Happy (almost) Halloween! I don't have much planned, though I have purchased candy to give out. I think I'm head of where I was last year, so that's a plus.
But now I am fully back from vacation and mostly caught up on my work. I also have a few new initiatives. While away, I took some time to think about what I want to do with my writing in the next year or so. I made a big change this spring by stepping down from my weekly New York Times spot, and I don't regret it. But it's also opened up the time and space for something different.
I spent a lot of time driving around New England, and running around New England, and came up with a few ideas long the way. I bought a little notebook and wrote them down. One is to start writing essays about my past road trips (with the hope of one day turning them into a book).
Another is to add a new type of writing to my portfolio (which I'll keep to myself for now). Last week, I started marketing towards that goal by doing what Jennifer Goforth Gregory says to do in her book The Freelance Content Marketing Writer: I looked at my own network and identified who I already know in that field. I sent three "hey how are you" emails that also of course mentioned that I was looking to expand into X, and asked them to let me know of any opportunities that might pop into mind.
Of those three emails, I am having a back and forth over email with one recipient, and calls set up with the other two this week. Those who set up calls said that they had projects they've wanted to do, but hadn't gotten around to finding a writer for them yet.
I tell you this for two reasons:
- The best way to start your freelancing career or find new freelancing opportunities is by using your own network. When you reach out to someone you already know, even if you just know them in passing, you don't need to research and write a pitch. You also don't need to craft an LOI designed to convince them that you're trustworthy (most likely – maybe you aren't! I don't know all of you). You've already established a relationship, so the legwork involved in convincing them you're worth a consideration is just less.
- You're not bothering people when you market. That's true in sending a "hey how are you email" to someone they already know, or reaching out to a potential client with a letter of introduction. Look at the examples above. They have projects on their to do list they haven't gotten around to yet. I'm not bothering them. Instead, I'm potentially saving them time by just showing up. And if we decide to work together? That's money in the bank of me, and an item off their to do list in return.
On with the show!
Recent Bylines
"Your Burnout is Real" for Clinical Laboratory News
"After Colon Cancer with More than 175 Genetic Mutations, Patient is in Remission" for Insight
"Supply Chains Adopt, Invest Millions in Inventory Optimization Tech" for Supply Chain Dive
"How to Connect Communities to Colorectal Cancer Screenings" for Penn Today
"Priya Donti: Scientist and Visionary" for Mudd
"Closing the Gap: Supply Chains Bring More Women to the Table" for Supply Chain Dive
"RFID and Sensor Tech Get Cheaper, Faster, and More Pervasive" for Supply Chain Dive
"An Effective Cloud Strategy is a Frame of Mind, Not a One-Time Transition" for CIO Dive
"Leadership Unscripted: Addressing the Future of Work and Workers Rights, During a Continuing Global Pandemic" for The Darden Report
"From Bust to Boom in Diagnostics Innovation" for Clinical Laboratory News
"A Longer Lasting Eye in the Sky" for Mines Magazine
What I'm Reading
- Ten Things I Hate About the Duke by Loretta Chase. Ehhhh. A friend recently sent me a bunch of romance novels from authors I hadn't read before, so I'm trying new things. I'm so/so on this one.
- Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Like all of her books, a dishy read.
- The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw. A wonderful collection of short stories.
- Nature Girl by Carl Hiaasen. No one does "weird Florida novel" better than Hiassen.
- Money: The True Story of a Made-Up Thing by Jacob Goldstein. This was short and fascinating and made me think of money in ways I hadn't considered before. I listened to this as an audiobook.
- The Guncle by Steven Rowley. This was a very touching story about family and grief. I highly recommend it.
- Letters to a Fellow Seeker: A Short Introduction to the Quaker Way. I'm curious about Quakers so I read this book, which is told as if the author is writing letters to a fictional person who also wants to know more. Very thought provoking.
- Bombshell by Sara MacLean. Also okay!
- Forever Young by Hayley Mills. I absolutely loved this. Just stunning. Also, I listened to it as an audiobook, which I recommend. She has a very soothing voice.
- Untamed by Glennon Doyle. A little too woo woo to be perfect for me, but I'm glad I read it.
- Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci. Stanley Tucci talking about food? Yes please (another audiobook).
- Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine, an Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood by William J. Mann. I have loved his books on Elizabeth Taylor and Barbara Streisand. This one less so. I don't think his style is as suited for true crime as dishy biography.
- Gypsy. This mostly holds up!
- Heart Guy. I watched the new, last season of this Australian melodrama that I mostly recommend. Did we need this season? Maybe not, but I'm not complaining.
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. This movie probably the best fight sequences of any Marvel flick. I also loved this profile of Tony Leung, who plays the villain, via GQ.
- LuLaRich. Eeeegads. Even though I knew most of the ugliness behind LuLuaRoe, it was still shocking to see all in one place. Also, did I ever write here that someone accused me of running an MLM for writing my freelancing ebooks? LOL. Hopefully, she caught this one to see how an MLM really operates.
- The Other Two. I'm so so glad HBO picked up this series. It's raunchy and funny and great.
- Only Murders in the Building. I didn't expect much of this, but wow was this also wonderful. Perfectly cast, from the leads on down.
- Ted Lasso. I mean, what else can be written that hasn't already been said. Excellent. I'm glad they went there with Ted's anxiety (and as someone who also has generalized anxiety disorder, I appreciate seeing it on screen). I have thoughts about Nate, but we'll see what happens in season 3.
- It Happened on 5th Avenue. Sometimes I put on old movies when I do busy work. I kept stopping work to watch this, which I'd never seen before.
- The Way Down. Okay WTF. I've watched and read a lot about cults since the start of the pandemic, and this one is high on the that WTF list.
- Muppets Haunted Mansion. Ah, this was fun. I think you could enjoy it even if you don't know the ride, but as someone who's gone on it many time? It was just funnier when you know.
Until Next Time,
Jen A. Miller
jenamiller.com
runningalovestory.com
twitter.com/byjenamiller
instagram.com/jenamillerrunner
Notes from a Hired Pen eBooks
Leave a Reply