Sunday, December 30, 2007

2007 Reflections

It's been over a year since my last post. I could come up with a list of reasons for why I've been MIA for the past 12 months: a cross-country move, travel, getting settled in a new life...Instead, I'm going to look back at all of the amazing experiences that have shaped the past year.

A cross-country move: I moved from Portland, Ore., to Charlotte, N.C. The adventure started in February when I packed up the car, picked up RLR and set out on a 10-day road trip. We were denied alcohol in Utah, barked at in Memphis and welcomed into galleries in Santa Fe despite looking road weary and having two dogs in tow.

A solo trip to Europe: I spent 2.5 weeks backpacking through Spain and Portugal in October. I saw some amazing things like the Alhambra and the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos but the most amazing part of the trip was having the time to truly explore, at my own pace. I spent hours sitting in town squares, writing in my journal; I wandered down side streets, took afternoon naps, skipped 'must-see' sights that I didn't want to see.

Travel galore: I traveled a lot in 2007 and one of the biggest things I've realized is that I want to travel LESS. There is still so much to discover in Charlotte: I'm in search of a great Thai restaurant, an independent coffee shop with free WiFi, a yarn shop with a full schedule of classes...In the New Year, my focus will be on exploring North Carolina.

The dog park: One of the first things I did when I moved to Charlotte was purchase a Pooch Pass and for the past 10 months, I've spent almost every afternoon at the dog park. Molly and Milo are played out and well-socialized and I've created my own pack - a rag tag group of people I look forward to seeing all day.

KT & the Dead Flowers: KT is my personal cruise director in CLT. She knows all the best restaurants, is up for dancing until 3 a.m., laughs at my antics and keeps my secrets. The rest of the Dead Flowers are a group of liberal girlies who make the Queen City feel like home.

The Hos: I could not ask for better 'co-workers' than this group of smart, successful and sarcastic group of women who cheered me on through another year of freelancing - my most successful year to date.

This year was filled with a lot of highs and lows and looking back, I can say with absolute certainty that I wouldn't change a single thing.

I have a great life: I can't think of a better phrase to capture the essence of 2007.

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Going with the Flow

September 15, 2006, 4:20 p.m.
I meant to start updating more often but the last month has passed in a flash.
Things have slowed down a bit on the writing front which has given me more time to concentrate on sending out queries. It’s hard to come up with ideas when I am staring at the computer screen for hours on end. I need to be out, engaging with people, staring off into space or walking the dogs in order to come up with new ideas (or the ever-popular fresh takes on old ideas).
I spent a week on a press trip in Northern Michigan. I went hiking and kayaking and toured several museums and small towns. It was a whirlwind tour that had me on the go from morning until night but it helped me generate a lot of new ideas. I have been working on queries since I got home earlier this week.
I am also spending a lot of time writing content for my new website. I designed the original site four years ago and it was in desperate need of a facelift. I am really excited about updating the site so it is a better reflection of my work and who I am as a writer.
I’ve gotten a lot of bad news this month: two of the magazines that I wrote for on a regular basis have ceased publication and another regular market has changed its format which will result in significantly less work for me.
It was really hard to adjust to the news at first, especially because it has such a huge impact on my bottom line. I threw a long pity party and then realized that while it’s sad to say goodbye to markets I loved (and editors I loved more) it is the push I needed to let go of some of those regular clients to start pursuing new markets.
It’s very easy to fall into the trap of becoming too comfortable as a freelancer, especially when editors are coming to you with work. The time I was spending on these projects prevented me from going after some of the markets I really wanted to write for because I didn’t have time to research and write queries.
I know there is going to be some lag time before I pick up new work to replace the lost income but I’m already excited about some of the new markets I’ve found. One of the most important things I’ve learned in this business is that you have to be prepared to roll with the punches.

Dispatches from the Home Office

August 22, 2006, 2:55 p.m.
I promise to start updating more often. Yes, I have said this before but this time I swear I’m going to follow through. You see, there is a talented designer spending hours hunched over his computer working on a new website as we speak. He tells me that having a journal (which is updated on a semi-regular basis) will drive traffic to the new and improved site. I believe him.

Things are a little saner around the home office (translation: I am working fewer weekends and logging off of the computer before 8 p.m.), hence the time to work on the new website. (Truth be told, I am not working on the site at all. I am just driving the designer mad with requests to tweak the layout, change the font and entertain me with different color choices).
I have been working, writing a few articles here and there on topics like raising chickens, making small talk, misdiagnosed diseases and the best positions for women in labor. I am also sending queries to my favorite magazines, planning classes for the fall and working one-on-one with aspiring freelance writers.
There have also been a few exciting (although not work-related) things on the calendar this summer.
I am on the auction committee for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oregon and SW Washington. I have volunteered on the committee in the past and after a short hiatus, a friend and fellow committee member urged me to come back. I am soliciting donations for the annual auction which takes place on September 23. We have received some wonderful and generous donations from local businesses and I have been working with some amazing women to put the event together.
I also have another office mascot. His name is Milo and he is a miniature longhaired cream dapple dachshund (quite a mouthful, eh?). J and I talked about getting a second dog for a while before we took the plunge. It has been interesting to go through potty training, crate training and please-sleep-through-the-night training all over again but so worth it. I would post pictures, but I have no idea how.
Molly and Milo (yes, both of their names start with ‘M.’ It was not planned, I swear) get along quite well. The dogs are also a great excuse to escape from the office and go for a long walk in the middle of the day, which is exactly where I’m going right now…

Updates

July 19, 2006, 3:11 p.m.
Believe it or not, two months have passed since the last update. The lack of updates is not because of a lack of news, just a lack of time.
It has been a productive – and fun – two months. I have been working on several articles and nearing the finish line on the book project. Since the last post, I have been writing for USA Weekend, Arthritis Today, Modern Bride, Better Nutrition, Fit Pregnancy and Women’s Health and Fitness. Of course, I am also still writing for the Portland Tribune.
I have also been pitching like mad. I am trying to break into For Me, Cooking Light, Women’s Health and others. I figure that if I send enough targeted pitches, the editors will decide to give me a shot.
I am such an impatient person which makes it hard to play the waiting game that is a huge part of freelancing. I check my e-mail a million times a day, answer the phone on the first ring and run to the mailbox at exactly 11 a.m. hoping for good news (an odd thing to do considering I haven’t sent a query via snail mail in a couple of years).
Last weekend I got to experience a freelancer’s dream – instant feedback from editors. I was at the One-on-One conference in Chicago where I met with five different editors. I was able to pitch them ideas for their magazines and find out whether they were interested enough to have me follow up with queries.
I had several really productive meetings (and a ton of fun). I arrived home very late on Sunday night and set to work putting together queries on Monday morning. My hope is to have the last query sent out no later than Friday. Hopefully I’ll start getting some (positive) responses by the end of the month.
In the midst of deadlines, J and I traveled to Japan. We had a fantastic time! It is such a beautiful country. We spent a few days in Tokyo, traveled south to Kyoto on the bullet train and then took day trips to Nara and Himeji before returning to Tokyo. We took tons of photos (I would post some here but I have no idea how) and saw some amazing sights.
One of the highlights for me was trekking to Monkey Mountain, a mountain in Kyoto that a group of macaques call home. We were just a few feet away from dozens of monkeys! One of the littlest babies approached me, put his hands on my shoe and then reached forward to climb up my leg before his mom snatched him away. It was a surreal experience, especially since we only see monkeys in cages at the zoo.
I have struggled to adapt to four different time zones in under a week but slowly feel like I am getting back on schedule. In the meantime, stay tuned for a complete website update (and, hopefully, more regular posts).

A Brief Update

May 25, 2006, 9:18 a.m.
The past month has been one of the busiest I’ve had in a while. Here are the highlights:
I went to the ASJA conference in New York last month and spent three incredible days learning about the business of writing, connecting with amazing women writers and meeting editors whose publications I adore. This is the third year that I’ve been at the conference and it was definitely the most valuable (and the most fun). I walked away feeling really inspired and excited about my work.
Things have been really busy on the writing front. I’ve spent a lot of time driving all over town meeting sources and racked up a huge long distance bill doing interviews with experts across the country. The result: my name will be appearing in publications like the Portland Tribune, Arthritis Today, Modern Bride, Better Nutrition, Women’s Health and Fitness, Delicious Living and Porthole Cruise in the coming months.
I am ramping up the teaching/coaching aspect of my business. I taught a goal setting class for writers at Portland State University last weekend that was well attended and I have taken on a few students for one-on-one coaching.
My parents were in Portland last week spending to spend time with J and I. The last time they made the cross-country trek was four years ago. We hit all of the Portland highlights: the farmers market, the Oregon Coast, Saturday Market, the waterfront. We also hit the mall several times because my parents, who pay 15 percent tax on everything they buy in Ontario, can’t believe that Oregon has no sales tax.
J and I are in the midst of planning our trip to Japan. We like to travel without too much of an itinerary but we are trying to figure out which highlights to hit since we’ll only be there for 10 days. We’ve decided on Tokyo and Kyoto but the rest is up for negotiation. Any travel tips? I’d love some suggestions for must-see places.
Right now I have to put down the guidebook and get back to work. I have to churn out a few more articles so that I can pay for our trip.

