Last year was a good start for Freelance Writers Academy. We officially launched on June 1st, 2013. We also launched our membership community- The Kingdom of Paidalot- on September 10th, 2013. To give you a bit of numbers, we gained 153 newsletter subscribers, 24 Paidalot members, hosted 11 podcast interviews with successful freelance writers, and posted 11 guest posts on our blog in those last six months of 2013.

Those numbers may seem small, but we weren’t trying to gain large numbers just so we could pad up our statistics. Last year was all about connecting and reaching out to writers to find out what they truly needed so that this year we can create the resources and opportunities that would benefit them the most.

I have had the opportunity to talk with hundreds of writers who shared their personal stories. I shared their pain as they poured out their fears and frustrations about freelance writing. And I cheered as they boldly took their first wobbly yet successful steps onto their new path as professional writers.

I listened hard. I discovered far too many disrespected writers being paid less than a homeless person begging for change. It broke my heart. These are good, sweet people with lovely families who only want to share their creative ideas and knowledge with the world. Yet they feel trapped in the hamster wheel of grabbing whatever writing opportunity that might pay them, even if it’s only a few measly dollars.

I also discovered a few other successful freelance writers who had been in this very same position and had forged their own path and who passionately shared the vision to help new writers achieve their dreams: Robert Jennings of The Freelance Rider, Sophie Lizard of Be a Freelance Blogger, Dana Sitar of DIY Writing, and professional writer/editor extraordinaire Kelly Boyer-Sagert.

The Royal Court at the Kingdom of Paidalot was formed by these entrepreneurial spirits and we began the task of forming quests for our new knights. We daily sit around our private Facebook group campfire at night with the members of our community supporting and spurring one another to reach our goals and giggling while the court jester performs.

I tell you this only because I want you to know that there’s a place you can turn to no matter who you are: whether you are a weekend hobby writer, a fortune 500 business go-getter or anywhere in between. In the Kingdom of Paidalot, you are free to be and express yourself without judgment.

Whether you want to write fiction/non-fiction books, web articles,  blog posts, or technical manuals, all writers at all stages are welcome here. It doesn't matter WHAT you write; it matters that you WRITE. That's your dream job. It's our job to take that dream and make it a reality. Isn't that what community is all about?

In her post Entrepreneurship and a Writing Life for the Rest Of Us, Dana Sitar shares these thoughts:

“If you don’t have the corporate advantage of six months’ savings to launch your freelancing career, you can fall back on the community to spread the word and help grow your business — not to mention for a plethora of advice when times are tough.

If you want to self-publish just to share your work, without the business savvy or bank account to full-on APE it, you can reach into the community to fill gaps in your knowledge and skills to create a beautiful book.

If you want to write quietly under cover of nights and weekends surrounded by family and co-workers who don’t “get” your creative spirit, the community is always accessible on Facebook, Twitter, and the blogosphere to geek out on writing when you need to feel understood.

COMMUNITY is a place you get to be you, do what you love, and be loved for it.”

This is exactly what the Kingdom of Paidalot is striving to achieve. And you are truly cared about here. If you are struggling right now, stop trying to do it alone. Our gates are open. Come on home. 

We want to hear from you. What are you struggling with right now? Tell us in the comment section below.