Laura Schaefer's Blog, page 3

I Make My Living As a Writer. And So Can You.

I am a writer. This has been true for over 16 years now, and much longer if you count all the unpaid writing work I did for the high school yearbook and my college newspaper. But despite all those years of experience, it’s only been fairly recently that I’ve fully come to own those words. I. Am. A. Writer. I know things about what it takes to make it. To never have a full-time job yet manage a comfortable life. To hustle for work and get it done. To create book-length works. Taglines. And everything in between.For a long time, I would’ve hesitated to tell anyone that being a writer is a good thing. I would’ve told you how hard it is, how stressful it is to never know where your next paycheck is coming from. Blah, blah, blah. I’m over that now. I’m ready to tell you it’s great. And if you decide to start today on a similar professional journey, you can get past all the complaining a lot faster than I did, but you have to be smart about it.Here are some tips.Take it seriously. I’ve had a lot of people say, “You could work on the beach!” Um, no. I guess that’s true in theory, but if you’re really focused on work, you’re not pulling out a laptop on the beach. You’re treating it like a job because it is a job, not a vacation.Keep track of everything you’re doing and build a portfolio. I’ve had so many pieces published online over the years that are no longer live or accessible. I should’ve been grabbing screen shots and PDFs of everything, all along. Learn from my mistakes. You only get hired if the person signing off on your invoices knows you can do the work and do it well. To prove that, you need clips. Save everything.Try many different kinds of writing. There are several kinds of writing assignments that really pay the bills (there are definitely more than three, but these are the three I’m familiar with): technical, curriculum, and marketing writing. For many years, I wrote curriculum (think lesson plans, k-12 text book pages, test questions, test guides, etc.). It felt like the right fit for me for a while, because I was always a straight A student who loved school. But after a decade plus, I started to really get bored. Actually, I got bored sooner than that, but I wouldn’t let myself admit it. Then, I got the opportunity out of the blue to do marketing writing for a B2B agency and advertising writing for another agency. I am still doing it now, and I love it. You gotta try stuff. Don’t settle for writing jobs that you kind of hate. You’ll hold yourself back and severely limit your income, because you’ll always hesitate to take on more work.Commit to continuous education. This means read books in general (and it definitely counts to read good fiction), but you need to push yourself a little. Read career development content about writing, even when you get comfortable with your skills. Listen to personal development podcasts. Talk to other ambitious people about what they’re doing that’s working…and not. Some writers go to conferences, participate in writing groups, and pursue mentorships. Yes, yes, yes. If you want to be paid like a lawyer, you have to be extremely good. You can’t dabble.Exercise. Writing is lonely and cerebral. You need to get moving every day to balance that out. I myself love to take long walks. The best plan would be to take walks with a friend. Walk with me!Control your expenses. This is true mainly in the beginning of your career, but is a good policy for life in general, too. To make it without a steady job, you have to be very careful about your spending. Get an old Honda Civic if you feel you have to have a car. Live with roommates. Don't worry about fashion, or if you do, go thrifting. Etc.Get curious. My first real writing success happened because of curiosity. I was hired by Match.com to write articles for them, because I answered a help wanted ad online and did a passable job on a test assignment. But instead of just settling in to that role and riding it out, I asked myself, “I wonder how long personal ads have been around?” I started doing some research to try to answer the question, and found archived, searchable newspapers on the internet from all over the English-speaking world. I dug up personal ads from the 1800s, and even further back than that. Even though I was not a good writer at 23 years old, my curiosity opened a lot of doors. I got my first book deal and literary agent out of the project, and my current literary agent signed me thanks to my relationship with that first one. I got published in The New York Times, and got to appear on Good Morning America! Open doors with your curiosity, and try to ask questions no one else is asking. Look places others aren’t looking. I have so much respect for the Atlas Obscura folks, because they’ve turned this life philosophy into a very cool business and publishing juggernaut. Hire me, Atlas Obscura. You're amazing!You do you. I’ve wasted so much brainpower feeling inadequate because my strengths as a writer are different than others’ strengths. For example, angsty YA got really popular about ten years ago, and I thought I should be writing dark and controversial content to attract readers. But I’m not a very dark or controversial person. The books that touched me the most when I was a young reader were The Babysitters Club books. And the biggest success I’ve had was when I wrote authentically as myself, creating The Teashop Girls in the wholesome, realistic, and kind style of Ann M. Martin. Don’t waste time thinking about what other writers are doing, unless they’ve inspired you in a genuine way—in a way that you can see yourself building upon. Dig deep into yourself and write in your own style, from your own heart. There’s power in that.This is such a quick blog on a topic I could talk about for ages. If you have specific questions, get in touch with me! Writing is a wonderful way to make a living, and I’m so grateful for all the support and help I’ve had along the way.If you’re curious about my latest project Littler Women: A Modern Retelling, order it now at Indiebound, BN.com, or Amazon. Thank you!

