It's way more fun being weird
Lessons from my mom and a bunch of strangers
This email is part of my Monthly Updates, which I send the first Friday of every month. It includes a little letter, my latest published stories, a mood board, and shareables like what I’m reading and making. Going forward, it will also include the freelance report for paid subscribers. This is where I share openly and candidly about the joys and challenges of being a freelance writer—such as how many stories I pitch, which publications accept my stories, how much money I make, what pitches got picked up, etc. If you’re a free subscriber, nothing will change for you. Business as usual! Thanks for being here!
Growing up, whenever my mom would embarrass me, such as dancing like Elaine from Seinfeld in the craft store, I’d roll my eyes and call her weird. “Good, it’s more fun,” she’d say, still dancing. I knew she was right even if I really, really, really wanted her to stop shimmying in the aisle before anyone saw us.
Meanwhile, in the privacy of home, my brother and I would make gargling noises and walk like zombies and sing like banshees. We’d be weird. Weirder than you’d believe. And when my mom would call us weirdos, it wouldn’t hurt our feelings as badly as it did when kids at school called us weird, god forbid. So I tried to be normal-passing, to wear and say things that drew the right kind of attention.
I kept most of my weird to myself and those closest to me. Or at least I tried.
Only Steve knows just how many voices I can do and just how weird I can get.
I started thinking about the acceptance of weirdness this week during a work trip with a bunch of people I’d never met before. We spent less than 48 hours together but by the end, we were comfortable with one another in a way that you would’ve thought we had been together a whole week. The banter was flying. Jokes were cracked. Friendly teasing was had. We were so very silly. I know I had just met them but it seemed to me like nobody held back from being their weird1, freaky, little self. My cheeks hurt so bad, and I almost choked several times at meals.
It felt safe to be weird with them. And by weird, I can’t even describe to you what I mean. It’s just a feeling. And the takeaway was when you get a group of people together who are comfortable and confident in themselves, who don’t hold back and hide their quirks but embrace them, it’s a freaking hoot.
My mom was onto something, and I’m trying to be more like her and not care whether people think I’m weird, which, inevitably, they do. I’m letting my voices out of the house, and showing more people my zombie walk. Maybe I’ll even try dancing like Elaine at the craft store or at Costco. Weirdness only begets more weirdness, so can’t we all just be weird and laugh together?
As my mom would say, it’s way more fun.
Latest Stories
Probably because I’ve covered tariffs since 2018, Outside asked me to write about how the latest trade mess impacts outdoor businesses. Bottom line: Gear is about to get much more expensive, and your favorite brands might not survive. And the worst part is there’s not much you can do.
Don’t forget to roll down the driver’s windows when you hitchhike, and more hitchhiking etiquette rules, for Backpacker Magazine.
If you happen to be visiting the Grand Canyon soon, I wrote you a walking guide to the historic buildings in the village for National Park Trips.
How to drive safely with pets, a story for AAA’s Via Magazine.
Monthly Shareables
Reading: Stay True by Hua Hsu, a memoir about the author’s unlikely but relatable relationship with a college friend. I’m not yet to the part where the friend dies (not a spoiler) so it’s easy reading right now, but I know the grief is coming.
The New Yorker covered the decline of Outside Magazine, a publication that many including me have held on a pedestal for many years. Change is afoot.
Making: I finally made cedar garden beds! Now I need soil…
Cooking: I’ve probably shared this recipe for one-pan lemon pepper salmon with leeks before but I made it again this past month and it’s just such a banger
Buying: I didn’t even have to think twice about getting this striped bikini
Testing: This Goldwin woven hike shirt arrived just in time for spring hiking, and I’m trying out Timberland’s TB00037 and TB00035 sunglasses
April Mood
Freelance Report
Pitch stats
Another low pitch month! I only sent two story ideas to different publications. One was immediately rejected by Vittles because the publication doesn’t cover the U.S. The other one was picked up by Portland Monthly and is due later in May. A huge win!