responsibilities and shares her favorite hobbies and activities outside of writing.
What inspired you to pursue freelance writing as a career?
I’ve always had a passion for writing. In fact, when I was in middle and high school, I would write stories in my composition notebooks when I was supposed to be paying attention in math class. After I finished high school in 2016, I eventually started guest posting on various blogs in my spare time.
These blogs weren’t paid assignments. However, in the latter half of 2016, I figured that if my work was good enough to be published online, then surely I could build a career out of writing as well.
In various books by accomplished people, a common theme states that to truly be successful in life, you have to do what you love. Writing was always a form of self-expression and communication that genuinely struck a chord with me. So, I kicked off my freelance writing career in January 2017 and the rest is history.
Can you describe your process for finding and securing new clients?
Upwork, the top freelancing site in the world, has played such a major role in my freelance writing career, especially when it comes to finding and securing new clients. When I was first starting my career, I set up my Upwork account, listed my skills in writing, editing, and SEO, and then applied for jobs.
Applying to jobs and then delivering the work product consistently and in keeping with the guidelines has played a big role in my landing new work and new clients. On Upwork, because I have high ratings on the platform and years of projects completed, sometimes, clients will even reach out to me with job offers.
It takes time, but if you’re truly dedicated and put in the work, you can find great clients on the platform. Many of the clients that I’m working with to this day are ones I connected with on Upwork.
How do you manage your workload and ensure timely delivery of projects?
Workload management and timely project delivery are deeply critical in the freelance world. Clients need to know you’re consistent and dependable; otherwise, you won’t have work for very long.
When it comes to managing projects, I always consider which assignments have stricter deadlines versus which ones are more flexible. Assignments with tighter, more specific due periods are the ones I generally tackle first.
To ensure timely project delivery, I always make note of deadlines for when a client needs a project turned in. From there, I’ll determine how many hours I need to devote to the project in order to meet that deadline.
In a way, my processes for both workload management and timely project delivery are very similar and intertwined with one another.
How do you stay current with industry trends and changes in the market?
A huge part of tracking industry trends and market changes is understanding the content business and what clients seeking content are looking for. To do this, I read through various job listings posted by clients, follow news and updates about the freelance market, and observe which skill sets are in the highest demand at any given time.
Writing is a part of it, but so are editing and SEO. In the freelance world, some gurus suggest that having one niche and sticking to it is the best way to go. I humbly disagree. In order to remain competitive amid a changing industry and market, you have to be able to meet the needs of the clientele.
For me, that sometimes involves writing blog posts, writing copy for a client’s landing page, editing already existing content, or going into the backend of a client’s website to optimize the content for SEO.
What are your long-term goals for your freelance writing career?
Later down the line in my freelance writing career, I would love to write and publish a book (or books)!
I’d also very much love to dabble in political speechwriting for various US leaders. Throughout my career, I’ve spent years writing about various US political affairs. American politics is something I’m very familiar with, in tune with, and I know I could write amazing speeches that truly reach the audience that our nation’s leaders will want to connect with.
Personal Interview Questions:
How do you balance your personal life and professional responsibilities as a full-time freelancer?
My personal life and professional responsibilities as a full-time freelancer are very intertwined with one another. In many cases, I will complete projects with upcoming or immediate deadlines, take a break to do something else (whether it’s watching a movie, swinging by the gym, etc.), and then I’ll jump back into writing.
More often than not, I’ll also take my laptop with me to many places I go. This gives me the flexibility to go out, have a good time, and then stop by a cafe to get some hot chocolate, power up my computer, and return to writing.
What are some of your favorite hobbies or activities outside of writing?
Outside of writing, I’m very passionate about traveling and exercising. For years, I’ve done domestic travel. Though in late 2021, I finally got my passport.
So far, I’ve been to four countries: El Salvador, Costa Rica, France, and Ireland. In May, I’ll be spending three weeks in London, England. Travel inspires me and broadens my horizons, while also providing me with personal fulfillment and worldly novelty.
Exercising is another hobby of mine that I truly love. Whether it’s hiking, mountain climbing, or lifting weights, I love to get my body moving and work up a sweat. Staying physically active also provides a great balance to the considerable amount of sitting down that comes with writing on a consistent basis.
How do you stay motivated and avoid burnout when working on long-term projects?
As a freelance writer, long-term projects and repeat work from clients are gold. They provide consistency and stability, while also allowing flexibility to take on additional assignments as well. Though motivation and avoiding burnout are both critical.
A huge part of what motivates me is how far I’ve come and how much further I want to go. For me, my own personal ambition is a very powerful source of motivation. However, to avoid burnout, I always make sure to take breaks as I’m working on long-term writing projects.
Many long-term projects also allow me the ability to work ahead of time (within reason) as well. Sometimes, that means getting content written the night before so I can sleep in a little later the next morning or get an early morning workout in.
Other times, avoiding burnout means taking 15-minute breaks every two to three consecutive hours that I spend working on a project. A huge part of dodging burnout involves knowing yourself, knowing how you work, and listening to yourself when you feel a break or some extra downtime is necessary.
What is a lesson you’ve learned through your writing career that you would share with aspiring writers?
Throughout my writing career, one huge lesson that I’ve learned is that consistency is everything. When you’re first starting out from ground zero, you have to consistently apply for jobs and consistently pitch your services to clients, even when you don’t immediately hear back or get the gig you were hoping for.
Likewise, when you do land projects, you have to consistently meet the clients’ deadlines and make sure you’re delivering a high-quality work product.
Doing it sometimes or only when you feel like it is simply not enough. Consistency in freelance writing determines whether or not clients rehire you or choose to go with another writer who is also trying to land work.
In order to truly be consistent as a writer, you have to go all in, be fully committed to the craft, and trust that the time and effort you’re putting in now will come with a high return on investment later.
How has traveling impacted your writing and creativity?
Traveling has allowed me to approach writing and creativity with more nuance and perspective.
On my own websites (GabrielleWrites.com, GabrielleSeunagal.com, and GabrielleSeunagalWrites.com), I’ve actually written about my travels and how time in different countries has contributed to my personal growth, understanding of the world, and curiosity to learn more.
Being an avid traveler not only inspires new content as a writer, but it’s also allowed me to ensure the content I create is of a higher quality with more to offer to my audience.
What is a piece of advice you would give to someone who wants to turn their passion into a full-time career?
As much as this may sound like a cliche, I would say to do the following: go for it, go all in, never let anyone tell you it’s not possible, and never give up, even when it gets tough.
When I first started in 2017, many people told me that full-time freelance writing wasn’t a realistic career path. People also said I should have “kept my day job” and that I wouldn’t make much money writing.
If I had listened to these people, I wouldn’t have six years of a career under my belt at age 25. If I’d only worked on my writing career on the side and “kept my day job,” as I was advised to do, I also wouldn’t have the career I have today.
When you’re serious about something, passionate about it, and feel a genuine desire to achieve it, that’s your calling. I truly believe that when you set your mind to something, fully go for it, and refuse to let anything slow you down or stop you, things have a way of working out.
Some people may say this is idealistic or naive, but it’s my life story…and it can be the story of anyone who has a dream and is willing to fight for it.
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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