Meet Alice Sullivan | Bestselling Ghostwriter and Collaborator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alice Sullivan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alice, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
In the early days of my career, I had no concept of balance. I was primarily focused on work, climbing the ladder, and making more money. At age 24, I had personal goals I wanted to achieve, such as buying my first home and beginning to save for retirement. So, I said yes to a corporate position and to freelance work on nights and weekends, allowing for more income, but very little time off. I was checking off all the boxes of what I thought a successful person should do.

By 27, I was burned out. I left one corporate position for another that paid far more, but was even less fulfilling. After two years, I was miserable and overweight. I finally had time for my hobbies, but I had no energy for them. So, in 2009, I quit my corporate life and became a freelancer.

Those first few years of freelancing were incredibly busy. In order to make sure I had enough money, I said yes to every writing and editing opportunity that came my way. Again, I worked late into the night and on weekends, building my career as a freelancer.

Somewhere in my mid-thirties, I realized I had zero life balance. Yes, the income was great but I wasn’t making time for family and friends, or the hobbies I’d loved. I was stressed when I did take vacations. And I had constant anxiety. I decided to make a change and intentionally began writing my hobbies and self-care into my workweek to force myself to step away from my desk. It took several years to morph my weekly schedule and business to better suit my life, but I’m finally at a place where I make great money, I make time for people and things I love, and I have much more time freedom.

I expect I’ll continue to shift my schedule and priorities slightly year after year, and I’m so glad I learned that it’s okay to make myself a priority, instead of solely focusing on my clients, projects, and deadlines. I can’t give my best or be at my best if I’m continuously exhausted and overworked. And I regularly tell young writers to make themselves a priority now so they can hopefully avoid periods of burnout.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I became a successful freelancer writer by nurturing my skills, making meaningful connections, and having a nearly annoying level of optimism.

After 24 years in the industry, and 14 of those being a freelancer, the thing I’m most proud of overall is the life I’ve made for myself while writing excellent books for my clients. There have certainly been challenges, from learning what to save for taxes, and navigating contracts and negotiations, to knowing when to pull out of a project. But overall, it’s been a very rewarding career that has allowed me to travel the world, meet incredible people, and write multiple bestselling titles.

The lessons I’d like to share with others are these: 1. Save 30% of your income for taxes. 2. You can absolutely pursue a freelancer/contractor life, whether part-time or full time. 3. Self-care is mandatory maintenance.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m a big fan of outdoor spaces, so when people visit, I always recommend a hike at Radnor Lake, a trip to the Bicentennial Mall’s farmers market, and either a picnic at the Parthenon or a stroll through Cheekwood. As for food, Rosepepper is one of my favorites, as well as The Eastern Peak for sushi or Thai.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
So many people have helped me and mentored me in my life and career. First, I’d say my mom, Louise, has been the biggest supporter from the start. She read to me daily as a kid and took me to the library often. In college, my English teachers, Dr. Alice Nunnery and Dr. Stuart Harris, were supportive of my writing. My former employer, Thomas Nelson Publishers (Now HarperCollins), was filled with people who gave me a chance to learn and grow in my writing and editing, including Paul Shepherd, Joel Miller, and Kristen Parrish. Writers Ken Abraham, Latham Shinder, and Honoree Corder have been fantastic mentors as I’ve navigated freelance life. I’m thankful to them and many others for the opportunities I have today.

Website: https://alicesullivan.com

Instagram: @alicewrites

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicewrites/