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Share your week’s goal on the thread below! I know we’re all bursting with ideas and plans, but let’s stick with one main objective each for accountability.
Here’s a potentially useful format, but feel free to improvise too! Just keep your posts below 200 words max to focus your thoughts.
Week of [DATE]:
Why I’m stoked:
Concerns or challenges:
Did the magic happen? [END-OF-WEEK ACCOUNTABILITY CHECK]Feel free to ask questions about your project on the CHAT forum or post passages and drafts in the SHARE forum. Keep submissions here short and sweet to build accountability and momentum, and to receive support from your fellow writers!
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Hi everyone! I hope you’ve had a good week!
Week of 09/01/2025: Geez, is it Thursday already? The editor of the cookbook I’m translating is back from vacation this week, so I’ve had to scramble to catch up on that. I’m also finding it very hard to concentrate with my son still on vacation. I’ve been letting him have way too much screen time and, even so, I can’t concentrate, because I feel bad about that, sigh. I did a little preliminary research on the paella and wine pairing piece but don’t want to spend too much time on that, so would love to discuss finding sources and minimizing research in the coaching group today.
Next week I’m going away for a few days with my husband, son and parents, so I want to enjoy that as much as possible. Once my son is back in school, I want to polish and send the pitches Amanda has edited and work on this month’s pitches.
I look forward to catching up later today!
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Week of 9/8: Pitch Wired a story on my new Brax3 privacy-minded smartphone, which doesn’t share info with Google, advertisers, data traders and governments. It’s also a third the cost of a new Pixel with similar specs! (My strongest motivation was to stop tripping over crap AI suggestions while typing or photo-editing. But the privacy aspect is certainly appealing in this climate…)
Why I’m stoked: The magazine has been crushing it, reporting-wise. And mainstream journalism has only noted the launch, most recently in March. I’d like to fill that gap!
Concerns or challenges: I haven’t written for the title in… 20 years? So I feel a little rusty, even though I’ve done plenty of tech coverage in the interim!
Did the magic happen? N/A as I didn’t post goals last week -
Hi everyone! Looking forward to the co-working session later today! That Wired idea sounds great, Amanda!
Week of 09/08/2025: I’m late again. I had a wonderful getaway with my family and was able to totally disconnect. Before class tonight, I want to write up my pitches for Qwoted and the Food Binders for the paella piece.
Why I’m stoked: Today’s my son’s first full day at school, so I’m excited to have far more time to focus starting next week, well, minus the holiday on Tuesday, sigh…
Concerns or challenges: My mind still feels so scattered after a very disruptive year.
Did the magic happen? I enjoyed good family time away with minimal screens, so that’s magic in its own right. I’m hoping to feel more work magic next week. -
Hi everyone, I hope you’re all doing well. J’nai — are you back from South Africa yet? I look forward to hearing about that!
Week of 09/15/2025: After a local holiday on Tuesday, I think I can say I’ll finally be able to get back to some semblance of a routine now. My cookbook translation deadlines have piled up so I need to focus on that this week. I’m feeling anxiety about my “new normal” with my parents here and all their medical needs. Am I biting off more than I can chew with my work?
Why I’m stoked: I’m still feeling so excited about the journalism fellowship!
Concerns or challenges: The abovementioned anxiety, which woke me up at 2 am today and kept me awake.
Did the magic happen? No, I did not send out my Qwoted request. I’ve pushed that back but HAVE to send it in Monday of next week. I’d like to try to draft that article in a week.
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Ansley, I’m sending you a big virtual hug!! Everything you’re juggling sounds incredibly intense, I hope you’re finding at least a little time to move your body, meditate, or do something for yourself!
Also, not sure if you’ve tried it, but magnesium glycinate has helped me with sleep, I’ve read it’s supposed to support stress too, though I can’t vouch for that part as much 😅 Worth looking into if you’re dealing with 2am wakeups!
Excited for you about the journalism fellowship too!! Hope you have a better week, this week!
