I want to be a companion who can grow together: The future of the 'Yurari Consultation Room' that supports freelancers

Instead of calling out from the top of the mountain saying, 'Hey! Come up here!', I want to grow myself with the feeling of climbing the mountain together with the person seeking advice.

So says Yurari, a writer who launched her new service, 'Yurari Consultation Room,' in August.

Entering her fifth year as a freelance writer, she is an influencer with 19,000 followers on X. Her natural way of thinking and warm personality resonate with women of her generation, gathering support.

https://twitter.com/yurarigurashi

As Yurari continued to share her thoughts, she gave shape to her desire to 'be useful to people working hard as writers' through the 'Yurari Consultation Room'.

Despite only being advertised once in her newsletter, it was so popular that it filled up immediately.

Even after the deadline, with voices saying, 'I would have applied if I had known there was an opening!', the style Yurari chose was not a large-group consultation, but an individual, companion-style approach that values one-on-one dialogue.

This time, we asked about the thoughts behind the 'Yurari Consultation Room' one month after its opening, the story of its birth, feedback from those who sought advice, and future prospects.

We hope this will be a reference for those who feel anxious, thinking, 'I'm not confident in my direction as a writer' or 'Is it okay to keep working like this?'

I wanted to change the reality of 'not being able to support people working hard as freelancers' despite sharing content

Yurari, who originally worked as a company employee, turned to freelancing after suffering from poor health.

As a web writer, she has honed her skills over five years by accumulating various experiences, not just in SEO writing, but also in interviewing, Kindle writing, launching a Kindle publishing school, book writing, community management support, and lecturing.

In 2024, she published her first book. It was the moment her journey so far took shape.

I want to be a source of strength for people who are struggling just like I was in the past.
That desire is what drives Yurari.

When she shared her experiences and daily thoughts through social media, audio streaming, and newsletters, she began to receive requests for help from freelance women of her generation.

'I tried the writer's job, but it was difficult and there was no one I could consult.'
'I tried my best, but I ended up quitting.'

She said that exploring ways to support these people was the catalyst for opening the Yurari Consultation Room.

I want to grow together with those who seek advice: The human-to-human connection that the 'Yurari Consultation Room' values in the AI era

Actually, there is another reason unique to this era.

'The rise of AI was also a catalyst for starting the Yurari Consultation Room.'

As AI tools like ChatGPT have become commonplace and more people are seeking advice, Yurari-san felt that people might not find true satisfaction in using AI as a conversation partner.

That sentiment deepened as she worked as an interview writer. Through repeated experiences of being thanked by interviewees for listening to their stories, Yurari-san says she realized the true value of listening.

AI might be able to provide 60-70% of the answers. But I believe there is a value in humans listening to other humans that cannot be filled by that alone.

The Yurari Consultation Room has a group chat where anyone who has used the consultation room even once can participate in events and work sessions.

The reason she values these connections among users is that she wants to cherish the sense of security and horizontal connections that cannot be obtained alone.

A while ago, I took the 'Satoyumi Seminar' by writer Tomomi Sato, and seeing how the students stayed connected and held events even after graduating made me realize it would be a waste to just end the service after the session.

I want to create a place where people can talk honestly and deeply, rather than just having a large group making noise.

Yurari-san's commitment to 'dialogue' is also reflected in the consultation room's menu.

The main menu of the consultation room consists of individual interviews and editing with Yurari-san. You can also receive interview practice upon request.

The reason I chose individual sessions rather than large group consulting is that I wanted to listen carefully to the stories of the consultants. I wanted to value the satisfaction of them feeling that they were truly heard.

That is also the origin of the name 'Consultation Room.' It is not coaching or counseling, but a place where I want to grow myself while thinking together with others. I am also considering group support in the future if there is demand.

Why the focus is on 'people already active' rather than 'from scratch'

The target audience for the Yurari Consultation Room is not people who want to start as writers, but those who have already begun working as writers or freelancers.

The reason for limiting the target to experienced people is that 'if you support someone starting from scratch, you end up depriving them of the opportunity to research and experiment on their own.'

Yurari-san herself, having worked as a freelancer for five years, says she keenly feels the importance of the process of acting independently.

