You may have already heard this if you follow me on Twitter or on the forum: As of next Monday I will be going back into the workforce. I accepted the position of Lifestyles Digital Content Manager with The Cincinnati Enquirer.
I can’t tell you how fortunate I feel to have landed in this role, which seems to be an ideal fit for me. I’ll be helping to create and build content and communities for the Cincinnati.com Living site, which includes Moms, Home & Garden, Fashion, Relationships, Health & Fitness and savings so far.
I have been so impressed with the progressive spirit The Enquirer’s editors and publisher have shown with this site. Instead of thinking of local bloggers as the competition, they’ve built partnerships with them and brought them on as contributors. And part of my new role will include managing these relationships, spotting talented local bloggers and bringing them onboard.
So I guess I’m not unleashed any more, technically speaking. But you know, I’m a free spirit and will always be unleashed at heart. I’m absolutely committed to keeping this site going because I love the community we’ve built here. I’ll continue to closely follow my passion for books and publishing and offer you tips, advice and reports. And one cool benefit of going back to work in the media biz is that I’ll be better able to offer first-hand advice on writing, journalism and social media trends right from the front lines.
It’s been a wild year for me. Besides running this site, I’ve taken on new challenges in book editing, corporate and technical writing, book reviewing and writing for trade magazines. I’ve learned an awful lot about what it really takes to make it as a freelancer—it’s tough! I’ll write more on that topic next week.
Through it all though, I remained devoted to this site. And I’m so glad I did even while many around me were questioning why I was devoting so much time and energy into blogging and the forum and social media when it had no apparent benefit. This site has opened opportunities I couldn’t have even imagined a year ago.
This is the new reality for writers my friends. Cover a subject intensely, build a community and the world will open up to you. Opportunities will come your way.
Thanks so much for your readership, your comments, your participation in the forum and the contests here. Building this site and getting to have conversations about subjects I’m passionate about has been pure joy for me. I wish the same for each of you.
-Maria Schneider
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Lots of congrats on your new position! I haven’t been to Cincinnati since I was a kid (born in Indiana). I’m sure you will do a great job & learn lots of new things.
Congratulations, Maria! It just goes to show – do what you love and the money will follow. You have been a role model for me what it takes to be a great blogger. And I’ve learned so much from your site about writing and publishing. Thanks for everything and hope to see you again at some social media meetings!
Your blog posts are so helpful and you freely share much of yourself with us, so it’s only right that you find this wonderful opportunity. Congratulations to you. I look forward to your next post about your insights.
Congrats!
Congrats, MarÃa. Definitely carpe diem!
The Cincinnati Enquirer is lucky to have you. Your blog has been a huge help to me as I start my freelance career, and has made me feel like I’m part of a community, not just a lone writer trying to make my way all by myself. I will continue to take the inspiration and education you’ve shared here, and apply it to my life as a writer and beyond. Your post mentions that those around you questioned why you did this when “it had no apparent benefit.” I hope you know that the benefits have been immeasurable, at least to me, and I’m sure to countless others. Thanks for all you do, and as my father used to tell me on the first day of school every year, “Knock ‘em dead, kid.”
I am convinced that the newspapers who see the handwriting on the wall and develop these crucial relationships with new media in all of its forms will be the ones who not only survive the changes in the publishing industry but become part of the solution of the future. You are a perfect choice to help innovate and create this kind of change in platform and alliances.
And you are right – freelancing is one of the toughest businesses out there. Someone recently asked me how I could possibly think I was able to found a new company in today’s economic climate. I have been a freelance writer for the past decade; running a company actually sounds a bit easier – one product, one audience, one demographic: all the elusive things that we as writers had to re-define for each new assignment.
I’ll be interested in sharing in your insights as you launch into yet a new challenge in your career. Best wishes for a easy introduction and smooth beginning!
Congrats on the new position! Sounds like a whirlwind year is ending, but another great one is on the way. :)
Congrats on one year of blogging and on your new position. So glad to hear you will be continuing the blog. I’ve learned a lot from it over the past year and look forward to continued inspiration.
And in Cincinnati, “nearly everybody reads the Enquirer.” Or am I too old to be floating that reference? Good luck, Maria, sounds like a perfect fit. And glad to know you’ll still be on the “Unleashed” beat. Over the past year, you’ve made a real contribution to our lives as writers.
Congrats! I hope your new job is everything you want it to be.
Congratulations. Hey! I’m in the Cincinnati area, AND a member of SPJ. Perhaps we’ll have a chance to meet at an SPJ event.
Brent
Hey, thanks everyone for your kind words and support, it means a lot to me.
@D. Brent Miller, I’m actually speaking at a SPJ event tonight at NKU. I’m sure I’ll meet you sometime soon.
Add my voice to chorus of “congratulations”. I hope you’ll continue to keep us posted on what you’re learning from the inside!
Congrats. You get as much as you give. Which is a lot.
Thank you so much for all the time you’ve invested in sharing your knowledge with us. I always enjoy reading your fresh outlook on life, writing…
Good luck.
Congratulations!
I’m so glad you were selected for the position. Sounds like a perfect fit.
Because of you the Enquirer will likely get a lot of new online readers who live no where near Cincinnati or Ohio for that matter.
Smart move on their part. I wish you much success.
Sincerely,
Bonnie Bartel Latino
Congratulations on your new position, Maria! My it bring you everything you seek.
On a selfish note, I’m very glad you’re not abandonning either your blog or your site. I’d miss both terribly.