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Week of 09/22/2025: I was so blank on stories to pitch for Travel Classics, I started reaching out to tourism boards, I made a spreadsheet with things I ideas I got from those calls, if anyone is interested in taking a look/has feedback: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zTnjOoU1gYMpXJHmPSFzLE9wsTsUjl421BPYM83NUoM/edit?usp=sharing
Why I’m stoked: I’m glad I’m no longer showing up to the conference blank!
Concerns or challenges: You know when you’re stressed and so overwhelmed you end up doing nothing, which then stresses you out more? I was/kinda am still in that phase. I’m stressed about the conference because it feels like this big looming thing and I just want it to be here already, yet I also want more time at the same time….if that makes sense?
Did the magic happen? Didn’t write my goals the past few weeks, but the goal has been to organize my notes/ideas into a spreadsheet so yes I’m glad I did that!
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Hi everyone, I hope you’re all doing well! I’m late again! Here’s my update from this week:
Week of 09/22/2025: My goal this week was to gather all my sources for the paella and wine pairing piece and to make good progress on my translation. I look forward to discussing this later. Via Qwoted, I got two white male sources. I’ve spoken to one on the phone and gotten an email commitment from the other. I also got an email commitment from a great Spanish restaurant in North Carolina. I sent my questions Wednesday, but they haven’t replied yet. I also have one other source who’s said she’s interested — the owner of a Spanish wine-focused winery in Lodi, a relative of a friend. But I’m starting to worry I’m not going to get replies to the emails. With the time I’ve put in so far, I already feel like I’m losing money…Today I’m going to try to draft the intro, as I’m not totally clear about what I want to say.
Why I’m stoked: I just want to get the paella piece out of the way so I can focus on the fellowship. I received the syllabus today and it looks amazing!
Concerns or challenges: I’m coming to terms with my new reality and am not happy with the work-life balance right now, with all I have to do for my parents.
I look forward to talking later!
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Week of 9/29/2025: My goal is to actually send out pitches this week — at least five — to a variety of publications, and wait to hear back. I will also follow up on a potential lead for some work to see if I can move forward that way.
Why I’m stoked: I’m not stoked. I’m nervous as all get out because things are getting worse and worse for us by the day and we see no way out of it, so I am saving my excitement and hopefulness for when something positive actually DOES happen.
Concerns/challenges: Rejection. Always. This is my livelihood and a rejection means that I will not be able to eat, pay rent or do anything else, so that’s my biggest concern. I really hope that I hear some good news this week — somehow, somewhere — from someone. Fingers crossed!
Amanda, here’s a link to some pitches:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_DMNzipoNRuPv6yTdu_PkJLFsPzlxFp0YNN4qFxqbms/edit?tab=t.0-
J’nai, I think these pitches sound amazing! You have such an inviting voice that draws me right in and makes me want to join. I also think you’ve done a great job in these pitches of piquing the editor’s interest without giving too much away. Will you provide a bit more info about yourself in the pitches — the Champagne Knight info, for instance ;)? I look forward to hearing what you’ve sent out!
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J’nai, that sounds like a good conservation-of-energy strategy. I wish you weren’t dealing with any of this, though!
Here are some thoughts about your cornucopia of great ideas!
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Hi all from a new member of the Badger Den. Looking forward to getting to meeting you on the next call!
Week of Oct 6, 2025: Decide on one pitch idea + outlet to focus on first. Starting with a small, hopefully achievable goal.
Why I’m stoked: Having this structured space and community feels like a great start for getting back into a routine of pitching stories
Concerns or challenges: I’m currently mid-international move from New Zealand back to Seattle for a bit, so my focus and sense of time/place is extremely scattered. I have a habit of thinking I’ll get into more of a routine when “life settles down” (which deep down I know will never actually happen).
Did the magic happen? TBD
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Week of 10/13: I hope to work on my Brax3 smartphone pitch and maybe the Covid-conscious haircut idea too. (The experience was fab, from the safety/sensory accommodations to the fluffy pupper and free oral birth control in the bathroom. And I love my cut so far!)
