Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Spera.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I first started my blog DanielleSperaWeekly.com in April of 2019, almost a year after graduating from UCF and leaving TheOddyseyOnline that same year. Ever since high school, I have worked on many different writing projects over the years both in my academics and as a freelance writer and editor. However, many of the organizations I created content for didn’t give me the freedom to say what I really wanted to say.
DanielleSperaWeekly started out as a way to work through what was happening in my life in a creative aspect. I write about pretty anything and everything that goes on in my life. I share my personal experiences and my view of the world with anyone who is willing to listen. For me, it’s not really about the views, although that is nice. It’s more about sharing my authentic self in the best way I know-how.
There are several projects I am working on at the moment. With COVID (hopefully) coming to an end, I will be building up the travel aspect of my blog. I am also in the process of writing my first full-length book and working independently writing for other avenues in the public sector.
Writing was always something I wanted to do but I had always struggled with growing up. I grew up struggling academically due to numerous learning disabilities, mental health issues, and speech problems. With the help and support of my family and the dedicated educators who believed that I was capable of succeeding, I owe so much to them. It is truly astonishing looking back at where I started, where I am now, and where I plan on going next.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of course not. I don’t believe there is such thing as a “smooth road”. If you’re on one, you’re doing something wrong. Like I mentioned before, I struggle with learning and speech disabilities and have been my entire life. It is a part of who I am and has shaped me so much as a person. It took me a long time to find my voice, and in some ways, I am still trying to find it.
I also work full-time as an HR professional in the public sector which has presented its own list of challenges. Because I work in a profession where I am a representative of the public and in a position where I am supposed to uphold the organization’s standards, I have to be careful about certain things I say on the internet. Luckily, I am in a place that allows me the freedom to be my own person both outside and inside the workplace.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I definitely wear a lot of different hats in my professional career. It is kind of hard to sum it all up in a few sentences but I will try my best.
I am an HR Professional currently focusing on training and employee development. I am pretty much building an online training platform basically from scratch for local government employees in my hometown. I also prepare and write award applications for programs within my county as well. I often work with nonprofits with community volunteer programs and write grant applications for funding these programs. When I am not working in HR, I am writing for my personal blog, traveling, working on my book, and practicing my photography skills.
I would say I specialize in writing travel and lifestyle content. Most of what I write is based on my own life experiences that I use to relate to and reach my audience. For a long time, I was a private person and kept my writing separate from the other aspects of my life. It really affected my writing and my audience engagement. When I finally married the two together people started relating more to my work and started to listen to what I had to say. That is what I am most proud of- being able to be myself in my writing and having people react in a positive way.
I don’t really see what I do is different from other writers out there, but what sets me apart is that when you see the work, you are seeing me. You are hearing my voice, listening to my honest thoughts, opinions, and feelings.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
The biggest advice I can give someone is to not care what other people think and just write! Put it out there and whatever sticks will stick. You are going to make mistakes, but every mistake is fixable and can be something to learn from. Some works will be more popular than others and that is okay. Writing is a creative process where everyone can choose their own path. There is no right or wrong way to do something in the creative realm. The only wrong thing you can do is to not start in the first place. It doesn’t need to be perfect but it can be a start.
So just like Nike (and Shia LeBeauff) said, Just do it!
Pricing:
- Proofreading & Editing Services – $1-$5/Page depending on project
Contact Info:
- Email: daniellesperaweekly@gmail.com
- Website: www.daniellesperaweekly.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielle.my.bell/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/dspera1
- Twitter: @SperaWeekly
