I’m so over this. Like, legit, social distancing is for sure taking a toll on me the same way it likely is for so many others. It’s hard to even get up in the morning with nowhere to really go. Plus I may have graduated from college last year, but I’m still very much on the hunt for a more permanent writing gig. So the closures incurred by this worldwide health concern has really put a damper on my job search.
But I’ve found that lately, I’ve been able to stay busy due to my various professional endeavors I’ve taken up right from the comfort and safety of my home. As things are starting to slowly reopen in my state, I can see that there is definitely an end in sight. So here’s what I’ve been up to lately while being stuck at home – maybe through this brief list, you’ll be able to find new ideas for your creative pursuits as well!
1. Interning
If you’ve been around my blog before, you may have heard that I write concert reviews, band interviews, and music reviews for The Boston Sports Desk, and have been for a couple years now whenever I can. This is a fantastic gig that I found through the career center at my college, which usually allows me to score free tickets to concerts (and if you know how expensive and tough it can be to get decent seats, you can imagine how dope of a gig this is for me). It was going to be sort of temporary, but it ended up being a mainstay for me as I really loved it and noticed how it allowed me to network better and have real samples of my writing that I could show to future employers. You can find the archive of music articles written by me HERE.
More recently, I also scored an internship with Brilliant Light Publishing. This is another great opportunity for me because I can now add to my resume that I’ve technically worked for a publishing house – and all I had to do so far was reach out to local authors and review their books. My first article was about the adorable children’s book “Cody the Cloud” with an awesome anti-bullying message. You can read my book review HERE.
2. Guest Writing
Through one of my colleagues I met in my marketing classes (Ashley Mason from marketing agency Dash of Social), I connected with some really interesting blogs that could feature a guest article by me. Yet again, this is a great way to get some more legitimate looking writing samples out into the world – and what better way to start than through Life Goals Mag? As a young author trying to make a name for myself, it’s very easy to get swept up in the hordes of others trying to make it big. So I wrote an article all about my experiences with writing and publishing five novels by the time I turned 23. That article is available on their website HERE.
3. Freelancing
Maybe you’ve heard the adage before but it’s so true: “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” And as banal as that phrase is, I’ll admit it was very true for me in this case. Through a familial connection, I ended up landing a PAID freelancing gig blogging for a sales coach. It’s super easy and I get checks in the mail regularly, paid for each blog I write. There have also been talks of me potentially formatting and editing a book for this particular client, which would then be a big professional opportunity for me. Once again, I’m utilizing this time at home the best I can to pad my resume, so that when the job markets fully revives, I’ll be poised and ready to leave my mark.
I’ve even made business cards for myself so I feel super legit as a freelance writer – sometimes a little boost of confidence is all it takes to start dominating your life. And Vistaprints makes it super easy (not a sponsored post, I swear. I just really love Vistaprints LOL). And you can get 20% off your order with their coupon code “ENJOY20” (you’re welcome).
There’s no right or wrong way to use your time right now. Don’t forget that since things are so uncertain and frustrating these days, it’s also perfectly valid to just survive if you don’t have the energy to thrive just yet. But if you’re like me and you’re chomping at the bit to do something useful, these tips may help you resume a bit of normalcy in the midst of this unprecedented hitch in your plans. Plus, you want to be able to tell future employers that you made the most you could of this time and didn’t just while it away on Netflix 😉
OR you can find my books on Amazon HERE if you want another escape from the bland reality we’ve all been stuck in for a while. Audiobooks are also available if that’s more your thing!
#selfquarantine #professional #writing #authors #fiction #freelancing #marketing #writingsamples #blogging #guestblogging #concertreviews #musicreviews #bookreviews #bostonsportdesk #brilliantlightpublishing #audiobooks #amazon #kindle #fiction #timetravel #suspense #thrillers #growingup #comingofage #forgettingwhaticouldntremember #antibullying #bereal #writetruth #collegegraduation #jobsearch
Angelina Singer Author Updates 