Why I’m stoked: The antibiotics worked, so I have some energy now. Only like 25% of my usual wattage, but I’ll still take the win!
Concerns or challenges: I want to throw myself into pitching, since I just wrapped up a handful of articles originated by editors (read: less interesting than I might have proposed, broadly speaking). But my doc is pretty adamant about me taking time off — or at least working reduced hours. I’m crap at resting, but trying my darndest.
Did the magic happen? N/A as I didn’t post last week -
Oooh, that haircut experience sounds amazing, Amanda. I can’t wait to hear about it!
Week of 10/14/2025: Finish the paella and wine pairing piece. I’m stuck in a research loop, envisioning pennies circling around a drain.
Why I’m stoked: I really need to get this piece off my plate so I can focus on the fellowship.
Concerns or challenges: Taming my perfectionist tendencies. Hoping for alchemy between all my research, notes and rough stabs at an intro.
Did the magic happen? I am moving forward, but in a very nonlinear fashion.
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Ansley, I feel your pain as a (kinda sorta sometimes) recovering perfectionist! But I also want to encourage you not to exhaust yourself, even if this piece will be part of your portfolio.
Your plan to free up energy for the fellowship is a wise one!
(I know you know this. But sometimes it helps to have a gentle reminder to release an article into the world!)
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Hi team! My name is Jess, and I’m looking forward to getting to know you all.
Week of 10/14/2025: This week, I am focusing on creating mental space so that ideas can flow more easily when I sit down to write.
Why I’m stoked: I’m excited to add some structure and direction to my writing goals with this course.
Concerns or challenges: Staring at a blank Word doc for hours. I’m also worried that I don’t have enough ideas to turn into stories.
Did the magic happen? I haven’t taken any risks lately, so no. -
Week of Oct 13, 2025: Write-up Ad Rage pitch for feedback
Why I’m stoked: The idea was well-recieved within the group
Concerns or challenges: I’m not 100% sure where to pitch or what length/structure I envision. Hopefully crafting the pitch will help me focus. I also spent far more time than I should’ve this week pitching potential additions to a TimeOut Prague story after an editor reached out. I’d love to hear strategies on how to be better at half-assing projects that aren’t well-paid (I don’t feel like I can turn down any likely commissions ATM).
Did the magic happen? Landed on this idea after last week’s chat, so yes!
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Week of Oct 20, 2025: Choose another idea to workshop pitches
Why I’m stoked: Taking an idea a week won’t provide a sustainable income, but it feels like an achievable goal at the moment.
Concerns or challenges: So many of the travel stories I’d like to pitch are for places I’ve previously spent time (e.g. Czech Republic, New Zealand). I’m much more comfortable pitching about where I’m based so that I can do follow-up research in-person.
Did the magic happen? Got my ad rage pitch written last week, largely because of the pressure of a self-imposed critique deadline, so this group is working!
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Week of Oct 20, 2025: Create an organization method that works. Find reasonable outlets to pitch to and organize each story idea and the outlets I intend to pitch that idea to.
Why I’m stoked: I like tools that streamline work. I feel that I have lost a lot of pproductivity and power to disorganization. I am hoping this will keep me focused and directional.
Concerns or challenges: I feel ready to pitch and fail. I am very concerned about succeeding and needing to write an article on a deadline/interview experts.
Did the magic happen? Nothing specifically happened, but in general, I am feeling hopeful.
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Week of October 27: Find mid-market outlets to pitch to. Practice letting go of whatever I think my story is about and allowing some flexibility to change the story to suit different outlets. Think about writing as a business!
Why I’m stoked: This week, I will send out pitches.
Concerns or challenges: Finding mid-market outlets to pitch to. Spending too much time perfecting one pitch to one outlet.
Did the magic happen: not yet
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Week of 11/10: Write another 500 words on the spite garden story about the Homegrown National Park movement and people fighting to change rules to support native pollinators.
