Things I leanred at 29: I’d rather… than starve.

Posted on March 30, 2010 by sandyb

Sometimes I think about this blog more than I write on it. Does that make any sense?

I mean I know it does – I wrote it in English, grammar is good, structure is simple – but does that statement make sense?

Anyone out there who has ever had a creative outlet – writing, painting, music, sewing, sketching, acting, and on, and on– has spent a great deal of time thinking about their craft. I mean, this is what humans do – we think about the things and people and places we love. It’s that thinking process that keeps us connected to whatever it is that we’re in love with.

But then ask yourself (as I did today), ‘am I thinking too much and not doing enough?’

And then I realized that I was over thinking that, too, which is kind of funny. Sort of. Not really.

Okay, how about this: Art without action is just a thought with no place to go, which, in my opinion, is the true inference behind the phrase, “starving artist”.

You see?

I’m realizing more with each passing week – as I write this blog, take a writing course, check things off my List, write a script or watch my husband play music – that over thinking anything – but especially over thinking art – is a lot like staring at a plate of delicious, warm, succulent food…and then just leaving it there.

If you want to feel full, you got to eat.

Tapping at the keys on your laptop, filling your canvas with the color, singing in the shower or snapping candid shots of people on the street is a lot like grabbing that plate of food, picking up your fork and feeding on the stuff that keeps you alive.

So ask yourself, when was the last time you ate?

Dig in, my friends, dig in.

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Join the conversation: What’s your art?

Things I learned at 29: how to work at a magazine

Posted on March 29, 2010 by sandyb

I'm not going to lie...the first time (or 10) that you see your mag on the stands does feel nice.

Actually, I learned this at 27, because that’s when I started to work at a magazine, but only now, at 29, do I feel I can dispense a little advice on the subject. (And believe me, I’m still learning everyday.) **Thanks to the lovely Cheryl from Starbucks Break for emailing me this question – I’ve wanted to posted it for a long time and, well, you gave me the motivation to do it.

Feel free to email me or comment with any Qs:

***

Here are a few tips that I wish someone had given me. I mean, hey, what’s the point on gaining experience if you can’t give it away in the form of some really long-winded bullet points, right?

sandyb’s guide to making writing your bread ‘n’ buttuah (or at least so you can love your job more than you do right now):

-First thing’s first: Do you want to be an editor or writer? When you work at a magazine, there are rarely full-time writers employed there, so what you’re likely going to be is an editor. In that case, the bulk of your job is massaging the work of freelance writers into the final product – a polished article. Be prepared. I can tell you from experience that not all writers can write well and so you’re not always going to love the article you’re editing, which is why you have to love the work itself – taking something good and figuring out how to make it better. On the plus side, editors get to research story ideas, pitch them to senior editors and help shape the magazine’s content. Decide if you want to be a writer or if you want to be an editor, because editing is a different ball game. Although I have learned that good editors often make good writers, too. And vice versa.

-Interning: Sucks, yes, but many internships pay these days. Those that don’t likely don’t have to or can’t afford to. Either way, I suggest getting hooked up with an internship asap. It shows prospective mags that you’re willing to do the grunt work (make copies, pull files, fact check, etc) and, if you do that well, they’ll sometimes give you editorial tasks to do, too. And sometimes that can lead to a byline down the road – bonus. Point is, get an internship and treat the application process like you would a job. Good internships are competitive and get scooped up right around the spring for summertime. Now go!

-Fact checking, anyone? Again, a great entry-level position to get your foot in the door that comes with pay (albeit, shitty pay for the most part, but pay nonetheless. Oh, and while we’re on the topic of dollars, you should know that publishing doesn’t pay well, unless you’re an in-demand journalist or Anna Wintour. It’s just a fact, so accept it and you’ll be a lot less resentful in the long run.) So, back to fact checking: It’s research heavy, which means that being curious is a very good thing. It’s up to you to read every article that goes into that magazine and make sure the details add up. You also get the opportunity to work alongside the copy-editor and other editors and really learn a lot about the industry your magazine is in (mine is women’s fitness, for instance).

