Meet Ashley Locke

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Locke. 

Hi Ashley, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have my hands in a lot of different buckets—I’m a magazine editor, a social media manager, a content creator for businesses, and a TikTok-er! Pretty much all of my jobs stemmed from the passion of my youth—storytelling. I started writing for my high school newspaper, then college, then regional publications. 

I got my first full-time job in social media marketing because social media is just another form of storytelling and it came naturally to me. All the while, I was freelance writing. Eventually one of the publications I was writing for, Good Grit Magazine, brought me on in a full-time position as an editor. It’s truly a dream job—and the flexibility allows me to do other work on the side. I manage social media for a few different businesses, and I create TikToks and Reels for others. 

As for my own TikTok, I never expected it to blow up. At the beginning of the pandemic, I joked that I was going to use the free time to become TikTok famous—and I must have manifested well because it happened! 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I feel like it’s never a straight path to your dream job. I worked many jobs I didn’t love, and I spent a lot of long nights and weekends working on my side freelance gigs. I didn’t have much free time for a long while, but I was persistent, and it paid off! Editorial can be really difficult to break into, and I feel so lucky to be in the position I’m in! 

As far as social media goes, it has always been light-hearted for me. The road never felt bumpy, because I never really had expectations for it! If I have a TikTok video that doesn’t perform well, it doesn’t really matter to me because it’s not my main gig. I always want it to feel that way—something fun and low-pressure that I do for myself. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Out of everything I do, I’m most proud of my writing. There are so many stories that I’ve gotten to tell that just feel so precious to me. To be trusted with someone’s story is huge! I don’t really write new-style pieces. My specialization is more lifestyles, which feels much more human to me. I hope that readers feel connected to the subject when they read my writing—it’s my goal to shine a light on the incredible human spirit. 

What does success mean to you?
For me, success is when I feel content with my life. Even in stressful times, I’m happy to be doing the work that I do. I can’t imagine my life being anything different than it is now, which makes me feel like everything is as it should be. 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.aslocke.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/ashealo
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClGxVpwvZGR-Qm1MUsJlvzw
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ashealo

Image Credits
Zoe Dannenmueller
James Acomb
Mary-Gates Kennedy