Meet Shawnté Salabert

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawnté Salabert.

Shawnté, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve spent most of my life writing, but only a few years working as a full-time freelance writer. Before this, I served as an environmental educator, a school social worker, a shoe store employee, a photographer’s assistant, a non-profit manager, and a music licensor. Now, I spend most of my time writing about the way people connect with the natural world.

Five years ago, I was pretty content with my day job in the music industry, writing a few things here and there for my personal blog and for Modern Hiker, an LA-based outdoor website, just to scratch the itch. Then I received an email from Mountaineers Books – my friend Casey, Modern Hiker’s editor, had passed along my name. Did I want to throw my hat in the ring to write a guidebook to the first 1,000 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail? Yes, I did.

Mountaineers accepted my proposal and I was fortunate to spend two years researching, photographing, writing about, and of course hiking the trail for my book ‘Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail: Southern California.’ During a summer sabbatical that I used to complete fieldwork in the Sierra, I was startled one evening by the realization that the book deal offered a massive opportunity. I decided that night to give notice when I returned to my job later that month.

Since then, I’ve thrown myself into journalism and storytelling. I have no formal training, and I had no contacts when I began. But through self-education (and a great course called ‘Pitch Like a Honey Badger’), persistence, and a ton of elbow grease, I found myself writing for outlets like Outside, Los Angeles Magazine, SIERRA, California Sunday Magazine, AFAR, Backpacker, and beyond.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s pretty damn tough to make a living as a freelance writer. My income fluctuates every single month. I often have to chase down payments that are months overdue. Editors leave publications; publications shut down. I work seven days a week most weeks, often pulling 12-hour days – or more.

But it’s worth it. I’m able to use my work to shed light on the good others are doing out in the world and share stories about people working for environmental and social justice, people responsible for culture shift, people improving our communities and protecting the natural world.

Oh, and making my own schedule (well…deadlines aside) isn’t too bad, either!

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m a freelance writer who specializes in exploring the connections between humans and the non-human world (the “outdoors,” if you will). I *do* write about other topics – travel, sustainability, cultural arts, justice/equity/diversity/inclusion, and beyond – but I’m a sucker for any story that gets me outside…or at the very least, daydreaming about outside!

I also offer copy editing and content writing services to both non-profit organizations and for-profit enterprises. Words are powerful things – but they’re also a whole lotta fun.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’m perpetually grateful for the good fortune I’ve experienced in my career, and luck has its role alongside good ol’ elbow grease, for sure. I’m never content to leave anything to luck, however – if I want to pursue a story or land a piece in a particular outlet, I will do my best to make it happen. The grind is real – and the grind gets results.

Contact Info:

• Website: shawntesalabert.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawntesalabert/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShawnteSalabertWriter/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShawnteSalabert

Image Credit:
All photos courtesy Shawnté Salabert

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