-If you want to write for a magazine, submit, submit, submit. Especially the small ones. In the first few years of your career, become an expert on what you can: Fishing? Yes! Hiking? Absolutely! How to lose 10 pounds without even trying? Uh-huh. Kitchen decor? Hell yes! 100 Best celebrity hairstyles? Sure thing, chicken wing. Covering various genres is a solid way to find out what you are good at writing about (outside of what you “like” to write about, because the truth is that won’t always pay in the beginning). Writing across many industries is also a good way to show diversity in your work, but don’t get too scattered with it – eventually editors who hire you as a writer will want to see some consistency in what you do and what you’re well-versed in. Editors will give a writer work based on their experience with a certain topic, like nutrition or fitness or fashion, etc

-Think of the next year or two as as a weeding-out process. In the beginning, I pimped my words out to anyone willing to pay. In some cases, I even worked for free just to have the byline or reference to the work on my website (oh, and a website, get one of those.. I’ll get to that). At some point though, you do want to place a price on your work. If you’re in Canada, writers.ca gives you a breakdown of what writers charge these days. Your work should not be free forever. This is your craft – hone it and respect it if you want other to do the same. That said, look at writing for websites, blogs, trade magazines and even companies who need marketing material. But be careful – it’s easy to get pulled into these “jobs” and then side-track your writing career. I made that mistake for about two years when I first started out, but it was a lesson well-learned and I paid off some school debt, so it served its purpose for the most part.

-Give to get – if you want to be a full-time writer, get busy being a part-time hustler, too. You will always be amazed by the amount of people who can’t, won’t and shouldn’t write. Medium-sized companies, web experts/producers and even the service industry don’t always want to tackle the written word. Don’t be afraid to step in and offer your help. Again, it’s about building the portfolio, your relationships and networks. Remember, you’re a hustler, baby.

-Apply to magazine postings. When you see a posting for a position, and you think you have a solid portfolio, apply. No second-guessing. Don’t ever think, “Well, I’m not ready,” because a good editor is always ready. Always. When I saw the posting for my current job, I just went for it. I remember looking at the posting, turning to my sister and saying, “I love fitness.. and writing and editing. Hell, I want this job!” Three interviews later, I got it.

-Build a portfolio. When you go to interviews, have it ready to go. This usually involves getting a binder then doing a little arts and crafts. Best bet is to Google what a typical writer’s portfolio looks like. Oh, and never leave it behind at an interview, no matter how much you want the job. (I’ve so done that.)

-Blogs. A blog is a good way to show that you can, in fact, write. It can become a sample of your work, the kind of audience your draw and your commitment to certain topics and content. The more you blog (say, about dating, fashion, GenY, travel, etc) the more people turn to you as the “expert” on that topic. This takes time though, so don’t expect you’re blog to be the ‘be all and end all’ of your samples. However, I would absolutely mention your blog to prospective magazines. Having a successful blog is a good, good thing, but not the only thing.

-Websites and business cards. I suggest building a website that has samples of your work. Mine will be undergoing a refresh in the weeks to come, but you can visit it here. Your site should have an “About” page that lists your education, skills and training. Think of it as a virtual resume. Also, you can make some inexpensive business cards to keep on hand. You want to be ready when you’re at a party or cocktail thing and happen to make a contact. When someone asks you for your card, you want to be ready. It should list your website, email address, phone number, Twitter account and blog URL.

Last point and if you take nothing away from this post, please take this: Working at a magazine, as fun as it may seem or sound, is still a job. You will be busy with 40+ hour work week and little down-time. It’s a career that is very, very deadline driven, so if you’re not into meeting deadlines every other week and delivering under pressure, working at a magazine is something you might want to rethink. I don’t say this to discourage you, I’m simply laying it out there, full exposed. It’s a fast-paced industry. I liken it to the deadlines you have to meet in school, only you won’t have a professor who is forgiving about your “heavy work load” or “I had cramps” excuses. Instead, you’ll have one annoyed editor on your ass because, at the end of the day, your job is about delivering the goods and helping to shape the identity of a publication. Um, no pressure?

