How to Turn a Passion into a Success

I just wanted to share a fantastic success story that involves a lot of the things I’ve discussed on this blog. As writers, we don’t always get the pleasure of really turning our passions into something particularly profitable. Historically, that’s the way it’s been for me. Marketing writing, while at times quite lucrative, is not the most exciting or rewarding work in the world. A recent article I published, however, was both– and got accepted for posting on one of my favorite websites. But looking back on what was required for me to create that piece of work is really in depth.

The article: Adaptive Reuse: Green Space as a Tool for Neighborhood Revitalization

Here’s what I mean:

*Networking: Without a bit of networking, I would have never found my way to Buildipedia.com, and now I am a regular contributor. I’m not talking about social networking either, kids. Real life, face to face interactions are priceless even in this digital age.

*Doing my homework: I’ve posted here about HelpaReporter.com before, and it has become an incredible resource for me. I’ve been in contact with fantastic experts in the field of architecture and design, who have given my work much more “oomph.” Just another way to increase your networking potential.

*Going out on a limb: I contact a lot of people every week. People that have written books I’ve read and loved, people that I wouldn’t think for two seconds would give me the time of day. For the most part, I don’t get any responses– but I still put myself out there. I submitted my story to a very reputable and favorite website of mine, Planetizen.com, and to my utter elation they actually posted it. I’ve talked about reading great writing in order to inspire the kind of quality that you wish to present in your own. Live it. It works!

    My passion is the improvement of urban communities through sustainability, and I was able to manifest that into a success in my writing. What is your passion, and how are you going to embrace it?

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    Tara, April 26th 2011 | Tags: , ,
    Posted in Activism, Freelance Writing, Society, Sustainability

    Hello Theorists: Can’t We All Just Play Nice?

    In my reading on the almighty interwebs this week, I find myself rather frustrated with the incredible amount of oppositions and harsh criticism being flung back and forth between different theorists on every topic under the sun. I would say they’re acting like children, but I think that would be an insult to the good number of children that seem to get along just fine with others on the playground.

    People attack the San Fran Ban (couldn’t help it) on the Happy Meal stating that it infringes on the rights of parents to decide what is best for their children. Next thing I know, I read about advocates that are vying heavily for rules requiring children under the age of two to be put in their own seat on an airplane for safety reasons, and the dangers of CT scans in dental offices due to radiation. Personally, I’m all about the safety of children—in all realms. It seems a bit inconsistent, however, that we can protect our children against radiation and plane crashes… but not obesity. I’m not sure when “safety” is just “safety” or when it is encroaching on parental rights, but it seems as if all of these issues are quite black and white to those fighting their respective fights—and the sides change from all different angles.

    Another article I read today was a criticism of landscape urbanism—a school of urban planning that according to this author is nothing but a collection of analogies that are nothing short of rehashing old, worn issues. Published on the New Urban Network, it’s really not surprising that the criticisms would be as harsh. The people-oriented theories that New Urbanism finds its roots in would inevitably collide with the not-so-populated Landscape Urbanism. My question is, however: Why in the world would you not work together?

    This issue is certainly not by any means new. The democrats and republicans have been hashing it out for what seems like forever (despite the relative youth of our government), and I’ve experienced it countless times in academia: cognitive-behavioral vs. humanistic-existential theories of psychology, positivism vs. social construction, and my personal favorite: qualitative vs. quantitative research. I very much support the wonderful constructive criticism awarded by an open forum. Without posing these questions, how can one improve upon a theory? Yet still I see these aggressive dichotomies waste time and create these structures in which it is more important that your theory is right than actually getting at the heart of the matter.

    Personally, I support any and all theories that work in a constructive and ethical way to solve a problem. One better—interdisciplinary measures to approach problems are the only way to get at the total scope of perspective. So I beg of you, oh great theorists, writers, critics, and generally mean people:

    Get off of that stupid pretentious soapbox you cling to so strongly and get something done, okay? Your self-righteousness is nauseating.

    Apologies for the rant, I’m out.

    ***

    Photo by Charles Knowles

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    Tara, November 30th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , ,
    Posted in Society