As a culture, we need to redefine “work-life balance” to focus more on “life” than “work” — Being a freelance creator is fun and freeing in many ways, such as being able to set your own hours. However, it’s not a job that’s immune to burnout. In fact, people who love their jobs are especially prone to burnout and the feelings of exhaustion it can bring. I…

“I’ll guide you around the splinters and the rocks.” — This letter is for you. This is for the you that is still hurting from the pain of yesterday, the pain of years before. This is for the you that is smelling the dead remains of who you used to be, following the sounds of a better tomorrow. This is…

Plus everything you need to know about pitching them. — I’ve read a few tweets about how freelance rates at publications used to be much higher than they are now. As in, $1 a word was the norm. As someone who’s been in this business for more than a couple of years, I know how uncommon that is — at…

Get paid good money for your first byline. — Getting your first byline can be hard, no matter how great of a writer you are. And receiving rejection after rejection can feel frustrating and disheartening, especially when you’ve worked hard and feel confident in your ability to write a solid story. Editor Russell Holly knows this. “This industry is…

Don’t fall for these well-intentioned tips that may inhibit your success. — As a writer who largely works to help other writers, I’ve read and shared a lot of advice on the topic. I’ve learned from those who are more successful than I am; I’ve ached to inspire other writers who feel as discouraged as I once did. …

Here are warning signs of love bombing, mirroring, negging, paperclipping, breadcrumbing, and enmeshment. — Spotting unhealthy behaviors in a relationship isn’t as easy as you might think. If you’re someone who doesn’t love being single or who wants a relationship to work out (check and check), this may be extra difficult for you. I’ve experienced my fair share of unhealthy relationships, and I didn’t…

I hadn’t heard of these tips until college. — In high school, I turned in a piece of writing I was proud of — only to get lots of edits back. Logically, I knew it was a part of the process and would make me a better writer, but I couldn’t help but feel down. “Am I a good…

Hopefully, these valuable lessons will change your life as they did mine. — Therapy can be life-changing, and that’s a hill I’ll always die on. But I know I hold a lot of privilege in saying that. Therapy isn’t cheap, or always accessible, and finding the right therapist can take a lot of trial and error. …

Plus, what being love bombed *doesn’t* say about you. — When you enter into a new relationship, it can all feel so exciting. Maybe you’ve been single for a while. Maybe you’ve dated people who mistreated you or made you feel unimportant. Regardless, getting positive attention from others feels nice — that’s certainly a normal thing to experience. But here’s…