Hailey Hudson's Blog, page 32

Blogmas 2018 Day 21

I let myself sleep in and get a late start this morning because it’s my last day of work before break and I didn’t have too much to do. I’ve decided I’m going to take off work until January 2nd. (I have a few small things to do such as updating my website and getting things together for my assistant who will be starting in January, but not much.) I’m going to spend my break reading, watching movies, hanging out with friends, making a plan of action for querying World on a String, working out, organizing my room, and analyzing my reading data for the year (I am RIDICULOUSLY excited to make charts and graphs of all the books I’ve read this year).

This morning I finished up my magazine feature on saving money on your dog, and I finished my Territory Supply buying guide on hiking boots under $100. I had a meeting with an online retailer of board games that needs a marketing copywriter (it went well!) and then my grandpa, dad, and Joshua and I went out to lunch at a local pizza place because we didn’t have any food at home that wasn’t dessert.

The pizza was really good, but we didn’t get home until 2:30. I finished up my feature for Blue Ridge Country Magazine on Sleepy Hollow Gardens and got that submitted. Then I wrote a blog post for PetFirst Pet Insurance, one of the new clients I signed with this week, on how to keep your outdoor dog safe and warm during the winter. This wasn’t part of my plan for the day, but the post is going up on January 2nd for national pet safety day, and I didn’t want to write it next week during break–so I banged it out today, since I had time. By 5:30, I was done with work for the next twelve days!! I haven’t had a break from work that’s this long since August, when we went to Alaska.

After dinner I played the piano, played the dulcimer, and read Wild Blue Wonder by Carlie Sorosiak in one sitting. IT WAS SO DARN GOOD.

Well this was so. darn. good. It made me sob. (Shoutout to Hanne for recommending it.) I am a complete sucker for summer stories, where one summer changes everything, and this story had all the summer vibes and an amazing plot to boot. I love the Sawyer family and their camp so much! This book had such a powerful emotional impact and I absolutely loved the beautiful writing–it was a pleasure to read. Huge props for the beautiful title, too, and I also super loved the marine biology aspect of the book (I love marine biology almost as much as astronomy). Wild Blue Wonder kind of felt like a mashup of We Were Liars (E. Lockhart) and Every Soul a Star (Wendy Mass), and I loved every word of it.

—

“Everyone was a thousand selves in one skin.”

—

“I’m not the only one who thinks the world is a sweater that’s three sizes too tight.”

[image error]

(Still stuck in my head today, playing incessantly literally all day long: Mercy, Shawn Mendes.)

Here’s what I did two years ago today and one year ago today. What did you do today?

Blogmas 2018 Day 20

Another morning where I was exhausted, had zero motivation to do anything, and just wanted to stay in bed.

9:00 — managed to pull myself out of it a little by finishing my China wholesale piece, listening to Sabrina Carpenter and Shawn Mendes, and getting a super nice Christmas ecard from a client

10:00 — wrote the bulk of my magazine feature on Sleepy Hollow, the place I visited yesterday

10:45 — worked on a small paid test project for a potential client about content marketing 2019 trends

Then I went to tap class. As usual, tap was physically a killer especially since I’m still getting over my cold, but it was also just so fun! I have always loved dance so, so much. After class I came home for lunch and to apply to a few jobs, and then it was time to leave again for the library and the school. I picked the two little girls up and we went to get fro yo (it was freezing and raining, but that’s what they wanted to do to celebrate the last day of school).

[image error]

4:00 — finished working up the big batch of pitches for a new client that I’ve been chipping away at; came up with several pitches for another new client (a pet insurance company–excited to start blogging for them in 2019); and answered emails (that’s all I ever do lol)

Stuck in my head today (singing in the shower, blasting in the car, tap dancing to): Treat You Better, Shawn Mendes. (And to a lesser degree, Mercy and Nothin’ Holding Me Back are also stuck in my head.)

