YKWIM #54: Zoom Zoom Zoom
Make My Heart Go Boom Boom
Hello and welcome to anyone getting this for the first time! Thanks for coming along, happy to have you here. This newsletter usually goes out on Fridays, so keep an eye on your inbox for these.
How was your week? Are you also shocked that’s still August? Still.
Thanks to the pandemic, I’ve learned that I’m really not a video chat person. An occasional Face Time session, fine, Zoom meetings, okay, whatever, a necessary Google Meetup, sure. Overall, virtual hangouts make me miss the people on the other side of the screen even more. It’s been a tough time to be an extrovert. I’ve found a groove— I go to the farmers’ market with a mask on, I hang out in friends’ backyards, I’ve done the drive-in on camping chairs, but there’s still a lot of people I miss (probably you, person-reading-this). I miss parties!
Still, I have to admit that I’ve had some positive virtual experiences in the last few months and I thought these might be helpful for other people too.
Proof That Zoom Isn’t Always Awful
Freelancing With Tim Tim Herrera is The NY Time’s Smarter Living editor and in June, he launched a newsletter and video chat + Q&A series on different aspects of freelance writing. I’ve attended a few (always held on Sunday afternoons) and each were really helpful. The guests are mostly in the intermediate stage of their career, which is a sweet spot that’s not questioned enough. Personally, I’d much rather hear career advice from people who are still out there cold pitching like the rest of us than a superstar with a contract at The New Yorker. There’s one this Sunday on launching newsletters if you’re so interested.
Cost: Free but he has a Patreon.
Prototype PGH Local folks! I’ve signed up for a couple of professional development workshops and the resume review one was extremely helpful. I got personal recommendations on how to tailor my resume to my personality and where I want to go in the future. Fresh eyes made a big difference. There doesn’t seem to be anything on the calendar yet for September but keep an eye on it.
Cost: Free
The Believer/Black Mountain Institute Since ~all this~ started, The Believer magazine/Black Mountain Institute have been holding Friday drawing sessions with different comic artists. The best part is you don’t have to tune in live— I never do. It’s all uploaded to YouTube later. I like to fire one up when I’m feeling antsy and I want to do something creative. It gives me a place to concentrate on for an hour and I always feel better after. I particularly enjoyed Self-care Comics with Nicole J. Georges and Draw a Cartoon You with Leslie Stein. Later today, you could tune into Body Comics with Erin Williams if you like.
Costs: Free
Yumi Sakugawa You may or may not know, but I adore the work of Yumi Sakugawa. Start with her book I Think I Am In Friend-Love With You and then my favorite, Your Illustrated Guide To Becoming One With The Universe. Her artwork and words on Instagram make me feel like I’m not the only one in the world with big, tough feelings. She teaches meditation, helps people get in touch with their creative side through virtual drawing parties, and runs special sessions for people of Asian descent. She has one this Sunday (How to Spend More Time Offline In Quarantine) that is literally made for these doomscrolling times.
Cost: Varies, on a sliding scale
That’s about it for me. Have a great weekend, drink water, and do something you really love.
Take care,
Andrea
Thanks for signing up for this wild ride. Please excuse any typos, weird spacing, or grammar mistakes, shif happens. Links to my social and website can be found below. If you enjoyed this and would like to support my work, you can buy me a cup of coffee. Any questions or comments, feel free to send them along— andrea.laurion@gmail.com