It’s hard to summarize my feelings about 2020 when they’re still updating by the day (hour). Sure, we get a new president soon (which I wake up grateful for every day), and have several COVID vaccines now in implementation, but I don’t think the world will ever be the same. I don’t think we’ll ever go back to pre-COVID life, and as so many people have pointed out, it’s for the best. COVID has been an incredible teacher, laying bare the ongoing crises of systemic racism and inequity. Through my local reporting this year, I’ve been profoundly inspired by the resourcefulness and resilience of BIPOC, marginalized, and working class communities. Through crowdfunding, mutual aid, free food programs, community kitchens, and more, Seattle’s South End communities have been taking care of each other. While politicians continue to haggle over whatever meager help they’ll give, it’s the people who provide real and lasting care for each other.
As a self-employed freelance writer, this year has blessed me with so many lessons. I wrote 136 articles and really dug into local journalism, mostly covering Central and South End news for Capitol Hill Seattle Blog and South Seattle Emerald. I have grown so much in particular with the Emerald. With the help of Editor Marcus Green, Managing Editor Sharon Chang, and amazing editors like Andrew Engelson, Phil Manzano, Marti McKenna, Jessie McKenna, and others, I am honing my craft and constantly learning how to be a better steward of BIPOC voices and stories. I feel extremely grateful to work with this very supportive team. Thank you, Emeraldites!
This year I wrote two of my biggest articles to date: “A Transition On Pause” for The Baffler, and “The Light Of Summer Taylor” for Buzzfeed. Writing about Summer Taylor, interviewing their friends and co-workers, was the hardest piece of writing I’ve had to do so far. Although the end result fell short of what I intended, I hope it added some important dimensions to their memory, especially as they were portrayed by the mainstream media, even if it wasn’t the story I hoped it would be.
I continued to write about one of my favorite topics: specialty coffee. I wrote a whole lot about COVID, cafes, and baristas for Barista Magazine and Fresh Cup Magazine. I’m proud of my three-part series on nonbinary coffee workers, and a recent article about current barista union drives.
Just going to say this here: I ALWAYS want to cover LGBTQIA+, labor topics, and marginalized voices in the coffee, and food and beverage industries. Get at me if you have a story!
This is also my second-ish year of full-time freelance writing. I have learned so much being a self-employed writer. It’s a dream come true, a lot of hard work, and worth every late night and early morning. I genuinely love what I do. So much gratitude for paying the bills and buying groceries with my writing.
I am proud of myself. And I’ve got even bigger writing goals for the coming year.
I have the utmost soul-love and appreciation for my partner Jenny, a self-employed BOSS LADY. She’s heard me complain about money and deadlines so many times it’s not even cute. Just being around her and witnessing her business grow, how she operates, scales up, does taxes, markets herself, and dons the many hats one wears as a small business owner has taught me a ton.
There’s not words enough to say how much you inspire me and expand my ways of thinking, Jenny. We are doing this!
Big thanks to everyone I’ve interviewed this year (interviews are not my strong suit), and those who helped me with an article. It’s the generosity of so many folks that enables me to write about what I do. Lastly, I want to thank everyone who’s reached out, whether it was for a story, following me on social media, or emailing me to say Hello! I’m glad you enjoyed something I wrote!
If you have a story idea, want to chat about my copywriting or social media services, or just want to say Hi, you can reach me through the form on my About Me/Contact page.
Thank you, and Happy New Year!