Meet Sarah Howlett | Freelance writer and copy editor

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

Hi Sarah, is there something you believe many others might not?
When I was coming out of full-time work in journalism and starting to exclusively freelance, leading voices in the freelance writing and editing community would say over and over, “You need a niche!” By that, they meant that you should choose and cultivate a specific area of expertise so you can become a go-to writer for that space—for instance, fitness, technology or food. The sticking point for me was that I was interested in too many things, and was able to become interested in absolutely anything as long as the person on the other end of my questions was passionate about it. That’s what a traditional journalism school training aimed to foster in its graduates, and that certainly worked on me. So I don’t now and never did have a niche. I’ve written about everything from project management, mental health and family life to sustainability, small business and food. On my Instagram, @boulderthrifter, I like to merge my passion for secondhand shopping with my journalism skills, so I’m regularly asking my followers, or other in the thrifting space, to tell me their stories.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am a one-person show, juggling several clients from local to national, primarily these days as a freelance part-time editor. Many would say editing is a dying art—something AI or spellchecker can and should do, no humans necessary—but the steady stream of work coming my way shows me that publications, both print and digital, still very much value this skill. I’m proud that most of my business comes from referrals; I am rarely going out and pitching my services, but I’ve also been doing this for 20 years and know a lot of folks at this point. It wasn’t easy at all, though, to leave a full-time magazine position in New York City, move to Denver and start freelancing. I took literally any writing or editing gig I could find, some better than others. When I had just moved to Colorado, I started asking everyone, “Whom do I know who I can email? Whom do my FRIENDS know who I can email?” and start pounding the pavement. I took a lot of people to lunch and coffee. I’m sure my story isn’t all that unique, because that’s how almost everyone builds up a stable of clients over time. It’s like that One Red Paperclip guy who went viral for bartering, starting with a paperclip and ending up with a house. I feel like I’ve been able to trade up by degrees, by being persistent, pleasant, dependable and always hitting my deadlines.

While I have a stable of steady clients, some of my work is more seasonal in nature, and naturally clients come and go based on their needs. As such, I’m always willing to talk with companies and publications of any size, anywhere, about their writing and editing needs. Please do reach out to me if you’re looking to add to your stable of freelancers!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Boulder now and have for the past 12 years. I love the trails (Anne U White and Anemone are both fabulous); the bike paths; the wide variety of incredible food; the scenery; and the culture. One of my favorite things to do is Faculty Tuesdays at CU College of Music. They have free concerts on most Tuesday nights. I’m constantly shocked how it’s not more well-known; being there is like meditation for me. I also love going to concerts at the Boulder Theater and Chautauqua, and being by the Boulder Creek watching the water. My favorite food and drinks spot to bring visiting friends is probably Rosetta Hall. It’s the best because you can hit a bunch of food spots under one roof, and you can’t beat the views. I never get tired of seeing the Flatirons, especially when there’s a bright blue sky behind them.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Twenty years ago this year, I started my career in journalism, so I would like to shout out to the first person who hired me. His name is Denny Herzog and he lives in Grand Junction, Colorado, where the small-town newspaper he ran still very much exists. He gave me a shot when I was super new to all things journalism (and adulting), and his support and encouragement were invaluable to me—even when I came into his office not even three years later and told him I was resigning my job there to try my luck in New York City.

Website: https://sarahhowlett.com

Instagram: boulderthrifter

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

Image Credits
Portrait by Jaime Carpenter