I spent five hours in the library yesterday writing my butt off. It’s really not a lot of time when you think about it. I used to devote 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week to a regular job that benefited my employers more than it did me. For all the “self-employed” writers, you ought to be writing grind style. Forty hours a week is a minimum. Getting your name out there, enhancing your brand, and, most importantly, getting paid, requires you to be ON IT all the time. If you can’t write on the same thing for 8 hours, that’s cool. Write about anything. I chose to tackle a fellowship application today that required me to write multiple essays in addition to pulling together some interview questions for a few upcoming Zora&Alice articles. Now, I’m here, writing to you about nothing really that important, but again another way for me to engage and enhance my skill. I plan to go see Inception tomorrow, but I must get some writing in first (or after). If writing is only a hobby, then your talent will be treated like one.

Here are some great writers that keep me inspired. Hope they help all my writing buddies too!

Gary Vaynerchuk’s “Do What You Love” Talk is a MUST, MUST, MUST watch for EVERY writer

Paulo Coelho’s Blog (if you don’t worship this man as a writer, I’m not sure how successful you’re going to be)

Seth Godin’s Blog (Seth Godin is a marketing guru, but I loved this particular post about book writing)

Advice to Writers website (great for quotes and inspiration…follow them on Twitter for more frequent updates)

Photo Credit: Read Magazine

It’s almost noon. I’m laying in bed with a tussled stomach, partially from the 12 grain bread I introduced into my diet but mostly from the monthly burden of being a woman. I’ve had at least three moments where I’ve cried out “WHY!!!!!!!!” but eventually I’d just lay my little head on my pillow while the man I’m dating texts me “rub, rub, rub” for my tummy woes. It actually does help. I swear pain is psychological.

Now for the juicy stuff…

Many of you have asked if I am in Philadelphia, teaching talented but ill-behaved children, and enjoying my new life as a Teach for America corps member. NO, actually, I had two job offers when I graduated. One was TFA and the other was to do new media strategy for a nonprofit in Harlem. I enjoy new media strategy (you can see my portfolio for past projects) and everyone knows that I consider New York home when I am in the United States. Don’t get it twisted, born a Jersey girl, always a Jersey girl, but I also have passed the many tests of being a New Yorker twice over. My identities can be so complex sometimes!

Back to the story…

I chose to work for the nonprofit. I wanted to stay in New York, network, and expand my new media consulting business. New York is the Mecca of networking, so really moving to Philadelphia was not appealing or likely a smart move. Nevertheless, I had to move out of my apartment in Brooklyn (this was done amicably) since there was a lag in my pay period from starting my new gig. I humbly moved back into my father’s house in Jersey, thinking that the 2.5 hr commute into New York (each way) would be temporary and I’d be back in another apartment within a month or two.

Then…an eclipse came and it seemed like everything decided to go array. What I thought was a sound job for at least a year became a battleground. I found myself ducking for cover, praying not to be injured while my supervisor and the executive director battled it out over something significant but not enough to make me think that she would lose her job. Well, she did and I was laid off as a result.

Damn…not even employed for two months and I got the axe?

I couldn’t collect unemployment (supposedly I hadn’t worked long enough) and truly, I was kind of shell shocked. My family’s immediate response was to call Teach for America and beg for the opportunity to return. I disagreed. I didn’t want to teach, I was clear about that from the beginning, and I didn’t want to live in Philadelphia. After a week of collecting my thoughts, I simply decided that this time is ME time. I hit up my web designer, told her I was ready to move forward with redesigning my personal brand and the rest is history. I banged out one of my major business plans and now, I’m punching away at the other. I’ve been writing like a mad woman, engaging and meeting new people on the web, and looking forward to expanding my portfolio.

I’ve been clear since college that I was meant to be an entrepreneur. My brain is too creative to be boxed into a 9-5, and frankly…I don’t like to work (for anyone else) lol. I just thought being a full time Me worker would come after a few years of dilligent saving and more networking. Want to make God laugh? Tell him your plans. Indeed, if my time is now, I must be ready. I’m actually not depressed over being “unemployed” or “self-employed.” Rather, I feel quite liberated. Right now, I just want to stay grounded, work on building my confidence in the midst of storms, and keeping my head up no matter who is trying to chop it off. It’s been a gradual process, but I have to give thanks to everyone that’s told me, “You are going to be ok. You will rebound.” I believe it. I believe them. And I’ll remember everyone who amped up their phone calls and emails to make sure I didn’t slip through the cracks. I love you all!

