A New York City-based writer and editor with more than a decade’s worth of experience in print and online media, I’ve written for the New York Times, People, TeenPeople, American Way, ABC News, Premiere, Modern Bride, The Daily Beast, and other major national publications. With a fat rolodex of entertainment contacts, well-honed reporting, writing and editorial skills and a knack for project (and people!) management, I’m the girl to call for celebrity scoop and poignant profiles. But I can also pull together a quick personality-driven gift guide, round up real women’s recession-busting financial tips, blog about the latest film business trend or pen a flavorful narrative on culinary vacations in colonial Mexico. Whether I’m interviewing Drew Barrymore or writing about my backpacking adventure through India, you can expect crisp, clean, clever copy on or before deadline. Check out my Portfolio.
Check out this month’s Cosmopolitan magazine for my latest Q&A — a piece on the always lovely, always independent Kelly Clarkson.
I caught up with the Grammy-winning singer during her cross-country arena tour last July, when she made a stop at the PNC Bank Arts Center in New Jersey. Hanging out on her 45-foot-long tour bus, we talked about finding love (Kelly’s recently engaged — congrats!), those rumors that she’s gay, all the body drama the magazines keep rehashing, and perhaps most interestingly, how she finally decided to take charge of her career — and her life.
Missed the issue? No worries. You can check out the complete Q&A at Cosmopolitan.com right now!
So here I sit again on January 1.
Another year, another resolution, right? You knew it was coming. It’s always inevitable — and then I inevitably break it. So this year, my resolution is not to resolve at all, but rather to evolve. It’s time to give up the gung ho race to the finish line and reassess what might actually work for me. After all, I’m in this writing thing for the long haul, right? Not just for the quick sale and the even quicker burn out.
I’ve often lamented here about my dilettante ways, how I’m always juggling three projects at once, rushing to get things done — and therefore not really moving forward at all.
So this year, I’ve decided to really focus. Focus on what my big picture goals are, focus on getting things done — but really, to focus on slowing down the pace, enjoying the process, and therefore actually managing to finish my projects, one at a time.
I’ve also decided to not jump into the querying process after I finish the first project, which is already quite near completion. Many of my fellow writers don’t understand the why behind this, but I just have to keep reminding myself of my long-term goals, rather than the short-term impatience — and believe me, I’m amongst the most impatient people I know. As a writer who works in two different genres, I’d like to be well-prepared, when seeking representation, to have a completed project in both areas, so that I can find an agent who really knows what she’s getting into, who really understands what my work is all about, who really sees the same big picture I’m seeing.
In the meantime, now that I have my lovely (if petite) desk and my awesome peacock blue velvet tufted chair to return to in a few short days, I do want to make one real, tangible plan-of-action and stick with it — and that is to put my butt in said gorgeous peacock blue velvet chair and spend some quality time with my WIPs at least five days a week. I won’t set unattainable word counts or ignorable deadlines. Instead, I’ll take my time, keep those eyes on the prize, and remember, for once, that the only person I’m racing is myself.
This week, as we all gather our loved ones and our thoughts to give thanks for all the love and luck we’ve received this year, it’s worth taking some time to look back and really take stock.
Last Thanksgiving, to do just that, I created “a reverse bucket list,” kind of the opposite of an actual bucket list, which is a rundown of things you’d like to accomplish before you kick the proverbial bucket. The reverse bucket list takes a look back at things that you’ve already done and are proud of — goals achieved, moments worth reliving, the idea of gratitude for the here and now and what you already have.
So this year, again, I offer up a few a few things that make my reverse bucket list. I’m sure there are more to come:
-Kavya, my beautiful, smartie pant, sparkly-eyed daughter. In the past two years, she’s become this unique, quirky, funny, larger-than-life little character. The things she says and does never fail to astound me — she’s so smart and so cute and so charming. She’s simply amazing. These first two years of motherhood have been as exhausting and as fulfilling as any I’ve ever had. I can’t wait to see what comes next.
