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Nov 2 2019
Back in the Saddle Again…

In June, I returned to my role as the communications director and a spokesperson for a national pro-life lobby group. Honestly, I missed it but my husband and I had made the decision that I would stay home when our youngest was born. It was not long after that we discovered that both of our sons would be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders.

I went back to work when both boys were in school but I still missed my old job. After teaching for a few years, I began working at a pregnancy center as the development director and then the communications director but I still missed my old job.

Fortunately for me, the job duties for the person who held the role had become very broad and it was felt that the communications director needed to also be a spokesperson again. The position was split off from development–which that person was also doing.

I was asked to return to my role. (Insert excited squeal here!)

I am excited to be back but as you can see from the last post, it’s been very busy in the intervening months. I can say without a doubt, don’t burn bridges when you leave an old job and always look for ways to improve and make yourself better at what you do.

Laura Echevarria 0 Comments
Apr 16 2019
Writing for a Living

Writers are in great demand but, because what we produce are words, people often read what we write and think, “Well, that doesn’t look so hard. I could do that!” and then expect writers to charge less for the work because it’s less tangible than, say, the plumber fixing your sink. In addition, we don’t make it look hard.

Words are important. They convey our thoughts, feelings, ideas, and artistic impressions. We cannot expect a plumber who fixes a a broken sink and charges $200 to accept $100 just because you realize you probably could have done something similar.

When I tell people I am a writer, I often have them respond by telling me that they also like to write and that they plan on writing a book.

I have done the lion’s share of work on a non-fiction book (nearly 40,000 words completed) and even had the book proposal make it through an acquisitions editor to the acquisitions committee only to find that my background was not what they wanted (they wanted investigative journalists as authors for that particular type of book at the time). It was hard work to get that far. The proposal alone was 65 pages and required market research as well as reader research. It’s no easy task to write and be published.

Personally, I admire the fiction writer because I know the work involved in writing a work of fiction. It’s hard to convey the thoughts and feelings of characters. It’s hard to consistently write in the correct viewpoint and voice. It’s hard to remember a character’s temperament, eye color, background and vocation. It demands organization and a rigorous discipline to do it well.

And, to some degree, I admire those who can easily say that they are going to write a book. Maybe it’s because I know the work involved, but I find it daunting. I should borrow some courage from those brave souls who are ready to go all in and write a work of fiction. As Paul Gallico once wrote, “It is only when you open your veins and bleed onto the page a little that you establish contact with your reader.”

Laura Echevarria 0 Comments
Apr 2 2019
New Challenges: Facing a Job Loss with 3 Rules to Live By

Since my last post, we’ve experienced some upheaval. My job for the last 3 years was eliminated (new director + new board = new priorities + restructuring).

While I am looking for a new job, I have been very busy. I am doing more volunteer work—including writing and editing materials for a state non-profit, recording radio ads for the same organization, and serving on the board of a national non-profit organization.

My husband and I have also become heavily involved in local community theater and we have performances this coming weekend. (Insert a nail-biting emoji here!)

Regarding the job loss: It is disappointing to serve an organization only to find that your work will be farmed out to a marketing firm but it’s the way things are in this day and age. Excellent writers, editors, and communications professionals are finding their skills in greater demand but for smaller companies and non-profits, it’s sometimes easier to hire a firm for specific projects. This is what happened to me.

When dealing with job loss, I think there are 3 important things to do and remember:

  1. Realize that sometimes there are things you could have done differently but that your job loss may not be about you. The issues may have been all on your employer’s side and there is nothing you could have done differently. Be kind afterward. Do NOT burn bridges– no matter how frustrated or angry you may be. Letting your anger/frustration show is ineffective, a waste of time, and can only hurt your and your former employer/fellow employees. Remember, you worked to help make them what they are and put them where they are. Don’t tear it down when you leave.
  2. Stick to a schedule afterward, get up at your normal time, and use the day to send out your résumé. Don’t be afraid to apply for jobs that are “below” your abilities. Prioritize looking for jobs that you would enjoy and that you can commit to doing.
  3. Move forward by utilizing your abilities in other areas such as volunteer work. I love volunteering for organizations that align with my beliefs. I spend my free time working on things that I enjoy doing and that are related to my talents. Volunteering does two things for me. First, it prevents me from doing “nothing” while waiting on the phone to ring after applying for jobs and, second, volunteering let’s me use my abilities and keep them sharp. I also have my own projects, such as my blog, that require me to understand WordPress, HTML code, and social media applications.

I hope this helps you if you are also facing job loss. It’s disheartening but it doesn’t have to be the end of the world.

Laura Echevarria 0 Comments