I am a freelance writer who has written for many magazines including SELF, Ladies' Home Journal, New Jersey Monthly, Writer's Digest, Women's Health and Fitness, Girls' Life, and others. I have also completed a young adult novel for which I am currently seeking representation. Please check out my website www.thewritingjourney.org to find out about the writing life as well as to get writing tips and advice.

[pic1]
Freelancing definitely has its perks - flexible hours, the ability to work from home, the opportunity to be creative. But, like with any job, you can burn out. The constant generation of ideas and the need to pitch can get difficult and even make those with the toughest skin weary. In these moments, you may wan... continue reading

Remember those high school days where a vital part of the revision process included adding high brow words from your thesaurus? Seems like we never quite got out of this habit. At least that’s what Merriam-Webster tells us. This year, 100 new words were added, but to say they are sophisticated, is a large overstatement... continue reading

In June, I wrote 20 pages of my new novel, finished two articles, and read books on writing technique. And the last few weeks? I have spent time with friends, went on walks, and caught up on old movies. When I mentioned this to a friend of mine, my voice all low and ashamed, she said, “C’mon, you deserve a break.” “Yea... continue reading

It seems that the list of concerns when writing articles keeps growing. First, you attempt to think of a creative topic to pitch. Then, you wonder about how to construct the pitch. Once the pitch is picked up, you worry about interviewing subjects. When interviews are figured out, you mull over constructing the article... continue reading

I recently did something that I said I would never do. That I looked down on others for doing. Whenever the topic arose in public, I would smile encouragingly all the while feeling inwardly superior for not stooping so low. Yet, last week it happened. I read a romance novel. And not only did I like it, but I found how ... continue reading

As with any job, you want to reach an ever higher level than where you are now. There are always ways to perfect your plot, technique, character formation, and reporting skills. I found that writing workshops, festivals, seminars, and conferences are great places to go to hone one’s craft. But, since you don’t want to ... continue reading

Your pitch was picked up, your article is outlined, and now it’s time for the interviews. While it can be exciting to talk with experts, it can also be intimidating. Below are some tips that I hope will make this process flow smoothly (or smoother than it has been).
 
Use Technology
 
   &n... continue reading

The Business of Clips
The idea of clips seems like a Catch-22. You need them to get a pitch picked up, but how can you get them if no one gives you a chance to write an article? So, what does one do? This is the question I get asked most often. The situation, however, is not as impossible as it appears.
 
Use ... continue reading

Getting Ahead in the Freelancing World
Whenever I meet young writers, it always amazes me how much they know. And while I'm mostly impressed, part of me is jealous because I only learned in my late 20s what they already know as sophomores in college. I am sure there are others like me (of all ages) who do not know wha... continue reading

Rethinking the Classics
While the fashion front has been lenient in creating room for more styles and accessories, the literary world often balks at changes in its lineup. A few weeks ago, I explored readers' hesitancy in giving YA novels their due. This week, I'd like to focus on books we see as classics. Why can pea... continue reading

Networking Know-How
You may have the pitch letter down and sources ready, but there is something else that will get you even more jobs than the perfectly crafted query. Not follow-up calls or a sneak peak at all the new studies. Not glossy clips either. The answer is not even a what.
 
As the old saying goes, ... continue reading

          Lately I have been in the mood to do very little. I still teach a few hours a day, create pitches, and work on articles, but all through this I have had this feeling that there is something else out there. Something more. Something I rather be doing. We all get the... continue reading

Coping with the Revise
Up until a few years ago, a revised piece meant that I had read it over twice and double-checked grammar and context. Blame it on my high school English teachers. Then, I began working on a novel and realized—wonder of wonders—that so much more is needed to make a creative work flow. Those of yo... continue reading

A disturbing thing is happening in bookstores. Favorite titles, old and new, are getting misplaced. Most recently, I was talking to my sister about Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. This beautifully written story is told from the perspective of a 13-year-old girl.
 
As I was getting into the plot nuances, my sister... continue reading

Whether you are attempting to write the introductory paragraph to a non-fiction article or another chapter of your novel, there comes a time - no matter how prepared you are - that you are left staring at a blank screen. You can use this bout of writer's block as an excuse to procrastinate on that book or article, but ... continue reading

By now, I assume you are rested and rejuvenated and sitting at your tidy desk, ready to embark on the next phase of the freelancing life. You know the goal is to get assignments and you have various ideas jotted in your notepad or on your computer screen. The next few steps will tell you just what to do to transform yo... continue reading

When you start freelancing, there are many things you can no longer do. You can't wait for someone else to tell you when it's time to go home. You can't take a break without feeling like you're wasting valuable interview or writing time. You can't depend on someone else to say you are doing a good job. And you can't wr... continue reading

The Beginning
 
After months or years of planning, you have finally done it. You have weaned yourself from your pay-the-bills job to pursue a career that will pay less than half (and half is if you're lucky) of what you made before. In your new life as a freelance writer you will have to contend with jealous typ... continue reading