After dinner I started watching The Spectacular Now on Netflix but it was dumb, and I started watching some show about a performing arts school but it was dumb too, so finally I reverted to YouTube to watch this kind of thing which was very decidedly not dumb and needs to be a full Netflix series.

Here’s what I did two years ago today and one year ago today. What did you do today?

Blogmas 2018 Day 19

Today I had to drive to Blairsville and shoot some pictures for a magazine feature. I still have a cold and don’t feel great, so I slept in first and then Joshua and I got on the road. It was an hour and a half drive and we basically just went up there, took the pictures, and turned around and drove back.

When we got home, my grandpa was arriving from the airport at about the same time. We had lunch (and too many desserts) and I took a shower and a nap. Today was exhausting; in the afternoon, my legs were numb and I couldn’t move them for hours. Late afternoon I made myself sit up in bed to answer some emails and do a few small work projects. After dinner I played the piano, watched YouTube videos, and journaled/processed. Today’s song: In My Blood, Shawn Mendes.

Here’s what I did two years ago today and one year ago today. What did you do today?

Blogmas 2018 Day 18

Again, all I wanted to do today was stay in bed alone and not talk to anyone and not do anything–especially because my cold got way worse overnight–but I couldn’t. We had haircuts first thing. I got about three inches off and added some layers. Then I got to work around 11:30.

I didn’t plan my workday hour by hour, I just did stuff; I feel like I was really unproductive and mostly just watched YouTube videos and tried not to fall asleep. But I did send LOI’s, apply to jobs, work on my dog article, brainstorm for a short content marketing piece (a paid trial piece for a potential client), work on my current product review for Territory Supply, work on some article pitches, and close on two new clients. So I guess the day wasn’t a total throwaway.

[image error]

By the end of the day I wasn’t feeling any better physically. I’m a wimp when I get a cold. It exacerbates my usual medical problems and saps my energy even more. But I did want to get out and do something fun, namely my small group’s Christmas party… but I didn’t, because I didn’t want to get anyone sick. Which is a shame, because I had a really great white elephant Christmas gift. Instead I messed around on Tumblr and YouTube and then fell into bed because I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer.

Here’s what I did two years ago today and one year ago  today. What did you do today?

Blogmas 2018 Day 17

I wasn’t in the mood to get back to work this morning–I would have much rather stayed in bed alone all day–but had to anyway.

8:30 — emails, proofreading for GA Family, prepping for upcoming meetings, breakfast

9:45 — began writing my feature on how to save money on your dog; knocked out over 1,000 words of it

 11:00 — had a short first-round job interview with AuthorityHacker, worked out (this video… first time in weeks that I’ve felt good enough to get in a decent workout), took a shower, had lunch

12:20 — went to counseling (which is 45 minutes away, so it’s a big chunk of my day)

[image error]

3:00 — emails, invoices, contracts, admin stuff

3:30 — finished editing the podcast transcript I started on Friday

4:30 — worked on some article pitches

5:00 — procrastinated my way through a Territory Supply piece and then we were having dinner earlier than I thought, so I didn’t get anything done on it. Go me

After dinner my dad and I went to Marietta and walked around the square and sat in a coffee shop.

Here’s what I did two years ago today and one year ago today. What did you do today?

Blogmas 2018 Day 16

I woke up this morning feeling pretty out of it with a cold. I stayed home and listened to a Passion City Church sermon, “The Gospel Starts with GO,” which was so good and spoke directly to something specific in my life I’ve been debating about. Some of my notes:

Acts 10, 35 A.D. Joppa was more than a day’s walk. In our world, we have the opportunity to go–we no longer have to walk from town to town–but we often hesitate. Peter shared the Gospel with Cornelius’ family, Gentiles, and history was changed because Peter went. You have a moment of clarity hearing the voice of God, and clarity leads to conviction. When you feel it, look at Scripture to make sure your feelings align with truth. Seeing and believing lead to going.

Clarity –> conviction –> courage. 

