Link Love: May 20, 2010

It has been over a month since my last Link Love. In lieu of the Hail Marys and the Our Fathers, I’m finally going to own up to the fact that something’s gotta give.

I mean, my grandfather died. And then I started a new copy editing gig. And then I launched a mom blog over at YourTango. And Michael and I started making plans to go hang gliding, maybe go on a French wine cruise, clean out our condo and sell it, buy a house.

Things fell by the wayside. My plans to do market research for my career coaching practice. My e-book. This blog.

Something has to give, but I don’t want to give up any of it. Which is why, at the very least, I can at least stop feeling guilty over the infrequency of my blog posts. At least for now.

Last night, I attended a callanetics class with my mom. I’ve been going every week for the past 11 years (give or take the few years I was away at college). It typically serves to simultaneously relax and invigorate me, both stretching me out and strengthening my core. Last night, however, I had a panic attack during class, and started crying on the drive home. I just felt so overwhelmed.

So yes. I’m going to try to feel less guilty. I’m going to try to acknowledge that I am merely human. I am not going to give up this blog. But I will be here less often. If you’d like to stock up on some reading material in the meantime…

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Link Love: March 19, 2010

It’s been a long, ridiculously busy week and, I must admit, I’m feeling a bit burnt out. Which is why, last night, I forced myself to step away from my laptop and indulge in an evening of Netflix+hot cocoa. Still, work goes on, and I completed a copywriting project for a new client, had my very first career coaching appointment, and got back into the bloggy swing of things. I’d still like to write up a guest post, organize the content for my new online portfolio, and make some headway on my e-book but, you know…we’ll see how that goes. 🙂 In the meantime:

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Link Love: March 14, 2010

What a week! I announced the winners of my Career Coaching for Word Nerds contest, and have my very first appointment scheduled for this coming Wednesday. I’m way excited to start helping people find career fulfillment, and am also interested in seeing how the balance of editing, writing, and coaching shifts in my own life.

Not only that, but I managed to tear myself away from the computer twice this week in order grab drinky drinks with fellow entrepreneurs. On Monday, I met up with a former colleague who just resigned from her full-time job in order to throw herself into full-time freelance writing. As we’ve both been on the editing and writing sides of the table, I had a great time talking freelance strategy with her, and sharing on-the-job stories. And on Thursday, I headed to Ginger Man for happy hour with two fellow tweeps who had driven up from NC for a short vacation. So great to put faces to tweets!

I’m not sure yet whether this Sunday will be lazy or productive (I have an ebook to work on, and a new copywriting client) but, before I decide, let me give you some weekend reading:

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Link Love: February 19, 2010

So I’m trying to dive right back into things. Here at Freelancedom, and with my fledgling coaching practice. I’m even beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel with the copywriting project I’ve been spending so much time on. Maybe if I’m lucky, I can even get a few pitches out this weekend, to some people I’ve recently been put in contact with. Oh, and I do have that guest post to write. Ah, well. So much for weekends. Before all that, though, I’d like to present you with some interesting links…just to pass the time with:

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Link Love: January 31, 2010

It’s been a good week. I’ve been ridiculously busy at the office. I’ve been ridiculously busy at home. And it seems that query challenge karma alone is bringing new opportunities my way. (At the moment, I’m at Barnes & Noble, working on my ongoing copywriting project and doing some market research.) Before I dive back into work, I wanted to share with you this week’s link love:

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Link Love: January 24, 2010

I seem to be pulling out of that slump I was in for the past couple of weeks with my at-home freelance work. My copywriting is going faster, and easier, and I’m also feeling fired up for Freelance Success‘s regular query challenge, which starts tomorrow, and for which I’m actually a team leader (talk about accountability…). On top of all that, I’m loving my part-time, on-site job more and more every day (which happens to make life — and my commute — a lot less gloomy). How is everyone else weathering the long winter?

Okay, okay. I know what you’re here for. This week’s link love:

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Link Love: January 17, 2010

I hope you’ll forgive the lack of original content around here lately. I’ve been looking for a way to get my freelance groove back but, for the moment, it eludes me. This is partly because I’m enjoying my office job so much. I’m really into the work they’re giving me, and I’m allowing it to spill into my at-home life (naughty, naughty). I’ve also been feeling groggy, and blocked when it comes to the big copywriting project I’m working on. When I’m writing something good, I can feel it. My pulse races. I’m totally psyched. And it’s fairly easy for me to whip up a first draft. But lately, it’s been like pulling teeth, and this makes me nervous. I feel as if I can’t force it but, at the same time, it needs to get done. Soon. Any advice for me?

But that’s not what you’re here for! This past week’s link love:

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Link Love: January 2, 2010

2009 is behind us, and good riddance to it. Though it ended on a high note — with big-money projects, the start of my career coaching certification program, and a new job — the bulk of it was a struggle, due to a continuing downward spiral in my income. I worked my booty off, though, which is why I’m so convinced that 2010 is going to rock extra hard.

In fact, I had hoped to end things, and kick 2010 off, with a bang by taking my final career coaching exam this past Wednesday, but I was struck down with a stomach bug that day, and have been laid low by that ever since (blech). Since I’m so nervous about passing (because I’m a neurotic maniac), I decided to hold off until I was feeling my best. Still, the week was a good one. I was extra-productive at the office on Monday and Tuesday, and was even included on Marie Claire’s Twitters Every Woman Should Follow list, in the career section. It felt good to be recognized as a career writer, especially after being pigeonholed as a sex writer for so long.

Here’s hoping 2010 rocks for all of us. And now, your link love:

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Christmas Link Love

Merry Christmas from me and the fam! (We’re all so excited, we’re doing jazz hands for you.)

I am, at this moment, probably exchanging gifts with my husband (I totally bought him a stress ball shaped like a boob from the Museum of Sex! Among other things…). But I still wanted to give those of you still hooked up to your computers something to read today. After the jump, this week’s link love:

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Link Love – December 18, 2009

Hey there guys! Before I give you your link love for the week, I’d like to indulge in a little bit of self-promotion. I’m thrilled and honored to report that Brazen Careerist has named me as one of the nominees in their Top 50 Blog Posts of 2009/Blogger of the Year contest! There are a lot of great writers on the list, and it feels pretty darn good to be among them. If you find me worthy of top honors, however, I’d appreciate your vote! Instructions — and a link to the other nominees — are at the link above but, really, all you have to do is tweet the following:

I’m voting for @stephauteri’s post in the #Brazen Careerist #BestOf 2009 contest: http://bit.ly/UaRsw

Hashtags, URL, and all. (That link, by the way, leads to my winning blog post.) I’d appreciate any Twitter love you can give me! (Plus, your votes enter you for a chance to win a Starbucks gift card. Coffee = Major Win.)

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