Let’s Stay In Touch
Growing up, I was taught never to talk about money or — especially — salaries. If I asked, I’d hear words like, “rude”, “none of your business,” and “that’s information for grownups.” Well, it’s now 2021, and times have certainly changed.
Here’s a piece I wrote about how I got into freelancing, including how much I make doing it.
Hope this helps anyone looking for information and inspiration. Let’s just hope I don’t get spanked for sharing.
I didn’t speak to my father the last twenty years of his life. I never stopped loving him. I just chose to love myself more.
Christine Wolf is an award-winning journalist, columnist and editor. Her writing has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Runner’s World, Better Humans, The Ascent, Invisible Illness, P.S. I Love You the Post-Grad Survival Guide and other publications. As a direct result of her writing, she’s been featured on HuffPost Live and in the Chicagoist, Women’s Health, and Sarah Moshman’s documentary Nevertheless. She’s the Founder & Editor of Women This Way, a digital magazine dedicated to stories by and about individuals who identify as female, as well as Founder and Owner of Writers’ Haven LLC, a co-op and consultancy for established and aspiring writers. Wolf also co-authored a biography about two former members of the U.S. Congress; it’s scheduled for a 2021 release.
Why is it so overwhelming to write an artist’s statement? How long should my artist’s statement be? What goes into an artist’s statement? What’s the difference between an artist’s bio and an artist’s statement? In this August 2020 presentation to the members of Evanston Made (www.evanstonmade.org), I break down the process into manageable chunks so you can identify your unique strengths and describe them in a way to help you connect to your audience — and beyond.
I started on November 30th, 2020, and worked for 16 weeks. I had no idea I was about to step into the most uniquely stressful, intense and overwhelming job I’ve ever had.
Journalist and Memoir Coach Christine Wolf, photographed by E. Jason Wambsgans for the Chicago Headline Club
Notice that I’m the only one SITTING in this photo collage from Runner’s World! lol
Unrelenting loneliness pulses through my heart,
so beaten down with helplessness……but wait.
I can be part of something bigger, stronger,
though it only works this way: I need to be alone for now,
turning every day into a repeat of defeat of things I cannot see,
things I only overcome by being just with me.
If you’re struggling right now, I’m sorry, and I’d like to help. I’ve struggled, too, and know how dark life can sometimes feel.
A funny thing happens when you stick with something. Rather than just tell you about about my path, I’ll show you my actual numbers as evidence it’s worth staying the course. I want you to see how I’ve (slowly) transformed some initial earnings into income (and learning) that I’m proud of. I don’t need to tell you how much work goes into the writing life, and my story won’t launch you into Medium’s stratosphere — but it may offer some reasons to keep going.
I’d suffered from anxiety my entire life, but wasn’t diagnosed until my 40s. Learning how to recognize the signs and use new skills to manage my anxiety changed everything. This is my journey. I hope this piece reminds you that you’re not alone.
I discuss my writing life in The Check Out, a podcast series produced by the Evanston Public Library.
When the 2020 Chicago Marathon was cancelled due to the global pandemic, I created a course for myself. Here’s how I trained for and completed a 26.2-mile marathon through my own community, and helped to raise $10,000 for an organization dedicated to eliminating racism and empowering women.
You find yourself asking questions like,
“How do I get started?”
“What does it take to write for a living?”
“How do I know if I’m doing things right?”
When I launched my writing career more than 10 years ago, I had those same questions — and more. Through the years, I’ve picked up a ton of tiny tips along the way. Now I’m sharing these tips with you, since a community of writers is better when we all lift each other up.
For years, Jill Greenman and John Fervoy knew May 2020 would be an epic month. All three of their kids were graduating — from college, high school, and middle school.
Then, news of the global pandemic hit, grinding life to a surreal halt. As Jill and John did everything to hold on to their jobs, all three sons’ commencement ceremonies were cancelled.
Through the 8 images in photographer Suzanne Rothmeyer’s conceptual series Melancholia, we can visually explore — through this virtual art exhibit — the layers of pain depression brings, and perhaps use them as tools to increase dialogue and understanding.
Since the age of 16, I’ve been learning, collecting, documenting and referring back to 27 bits of advice that shaped me and helped me through my days.
They wanted to hear from me? The gal who didn’t go to journalism school? The one who launched her professional writing career from her kitchen table? Apparently, yes!
When my sister died unexpectedly in 2018, my heart was shattered. I completely lost my desire to write. This is one of several pieces that helped me to find my voice again.