But often, the space between conviction and courage is a valley that some people never cross. See it, believe it, take the step. The enemy wants to tell you the valley is filled with your failure, but that’s not true. It’s filled with your inaction. Have courage to do something with your conviction. Decide you’re done living in that zone where you’re worried about the outcome, and just trust Him and take a step. 

Our world elevates preference over obedience, but that’s not how it should be. The enemy wants to sell us less that feels like more–but if you prioritize your preference, you’ll wake up each day and realize you chose less. Following God takes us down a path of more and better. Choose go instead of no. Embrace obedience. See it, believe it, then do something with it. Gospel. Don’t let the gospel stop with you; if you do, the world won’t change. As your excuses line up, the valley gets deeper. Take the step. It’s worth it. God is going to come through.

I also watched the movie Good Will Hunting on Netflix and absolutely LOVED it. It was so raw and powerful (and rated R for profanity, fair warning). I related to Will so much as he processed his past and tried to navigate his present and figure out the future in light of his past, and I was obsessed with the overall aesthetic and feel and soundtrack of the film. It was so, so, so good.

“You can do anything you want. You are bound by nothing.”

But when I say I “loved it,” I mean I related to Will so much that it gave me Emotions and then I had to spend time writing and processing and almost having a panic attack. Emotions are annoying.

I cleaned my room, put away my laundry, cleaned the bathroom, had dinner, spent time listening to movie soundtracks and browsing Pinterest writing prompts, and read through World on a String for the first time in a while which made me so, so, so happy. Over Christmas break, I’ll do some final edits and make a plan for querying agents.

Here’s what I did two years ago today and one year ago today. What did you do today?

Blogmas 2018 Day 15

I woke up this morning feeling terrible with a sore throat/stuffy nose, stomach pain, and my usual fatigue/pain. We had to get on the road early to go Chattanooga and visit my grandmother for the day. On the way there, I read American Panda by Gloria Chao in one sitting. It was okay, but not great.

At my grandmother’s house, I tried not to fall asleep, we had takeout from a hamburger place, and we opened gifts. I received money, two candles (they’re both purple–so on-brand), and candy. In the afternoon I read A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi in one sitting, which was GREAT. My review:

I guess I’ve been living under a rock because I didn’t realize Tahereh Mafi writes contemporary. I’ve only read her Shatter Me series, which is just ok. But A Very Large Expanse of Sea was so so good! I loved Navid, I loved the breakdancing, I loved the clean strong prose, I loved it all.

“The more I pulled away, the steadier he became.”

“I want everything with you. I want all of it with you. I want you. I want this forever.”

“The more I got to know people, the more I realized we were all just a bunch of frightened idiots walking around in the dark, bumping into each other and panicking for no reason at all. So I started turning on a light.”

[image error]

We got back home around dinnertime. I started feeling a little better throughout the day but am still exhausted, so after I finish catching up on bookstagramming and blogging and all that, I’m headed to bed with a book. (Because I haven’t read enough books today.)

Freelance writing is fun and great and the only career it’s possible for me to have right now, but it is definitely not what I want to do all day every day, forever. I want to write fiction and work in ministry with youth sports. So I appreciate the time I have on the weekends to read and think and dream; to voraciously consume as many stories as I can and dream about the ones I want to write, even if I still don’t have the time or energy to actually write them. Stories simultaneously help me remember who I am and find out who I am.

Here’s what I did two years ago today and one year ago today. What did you do today?

Blogmas 2018 Day 14

Yesterday and today my throat has been hurting so much, and I’m just crossing my fingers and praying I won’t get sick. Ugh.

9:30 — answered emails, scheduled meetings, worked on my China wholesale piece (although I’m at the point where I’ve done all I can do and I’m just waiting on my interviews to get back to me)

10:15 — brainstormed pitches for a new client and did edits on a paid sample piece for a potential new client

11:30 — applied to jobs

12:15 — worked out (short squat workout video, short bicep video with dumbbells), had lunch, Joshua and I went to Five Below and Hobby Lobby to get gifts for the little girls next door and for our grandpa

3:00 — I worked on my first project for a new client: editing a podcast transcript. I cut it down from 31 pages to four pages in an hour… it’s easy for me to be ruthless if I’m editing someone else’s stuff and not my own

Blogmas 2018 Day 13

Today was busy and tiring, but fun!

