Age: 35
Location: Brooklyn, New York
What are you working on now?
I'm in between freelance writing assignments right now. But I will start working on something for a new women's magazine after Thanksgiving. The last piece that I wrote that I was really proud of was an October fashion feature I wrote the The New York Daily News on shopping in Bed-Stuy. By writing that feature, I felt like I contributed something positive to the Bed-Stuy community. And in the process, I had fun writing about shopping, which is one of
my passions.
What has been your most difficult project of late and how did you deal with its challenges?
With freelancing, the major challenge for me is always time management. Since I have a fulltime job, freelancing often eats up my after work hours and weekends. But in the end, I just buckle down and get it done. And when I find myself getting overwhelmed, I cut back on the amount of freelance work I take on.
What's the most helpful thing you've learned about freelancing?
I've learned that tenacity pays off, and that forming a more personal relationship with an editor makes it easier to get assignments.
What's been the worst career advice you've ever received?
I can't think of any bad career advice. But some good advice that I wish I would have adhered to would be to find a mentor. From a networking standpoint, it's good to have the support of an older writer or editor or a more seasoned peer.
What's something a person should know about online content editing
before they apply for that position?
If you are technologically-challenged, try not to get discouraged. Just like any other skill, you'll get the hang of content tool building. And in general, online content editing-- at least at B&N.com -- is pretty
easy. The robotic nature of the job, however, doesn't allow for much creativity. So that may be a drawback.