FREELANCE WRITING
My writing has expanded over the years. Often as a result of opportunities that arose because of my personal blogging. Check out my interview series.
If you’re interested in finding out the different kinds of writing that I’ve done, below are links to some of it. From recent work going back to my first blog.
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The Boston Globe
In August 2023, I wrote a Letter to the Editor of The Boston Globe stating that employers and insurers should do a better job explaining paid medical leave.
Family Business Magazine
In June 2020, I wrote an article For Family Business Magazine about a Massachusetts family business that started making PPE during the pandemic.
LinkedIn
In December 2018, I wrote an article called ‘Tis The Season: 4 Holiday Tips for Employers with Temporary Workers on LinkedIn, giving some suggestions to employers from the perspective of a contract attorney.
Craving Boston
In October 2015, I became a contributing writer for Craving Boston, a new WGBH food blog exploring the deep connection between the New England region and its cuisine. I wrote several articles for them through the summer of 2016. The blog no longer exists in the same form, but most of my articles were moved over to the WGBH website, except for one. My first article for them about prison gardens is archived on The Wayback Machine, along with an article about CommonWealth Kitchen.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom is an online service that helps small businesses and consumers create their own legal documents, from creating a will, incorporating a business, to trademarking a name and more. From 2009 – 2015, I wrote nearly 50 articles for their website, including: Social Media and the Law – 5 Things You Need to Know, The Value of a Trademark, Copyright Basics and 5 Ways to Become More Innovative. I wrote blog posts from 2013 – 2015 as well.
The Atlantic
In 2014, I wrote an article for the Business section of the website for The Atlantic. The article called “Am I Not My Brother’s Keeper?” provides an in-depth analysis of The Family and Medical Leave Act’s failure to cover siblings. This particular issue has not been covered widely, so the article kept with the publication’s mission that “seeks to illuminate ideas that are new, fresh—and first.”
Food Blogger
After writing blog posts about income tax issues relevant to food bloggers on my personal blog for several years, I was hired by Limitless Publishing in 2014 to write a food blogging tax guide for their website at Foodblogger.org. Food Blogger was a system of online learning modules that helped food bloggers improve their blogging skills and learn how to better monetize their blogs. The guide was part of the course, “Get Paid To Eat & Travel” and was geared to someone new to the idea of food blogging as a small business. It gave specific examples of income tax deductions particularly relevant to food bloggers. The course included multiple detailed scenarios designed to help laypeople understand complicated income tax rules.
Hashcapades
In 2014, as part of a “50 Cities 50 Hashes” blogger event, I was chosen to represent Boston, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island to help promote the cookbook “Hashcapades” written by author Clark Haass. I wrote up blog posts reviewing my restaurant meals in each city. I ate chicken hash in Boston and sweet potato hash in Providence. The blog posts were published on the Hashcapades blog.
Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT)
MOTT is the state agency that promotes Massachusetts as a leisure-travel destination. In 2013, I wrote a post for the agency’s blog called “3 Simple Ways to Enjoy A Day in Boston.” For their Wicked Free Summer Fun series in 2015, I wrote about free yoga classes in the Boston area.
Kwanzaa Culinarians
Founded in 2011, Kwanzaa Culinarians is a group of food bloggers of African descent collaborating together to share recipes and stories. We celebrate Kwanzaa and recognize food-related influencers within Kwanzaa’s principles of supporting the African diaspora community. As one of the organizers, I contacted bloggers all over the world to contribute blog posts and made sure that the posts were published on schedule. In 2011 , 2012, 2014 and 2015, I also contributed my own blog posts.
AAA Horizons Magazine
AAA Horizons Magazine is the official monthly print publication for AAA Southern New England members in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. The magazines keep members informed about new services, AAA partners, travel news, including travel destinations and little known places to explore and discover in their own backyard. From 2011 to 2012, I wrote three articles and supplied photographs for AAA Horizons Magazine. While visiting the New Bedford Art Museum, Buttonwood Zoo and the New Bedford Whaling Museum, I interviewed staff and took pictures.
AfterSteps
AfterSteps is an online end-of-life planning platform. In 2011, I wrote blog posts about topics including: pet trusts, estate planning for same sex couples, estate planning for agribusiness and the digital footprints that we leave behind.
South Shore Living Magazine
In 2011, I wrote a feature article called “Space Savers: A Pair of Brothers Live and Breathe Tiny Houses” for South Shore Living , a monthly print publication which reflects the lifestyle, interests and activities of the Boston area’s South Shore. The article profiled Derek “Deek” Diedricksen and his brother Dustin, who live in Massachusetts and are pioneers in the tiny house movement. A pdf of the article can be seen here.
AOL City’s Best
In October 2010, AOL launched its City’s Best program, providing a guide to the best local food, entertainment and lifestyle options in 25 major U.S. cities. From 2010 to 2011, I wrote articles about the latest in food, dining, and lifestyle in the Boston area. I interviewed business owners and staff in order to write business descriptions for the voting portion of the website. I also took pictures and/or sourced photos from Flickr with proper licensing. Some articles included: tips on decorating your Thanksgiving table, dining out on Thanksgiving and learning about and buying Xanthan Gum.
Anali’s First Amendment
In 2006, I created my personal blog, Anali’s First Amendment, where I wrote new content several times a week about life, food and current events. Named a “must read food blog” by BostInno, it’s filled with recipes, restaurant reviews and food stories. Food isn’t just fuel. It’s an experience. Trying new recipes and writing about food is a joy. I’ve been taking pictures of my food since long before the term “food blogger” existed. I love to bake and help others find their own “inner baker” too.
But the blog wasn’t just about food. Readers discovered the beauty, fun and diversity of Boston-area living while catching up on current events from a local perspective. For two years, I used the blog and other social media networks to raise money and awareness about The Arc – a nonprofit organization whose mission is to ensure that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families have the support they need.