List Mania

April 14, 2006, 2:18 p.m.
It seems that I only make time to write when I have a million other things on my to-do list. It’s been a while since I’ve posted an update but since I have to save my energy to finish the articles that are due this afternoon, I’ve decided to post a series of lists.
Projects in the Works
Press releases for Intel
Health article for Arthritis Today
Travel article for Porthole Cruise magazine
Profile for Fresh Cup magazine
Health briefs for Better Nutrition
Business profiles for Business Journal of Portland
Home and remodeling articles for the Portland Tribune
Exciting News to Report
I was accepted to the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) and will be going to New York at the end of the month to attend the conference. I’ll be the one wearing the “New Member” ribbon under my nametag.
I also received word that I will be one of 60 writers attending the One-on-One conference in Chicago this summer. It’s an amazing event that lets writers meet one-on-one with editors of several major magazines to pitch editors.
News that has Nothing to do with Work
One of the best things about being a writer is setting my own schedule. I was really lucky to be able to skip out of work for a few days earlier this month when A and B, friends from home, unexpectedly called from Seattle.
A is my favorite boy in the whole world and it was great to see him again. We spent the day playing arcade games and teasing each other about our teenage antics and the night drinking fruity drinks and watching dueling pianos.

J and I are in the midst of planning our next trip. Normally we know exactly where we want to travel next but this time we had trouble settling on a single destination. We went to the library and took out a ton of books on destinations ranging from Vietnam and Cambodia to Argentina and Guatemala and ended up deciding on Japan. We have a vague idea of where we want to go so now all that we have to do is book our flights.
I just found out that one of my best friends in the whole world is moving from Toronto to Vancouver this summer. I’m guessing there is going to be a lot of border-hopping later this year!
I have set up a mini-sweatshop in our media room where I am frantically knitting blankets for all of my pregnant friends. I have told all of my hope-to-be-pregnant soon friends that there is now a five-month waiting list for handmade blankets. I can’t knit fast enough!

My Gratitude Journal

February 10, 2006, 2:38 p.m.
I have to admit that I have been whining a bit over the past few weeks about my workload and the assignments that I have been working on.
Truth be told, I am working on a few pieces I am really excited about and writing for editors who I really like but I have had this nagging feeling that something is missing. My response has been to covet the assignments that other writers are getting and to crave bigger and better things instead of feeling grateful for the excellent work that I have.
A wise friend suggested that I stop whining and make a list of all of the good things that I have in my life (thanks RLR). I thought I would post the list online. Perhaps it will inspire you to think about the good things in your life or perhaps you will use it as ammunition the next time I am whining.
• I was offered an assignment by a magazine I that has been on my target list for the past year
• An editor from a Canadian publication that I love asked me to write a series of quizzes for their health department
• I was assigned an article on a cool topic that I am excited to write about
• I attended a workshop that focused on improving my writing and covered important topics for business writers. I got to spend time with a great friend and the workshop was free!
• In the midst of a querying dry spell, I came up with several ideas that I think have enormous potential (now all I have to do is find time to do some research and write the queries)
• This spring I will be teaching a class on a topic that I am passionate about: Goal setting for writers. It will be held at PSU and I will post more details as they are available
There have also been several non-writing-related things that have happened over the past few weeks that I am grateful for:
• Molly, my darling dachshund, had surgery to remove a lump in her mouth and the biopsy came back negative.
• My mom has been given a clean bill of health after spending the better part of the past three months recovering from joint replacement surgery and a broken foot.
• It has not rained for a solid week. This is huge news in Oregon where we had 230 percent of our normal January rainfall within the first week of the year. The onset of sunny weather has allowed me to halt construction on the ark and stop dressing Molly up in a life jacket and water wings just to go outside.
• I have volunteered to be on the auction committee for the Ronald McDonald Houses of Oregon and Southwest Washington which has connected me with an amazing group of women and given me an excellent excuse to get dressed and do some good in the world.
• All of my pregnant friends (and there are a lot of them) are feeling great and carrying healthy babies.
What are you grateful for?

Travels to South America: The Highlight Reel

January 03, 2006, 3:27 p.m.
Happy New Year! Confession: I fell asleep hours before the ball dropped in Portland but I did manage to celebrate the New Year at the same time as my friends on the East Coast.
It has been a whirlwind few weeks and although I have finally responded to almost all of the e-mails in my inbox and managed to sort through every last bit of mail that accumulated while I was gone, I am still struggling to get back into a regular routine.
My brain, which is simultaneously on overload and yet barely functioning at a fifth grade level, cannot handle writing long flowery paragraphs about our trip but I think I can manage bullet points of the highlights:
La Luna, a hostel in Northern Ecuador, where the food and drink were as amazing as the owners. We spent two nights snuggled under the blankets next to a roaring fire and taking in the view.
Cozy Ecuadorian sweaters that were just too cheap to leave in the market
Horseback riding through beautiful and pristine countryside with views unlike anywhere else I have ever traveled
The moment at the end of the Inca Trail when we reached the Sun Gate and took in the views of Machu Picchu for the first time
Following J through the narrow streets of Cuzco in search of a restaurant serving guinea pig, an authentic Peruvian dish, and laughing as he attempted to extract the meat from its bones and then laughing even harder when he realized there was still hair on it!
The feeling of euphoria we experienced after traveling at breakneck speeds through the countryside to catch a flight that departed three hours earlier than we thought. We made the trip, which takes three hours by bus, in less than 90 minutes thanks to a taxi driver who was sympathetic to our plight and willing to put the pedal to the metal.
Visiting the floating islands and marveling at the number of things that can be made with reeds
Being welcomed into the home of a family on Lake Titicaca and experiencing their way of life and then dancing the night away in traditional dress
Learning the story of the Ampato Maiden and getting a glimpse of life 500 years ago. It is amazing how a determined explorer and modern science can offer insights into the past.
Coming home with no lost luggage (though our camera was stolen in Ecuador; the experience is not worthy of the highlight reel), sleeping in our own bed and snuggling with our favorite puppy.
In other news, my little sister got engaged over the holidays! Congrats Litts!

Giving Thanks

November 22, 2005, 1:31 p.m.
Crazy.
That is the only word that aptly describes my life over the past month. In the midst of writing articles on everything from eBay to protein powders, I have been attempting to manage a host of non-work tasks that included making two trips to Toronto (once for my annual pilgrimage home and again to be with my mom during knee replacement surgery) and getting ready for the holidays.
During my second trip to Toronto I spent some time with one of my favorite boys in the world (who also happens to be one of the smartest and sweetest men I know). It was so great to laugh about all of the silly things we did as kids and to realize that, despite getting older, we have never really grown up. Thanks Pookie!
Spending time at home also reminded me of all of the good things in my life. I am strong and healthy, I am surrounded by loving and supportive people and I spend my days doing a job that I love. It made me realize how important it is to count my blessings instead of focusing on the negatives.
Since it is Thanksgiving (confession: I still celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving, which is in October but now seems like a good time) I have come up with a list of the things I am thankful for:
J: The boy who always makes me laugh. He is sweet and kind and knows exactly when I need hot chocolate and a hug or a Diet Coke and time alone. It is not always easy living with a girl who is as temperamental/erratic/neurotic/picky as I am but he does it with panache.
Science: My mom, who could barely walk after suffering from rheumatoid arthritis for 30 years, has a set of new knees that have given her the freedom to do the things she loves without pain.
Technology: I was able to fly home to be with my family while my mom was in the hospital and I still managed to call J several times a day, check my e-mail and submit a few assignments.
Friends: I am so fortunate to have a group of friends that I adore like SP/TP, the couple who are always up for a game of cards; R, the girl who never tires of listening to me complain; P, who is always willing to meet me for a doughnut in the middle of the afternoon; A, the boy who always makes time to send silly instant messages.
Great Editors: The ones who respond to queries, offer specifics about the assignment and are clear about revisions. I am especially grateful to the editors who were willing to adjust deadlines and speed up revisions to accommodate my travel schedule.
Molly: My pretty little puppy reminds me to take breaks during the day to have a little fun. I love watching her curl up in the sun and spy on the neighbors from the bedroom window. Perhaps I am most grateful that she is potty trained and has learned to be polite (oh, and I am also thankful that she was not seriously harmed when she decided to eat one of our plants last week)!
Time Off: It has been a hectic year but it is almost over. In just a few days I will turn off my computer and step away from my desk until the New Year. It feels a little surreal to be signing off in November but, truth be told, I am ready for a break. J and I are going to spend December backpacking through South America. Our plan is to see as much of Ecuador and Peru as possible and to check out Bolivia if we have time. I am looking forward to experiencing other cultures, meeting new people, sleeping in late, trying new foods, shopping until I drop and having J all to myself for an entire month.
Happy Holidays!

Waxing Poetic

October 31, 2005, 6:32 p.m.
I love my life. I have a husband I adore, the cutest little puppy in the world and work that fulfills me. I also have friends that know when I need a good kick in the butt. In the past few weeks, on numerous occasions, friends have asked me to explain the schedule I have been keeping. Apparently the work-all-hours-of-the-day and spend-all-night-doing-homework schedule that I have been keeping has a few people a little worried about my health (and my sanity).
It made me realize that I am always in survival mode. My mantra is always, “I just have to get through this week/month/year and things will be normal again.” Things are normal again – for a day or two – and then I find myself right back in the midst of an impossible schedule.
Over the past several weeks I have been working non-stop. I refuse to complain because almost all of the assignments that I am working on are articles that I really want to write for editors that I really want to write for. It seems that suddenly all of the queries I have been sending out over the past year are starting to pay off and that feels great.
It also means that I have to rethink the way that I work. I have to go from accepting any assignment that is offered to making careful decisions about which articles I commit to. It is an enviable position from a career standpoint but I find it difficult to turn down work especially when the editors offering the assignments are ones that I have been writing for – albeit for very little money – for years.
The decision to choose my assignments more carefully arose out of a conversation J and I had about goals. He confessed that his goal for the New Year was for us to spend more time together (and for me to be more relaxed during the time we spend together). It really opened my eyes to the effects that my work schedule has on my relationships.
I am grateful that J has supported me through the past three years. I would never have had the courage to freelance without his encouragement. He recognized how important it was for me to hustle at the beginning of my career in order to build a reputation and relationships that would sustain me throughout my freelancing years and he was willing to spend more than a few evenings and weekends as a veritable bachelor. I owe it to him – and to myself – to focus on nurturing the relationship that will sustain me throughout the rest of my life.
I am grateful that in the midst of spending far too many hours in front of the computer I can still recognize the blessings in my life.