-My husband Navdeep. I’ve never met a smarter, sweeter, sexier man, and I’m so glad that we managed to find each other, despite startling odds. I’m so lucky to have a partner who gets me on so many different levels, who makes my goals his goals, whose brilliance startles me even after all these years. And in the past two years, we’ve gotten to learn about each other on many new levels — as parents, as writers, as partners. I’m also so proud of him for pursuing his passion, really starting to shape his voice and make a dent in that novel he’s been writing. I can’t wait to share his voice with the world. As someone once told me, he’s a keeper.
-My family, a boisterous, incredibly fun bunch whose unconditional love and support has been both my safety net — and the reason I’ve felt I can venture out onto paths unexplored. My stylish, smartie pant sister, my artist brother, my mother, who taught me what a mama should be, and my dad, who came to this country more than 30 years ago with a goal — to make his little family’s life better. My extended clan in California, who keep in touch via Skype, frequent visits (including one next week) and Kavya’s super-fun stories about “two sisters, Joshvira” and usually a dragon. Yay! We have so much to celebrate!
-The life-changing six-month honeymoon adventure Navdeep and I took in India — and IshqInABackpack.com, the site where we’ve managed to document some memories we made. The trip altered the way we looked at each other, and ourselves. It took me off my tried-and-true path and into new territory. And we’re having new adventures all the time!
-My decade at People magazine. As crazy and stressful as those years were, they were formative in my career, and made me the writer I am today. They also afforded me a luxury that few writers have these days — the ability to earn a real living from home in my pajamas, writing about things I’m really interested in.
-Freelancing. I couldn’t have asked for a better day job. It’s fun and focused, entertaining and explorative. It leaves me enough time to spend with my little family, and it allows me the leeway I need to focus on other goals — like fiction.
-My class at the New School. I didn’t realize how much I needed a writers’ community until I found one. And I’m glad I got this particular bunch. They share my passion, my ambition, my goals. I’ve found in them the support I need, and the right to take writing seriously for once in my life. Six months after graduation, this little peer group I’ve found continues to persevere — and to astound me. I hope we’ll be working together, both commiserating and celebrating, for years to come.
-Cake. I had a healthy dose of it this year — and can’t wait for more! Yay Cake!
-Writing. In whatever form it takes — screenplays with Meena, blog posts about Kavi (which I’ll keep for her to read when she’s older), those nearly complete novels (see New Year’s resolutions post!) or those countless emails Navdeep and I exchanged back in the day, unraveling our life stories. Writing has been my form of analysis, of catharsis, of revelation. I’m glad it’s the path I stumbled upon and decided to follow.
That’s just the start of my reverse bucket list — there are countless other things I’m thankful for this Thanksgiving.
What tops your list this holiday season?
I’ve been at the freelance writing game fulltime for a bit over five years now, and I have to admit, despite my decade’s background in the magazine and new media business, the learning curve was, at times, pretty steep.
These days, I occasionally get an email from a freelance newbie or a journalist pal who’s just been laid off, asking for advice on how this all works.
Well, it’s not really something you can encapsulate in an email or even a long lunch. In fact, I taught a four-week mediabistro.com class on writing for new media, and most of the students had never written a query, which really is the basic tool of selling your ideas — and yourself — as a freelance writer. While it’s hard to cram all that info in to a month-long class, there are plenty of resources online for writers looking to learn how to break into the freelance business.
Online forums catering to professional writers were a major help to me when I was just starting out. They’re a low pressure way to learn and absorb information, at your own pace, via conversations with writers frequently dealing with the same issues. But they can be somewhat hard to discover if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Here are a few that really worked well for me.
Freelance Success: FLX, as it’s known to regulars, is a great online water-cooler of sorts for working writers, with forums dedicated to print, new media, corporate writing and book publishing. It’s a warm environment, with writers ranging from newbies to seasoned vets, all who are definitely willing to share their experience and resources — yes, sometimes even editorial contacts — with their fellow writers. The $99 membership also gets you a weekly newsletter featuring new markets, and a section where you can check out real writers’ queries that worked. Definitely a great place to get your feet wet if you’re trying to get your first few clips, but also a great place to check in if you’re craving that water-cooler chatter while procrastinating on deadline. (I’m not talking about myself there, of course.)
