Natalie Burg's Blog, page 4
October 10, 2014
Something New
It's not that I'm surprised at being the youngest person in my water aerobics class. I was taken aback, however, when I realized on my first day there, that had she come with me, my mother would have been the youngest one there. The fact that I had somehow signed up for an exercise class that was clearly for elderly women was so absurd to me that during the first twenty minutes of that initial session, it was all I could do to resist bursting into giggles. I bit the inside of my lips. I closed my eyes and did yoga breathing. And I made it. I did not collapse into laughter. I honestly wasn't sure if I could go back a second time though. What were the odds that I could keep it together twice?
October 7, 2014
The limits of financial security
When starting to freelance full-time several years ago, I began hearing what is by now a familiar statement from people:
"I can't imagine not knowing how much money I was going to make each month. I don't think I could stand the insecurity of not knowing."
"I can't imagine not knowing how much money I was going to make each month. I don't think I could stand the insecurity of not knowing."
October 3, 2014
Is my Fitbit step count supposed to go into the negatives? Tackling the biggest freelancing quandary.
It is the most common complaint of the freelancer: being cooped up in the house, lots to do, nowhere to go, no human contact in the near future and the seven steps between the desk and the kitchen are the only bits of exercise expected for the day.
Sigh. It's the kind of thing that makes me wonder sometimes if I've picked the wrong career. No matter how much I love the outcome, is it worth it if this my everyday? When all of my friends started getting Fitbits a few months ago, I couldn't even entertain the thought, because who needs to confirm that the number of steps I take each day doesn't always make it into the double digits? Does Fitbit automatically call an ambulance if your vital signs are too much like those of a comatose person? On the other hand, can it detect pending bedsores or deep vein thrombosis? Am I seriously a person who worries about these things?
Freelancers worry about these things.
Sigh. It's the kind of thing that makes me wonder sometimes if I've picked the wrong career. No matter how much I love the outcome, is it worth it if this my everyday? When all of my friends started getting Fitbits a few months ago, I couldn't even entertain the thought, because who needs to confirm that the number of steps I take each day doesn't always make it into the double digits? Does Fitbit automatically call an ambulance if your vital signs are too much like those of a comatose person? On the other hand, can it detect pending bedsores or deep vein thrombosis? Am I seriously a person who worries about these things?
Freelancers worry about these things.
September 19, 2014
Is freelancing a real career? Here’s 1,423 square feet and a half acre of “yes.”
We are buying a house today. My freelance writer self and independent musician husband have an appointment to close at 10am, after which we will move into our adorable 1938, 4-bedroom Cape Cod with detached two-car garage and a half-acre of land.
When I quit my job, back in 2010, I was working for a board, and therefore had to go around to ten different people, all of them at least 20 years my senior, to tell them I was not only leaving my position as their director, but I was doing so to work for myself, as a writer. They were all very kind and supportive, and, I could also tell, quietly concerned. I was trading a secure, public sector job with great benefits for what appeared to be essentially a non-job - in a terrible economy. They all liked me and wanted me to succeed, but I could see that they couldn't visualize how "freelance writer" and "success" had any potential to overlap. When my then-fiancé followed suit the next year, leaving his high school teaching job after eight years, we only seemed crazier.
When I quit my job, back in 2010, I was working for a board, and therefore had to go around to ten different people, all of them at least 20 years my senior, to tell them I was not only leaving my position as their director, but I was doing so to work for myself, as a writer. They were all very kind and supportive, and, I could also tell, quietly concerned. I was trading a secure, public sector job with great benefits for what appeared to be essentially a non-job - in a terrible economy. They all liked me and wanted me to succeed, but I could see that they couldn't visualize how "freelance writer" and "success" had any potential to overlap. When my then-fiancé followed suit the next year, leaving his high school teaching job after eight years, we only seemed crazier.
September 15, 2014
Pulling back and stepping back up
I just checked my book sales for the first time in two months. This is the first time I've logged into my own website in nearly three. If you follow me on Twitter, you've probably forgotten that you follow me on Twitter. If you've worked with me at all for the last few months, you might have noticed that instead of being prompt, responsive and committed to meeting my own high standards, I've been juuuuuuust squeaking by.
