Final Gravity Issue 03 has great articles from @meganululani.bsky.social, @nooranandchawla.bsky.social, @zanmerusteffgen.bsky.social, & many others. Grab it super cheap here until our stock is back to a reasonable level: www.beantobarstool.com/shop/p/final...

I need this book! Lol 😅🤣😂

Something I think about a lot as a travel journalist: www.nytimes.com/2025/06/10/t...

My latest for Fodor's! www.fodors.com/news/news/is...

My latest for Adventure.com: adventure.com/gareth-johns...

Excited to announce I've finally finished putting together my online travel writing course, where you'll find everything from pitching advice and sample pitches to how to afford travels, find your place in the travel media industry, and more! www.feelgoodfreelancewriting.com/courses/get-...

how long do you think the average cardinal has been thinking about what papal name they would choose

There's something addictive about booking the next international trip... And I just set up two!

As a freelancer, I've learned to reach out to old clients as soon as I can anticipate a slow down in my schedule. Today, prompting an old client meant landing enough work to know I'll have my rent covered the next couple of months!

Wouldn't it be great if chronic illnesses were a little less chronic.

I hit my 4-year anniversary of full-time freelance writing this week! Amazing how far I've come in that time, all the experiences I've had, and all I've learned along the way...

April is always my busiest month--just got through a week where I had SIX deadlines and can't wait for a little break...

They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made. -FS Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, published 4/10/1925.

I took three days to do an at-home meditation retreat and WOW did I need that... Hard to be ambitious and also value work-life balance.

My latest for Travel Age West! www.travelagewest.com/Travel/Adven...

Of course it's only when I sit down to meditate that I suddenly remember all the tasks I wanted to add to my to-do list... An added challenge for clearing the mind I guess!

For some reason late March-May has been my busiest time of year as a freelance writer since 2021. Anyone else in the throes of busy season?

I got to write for my dream publication! www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/artic...

Building on our inaugural Icons of Inclusion event last year, we catch up with Go Beyond Holidays co-founder Ian Callen to explore the challenges of travel for people with hidden disabilities and the need for better accessibility beyond physical accommodations. @zanmerusteffgen.bsky.social

No task more challenging than writing a short bio about myself...

Call for pitches: We're looking at launching a destination-focused newsletter at point.me, and I'm looking for pitches from writers with deep expertise in a particular city or region(live in/visit often). 🧵

Getting woken up early by the fire alarm low battery chirp means it's the perfect day to work from the couch...

Despite the fact that I'm both well-traveled and a travel journalist, I'm terrible at packing and always get stressed out before my trips...

In today's Substack, my dad and I discuss community and its power in such an isolating time. merullo.substack.com/p/no-man-is-...

I used to get frustrated at delayed replies to my emails (or no replies at all), but now that my inbox is packed full of PR pitches, newsletters, communications with clients and editors, and other random stuff I think I understand why that happens!

Always fun to contribute to Your First Byline! yourfirstbyline.substack.com/p/how-to-int...

Mission to Mars because travel writers are running out of places for their "where to go next" lists

As much as I love to travel (and have to do so for work), I always dread my trips as they come nearer... Something about being both a homebody and an adventurer?

Some brief reflection on one of my all-time favorite quotes: merullo.substack.com/p/the-light-...

I have a hot date with my taxes today! One of my least parts of self-employment...

For @businessinsider.com: I'm looking for #IvyLeague students and alum to write first-person essays about their experiences. Do you regret going Ivy? Dropped out? Loved it? Has it set you up for success? What's been misunderstood about IL? Pitch me by email in bio. #journorequests #freelance

Excited to have made my Toronto Star debut today! I'm proud of this piece and also proud of myself for having the self-discipline to manage my disease and still have so many adventures. www.thestar.com/life/travel/...

As someone who has lived in a dictatorship, I know the playbook well. I also know that it ends in tragedy and trauma that can take generations to go away...

Visiting with my good friends from high school today. So fun to reminisce and also support each other through new phases of life!

I've found my motivation for pitching new publications has gone way down lately, but I'm finally taking a couple of hours to send out the story ideas I'd love to work on! This may be my least favorite part of the job, but it often becomes worth it...

In a way it's going to be lots of fun to talk and write about the beauty of the Gulf of MEXICO and the threats to the Gulf of MEXICO and the storm system moving across the Gulf of MEXICO. Rebellion of words. I like it.

One of my favorite things to do when traveling is find the nearest public library to sit and work in!

Remember your old phone number? You probably (still) know it by heart. The mobile-only revolution arrived as a money-saving life hack. But what if we lost more than just an old home phone number? More from @zanmerusteffgen.bsky.social in issue 18 commongoodmag.com/what-did-we-...

In my latest for Business Insider, I got to write about my home state! www.businessinsider.com/best-things-...

I've had a lot of life-changing life experiences happen on January 17th throughout my life, so I can't wait for whatever evolution is next!

I'm at that point with my work schedule where I've pretty much maxed out and will have to turn down any other assignments that come my way for the next couple of weeks. A nice place to be!

Try to think how I'm going to distract myself from misery on inauguration day... Any ideas?

Having one of those weeks where I know I've overcommitted myself... Which means being more strict than ever about things like healthy diet, sleep hygiene, and exercise!

Just had a hearty cry after selling a pitch to a magazine I've dreamed of writing for since I was a child. This feels like a reward for all of the hard work I've put in over the last years, and I can't wait to celebrate!

My best friend of 18 years is visiting me this week, and it's been so much fun to look back on all we've been through together... So many ups and downs and various phases of life, but our friendship has remained a constant!

My latest essay! www.today.com/health/essay...

Some days it feels like 90% of my job as a freelance writer is answering emails...

One of my biggest goals for 2025 is working on being too nice when people put me in uncomfortable situations. Any tips for advocating for yourself in a way that doesn't feel mean?

I'm not a big fan of NYE, but love using it as a natural place to pause, reflect, and set intentions for the new year. 2025 will be a big transition year for me--bring it on!