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.
Sunday, December 30, 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.
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…
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).
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.
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!
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!
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