Bethany's Freelance Life

My Funny Valentine

2012-02-13T21:20:00.000-05:00

The only thing good about Valentine's Day (yes, I am Scrooge) is this song. Somewhere around 13, it attached itself to my heart in all the best possible ways. Whether you are a Scrooge too, or love to celebrate love, wishing you a happy day. Really. I mean that. I hope you have a cozy winter day: lots of tea, cuddles, and cookies. And if not, it's just one day. You can get through one day

Homeless Happiness

2012-02-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

i have no idea what i'm doing. Source: ffffound.com via Elle on Pinterest i hope that's ok. (these words are homeless, so i put them all together in one post.) i'm very much aware at how much this poor blog has lost its focus. "who am i? why am i heeeere?" that is the plaintive cry from my blog's heart. i'm aware i keep talking about myself. (ugh.) i'm aware i keep forgetting to

I Still Love You New York

2012-02-07T08:46:00.000-05:00

Hey, guys, remember that one time (ha) I talked about being completely obsessed with New York? Yeah... Totally going to go. I. AM. GOING. TO. NEW. YORK.

Fast As You Can

2012-02-02T10:29:00.001-05:00

Let's talk about how to be a writer. I have an assignment due in two hours, so I'm just gonna writethisreallyreallyquickly. Argh! Ever wonder what a freelance life looks like? I'm an adjunct instructor. My classes are being phased out, so I'm in grad school so I can keep teaching. I teach Pilates so I can get a free gym membership. I'm a musician in a college musical so I can have a

Someone Like You

2012-01-31T13:03:00.001-05:00

Pete: "It's so easy for you." Peggy: "It's hard for everyone, Pete." I've been not-a-little obsessed with Mad Men the last few weeks. This quote was a big reminder that "Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." Sometimes, when someone I've know for a long time confesses something, or tells a defining moment in his or her life, I STILL am surprised. I am surprised that I am still

2012-01-25T16:32:00.001-05:00

So NO WAY GUESS WHAT! "You Say You Want a Resolution" was picked up by Relate Magazine. Check it out! Pretty cool. How's it going, fellas? I need to pick a career. I have, like, four. How do you pick a favorite when you love everything? I LOVE EVERYTHING. I tried not to make this post all about me. Honest, I did. I think this counts as a fail. Here, let's change that. Let's talk about

My List

2012-01-21T12:05:00.000-05:00

Maybe I should turn this into a blog of lists. OOOH. Maybe I should start a blog of lists! I would be the only reader, I'm sure. Lists. Love em. Did you know most of my titles are lyrics or song titles? Yeah? You knew that. Know this one? learn French learn Spanish (again... ha) learn code learn how to not look like a tourist while being a tourist learn how to make a million dollars learn

My Misery Is So Addictive

2012-01-17T08:55:00.003-05:00

There's no other way to say this: I am happy. Oddly, I miss my misery and am bracing for its return. Weird, right? Happy, yet worried the happy is leaving soon? I have issues, man. Being present is just the worst. Anyway. Happy (or future happy) Tuesday.

Angel In The Snow

2012-01-16T00:45:00.000-05:00

I keep watching this. Crazy. Last Walk Around Mirror Lake - Boom Bip (Boards of Canada Remix) from FroschYankee on Vimeo. I keep thinking that posts will be few and far between. Classes (teaching and taking) have started again, and I forget how much time twitter and tumblr take up each day. I'm BUSY, OK? Oh, who am I kidding. I can't quit you. I keep planning this speaking event I have

I Just Want to Have Something to Do

2012-01-12T22:14:00.002-05:00

A To-Do List For All Things Awesome! For me. For you. Think deeply Take everything to the next level Ask "What if...?" Ask "So what?" Don't quit Make art Wear big earrings Grow your hair long one last time before it turns gray Don't be afraid to be ridiculous Take a trip Chase life Read, read, read Quit that thing you want to quit Engage in moments of productive bafflement Do

Some May Say I'm Wishing My Days Away

2012-01-11T23:00:00.000-05:00

(click through link) let's go for a walk. you can tell me about your day or tell me about your life. you can tell me about the years that existed before we met. you can talk about the time that's passed. you can tell me who you want to be. you can tell me who you used to be. you can tell me who you are. or. or we can be silent, walking in the wind. happy just to be.

2012-01-10T21:27:00.001-05:00

"Green days. Deep deep in the sea. Cool and quiet fish. That's me." - Dr. Seuss Radio DJ: "We've met Nicole Richie. She's so great. She's just a really chill girl." Me to self: "Yeah. Really chill girl. That's what I want to be." Me to self: "Uh... I know you didn't just aspire to Nicole Richie." Me to self: "Shut up. Of course I did. She's CHILL."

Falling a Step Behind and Desperately Wanting

2012-01-08T23:04:00.000-05:00

"Some days, of course, feel sort of brown. Then I feel slow and low, low down." - Dr. Seuss Hiding. Shame. Incompetent. Never smart enough. Needy. Doubt. Self-loathing. Afraid. Desperate for attention. Such a mess. Am I in the right place? I've never been in the right place. There is no right place because I don't fit in anywhere. Ever been here?

