About Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen
I’m a full-time writer and blogger – and living proof that dreams do come true if you don’t mind bleeding, sweating, and crying a little…or a lot!
As a full-time freelance writer, I contribute to magazines such as Reader’s Digest, Writer’s Digest, Health, Woman’s Day, Spirituality & Health, alive, MSN Health and sometimes More. My writing goals include writing non-fiction books that inspire people to pursue their dreams and achieve their goals.
Recently, I’ve ”jumped tracks” and am building my “Quips and Tips” blog empire more than writing for magazines — though I happily accept assignments from editors and other clients.
My degrees are in Psychology and Education, from the University of Alberta in Edmonton; I live on Bowen Island, British Columbia, Canada.
On this page, you’ll find
- A short bio
- My email address
- My education & work history
Short Bio
My undergraduate degrees are in Education and Psychology. I lived and taught in Nairobi, Kenya, for three years and have explored much of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Now, I live with my husband (a diamond exploration geologist) on Bowen Island, British Columbia. I’ve worked as a full-time freelance writer since February 2008 (and freelanced part-time for a year before that).
And, I love quips!
“I find that the very things I get criticized for, which is usually being different and just doing my own thing and being original, are the very things that make me successful,” says Canadian singer Shania Twain. This is one of my favorite quips – and tips! Be different. Do your own thing. Don’t apologize for your originality and authenticity!
My Email Address
lauriekienlen at yahoo dot ca
Education & Work History
Education
University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB; 2001
B. Ed. Degree in Secondary Education
Major Language Arts, Minor Social Studies, Secondary specialization
University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB; 1994
B.A. Degree in Psychology
Major Psychology, Minor Criminology
Work History
Feature Writer and Editor for Psychology Suite 101, October 2006 – present
- Write and edit Psychology articles about human behavior
- Update Psych blog regularly; manage and participate in Psychology discussions
Freelance Writer January 2006 – present
See “Published Works” for a full list of my published articles.
- Generate, research, and write articles for magazines including Woman’s Day, Flare, Reader’s Digest, alive, Health & Wellness, and Health.
Writer and Editor for the Body Image on BellaOnline, Aug 2006 – September 2007
- Wrote and edited Body Image articles to encourage and inform readers
- Sent weekly Body Image newsletter to subscribers
- Monitored and maintained Body Image forum and email
Mentoring Coordinator, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Calgary; Aug 2004 – June 2005
- Interviewed, trained, and matched adults with children; coordinated and monitored matches
- Facilitated relationships through regular follow-up, match reviews, support as needed
- Developed materials, processes, and framework for pilot program Between Generations and managed the program out of four schools
Teacher, Grade 8 Language Arts and High School Journalism, Rosslyn Academy, Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa; 2001 – 2004
- Planned, taught, & achieved American curriculum academic standards
- Met with students, parents, teachers & administration to assist student success
- Facilitated Middle School Student Council executive and events
Team Leader, Eighth Grade, Rosslyn Academy, Nairobi, Kenya; 2002 – 2004
- Coordinated core teachers & overall planning of projects & activities; facilitated biweekly team meetings
- Organized & supervised Interdisciplinary Projects, on & off campus Service Projects & Cultural Field Studies trips
- Communicated with parents & consulted with administration & other teachers regarding student care, behaviour patterns, retention probability, etc.
Writer/Editor, Rosslyn Academy, Nairobi, Kenya; 2002-2003
- Conducted research for & wrote the 2003/04 Parent/Student Handbook (65 pgs)
Community Service
Volunteer, Bowen Island Public Library, Bowen Island, BC; Feb 2007- present
- Assist library patrons with finding books, magazines, DVDs, CDs, etc.
- Check out books, assist with book requests, manage front desk
- Shelve returned books
Newsletter Coordinator, Cates Hill Chapel, Bowen Island, BC; Mar 2006-July 2007
- Gather info and news from members and staff for newsletter
- Write, edit, format, and distribute newsletter monthly
Social Committee Member, RosslynAcademy, Nairobi, Kenya; 2003 – 2004
- Coordinated formal banquets and informal social events for staff & families
Middle School Student Council Facilitator, Rosslyn Academy, Kenya; 2001 – 2002
- Guided weekly Student Council meetings
- Oversaw student planning & execution of formal & informal events for the Middle School
Deacon, Central Baptist Church, Edmonton, AB; 2000 – 2001
- Provided care & support to church members & visitors
- Assisted with various events and courses
- Attended monthly leadership meetings & participated in organizational decisions
President, Undergrad Psychology Association, U of A, Edmonton, AB; 1992 – 1994
- Supervised the club’s events & activities
- Assisted & guided executive members in their roles
- Scheduled & facilitated meetings
Thanks for reading all the way to the end, and please contact me if you have any questions!
Yes, it is acceptable to use...
Laurie:
How to Make People Laugh — a terrific article.
I’d like to write humor articles.
Any suggestions as to who would be most interested?
Happy holidays,
Jim
I thought you might be able to give me a paragraph or two for my book on friendships – and maybe even the peaceful aspects of self sufficient living – away from all the stress, etc. Anyway – to keep busy – I am writing two small novellas that are non-fiction. One will be called Friendships: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly — And how to survive them. I am trying to get a number of quotes, anecdotes, etc with regards to how friendships affect every area of our lives.
Mary C. Charest
Hi Jim,
I think most magazines are interested in humor pieces! Humor is hard to pull off, and readers (and editors) appreciate it so much.
But, where to sell your humor article depends on the subject of your article. For instance, Reader’s Digest is great for general interest pieces, while Men’s Health magazine may be interested in male-oriented, edgy and quirky humor.
I suggest researching and pitching magazines that are related to the topic of your article. If you need help writing query letters, let me know — I can paste the links to a few examples of query letters here, so you can get an idea of how to approach editors.
Good luck!
Laurie
Thanks for your invitation to contribute to your book, Mary! Let me think about it for a bit, and then get back to you if I think I have something worthwhile to say
Happy writing,
Laurie