9:15 — started off with some work on my China wholesale piece…

10:15 — …then did some brainstorming for a new client.

11:00 — I went to the bank, got gas, and went to tap class. Tap class is the highlight of my week. It’s physically very difficult (it’s all I can do to stand up for an hour, let alone tap dance while I do it, and sometimes I come close to passing out), but I LOVE it all the same. I’ve missed dancing so much for years, and now that I’m doing it again, it makes me so happy when I walk down the hallway on the way to class and hear the music and tap shoes.

It’s a senior class, so it’s 3-4 older ladies and me, and I love them. Today we continued progressing in our current dance, which is to One from A Chorus Line. We learned the cramp roll and a backwards Irish and added those plus some more new steps. Also, we use canes for our other dance Razzle Dazzle (from Chicago), and today we used candy cane yard ornaments instead of normal canes.

[image error]

When I got home, I barely had time for lunch and a shower before leaving again to go the library and pick up the little girls next door from school. Then it was back home for more work.

3:30 — send LOI’s to companies

4:30 — finish my Territory Supply article on the best cabins to rent in Show Low, Arizona

[image error]Sophie being scared because she knew we were about to leave

We had our biweekly small group with my parents’ and brother’s church tonight. It’s always really fun and very delicious. Each time we have a different theme for dinner (soup night, barbecue, tacos) and tonight we had a Christmas dinner. Ham, baked pineapple x2, rolls, green beans, mac n cheese, mashed potatoes, gravy, fruit salad, fudge, fruitcake, a Greek cookie I can’t pronounce, a German cookie I can’t pronounce… ugh, it was SO good and my stomach hurts. We had a great time hanging out talking for an hour or two after dinner.

Here’s what I did two years ago today and one year ago today. What did you do today?

 

 

 

Blogmas 2018 Day 12

Apparently there was an earthquake this morning, but I didn’t feel it. Probably because I was passed out. Last night killed me… this morning I felt awful and my legs were so numb I couldn’t move them. So, although I don’t normally do this on a work day, I stayed in bed until almost 10. I didn’t have much to do today or really for the rest of this week, which makes me a little worried–sure, I’m ready to transition into Christmas break mode, but financially it’s not time to stop working for the month yet! I’ve spent a lot of time this month doing two big magazine features this month, which are both due next week, but I won’t get paid for them until the magazines come out. I hope things will pick back up a little before Christmas. If not, I’ll spend next week doing marketing, making my 2019 business plan, making sure my website is perfect, working on my novel, and taking courses from the Freelance Writer’s Den.

11:00 — worked on the how-to guide I’m writing about buying wholesale from China

12:30 — applied to a few jobs and took a “lunch break” which actually just involved lying on the couch trying not to fall asleep because I felt so awful

1:30 — worked on a Territory Supply article detailing the 10 best cabins for rent in an Arizona town

2:30 — ate lunch and applied to jobs

4:00 — tried and failed to create a header for my LinkedIn profile, and worked on my wholesale China piece a little (and got super excited about a new content placement opportunity)

5:00 — office hours! The six-month intensive freelance writing course I just graduated from had a monthly mastermind conference call, and now that my fellow students and I have moved into the grads group, we have something called office hours instead–which is more or less the same thing, but more casual, since we’re no longer on a strict curriculum. Today we discussed our end of the year/beginning of the year marketing plans, what kind of content is best to get clients to commit to a retainer, and more.

[image error]

After dinner I watched several episodes of season 2 Boy Meets World, which makes me laugh so much, and went to bed by 9.

Here’s what I did two years ago today and one year ago today. What did you do today?