20 for 20

Fri, 29 May 2026 22:45:43 GMT

"You can write." — erma bombeck

This month marks 20 years of my formal professional writing career. I credit my start (and first paid assignment) to Tim Johnson, then editor at Today’s Catholic . I was a novice journalist, but he trusted me with a meaningful assignment. What followed was a stint at the award-winning Flyer News on the entertainment desk and then many more real-world experiences that brought me to where I am today.

In the spirit of reflection, here’s a meditation on the last two decades and some nuggets of wisdom (with some snark thrown in for good measure):

People are fascinating. My conversations have spanned the gamut of topics. For example, I’ve interviewed the likes of Midwest farmers and Efren Ramirez, the actor who played "Pedro" on Napoleon Dynamite. (See photographic proof.)
Writing is a creative practice, and you need to be intentional to maintain your craft. You don’t have to stay in one lane either. Journalists can be poets. Authors can write song lyrics. You get the idea.
I didn’t know what I didn’t know then. A lot of my early work lacked transitions. *cringe*
Mistakes happen. Learn from them.
Read. Read. Read. It doesn’t have to be high-brow. Just commit to a reading habit, and you’ll be more inspired.
The industry has changed in so many ways I couldn’t predict. When I graduated (with a degree in journalism), I was more of a specialist. Now, it seems you have to be a Jack or Jill of all Trades to stay relevant. And, of course, AI is an existential threat.
Mentors matter. I wouldn’t be here without them. (Thank you, Dr. Larry Lain!)
Internships are important, too.
Never stop learning.
Stay hungry and humble.
Writing, research and critical thinking skills — the hallmarks of a good journalist — are transferable. Don’t let anyone box you in.
Ask for what you’re worth. Ask me how I learned this lesson.
Caffeine can be a necessary vice on deadline—the same for booze.
It’s good to accept projects that stretch you a bit.
Learn other skills to make you more marketable.
Join communities of other writers, whether in person or virtually. No one should operate in a vacuum.
Some days will feel like a grind. This work isn’t glamorous, but it can be rewarding.
Be careful who you take advice from.
Creative inspiration can show up where and when you least expect it.
Have a little fun while you’re at it.

How The Artist's Way Changed My Outlook

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 23:41:30 GMT

my musings upon fumbling through the antidote for creative burnout

My work is highly deadline oriented. Some weeks it feels like I'm mindlessly doing a combination of interviewing, researching and writing. Rinse and repeat. It's easy to get lost in the day-to-day noise and lose touch with why I chose this work in the first place. Yet the fact remains I'm a creative through and through. (Just ask my mom about my plastic smock from the late 1980s. See photo below.)

For as long as I can remember, I've been someone who's gravitated toward the arts. In hindsight, I suppose it's fitting that I earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Dayton . However, a creative bent is a double-edged sword. The gig economy can leave you feeling more like a robot and less like an artistic soul who needs time, space and nuturing to thrive in work and outside of a career.

TLDR: Freelancing is a grind and one's mental health can be collateral damage.

My introduction to The Artist's Way came this spring, at an American Advertising Federation of Fort Wayne networking event for creatives. The speaker mentioned the book and program in passing, and I was intrigued. I went home and researched it and felt called to give it a shot. A fews later I purchased a hard copy and downloaded the audiobook version. I read the whole manuscript on a roadtrip and was eager to start that following week.

Before I get into the insights I took away, first a general overview of the concept. The idea behind the book is to help burnt out creatives — or anyone really — reignite their creative sparks in 12 weeks. The author prescribes two activities: daily journaling ("Morning Pages") and weekly "artist dates." You'll also find weekly suggested activities you can pepper in as time allows. I didn't necessarily tick any off my list, but I did find myself eager to break my routine.

I must be transparent that I was inconsistent with the journaling. But on the days when it fit into my schedule, I did feel a bit more in the driver's seat. (Side note: I think writing for a living has made me less amenable to the idea of writing for fun or without a purpose. No doubt I have a mental block around the capitalistic nature of my intellectual labor.)

The artist dates, however, became a source of joy and anticipation. Here's what these sacred pauses looked like for me:

Walk in the park
Baking
Sharing Peace Cafe
Reclaimed Fort Wayne
Colored pencil drawing
Read book in park
Artlink art supply sale
Webinar on historic homes
Japanese crayon art
Bouquet design
Jared Christiansen photography show
Documentary

Here's what I took away from The Artist's Way:

A clearer head : A week in, I recall sitting down to write social media copy for a client and felt more...well, inspired. The words seemed to flow easier.
A sense of self-exploration: I consider myself a creative but tend to put myself in a rigid box. I'm not an artist per se. But in trying new, low-stakes activities, I gained confidence that expanded into other areas of my life.
A greater sense of community: My work and home life have been chaotic in recent years, so I've fallen out of the habit of attending community events. Checking out a photography show was a great way to support a fellow creative and remind myself that others are doing cool things. The same goes for my visit to a coffee shop a few miles away. I had known about it for some time, but never had a reason to pop in. I'm glad I did!
Accountability: Like my workout classes, I would schedule the weekly date and it was non-negotiable to skip. This was a helpful exercise, because I struggle with consistency. I didn't want to let myself down, especially after investing a great deal of time and energy over several months.
Re-engagement with my inner child : Giving myself time and space to indulge in creative (read: non-productive} pursuits felt like play. This is an important element in living a full life.

The 12 weeks are over but I plan to be more intentional about welcoming creative projects into my everyday. In hindsight, writing this counts, right?

In the meantime, I'll leave with you with this quote from the author: “Mystery is at the heart of creativity. That, and surprise.”

writeon

20 for 20

"You can write." — erma bombeck

How The Artist's Way Changed My Outlook

my musings upon fumbling through the antidote for creative burnout