What does it look like to run a freelance business on the side while still holding down a full-time job? This week, we have social media expert Deepa Lakshmin on the show to talk about how she balances both. By day, Deepa works full-time leading content marketing for the Tribeca Film Festival, At night, she runs her freelance business. She’s reported for National Geographic, MTV News, and NYLON, and she’s managed social media for The Daily Beast, New York Post, and Atlas Obscura. She’s even done some copywriting for brands like OkCupid, Citi, and AT&T. You can follow her on Twitter or Instagram, and we encourage you to check out her website, too.

Deepa and Jenni discussed the privilege of being in a phase of life where you can prioritize work and just that, and how to plan your career strategically as a freelancer. Deepa also talks about her social media and audience engagement work, and shares how she finds those gigs. If you’re a TWC member, you’ll get access to a worksheet from Deepa about how to tell your freelance career story, plus a skill-building bingo card.

If you love TWC Pod, we think you’ll also love the Creative Nonfiction Podcast! Freelance writer Brendan O’Meara is the host of the show, and he’s having the conversations we aren’t having, all about the craft of nonfiction writing. We think it’s a really nice accompaniment to The Writers’ Co-op because part of building a strong business is building strong writing skills. Subscribe wherever you podcast.