2019 Recap: A Freelance Science Writer's Year in Review

Well, folks, 2019 was a fun year in freelance adventures. Here are some moments that stood out.

Work

I published 62 articles on topics including Industry 4.0, earth science, Gen Z in the workplace, the taste of space, diversity in science, lunar soil, and so much more. I still can’t believe I get paid to interview brilliant people who are changing the world.

I also did a bunch of work that you can’t see, such as ghostwriting, editing, and moderating webinars (more on that in a moment).

Business Operations

I launched my website in January 2019. This was long overdue, and I’m so glad I got that nagging task out of the way. It was the kind of thing that always got pushed to the bottom of my to-do list because a) it doesn’t directly make money and b) it’s hard. If you follow the quadrant method, you’ll understand that making my website was “important but not urgent”. This is a good reminder to focus on similar “important not urgent” priorities in January. 

This year I started offering a new service--moderating webinars. Podcasts and audiobooks are always in my ears, so it’s fun to add an audio service to the mix of content that I provide for my clients. On that note, if you’d like to book me for a webinar, schedule a call ASAP because my 2020 calendar is filling up quickly. 

I added a few new tricks to help me keep up with my workload this year. If you’re a fellow freelance writer, I highly recommend Otter for transcription, And.Co for accounting and light project management, and Calendly for scheduling interviews.

Connecting

If the term “networking” makes you think of a bunch of people awkwardly exchanging business cards in their least comfortable office attire, I assure you I didn’t do any of that in 2019. I truly enjoy the real kind of networking, where you meet new people and build professional relationships. Mostly, I miss having coworkers. One of my 2019 goals was to find ways to connect with people during the workday. 

In February, I started a casual networking group with other local moms. We get together once each month to chat about everything from business challenges to kindergarten fundraisers. It’s been so much fun to meet a bunch of moms who are working in a wide range of industries. 

In June, I attended Skyword’s annual conference in Boston. I got to meet my favorite editors and writers and even connect with a dear friend from my Wiley days. 

In October, I discovered Pepperlane, which is a group for moms who are building businesses. I attended a Boost event, which is a 90-minute meeting that felt exactly like workshopping my creative nonfiction stories during college, but instead of picking apart each other’s mixed metaphors, we gave each other business advice. It was uncomfortable, inspirational, and exhilarating. 

On the last day of the year, I officially became a professional member of ASJA, the American Society of Journalists and Authors. This group is highly respected and I look forward to getting to know the organization in 2020. 

Cheers to a new year filled with growth and success!