Grueling shift work, limited vacation time, and hundreds of hours of overtime had left me exhausted and bitter. I missed holidays with family, rarely saw my husband, and friends had long since given up on inviting me to anything. My job completely dictated every aspect of my life. Was I really expected to keep this […]
Fine dining in historic European castles? Who, me? How about an exquisite dinner in the oldest castle in Slovenia? High above the glimmering waters of Lake Bled, Castle Bled stands proudly on a rocky outcrop, protecting the secrets of its long, storied history. As if the setting wasn’t enough, fabulous dishes of pork cutlets, trout […]
I never cared for the expression: “Milk it for all it’s worth.” I thought it was a cringe-worthy saying that sounded selfish—even rude. However, after some big transitions in my life, I began to interpret those words in a different, more meaningful way… and it’s completely changed the way I experience life… Before becoming a […]
At 12 years old, I pictured myself as a published writer, pushing through adoring fans at book signings and appearing on TV shows, sharing my wisdom with young Chuck Warren wannabes. Then, I spent the next four decades doing absolutely nothing to accomplish that goal. I did write a lot. However, I never dared to […]
When I first retired from teaching public school music, I relished days filled by long lunches with friends, afternoons spent leisurely reading Southern Living while sipping sweet tea, then preparing a nice dinner for my Silver Fox (a.k.a. my husband of 47 years). But after a while, a restlessness crept in… and I knew I […]
Before I became a travel writer at the Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop, my 9-to-5 existence involved working as a corporate recruiter in the architecture and engineering fields. That meant spending the bulk of my day reviewing resumes and discussing job descriptions with engineering managers. Prior to my business card reading “travel writer,” my sexiest day […]
There it was. In my hand, staring back at me. The notification from the California State Board of Registered Nursing—it was time to renew my license. Something I’d been doing for 34 years. I’d always make sure I had all my ducks in a row with the required continuing education units. But, did I really […]
When an editor first asked me if I’d like to go on a press trip, I was excited immediately. Of course I would! The thought of an all-expenses-paid trip to sunny Florida meant that I could officially say I was a travel writer. But then she told me it was to a Club Med property. […]
Lori: Patti, How did you discover you were destined for this line of work? Patti: It was sort of an epiphany. I’d been traveling for my whole adult life and loved it. But it’s expensive, so I wanted to find a way to fund my passion. I’ve always loved writing, so with a little training, […]
Editors, when it comes right down to it, are looking for one most critical thing from any article a freelancer submits: They want an idea they know their readers will latch onto. If you can deliver that, you’ll sell your articles. The challenge, of course, is to do so. But there are a few easy, […]
