Stuck in a dead-end job, one woman used her writing skills to create a thriving online business — and a new life she actually loved.
Challenge
In late 2015, Shanta G. was stuck in a job that drained her energy and her spirit. Working for a local school district, she earned less than she could have made at a fast-food counter — a discouraging truth that made each day harder to face. A single mother raising a child with autism, Shanta had spent years hustling on the side — selling vintage clothes, doing freelance writing, even running an in-home daycare. Despite her grit, she still felt trapped in a cycle of survival rather than growth. Something had to change.
Action
Shanta had one gift that kept resurfacing through every stage of her life — writing. Years earlier, she’d published a novel through a major publisher, but the experience left her disillusioned with traditional publishing. Still, the desire to write — and to help others do the same — never left her.
So she launched a simple blog about storytelling and creative writing. It wasn’t fancy — just honest posts about how to start and finish a novel. Within the first month, 800 subscribers had joined her email list. That unexpected traction gave her an idea: what if she turned her advice into a structured online course?
Using Gumroad to host it, she created a year-long novel-writing program and announced it to her small but growing audience. Then, while out at a movie with her husband, something incredible happened — she sold her first two courses. In two hours, she made $700 — almost a month’s salary from her day job.
Result
That small success changed everything. Instead of retreating, Shanta doubled down. She refined her materials, expanded her lessons, and built a supportive online community for aspiring authors. Her email list soon exploded to over 11,000 subscribers, and her Facebook group reached thousands more.
By the end of her first year, Shanta’s writing course and related digital products had earned her more than $100,000. She eventually left her day job, published another novel, and built a creative business that gave her both freedom and fulfillment.
Lesson
Shanta’s journey is proof that meaningful change doesn’t always come from chasing big opportunities — it often begins with using what you already know. By blending her writing talent with consistent action, she turned a personal struggle into a six-figure success.
Takeaway: The skills you already have might be the key to your next breakthrough — you just have to give them the chance to work for you.
Inspired by a true story originally featured on Side Hustle School by Chris Guillebeau. This rewritten version is independently produced and fully original.