Thank you for all your comments and tweets and sharing last week about "How Did This Get Made." Shall we do it again? Two, briefly.
Story: "The Mistakes We Make When Moving" for The New York Times
This came from a very simple place: I moved, and I asked movers to tell me some horror stories. I also read Finn Murphy's The Long Haul last year, so I pitched the story along these lines: talk to movers about what they've seen, and interview Murphy too. And we have a story.
Story: "Summer Running is Finally Coming to an End" for USA Today
I got the idea because I've been running through the summer, and it sucks. This is one of those essays where the parts kept coming into my head, and I kept running into my office to write them down. I went through five drafts before making submissions. Op-eds are typically submitted as complete pieces, and I sent this to the general USA Today op-ed email address. I was surprised they bought it! I've never had luck submitting that way, but this was one piece that had to get out, so I gave it a whirl and hit the target, just in time for Labor Day Weekend (and on a process note, I did put in the subject line that it was timely to Labor Day).
This piece is really one long complaint, but here's what I think makes it an op-ed: "…despite driving me crazy, it's the only thing that keeps me sane." I added that in draft four. It gives the piece a point rather than just being me ranting (though that's fun too).
And now let's get onto the usual business. I'm leaving for Maine on Monday and have a lot of running and packing to do before I go. On with the show!
Recent Bylines
"Summer Running is Finally Coming to an End" for USA Today
"Running While Female" for The New York Times
"The Mistakes We Make When Moving" for The New York Times
"Managers scrutinize queue time as supply chains demand speed" for Supply Chain Dive
"Cover the U.S. in 89 Percent Trees — or Go Solar" for Michigan Tech News
"Black and Blue: Different Silicon Drops Cost of Solar" for Michigan Tech News
What I'm Reading
- The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand. The perfect beach read – not a surprise as Hilderbrand always writes them. I found this for $2 at a library book sale. I'm so glad I caught up.
- Vacationland by John Hodgman. I bought this because I'm going to Maine, and I knew part of it was about Maine. Hodgman wrote parts of this for performance and/or This American Life. I think I could tell which were performed first, and which were written for the book. I liked the latter better, which is a good sign as his book writing career goes forward hopefully as him writing as himself, not as a character. We'll see!
- The Closers by Michael Connelly. I realized after I finished this that I'm slowly catching up to the present day point in the series. Oh no! I like the idea that there's a bunch more books for me to read until I catch up. Oh well.
- The Incomplete Book of Running by Peter Sagal. I loved this! I had talked to Peter while he was writing it, and I can see why he asked the questions they asked. It also had me wondering how many more books will include the 2011 Philadelphia Marathon – mine does. So does his. It'll come out in late October. Expect an interview with him at some point this fall (not for this newsletter, for a paying client haha).
- My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout. I ran through this in two days. A quiet little book about family. I liked it.
- Anna and the Sparrow Man by Gabriel Savit. This is a YA book about Poland during the German occupation leading into WW II. It's very sad, but so far, it's a worthwhile read.
- Captain America. Marvel Studios put all their movies into IMAX around Labor Day weekend, so I took myself to see Cap. First, I forgot how good this movie is. Second, incredible! It's a very different movie than what Marvel's been making today (not a criticism – just different) and I remembered why I fell in love with the movie back in 2011. It's so so good. I went home and bought a Captain America shirt and watch. It was also a reminder of what a difference seeing something on the big screen can make in the movie experience. I had planned to go back this week to see The Avengers in IMAX but was sick boo.
- Baby Boom. I can't remember of I'd seen this before. If I had, I forgot it. It was delightful! My aesthetic is now Diane Keaton's coats in this movie.
- To All the Boys I've Loved Before. This Netflix rom com is as good as everyone had said it is. I loved it. I'll probably watch it again with my mom and I very much hope that the book's sequels become movies too.
- I'm also still watching Inspector Lewis and re-watching season two of The Good Place. Im watching one episode at a time and listening to respective podcast episode, which is really fun.
Until Next Time!
Jen A. Miller
​jenamiller.com
runningalovestory.com
twitter.com/byjenamiller
instagram.com/jenamillerrunner
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