MADRID – Drawing inspiration from the people she’s met and the places she’s been, Caroline King has created a home-based business out of her own writing ability.

Started last fall, Maine Word provides writing and editing services for individuals and small businesses as well as one on one and class instruction in creative writing.

“It’s not the best time … but it’s a wonderful adventure getting it off the ground,” she said. “It lets me do all the things I love doing and combine that with the experiences I’ve had.”

Being in a rural part of Franklin County hasn’t stopped her from working with people she’s never met or even talked to by phone, like those in Germany whom she’s collaborated with by e-mail, she said.

Choosing to live in Madrid means having to be creative in ways to make a living but she likes the challenge and uses what she calls the overworked phrase “thinking outside the box” to describe her efforts to create her niche.

King, with a degree in English/creative writing from Knox College in Illinois, has traveled and worked around the country bringing those experiences here to Maine, she said.

While her writing has appeared locally in area newspapers such as the Irregular, Sun Journal, Franklin Journal and Rangeley Highlander, most of her work around the country was for the American Red Cross’ disaster relief programs.

Those experiences have helped her incorporate another segment to her work, grant writing for non-profits, she said.

King enjoys a teaching aspect to her work and is starting a class in Farmington for those who want to learn about writing fiction. She also will combine with Marc Edwards from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension for a three-part “Writing for Your Business” workshop for existing small- and home-based businesses starting in February at Franklin Memorial Hospital.

Understanding the challenges that face small businesses, she plans to share from her experiences to help businesses succeed. There is a $30 fee for the workshop and participants can register by Jan. 30 by calling 778-4650.

More information about Maine Word is available on line at www.maineword.com or by phone at 491-9810.