Summertime and the Livin' is Easy

September 14, 2005, 9:56 a.m.
It has been almost two months since my last entry and I am pleased to announce that I have kept true to my promise to enjoy the last bits of summer. In the midst of working on assignments and sending out queries, I have spent copious amounts of time at the local coffee shop with friends, explored every nook and cranny of my neighborhood and spent several nights a week training for a 5K charity race with J.
The transformation from workaholic to spending more time having fun is due in large part to my new best friend – a four-month-old dachshund named Molly. J and I adopted Molly from a rescue agency in July when she was just an itty bitty nine-week-old puppy. Training a puppy has been a lot harder than I imagined and there were times – many times – when I questioned whether adopting a dog was the right choice. Now that we are past the adjustment period, we are head-over-heels in love with our little one. I am also spending a lot more time going for walks, playing fetch at the park and just hanging out in the backyard – all good things for someone who was formerly a slave to her computer.
My summer has not been all about potty breaks and dog training; I have been working as well. I have written articles about the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City, Street of Dreams, Breast Cancer Myths, Common Health Mistakes, Eco-Friendly Christmas tree options, yoga for inmates and a host of other topics. I am also working on a few interesting projects for national magazines that I will provide more details on as things progress.
Next week I am making my yearly pilgrimage to Toronto to see my family. We are going to eat at my favorite restaurant, sit on the front porch and gossip about the neighbors and spend far too much time wandering the aisles of their favorite superstore. I am also planning to go shopping with my sister, meet friends for dinner and – because it would be totally uncharacteristic of me not to mix business with pleasure – I am hoping to meet with a few editors while I am in town.
More updates when I get back…I promise.

Snapshot of Summer

July 19, 2005, 3:05 p.m.
The first half of the summer has passed by in a blur and I have spent most of it working. The past few months have been really busy (a bit too busy if you ask J who complains about never seeing me and my massage therapist who has spent hours working the stress-related knots out of my neck and shoulders). I have worked on everything from profiles of immigrant farmers for a book project to articles on complex health procedures and have still managed to squeeze in time to write dozens of other articles, work on two special sections projects, submit a bi-weekly column and teach a class on query writing.
In other words, almost every waking moment (and several of my dreams) have been filled with work. I made a promise to myself while we were in Jamaica (where we spent most of the week confined to our room to wait out Hurricane Dennis) that I would start stepping away from the computer and start focusing on some of the other things that are important to me. This just might be the summer that I knit a sweater, finish my scrapbook or organize the garage.
The halfway point in the year is the time when I start assessing how close I am to reaching my yearly goals and developing strategies to make sure that I am on track. I have done all of those things this year (and I am proud to say that I have surpassed several of my goals and I am making excellent progress towards the remaining ones) but I have also started thinking about whether my goals are still valid and important.
I often realize that some of the goals I set at the beginning of the year are things I think I should do instead of things I really want to do. In terms of writing, those goals are often focused on breaking into certain prestigious publications or mimicking the career paths of more established writers. I am guilty of making those missteps again this year but I am beating myself up about it much less than I have in previous years. I am also learning to see goals as more fluid and adaptable and less set in stone which is definitely a step in the right direction.
The next time you check back and see that I haven’t updated in a while I’m hoping it’s because I’m playing in the garden, walking around the neighborhood or sitting on a patio somewhere spending time with friends. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Editors: They Do a Story Good

June 09, 2005, 4:39 p.m.
Most of the time I do not see the final edited version of an article until the magazine hits newsstands and often the version that appears in print is quite similar to the article that I submitted to the editor weeks (and sometimes months) before. It is definitely easier to let the editor take care of the edits but I am coming to realize that I learn a lot more when I have the opportunity to work with the editor to make my writing better.
Last month I submitted an article to the editor of a national business publication. A few days later she sent me a detailed e-mail outlining the revisions she wanted me to make. Not only did she provide specific examples of how I could make things better, she also explained why she felt the changes were necessary.
I spent a few hours making the changes and handed in the revised article later in the week. Not only was the editor happy with the revisions, she took the time to drop me a note offering kudos for a job well done.
Earlier this week I saw the galley and realized how much stronger the revisions made the article. Even though it took additional time for me to make the changes, I was grateful for the chance to make my writing better.
I churn out so many articles every month that it is easy to forget that there are different – and often better – ways of doing things. Having an editor who is willing to provide straightforward feedback to encourage you to make your writing better (and then takes the time to let you know you did a good job) is priceless.
In other news, I attended a networking event earlier this week and met an amazing group of female business owners. I spent a lot of time talking myself out of going (one of the occupational hazards of working from home is the tendency to turn into a bit of a hermit) but I ended up having a blast. Not only was it really inspiring to hear about other women-owned businesses, I had several people express interest in hiring me to work on writing projects. Best of all, my competitiveness paid off when I won a door prize for meeting the most women at the event.
Work has been exceptionally busy for the past month. I am doing some PR projects, coaching a new writer and preparing to teach a class later this month. I am also writing articles on topics ranging from surprising headache triggers and trends in home wiring to the demand for vacation homes and a profile of a new construction project.
On the home front, J and I are in the process of landscaping the backyard (which means we are talking a lot about what we hope to accomplish but have not yet put our shovels in the soil) and spending a great deal of time hunting for the perfect patio furniture. We are heading to Jamaica next month to celebrate our anniversary (for those keeping count, we will be married for 5 years in August)! Before I can enjoy the surf and the sand, I have a few more articles to write.

This Inspirational Moment Brought to You by Jodi Helmer

May 05, 2005, 12:39 p.m.
Most of the time, I love freelancing. But there are times when rejections flood my inbox, sources do not return my calls and there are no checks in my mailbox (again) that make me wonder if all of the ups-and-downs are worth it just to work from home in my pajamas.
To survive those days I have taped this quote to my computer monitor:
“Sometimes it’s enough simply to try hard. Sometimes our skill is perseverance. Sometimes the simple act of not giving up is both a skill and a virtue. We can be good at trying and if we are we need to honor our effort.” (Stress Free for Good: 10 Scientifically-Proven Life Skills for Health and Happiness)
Instead of giving up and hiding under the covers with a cup of tea and the remote, I am reminded that the effort that I put into freelancing is directly related to what I get out of it. Sending out queries is much more productive than watching soap operas and if my ideas are rejected, I can still give myself a gold star for effort.

At Long Last...Another Entry

April 04, 2005, 1:30 p.m.
I have a pile of assignments to complete, taxes to file, bills to pay and queries to write but I decided in the midst of the chaos that now would be a great time to update my journal.
The past few months have been incredibly busy. In addition to writing articles on subjects as varied as business travel in Asia and a turtle rescue program in Mexico, I have worked on several special section projects including the Tour of Remodeled Homes in the Portland Tribune and the Bridal Guide for the Beaverton Valley Times.
Earlier this year I caught the teaching bug. In February I taught a class on the basics of freelance writing that was well-received and I am in the midst of planning other classes including a query writing workshop, a class on journaling for weight loss and an introduction to publishing a newspaper.
I am leaving for New York next week to attend the annual ASJA Conference. I went last year and found the information incredibly valuable. I am meeting with several editors while I am in the Big Apple; it is a good chance to catch up with those I have not seen in a while and to finally meet those that I have been exchanging e-mails with for months.
My goal is to figure out the subway system in the hopes of making it to all of my meetings on time. Once I have that covered all I have to worry about is pulling off a 14-hour day in high heels and smuggling enough Coke into the conference to keep me fueled for the entire day (the conference hotel only serves Pepsi).
I am staying with a friend in NY which will inevitably mean a few very late nights. I am already looking forward to hanging out on the roof of his building drinking hot chocolate and marveling at how incredibly busy the city is no matter what time of day it is. There is something electrifying about NY and although I could never see myself living there, I do look forward to my yearly visits.
Before I can leave I have to write nine articles on various topics including
* Trends in interior paint colors
* Summer roof repairs
* Content for a special section on shopping
* Increasing water intake
* Unusual fruits
Truth be told, I really want to curl up under the covers, sip hot tea and read a good book.
I promise to post pictures and details of my trip to NY when I return.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

February 16, 2005, 1:14 p.m.
This has been one of the busiest months of my freelance career. I have written numerous articles over the past few weeks (just eight more deadlines to meet by next Friday) and I am feeling a little burnt out. On top of the assignments I have been working on, I have also been sending queries and preparing to teach a class.
The hectic pace has taught me a few things: an ample supply of Diet Coke makes it much easier to burn the midnight oil, it is possible to get a headache from thinking too much, and the only cure for cabin fever is a late night ice cream run.
In the midst of working, I have kept my promise to take better care of myself.
I took last weekend off and spent two full days lounging around in my pajamas, reading the newspaper, and watching romantic movies, I treated myself to a massage on Valentine’s Day, and I have started taking a walk in the middle of the day.
At first, it seemed counterproductive to be away from my desk when there was so much to do but after a while I realized that the energy I get from a 20-minute walk makes me much more productive.
For me, maintaining balance is definitely a work-in-progress. I skipped my yoga class this morning in favor of work and I am still struggling to walk away from the office at the end of the day (I always manage to find an excuse to check e-mail, write another paragraph, or follow up with an editor at 10 p.m.).
But I am determined to keep my promise to take a bit of time off. I am going to spend the first week of March sleeping in, working on my scrapbook, reading the rest of Reading Lolita in Tehran – a book I started six months ago, fell in love with, and never had time to finish.
I’ll probably still be checking e-mail and skimming the headlines for story ideas but at least I’ll be taking time for some other (personal) projects.