Two Healthy Back-to-School Recipes

The back to school season is here! I've always enjoyed fall, as it feels like a fresh start, a reset. It's the time to try a little harder, to turn over a new leaf, and get moving in new and exciting ways. To do so, it helps to fuel up on healthy food. Lately, I've been making kale smoothies for breakfast. I know, I know, that sounds horrible. But with the right ingredients and a fairly powerful blender, it's actually really tasty--and extremely good for you. Here's the recipe:Kale SmoothieIngredients1 ripe banana, peeled2/3 cup frozen blueberries2/3 cup unsweetened almond milk1 1/2 cup chopped kale (you can buy a bag that is pre-washed and pre-chopped at Target)Add all of the ingredients to your blender. Take care to pick out any particularly woody pieces of kale as you add it in. Blend using the ice crush feature on low, and stop the blender after a minute if the kale isn't mixing in. Use a spoon to mash it all down and blend again until you see that nice vortex in the middle. Run the blender for a full minute or two on high to ensure the smoothie is as velvety as possible, with all the kale pieces dissolved into tiny particles. Pour into a pint glass, and drink up. Makes approximately 16 ounces.Next up is a meal I made for my three year old daughter last night, and comes with her seal of approval. I like to call it Quinoa Goo, which sounds about as appetizing as a kale smoothie, but trust me, it is also delicious. Here's what's in it:Quinoa GooIngredients1 cup dry quinoa, cooked (when it's cooked, you end up with about two cups of quinoa)1 16 oz. can of seasoned, chopped tomatoes (I like the basil garlic flavor)1 cup of cooked small shrimp (I buy them frozen and thaw them in the microwave)1/2 cup chopped fresh basil1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese1 T. olive oil1 teaspoon garlic salt1 teaspoon pepperCook the quinoa in a two quart pot by following the directions on the package. I like to add about a half tablespoon of salt to the water for flavor as it's cooking. When the quinoa is ready, fluff it with a fork and place it in a large bowl with all of the other ingredients. Mix everything together, portion it out into smaller bowls, and eat up! Makes about four servings.

That One Time I Got to Open a Time Capsule from 1992

Recently, I returned to my hometown of Oshkosh, Wisconsin for my twenty year class reunion. It was wonderful to see my friends and catch up. The highlight of the weekend was when my BFF produced a time capsule that our seventh grade class had stowed in 1992. We got to pop it open (beware 90s germs!) and examine its contents. It was hilarious. Each member of our class got to write a paragraph or two about what they liked to do, or what was trendy at that time. Some students had clipped out magazine photos or drawn pictures. Being the uber-nerd that I was (yay nerds!), I wrote a three page essay. Behold:I'm quite proud of that cute cursive handwriting! It's a lot neater then I could do today.You can tell I really wanted to be thorough. In my new book, LITTLER WOMEN, main character Jo March is 12, as I was when I participated in the time capsule project. I wonder how she would report on our modern fashions in 2017. I'd like to thank the person affiliated with St. Peter's School who tracked down Aimee's mom and made sure we got to have the delightful experience of opening up our time capsule. I'd also like to thank Aimee for being my friend for 30+ years now, and her mom Joyce. I love you guys!Laura

