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I still remember the feeling I had after saying my first no to freelance work…a soupy jumble of panic and fear.
In retrospect, it was an easy no. I was using Google to translate Spanish or Portuguese scripts into English, then finessing them to make them sound less awkward. It wasn’t especially interesting or creative, and it was my least lucrative endeavor. As my schedule started to fill up with projects I found more challenging or fun or juicy, and with projects that paid more, I knew something had to give.
I wrote my kindest no thank you email to the translation folks.
Freelancing can be a constant hustle to find work, and saying no to work still feels scary, all these years later.
What if it’s the last time I am ever offered a gig? What if the well goes totally dry and that was it, and I just no thank you-ed it away for all of eternity?
Saying no requires a leap of faith, just a little trust that my anxious brain may be wrong.
But saying no is essential. It makes space for work that I want to do. There are no yeses without nos.
Having kids felt like the biggest intentional level up in my work life. Suddenly, time felt unspeakably precious, valuable, and scarce.
Writing and work felt sacred, somehow. Momming was relentless and impossible (and yes, at times, transcendent) but work was finite, knowable, and manageable.
I started to unconsciously but seriously raise the work bar.
If I was doing work because I told myself I enjoyed it, I didn’t want to dread it. If I was doing work because it was meaningful, I wanted it to feel like it genuinely impacted people. If I was doing work because it paid well, I wanted to get butterflies when I got that check in the mail.
I’m not saying my work life is constant rainbows and sunshine. It’s still life, and there are still random dry spells and insanely busy moments and high maintenance clients and other indignities.
And yet, I have had a lot of wins in the last few years. I’ve written stories I felt proud of. I’ve made more money, slowly but surely. I’ve broken into new publications. I’ve gotten emails that said my books and stories meant a lot. I’ve made new writer friends. I’ve come to know that I love coaching and teaching, and I’ve launched a whole lineup of classes.
One of the things I hope to do in these classes is help writers raise the bar for themselves. Writing can be lonely work, and having fellow writers cheering you on, offering wisdom and solidarity, sharing hard-earned tips and strategies…this is something I deeply value giving and receiving. This is a serious way to raise the bar.
Use the promo code “friendofHannah” for $15 off and come join me for these classes. I promise you’ll leave with both concrete skills (serious knowledge and action steps) and the ineffable good feelings that come from being in a Zoom room of amazing writers raising the bar together.
November 15 THIS WEDNESDAY!: How to Find the Right Literary Agent for You
With my own genius agent, Andrea Somberg! I couldn’t be luckier to have Andrea as an advocate, editor, and guide - and we’ll equip you with the tools to find your own wonderful agent.
November 30: Travel Writing 101 with Hannah Selinger and Hannah Howard
We’ll walk you through how to get started as a travel writer, from pitching the right publications to navigating press trips. If getting paid to travel and write is a dream for you - this class is perfect.
xo,
Hannah
PS Here I am trying to work and mom in those early days at my parents’ house.