News And Updates
For quite some time now, I’ve been working toward opening my own private career coaching practice. The idea sprouted after about two years of full-time freelancing — due to all the e-mails I was receiving from young up-and-comers looking for advice — and, when the economy eventually went south, it just seemed like common sense to figure out new and interesting ways to diversify. The publishing landscape was changing, and it was time to look to the future, and to figure out how I might fit into an industry that was in flux.
Now, with exams and teleclasses behind me, and with seemingly more and more people floundering every day — wanting a change and not knowing what change to make, or how to go about making it — it seems about time to get this party started.
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For a few months now, I’ve been working on a copywriting project made up of very adult content. And so, I’ve been spending my weekends at Barnes & Noble, researching sexting and lube and anal sex for beginners and writing furiously. A few weeks ago, upon telling my husband about the latest topic I was researching, he smirked and said, “I’m sorry, but I just can’t take your work seriously.”
I get the feeling this is a problem many writers have, even if they aren’t writing about nude wrestling and shower sex.
So I’m trying to dive right back into things. Here at Freelancedom, and with my fledgling coaching practice. I’m even beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel with the copywriting project I’ve been spending so much time on. Maybe if I’m lucky, I can even get a few pitches out this weekend, to some people I’ve recently been put in contact with. Oh, and I do have that guest post to write. Ah, well. So much for weekends. Before all that, though, I’d like to present you with some interesting links…just to pass the time with:
Sometimes, when I’m at the office, I’ll finish up a project and be completely unable to start something new, just because there’s a meeting in 30 minutes. And even if it’s totally possible for me to whip up a blog post within those 30 minutes and set it to go live, I won’t.
Because my mind is occupied with waiting.
And that’s pretty much how I’ve been feeling these past two weeks.
Lordy, it’s shaping up to be quite the month. Things at YourTango continue to get even busier (who knew that was possible?), and my ongoing copywriting project soldiers on. I’m also leading a team in Freelance Success’s biannual Query Challenge, and I spent yesterday doing some market research at Barnes & Noble, and sending out query letters and LOIs. I’m loving my team. They’re so…motivated. It’s gonna be a trip to keep up with them!
But let’s hold off on February for the moment. How did I do last month?
It’s been a good week. I’ve been ridiculously busy at the office. I’ve been ridiculously busy at home. And it seems that query challenge karma alone is bringing new opportunities my way. (At the moment, I’m at Barnes & Noble, working on my ongoing copywriting project and doing some market research.) Before I dive back into work, I wanted to share with you this week’s link love:
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I don’t typically write about writing here. Or at least I try not to. Not directly.
I try to keep my content inclusive to all freelancers, despite how obvious it is that I’m a total booktard, and a slave to producing content.
But this past Monday marked the beginning of the FLX Query Challenge, a friendly, biannual competition in which teams rack up points depending upon how many queries they send out each week, and how many assignments they land. I’ve been on a pitching hiatus for awhile now — due to my new job at YourTango, my career coaching certification program, and an ongoing copywriting project — but I’m excited to start putting out feelers again … especially since I’m a team leader this time around.
So for all those writers out there — writers who are trying to get back into the pitching rhythm, writers who have been pitching all along (show-offs), and writers who are just starting out — I thought I’d put up a refresher on the pitch process.
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Work has been pretty damn good lately (aside from the occasional seasonal slump). And — conceited as it may sound — I credit myself for a lot of that. After all, I’m the one who got me here. When I was unhappy at my 9-to-5, and daydreaming about freelancedom, I figured out the steps I’d need to take in order to make it work, and then took them. I self-educated myself with a shit-ton of how-to books. I took writing and pitching classes through MediaBistro and at the New School. I attended a ton of MediaBistro networking events, and formed a writing group. I secured a freelance gig before jumping ship and, during the transitional period, was working two jobs at once. And when I’d left my 9-to-5 behind, I took on another unpaid, post-college internship in order to gain more experience, contacts, and clips.
I seem to be pulling out of that slump I was in for the past couple of weeks with my at-home freelance work. My copywriting is going faster, and easier, and I’m also feeling fired up for Freelance Success’s regular query challenge, which starts tomorrow, and for which I’m actually a team leader (talk about accountability…). On top of all that, I’m loving my part-time, on-site job more and more every day (which happens to make life — and my commute — a lot less gloomy). How is everyone else weathering the long winter?
Okay, okay. I know what you’re here for. This week’s link love:
Hey guys! In my new role as Assistant Editor at YourTango.com, I am responsible for hiring editorial interns, and it’s about time for me to seek the next batch. Interested?
YourTango is a fast-growing online media company/web mag that provides content devoted to love and relationships. We’re seeking a motivated editorial intern to join the YourTango team. Responsibilities include:
- writing for our news/trends/celebrity blogs
- contributing content ideas for video, features, photo galleries, etc.
- photo research and editing
- social media marketing
- and content production.
Requirements:
—Excellent writing skills
—Photoshop experience
—Familiarity with online media (basic HTML, CMS experience, knowledge of SEO)
—Ability to commit to a part-time 4-month–or full-time 3-month–internship
A small stipend or college credit is available.
If you’re interested, you should e-mail me with your resume, cover letter, and a sample blog post (previously published blog posts are also accepted).
Well come on, guys! Send along those writing samples! And if you know someone else who might be interested, pass it along!