We Need to Talk About Brussels Sprouts

I like Brussels Sprouts, and recently this little fun fact has evolved from the endearing quirk zone to “I wonder when Laura will stop telling me about Brussels Sprouts because this is getting pretty weird” territory.It might be more accurate, in other words, to say I love Brussels Sprouts.It all started when I was tasked with eating more veggies by my doc, after seeing some unfortunate blood test numbers produced by yours truly. I’ve always considered myself to be a healthy eater, but the plain fact was that for most of my twenties and well into my thirties, I did not prioritize vegetables in my diet as much as I should have. You know how it is, salads get boring. Sometimes you just need something meatier to bite into. Something with some heft.Enter the Sprouts of Wonder.I first had deliciously prepared Brussels Sprouts at the new restaurant in Lambeau Field, 1919, in Green Bay, Wisconsin last year. I had another version of yummy Sprouts again at the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium at Universal’s City Walk in Orlando a bit later (yes, my restaurant-going habits are pretty weird, too, but that’s another post). Both times, the veggie seemed to have been roasted, so I decided to figure out how recreate the deliciousness at home.I now eat The Sprouts at least twice a week and can’t get enough. After some experiments, here is the recipe I devised:Ingredients1 bag of Brussels Sprouts1 T. olive oil1 T. rice wine vinegar1 t. garlic salt1 t. black pepper1 t. dried parsley2 T. butter or margarine½ cup shredded ParmesanDirections:Cut the bottom woody part off of each individual sprout and discard. Then, cut each sprout length-wise and again, so it is in long quarters. When you’ve properly cut all your sprouts, place them into a Ziploc bag (or just use the bag they came in from the store). Pour in the oil, vinegar, garlic salt, pepper, and parsley. Spend a good two minutes rolling the bag around in your hands, making sure each sprout is covered in the mixture. It’s good if pieces of the sprouts start flaking off.You can either place the bag in your refrigerator and cook later, or immediately pour everything into two glass pie plates. Take a moment to make sure the center of each quartered sprout is facing up. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees, and place your pie plates inside to cook for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes (sprouts should just be starting to look golden), remove them from the oven and use a fork to stir the veggies around and flip them over. You don’t have to be too careful, just mix them all up so they roast thoroughly and brown evenly.Place the sprouts back into the oven and cook for another 10-15 minutes. When you remove them from the oven, there should be some crisped areas, some golden-brown areas, and some deep green. Leave them on the stove top to cool for about five minutes, then pour everything to a big bowl. Add the butter and Parmesan, and eat up. YUM.Hello, Lovers!

Get to Know Louisa May Alcott: 10 Facts about a Remarkable American Writer

Louisa May Alcott was a fascinating woman. Besides being the author of Little Women, she was also an abolitionist, a feminist, and a suffragette. I wish it were possible somehow to talk to her today, particularly about the lasting impact of her work and about how family life has evolved in the last 150 years. Since that’s not happening anytime soon, the next best thing we can do is take the time to get to know her a little better.With that in mind, here are 10 fascinating facts about Alcott:She grew up among many of the well-known American intellectuals of the mid-19th century, including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Margaret Fuller, and Henry David Thoreau. Her family even lived, for a short time, in an unsuccessful transcendentalist utopian community called Fruitlands. I bet was an interesting story.Early in her career, Alcott used the pen name A.M. Barnard, under which she wrote Gothic pulp novels for young adults.Alcott was the second of four daughters, just like Jo March, and based the character on herself. May Alcott, Alcott’s mother, was the inspiration for Marmee. She was one of the first social workers in Boston to be salaried.Alcott’s first book was called Flower Fables. It was written for Ellen Emerson, daughter of Ralph Waldo Emerson, in 1849.In 1847, Alcott and her family served as station masters on the Underground Railroad.When the Civil War broke out, Alcott served as a nurse in the Union Hospital for six weeks in 1862–1863. Her writing based on this experience was published and well received.Alcott wrote both parts of Little Women very quickly, at the request of her publisher. Her family had long struggled with serious poverty, even going hungry at times, so they needed the funds provided by Alcott's writing. In fact, her publisher told Alcott's father they would only publish his book on philosophy if he could convince his daughter to write a novel for girls. So she did it. Alcott wasn’t sure she could write a successful book for girls, and claimed not to enjoy even trying. Despite these doubts, her early young readers loved early chapters of Little Women, and the book was an immediate commercial success--thanks in part to its realism. In fact, the publisher had trouble keeping up with demand for additional printings after it was released. Impressive!Alcott was the first woman to register to vote in Concord, Massachusetts, when it was made legal for women to do so, in a school board election in 1879. Alcott wrote in her diary at the time about how frustrating it was to convince other females in the community to vote: “Trying to stir up the women about Suffrage. So timid & slow…Drove about & drummed up women to my Suffrage meeting. So hard to move people out of the old ruts.”Alcott never married, saying of the choice: “I am more than half-persuaded that I am a man's soul put by some freak of nature into a woman's body ... because I have fallen in love with so many pretty girls and never once the least bit with any man." Despite this extremely interesting proclamation, Alcott did have a romance in Europe with "Laddie" Wisniewski, who was a model for Laurie.Alcott received many letters from readers who called her “Miss March,” or “Jo,” and she didn’t correct them. Today, at 399 Lexington Road in Concord, Massachusetts, fans can visit Orchard House, a designated National Historic Landmark and the Alcott family home from 1858 to 1877. Visitors can take a guided tour to see where Alcott wrote and set Little Women.To pre-order Littler Women: A Modern Retelling, please visit Indie Bound, Barnes & Noble, or Amazon.To learn more about Alcott, please visit my sources:1. http://mentalfloss.com/article/89228/.... https://www.theguardian.com/books/boo.... http://historyofmassachusetts.org/lou...

