Sometimes it’s better said in a song Originally published in an episode of Writing Class Radio “All by myself” I sang the strains of the Celine Dion favorite with over-the-top conviction. The spotlight hit me perfectly as I wailed out the final notes in triumph. The audience broke into applause. …

Maybe you’re trying to find a gift for the friend who frantically texts you “is this okay? I know it’s probably horrible, but let me know if it’s at least not the worst thing you’ve ever seen” about their first draft. You’ve come to the right place! Whether you’re shopping…

The history behind a minute Simpsons reference “Kippers for breakfast, Helga? Is it St. Swithin’s Day already?” Though I first saw The Simpsons episode “Bart of Darkness” when I was 9, Bart’s cockney accented request has stayed with me for the past 27 years. …

It’s not as bad as you think. Writers have active imaginations (obviously). And those imaginations get quite a workout after they send an article pitch to an editor. When you send in a pitch, it’s easy to imagine the worst. …

Did “Orinoco Flow” need a sax solo? No. Right now, Enya is probably sitting in her literal castle in Ireland, gazing thoughtfully at the clouds and composing another soothing melody in her mind. …

How constant worry was more harmful to my writing life than send a few crappy pitches. When you first start freelance writing, pitching is scary. You have to reach out to strangers and those strangers are in charge of bylines, money, and validation of your writing career. …

I’m Going to Write for the New York Times: Chapter 6 This is an ongoing column about my quest to write for the New York Times. If you’d like to know the background behind why I’m doing this, check out the first installment of the series. My life has always…

Anyone can pitch any publication and it’s not annoying. When I started freelance writing, I never considered pitching publications directly. “Why would Real Simple want to hear from me? I’d just be annoying them!” I thought. So, I kept writing for small places, responding to ads, and assumed that people…

The internet is full of places where you can get paid to write. “I love to write but I hate getting paid!” is something I’ve never heard anyone say. More likely you’ve thought, “I love to write, but don’t know how to get paid/I’m tired of getting paid Dickensian prices.” …