Views, money made, and how you can go viral in 2021
When I look back on my freelancing journey, I think of one word: grateful. I don’t mean to be cliché, but how could I not feel that way?
Let me explain what I mean. I graduated from college in a pandemic and struggled to find a job. I decided to see where I could go with freelance writing, a dream of mine since it allows me to work mostly for myself. Besides writing articles as a multimedia journalist for Avant-Youth for a period of time, I began freelancing for Medium and POPSUGAR in June, and Women AdvaNCe in July.
The first few months were a lot, emotionally. I cried and stressed often over not making enough money and aching for more success, but I also remember days when making $0.05 on Medium thrilled me. …
These signs may trick you, but the implications are clear.
Managing Relationships, Enmeshment and Ourselves
Sometimes, managing relationships and ourselves within them can feel like a full-time job. So many kinds of relationships exist, and there’s always new dating slang coming out. We aim to have healthy relationships with our friends, family, potential romantic partners and even strangers — which can take work.
To have that, we have to work on ourselves, including our attachment styles that have been forming since we were born. We do our best, though our successes also come with mistakes. …
You deserve true love — and this isn’t it.
Have you ever heard a word for something you experienced, and suddenly everything made sense? You may have sighed peacefully from that validation, or maybe you became more upset. If so, you’re not alone. When I realized I was unhappy in my relationship because it wasn’t a genuine relationship at all, but “breadcrumbing,” I felt those same ways.
“Breadcrumbing” is a dating phenomenon in which someone flirts with you periodically to keep you interested, but doesn’t intend on committing or putting in much effort. Every time you tell yourself, “Screw this, I’m unhappy and don’t feel important,” the breadcrumber seems to just know, and will start messaging you again. And, if you’re interested or lonely, you’ll give in. No judgment here — I did that for months, if not years. …
Hint: It’s not your fault — but you can find happiness
As the new year starts (and year-round, truly), diet talk is prevalent. Billboards and even loved ones tell us, in a subtle or not-so-subtle way, that we’re too fat or we’re eating too much. We get the idea that once we try *that* diet or lose *those X pounds*, we’ll finally love ourselves and live the lives we want. These are understandable concerns and hopes.
But while it may seem this message is driven by hope, it’s actually driven by fear.
Fear that people won’t love us for who we are right now. Fear that we aren’t attractive and won’t find a significant other. Fear that we’re seen as lazy or greedy or not good enough in many ways. …
Hint: They may not be as mad as you think.
As an anxious person in general and in relationships, I often overthink several worries. I’m over-perceptive, sensing emotions in others that they may not even be feeling. Is she annoyed I haven’t done the dishes yet? Is he disappointed I don’t know more about this topic? The list goes on.
Sometimes, I’m so worried or I’m judging myself so hard that I assume the other person’s thoughts; I apologize and feel guilty before the other person even expresses their concern.
And guess what? They usually aren’t even thinking or judging me in the way I assume they are. Often, I’m taking their behaviors personally when they’re not personal at all. Maybe my loved one is having a bad day, or they don’t even realize how they’re coming across. …
And information on rates, strong headlines, and more
Pitching publications and improving writing skills can feel daunting and exciting at the same time. We may not be sure how to do it best or which publications to choose. We may not know what makes a successful pitch or if a publication will pay the amount we need. Having success in these areas definitely takes time, practice, and support from others — but it’s worth it. In order to make the support aspect more easily accessible to you, I compiled seven resources that can help you pitch successfully, make more money, and write stronger headlines.
1. Tim Herrera’s interview about getting on an editor’s go-to list
Tim Herrera is an editor for The New York Times who wants to help other freelance writers. He interviewed freelancer Anna Goldfarb, a writer he’s turned to multiple times for stories about relationships and careers. In his newsletter, which you can access on his Substack website, he included the written version of the interview in which Goldfarb shares how she presented herself as an editor’s go-to writer. This interview also covers information about rates she charges, how she comes up with ideas, and more helpful advice worth reading. …
202Done
Good writing isn’t always the key to success
I’ve worked as a freelance writer for around six months now, so I still consider myself new to the game. However, I have learned many invaluable lessons. With the help of those lessons, I now make enough money to live off my part-time writing work. While I made $28.64 on Medium and $73.64 total in my first month of freelancing, I made $3,893.99 on Medium and $4,538.99 total this past month, five months later. Further, I’m on track to make even more this month. If you’d like to make extra money writing next year, here are five unconventional tips.
1. Good writing is important, but it’s not everything
To make money writing, you have to write well. Solid grammar, interesting ideas, and other similar elements are all crucial. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t share that some of my articles that made the most weren’t my best writing or hard to write. In fact, I almost didn’t publish them because they didn’t seem to be on the same level as some of my other work. Remember, we can’t always expect which articles will do well, and writing skill isn’t the only tool needed. …
We could all benefit from hearing these.
I didn’t intend to spend a chunk of my Christmas Day crying over one of my relationships, but I did. Blubbering in a not cute way — it’s okay to be an “ugly crier,” by the way — I felt hopeless, worried, and offended.
Later on, I realized while I don’t necessarily know of specific people or situations, I do know I’m not alone in this hurt. How could I not be? Breakups spike in December. Our world is highly charged politically right now, dividing our families. Grief can hit harder around the holiday season. …
This word is common but unhelpful.
I’ve always placed expectations upon myself, usually ones enforced by society. I feel a need to look a certain way, to act a certain way, to feel a certain way, and more. Instead of feeling motivated or encouraged, I feel inadequate. Unhelpful thoughts run through my head on repeat, and they can sound like:
“You should eat fewer calories and lose weight so you’ll look better and fit into your clothes.”
“You should hurry up and find a ‘normal’ job so people don’t judge the freelance path you’re taking.”
“You should stop sharing your anecdotes with mental illness, because people think less of you.” …
Men can have eating disorders, too
On last Tuesday’s episode of “The Bachelorette,” contestant Ben Smith went home. While bachelorette Tayshia said she didn’t think he was open enough, and while he didn’t express his love, I believe Ben was open in a very important way. A few weeks back, he shared a hard truth I was so proud of him for sharing: He struggled with bulimia for 10 years.
While we still don’t talk about eating disorders enough, we especially don’t talk about them enough when they pertain to identity groups who don’t fit the cookie-cutter mold of someone with an eating disorder. When TV and movie characters struggle with eating disorders, they’re usually thin, white women. Think “To the Bone,” “Feed,” and “Skins.” Rarely do we see characters (or even celebrities) who are of color, male, LGBTQIA+, or disabled with eating disorders. …