*Shameless Self-Promotion* if you are a blogger or start-up entrepreneur (or know one), I’m offering a $100 consultation special that will get you a 2pg biz plan integrated with social media strategy and 3 hrs of one on one advice. Click here for more details…

Much love,

Ari

Isn’t the picture beautiful…Photo Credit: Esquire.com

“If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the world. If you have money in the bank, your wallet, and some spare change you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness you are more blessed than the million people who will not survive this week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the agony of imprisonment or torture, or the horrible pangs of starvation, you are luckier than 500 million people alive and suffering. If you can read this message, you are more fortunate than 3 billion people in the world who cannot read it at all.”

*compliments of http://missimpeckable.tumblr.com/

I am a long-standing Christina Aguilera fan. From the time she belted “Reflection” on the Mulan soundtrack, she had my girlhood captured and became a fixture in my music life as a woman. Since returning, I’ve enjoyed her new tracks, but particularly, I found this one quite moving.

“You Lost Me” tells the story of a damaged relationship, infidelity, and a woman trying to move beyond a fractured love. I’ve had many broken men who lost me on the way of a beautiful journey. Sometimes our walk broke pieces of my spirit, but still I rise and remain a phenomenal woman. “You Lost Me” tells one of my many stories. But truly, what woman can’t identify with this? I applaud Christina for continuing to speak to the minds and struggles of contemporary women and allowing herself to be vulnerable and authentic with us.

Enjoy this memory…

An educator, writer, filmmaker, and dedicated mother, Aiesha Turman is a beautiful force changing the lives of young women of color in New York. As the founder of Super Hussy Media, she creates film and media that explores the vastness of black female life, including the variety of sexualities, national origins, and classes that compose the complexity of black womanhood. Her most recent documentary, The Black Girl Project, deconstructs black girlhood as a monolithic experience.  Contrary to popular media, The Black Girl Project introduces black female viewers to themselves: strong, vulnerable, and multifarious. Additionally, it is giving back to young black girls everywhere through a powerful nonprofit initiative.

Read my interview with Aiesha on Zora&Alice.

Sometimes the weekends are the best time to catch up on good sexuality reads. There were several articles that I enjoyed this week ranging from online dating research to a step by step manual for planning a threesome. Sharing is caring and I love my readers. I have to keep you in my mental loop!

Here is a list of my favorites for the week. Enjoy!

@OKCupid

The Biggest Lies in Online Dating

@funkybrownchick

How to Arrange A Threesome

In Case You Missed It: Strange Sex on TLC

@arielleloren

Pangea’s Garden: Black Women Nude. Empowered. Appreciated.*

*shameless self promotion lol

Have you heard? The FIRST EVER, @TEDWomen conference will occur in Washington D.C., December 7-8, 2010. I am a @TedTalks junkie. 18 minute inspirational videos from successful changemakers and entrepreneurs…yea, my eyeballs automatically become glued to the screen. TedTalks are all about creativity, tapping your personal passion, and, by doing so, engaging in meaningful work that impacts local communities and the world. I discovered TED last year (and yes, I know that’s late). Since the first time I watched one of their riveting talks, I’ve been a vocal advocate, often emailing their viral videos to friends who need some words of inspiration or simply tuning in on one of my self-doubting days where I’m struggling to see how my entrepreneurial ventures are going to start becoming real projects instead of wonderful ideas. TED is a small nonprofit that is dedicated to “ideas worth spreading,” a mantra that constantly reminds me that greatness starts with creativity and an innovative mind. Indeed, a conference particularly for women’s issues and leadership will provide an incredible platform for inspirational stories from powerful women across the globe.

Check out a snippet of the @TEDWomen conference’s description below

The cross-disciplinary, cross-generational program will focus on how women think and work, communicate and collaborate, learn and lead — what this means and why it matters to all of us. Speakers from around the globe — both men and women, from anthropologists to artists, scientists to soldiers, farmers to futurists — will share their ideas in the world-renowned TED format, creating a program that surprises and inspires.