To be independent as a freelancer, the process of finding answers for yourself is extremely important. Teaching someone without experience step-by-step can deprive them of that chance.

That is why, even when I talk to consultants and they ask for advice, I am careful not to take the stance of 'I will solve it for you.'

Because the target is limited to 'people already active' in this way, she says the consultation room can address more realistic and concrete issues, such as 'how to propose to clients' or 'how to improve the quality of articles.'

The role of the consultation room is strictly to 'think together about worries as a listener.' If a problem cannot be solved immediately, she sometimes holds off on giving an answer.

When I was consulted about an interview, I was once asked, 'How can I write a perfect 100-point article that satisfies both myself and the client?'

That was a challenge for me at the time as well, so I didn't answer immediately; I took it home and faced it and thought about it myself.

Facing worries head-on like this might be a catalyst for growth for both the consultant and Yurari-san.

As someone who can push the backs of women who have things they want to do but cannot take that first step.

Many of the consultations received from users of the Yurari Consultation Room are things like, 'I have decided what I want to do, but I don't know how to proceed,' or 'I'm not confident if this way is correct.'

Although it is a service that has been running for less than a month, there are already cases where Yurari-san's encouragement, such as saying 'That's fine,' or providing specific advice, has led to actual actions, such as applying to media or holding workshops.

Being able to witness the moment when users talk about their dreams and goals with shining eyes during their dialogue with Yurari-san is a scene unique to the consultation room.

'When a consultant gains awareness and moves on to their next action, I truly feel glad that I opened the consultation room.'

'Aiming to be a place where people can consult more casually': The future of the Yurari Consultation Room

No matter how long you continue your activities and gain experience, new challenges arise at each stage, and worries never end.

The Yurari Consultation Room, which can be used casually on a monthly basis, is intended to be a place where people who think, 'I want to hear someone's opinion for a moment,' can rely on with peace of mind.

Now that consulting with AI is becoming the norm, Yurari-san says, 'I want to be the one who gives that final push.'

Although it has only been one month since it opened, many inquiries from people who 'want to use it in the future' have arrived, and she feels the potential to expand the scope of the service.

In the future, she is also considering services that can be participated in easily at a low cost, such as audio distribution and public consultations, for people who have not yet had experience working as individuals.

'The worries of those who are still inexperienced are often common to many people, so I want to deliver them in a form that can be used more casually, rather than as a one-on-one service.'

Because I have experienced so much, I believe I can respond to various worries. While interacting with consultants, I want to continue finding ways to keep this fun.'

In the words of Yurari-san, who spoke with a smile, I felt a sincere kindness that she wants to grow while running together, rather than leading them to success.

Yurari-san's challenge has only just begun.
Wishing that her steps will lead to the courage and actions of many people, I will continue to support her from the bottom of my heart.

After the interview

This time, as a writer, I asked Yurari-san, who opened the 'Yurari Consultation Room,' about the background of its birth, the thoughts put into it, and its future prospects.

When working as a freelancer, freelancers who work alone tend to become lonely. I think many people feel that the existence of the Yurari Consultation Room, which thinks together with you when you think, 'I want someone to listen to me for a moment,' is very reassuring.

After hearing your story this time, I also felt that I want to become someone who can gently nudge those who are lost on their path, just as you do.

If you would like to consult with Yurari-san about your career, direction, or new challenges, please feel free to send a message to the "Yurari Consultation Room." It might just be the spark that opens up a new path for you.

Yurari-san, thank you for sharing your valuable story with us!

Introduction to Yurari-san

Born in 1992. After graduating from university, she joined an IT company and worked there for about five years, but due to her HSP temperament, she struggled to manage her physical and mental health and developed adjustment disorder. Feeling the limits of working as a corporate employee, she later became an independent web writer. Currently, she takes on web content production and online teaching work on a contract basis from publishers and web production companies. Her e-book published in 2021,"Achieve 200,000 yen per month within one year! A roadmap for earning as a web writer for those who want to work at their own pace," has been an Amazon bestseller for over two years. Based on her experience of becoming independent with no prior experience, she also shares information about writing work and freelance lifestyles.

Official Website: https://yurarigurashi.com/
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yurarigurashi/
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