Nov 23, 2021The 2021 Holiday Gift Guide for WritersMaybe 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…Christmas19 min read
Jul 15, 2021Is It St. Swithin’s Day Already?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. …The Simpsons4 min read
Apr 13, 2021What Really Happens When Your Pitch Gets RejectedIt’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. …Writing5 min read
Apr 13, 2021The Worst Thing is the Best Thing: When Enya Sold Her SaxophoneDid “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. …Writing3 min read
Apr 13, 2021Pitching is Scary, Not Pitching is WorseHow 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. …Writing Tips3 min read
Apr 10, 2021The Freelance Writing Waiting GameI’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…Writing Tips3 min read
Apr 9, 2021How to Pitch Top Publications in 2021Anyone 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…Writing4 min read
Apr 7, 2021157 Publications That Pay Writers in 2021The 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.” …Freelance Writing6 min read
Apr 7, 20213 Half-Assed Tax Tips for Freelancers from a Lazy CreativeA reminder that even if you’re not financially perfect…you’ll still be okay. Since I was 19, I’ve had at least two jobs at once. Since those jobs involved, acting, writing, and other random 1099 tasks, my taxes have been difficult for 16 years. I’d love to say I’ve learned a…Freelancing5 min read
Apr 5, 2021How a 30 Second Email Can Get You Writing WorkIt’s the easiest email you’ll ever write. For freelance writers, pitching is super important. It’s how you get new clients, place new stories, and basically, get work. But the pitch is just the first step. It’s a big step, but if you simply send one email and hope for the…Writing3 min read