All Work and No Play

February 01, 2005, 5:08 p.m.
The desire to update my website often strikes in the midst of deadline panic: The moment I realize that I have a lot of work and not a lot of time is often the same moment I feel an insatiable need to dash off a quick note in my journal.
Today is no different.
I have 29 deadlines this month. This means two things: I should be researching, interviewing and writing, not typing a journal entry; and I need a holiday. Obviously – and for very different reasons – neither is happening.
It appears that I will be consumed with work this month. My days will be spent writing articles on building custom homes, touring remodeled homes, finding investment advice, a real estate agent, and a florist and discovering the latest trends in outdoor living.
I am also in the midst of completing travel articles from my holiday journey to Hong Kong where J and I had a grand time shopping at street markets, eating dim sum and sipping high tea, and watching locals practice tai chi and kung fu in the park.
I am also taking another class toward my graduate degree. The class, Writing and the Self, involves a lot of reading and even more writing. Needless to say, it is challenging to sign my name at the bottom of a credit card slip during my off hours.
In the midst of work and school, I am actually taking time out for myself. I signed up for a yoga class, had tea with a friend, and went to see a play on the weekend. A very special friend reminded me that I needed to recharge my batteries and redefine my idea of success if I wanted to be happy and healthy (thanks Pookie).
Once the last deadline has been met, I am going to take a bit of time off. The beginning of March seems like the perfect time to get a massage, go hiking, enjoy brunch with friends, and take a road trip.

Patience Pays Off

December 21, 2004, 3:02 p.m.
I am not a very patient person: I hate standing in line, being stuck in traffic, and slow service. Most of the time, I cope by avoiding any situation that involves waiting: I avoid leaving the house during rush hour, I buy stamps at the ATM and mail packages from home, and I never – ever – go to the grocery store.
But working from home does not exclude me from playing the waiting game: I wait for checks. I wait for sources to return my calls. I wait for the right words to make their way onto the page. I wait for editors to respond to my queries.
Earlier this month I was reminded that patience is, in fact, a virtue.
This spring I sent queries to two publications I really want to work with. I got two very prompt responses from the editors; the first indicated he was interested in my pitch, but was moving into another (non-editorial) position in the publication and promised to pass my idea along to the new editor. The second editor expressed interest in the idea, but said she was not assigning any new content and promised to keep my idea on file.
Several weeks passed: I followed up with both editors and both indicated a continued interest in the queries, but could not commit to assignments. Then, two weeks ago, both editors offered me the assignments!
The experience reminded me not to give up on queries that have been languishing for a while: Editors do hang on to good queries and often go through their files looking for writers with great ideas – I just have to learn to wait.
J and I are departing for Hong Kong tomorrow morning. We are going to spend a week touring out-of-the-way markets, strolling along city streets, exploring secluded hiking trails, and eating everything in sight.
The next time I sit at my desk, it will be 2005. I am in the process of setting goals for next year and I am excited about the prospect of turning the page to start a new year. My current goal is to have a wonderful journey and enjoy the break.
Happy holidays!

The Power of Procrastination

December 02, 2004, 6:52 p.m.
There are days when the lure of procrastination is so strong that I simply cannot resist. Today was one of those days. I have several deadlines in the next week, including two articles and a 5,000 word paper for my class that are due tomorrow, but I managed to find time to do the dishes, balance the checkbook, dance to holiday music, and send silly instant messages to one of my oldest friends.
Now it is the end of the day and the articles are not finished, the paper is 1,000 words too short, and I am too tired to start the second article that is due in less than 24 hours (yet, I managed to find time to update my journal).
The past few weeks have consisted of trying to secure assignments, accommodations, and assistance from the tourist board for an upcoming trip to Hong Kong. In the midst of eating dim sum, trying kung fu, and shopping for designer knockoffs, I am going to be racing around the city researching attractions, conducting interviews, and scribbling notes.
Putting the pieces of this trip together has been exhausting. I rarely travel with an itinerary, but since we are spending the entire trip in the same area, I was hoping to make traveling less stressful by reserving accommodations and scheduling interviews ahead of time.
I think this is a smart idea, but I am having trouble getting anyone to cooperate. The tourist board and PR firms have been slow to come through with assistance and I am working with editors who are still mulling over the details of my assignments. I am trying to go with the flow and tell myself that it will all come together eventually, but as the days pass I am starting to worry that I will be scrambling to find a hotel the night before we leave.
In the midst of checking my e-mail every 30 seconds for travel details, I am up to my usual tricks: Working on articles, writing queries, sending follow-up e-mails, and chasing down overdue payments (it is truly an endless process).
In the coming weeks I am going to take a break from writing to spend time with friends, drink hot chocolate in front of the fire, start reading the books that have been collecting dust on my shelves, and think about my goals for the upcoming year.
Right now I have to focus on finishing my work (which really means I am going to spend the next few hours doing the laundry, scrubbing the bathrooms, and alphabetizing my books, before falling into bed exhausted).

Travel Bug

November 16, 2004, 3:23 p.m.
Last month I believed that the biggest perk of my job was working from home in my pajamas. This month, I am here to tell you that there exists an even bigger thrill in my freelancing life: Working poolside in a tropical country.
Earlier this month I had the opportunity to travel to a remote town in Mexico to research a feature for a bridal magazine. I spent six days feasting on authentic Mexican food, hiking and canoeing through the pristine countryside, horseback riding on the beach, and frolicking in the ocean.
In the midst of the fun, I scribbled a few notes, tossed around ideas for story angles, and conducted a few interviews – but I did it in my bathing suit!
I wandered around the resort sipping coconut milk, eating cheese, and telling anyone who would listen, “this is the best job in the world.”
The only thing better than spending my days in the sun, was spending it with the other journalists on the trip: We had a fantastic time dishing on everything from writing to…well, things I promised I would never repeat. Suffice to say, I made a few new friends.
For now, I am back to working from home in my pajamas. I have a great tan and great stories and a newfound determination to increase my travel writing efforts.
My new dream: to be typing journal entries from an ashram in India, a Jeep in Africa, or poolside in Hawaii. I’ll let you know how it goes.

I'm Back!

October 12, 2004, 5:09 p.m.
Months have passed since I have taken the time to update my journal and now that I have carved out the time, I am struggling to find the right words to convey all of the news and notes that I want to share.
Work is going well and I’m finally ready to dish on some of the news I have been promising to share as soon as the details were finalized. Over the next few months, you will be able to find my work in Parents, Woman’s Day, Delicious Living, Oregon Business, and the Christian Science Monitor.
I have been trying to break into these publications for months (and in some cases, years) and after numerous queries, follow up calls, reminder e-mails, and a lot of patience, my persistence has paid off.
As a writer, these are the publications I covet; the ones I dreamed about writing for when I started out. I have worked incredibly hard to get to this point in my career (and I know that I will have to continue working hard to earn future assignments), but right now I want to shout it from the rooftops: Jodi has finally cracked her dream markets!
In addition to sending out queries and working on assigned pieces, I have spent the better part of the past month working in a newsroom. I accepted a short-term contract where my responsibilities included writing, editing, and layout for a weekly newspaper. I worked in the newsroom all day and caught up on freelance work at night: It was a hectic schedule, but the opportunity to get out of my pajamas and experience the energy of putting out a paper was amazing (even though I went weeks without my requisite 10 hours of sleep).
Next on my list: researching and writing several assignments, calling editors to pin down the status of overdue payments, sending out queries (it truly is an endless process), and heading back to the newsroom to pitch in until they hire permanent staff.
On a personal note, J and I moved into our new house on September 2 and have spent the past six weeks unpacking boxes, hanging pictures, landscaping the yard, and comparing paint chips. We love the extra space (and so did J’s parents and grandparents who came to visit for Canadian Thanksgiving and were grateful not to be crammed into our tiny condo) and once my office is finally organized, I am certain I’ll be wildly productive. But for now, I’ll continue searching for a missing check, my favorite black boots, and an entire set of pot lids that went missing in the move.

Public Service Announcement

August 09, 2004, 1:13 p.m.
There is an epidemic of apostrophe misuse that has taken hold of our society. I blame the Internet. The proliferation of online magazines and blogs has created a population of people who call themselves writers, yet they are not following the basic rule of publishing: Proofread everything before it goes to print.

One of my favorite examples of rampant apostrophe misuse is on the site of a writer who claims she has achieved fortune, fame, and admiration for her work, yet she spells with the same panache as a fourth-grader. Her articles (all self-published, of course) are filled with notes about upcoming sale’s and tales of sipping latte’s while crafting article’s on camera’s.

Admittedly, I knew little about the business of writing when I started out. I bought books on crafting query letters, asked a lot of questions about editor etiquette, and was fortunate to have a mentor that worked through countless article revisions with me. But I could spell.

Before you declare yourself a writer and begin pitching editors, should you not at least know how to spell? Do you not realize how poorly an editor will look upon a writer who is not familiar with the basics of punctuation?

The next time you are sending query’s, working on edit’s, and trying to build publication credit’s, take a minute to recall the lessons you learned about apostrophes when you were little.

All the News that's Fit to Dish

August 02, 2004, 9:55 p.m.
A few weeks ago I flipped through a copy of one of Portland’s alternative weekly newspapers (you know, the ones filled with ads and movie listings and only a paragraph or two of content) and read my horoscope. Hidden among the cosmic predictions was a very useful bit of advice, which read: “If you have made it through these past few weeks with your sense of humor intact, you now have permission to give yourself a big shiny reward.” It was the best excuse I had heard in weeks to sip a cup of tea, grab a book, and turn off the computer for a few hours.

