A Few Things You May Have Been Wondering About…

Last week, I opened up the blog for question time. Sometimes people have a burning question and they’re too shy to ask so I like to open the floor up. Here’s my answers. It’s a bit of a mixed bag – there’s stuff about hair, careers, books, relationships. Enjoy!

When will the podcast return? 

It’s usually a three week break so end of August most likely!

I know you’ve spoken about how you’ve gotten to where you are before, but as a writer and communications person I’ve considered going freelance but am not sure how to build the networks. How did you manage to build your networks that bring in your work?

For me, it’s all about the blog and being mates with other bloggers. It’s also about putting yourself out there. I ask other freelance writers who they write for, who’s good to write for and who’s looking for writers. I’m also extremely professional. I never miss deadlines and I make sure my work is always top notch and that leads to referrals. It’s hard work but it’s all about the hustle when it comes to freelance writing. The blog is a big help as well. They like seeing that a potential writer for their publication has the discipline to self publish several times a week for a decade. I’d start with following lots of freelance writers online, making connections with them, maybe doing a course just to get in front of people and sending out 3 emails a week to publications asking if they accept freelance articles.

A couple of times you’ve casually mentioned that you might be moving to Copenhagen next year – whaaat? Can you tell us more about this? Very exciting!

No news on that yet but it’s still in the pipeline! I’ll keep you all posted.

My question is…can you tell us more about your move out of teaching? I have just left my position due to stress issues. I am doing studies in Special Ed while having a sabbatical, but I am not keen to return to fulltime classroom teaching. Do you think you will ever work as a teacher again, or is that something you are keen to leave in the past?

I’d never say never but it’s not something I can see myself actively pursuing. I have a good relationship with a few schools and I’ve been offered some part-time positions but I’ve had enough work that I haven’t needed to do that. I really loved teaching and sometimes I miss it but freedom is more important to me. If I could teach my students from a beach in Italy, I’d totally do that but I can’t so I do this instead.

How would you feel if you woke up one morning and your hair was no longer curly?

Honestly? I wouldn’t be thrilled. I’d deal with it but big, scrappy hair is my thing. Sometimes it decides to go all flat and wavy for a few years and I don’t love that. Can’t do much about it because it has a life of it’s own but if I had my way I’d go back to when I was about 20 and my hair peaked and it was like a Diana Ross afro. My hair is still pretty rad now but it was freaking awesome back then. I’d been in London for a month and my hair LOVES the hard water. I can’t ever see it going fully straight though – I feel like if I was going to ‘grow out’ of my curls it would have happened by now. When it has its flat years, I grow it long and wear it in scrappy up-dos. If it went fully straight, I’d probably end up doing a mild Amy Winehouse thang. My hair has to be big no matter what.

If you have any other questions, go for it! The forum is still open on questions…

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