Lemony Snicket — the narrator in Daniel Handler’s blockbuster bestselling Series of Unfortunate Events – has no sense of perspective: He treats the grand tragedies and minor inconveniences of life as if they are equally important, and the grand triumphs and minor pleasures of life as if they are equally important as well. It’s something Daniel...
Freelance writing has many advantages for parents. Most significantly, you can set your own hours and stay at home with your kids (or, you know, take them out for a spontaneous romp in the woods). A few years ago, I interviewed Meagan Francis — mother of four boys, author of two books, and writer of many mainstream articles. She not only knows how...
Here are ten steps to succeeding as a freelance writer:
1. Choose focus topics
What are you experienced in? What do you love? What are you really good at? Music, fitness, environment, politics? Make sure you pick topics that will maintain your interest. Exploit your talents.
2. Choose target magazines
The smaller the periodical, and the less it pays writers,...
Truth is all I have. All I know to do is tell my story. I have always believed that truth is my greatest ally, my compass. If I follow it, it will take me to extraordinary realms I did not even know exist. I had to ride it, trust it, move with it.
But what happens when the truth not only sets you free but also breaks your heart. When telling your story saves...
My dad recently emailed me, asking me to be “bold” and embrace forgiveness – ie, forgive him in honor of the New Year. This request came despite the fact that in a previous email, I specifically stated that the issue for me is not one of forgiveness, but rather one of feeling safe. I do not feel safe with someone around whom I must completely disappear...
It’s all about consciousness. Awareness. Care about the experience of, you know, half the population of humans. Feminism. The F word. As in, if you’re not in favor of it, fuck off.
So I’m back in dating world again. And ready to run like hell from it already, after, oh, a few days. This seemingly awesome guy contacted me on Match.com, and...
It is just shy of 6 am. I went to bed just over four hours ago. I have woken up once again with my thoughts circling around and around about my father. Maybe if I say it to him this way, that way. What to do what to do.
My heart hurts. Literally. It’s been going on for a few weeks. The pain exacerbates whenever I have these circling thoughts about my dad....
Now that I’ve made it a mission to acquire a social life in LA, and to focus on building community, I need to decide which communities to hone in on. Here’s a list of places where I believe I will find like-minded types:
Bike activists
Holistic health practitioners
Freestyle dancers
Jews – Middle Eastern, observant, and/or progressive
Musicians...
I am shaking. I feel as if I have been energetically raped. I am apparently never safe with anyone in my family. Maybe that’s why I’ve been feeling this low-grade anger at my mom recently. She cannot be trusted to monitor boundaries. I always must be the one to do it, which leaves me constantly on guard.
And that messes me up. It deprives me of a certain...
I have lived in Los Angeles for almost two years now, and while I have made a number of nice acquaintances, I have not made friend friends — ie, inner circle types whom I can call any day or time. And don’t even get me started on my non-existent love life. I have reason to believe that guys here all assume I’m a lesbian, or at least bi...
Loolwa Khazzoom has worked with leading media outlets, including The New York Times, CNN, Rolling Stone, and ABC News. In addition, she has published two books and has lectured at prestigious venues including Barnard Center for Research on Women, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, and Harvard University. Loolwa is passionate about health, music, dance, multiculturalism, and Judaism.