Work has been stressful and hectic, especially after a two-week break, but writing is fulfilling me in new ways and I am falling in love with my job all over again. Taking time off allowed me to step back from my work and make decisions based on what I really want, not what I think I ought to be doing.

Assessing my priorities and setting new goals has enabled me to say no to assignments that are not right for me, make time to reconnect with writers and editors from my past, and escape from my home office to enjoy great conversations and the fleeting summer sun with my wonderful friends. I feel renewed and energized and ready to tackle new – and grand – things.

A few very exciting things have happened in the past month. I will wait until the ink dries on the contracts to share most of the details, but there is a bit of news I can share: Parents accepted one of my queries which resulted in a short article that will appear in the November issue.

After a year of shopping around an idea about using the Internet to lose weight, I finally sold the article to Women’s Health and Fitness earlier this spring. I just picked the issue up on the newsstand and the clip looks beautiful. The editor was fantastic to work with and I am hoping to develop an ongoing relationship with the publication (look for another article with my byline in the November issue).

I was offered (and accepted) a four-week contract with the Beaverton Valley Times which will involve juggling writing, editing, and layout duties while the managing editor and senior staff reporter are on holidays. My goal is to make commuting, wearing pantyhose, reporting, and laying out a newspaper while working at someone else’s workstation look as simple as Martha Stewart making soufflé.

I am negotiating three contracts right now that I am really excited about (but too nervous to dish on for fear of jinxing them). The publications are beautiful, the editors are wonderful, and the articles are on topics that I am very eager to write about. More to follow…

In non-writing-related news, Thailand was phenomenal (pictures and details to follow), J and I are celebrating our fourth anniversary this week, and I will be another year older on Friday. My little sister is going to spend a week hanging out with me in P-Town at the end of this month, and our house is coming along beautifully. Life is good.

Seeking Long-Term Relationship

August 01, 2004, 9:07 p.m.
Over the past few years I have had a lot of relationships with different editors: Some have turned into lasting working relationships and others were not a good fit and we have both moved on. I have created several long-term relationships with editors who have continued to work with me through dozens of articles, changes in format, and countless edits. I have also worked with a few editors who have even kept me in their rolodex after switching publications.

I have also had several one-assignment stands – I pick up the assignment, do my best work, turn it in and wait for approval, only to receive a paycheck and never hear from them again.

Lately I have been directing my efforts at forming long-term relationships with editors. I have targeted a handful of publications that I really want to write for and I am working on researching story ideas and writing queries targeted to those publications. I am also nurturing the relationships I have with editors because I know how important it is to never take an editor or an assignment for granted.

But, since I never have been a girl to turn down a good piece of work, I have no problems with the occasional one-assignment stand. But at this point in my life, I am ready to settle down: If you are an editor in search of a talented writer for an ongoing relationship, drop me a line.

Fear of Commitment

June 15, 2004, 5:49 p.m.
Over the past five years I have lived in five apartments in four cities and two different countries. I love the adventure and the newness of living in different places, even if it is just a new home a few blocks away from the old one.

When it comes to real estate, I am more of a love ‘em and leave ‘em kinda gal than a settle-down-til-death-do-us-part person. I just cannot seem to develop a loving, enduring relationship with a place.

But that is about to change.

A few weeks ago, J and I bought a house. It is a beautiful house (or at least it will be when it is finally built) with a little patch of grass that we can call our own. I have fantasies about walking barefoot through the grass while it is still wet with dew, having picnics outside in the summer sun, and reading in front of the fireplace in the winter.

I also have nightmares about living in the suburbs, spending our weekends working in the yard, and standing in the driveway in my bathrobe chatting with the neighbors. But by far my biggest fear is making a commitment to a place.

Does buying this house mean we’ll start spending our money on wind chimes, designer drapes, and topsoil instead of Thailand, Europe, and Tahiti? Could we find a prettier house for a better price if we kept looking? What if we discover that we are better suited to loft living in the heart of the city than a house on the edge of wine country?

These are the questions that are running through my mind. And even though I know the answers (no, because we promised ourselves travel would be a top priority. We will never find a prettier house at a better price and we should know because we spent three years looking for this house. We tried living in the city and we hated it; the suburbs are definitely where we were meant to be), I cannot stop overanalyzing the decision.

The idea of developing a long-term relationship with a place has me thinking about all of the relationships I have – or have ever had.

I started thinking about the best friend I had in kindergarten who I suddenly stopped talking to four years ago, about the boy I fell in love with at 14 who broke my heart at 23, about the friend in Toronto who sends me letters every week, about the girl who has taken me to all of the best happy hours in town and always forgives me when I go three weeks without calling, and the boy I married who keeps me sane (and laughing).



I have realized that I am as excited about making a commitment to this house as I was about making a commitment to J - when something is right, you just know it.

Tales from NYC

May 21, 2004, 7:00 p.m.
An update on my trip to NYC: It has been almost a month since I endured a cross-country trip, a 12-hour day in heels, and a conference full of strangers. Despite late nights, early mornings and several days without my requisite diet Coke, I managed quite well. I introduced myself to strangers, made small talk, exchanged business cards and made some excellent contacts.

While I was in the Big Apple, I got to spend four days with my second favorite boy in the entire world who let me crash in his apartment and braved a hangover to go out in search of bagels. And, on Saturday morning when I was scared and nervous, he knew exactly what to say.

The conference was a whirlwind of speakers and writers and a flurry of note-taking, and between sessions I networked my little heart out.

I celebrated my success with a few too many margaritas on Saturday night (hence the need for early morning bagels on Sunday) and came home with the flu. But it was worth it.

Work has been exceptionally busy – I had 10 deadlines the week I came home – but I have made time to follow up with several editors I met at the conference. I have also had coffee with a writer I met in NYC, who happens to live in Portland.

I went to another networking event this week where I made small talk, looked completely at home in a pair of heels and managed to balance a plate of crudités and carry on a conversation. For a girl who sits at her desk all day wearing sweatpants and chomping on melba toast, it was a pretty big accomplishment.

In other news: I am working on several articles, submitting queries and attempting to follow-up on queries that have been languishing in the slush pile for far too long. I am also trying really hard to remember to update my website. My sister (who is also my most loyal reader) explained that it is very disappointing for my fans to be checking my site day after day only to discover there is nothing new to read.

So, this one is for you, Litts. Maybe if you called a bit more often, you wouldn’t need to read about my life online.

Nauseous with Nervousness

April 21, 2004, 8:54 a.m.
I am leaving for New York tomorrow where I will get out of bed very early in the morning, trade my pajamas for professional attire, grab my notebook and spend the day listening to some of the most talented magazine writers share their stories and advice at the annual ASJA conference.

Over the past few days I have been too preoccupied with tying up loose ends to let the nervousness sink in, but now that I am less than 24 hours away from boarding the plane, I officially have the jitters. Not only am I terrified to fly, I am terrified to schmooze with writers whose work I read regularly in the pages of the glossy magazines I covet. The thought of approaching a writer, or even worse, an editor, to introduce myself and strike up a conversation makes me nauseous with nervousness.

Despite my queasy stomach, I am also really excited. I will be face-to-face with successful writers, top notch editors and peers who, like me, will be nervous and unsure of themselves.

Saturday will be a 12-hour day filled with workshops on topics ranging from developing ideas and breaking into national magazines to earning a six-figure income freelancing and writing for hi-end luxury markets. There are keynote speakers, an idea marketplace, and an evening cocktail reception.

But the part of the day I am most excited about is a one-on-one mentoring session, where I will have 30 minutes to ask questions, get feedback on my queries and just generally benefit from the expertise of a writer who has achieved national success. The woman I have been matched up with is a nationally-known writer and editor who has worked for some of the top woman’s publications, and I know she will be able to offer tremendous insight into moving into national markets – this opportunity alone is worth flying across the country for.

Before I can leave, I must pack…more when I return next week.

Working at Living

April 17, 2004, 10:30 a.m.
My dad lost his job when I was 15. He was out of work for two years and we went from being an upper-middleclass family with extra money for vacations and designer clothes to a low-income family that worried about paying the bills. It was difficult for all of us, but in hindsight, it was the best thing that has ever happened to me. I learned that the things I once thought were important – fancy clothes, a big screen TV, Caribbean vacations – paled in comparison to a loving family and friends, strong work ethic and pride in a job well done.

When my dad returned to work I bought him a mug that read, “I am no longer living at work; I am working at living.” The mug reflected a shift in my family’s priorities and an important lesson I had learned about life – work is what you do, not who you are.

I love my job. I have the freedom to work from home, set my own hours, spend my days being creative, and, best of all, to research and write things I truly care about. Over the past two years I have made enormous strides as a writer: My research and interview skills are infinitely stronger than when I started out and my writing is much better. I have grown from being published in very small, very local publications to negotiating with editors at national magazines. But it has never felt like enough.

Over the past weeks and months I have been thinking a lot about what I really want. I really want to write. But I also want to read and knit and create. I want to see the world. I have been too busy living at work to truly work at living. That is the missing piece.

I never wanted to be working 40+ hours per week at 28. I thought I would be piecing together odd jobs and contracts, taking extended periods of time off to travel. I imagined myself volunteering abroad, spending weeks at a family cottage in Northern Ontario, taking classes, devouring books on the beach. I had always seen work as a way to feed my dreams, not something to work my dreams around. I have become so caught up in furthering my career that I have let go of so many things that are truly important to me.

