It's Okay to Say No (Seriously!)
Plus more writing tips, resources, inspiration, etc than usual!
Hi writers and friends!
It’s Okay to Say No (Seriously!)
I want to add to what I talked about in last month’s newsletter on burnout.
While there are many ways to be proactive about handling burnout — sleeping enough, talking to a therapist, not overdoing it, etc — I’ve found that some of the most effective “fixes” are the hardest ones.
For me, this has looked like turning down about $2000 (!!) worth of work, over a short period of time. As a young person who needs to make money and save, this was a hard decision to make — and it was worth it. (And I’ve said yes to other assignments.)
One quote that really helps me is something Angela Lansbury said: “I never regretted what I turned down.” This has held true for me all the times I’ve had to say “no” to take care of my mental health, relaxation time, etc.
While missing out on thousands of dollars isn’t easy, it does have its upsides. It means more time to sleep and rest, which you deserve. It means less stress. It means opening yourself up for better opportunities, and learning how to work smarter instead of harder.
What was meant for you is coming, and it won’t pass you by. Make room for it, and let it in.
For more on this topic, check out this article of mine: “After Experiencing My Worst Burnout Yet, I Made These Radical Changes That Revolutionized My Perspective.”
Quick Announcement: Coaching Reviews!
I know trying out a new coach can be scary. Will they be worth the money? Helpful? Kind? So I gathered reviews from a few of my wonderful clients! If you’re interested in hearing more about what it’s like to work with me, check out the coaching reviews on my website.
Writing/Freelancing Tips
Pitch Calls
GENERAL NOTES FOR THE PITCH CALLS BELOW:
If the story is about a marginalized community, you probably need to be in that community to write the piece.
Mentioning my name in your pitch won’t help, unfortunately!
Who Pays Writers can be a helpful site to get an idea of how much publications pay.
Pitch calls:
Send zeitgeist-y feature pitches and essay ideas for Stylist Extra (Rate: not listed)
Send pitches related to being a digital nomad (more specifics in the linked thread) for Nurall (Rate: $100-$400) — Deadline is Dec. 4!
Send digital culture pitches for Insider (Rate: not listed)
Want a bunch of these weekly? Purchase a paid subscription to my writing opportunities newsletter! Here’s an example of what it’ll look like.
Writer Jobs
EXTRA! Here are some words to avoid on your resume and here are more resume writing tips! If you’d like professional help, reach out to my friend/colleague Emily who’s offering affordable services :)
Want a bunch of these weekly, all spelled out? Purchase a paid subscription to my writing opportunities newsletter! Here’s an example of what it’ll look like.
Writing/Freelancing Resources
Heystack (helpful Google Docs)
Typeshare (templates)
LinkedIn courses to help you develop your writing skills (Can be a great way to build your business when you’re not getting work!)
Encouragement
My Articles + Updates
For HuffPost, I wrote an article on warmlines, aka people you can call when you need to vent, need encouragement, etc. They’re like hotlines without the crisis part!
As mentioned earlier, I added coaching reviews from a few wonderful clients on my site. If you’ve been unsure about working with me or are curious, check them out! They made me so happy to read :)
Want More? Here Are Other Ways I Can Help
Don’t forget about my Medium guide and coaching/editing services and Writing Checklist Set!
More of my content: (1) my writing Twitter // (2) my portfolio // (3) my resource set // (4) my newsletter with tons of writing jobs and pitch calls
Feedback from you: (1) For the newsletter // (2) For the resource set
This newsletter is free, but if you’d like to donate, my Venmo is @AshleyBroadwater, my PayPal is paypal.me/aebroad, and my CashApp is $ashleybroadwater3 :) A huge thanks to donors!
That’s all for now! Thanks for reading this month’s newsletter. As always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions :)