You know how I’m always disgruntled with my career, no matter what, even when I’m doing the Thing I’ve Always Wanted To Do? Well, this past year, I finally realized that my frustration has very little to do with my actual job and everything to do with me. Let’s take a look back.
Shortly after college, [...]

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Today, I was feeling pretty crummy. Little things just made me growl inside, like the fact that my newly washed car (thanks rain!) was covered in branches (you suck, tree!) and the fact that certain cringe-worthy items on my to-do list just wouldn’t go away and the fact that the first time in ages that [...]

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I’d like to show you some very cool stuff I’ve been working on.
First, I’ve been writing regularly for CNNGo, a new Asia-focused lifestyle and travel site from CNN. I just found out that my story on inspiring volunteer trips is featured on CNN.com (yes, the CNN.com!). LOOK!
www.edition.cnn.com/travel

Also, I’m so, so thrilled to finally introduce you [...]

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How I (secretly) envisioned my life as a freelance writer:
Wake up, maybe take hot yoga, shower and get pretty, have lunch with some old or new friends, visit grandma and grandpa, stroll into Borders, flip through magazines while jotting ideas in my Moleskine notebook, accidentally peek into Martha Stewart Weddings for a minute or [...]

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When I first entered journalism, a lot of people told me I would be successful. Those voices of encouragement were my fuel. I aimed to please, and every time I did so, I wanted to do it again.
Now those voices have been quieted, understandably so — there’s no encouragement in journalism right now — [...]

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The other day, I received this email from an old friend who had recently been laid off from her job:
“I was really shocked by the decision and completely unprepared, both financially and mentally. But I think I am coping well, and in the end I think it’s a way to make me finally pursue what [...]

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Remember that scene in The Devil Wears Prada where Andy is pouty and defeated and talking to Nigel and she’s like, “I would just like a little credit. I’m killing myself trying,” and then he’s like, “Andy, be serious. You are not trying. You are whining. What is it that you want me to say [...]

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This week, I am happy to be geekin’ it up at a four-day technology training workshop delivered by the Knight Digital Media Center at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.
Basically, it’s a boot camp to help journalists pull their newspapers, magazines and TV stations out of the Dark Ages.
Today, we learned Twitter and how [...]

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- Singing “Oops!… I Did it Again” to myself in the corner.
- Taking 50 pictures of people taking pictures.
- Randomly screaming.
- Saying goodbye to everyone in Korean. (I don’t speak Korean.)
- Sobbing on the way home because Matt wouldn’t take me to the after-party at a karaoke bar. (There was no after-party.)
- Drinking four glasses [...]

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It starts with a blank Word document, usually early enough in the day when sunlight still seeps through the window, offering some comfort. I’ve procrastinated, surely, but I tell myself it’s okay. I thrive under pressure, I say. I type some fuel-pumping words to get me started. ENERGY! DON’T STOP. DO THIS. I breathe. Then [...]

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