I am not going to stop writing. But I am going to start taking time to sip tea in the afternoons, read the books that have been gathering dust on my shelves, plant flowers on the balcony, write long letters in handmade cards, cut and paste photos in my scrapbook. And I am going to travel.

In the upcoming weeks and months I am traveling to New York City, Thailand and Toronto, but I am not waiting until a plane whisks me off to a destination thousands of miles away from home. I am starting today. In a few minutes J and I are going to jump in the car for an impromptu road trip complete with picnic lunch.

Starting today I am going to make it a priority to carve out time for the things that are important to me. Maybe this means I will be writing less, or at the very least choosing different projects, but I will keep writing.

Finding Balance

March 09, 2004, 9:48 a.m.
Sitting in front of the computer trying to update my journal gives me a new appreciation for what it must be like to have to write an editor’s letter: Anything I write should be witty, informative and brief – just enough to get the reader interested and keep them coming back. It’s a tall order, which is why I don’t update more often.

Lately things have been…well, they’ve been a little difficult as far as writing is concerned. I have had a few bad days – in the span of a single day I discovered that I writer I feel an intense dislike toward landed a contract with a major magazine, an editor accused me of being unethical (he later admitted it was a huge misunderstanding and apologized profusely) and my book proposal was rejected – and several good days.

While I have never pretended that writing is always easy or fun, I try not to focus too heavily on what I think are the negative aspects of the job (at least not in my online journal). And, since I try to keep my journal entries writing-related, I have opted not to post all of the good, the bad, and the ugly experiences that have cropped up this year.

A brief update on the writing life: I have been writing articles, sending out queries, making follow up calls, logging rejections, rejoicing in acceptances, making plans to attend the ASJA Conference in New York City in April, and modifying my book proposal in anticipation of sending out to publishers.

Outside of office hours, I have been indulging my creativity by taking a hip hop dance class, learning to knit a felted tote bag, planning a summer backpacking trip, and reading about the intricacies of installing ceramic tile for an upcoming home improvement project.

I have learned that feeling fulfilled and being successful is all about balance. So, the next time I feel like hiding under the covers and turning the ringer off on the phone, I’ll indulge myself with a nap and then spend the rest of the day eating cake and practicing my hip hop moves.

I'm Back

February 12, 2004, 5:04 p.m.
I spend at least 8 hours of every day staring at my computer screen, pecking away at the keyboard and churning out articles, yet I cannot seem to get into the habit of updating my journal.

A lot has happened since my last update and since inquiring minds have been asking what I’ve been up to, I’ve decided to post a laundry list of the things I have been doing, thinking, and saying since my last entry.

Doing: Writing

The year started off slowly, but the past several weeks have been extremely busy. I have spent a vast amount of time sending out queries in an attempt to break into new markets and so far the results have been positive. I have a few new assignments on the horizon and I’m talking to a few editors who have expressed interest in my ideas.

Seeing: My name in print

My work was published in the premier issue of Yoga for Everybody, which is a fantastic new publication about, well, yoga.

Thinking: About Writing

I have established a list of several goals for 2004 and I have spent a lot of time thinking about how to achieve them.

I’ve also spent a bit of time obsessing over the book proposal I sent out. The anticipation of a response is overwhelming; I have actually stopped checking the mail during the day because I’m afraid I’ll find my SASE in the mailbox. Having said that, I do have a lot of confidence in the idea and the publisher I submitted the proposal to, but waiting for a response has occupied almost all of my waking hours for the past several weeks.

I’ve also been thinking about the moves I’m learning in my hip hop class, the gorgeous sunny weather that has descended on Portland, the trip to South America J and I are planning for this summer, and my family – who I am hoping to see very soon.

Saying: Nothing that is fit to print.

Having Fun: Because all work and no play makes Jodi a dull gal

J and I spent the weekend in Phoenix, AZ to celebrate his birthday. We saw the Phoenix Coyotes lose to the Dallas Stars while a snotty-nosed kid sat behind me and kicked my chair (along with cheap tape and fuzzy radio stations, chair kicking is one of my biggest pet peeves). We also spent a few hours touring the Cactus Botanical Gardens, which were absolutely beautiful (which I’m sure had something to do with the fact it was 70F outside).

Before I sign off, I want to send a shout-out to the Littster! Keep it real in the big W sista.’ I miss you!

Back to Work

January 9, 2004, 3:34 p.m.
I am one of those people who thrive under pressure. Give me 15 deadlines in a week and I’ll meet every one of them – and still have enough time to write a few queries, chat on the phone and go for a long walk. But if I only have three deadlines, I struggle to get anything done.

I’ve had a really difficult time adjusting to the lull that follows the holidays. I’ve been sitting at my desk, shuffling papers and feeling guilty about not accomplishing more. There is work I could be doing – sending out queries, making cold calls, writing essays. But, without intense deadline pressure, I am having trouble staying motivated.

There was a time in late November when I was incredibly productive and feeling great. I was working for 8 solid hours a day, writing dozens of articles, sending out queries, making follow-up calls and checking everything off of my to-do list. Then December hit and I took two weeks off to enjoy the holidays with J, and I’m struggling to get back into the swing of things.

When you’re self-employed, it’s really important to be working. When I worked in an office, I could waste an entire day chatting with co-workers, picking up pens at the office supply store and taking clients to lunch while earning a regular paycheck. Now, not working means I’m not earning any money. My monthly earnings are directly related to the amount of work that I do, which means surfing the Internet is not the best way to spend my afternoons. Still, it has been fantastic to use the downtime to work on knitting a baby blanket, writing letters to my best friend and catching up on a bit of reading.

Warning: Intense Neurosis Inside

January 14, 2004, 3:46 p.m.
A little bit of background before I launch into this story: I have always been a little neurotic (or a lot neurotic, depending on who you ask) and I panic because, well, it’s one of those things I am very good at. Often, I panic about small, insignificant things, like whether I remembered to turn off the heat before leaving the house (I certainly don’t want to spend a penny more on our electric bill than I have to). I also panic about big things, like the 5-month period when J and I had no health care (as a Canadian used to a universal health care system that was a big deal to me). But sometimes I panic about the most ridiculous things – this is one of them.

Last night I was surfing the Internet and I came across another writer’s website. I checked out her portfolio and read a few of the articles she’d posted on-line. She has an incredible background, writing for top-notch publications, winning awards and accepting international fellowships. And, I started to panic.

I began worrying about whether my accomplishments would ever look as impressive, and whether my name would ever appear in some of the same high-profile publications. I was actually comparing myself to a writer with 25 YEARS of experience.

Instead of recalling all of the things I have accomplished since I started writing, I started making a list of all of the things I needed to do to get published in those high-profile magazines.

I’m certain every writer – every woman – has done this (at least that’s what I told myself to help the panic subside). Instead of focusing on what I have done, I gave in to thinking about what I haven’t done. It’s an ugly disease.

Snow Day

January 07, 2004, 2:43 p.m.
Snow has been falling across the Pacific Northwest for the past three days. At first it was beautiful; J and I bundled up and took a long walk through the nature park adjacent to our house admiring the way the snow looked balanced on tree branches. But eventually the snowflakes turned to freezing rain and several accidents, power outages and inches of freezing rain have turned what was once a beautiful scene into chaos.

Portland is not equipped to deal with snow – there are not enough snow ploughs to clear the roads, native Oregonians aren’t sure how to drive in the snow (and those of us who grew up driving in the snow have forgotten how), and everyone is panicking, purchasing emergency supplies and preparing for the worst. And almost everything is shut down – schools, local businesses, public transportation – while the entire city huddles indoors waiting for the snow to melt.

While most people, including J, are celebrating a few “snow days,” I have numerous projects that need to be completed and no excuse for not making the long commute down the hallway to my home office. I’m sitting here writing and editing and watching cars slipping and sliding along the road outside my window, feeling very fortunate that I have nowhere to go.

Simple Pleasures

December 30, 2003, 2:59 p.m.
The last of the wrapping paper has found its way to the recycle bin, the needles are slowly falling off of the Christmas tree, and the thank you cards have been dropped in the mailbox. It’s official: The holidays are over.

The holidays brought so much magic into my life – letters and cards from family and friends scattered throughout the world, special chocolate treats sent from Canada with love, late nights with J and endless hours to read and write in front of the fire.

These are a few of my favorite things from the past few weeks:

I had a surprise visit from Julie, the founder of Be Real Magazine and a wonderful friend, who hopped a plane from San Francisco to Portland, just for fun.

J and I went to Seattle to see Late Nite Catechism the ACT Theatre. The hilarious one-woman show features Aubrey Manning in the role of “Sister” in an adult Catechism class. It is one of the longest-running shows in Seattle and well worth the trip.

Footsy pajamas

J’s homemade Thai soup, heated games of Battleship, and cheesy holiday movies

I wish you the same simple pleasures this holiday season. Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!

December 17, 2003, 3:11 p.m.
For the past few weeks I have spent a great deal of time sipping tea, writing in my journal, eating far too many holiday treats and doing far too little work.
I have spent an inordinate amount of time and energy tracking down addresses to send holiday cards, cruising the mall for the perfect gifts, racing out to the store at 10 p.m. for tape and standing in line at the post office hoping that the cost of shipping gifts to our families in Canada doesn’t equal the GDP of a small country.
Aside from holiday tasks, most of this month has been spent preparing for 2004: I have been sending out queries, preparing course outlines and handouts for classes I’ll be teaching, following up with editors on outstanding payments and collecting receipts in preparation for filing our taxes.
In just two short days I will be taking a two-week sabbatical. When I turn the computer off on Friday afternoon, I will have two full weeks to do nothing but eat, sleep and read.
Two weeks of relaxation does sound wonderful, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to pull it off. I’ll probably still check my e-mail a few dozen times (just in case there is an editor working through the holidays that needs me), write an article or two (just for fun, of course) and make to-do lists on tiny sticky notes (even if they say, “eat leftover turkey,” having a list makes me feel more productive).
Whether you’re working through the holidays, spending time soaking up the sun or indulging in a few too many rum and eggnogs, I hope you have a happy holiday!

My Holiday Wish

December 05, 2003, 2:20 p.m.
We haven’t even put up our Christmas tree yet, and I’m already worrying about the New Year. The short-term contract I had with the local paper has ended, leaving a gap in my schedule that I am attempting to fill with assignments.

I’m focusing a lot of my efforts on sending out queries, pitching class ideas and making cold calls – basically attempting to set myself up for success in the New Year. I’ve been so busy with assignments lately, I’d forgotten how much effort it takes to sell myself. So far, it seems to be working: I’ve had some fairly positive responses from editors when I’ve called/e-mailed to follow-up on queries and a blind pitch I sent to an editor may result in a few assignments.

I’m also really busy with other projects: I’ve done a bit of painting (walls, not portraits), sewn the most beautiful curtains for our bedroom, baked dozens of cookies, handmade our holiday cards and (almost) finished our shopping.

J and I ‘adopted’ a family through a local non-profit organization – a young mother who is pregnant with her first baby. The families in the program are considered low-income and at-risk and their wish lists often include really basic items like food. We have so much, and it’s so important to us to share our good fortune with others. So, this weekend we’re going to fill a shopping cart with food, diapers, warm clothing and toys to help this mom-to-be have a merry Christmas.

Though we’ve always been generous with our time and money, this year helping others is much more important to me than it has been in the past. J was out of work for 5 months this year, and though we cut back on special treats for ourselves, we never worried about paying our mortgage, getting behind on our bills or having enough food to eat.

There are so many others who are not that fortunate. I can’t help everyone, but by doing what I can – through volunteer work, donations and activism – I can make a difference in a few lives.

Christmas is a time of such greed and consumerism. Too many people are too busy shopping themselves into debt, purchasing gizmos and gadgets they don’t need, and doing little to help those who are in need. If I could ask each of you for one gift this Christmas, I would ask you to put away your credit cards and spend some time volunteering for a local non-profit organization. Whether you have a few hours to serve a meal at the local soup kitchen or want to make a regular commitment to a special charity, it takes so little to make a big difference.

J and I have asked our families and friends to make donations to charity in lieu of giving us presents this year. We know that on Christmas morning we will have played some part in making a child believe in Santa, cheering an elderly person or helping to feed animals at the Humane Society. For us, there is no greater gift.

Happy Holidays!

Class is in Session

November 24, 2003, 4:06 p.m.
In the past month I’ve written dozens of articles, sent out a handful of queries, chased down interview sources, sipped tea with other writers and learned a few important lessons. Because I was taught that it’s nice to share, I wanted to pass my recently acquired pearls of wisdom on to you.

Lesson One: It is entirely possible to write nine articles from start to finish in one week without sacrificing food, sleep or a daytime TV addiction.

I was skeptical at first, telling myself that the only way I could possibly meet nine deadlines (which, incidentally, all fell on the same day) was to work through the night, stopping only to refill my Diet Coke and take short bathroom breaks. I believed I would have to subsist on granola bars and cookies – and anything else my husband could throw at me while I holed up in my office.

But I claimed victory last week when I completed, and submitted all nine assignments. Not only is it possible, truth be told, it wasn’t all that difficult. Not only did I manage to eat three regular meals (and several tasty snacks) every day, I also had time to take a shower, check the mail and catch 8 hours of sleep a night – I even managed to sneak in an episode of Dr. Phil.

Lesson Two: Mean people do exist.

I had the unfortunate experience of having a writer steal my work. This person, who shall remain nameless, didn’t steal an article, or my identity, or my byline; they stole something far more precious – my ideas. And the worst part? This person doesn’t seem to think they’ve done anything wrong!

OK, so maybe no idea is truly original – even I confess to taking an idea from a local publication and turning it into a national assignment – but I would never, ever start pitching an idea that I knew another colleague had already written about and was still actively pitching. And I certainly wouldn’t say, “hey, you know the article you wrote about (insert very obscure, specific topic here)? I’ve pitched it to (insert names of specific publications with strong interest in aforementioned topic).” That’s just wrong.

Lesson Three: When your work is on the Web, it’s fair game.

I recently read about a writer who had her identity, byline, several journal entries and personal essays stolen by another writer. My first thought was, “who would be dumb enough to steal someone’s work/life and reprint them VERBATIUM?” But apparently, someone was.

“Imitation is the highest form of flattery,” so the saying goes, but doesn’t anyone remember their 10th grade English class? Plagiarism is illegal.

It was a slap-in-the-face reminder that putting copyrighted work in a public domain like the Internet doesn’t necessarily protect your work. Over the past several months I’ve had several of my articles reproduced on other web sites. Not only wasn’t I paid for my contributions, I wasn’t even asked for permission to reprint my original work. Apparently it’s perfectly legal if the web site that posts the article lists the original publication as the source.

My advice: Google your name and make sure that the publications and web sites where your work appears are supposed to be posting your words. If not, seek compensation. It is NOT okay to reproduce someone’s work without their permission.

Writer's Bliss

October 30, 2003, 2:33 p.m.
I spent part of my morning sitting in a chilly industrial space interviewing a guy who makes custom bicycle frames. During the interview he said, “I never wanted to work 40 hours a week and go home at night thinking, ‘Is this all there is?’”

I knew exactly what he meant.

We talked at length about how blessed we feel to work at jobs that fulfill us emotionally and spiritually, and to be able pay the bills doing at the same time. Sometimes I sit in front of the computer, tapping away at the keys, pulling together sentences, talking to editors about possible projects and think, “Wow; this is really what I do for a living.”

I can take a break in the afternoon to sip tea and write in my journal. I never schedule an appointment before 10 a.m. I write outside in the summer and in front of the fire in the winter. Even when I get a rejection letter, can’t think of a single thing to write, or learn that I need to make significant revisions to a project I’m working on, I never lose sight of how fortunate I am to be doing at a job that feels more like a hobby than real work.

Writing does involve a lot of hard work; I often feel as though I’m constantly selling myself – to editors, to other writers, even to family and friends. Like any writer, I struggle with writer’s block, rejection and loneliness. No job is perfect, but I truly believe that writing is the perfect job for me.

But even a girl who loves her job needs a little time off. Right now I’m working on 10 articles that are all due in the next week. After that, I’m hoping to have an entire week to make holiday cards, repaint my office, complete some holiday knitting projects, clean out a few closets and call friends I haven’t chatted with in a while. Maybe I’ll even indulge in a massage.

Common Courtesy

October 26, 2003, 1:22 p.m.
I write a lot of advertorials and for the past week I’ve spent the majority of my time trying to schedule interviews with advertisers or waiting by the phone for someone to call me back. I am offering free publicity to companies and no one is interested.

This week alone I had a restaurant, grocery store, furniture store and an electronics store fail to return my calls despite leaving several messages. I had one rude assistant tell me that of course her boss was given the message, but didn’t I still have several hours until my deadline? I called another grocery store.

It took several phone calls, including two from my editor, to get the chef from a local restaurant to speak with me.

I’m still waiting for a call from the furniture store, and although I managed to reschedule an interview with the electronics retailer that cancelled on me just mere minutes before our scheduled interview last week, I have a feeling this week’s interview won’t work out either.

The most frustrating part is that, in many cases, the advertiser has paid the publication to have an article written about them. They understand that writing an article entails being interviewed and have agreed to that. But, when I call, they act as if they have no idea what I’m talking about. If and when we finally do schedule an interview, they manage to reschedule multiple times (because hey, I work from home, so clearly I have nothing better to do than rush out to meet with them with absolutely no notice just hours before my deadline).

Over the course of the past few years I have been fortunate to work with advertisers who understand deadlines, are eager for the publicity and offer the moon and the stars to accommodate my schedule. Sometimes I even work with people who take the time to say thank you.

Just this week I received an e-mail from an advertiser that said, “Jodi, the article is fantastic! We are so happy with it! You’ve articulated exactly what we want to get across! I just love how you started and ended it! Thank you Jodi for your above-and-beyond effort and lending us your obvious talent. We are so appreciative!”

Of course, she hated the first draft and I had to completely rewrite the advertorial, but in the end, the fact that she returned my phone calls, understood my deadline and was willing to spend the time going over, in detail, exactly what she wanted and then took the time to send a thank-you message, made up for the fact that I’m still waiting for the furniture store to call.

Penny for your Thoughts

October 22, 2003, 5:31 p.m.
While we were in Vegas, J and I threw pennies into a wishing well. When I asked J what he wished for, he said, “that everything turns out exactly as it should.”

Here is what his wish has meant for us: Two days after coming home, I found out that I didn’t get the job I wanted. Initially, I was really disappointed, but after thinking about it (almost obsessively for the first two days), I realized that I wanted – needed – the push to move forward with freelancing.

For the past two years I have gotten comfortable relying on assignments from a small pool of editors. While I am endlessly grateful to have editors willing to work with me on a regular basis, I realized that a part-time job would only distract me from pursuing national markets, more lucrative assignments and focusing on writing about subjects that are of great interest to me. I didn’t get the job, but as Martha would say, that’s a good thing.

Being honest about what I wanted from my career also led me to quit a non-writing-related part-time job that I’d been struggling with for the past few months. The job drained me mentally and physically and it had begun to affect the quality of my writing. The decision to give up a regular paycheck was difficult, but in the end, I know it was the right thing to do.

