About Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen
Waiting for a coffee in Jerusalem, Israel
I’m Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen, a full-time freelance writer and blogger in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Also known as The Adventurous Writer, I created six “Quips and Tips” blogs and have written four “Quips and Tips” ebooks.
My degrees are in Education and Psychology from the University of Alberta, in Edmonton. I’ve held more than 60 jobs — I love trying new things — and lived in Kenya, East Africa for three years. There, I taught Language Arts and Journalism at an American school in Nairobi.
As a freelance writer, I’ve written for a wide range of publications, including Reader’s Digest, Woman’s Day, MSN Health, Natural Health, Spirituality & Health, and sometimes More. I also enjoy writing for organizations such as BC Women’s Hospital and Health Match BC.
I’ve been the Psychology Feature Writer for Suite101 for almost five years – but writing for “Quips and Tips” is my passion and full-time job!
“Quips and Tips” Blogs
Quips and Tips for Achieving Your Goals covers everything from overcoming career obstacles to making more money. Articles range from toilet training your cat to the best investments for your money. This site helps readers achieve their personal, professional, and financial goals.
Quips and Tips for Successful Writers is all about writing, editing, getting published — and blogging! There, I combine quips from famous published writers with practical writing advice. I write about everything from how to grab your reader by the throat to reasons book manuscripts are rejected.
Quips and Tips for Money and Love blends my two favorite topics: love and money. There, I weave finances with relationships — and all articles contain practical money and love tips for couples. My most popular article on that site is about dealing with a toxic ex-wife.
Quips and Tips for Couples Coping With Infertility — because infertility is a drag, but it doesn’t have to make us bitter, angry, or depressed. My husband and I are riding the infertility roller coaster, but it hasn’t destroyed our dreams or crushed our spirits. On that site, I write articles about getting pregnant, dealing with childlessness, and even improving sperm count.
And finally, Quips and Tips From the Working World is my newest creation. There, you’ll find job profiles and interviews with people at work, such as private investigators, casting directors, university professors, and B & B owners. Each profile includes the best and worst parts of the job, career tips, salary expectations, and education requirements.
I’ve also written five Quips and Tips ebooks, ranging from surviving pet loss to making money blogging.
To learn more about me (as if this weren’t enough!), visit The Adventurous Writer.
Want to connect with me? Use the comments section below; I’ll respond within a couple of business days.
Tally ho,
Laurie
P.S. Come follow me on Twitter – QuipsAndTips 
You are great, Laurie!
Hi Laurie
What a fantastic website and resource.
I have Mental Health issues. Ive always had them since childhood. I was physically and emotionally abused by both my parents and left home at the age of 16. There is some low grade sexual abuse also from my father and uncles side, my dad used to give me ‘movie star kisses’ where he’d basically passionately kiss me at a young age. I reported this to my mother but it has never been acknowledged, my parents have been married 40 plus years and I don’t want to ruin their lives by confronting them about it anyway. I was horrifically bullied at school and was banned by other parents from associating with their children. I was taller than the other children and matured quicker so if I fought back I was always seen as the ‘bad one’ and punished. I’d like to add I come from a nice middle class home and had two professionally employed parents. My mother worked full time from a young age and my sister was given the task of looking after me at the age of 11 after school, I would have been about 8 at the time. I got fat, had no hobbies and no friends. By 18 I was working as an ‘escort’ taking 28 grams of speed a week and my family didn’t know where I was for 8 months.
I’ve had several suicide attempts the first at 15 and have been in a private rehab / mental health hospital twice at ages 15 and more recently this year.
I am currently drug and alcohol free apart from prescribed antidepressant medication Lexapro of which I take 20 mg’s daily.
I have had stages of stability but have had many abusive relationships and bad experiences. I have gained qualifications and had quite well paying jobs, but this year after yet another abusive relationship I fell apart. I understand the cycle of violence and that DV isn’t always black and white. I was told to leave and choose my family or partner. I chose my family but unless I am who they ‘want me to be’ Im ousted, especially by my sister.
My parents have always been there to ‘catch me’ when convenient, but I am basically blamed for everything and told I am a ‘problem’. My sister has her own issues and sides with my parents and I am accused of ‘controlling the family”, given I stay away from my family most of the time Im unsure how I do this.
Because I have left DV relationship and am currently neither stable nor well enough to work, which is a big thing for me, as Ive worked 3 jobs before to enable myself to live. I had to return home to my parents to live with them or be homeless when I left previous relationship. I had a dog whom I love like my own child and limited options. I realise I am now 36 and a grown up, however living at home is like living in hell. I constantly blow up, and try an confront my family regarding the past, obviously this makes me very unpopular. I don’t know who I am angry at anymore.
