Interview #34: How Natalie Anna Jacobsen Makes Money Writing
In this interview, Natalie talks about compartmentalizing her day job from creative writing—and why both feed her in different ways.
Natalie Anna Jacobsen’s career spans continents, crises, and creative lanes. She’s worked as a journalist, nonprofit marketer, and now serves as Director of Marketing and Communications in the disaster response sector—all while publishing a debut novel, GHOST TRAIN, and building a loyal following with her Folklore Friday series. Today, her full-time role provides the bulk of her income, but writing remains central to her professional life—earning her up to $20,000 a year through speaking, freelance work, and creative projects.
In this interview, Natalie shares how she transitioned from a hustle-heavy freelance life to a mission-driven communications career, why she writes fiction even when it doesn’t pay, and the simple home strategy that helps her balance creative energy with career ambition. If you’re navigating multiple paths and still trying to protect time for passion projects, this one’s for you.
What you do: Director of Marketing and Communications in Disaster Response, freelance journalist, author.
Years writing professionally: 18.
Earnings range: ~$20k per year, outside of "day job" salary.
“Time is a precious commodity, and having enough to choose creative projects in my spare time is a luxury.”
Natalie, your career spans journalism, activism, marketing, and now fiction writing. What does your current income mix look like across these different areas, and how has that evolved over time?
As a Director in Marketing, my current income is quite different from, say, ten years ago when I was working as a freelance journalist, part-time clinic administrator, photographer, and overall hustler. There wasn't a day I was simply resting; I had to work to make enough money to pay rent and feed myself and my husband while he attended school.
Prior, when living in Japan, my income was even more different still: the range of pay is much lower there than it is in the United States, so while food, rent, and living expenses were much more affordable, it was difficult to save. My work and income stabilized once I moved to Washington, DC, and transitioned from journalism and photography and into marketing and communications full-time. I found a perfect culmination in my interests in activism, fact-finding, and writing in marketing for nonprofits, and I never turned back! Not only is my income steadier and more comfortable, I am able to control my work-life balance a lot more, which gives me even greater wealth than I had before.
Time is a precious commodity, and having enough to choose creative projects in my spare time is a luxury. My husband and I have weathered some hardships, but my constant, long-term investment in myself and my skills have paid off in a dream role that has rewarded me greatly in more ways than one.
