118. Project Pitching 101 with Sarah Lyon

 In this episode I’m introducing you to Sarah Lyon, a full-time freelance writer for publications such as Architectural Digest, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, Washington Post, and more. We're thrilled to have her here to share her insights and experiences. We delve into Sarah's journey into the world of freelance interiors writing and how her passion for writing and journalism led her down this path, even without a dedicated journalism major at her liberal arts college. Sarah's background as an editor for her student newspaper laid the foundation for her career, honing her technical skills and ethics involved in journalism. After graduating, she moved to New York City and embarked on an exciting career in the world of print magazines. We learn from Sarah how she transitioned into freelancing while working her full-time job and how she was able to balance the unknown of going full time in her business, with the practical things she wanted to make sure she had in place when she finally took the leap. Her transition was gradual and cautious, which allowed her to make an informed decision about going full-time as a freelance writer.   You will learn about how to pitch your projects effectively to publications. Sarah recommends introducing yourself, providing context about your projects, sharing your background, and creating a compelling story around your work. She emphasizes the importance of following up on pitches but advises doing so strategically. Remember, it's all about building a professional relationship with editors. Thank you for tuning in to this episode. We hope you found Sarah's journey and advice inspiring. If you enjoyed this podcast, don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review.    Meet our guest Sarah Lyon:  Sarah Lyon is a Washington DC native, living in New York City. As a freelancer, she frequently covers pieces pertaining to interior design, travel, and other lifestyle topics. Her pieces have appeared in outlets including apartment therapy, Architectural Digest, MyDomaine, The Washington Post, the New York Times, and more. When she isn’t writing, Sarah works with designers to help them style spaces for Photoshoots (and can’t help stop rearranging and redecorating her own apartment, either!) Sarah’s own spaces have appeared on Apartment Therapy, The Everygirl, Houzz, and Washingtonian.com Her DuPont Circle apartment was featured in both the spring 2019 print edition of Small Space Decorating and the January 2019 print edition of Washingtonian Magazine.    Connect with Sarah On IG here: https://www.instagram.com/sarahlyon9/   Podcast Website and Resources: Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery   Text UPDATES to 855-784-8299 for business tips, encouragement, and all our DFCM updates. SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business. Stay in touch with Michelle Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/  Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad  Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide   Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact   A Podcast Launch Bestie production