On putting yourself out there
It wasn’t so much a “new” lesson, more like a timely reminder - and the reminder was how important it is to keep talking about you and what you do to as many people as you can.
In last month’s issue of Notes on Freelancing I spoke about making the decision to move from freelance photography to freelance writing and “announcing” it online.
It was a really important learning moment for me that has echoed throughout this month through the bucketloads of encouragement that has come my way and exciting opportunities which arose from taking that step to put myself out there.
It wasn’t so much a “new” lesson, more like a timely reminder - and the reminder was how important it is to keep talking about you and what you do to as many people as you can.
Let me backtrack a little. When I was thinking about sharing my news I was unsure about shouting about myself on social media like that; I felt like an impostor because I wasn’t really making any changes behind the scenes. I was also (and still am) nervous about this change which has veered so far from what I had imagined for myself. Finally, simply, it was a lack of confidence.
I feel like one thing I have lost recently is a lot of confidence, purely from not being able to go out as much as usual, not being able to truly step out of my comfort zone and meet lots of new people, try new things, go to new places, form new experiences.
Though it’s not been completely enjoyable, having had to stay in constantly has definitely encouraged bad habits including retreating further into the bubble of safety and familiarity.
I ignored the nervousness and scheduled the tweet anyway; I knew better than my nerves and that little voice in my head, and I was sure it would be worth it - this isn’t my first rodeo after all, despite the lack of confidence.
How glad I am that I did. Off the back of that one tweet, I received a beautiful amount of encouragement and well wishes. I also received a paid writing commission, an opportunity - a book review - I hadn’t really expected to come my way. Though it’s exactly what I had been hoping for, it was still completely unexpected. Off that review being published, I’ve received even more interest. I’m bubbling with excitement at the possibilities of where this thread of opportunity might take me.
As part of that remembered lesson, and to put my money where my mouth is, you can read that review here. The book was Anita Sethi’s ‘I Belong Here’ in which she writes about her experience walking along the Pennine Way after having to deal with a horrific racial attack. It was an incredibly meaningful book for me to read and review.
Not long before this, I again experienced this wonderful feeling of community and connection. I shared two photographs asking for some help with choosing the better one, thinking I’d get one or two thoughts from my usual friends there. A little more than that happened. It took off and I got an incredible amount of differing opinions, advice and thoughts, all of which helped me when I very much needed it.
It was another perfect reminder of the same lesson; talk and talk and talk about what I’m doing more often. Sometimes it helps and moves thing forward in ways I absolutely will not expect.
Finally, to put even MORE money where my mouth is, I decided to share this month’s newsletter with a self-portrait made for World Vitiligo Day which happens every year on June 25. I’m slightly nervous about sticking my mug up there like this but there it is!
So keep talking, keep sharing what you’re up to, share when you need help or advice, share when you just need to vent. Remember to amplify your own voice and your own needs; most of the time, there’s someone out there who will hear you, who will respond and sometimes, someone who needs to hear what you have to say.
To carry on the theme, I’m inviting you to share your news here! It could be anything from gaining a work opportunity to remembering to buy more tea bags this week or being able to step into the outside world feeling a bit safer than before. Leave a comment below, I’d love to hear from you.
Ameena x
End Notes
“The power of vulnerability” Brené Brown x Ted Talk
Listening
A slightly nerdy share today but I am deeply in love with the YouTube lo-fi scene which has provided many hours of calming and sweet background music during the pandemic. I was a big World of Warcraft gamer when I was younger too, so when these two completely separate (or so I thought?) cultures came together, I had to check it out. And I LOVE it.
Reading
Buku Sarkar’s Containment Diaries
“I have been wanting to write about this for a long time now but in my time in Delhi I wrote not a single word. A few weeks ago, I had another collapse and I snapped. I realized that if I was going to have to live with this condition, the only way I could was to chronicle it. And publicly. No more hiding. No more charades.”
Finding the Mother Tree: How Suzanne Simard changed our understanding of nature
“She became engrossed in whether mother trees recognize their offspring in forest networks when she became a mother of two daughters. As she struggled with life-threatening cancer, she grew curious about what dying trees send to neighbour trees in a forest.”
21 Female Photographers Who Made Significant Contributions To The Arts
Doing
A little about me
I’m a freelance content writer based in London working with small businesses and brands in the creative and digital media sectors.
I enjoy telling stories about adventure, the outdoors, and I have a love for portrait and documentary photography.
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