Some of the speakers you’ll hear from will include:

• The women who redesigned their country’s financial system in the wake of near-catastrophe
• The physician who discovered the life-saving importance of treating men and women differently
• The tech pioneer whose human-centered approach is redefining how we interact with computers
• A world leader bringing peace to her conflict-ridden nation
• The teen-age filmmaker whose stories changed how a community saw itself
• A maverick CEO whose ideas on women and leadership will surprise you
• The anthropologist who traces altruism to the mother-child bond
• The sports champion who defies convention with her ability and her appearance
• The explorer collecting stories and preserving languages of endangered cultures

You can’t tell me that you don’t want to be in that room!

It’s actually one of my bucket list goals to give a @TEDTalk. Right now, the @TEDWomen registration fee is $2,200. For those of you who have businesses, employers, and sponsors that would throw you a check to attend an inspiring conference sure to deliver limitless networking opportunities, GO!

Below I’ve listed my Top Five Favorite @TEDTalks by Remarkable Women. If this doesn’t convince you to be at the @TEDWomen conference, I don’t know what will!

Click to visit the @TEDWomen conference website here.

Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story

Sunitha Krishnan fights sex slavery

Ngozi Okonjo: On aid versus trade

Kavita Ramdas: Radical Women Embracing Tradition

Sharmeen Obaid: Inside a school for suicide bombers

What a journey it has been A.L. lovers! In 2008, I started ArielleLoren.com on a simple wordpress platform with a small goal of sharing my travel experiences with my family back in the United States. Two years later, I am still here, relatively unknown by the majority of the blogosphere but fostering a group of smart, funny, and outspoken readers on issues ranging from feminism and culture to race and sexuality. It’s been a short but mentally long journey of re-developing my brand. After being laid off from my full time job directly after my graduation from NYU (long story), I hit up @LidiaAnain and told her that I was ready to rock with promoting ME and investing into MY vision.

What I love about my new website is that it really showcases the diversity of my talents in writing, filmmaking, and new media marketing. Even the graphics reflect my personality (scroll your mouse over my character’s head and it moves! lol). ArielleLoren.com will be the home base for all my projects, so check back frequently to stay updated..I’ll be blogging daily for now on, so I want to see you here everyday!

Make sure you take a look around the site. Go through my “portfolio” and catch up with all my happenings. I assure you that there are many more to come.

Special thanks to @LidiaAnain for taking time away from building her brands (she must love me) to help me with mine.

Yours Truly,

Arielle Loren

]]> http://arielleloren.com/2010/07/time-to-bring-it-home-welcome-to-my-new-website.html/feed 2 http://arielleloren.com/2010/04/im-under-construction.html http://arielleloren.com/2010/04/im-under-construction.html#comments Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:55:01 +0000 Arielle Loren http://arielleloren.com/?p=1117

I know it’s been AWHILE since I’ve posted. I’ve been caught up in finishing the final pieces of The Bi-deology Project, Part One. The video and the website just went live. Check out Part One here.

In the meantime, my AMAZING web designer, @LidiaAnain, who just finished The Bi-deology Project website and will be tackling the L Media House website, will also be redesigning my personal site, right here! I’m definitely excited for the upgrade. She does incredible work and I encourage you to hit her up if you’re ready to upgrade the look of your site. If she’ll take you on as a client, I assure you, you’ll do nothing but benefit.

Another shout out to CJ Something from 23rd&Below who did all the camerawork and video editing for The Bi-deology Project. I know he thinks I’m crazy between all the people we interviewed and my personal rantings on sexuality that he had to tolerate lol. This is probably why I can only collaborate with certain people…truly, good people.

Lastly, I just had my first article published on Zora&Alice. If you haven’t already joined their facebook page and put them on your daily online reading schedule, DO IT!!!! L Media House will likely be collaborating with on their first venture into online TV. Yes, my company is making moves!

Enjoy the spring weather. Follow my tweets @ArielleLoren for updates on The Bi-deology Project and the rest of my life.

Much love,

Ari

One of my goals this year was to start freelancing again. I used to write for the Star Ledger (like 3 years ago) and I’ve dabbled in some other publications, but I’ve been kind of MIA lately when it comes to getting published. But I’mmmm BAAACCCCKKKK (Mase cue).

I recently got hired to be a contributor for a new young black women’s magazine/blog called Zora & Alice. I absolutely LOVE their mission and want to do everything in my power to support them in their growth. Hence, I’m writing this post to ask all my readers to show the site some love on the regular. My first article will be published in April. I’ll be sure to post the links when the article goes live.

In the meantime… join the Zora & Alice network on Facebook and Twitter.

And visit the site http://zora-alice.com