American Society of Journalists And Authors: For writers who are a bit more experienced, ASJA, too, has a great forum, covering markets in print, new media, corporate work and book publishing, as well as watercooler and fiction sections. The forums are limited to members — and membership is limited to writers with significant evidence of publication, whether journalism or books. Plus, you can find ASJA’s backlog of their super-informative monthly newsletter online, too. But one of the real perks of membership is the annual conference in New York, held in late April, where members have the opportunity to pitch editors and agents in the personal pitch sessions, as well as attend panels with editors explaining exactly what they’re looking for. There are also expert-run panels on blogging, social networking, the book business, syndication, and all the nitty-gritty involved in running a freelance business. Two days of the conference are open to non-members, too, and it’s a great way to see whether the organization might be a good fit for you.
Mediabistro.com: While Mediabistro’s online forums leave something to be desired, its Avant Guild does offer some pretty awesome perks for working writers, namely the How to Pitch series, which Mediabistro has been working hard to get up-to-date. The series offers a primer on the market, with the editor’s take on exactly what they’re looking for, lead times, pay scale info and recent freelance pitches that have been accepted. Avant Guild membership also includes the Pitching an Agent column, Q&As with media newsmakers, and a pitches that worked section. Not a bad deal for $50 a year.
ProBlogger: It’s no longer free, but if you’re a blogging newbie, ProBlogger might just be worth the investment. The site really gets you thinking in terms of readership — getting and keeping an audience. Run by professional blogger Darren Rowse, who is proof that you can earn a pretty cush income blogging, the new version of the community offers forums, critique groups, and a crash course in SEO and other blogginess.
WordCount: Michelle Rafter’s comprehensive blog, now in its fifth year, focuses on living and working the freelance life in the digital age. Lots of great scoop here on craft, running a business, technology, and especially how the latest media news effects the working freelance writer. Michelle’s site is especially awesome for new media newbies. Case in point: check out her post on why there’s no such thing as a dumb Twitter questions. plus she runs the annual, always-awesome Blogathon.
uPod: The brainchild of prolific freelance god David Hochman, this writing community is hosted on a Google group. uPod — under-promise, over-deliver is Hochman’s mantra — offers up a daily slice of the freelance life, with discussions on everything from getting started, the magazine business, preventing burnout, story leads, controversies, and of course, how to get work. Best of the Pod? Hochman’s no drama approach, which reminds you, every so often, that it’s just freelancing, not life and death.
I know, I know. These six resources barely begin to scratch the surface. Think something’s missing? Add your favorite online resource for freelance writers in the comments below.
So many times before on this blog, as I posted, I sadly reported that I haven’t been writing at all. That work has just been too crazy (which it always has — and continues to be), that life with a toddler keeps me busy (yup, still happening), and that I’m actually a relatively social person (who has a hard time saying no to a fun invite).But this time, as we do our post-MFA check-ins, I’m happy report that I have been writing. In fact, I wrote 4,000 words last week. Yes, of fiction. Which is not to say I’m writing 4,000 every week. But thanks to my awesome crit group — made up of my former classmates, although it sounds so weird to say that — I’ve still got deadlines to get me motivated.
And I’m really excited to continue working on my thesis project, which clocked in at about 80 pages when I turned it in. Granted, even with the regular bursts of additional pages, I’m only about a third of the way through. But the story is working for me, it’s something close to my heart, and I’m really interested in the characters, who keep taking new and fascinating turns when I least expect it. It’s actually fun to write.
I’ve also been reading a lot — about a book a week, which is huge, given my schedule. I’m trying to make more time for it, because a) I love to read and b) it’s so important to get out of your own head and learn about storytelling from the work of others. Besides books like The Fault In Our Stars and Allison Winn’s The Song Remains the Same (yes, I actually read adult fiction, too), I’ve been enjoying my said former classmates’ latest, as many of them are on to new projects as well. And I’ll get to enjoy a lot of their own works as actual, fully bound books in the near future as you see a rash of TeenWritersBloc.com contributors books on bookstore shelves near you in the coming year. I’m super-excited for that.
So here’s to bigger and better, but staying a close knit community with my fellow recent MFA grads. As much as that chapter may be over, a new one begins — and hopefully, the cast of characters will remain much the same.
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