Wednesday Words of Wisdom from Ralph Waldo Emerson

An overdue visit to Gratitude Road

This piece from The New York Times had some interesting ideas to help us express gratitude. It inspired this letter, which I unfortunately can’t deliver to its addressee. I hope it encourages some readers to write — and actually deliver — one of their own while they have the opportunity. Dear Ernie, I came to […]

Wednesday Words of Wisdom from Thich Nhat Hanh

Failed Queries: A Repurposing Success Story

I was too in love with this lead to let it go. So, even though this particular query failed more than once, I was eventually able to use its subject — and a variation of its first sentence — in a story on balancing a full-time job with a start-up business. Dear Ms. Editor: Not […]

Wednesday Words of Wisdom from Tecumseh

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If You Love Your Mission, Celebrate and Share It

I was honored to be selected as Umission’s Person of the Week this week. Umission is a local nonprofit dedicated to celebrating people who love their mission, activating people who want a mission to love, and investigating how to keep that mission vibrant and successful.” I am truly grateful to have found a mission I […]

Wednesday Words of Wisdom from Rumi

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Wednesday Words of Wisdom from James Brown

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When should freelancers turn down assignments?

When I started freelancing a few years ago, I hadn’t had a published clip in more than a decade. Eager to rebuild my portfolio, I spent the days I wasn’t teaching writing queries and letters of introduction and searching for new markets at my local library and bookstore. I have to admit I also watched […]

Wednesday Words of Wisdom from Socrates