The Girl's Guide to DC
Issue 62: So You Want to Be a Freelance Writer
Welcome back to The Girl’s Guide to DC! Can you believe it’s already September? If you missed the most recent issue, find it here.
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A Day in the Life of a Freelance Writer
My latest story for Evie Magazine is all about getting your foot in the door as a freelance writer. I hope you find it inspiring!
Living the Dream Job: A Day in the Life of a Freelance Writer
By Yours Truly
Plenty of people dream of making it as a freelance writer and having the ability to choose both what they write and when they write it. While freelance writing is a great gig, there are plenty of challenges as well – something I can attest to as an on-and-off freelance writer since my college days!
According to ZipRecruiter, the average freelance writer salary varies state-by-state from about $50,000 a year to $75,000 a year. Not too shabby. Of course, it takes a lot of work to become a full-time freelance writer – building up a portfolio, connecting with clients, and staying on top of deadlines. And those numbers don’t reflect the many freelance writers, especially mothers, who pick that career path so that they can work fewer hours with more flexibility.
So, what does a day in the life of a freelance writer look like? Well, it totally depends. I had a great freelancing gig while I was a college student. I interned for a local newspaper the summer before my junior year and continued writing for them weekly after I returned to school. I typically made $100 to $200 per piece, depending on the word count – which felt like a lot of money for a teen writer! Freelancing also helped me keep my skills sharp and let employers know I had a good amount of experience once I graduated.
Click here to keep reading this article.
Interview with Virginia Aabram
This week, I’m excited to introduce you to Virginia Aabram, a Hillsdale grad who now calls DC home! Connect with Virginia on Twitter and Instagram.
What neighborhood do you live in and why do you love it?
I live in Brookland in Northeast DC, which is a patchwork gem of universities and old-school suburban neighborhoods. I love it for the communities of students, religious orders, and churches that make this DC’s “Little Rome” and a center of Catholic intellect in the United States. I love our Saturday morning farmers market, the houses of young adults who form a vibrant social scene, the closeness of the sacraments, and living a five-minute walk from one of the grandest churches in the world.
What does your life look like right now?
I’m a journalist covering Congress, which is exciting and challenging. When Congress is in session, I spend my days running around Capitol Hill and getting closer than I ever though I would to the workings of power, which are really quite funny when you take a look. My days are filled to the brim, beginning with morning mass, followed by work, evenings of socializing with new and old friends or kitchen chats with my lovely roommates, and hopefully reading and rest somewhere in there. Weekends are for social gatherings, hosting out of town guests, taking care of our beautiful house, and exploring the city.
What’s your favorite “hidden gem” in DC?
It’s funny to call the largest church in North America a “hidden gem,” but everyone needs to visit the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. It was only just completed in 2017 after a century of construction, and it is magnificent. I’ve spent hours exploring the over 80 side chapels and drinking in the vast mosaics that adorn the walls and domed ceilings. Anyone of any faith background can appreciate the transcendent beauty of the building, and it is not to be missed.
How would you describe your style?
I feel like the humidity this summer absolutely destroyed my style, but really it taught me the importance of practical pieces that I can wear to bits. For most of my clothes I believe that timelessness is better than trend, and fit is more important than flair. But all things in moderation, including moderation, because a girl has to sparkle! All together I think a few foundational pieces (especially shoes, pants, and accessories) can cement your wardrobe in the moment while giving you freedom to incorporate older items.
What’s one book you think every woman should read?
My Sisters the Saints by Colleen Carroll Campbell is must-read for every Christian woman living in DC. It’s Campbell’s memoir of her college years through early marriage, and how the examples set by six female saints guided her through major life decisions involving career and family. She was a go-getter journalist who eventually became a speech writer for President George W. Bush, and she’s so intimate with the questions that plague every modern woman trying to balance pursuit of career and God-given talents with pursuit of vocation.
What's the biggest lesson you've learned over the course of your career?
The only way to conquer fear in a professional setting or anywhere else is to face it, so stop mulling it over and send that email, talk to that person, and make that pitch! Also, I think I’ve benefitted from replacing my “sorries” with “thank yous” in a professional context. Obviously, if you’re in the wrong then apologize, but people (especially women) over apologize for things they needn’t be sorry for. When corrected or receiving feedback, saying “thank you for catching that” instead of “sorry for messing up” projects both confidence and receptiveness.
Know a woman I should interview for Girl’s Guide? Email me at girlygirlsguidetodc@gmail.com!
The Haps
Lorde’s Potomac Swim Grosses Out Fans
New Zealand pop star Lorde grossed out concertgoers on Monday when she revealed that she took a dip in the Potomac River in order to “feel like I know you a bit better” — and she wasn’t ready for their reaction. Calls to test Lorde for flesh-eating bacteria abounded on social media. Once she was in on the joke, Lorde said she is happy to be a “DC meme” — and we’re just happy she survived!
On a more serious note, there is a push to reverse DC’s ban on swimming in the Potomac and open beaches and/or swimming areas due to increased water quality. Read more here.
Skip the Situationship
My friend Patricia Patnode (read her Girl’s Guide interview here) has a new piece in The Conservateur about a scary trend in modern dating: the situationship. “Perhaps the worst part of a situationship is that when it’s over, it’s not possible to explain to anyone what you lost without feeling crazy. Explaining that the hope that you had for your future with that person seems silly since you never officially dated,” Patricia writes. Read the full article: 'Situationships' Are Destroying Dating.
Here are a few more links to what I’m reading this week:
Lean Out: Why Women Can’t Have It All: This essay, adapted from a talk by Helen Andrews, is a great read for anyone taken aback by a recent Bloomberg article seemingly celebrating the claim that women without children are slightly more wealthy than mothers and single men.
Vision Boards Aren’t Just For The New Year—Create One For Fall In 6 Easy Steps: A little bit of inspiration as summer fun draws to a close and we decide what we want to focus on for the rest of the year!
Ask Evie
Have a question you want me to answer in the newsletter? Click this link to send your question anonymously! You can read my most recent Ask Evie column on friendship by clicking here.
Bulletin Board
Got a friend’s birthday, new job, or engagement to announce? Or just searching for a roommate? Email girlygirlsguidetodc@gmail.com to get your blurb placed.