Sorry, world. It was unavoidable. Something has been sucking the life out of me in a greedy quest to feed its own existence. It's a baby. And I am, of course, more than willing to let it do so for the next 19 to 25 years. Though I was fully unprepared for how difficult the first trimester would be (the fatigue! the evil, stifling blanket of fatigue!), everything that I am and all that I believe preclude me from blaming my need to temporarily recede from reality on a pregnancy. Oh no. If only that was the only thing.
Sorry, world. It was unavoidable. Something has been sucking the life out of me in a greedy quest to feed its own existence. It's a baby. And I am, of course, more than willing to let it do so for the next 19 to 25 years. Though I was fully unprepared for how difficult the first trimester would be (the fatigue! the evil, stifling blanket of fatigue!), everything that I am and all that I believe preclude me from blaming my need to temporarily recede from reality on a pregnancy. Oh no. If only that was the only thing.
June 12, 2014
Stop trying to be me, Amy (Just kidding, I love you.��Please be my best friend.)
Someone has made an NBC television show about an American moving to Sweden.
It wasn't me. It was Amy Poehler. Of course. Because, just six years after launching an NBC television show about the hilarity of working for local government, Amy is continuing her quest to tell my life story in reverse for the American viewing public. I assume, a few years from now, we'll get to indulge in her comedic rendition of a small town girl having a mediocre college experience at a Big Ten university. Be prepared, there will be no discernible plot or meaningful takeaways.
So there's this show. It's a comedy called Welcome to Sweden and it starts in July. What does this mean for someone who recently released a book on nearly the same topic, plus some weird cults and indentured servitude? I don't know. It seems like an opportunity, but I'm not sure what that opportunity is. Will people accidentally buy my book, thinking it's associated with the show? Should I send the book to Amy so she can write a desperate American house servant into the second season? It certainly means, as this show is based on the real life experiences of Amy's brother, that if my sibling was famous, the Swedish Lessons version of Welcome to Sweden would have already happened. Come on, Brianna. Get with it.
While I mull over how Swedish Lessons can hop on Welcome to Sweden's coattails, you may enjoy the trailer. It looks amazing.
It wasn't me. It was Amy Poehler. Of course. Because, just six years after launching an NBC television show about the hilarity of working for local government, Amy is continuing her quest to tell my life story in reverse for the American viewing public. I assume, a few years from now, we'll get to indulge in her comedic rendition of a small town girl having a mediocre college experience at a Big Ten university. Be prepared, there will be no discernible plot or meaningful takeaways.
So there's this show. It's a comedy called Welcome to Sweden and it starts in July. What does this mean for someone who recently released a book on nearly the same topic, plus some weird cults and indentured servitude? I don't know. It seems like an opportunity, but I'm not sure what that opportunity is. Will people accidentally buy my book, thinking it's associated with the show? Should I send the book to Amy so she can write a desperate American house servant into the second season? It certainly means, as this show is based on the real life experiences of Amy's brother, that if my sibling was famous, the Swedish Lessons version of Welcome to Sweden would have already happened. Come on, Brianna. Get with it.
While I mull over how Swedish Lessons can hop on Welcome to Sweden's coattails, you may enjoy the trailer. It looks amazing.
Stop trying to be me, Amy (Just kidding, I love you. Please be my best friend.)
Someone has made an NBC television show about an American moving to Sweden.
It wasn't me. It was Amy Poehler. Of course. Because, just six years after launching an NBC television show about the hilarity of working for local government, Amy is continuing her quest to tell my life story in reverse for the American viewing public. I assume, a few years from now, we'll get to indulge in her comedic rendition of a small town girl having a mediocre college experience at a Big Ten university. Be prepared, there will be no discernible plot or meaningful takeaways.
So there's this show. It's a comedy called Welcome to Sweden and it starts in July. What does this mean for someone who recently released a book on nearly the same topic, plus some weird cults and indentured servitude? I don't know. It seems like an opportunity, but I'm not sure what that opportunity is. Will people accidentally buy my book, thinking it's associated with the show? Should I send the book to Amy so she can write a desperate American house servant into the second season? It certainly means, as this show is based on the real life experiences of Amy's brother, that if my sibling was famous, the Swedish Lessons version of Welcome to Sweden would have already happened. Come on, Brianna. Get with it.
