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 
Hello!
My name is Kelli Faulkner and I was wondering if there was a way to submit a copy of an eBook called “Sweet Surrender” to you? I am not looking so much for a review on it but I am trying to get a very strong message out that was written within it and possibly get others to help pass it around? Even if you are not able to do it due to your schedule is there a way you can direct me towards others who might be able to read it and possibly speak about it on their blog?
Please feel free to email me with your reply or whomever you may feel might be a better fit.
BTW…I love your site!
God bless,
Kelli Faulkner
Hi Laurie,
I also want to become a freelancer.
Love your blog!
Hi Julie,
Thanks for your request! If you’d like to share that article online, then I ask you only share the first 2 tips, and link back to Quips and Tips for Successful Writers. If you share it in print, feel free to publish the whole thing, with credit to Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen.
Cheers,
Laurie
Laurie,
I’m wondering if it would be okay to share your 5 tips for getting rid of writing distractions came my way via Ragan’s daily update) with out City employees.
We’re always looking for ways to improve our working efficiency, and your article makes an informative and memorable read.
Do you provide permission to share this way?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance…
Thanks for your interest, Sean! I’ve emailed you directly.
Andrea, thanks for including Quips and Tips for Successful Writers in your list! I really appreciate it.
All good things,
Laurie
Hi Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen,
My name is Sean Platt and I run Ghostwriter Dad, a site aimed at helping struggling writers make more money for every word they write, by building a strong reputation based on quality content.
I’d love to submit a guest post, if you’re interested. I’m a regular contributor at Copyblogger and have posted at ProBlogger, Write to Done, Zen Habits, and many other leading blogs.
Please let me know and I’ll get something to you right away.
Thanks!
Hi Laurie,
I just posted the article, “Who’s the Boss?: Top 50 Freelance Blogs” ( http://mastersinprojectmanagement.com/whos-the-boss-top-50-freelance-blogs/ ) on my site. I’m happy to tell you that your website has been included in the list. I thought I’d email you about it in case you think your readers would find the article interesting enough to warrant you giving the article a quick mention on your site.
Either way, hope you have a good week.
Best,
Andrea McDougal
Hi Amy,
Welcome to the world of freelance writing!
I don’t know of any sites that have work available (do you mean e-zines? blog sites?) — but I have tons of tips for freelance writers!
Learn as much as you can from successful writers. Read as many posts on writing blogs like these — and put what you learn to work.
Here are two articles to get you started:
Starting a Magazine Writing Career – How to Make Money as a Freelancer
6 Secrets From Successful Freelance Writers
And remember: freelancing is a business, and it takes time to learn and establish yourself as a writer. Like ANY career, it takes dedication and effort. But once you get the ball rolling, you’ll find that it gets easier and easier….
Happy writing, and feel free to ask questions on any of my articles.
Tally ho,
Laurie
I’m a beginning writer, looking for freelance work, and experience to do writing. Do you know of any sites that have some work available, or any tips on how I should get started?
I hope to hear from you, any writing opportunities I would appreciate.
Thanks, Amy
Right, Laurie, great post. It’s always difficult for writers to know how much time they spend on each project. I’ve tried time-capture products but never had any luck with those stopwatch-based systems; I always forgot to start and stop the timers so they were less than successful for me. Don’t you wish you had one that was completely automatic? One that would start and stop itself, and even know when you had several windows open and just time the one you’re working in? One that would recognize your idle time and then tell you how many minutes it was and let you assign the time to projects or just let it be idle time?
Thank you! I would now go on this blog every day!
Thanks, Tina, I’m glad you like Quips & Tips! If you have any questions or comments on anything here, please feel free to jump in.
I’ve never been that far east; my dream is to take a road trip across Canada one day — from ocean to ocean. I’d LOVE to see the Maritimes.
Take care of your end of Canada, my friend, and I’ll take care of mine
Laurie
This is the best – and I mean THE BEST!!!! writing, kick in the pants, cry in my coffee, keep writing, site I have ever found…
I don’t even know how I found it?!?!
Thank you, keep it up.
plus you are a fellow Canadian – I am so proud of us!!!
Your out on Bowen Island – I am here on the opposite coast in Saint John, NB – we got the country covered lol!!
Tina
Thanks, Doreen, I’m glad you’re here! And, I look forward to seeing more of you here on Quips & Tips
Love your blog! Have added it to my Blog roll.