What is this and why are you cranky?
My name is Ines Bellina, an elder millennial who woke up one day and realized that I’ve carved out an unbound, nomadic, creative freelance writing life that is sometimes the stuff of nightmares, but is often very much a dream. My newsletter offers a glimpse into what adulthood is like when you’ve decided on a non-traditional path—no marriage, no kids, no cubicle, no property. It also talks a lot about making it as a writer, whatever that means in this day and age of massive layoffs, media instability, and AI hype.
Since giving office jobs the finger in 2018, I’ve managed to make a living strictly as a wordsmith through a combination of content marketing, translation work, and the kind of writing dubbed cool by the cool kids. This means bylines in Pit Magazine, The Cut, Saveur, Gloria, Daily Beast, The A.V. Club, Chicago Magazine, The Takeout, Wine Enthusiast, and more. I’ve also co-authored a bilingual photography book and co-translated Desolación, a poetry collection by Nobel Laureate Gabriela Mistral. My writing has even received from such esteemed institutions as the McCormack Writing Center (formerly known as the Tin House Summer Workshop), Ragdale, the Sundress Academy for the Arts, Wedding Cake, SCBWI, and Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
I’m currently writing a collection of food essays, toying with some poetry about a stay in the ICU, fiddling around with a satirical novel, and completing the Podcast Incubator program at Stony Brook University. You get to hear me whine about all that too.
My newsletter includes:
Musings on my latest attempts at making a living through my writing, cause I can’t seem to let that teen dream go.
Personal essays on travel, relationships, money, friendships, and navigating adulthood in your own way.
An action item for other writers and freelancers to complete that month, if it helps. I call it homework. I never claimed to be fun, I claimed to be cranky!
One juicy money tip because my financial mistakes should help someone.
A monthly round-up of random things I truly enjoyed, including a restaurant and bar of the month from around the world.
Why pay?
One, it will help me go from cranky to mildly pleasant.
Two, your monetary support allows me to cover the costs of setting time aside to prepare and write these newsletters. I’m giving solid advice about making it as a freelance writer without every coining myself as a “thought leader” or “influencer.” I should be rewarded, lol.
Three, paid subscribers get:
Full access to the archive. For free sign-ups, posts are paywalled after a year. Not for you special folk, though!
Subscriber-only posts where I share my pitches and rates, useful spreadsheets and templates, and applications to residencies, workshops, intensives, etc.
Back on my Bullshit travel guides
Free access to the mini-salon and discount on select workshops
Time is money when it comes to freelancing. It’s hard to invest the time when I’m hustling for the almighty capitalist gods. With your support though I’ll be able to share even more of the ins-and-outs of a working, vagabonding, can’t-seem-to-settle-down writer.
I know not everyone can pay. If you’re in financial straits, just let me know and I’ll gift you a subscription, no questions asked. If you can only make a one-time donation, let me know and I’ll gift you a subscription as well.
If you’re making a fine mint in crypto or are rich because your last name is Roy, there is an option to give more as well.
In any case, a free subscription will give you helpful writing tips and other fun content. And sharing your love for the newsletter costs nothing.
Whatever your situation is, thank you so much for supporting and reading my work!