Why I’m stoked: My energy has risen to 40% of its usual level!
Concerns or challenges: My energy has only risen to 40% of its usual level! I’m still largely in rest mode, except for teaching and coaching. But I’m itching to write and plan to tackle this long-delayed project with an eye towards finishing it in 2025. (The editor said “whenever is fine,” which my ADHD interprets as “always lowest priority,” unfortunately. But I want this coverage out as folks start planting this spring!
Did the magic happen? N/A as I didn’t post last week. But declaring my intention helped me start this languishing assignment before. So hopefully Den accountability will help me knuckle down again. -
Week on 11/10: work on my website, editing anything salvageable I have written so that I can give editors an idea of my writing style.
Why I’m stoked: Having a website will give me a more legitimate chance of getting an article accepted.
Concerns or challenges: I have a hefty non-writing-related to-do list, and I worry that if writing isn’t my number one priority, I won’t get anything done.
Did the magic happen:I pitched an idea to 7 different outlets and did not hear back from any of them so no.-
Congrats on pitching, Jess! That alone counts as the magic happening in my book. But please don’t get discouraged by initial silence: editors often have to walk ideas into placement meetings before they can commission and some of those may be quarterly or even annual events, depending on the title. Or the team may be hard at work “putting an issue to bed” (the printer). Just follow up in two weeks for ideas that aren’t urgently time-sensitive, and keep pitching elsewhere in the meantime!
Remember you can always differentiate the stories if two editors bite and don’t work for competing outlets. And the editors themselves may tweak your concept to fit a particular section or series, eliminating any worrisome overlap. So don’t hold back!
I feel you on the to-do list pressure. My solution has been to brute-force it — basically block time on my calendar just for writing or career development. Then I try to honor that commitment with the same determination I bring to my clients’ deadlines.
Those mental gymnastics can be hard, though. So I’ll often turn to the support of a writing buddy, even making small bets about who knocks out more of their to-do list. Accountability can be a great forcing function!
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Week of 11/10: write 1-2 new pitches for critiques (through the weekend)
Why I’m stoked: Actually getting them out of drafts/my head leads to a better chance of acceptance
Concerns or challenges: Tailored pitches have a better acceptance rate, but I tend to get bogged down for hours trying to find editor info, review what’s been covered, and show my familiarity with the outlet… I don’t have regular outlets or editors who immediately spring to mind.
Did the magic happen: my last goal was to pick a new pitch to focus on. I’ve got eight new ideas but not sure which outlets I’d choose for them or which to focus on first. And still want to find a home for ad-rage, first(?) -
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Week of Nov 19: Read through the previous mini-lectures.Begin two pitches.
Why I’m stoked: Excited to get started on this next chapter of my life.
Concerns or challenges: We are at the end of the semester and things get crazy. Worried about getting bogged down-but happy to have the pitching template to get me started.
Did the magic happen? -
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Hi all, sorry I’ve been MIA, got laid off, second time in 3 years, and I was sad and mopey.
Week of Nov 18: Write-up pitches to email CNT. I’m still catching up on emails after Travel Classics, and I just need to get this done.
Why I’m stoked: I keep stressing about it, but also procrastinating, so I’m eager to send it off and stop worrying.
Concerns or challenges: My procrastination is a challenge lol, but now that I’m unemployed I have all the time.
Did the magic happen?
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Week of 11/10: get one pitch written for feedback
Why I’m stoked: Actually getting them out of drafts/my head leads to a better chance of acceptance
Concerns or challenges: I’m having such a hard time getting motivated from idea to pitch execution, an eternal issue of mine
Did the magic happen: nope, this is a continuation of m last goal, and I think I (entirely irrationally) have been disheartened by not hearing back from one tailored ad-rage pitch to one outlet (which my logical brain knows is ridiculous! But my emotional brain is convinced that all future pitches are a waste of time sure to be ignored…)
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