2022 Freelance Writing Byline Roundup

This quirky nontraditional life we built for ourselves has a model like no other. Our sources of income are varied, and ever-changing. We’ve worn many different hats over the years, but now that we settled down in Alaska and are homeowners again, we try to keep a steadier stream of income year-round. Summer income consists of guiding (J full time, me part time), yurt rentals, cleaning airbnbs and writing in between. Winter income includes a little bit of cleaning and pet sitting, but mostly writing (and rest! so important after the intense go-go-go summers). I typically tell people that while writing is my bread and butter, it doesn’t add up to financial stability, which is why we have to cobble together other jobs. But it is certainly the thing I love the most. 

With that being said, I feel really proud of the freelance writing portfolio I’ve built thus far. And 2022 was the year I carved a new niche into adventure writing. Justin is the gear guru in this family, for sure, and though I still write some gear articles, I’m far pickier with projects. I used to dread pitching, but my colleague Heather’s pitching class—which I took in 2020—schooled me on what it takes and made me a more confident pitcher. While I still don’t love the art of pitching, I’ve committed to doing the work to get the bylines I want. Not for nothing, it takes me WAAAAAAY more time to curate a pitch than I’d like to admit. And reality check: freelance writing is also still full of rejection. Good fortune and meeting the right people opened the door for me … hard work made the door part of my home (not sure where I read that, but I didn’t make it up).

Without further adieu, here is a roundup of bylines in 2022 with some summaries — 19 for me, 18 for Justin!

These first 2 articles are perfect examples of a personal pitching success. Adventure.com was a new-to-me media outlet, but they expanded to US-based travel narratives, so I cold-pitched someone I “knew” in the outdoor industry that started working there and put out a call for pitches. I’m happy to report 3 pitches over the year turned into assignments (the 3rd is submitted, but probably won’t be out until 2023).

“The Curious Case of Harry Shick’s Backyard Cave” on May 31, 2022

“The Modern Museum of … Yosemite?” on Aug. 22, 2022

Alaska Magazine is perhaps my most enjoyable gig. It is a challenge to find subjects that haven’t already been covered in the long-standing magazine, but when I do, the editors are so easy to work with and grateful to boot. I had 3 articles this year. 

Thru Hiking the Alaska Long Trail on March 13, 2022

The two other Alaska Magazine articles are in the print issues only. One appeared in the September issue about The Homer Bookstore, which has been in business for nearly 50 years. Then a short one is currently in the December issue about Iditarod volunteering. I already have one byline slated for March 2023, and have future pitches brewing in my head.  

My time with Backpacker came to an end in 2022, as the last print issue hit the stands in November 2022 (coinciding with the magazine’s 50th anniversary). I took that monumental change as my chance to exit gear-centric articles and invest my talents into more human stories. Even before the pandemic, we saw the writing on the wall with Backpacker print media declining and moving more toward online, and even putting that content behind a paywall. Then when Backpacker merged/rebranded with Outside, the direction shifted again. I eeked out 5 final bylines in 2022. I will always be eternally grateful for my 7-year run with Backpacker. Writing for them was a dream, so to see it realized was nothing short of amazing. It is a legacy publication in the industry, and has been the core of our income and identity for many years. 

For the Spring Gear Guide 2022, I wrote the Best Backpacking Food of 2022 and contributed to the Best Backpacking Accessories (Trekking Pole coverage for me and Knives/Tools for Justin).

In online coverage, Justin and I shared bylines for 3 Holiday Gift Guides, one for backpackers, one for car campers and an Under $25 one.

And last, but not least, Justin and I both contributed to the last print issue (November 2022) in the article “The 20 Pieces of Gear That Changed Backpacking Forever,” which also appeared online. I wrote about the Leki Makula trekking pole from 1974 and the PowerBar of 1986. Justin wrote about Leatherman’s debut in 1983, Crocs in 2002 and SPOT in 2007.

Justin & I jointly worked for another print magazine under the “Outside/Backpacker” umbrella that succumbed to the restructuring, so we had our last 2 bylines for the print issues of Outside Business Journal this year covering the Top 50 Gear of Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer (for some reason, they didn’t put this one online). There’s still a digital version of OBJ, but the seasonal roundup of the top 50 products was a print specialty.

Two other rogue gear articles for me were with REI – Everything You Need for Cross Country Skiing on Feb. 4, 2022 and OutdoorLife – Best Camp Kitchens of 2022 on Aug. 1, 2022.

I had 3 bylines for Denali Citizens Council, which is a nonprofit in my borough that tries to keep members informed on local conservation issues. They contact me sporadically for articles they want me to research and write, which sometimes includes covering public meetings on issues happening in our area. I do like the work, but it’s more a labor of love, since it’s not my highest paying gig, and it typically involves the most work. I wrote about Mile 231 Construction on the Parks Highway, the Spruce Bark Beetle and our power company’s shutdown of one their units.

And I definitely want to give props to Justin, as he’s cranked out an impressive number of gear reviews/roundups in 2022! Like I said, he’s continuing on with Outside as their sharp and pointy category manager covering knives/tools in the spring and snowshoes in the winter. But he also writes for GearJunkie, OutdoorLife and a new company, Wide Open Spaces. He’s always scheming and jonesing for opportunities to talk about gear.

Best Camping Toilets of 2022 – OutdoorLife

Best Men’s Parkas of 2022 – OutdoorLife

Best Camping Gadgets of 2022 – OutdoorLife

Best Camping Tables of 2022 – OutdoorLife

Best Camping Shovels of 2022 – OutdoorLife

Best Camping Lighters of 2022 – OutdoorLife

Best Hiking Pants for Men 2022 – GearJunkie

Best Handheld GPS of 2022 – GearJunkie

Best Ice Spikes & Traction – Wide Open Spaces

It’s cool to see it all in one place and give ourselves a pat on the back. I never know how each year will shape up, but I definitely think 2022 was our best writing year … so far.