Now, if this sounds like your dream thing, go get it ‘er.

-sandyb

Learning to fall in love… again.

Posted on March 27, 2010 by sandyb

You’re going to be hearing a little bit more about our upcoming move – we have two weeks left in our beloved neighborhood. The move is the main event these days. I started thinking about our connection to our neighborhood – Roncesvalles Village – and how it’s seemed to creep into the most important nook and crannies of our life together. In fact, this blog started shortly after we moved here last year. Living here has been a big part of reinventing sandyb in so many ways. [note: for our beach wedding, we put this photo on the invites - we wanted to keep it fun and show that we try not to take ourselves too seriously.]

We took these pictures back in 2007, three months before our wedding. Back then, we used to say, “Wouldn’t it be amazing to live here one day?” And then last year, we sold everything, packed up and did. We moved here. We made that little dream our own big reality.

The vibe here is one of community and belonging. It’s a trendy neighborhood, sure, but it’s more than that if you’re willing to look beyond that – it’s a place where creativity thrives and where it’s okay to be a little different. Rob grew up in this neighborhood and so it’s held a special place in his heart his whole life. And because of that I discovered love here, too.

This is the house Rob grew up in, just behind us in this photo. It was in the house that Rob fell in love with music. He’s told me stories about his childhood here and I only wish I could have known him then. He told me how he would walk to church with his family on Sundays, where he was an alter boy. He would accompany his mom to the bakery and butcher shoppe on Saturday mornings to get the weekend’s ingredients for a big family dinner. His favorite memory is playing in the alley ways and school yard until the street lights came on, and then running home with his sisters before dark.

This old theater, now a convenience store, is where Rob used to buy handfuls of sour candy for $.25. Remember those days? Inside, you can still see where the theater seats used to be and there is a grandiose feeling when you walk in. That’s the great thing about living here – even with the arrival of trendy shops and restaurants, you can still see the imprint of the lives gone by.

Roncesvalles Avenue is lined with small fruit stands showing off the best local and organic produce. We actually did some fruit shopping for this picture, because we’ve been buying our fruits and vegetables from this very fruit stand for the last three years, even before we moved here. Our new neighborhood is an upcoming one and maybe someday there will be abundant little fruit stands lining the main street. Until then though, we’ll miss this weekend ritual…

…but we know our new neighborhood will bring a new set of streets, shoppes and hideaways to fall in love with and isn’t that the best feeling anyway – falling in love again?

Here’s to walking towards a new adventure.

***

[thank you to Agnes Jeglinska, who we will forever be grateful to for snapping these moments. You can visit her blog here.]

#22 on the List. Take my picture. And bright, red lips.

Posted on March 25, 2010 by sandyb

I like having my picture taken. Ok, I love it. But I’m shy. But that might surprise you, especially if you know me (stop laughing) because I’m mostly an extroverted person. Put me in a room full of strangers and I’ll walk out of there knowing a handful of new faces. Put me in front of a yoga class to teach and I’m cool as a cuke. Ask me to ask the woman sitting next to me what she thinks of the chef’s special before I order it, you gotta deal. But throw me in front of a camera? I may need a little vodka to set the mood. These photos are just a few in a series that I took for the revamp of my professional website – the one I use to get jobs in writing, editing and yoga. If you’d like, you can check it out here. A new version coming soon (but that’s not on the List, so don’t hold me to it.)

It took some time for me to get truly comfortable with Cheryl (the lovely gal who snapped these shots) and not because she made me uncomfortable at all. I just tend to get a little camera-shy at times. Things like, “do I look okay?” or “Do I come off as a spotlight lover?” or “Is there spinach in my teeth?” cross my mind. Repeatedly. That ever happen to you around a camera?

