Today came breaking news, nothing earth-shattering but still breaking news, related directly to one of my writing assignments, then an ensuing flurry of emails involving me, my assigning editor, a government official and a CEO. It was fun, a kind of madness I couldn't handle every day, but a reminder -- a taste of something I loved about journalism ( Read more... )

I dread interviewing people, but it is invariably the most exciting aspect of being a journalist. Social anxiety will probably always make me feel this way. Maybe it is like the thrill others get from jumping out of airplanes, which appeals less to me than dying peacefully in my sleep. I have to pay intense attention and trust my parachute (Skype ( Read more... )

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The March issue of Gluten-Free Living magazine is on North American news stands now. I have a cover story about the safety of quinoa for the gluten-free diet or, more precisely, for people with celiac disease. The designers gave it a beautiful layout. The editor liked my work, so there will be several more articles in the magazine in upcoming

Yesterday I lined up another new writing assignment, this one with a new client. The pay isn't great but this is for the web version of one of my dream magazines, which does pay well. So this is very strategic ( Read more... )

Symbicort and the cough syrup prescribed by the doctor have offered some relief but no healing for the cough that has plagued me for at least two months. I doubt this is allergies, as I thought at first. It seems to have more in common with the virus that seems to have afflicted so many people this year, except it does not really drag me down most ( Read more... )

As mentioned a few days ago, I've been thinking about goals for the coming year. These actually fall into two categories: work and personal. I made good use of the 6 Changes strategy a couple years ago for building some good habits, and now wish to reapply it to make 2013 a year of healthier living. Here they are:

6 Changes

1. Increase vegie intake ( Read more... )

My first freelance assignment in many years appears in the fall issue of Edible Toronto, now published. Here is my story about vine-fed lamb online. The print version is a free magazine. The editor liked working with me and wants to meet for coffee. Now I need more assignments.

I am now wired for conducting interviews via Skype with MP3 Skype Recorder for audio recording. I had to go buy a headset because the microphone on my laptop apparently languished from disuse and died of boredom. The webcam has never worked, so there will be no video. At least I do not need to resort back to a landline (we don't have one). ( Read more... )

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