Category Archives: Living

Back from Sunny California

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I was lucky enough to spend the past week basking in the California sunshine. The flowers, palm trees and sun were all gorgeous. I even enjoyed a few guilty pleasures while I was there. I think my favorites were dining out every day (and not ordering off the low-cal portion of the menu) and sipping a pina colada (virgin–of course) by the pool. I’m paying the price for both of those this week. I think the warm weather has made me a little less tolerant of the snow that was blanketing the ground when we landed. At least I have lots of pictures to remind me that warm weather will be right around the corner–even if the groundhog predicted otherwise.

Shaping 2010

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One of the most amazing women I blog stalk is Rachel Coleman, the co-creator of the Signing Time series and a mom of two girls. This week on her blog she had an inspiring post on Creating The Year 2010. For the past few years, she and her family have declared each year The Year of ___________. They’ve had The Year of No More Somedays, The Year of Fun & Adventure and The Year of Health & Fitness. 

I love the idea and started thinking about creating my own 2010. I’ve decided it is going to be The Year of If Not Now, Then When? No more procrastinating on those projects floating around in my mind or the adventures I want to plan with my family. This year I will take the time to pursue all those story ideas I’ve come up with and make time for more of my personal writing. It is too late to make it to Punxsutawney for Groundhog Day this year, but I’m going to start researching hotels and book a trip for 2011.

I’m going to print my new little mantra out and pin it above my desk, so each day I’m reminded to take advantage of the opportunities that come my way. And for those opportunities that I just can’t pursue right now, I’m going to answer the question of ‘when?’ I hope to come up with more concrete answers than ‘someday’ or ‘when things slow down.’ 

Thanks, Rachel, for the great idea and for offering up so much inspiration on your blog!

And, I’m curious, what is your year 2010 going to be? 

Freelancing is Hard, But So Are Other Jobs

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I read yet another article today about how hard it is to make a living as a freelancer. I will be the first to agree that a successful freelance career requires persistence, determination and a lot of hard work. Yes–it is time consuming and no–it is not easy. But how many jobs really are easy? 

My time spent as beat reporter at newspapers wasn’t a walk in the park. Covering Cook County Criminal Court in Chicago was a tough gig that came with daily deadlines, whether or not a trial went the way I thought it was going to. Some days writing pitches and facing an editor’s rejection can seem easier than walking up to the family of a murder victim and asking for a few minutes of their time.

Covering transportation at a weekly paper came with many of the same deadlines, obstacles and challenges that I face as a freelancer. You know that source that promised to be available at 3:00? The one that you’ve been counting on so you can wrap up your story? Well, he will forget, but that can happen whether you’re a staffer or a freelancer. Finding and cultivating sources takes time. So does learning who you can trust—no matter who you are writing for. 

When I moved on to edit a trade magazine, I not only had to create editorial content, but also had to deal with creating budgets, monitoring ad sales and maintaining the bottom line. I also had to commute an hour and a half each day.

So, every time I hear someone say that freelancing is hard, I remind myself that most things in life are. Luckily, I’ve never been afraid of hard work and I have had a great year as a freelancer. Plus, the benefits of the freelance life far outweigh the obstacles. I promise. 

The Best Laid Plans

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I had high expectations of our trip to the National Book Festival on Saturday. I had visions of sitting on the front row in the fiction tent, taking in everything the authors had to say. Meanwhile I figured Evan, my two year old, and my husband, Bryan, would be entertained in the PBS kids’ tent. Of course this plan hinged on us leaving the house no later than 8:30 in order to be downtown and parked well ahead of the first speaker. 

Instead the day started out with a little kitchen incident that involved blueberry-lemon muffins and lots of smoke billowing from the oven. Clearing the smoke from the house and ensuring the oven wasn’t going to actually catch fire put us behind schedule. That meant nearly all the parking was taken by the time we got downtown, so we circled the National Mall for about 45 minutes trying to find a space. As we were circling, Evan spotted the carousel and spent the next 15 minutes asking when we could ride. 

I gave in on the carousel ride, so we were pretty far behind schedule by the time we made it into the book festival. I pulled out my camera to snap a few pictures when I suddenly realized the battery was dead. You know what they say about the best laid plans, but the day was still a success. I was able to see Jeannette Walls, Jodi Piccoult and Paula Deen speak. I didn’t get to spend as much time in the fiction tent as I had hoped, but I did get to see Evan be entertained by Judy Blume and Mo Willams who read their favorite children’s books to the kids. Evan got to meet Clifford the Big Red Dog and see Elmo. Evan’s face lit up when he received three new books. 

I know there will come a day when I get to spend all the time I want taking in my favorite authors, but for now, seeing Evan discover reading and watching him learn to love it was far better than that front row seat I had planned to get. 

Hello Class of 2013

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This weekend I went to a Northwestern alumni event and had a great conversation with one of the Medill School of Journalism’s incoming freshman. I had fun talking with the student and her mom, and it made me realize how much has changed since I graduated with my Master’s Degree in 2001.

My only tools of the trade were a tape recorder (yes—with actual tapes), a notebook and a pen. Apparently incoming freshman are now expected to arrive with a digital audio recorder, digital camera, video camera and a lavalier mic. Obviously changing technology is driving the cost down and making those items affordable, but it also says a lot about the changing roles of journalism and how a story is reported.

When I got home I told my husband about the new freshmen and the fact that they are the class of 2013. If I could put numbers in all caps, I would. Seriously, 2013? When did that happen? These “kids” were born in the 90s–a decade I remember well. While I was talking to them, I found myself saying things like, “I’m sure a lot has changed since I was at Medill,” and “When I was there…” At least I didn’t tell them about how I had to walk to class in the snow uphill both ways. 

When I went to bed, I felt a lot older than I had earlier in the day. But I also had a renewed level of excitement for the industry, for the new Medillians, the reporting they will do and the way they will help shape the future of journalism. Newspapers, magazines and online news are changing rapidly right now, but I can’t imagine the need for good reporting will go away. It will be interesting to see how it changes shape. 

When One Door Closes, Another Opens

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 I had the nicest surprise today. First, I should say that I am nearing the end of a yearlong contract with a client. It has been great to have a stable line of work in addition to the articles I pitch or write on assignment. I’ve been telling myself that once this contract ends I’ll have time to take on new projects, but I haven’t had a set plan on what those projects will be. Then today I received a call from an editor looking for a transportation writer for a long-term project. Voila! The editor is sending me more information about the job, so I have some reading to do, but so far it sounds like it might be a good fit. Of course, it is early in the process and we need to make sure it is right for both of us, but it is a great reminder that when one door closes, another opens.