While I mull over how Swedish Lessons can hop on Welcome to Sweden's coattails, you may enjoy the trailer. It looks amazing.
It wasn't me. It was Amy Poehler. Of course. Because, just six years after launching an NBC television show about the hilarity of working for local government, Amy is continuing her quest to tell my life story in reverse for the American viewing public. I assume, a few years from now, we'll get to indulge in her comedic rendition of a small town girl having a mediocre college experience at a Big Ten university. Be prepared, there will be no discernible plot or meaningful takeaways.
So there's this show. It's a comedy called Welcome to Sweden and it starts in July. What does this mean for someone who recently released a book on nearly the same topic, plus some weird cults and indentured servitude? I don't know. It seems like an opportunity, but I'm not sure what that opportunity is. Will people accidentally buy my book, thinking it's associated with the show? Should I send the book to Amy so she can write a desperate American house servant into the second season? It certainly means, as this show is based on the real life experiences of Amy's brother, that if my sibling was famous, the Swedish Lessons version of Welcome to Sweden would have already happened. Come on, Brianna. Get with it.
While I mull over how Swedish Lessons can hop on Welcome to Sweden's coattails, you may enjoy the trailer. It looks amazing.
June 6, 2014
The biggest lies I tell myself as a freelancer
Freelancers have the worst bosses. When you are the one holding you accountable for everything every day, denial and self-deception often run rampant. In an effort to hold my own feet to the fire, here is my confession. This is how I lie to myself. 
June 5, 2014
The role of the millennial elder
If I had a dollar for every article I've read about how the business world is readying itself for the millennial workforce, I might not be insanely rich, but I could at least take pretty swank trip to Spain with my loot. I know this because I've written a bunch of those articles, and dozens of others for research. And each time I do, I think, "Wow. Would have been pretty cool if the world cared so much about this 10 years ago, when this millennial was entering the workforce."
Ah. The woes of a millennial elder. Though the dates bookending my generation vary, the most common - and accurate, in my experience - call 1982 the dawn of the millennials. This means I am seven days away from being as old as millennial gets.
Now, of course the lines are blurry. I know people up to a year older than myself who definitely fit into my generation, and those a year or so younger who are startlingly Gen X-ish. But, by and large, if there a way to define a millennial elder, someone born in January, 1982 is about a close as it gets.
Ah. The woes of a millennial elder. Though the dates bookending my generation vary, the most common - and accurate, in my experience - call 1982 the dawn of the millennials. This means I am seven days away from being as old as millennial gets.
Now, of course the lines are blurry. I know people up to a year older than myself who definitely fit into my generation, and those a year or so younger who are startlingly Gen X-ish. But, by and large, if there a way to define a millennial elder, someone born in January, 1982 is about a close as it gets.
June 3, 2014
Swedish Lessons Giveaway and Kindle Sale!
Could it be? It's been almost a year since Swedish Lessons launched. It seems like time has flown by, but at the same time, it seems like years since the Kickstarter campaign and self-publishing process was consuming my life. Have you enjoyed your break from me jabbering about it? Good! It's over!
To celebrate the first year of Swedish Lessons, I have two exciting announcements. First, I'm doing a 10 book giveaway on Goodreads. Sign up using the link below, and send it to your friends. Or people you don't like at all. I'm not picky. Also, the Kindle version of Swedish Lessons is now just $2.99. Three bucks for all the crazy Swedish misadventures you can handle: that is a deal!
These are the best ways I can think to thank everyone for an incredible year, full of tons of support, lots of readers and an all around delightful reception of my first book. Here's to you!
To celebrate the first year of Swedish Lessons, I have two exciting announcements. First, I'm doing a 10 book giveaway on Goodreads. Sign up using the link below, and send it to your friends. Or people you don't like at all. I'm not picky. Also, the Kindle version of Swedish Lessons is now just $2.99. Three bucks for all the crazy Swedish misadventures you can handle: that is a deal!
These are the best ways I can think to thank everyone for an incredible year, full of tons of support, lots of readers and an all around delightful reception of my first book. Here's to you!
