Dream work project! Got to interview and write about @USATODAY’s Taylor Swift reporter @bryanwesttv for @muckrack.

The first question I ask during interviews + excellent content from @copyblogger, @mslopatto, @shaylaprice, @ACESEditors & @DotyContent https://t.co/xmo9BslobE P.S. Subscribe to my content newsletter 📫:

That brings me to now! Next up on my list: ✔️ Detailed training videos/documentation for my team. ✔️ Looping clients in to the plan. (They know I'm taking leave, but not the nitty-gritty of it all yet!) ✔️ Getting as much done/scheduled pre-baby as possible! What am I missing?

✔️ Determined a detailed scope of work + pricing for my contractor. How much will I pay the contractor while still ensuring I bring in enough money to cover my expenses? Lots of math and spreadsheets to get this part figured out!

✔️ Secured a reliable contractor to step into my role. Next up, I reached out to a trusted member of my team of writers to see if she might be willing to step into my managing editor role for my retainer clients while I'm out. She agreed!

✔️ Evaluated my current work. I made a list of all of my clients/projects to determine which I could take a few months pause from and which I'd need to find coverage for. I also made a list of work I can complete ahead of time and work that will need to be done in the moment.

✔️ Gathered intel. Luckily, lots of entrepreneur moms in my network have been happy to jump on calls to share how they curated their own maternity leaves. Thank you @MeredithLeJeune, @NicoleMFallon, @kat_boogaard, @lindseygiardino, @PRGal187 & @juliabocchese!

With less than 90 days to go until maternity leave, I've been in major planning mode! As a self-employed business owner, I don't get any set paid time off, so I wanted to share how I've been putting together my own version of maternity leave. What I've done so far:

3 projects I've loved working on in Q1: 🗒️ Written SEO-based articles about bugs. Yep, you heard that right — bugs. 😂 🗒️ Fact-checking and editing for a finance client. 🗒️ Case studies.

Especially as I look to planning for maternity leave, project-based work has become more appealing to me. It's often a shorter engagement, meaning not a lot of ramp-up, and also allows me to take on more work while still managing my time and capacity effectively.

One thing I'm loving lately? Project-based work. There's something incredibly satisfying about a project with specific deliverables and a determined start and end date.

How far ahead do you plan content? Musings on that in this week's newsletter + good stuff from @m_makosiewicz, @anngynn, @cierra_loflin, @amandanat & @Michael50834213 https://t.co/ymlknDIJuJ P.S. Subscribe to my content newsletter 📫:

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✅ Fact-check all facts/figures. That includes names, dates, stats, factual statements & instructions. Get as close to the original source as possible. ✅ Provide receipts. I like to leave a comment w/ a link to the original source or where I was able to verify a specific fact.

Some thoughts on fact-checking: ✅ Separate fact-checking from editing. These are 2 different processes that take 2 different strategic approaches. ✅ Fact-check from the top down. I like starting at the top & working my way through an article to ensure I don’t miss anything.

JL&Co turns 7 today! 🎉 When I need a reminder of why I got started, I think about the bright-eyed girl who woke up on a cold February morning 7 years ago with all the possibilities in the world ahead of her. Cheers to another year of doing meaningful work & forging my own path!

🚩 When I see a company advertise they're hiring a freelance editor or writer but the application requires a resume/CV upload, I immediately X out knowing this is an initial red flag they don't know how to work with freelancers/solo business owners.

Thoughts on making the move from writer -> content manager in this week's newsletter + good stuff from @kaleighf, @upmostmike, @chris_at_b449, @rosemaryegbo, @pomeranian99 & @jacasiegel https://t.co/Ycy7TeirJi P.S. Subscribe to my content newsletter 📫:

✔️ Showcase misconceptions. Here’s an example from my blog: “5 common content misconceptions (and why they’re totally wrong)” ✔️ Pet peeves is another similar angle that can perform well. Think: "6 professional pet peeves that rankle PR pros" from @SoloPR. Thoughts?

Here are 4 negative angles to inspire your content: ✔️ List mistakes instead of best practices & offer ways to avoid them. From The Write Life, “5 B2B content marketing mistakes you can easily avoid.” ✔️ Highlight bad examples like @muckrack's “This month in bad PR pitches.”