I feel betrayed by my parents for involving and pushing away my sister. Admittedly my sister has her own issues, but my family are also very materialistic, very judgmental people who are very hard regarding peoples humility.
I recently moved out of my parents into a ‘emergency accommodation’, I also realise in DV situations I may have been far from perfect myself and I don’t walk around wearing a ‘victim badge’.
Im 36 and I hope to go back and study next year and work in MH and with people affected by DV.
I need your advise, my sister has rejected me and I dont understand why as I have not done anything to her directly or indirectly. Her inability to be objective hurts me like nothing else and quite frankly I think im better off coping with a few hard months and the heart ache we may never be friends again than being continually told what a shit person I am. They dont understand my PTSD, social anxiety and major depression yet I struggle to understand my family and their needs daily.
I love my family but need to move on. What can I do?
With much love and thanks
VB (from over the sea Australia) xxxx
Hi Laurie
I was looking for info about introverts and saw your site. I took the test and well I am an introvert. But I have another problem, social phobia some of the traits are similar to introvertism so now do I know if I have both problems? I recently got internet and started my own blog. And it has been a nice outlet for me. Hearing that you presonly are an introvert and have not let it affect you is an inspiration. One aways feels if you are the only one suffering this problem, until you find you are not alone.
Karen
Dear Shri,
Thanks for sharing your story – I’m so sorry you’re going through this! I know how hard it is to give your dog away.
I wrote this article, because we had to give our adopted dog away about a month after we adopted her:
Should You Give Your Dog Away? 5 Things to Consider
After we gave her away, I wanted her back so bad! I even went to the SPCA and asked to see her, but they said it’d be best if we just let go. They said we decided to give her away for the right reasons, and that we shouldn’t second guess ourselves now.
The SPCA also told me to stop beating myself up. They said that we made the best decision at the time, and that we should move on.
I can’t tell you if you should get Kromi back…but I do know that the first 3 weeks after giving our dog Jazz away were VERY difficult. I cried 2 or 3 times a day — I work from home, so felt her absence very painfully and closely. I wanted her back for at least a month after we gave her up, and I still wonder if we should’ve kept her. It’s been almost a year, and I’m still feeling guilty and second guessing my decision to give her away.
Perhaps you’re going through the same thing I did: the guilt and heartache over missing your dog is causing you to second guess your decision. If so, then you need to mourn his absence – because it is a big loss even though he was too much for you – and let him go.
I hope this helps…something tells me you gave Kromi up for the right reasons, and now you’re grieving the loss. That’s normal, but painful!
Let me know how you’re doing.
Blessings,
Laurie
hi,
It was comforting to read some of the posts on your blog. I’m shri…., a month back we received a labrador puppy… Kromi, in our home. We had him for a month and due to several reasons, we had to give him away to a friend. But I miss him so much and am also torn with feelings of guilt as to whether we did the right thing by giving him away. We both work and have very active lives after work so we felt it unfair that Kromi would be by himself for long periods of time. we also thought that as a couple we woudl not be abel to cope with him but we surprisingly did very well with him and very easily too…I wonder if I should take him back… as he has only been goen for 4 days.
Hi Laurie,
i wonder if we can collaborate in our new start up business where we will put up an online dating site with a SERIOUS INTENT OF MARRIAGE based on “scientific matching systems’ like eharmony. But our focus is really towards finding a mate to marry not just dating because we believe in the sanctity of marriage.
So, i wonder if you can help us design a system of matching based on your experience as a psychology grad and expeience writer.
thanks and hoping for your favorable response.
Tan Balili
Heiddi,
Thank you so much for your kind words! I can’t tell you what a boost they gave me – I really appreciate it.
Have you read the Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, and tried her Morning Pages? You write 3 pages first thing in the morning, every day. I’ve been doing it for about 6 weeks now, and feel more centered, balanced, happy, and confident. It’s amazing how writing the “dreck” (stream of consciousness, whatever comes into your head) can clear the decks for the good stuff. It’s like it fills your well so you have more to give. You can see clearly, and you’re more grounded.
Since writing the MPs, I’ve developed an extreme sense of curiosity about life. I’m less anxious, fearful, insecure, and worried! I’ve replaced that with thoughts like “I wonder how this will turn out?” and “What will happen next?” and “I can’t wait to see how I deal with that!” It’s an effective way to deal with many of life’s challenges
I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers, my friend.
Blessings,
Laurie
Hi Laurie,
I just stopped by reading through a few of your articles. I just wanted to share that I really love your work and want to be like you when I grow up in my writing. I’m struggling now with some personal challenges that are getting in the way of my confidence in everything that I’m doing; not only my writing. I wanted to tell you keep up the great work because you truly are helping and inspiring others.
Heiddi