Since Cheryl’s a photography student, I assumed she was younger than me. “You’re what, like 24, right?” I asked her as she was asking me about my life and what I do when I’m not having my picture taken. “No” she replied, “I’ll be 30 next month”, and then rolled her eyes. “Ugh,” she said, “I can’t believe it.” I nearly jumped the girl! “Oh, then you understand me!” I said, hugging her, thrilled that she would completely get me when I told her about this blog and my Birthday List an how turning 30 feels a little heavy sometimes. And she totally did – she got me. Ever since, we’ve been emailing each other and hope to get together soon. On a side note, I’ve been testing out two shades of red lipstick all month, to rave reviews from friends, Rob and even a stranger at a nightclub a couple of weeks ago. Hm, not bad, eh?

Dear Toronto Life, can I write for you? I love words, you love words… we can make this work, I swear.

Sort of what I look like when I’m blogging, but not really.

These boots, people, look at these boots! Full-out vintage cowboy. I picked these bad boys up at Vintage Depot in my new neighborhood (we move in just three weeks). $18. I would not tell a lie. Not about shoes, anyway.

Not sure what I was thinking here, but it was probably along the lines of, ‘I don’t know what to do with my arms!’

After four hours of shooting, wardrobe changes and brilliant banter with Cheryl, I decided that I’d like to do this again – a photo shoot, that is. I really do love exploring new ways to wear clothes, move my face and arms and express feelings or lifestyle details just with a look or stare at the camera. Above all though, I love being someone new for a few snaps. It’s an art – photography, I mean – and I’d love to be the subject of somebody’s creation once more. Just once. What an honor that would be. (Wow, this wasn’t easy to write or admit but…ahh.)

I want to do this again so much that I’m making it #22 on my List: When it comes to art, be the subject, just one more time.

#6 on the List gave me ass bruises.

Posted on March 24, 2010 by sandyb

A wonderful thing happened to me last month. My only regret? Not sharing it with you sooner.

The day started at 6:00 a.m. the morning I crossed #6 off my List and it was one of the most exciting things I’ve checked off since I hit the nude beach last year.

I skated competitively as a kid. I quit when I was 16 because being a teenager felt more important than jumping, spinning, gold medals and early morning practices. It was the first time I ever quit anything in my life. Apparently, I’m still in recovery.

Rob thinks that the “unfinished business” of my competitive skating career has left me scarred when it comes to follow through on other projects in my life – when I get close to success, I choke and sometimes I even give up. I give up. Ugh, I hate that in unspeakable terms. But sometimes knowing when to pull the plug on a situation – whether it’s a job, a business venture or even a friendship – is just as important as following through. Sometimes, it’s just better to walk away. But I have a hard time forgiving myself for taking that walk every time it happens.

“I should have…”

“I could have…”

“I wish I…”

“I regret I…”

Ah! Living in the World of What If – it’s a disease I tell you! How many times have you passed on a situation and then ruminated on your decision? I know I’m not alone on this – we’ve all done it before; the question is though, what’s the remedy?

I decided my dose would need to come in the form of lacing up skates at the crack of dawn and stepping on cold, fresh ice to make amends with this piece of unfinished business in my life. I needed to jump into it, toe-pick first.

It was glorious (graceful? not so much, but glorious, nonetheless.)

I felt like I was flying on that ice. My body just seemed to… remember. Call it cell memory – like riding a bike – but by the end of two hours, jumping and spinning just felt like it was what I should be doing right then and there.

The bruises on my ass, however, would have indicated otherwise. But I loved every fall, every crack of the ice under my blades, every opportunity to feel like I was going to vomit if I did just. one. more. spin.

Glorious.

Maybe I’ll never be an Olympic medalist – although, I will admit, Rob and I toyed with the idea of ‘what if I throw it all on the line and aim for the 2014 Games? – but maybe that path isn’t for me. Or maybe it is?

My friend Cristina and I (an ex-skater and a fellow yoga teacher) have signed our 29-year old selves up for six weeks of Saturday morning practices. Six weeks. That’s a whole lot of ass bruises, sore ankles and ice burn.

And you know what? I can’t wait.

(*PS – this is the video I’ve been trying desperately to upload – still no luck. But I didn’t want to delay on this news any longer!)

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Joins the conversation – do you have a “regret” you’re thinking of remedying?