Power of Positive Thinking? Psht.

2012-01-05T12:37:00.000-05:00

I have two distinct, divergent personality traits. Mostly, as writer Lisa Kogan says, I am Leonard Cohen with a side of Sylvia Plath. On the other hand, I am... how shall I say this... sunny. "I just like to smile, smiling's my favorite." I am not perky, God forbid, but somehow my stone-cold, cynical heart developed a face that smiles at people. I used to feel like a big faker (well,

You Say You Want a Resolution

2012-01-03T12:41:00.000-05:00

Have you failed in your resolutions already? Nearly every one makes them, and nearly every one fails or forgets them. Resolution-ists fill up gyms, book clubs, and writer’s groups each January, but they (we?) never seem to make any real changes. I have given up on resolutions all together, and over the last few years I have found some great (life changing!) things that actually work. 1.

So This Is The New Year

2012-01-02T12:01:00.002-05:00

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself." - Neil Gaiman Welcome to 2012! Well, I guess it's not mine to welcome you to. I

Decisive: Maybe This Year Will Be Better Than the Last

2011-12-20T08:34:00.000-05:00

This post is wrapping up my Decisive year for One Word: 2011. (What is One Word, you ask? Clicky, clicky.) I've tried to put a shiny spin on what I've accomplished with "Decisive," but I just can't. I screwed up so much stuff. I hurt people I loved. I didn't hold on. I used people. I said words I wished I could take back. I wasted time wanting what I couldn't (or shouldn't) have. I ate

three things thursday: epic

2011-11-30T22:58:00.001-05:00

1. i believe, deep down, we all want epic. we want a big story. we want a big life. not like, "epic, man," but the epic poem: the very big story with very big words with the very great ending. we want to be the hero. i never believe the people who say they are fine with a small life. 2. i keep thinking about this cliche, because i can't find a way to UNthink about it. like to hear it, here

a whispered post

2011-10-17T16:42:00.000-04:00

i miss blogging. a lot. a lot. a lot. however, i'm still missing it for all the reasons i quit in the first place: my messy ego, my need for attention. biggerbetterfastermore never enough. so i'm not back. i'm just saying i miss it.

Yesterday

2011-06-30T00:40:00.001-04:00

I can't believe I am saying this. But I am. I am saying it. I'm taking a break from Bethany's Freelance Life. I started this blog to chronicle the ups and downs of starting a freelance writing career. I did not love freelance writing. However, I completely fell in like with writing this blog. I kept it going long after the career ended. Why didn't I like the freelance life, you ask?

Fake Empire

2011-06-25T23:37:00.000-04:00

We are talking at a party. She is using her ring finger to fix her makeup, to wipe her eyes. Really, it can be anything. The burn of sunscreen after a long summer day. Allergies. The mascara, eyeliner, shadow combination that looks beautiful, but never seems to stay. I know it can be any of these things. The only thing I can think: she's crying. The tears have been locked away, and she

Halfway Decisive

2011-06-21T20:28:00.001-04:00

I've been thinking about my One Word 2011 lately. Honesty clause: I had this thought: "I really should write about my One Word again." And then I had THIS thought: "What WAS my One Word?!?" I looked it up, and THEN I started thinking about my One Word. And THEN I got an email from Alece saying the year was half-way over. THE YEAR IS HALFWAY OVER!!! Yowza. So. In case you forgot, as I did, I

Foodie Suffering

2011-06-15T09:48:00.000-04:00

How YOU doin'? I totally like you. You are very attractive. I just wanted you to know. Want to hear a story? I went out to dinner last night. (Aside: A VERY GROWN UP DINNER. WITH CALAMARI SHOOTERS AND OTHER VERY GROWN UP FOODS. AND VERY GROWN UP CONVERSATION. AND NO NON-GROWN UPS.) Where was I? Oh. Right here. This? This talking to scary, random strangers? This is very new for me. It's

Brooklyn, Brooklyn Take Me In

2011-06-09T15:04:00.000-04:00

Finally, FINALLY, Blogger made (or I just found?) the mobile version. Look on your phone-ies and tell me if it looks good. Or, ya know... don't, and just keep coming back. I'll figure it out. Sorry you came here for this. I have nothing to say today. My life is very deja-vu-ish. I have lived this week before.... i.e... I have blogged about this week before. So random. Oh! I had a dream about

Is It Drafty In Here?

2011-06-06T16:05:00.001-04:00

Sometimes, I'll start one of these (or an email, for that matter), and it never gets past the title. Sometimes, I will finish one of these, (or an email for, for that matter), and it doesn't publish, and I take it as a sign. I leave it unpublished. I'm loser-y that way. Sometimes, I will have one great sentence, but nothing to develop it... no words (friends?) for backup. Do you like Words