It Will Soon Be a Very Good Time to Be a Little Women Fan

Anne of Green Gables is certainly having a moment, with Anne with an E on Netflix, and the recent PBS reboot (though I think we can all agree the 1985 version starring Megan Fellows was the be-all and end-all for true Anne aficionados). Likewise, Jane Austen fans have no end of fresh versions of their beloved tales to enjoy. It seems like the Jane Austen "moment" is lasting decades, which is as it should be.Wondering what's next? Well, let me tell you: the next big wave in classic lit appreciation is now upon us. And it is landing at the feet of four of the most memorable and worthy heroines in all of literature (in my humble opinion): Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy March. That's right: we're about to enter peak LITTLE WOMEN. And I am ready. First up comes the news of -- you guessed it! -- a PBS Masterpiece reboot beginning production in July, with a likely release just in time for the beloved novel's upcoming 150 year anniversary. It will air as a three-hour miniseries and is being written by Heidi Thomas, who also adapted “Call the Midwife."Next up, fans of the book will enjoy a new movie adaptation as well, starring Lea Thompson as Marmee. High School Musical alum Lucas Grabeel will play Laurie. Filming begins in June, with a planned 2018 release. Yay!Finally, LITTLER WOMEN: a Modern Retelling, my updated version of the March sister's adventures, goes on sale September 5. Writing it was an absolute pleasure, and I am so pleased it will be available for young readers very soon. Even though I adapted the book for a middle grade audience, I think all Little Women fans will find something to enjoy.You can pre-order the book now at Indie Bound or Amazon. I can't wait for Louisa May Alcott fans to read it! Who is your favorite character? What scene do you remember most?

Celebrate the Good Things: Adagio Tea

We've all had those days that don't go as planned. You leave the house ten minutes late and promptly back your vehicle directly into your overturned garbage can. *Massive sigh*Fortunately, those days aren't the norm, right? And once in a while, something unexpectedly pleasant happens. I believe in nodding toward those unexpectedly pleasant things...taking a moment to say: this is good. Yes. Take Kurt Vonnegut's advice and notice when you are happy.I had one of those unexpectedly pleasant moments recently when I received a gift of two loose tea sampler packages from Adagio Tea, and I've been enjoying the gifts ever since. Both the Pu-erh and the Chai sampler packs are delightful. My favorite so far is the Chocolate Chai, because it smells amazing and tastes like a decadent treat. This is a good tea for the coffee fiends among us, because it offers the same richness we crave, along with a gentler caffeine feeling.I also really love the Pu-erh Tahiti tea, which reminded me of Hawaii. It is easy to drink it, close your eyes, and imagine you're near the ocean at a fancy spa. If you haven't given Pu-erh a try, I recommend it. In addition to being delicious, it has many health benefits including cholesterol lowering effects.Having a variety of tea in the house, particularly high quality loose leaf teas, is a great way to improve both your life and your health. A cup of tea before bed is calming, and a shared pot is a nice way to encourage guests to relax and feel welcomed. As I get older, I'm less and less interested in drinking alcohol, but it's still nice to enjoy a beverage as I wind down. Tea is the answer, and these teas in particular are terrific.Here's where you can get them yourself! Chai Tea Sampler and Pu-erh Sampler. Enjoy!