Maria, congrats on the new job! We’ll look forward to continue to read your insights on publishing and social media.
Ditto de Above!
Newspapers are hiring?? That’s news!
I hope you continue this website, even if it’s updated less frequently, or you have to rename it – Editor Leashed & Bound!
Hi Maria :)
Thank you for the post. Congratulations on the new position! I really enjoy reading your blog. And Following you on Twitter. You are inspiring. Thank you for sharing,
Love & Best Wishes to you & yours,
RKCharron
xoxo
Congratulations Maria, it sounds like a perfect fit for you and I’m sure you’ll be bringing your own social media savvy to bear for Examiner.
You have shown this to be true, and I’m sure everyone who follows you appreciates the hard work and the joy you’ve brought to the table. Good luck!
Congratulations, Maria!
You have been an incredibly generous disseminator of valuable information in the blogasphere. I’ve turned primarily to your posts this year for up-to-date information on publishing, writing, technology & social networking, and I’ve referred many people to your site citing you as “the expert.”
I’m sure The Cincinnati Enquirer is aware of how lucky they are to have you on their team.
If you do have the time to continue posting here, I’ll very much look forward to reading your informed perspective from the “front lines.”
Good Luck
Louise Ross
You’ve been a wonderful inspiration and a tremendous support for writers at all levels. Thank you for being daring enough to start your own site and bring information to writers who need it.
I wish you much success and joy in your new career!
Laurel
Congratulations! What a wonderful opportunity. I think you’re very deserving of the position. Best of luck.
Congratulations, Maria! Sounds like a spectacular opportunity. Love what you said above: “This is the new reality for writers my friends. Cover a subject intensely, build a community and the world will open up to you. Opportunities will come your way.”
Congratulations. So glad to read you’re not giving up the blog. Australia is a long way from Cincinatti!
Thank you for all your work and passion! I especially like “I remained devoted to this site. And I am so glad I did even while many around me were questioning why I was devoting so much time and energy into blogging…Opportunities will come your way.” I am hanging your words by my computer and will read them while I blog about my passion for living and traveling in my part of Washington State. Best of luck with your new position!
As others have said, congrats, and I’m glad that you are keeping EU. I can’t imagine without it! The community has been a big help! Best of luck to you, Maria!
I am so happy for you, Maria. It sounds like you found something that fits you perfectly.
From my perpective as a less experienced (5 years), former professional contributing writer to an excellent regional print magazine, it’s interesting to see what’s going on around the country. I had an offer to cover music through a site that was hiring only local writers, too, even though it would be for a national website highlighting our city. Problem was, it was paying $25 per post. For what they were asking, including: research, photos, 5 blogs a week, coordinating with the other writers, conference calls, etc. — even though it was in my area of experience — I reluctantly turned it down. I wonder if this is the new way of the freelance writer’s world and if this is what we can expect to be paid for our experience.
My comment is not meant in any way to diminish your new position or assume/imply that you are also being underpaid. I was just a blogger, nothing like your new situation. I’m sure yours will be great and you’ll do a terrific job.
Hi maria — I’m pleased to have witnessed your progress from last year to now as a solo blogger. Very amazing and inspiring!
You really worked hard and I’m sure evolved quite a bit. Please keep up this blog as I feel it’s going only going to get bigger and better.
Sorry for not capitalizing your name, Maria!
Yea Maria! Cincinnati will be a better place because of you. Best wishes.
Damn it, I’m late again!
I just started blogging and I just found your blog and I JUST started following your blog!
Before you go (its still Sunday after all) two questions from a newbie…1. how do you convince people that blogging is real? and 2. how do you convince those who love you most to “follow” you?
It’s wonderful to find passion and then get paid for it! Roll in it I say, roll in it :)
Best, Shannon
Congratulation, Maria. They’re getting one hell of a writer and editor. :))
Good luck, Maria. And please keep blogging and tweeting. I’d miss you if your voice went away.
Congratulations, Maria! They are certainly getting one talented employee! Glad to hear you will still maintain this site.
Excited to hear your news & thrilled to hear you’ll be continuing to post & Tweet, Maria! It’s been fun & instructive to watch your blog evolve this past year.
Chiming in with everyone here: Good luck. Cincinnati will be lucky to have you!
Congratulations, Maria. You reap what you sow, and you have been sowing an abundance of positive energy for year. Good was bound to come of it. Enjoy your new job.
~jon
Maria – I’ve only worked with you a short time, but it’s very clear to me how much you’re thought of by your peers. I am lucky to have you as my editor.
Thanks much Kim
Good luck with your new position at the Cincinnati Enquirer. I am fortunate as I’ll be able to watch your handiwork from up-close as I live in Cincy.
Maria, with your Editor Unleashed blog, you did indeed create a “nurturing, warm, helpful” site for writers and I thank you for the vision to create this blog and the time it took to persevere and build it to what it is.
Best wishes to you.
The Enquirer is getting you for a bargain at any price, Maria. Thank you so much for staying committed to this site despite your new duties.
–John
Congratulations Maria. Sounds like a great gig.
best,
neil
So glad for you. Happy fresh beginning!
Congratulations on the new job! It sounds like such an exciting position and I know you’ll be brilliant in the role.
I’m also relieved that you’ll be keeping this site running. I’ve come to depend on the little bit of peace I find here among my fellow crazy writers.
Jai
Congrats Maria!
Best of luck in your new endeavor :)
Cheers
Freya
Congratulations, Maria, on your new position. Very best of luck. And thank you.
Cheers!
Laurita