Joanna M. Eng

Today marks my two-year anniversary of full-time freelancing. It has been a fun, challenging, stimulating, constantly changing, satisfying couple of years. Working at home has led a healthier lifestyle, too, since I can prepare fresh lunches for myself and go out for a run in the middle of the day (both make for nice mental breaks).

I don’t interact with people as much as I used to, though, and that’s one thing I made an effort to change this year. One tool to combat loneliness is Loosecubes, a network that connects independent workers with offices that have empty desks. It’s a cool way to find productive work spaces and meet people—both of which often spark new ideas for me. I would recommend it to any freelancer or telecommuter who is feeling a little isolated.

This year I’ve welcomed several new clients. I’ve taken on more book editing projects through the Strategic Book Publishing & Rights Agency and Boutique of Quality Books Publishing. I’ve started copy editing pieces about classical music for Reflections on a Grand Passion and honing copy for a private social network called GORI. And for the local blog QueensNYC, I’ve been writing about neighborhood history, green initiatives, and cultural happenings.

Here we are at the end of 2011, my first full year of full-time freelancing.

One of the best parts of freelancing is getting to learn about so many different subjects and organizations and meet so many different people. This year I edited and proofread full-length books, reports for nonprofits, program proposals, web content, and blog posts on topics such as travel accommodations, studying abroad, personal finance, social impact, and management strategies. I researched and wrote about eco-friendly travel, sustainable restaurants, social enterprises, green living, workplace communications, and college readiness.

Photo by Chris Sansenbach

As a result of one travel content editing gig, I’ve become quite knowledgeable about small and mid-sized cities throughout the United States. Apparently, Yuma, Arizona, is the sunniest place on Earth. Appleton, Wisconsin, was the site of the first commercially successful electric street car company in the country. And during the winters in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, skiing was once the only mode of transportation. One day my head will be filled with enough trivia to go on Jeopardy!

I’m grateful to all of my clients for these opportunities and for being so pleasant to work with. Happy New Year, everyone!

Over the weekend, my friends at Idealist.org successfully launched the new version of the site in English, Spanish, and French! The design, copy, and code are brand new, and there are now plenty of interactive features you can use to connect with people and organizations, save searches and listings, and post your own content.

I’m especially proud because I know how much work went into it. From development to copywriting to translation to design, it was a huge team effort that I’ll never forget being a part of. I obsessed over details like the use of capital letters in error messages, the order of links in the footer of the site, and the translated list of country names; and learned to do things like write specifications documents, create wireframes, and administer online translation systems.

If you’re on Idealist, connect with me here.

Photo by djprybyl

In a few days, I’m heading to the Berkshires in western Massachusetts for a travel writing assignment. I’ll be covering 30 unique things to do in the area for the interactive travel site Trazzler. I have been writing about my travels and local adventures for a while, but this is the first time I’m being sent somewhere specifically for a travel writing assignment, so it’s quite an honor.

I’m looking forward to five days of waterfalls and beaver dams, apple cider and goat cheese, contemporary art and indie coffee shops, and getting lost on winding roads. Thanks to the complimentary Wi-Fi everywhere, I’ll still be working on other projects while I’m there.

I’ve just made the switch to freelancing, and I’m excited to get going. I’ll use this blog to give occasional updates on what I’m working on, what I’ve published, and where I’m going on vacation (I’m getting way ahead of myself).

Thanks for visiting. See you around!