A Year in Review: Freelance Edition 💻

Dec 18, 2019

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#WednesdayWisdom

"This is the season she will make beautiful things, not perfect things. But honest things that speak to who she is and who she is called to be." — Morgan Harper Nichols

Morning Musings

Fewer things rile me up more than diversity and pay equity. And last Friday afternoon, I hit the jackpot. While mindlessly scrolling through Twitter, I stumbled upon a tweet that alluded to the discrepancy in pay between white male writers and Black women writers.

Plot twist: The white male writer in this case was the young man I'd worked with at the student newspaper in college and trained to take over my position as copy chief once I graduated. And yet, here he was all these years later earning roughly $94,000 for 31 articles. Well, I'll be damned. To put this in perspective, a WOC later posted her roundup of the year: 161 articles, earned $50,200.

I then tallied my freelance earnings in this thread (about $9,500 for 18-ish articles, in case you were wondering), and shared the rates I earned for each outlet. Now, I've been freelancing in some form or fashion since 2008 when I graduated sans full-time job (thanks a lot, recession).

To be clear, I had a full-time job offer from the girls' magazine I was interning for senior year, but they rescinded the offer a few weeks before graduating. So I did what any self-respecting millennial does and traveled the world, but I digress...

I started freelancing to build my portfolio, so a lot of the work I did early on was for free, or as we call it in the industry "exposure." And when I did start to get paid for my freelance writing, it wasn't much. I remember earning $20 per story at a popular women's website. It wasn't until this year that I finally earn the highly coveted $1/word rate (thank you, ZORA, which, by the way pays ON TIME -- a rarity in these media streets).

Moral of the story: it's hard out her for freelancers, especially for harder for BIPOC (Black, Ingenious, People of Color) writers and I say that as a Black woman who enjoys a fair amount of privilege (college education, debt-free, dual income, etc.)

I didn't always know what I know now, so I feel a moral obligation to climb as I lift, which is why I'm hosting a FREE pitching webinar on Jan. 22 (keep scrolling for deets). I want to see you win (AND get your coins) in 2020!

Speaking of, do you have ideas for other webinars or events you'd like to see? Be sure to take the reader survey and let me know! Survey closes Dec. 31.

Last but not least, ya girl has been putting in WORK, so I'm taking the last two weeks off, which means this is the last newsletter of the year (decade?). But don't worry, I'll be back on Jan. 8 with all new dope content. Stay tuned!

Take care, friends, and happy holidays!

Love,
L'Oreal

Pitch Clinic (Free Webinar)

There's no perfect science when it comes to pitching editors, but this free webinar will come close. Join me on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. CT as I share the tricks and tips I've honed throughout my 12-year editorial career as both an editor and writer. Attendees will receive:

real-life examples of successful pitches
template for editorial pitches
spreadsheet to track pitches
sample editorial calendar

One lucky participant will win a complimentary pitch critique and a copy of First Draft: A Beginner's Guide to Freelance Digital Editorial Writing. Must be present to win. Register today.

Links I Love

1. The 2020 Reading Challenge. I came in hot this year, setting a goal of reading 50 books this year (as of this writing, I'm at 49...keep scrolling to learn more about lucky #50). Idk if I'll be so ambitious next year, so I'm digging this simple list from Modern Mrs. Darcy to help break me out of my fave self-help and romcom genres. (h/t to my fellow bookworm Heather C. for the rec...join us?)

2. The Work You Do, The Person You Are. An oldie, but goodie, this piece from The New Yorker features timeless advice from the late, great Toni Morrison (arguably one of the best authors of our time and someone I want to read more of in 2020).

3. Observations from My Month-Long Sabbatical. I had the pleasure of interviewing Tricia Hersey, founder and Nap Bishop over at The Nap Ministry, earlier this year for Shine. Her work blew my mind and is something I often find myself coming back to when I'm doing the most with the absolute least. Recently she took a month-long sabbatical and it truly is goals. One of these days! In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy my two-week holiday sabbatical...

LT in the City Reader Survey

Next month will mark three years since I started writing to y'all on a weekly basis. As we head into this next era of the newsletter, I want to know what you like, what you don't like. What you want to see more of, less of. Thank you to everyone who's taken the survey thus far, I appreciate your input more than you know.

There's still time to share your thoughts -- take this survey and tell me what you want, what you really, really want. This newsletter is only as good as the feedback you give, so bring it on. One lucky person will win a $25 Starbucks gift card (winner be selected Dec. 31). Thanks in advance!

My Latest Obsession

Alright, friends, if we're being honest, I will most likely read any and everything Jasmine Guillory writes. I interviewed the romance writer earlier this year for ZORA and, tbh, it was pretty hard not to fangirl the entire time. Jasmine is a dream, I feel like I was chatting with a girlfriend.

I deliberately saved her latest, Royal Holiday, for my upcoming holiday sabbatical, but I started it last week and I'm already obsessed. It's (very) loosely based on the Duchess and her mom, Doria Ragland, so you know I'm about it. I'm always torn between devouring Jasmine's work and reading it slowly so it lasts longer.

But fret not, there's new Jasmine coming next summer and you'd best believe I'll be ready for it. Perhaps we can discuss as a group at a future LT in the City book club? ;)

P.s. If a virtual book club and more book content is something you'd like to see, don't forget to take the reader survey!

Now Hiring

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