Simon Says... The Best Part of Writing Is Discovery
On pushing past limits, even if it scares you.
Welcome to Simon Says, a weekly newsletter from Rachel Simon all about freelance life—from the inside scoop on just-published stories to advice on how to pitch to what it’s *really* like to leave a cozy full-time gig for the chaotic, unpredictable world of invoicing (jk, freelancing, but IYKYK).
Of all the different writing classes I’ve taught over the years, Creative Nonfiction has always been my favorite. Although the exact syllabus varies depending on which school (Gotham or Redbud) I’m teaching it for, the gist is that each week, we go over a different type of nonfiction: personal essays, op-eds, reviews, features, etc. What I love about this format is that it forces students to get out of their comfort zones. In Creative Nonfiction, there’s no room for “I only do X” or “I’ll never do Y.” Everyone tries everything, even—especially—if it scares them.
Because one of the best parts of writing, in my opinion at least, is discovery. Every time you put words on a page, you learn a little bit more about who you are, what you think, and what you want to say. And so if you limit yourself to being a specific type of a writer, you also limit the chance for that discovery. How can you really know how you feel about culture, for instance, if you never write a review about something that moves you, or do an interview with a person who inspires you? How can you make sense of the world around you, say, if you never argue a belief in an op-ed, or visit a new place for a travel story?
This isn’t to say that it’s wrong to specialize in one area of writing, or that you have to be great at them all. (I, for instance, am way more comfortable with personal essays and features than I am with reviews and op-eds.) But as writers—as humans—we do ourselves a disservice when we don’t ask, what else can I do? And as a teacher, I love nothing more than helping my students find the answers to that question, whatever they may be.
Writer or not, get rid of those limits. Let yourself discover more.
And now, onward:
Some Stories I Wrote Last Week
I have several stories to share this week, starting with:
An op-ed (see? No limits!) for NBC News THINK about the importance of Bella Hadid admitting she regrets getting plastic surgery at age 14.
For People, I wrote about Amazon’s new, easy-to-use shopping hub page for colorful glassware.
Also for People, I talked about a robot vacuum cleaner that’s super popular and on sale right now.
Over on Daily Paws, I highlighted Amazon Launchpad’s “Pamper Your Pets” hub, which features tons of cute, fun gift ideas for dogs and cats.
And lastly, also for Daily Paws, I wrote up an adorable video of a dog owner making a frozen yogurt sundae for her (very happy) pup. Recipe included!
The Inside Scoop
Each week, I’ll pick one story I’ve written (new or old, if needed) and explain how it got from pitch/assignment to publication. This week, it’s the NBC News THINK story on Bella Hadid.
I read Bella’s Vogue cover story right when it came out because I’m admittedly obsessed with all things Hadid, and I was really struck by her candor in the interview when it came to mental health and body image. Her admission (after years of media speculation) that she’d gotten a nose job at 14 stood out to me the most, since it’s so rare for a celebrity to own up to plastic surgery—and to say, like she did, that they regret getting it done. So I pitched the angle to my NBC News THINK editor, who was thankfully on-board right away, and wrote up the story that afternoon. We went through a round of edits to tighten up the wording and add in some important stats on teenage plastic surgery, and a day later, it was live for all to read!
Other Work/Life Stuff Of Note
Good news! If you were interested in ordering a custom puzzle but were deterred by the price, I just added a new, cheaper personalized puzzle option to my Etsy page that’s $60 for 7+ custom clues, versus the regular $75 for 10+ custom clues. Woo!
In wedding news, we’re getting married in 17 days !!!!! Every day, there’s a new little thing to finalize, from seating charts to menus to ceremony music (still TBD), and I’m so freakin’ excited that the big day is right around the corner.
Coming Up…
I’ve spent much of this week reporting a big feature for a publication I haven’t written for before, so look out for that (as well as another big feature for a place I have worked with before) in a few weeks’ time!
Otherwise, I’ll just be truckin’ along with work and wedding planning as usual and writing about them here. But if there’s anything you want to see talked about in this newsletter next week or later on, let me know! You can email me (rachel.simon113@gmail.com) or DM me on Twitter or Instagram—whatever floats your boat.
Thanks as always, and have a great week, friends.
-Rachel