The Best Ghostwriter/Client Relationships Thrive When…

I was recently asked by a potential client to think about how the experience of working together could be designed to exceed both our expectations. Great question! I gave this some deep thought today and came up with some key factors. The best client/writer relationships need:1. Clear project goals. Whether it is a whole book, a white paper, an article, or a blog, it is essential for a writer to understand a client’s hopes and dreams for the end product. Must the piece of writing inspire readers? Entertain them? Convey complex information in as clear and succinct fashion as possible? Make an argument? Contain quotes from as many sources as she can think of? It’s okay to pick more than one of those things, clients, but you can’t have them all. Be specific. It helps the writer immeasurably to understand the essential goals of the client.Your writer cannot wow you without a few clues. One thing a client can do to be extra transparent about goals is point to piece of writing s/he enjoys and hopes the writer will emulate.2. Clear audience profile. It is key to talk about the target audience. It’s not what you say (or write), as expert communicator Frank Luntz explains. It’s what your audience hears. So, spending a little time ensuring a ghostwriter understands the client’s target audience for the piece of writing is important.3. Clear terms. Here is a good way to establish terms: talk about the goals of the project and the audience, and then establish a word count range and timeline to project completion. Next, the writer provides the client with a total project fee, which is based on how many hours she thinks the total project will take times her hourly rate (mine is $60). Once the fee is established and agreed upon, that’s it. Even if the writer takes less time to complete the project than she estimated (or more), the fee doesn’t change.It’s a good idea to pay half of the project fee up front, and half on completion for larger projects like a book-length work. Smaller projects can be paid on completion. Other terms include copyright (generally, this goes to the client), and revision policy.  My standard revision policy is simple: my fee includes one revision round based on client feedback. I am willing to do additional rounds of revision, but I bill for the additional hours using my standard hourly fee. I aim to make each and every client deliriously happy, but there is nothing that can ruin a great relationship faster than endless rounds of revision with no additional payment. I’ve learned this lesson the hard way. Over and over.Signing a contract containing the terms you've established for each project can be very helpful, but in my experience isn't 100% essential if both parties are of good faith.4. Respect for human frailty. Stuff happens. Meetings have to be rescheduled from time to time. Flights get canceled. The best working relationships are built on an understanding that we are all human…even writers! If both parties make an effort to communicate when there are occasional blips in the road, chances are excellent many exciting writing projects will come to fruition as the years roll by. I put this one in here because I’m the parent of a three-year-old. While I’ve never been better or sharper as a writer, I’ve also never been as vulnerable to the whims of the Universe…or a determined stomach bug.Clients: when you’re working with a writer who is curious, funny, brainy, and generally beats her deadlines, think of all the great things you can accomplish together. It’s so exciting!Writers: when you find a client who is serious about telling important and engaging stories, and respects your time and talent, imagine all the amazing possibilities.What would you add to this list?

Administrative Assistant Callie Blumberg

Administrative Assistant
Written by Callie Blumberg, edited by Laura Schaefer
 
I am an administrative assistant at TDS Telecom. I have been here since May of 2011 and I am technically still a contractor, meaning I actually work for the employment agency. This was not a job that I sought out specifically, but my husband at the time also worked at TDS and had a connection with the employment agency. He found out they were hiring admins, put in a good word for...

What I Wish You Knew: Jennifer Vogt

DNA Analyst and Crime Scene Investigator
Written by Jennifer Vogt, edited by Laura Schaefer

I was a forensic DNA Analyst and Crime Scene Investigator. I went to school for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and had anticipated entering the research arena���until I discovered that I hated research. I���m definitely glad that there are people who WANT to do research; I���m just not one of them. Maybe it���s immature of me, but I needed more immediate satisfaction than working on a project for years,...