While I was quitting, J was accepting a job offer. After 5 months of searching for work, J is getting ready to rejoin the rat race – and we couldn’t be happier. Of all the interviews he’s had over the past several months, this was the company he really wanted to work for. It’s a small company just 10 miles from home doing a job that only a geek would love. He starts Monday.

It was the perfect wish.

Still Waiting

October 10, 2003, 2:20 p.m.
Every time the phone rings, I hope that the person on the other end of the line is calling to offer me a job. I still haven’t heard anything from the managing editor of the newspaper that interviewed me last week and the waiting is killing me.

Fortunately, I don’t have much time to think about it. Since coming home from Las Vegas on Tuesday (where I actually won a bit of money), I’ve been working non-stop. I have five assignments due in the next week and a meeting next Friday to finalize the details for the class I’m teaching this winter, for which I still have to put together a proposal.

To add to all of the chaos, J has had several interviews so we’ve been trying to coordinate a schedule for sharing the car.

Somewhere in the midst of the busyness, I realized that it is the middle of October. That means that I have less than 6 weeks to make 50 Christmas cards, knit 5 scarves, put together 2 scrapbooks and find the perfect gifts for 5 children and countless other friends and relatives.

Maybe I should pull out the knitting needles and a ball of wool and stop obsessing over the job offer I’m hoping to get.

The Waiting Game

October 04, 2003, 2:08 p.m.
Yesterday I slipped into a suit jacket, pulled a silk blouse from its dry cleaning bag and wore pantyhose for the first time in 5 years: I had a job interview.

I’ve been looking for writing-related work to supplement my freelance income and applied for a position as a part-time reporter for a local paper. Within 24 hours of submitting my resume, I got called in for an interview.

I paced around the house for two hours before the interview practicing answers to interview questions, trying on everything in my closet, fretting over the pimples that appeared overnight and wishing I’d had time to get my hair cut.

The entire interview took less than an hour. I met with the managing editor and two reporters. They filled me in on the details of the position and we talked about my experience. But mostly, we just chatted. It sounds like the perfect position: I would be working with a small team of writers and editors to cover community issues. The hours are flexible and the position has a lot of autonomy. There would be a space for me to work in the newsroom, but most of the work could be done from home (which means there would be almost no need to ever wear pantyhose again).

Now I have to wait.

On the drive home, I made a deal with fate: If I made every light from the highway exit, the job would be mine. It was a risky move – there are 6 stoplights on the way home and I was competing with rush hour traffic – but I did it: Every light was green.

Have you checked your e-mail lately?

September 30, 2003, 2:33 p.m.
I have checked my e-mail at least 50,000 times today. It’s much more fun than actually working and I figure if I check it enough, someone will e-mail me with some interesting news, a new assignment or at the very least, a free password to a porn site. So far I’ve gotten an invitation to the grand opening of a boutique, a story about a woman with one arm that almost made me cry, a reminder about a book club meeting, and a new assignment.

And just a few minutes ago, I received the best e-mail of all: a flight confirmation. I’m off to Las Vegas! Last week, somewhere between juggling two jobs, working odd hours to meet deadlines and preparing for a 4-day visit with my in-laws, I still managed to find time to check my e-mail every 30 seconds. Only this time, I got something better than porn – a free plane ticket!

I was convinced it was a message from fate telling me I need a break.

In reality it was a message from a friend who works for an airline. She had an about-to-expire plane ticket up for grabs and as a reward for my e-mail addiction, I nabbed the ticket. So, instead of working on Sunday afternoon, I’ll be knee-deep in penny slots, Elvis impersonators and all-you-can-eat buffets. Is there any better way to spend a few days?

A Great Compliment

September 24, 2003, 4:35 p.m.
After running around from one interview to another yesterday, I came home and found the most wonderful message in my in-box from an editor I’ve been working with on a fairly regular basis for the past year.

It read:

“You've been doing some really stellar stuff for us--and I'm truly grateful to have someone with your talent writing for us.”

I sat at my desk rereading the message over and over again and thinking, “I love my job.”

Business Plan

September 21, 2003, 3:27 p.m.
For the past week I’ve been interviewing home-based business owners for an article I’m writing and each of them have told me the same thing – even though you work from home, it’s still a business. I had to hear it several times before I realized the adage applied to sales people, speakers, consultants AND writers.

I take my writing very seriously – I send numerous queries every week, I stay connected with editors I’ve worked with, I make cold calls and I always ask for referrals. Still, I know there is more I could be doing to market myself. But to be honest, short of paying thousands of dollars for a flashing billboard with my website address, I wasn’t exactly sure how to begin expanding my personal marketing campaign.

I went to the library and found two books – Guerrilla Publicity and Making a Living Without a Job: Winning Ways for Creating Work that you Love – and after reading them I have a notebook filled with ideas for spreading the word about who I am and what I do.

Both books strongly recommend self-promotion – which seems obvious – but it doesn’t make it any easier.

I am good at selling myself – I’ve learned how to make small talk with strangers; I ask the right questions, laugh in the right places, and most of the time, say the right things. But most of the time I’m scared to death and thinking, “I hope this is over soon,” or “I wonder if they can hear the fear in my voice,” or “I’m really uncomfortable in this group of strangers; I’d rather be home in my pajamas reading a book.”

Often I’ve held back on self-promotion because I don’t want to sound like a smarmy used car salesperson, but something happened this week that made me realize if done correctly, self-promotion can be extremely effective.

I interviewed one of the authors of Guerilla Publicity for the article I mentioned earlier. Toward the end of our conversation, she offered a suggestion for an article – one that would use her, and her book, as the primary source. It was actually a very good idea (that I’m in the process of pursuing) and though she was clearly promoting herself as an expert source, she managed to word it in such a way that made it sound like she was doing me a favor. It wasn’t smarmy at all – and if the idea is accepted, both of us will benefit.

My goal this week is to take what I’ve learned and put it into play – it’s time for me to develop a business plan. I’m going to take the advice of the experts and spend part of the week focused entirely on self-promotion. I want to start laying a foundation that will eventually pay off with assignments, referrals and new clients.

Stay tuned for updates!

Green-eyed Monster

September 09, 2003, 3:39 p.m.
Most of the time I’m a ‘take-the-lemons-and-make-lemonade’ kind of girl, but I have this annoying habit of comparing myself to other people. I’m so busy daydreaming about having Kelly James-Enger’s byline, Alex’s unnerving ability to generate publicity, Oprah’s earning potential, Andy’s travel diary, that I forget to focus on all of the good things in my life – and there are many.

To serve as a reminder of all of the wonderful things I’ve done, seen and accomplished, I’m making a list and posting it here. Next time you hear me talking about what I don’t have, or what I wish I had or what I’m positive I’ll never have, direct me here and tell me to shut up.

I learned to knit
I have been swimming with dolphins
I had my words published in O, the Oprah Magazine
I backpacked through Costa Rica and learned Spanish along the way
I have tried (and survived) skydiving
In the past 5 years I have moved from Toronto, to Calgary to California to Portland and I’m working on creating my own travel diary
I have a college degree
I fell in love with a wonderful boy and married him even though people said we didn’t know each other well enough to commit to a lifetime together
I finished a half-marathon
I always tell the truth
I paid off my student loans
I can make the world’s best apple crisp
I can laugh at myself
I ate crawfish, alligator and frog’s legs in New Orleans
I have helped to raise a little boy who hugs me tight and says, “I lub bu Dodi”
I make all of my holiday cards by hand and write a personalized letter in every single one
I own a home
I take risks every day
Perhaps most importantly, I have taken a passion for writing and turned it into a fulfilling career. Along the way I’ve handled rejection and taken on a few not-so-glamorous jobs to help pay the bills, but I’m still here – writing. And that may be my biggest accomplishment of all.

Taking Chances

2003-09-04, 7:45 p.m.
I’ve been home for less than 48 hours and I’ve somehow managed to overcome jetlag, a minor head cold and an overwhelming amount of laundry. The past two days have been amazingly productive for me: I’ve unpacked, sorted through two weeks’ worth of mail, answered dozens of e-mails, turned in one article and written two others – and in the process I managed to snag a part-time job.

I’m definitely glad to be back home, in my own bed, with regular Internet access, but I have to admit, despite spending two weeks sleeping on an air mattress, sharing a car with my dad and sharing one shower with my entire family, it was good to go home.

My mom and I sat in the backyard chatting, my dad and I argued politics and my sister took me shopping in an attempt to bring my wardrobe into the 21st century (needless to say, she was not impressed when I chose matching yoga pants and a jacket). J and I took a road trip, I spent time with good friends, ate a lot of good food and got sick on the rides at Canada’s Wonderland (in a vain attempt at being considered a good sport).

Now I’m home.

September has always signaled the beginning of a new year for me – much more than January does. I put an extra blanket on the bed, wear cozy sweaters, brew endless cups of tea and set goals for the year. Since it’s still close to 100 degrees in Portland, I’ve had to postpone the blankets, sweaters and tea in favor of air conditioning, shorts and cold water, but I have been thinking a lot about setting goals.

Here’s what I’ve decided: this year, I’m not setting goals.

For the past year my life has seemed a bit out of control. J was laid off, which forced me to face a lot of fears and issues from my past. I spent several months working in a toxic environment and dealt with a huge sense of failure when I decided to quit. I’ve struggled with my identity and had to consider how my ambitions as an individual are affected by my marriage. At one point I even considered giving up writing for a “real” job.

I was standing in a bookstore in Ottawa when I read the tagline on the cover of a novel that said, “Life offers you a thousand chances…all you have to do is take one.” And I decided that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Instead of plotting a course for the next year, I’m going to take chances along the way. For a girl who lives by lists and goals and accomplishments, it’s a brave move.

Keep reading to see how it works out.