• 2013: The Year In Review

    December 18, 2013 / 2 Comments

    At the end of the year, I always take a moment to examine the ups and downs I experienced, both personally and professionally. What follows is my accounting of 2013:

    * Produced hundreds of breaking news stories, including the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, the intensive manhunt for the Boston Marathon bombers and countless mass shootings.

    * Blogged for The Obituary Forum, The Blog of Death, Hooked From The First Page and Afterthoughts.

    * Passed the 29,000th tweet mark on my personal Twitter account (@jadewalker) and received the “I’m real” checkmark of verification.

    * Penned 60 journal entries.

    * Worked on my novel.

    * Purchased a Fitbit, increased my daily steps/stairs and cut back on my sleep debt. Also started using FitBolt to decrease time spent sitting.

    * Subscribed to the HelloFresh and Plated food services, then cooked a ton of delicious dishes.

    * Read 38 books and countless magazines.

    * Watched more than 30 films.

    * Took classes in archaeology, disaster preparedness, health/nutrition, literature and photography.

    * Launched The 10th Muse, a mailing list of writing prompts.

    * Updated The Written Word.

    * Participated in the New York City Writers Group, the South Florida Freelancers Group and the Journalism & Women Symposium.

    * Attended The Society of Professional Obituary Writers (SPOW) conference in Canada and launched the group’s private Facebook page.

    * Created a YouTube video about the future of obituaries.

    * Featured in a CNN article about obituaries.

    * Profiled on JobShadow.

    * Built websites for my husband and grandfather.

    * Redesigned The SPOW website as well as my own.

    * Went house-hunting in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine.

    * Dyed my hair red.

    * Traveled to Burlington Vt., New York City, Toronto and Scotland.

    * Visited the monument to Phineas Gage.

    * Tended a garden of basil, oregano, catnip, romaine lettuce, mint, thyme and flowers.

    * Dealt with the libelous rantings of a couple of cyber-trolls (yes, lawyers were involved).

    * Saw Stephen King, Sting and Stuart McLean in person.

    * Leased a new car.

    * Perfected my versions of fudge, chocolate drop cookies, carrot cake, chicken pilaf and lasagna.

    * Celebrated my 4th wedding anniversary.

    * Turned 40.

    * * *

    End of the yearPlans/goals for 2014

    * Save up enough money for a down payment on a house.

    * Write more snail mail letters.

    * Work on my books.

    * Write more obits.

    * Write more poetry/short stories.

    * Experience fewer migraines.

    * Eat more fruits and vegetables.

    * Exercise.

    * Win the lottery.

  • More on the future of obituaries

    April 27, 2013 / No Comments

    As noted a few weeks ago, I’ve been invited to give a presentation at the 2013 Society of Professional Obituary Writers Conference in Toronto. My topic is “The Future of Obituaries,” and I need your help.

    How do you think the dead will be remembered in the years/decades ahead? Standard news obits? Audio/video obits? Obit podcasts? Online memorials? Or something else entirely? And how do you want to be remembered?

    I would love to hear your thoughts & ideas. If you have a few moments, please leave a comment below or drop me a note in e-mail.

    Thanks!

  • Roger Ebert, RIP

    April 4, 2013 / No Comments

    Before I even got out of bed tonight, M broke the news about Roger Ebert’s death. He hated to be the bearer of bad news, of course, yet he also knew I’d want to know right away.

    Having just written a story about Ebert’s “leave of presence,” I was not surprised but still unbelievably saddened by the news. My first thought was for his wife Chaz, who loved him so very much. My second was for the rest of us, the movie lovers of the world, and what we have lost. It wasn’t until I saw Ebert’s obituary on TV, though, that it really hit me. Only then did the tears start to flow.

    Farewell, Roger. And thank you for all of your wonderful words.