Freelancer Focus: Emily Chaffins
In this new monthly Q&A feature, we are happy to introduce Emily Chaffins, a talented freelancer for the Florida Catholic in Miami. Emily has worked on projects that inspire and engage audiences. We dive into her journey as a freelancer, her creative process, and what motivates her to continue sharing their gifts with the Catholic community.
What inspired you to pursue a career as a freelance professional, especially in Catholic media?
Honestly, the way I happened upon my current role as freelancer for the Florida Catholic Miami was the work of Providence. Ever since I could hold a pencil, I knew I wanted to be a writer, but I never considered journalism.
In high school, I became involved in the Serra Club of Miami, a lay ministry that supports vocations. One of our leaders knows I like to write and asked me if I’d be interested in creating an article about the Adopt-A-Seminarian program for the Archdiocese of Miami’s Let’s Talk Blog. That was the first time I interacted with my future editor, Ana Rodriguez-Soto.
Not too long afterwards, I decided to reach out to Ana to see if she by any chance needed an intern. Ana and the whole team blew me away with their warm welcome.
After I finished my internship, I was promoted to my current position, freelance writer. I have also published articles with OSV News, National Catholic Register, and Catholic Exchange.
Can you tell us about a project you’ve worked on that you’re particularly proud of?
I wrote a Catholic Exchange article about “Requiem for the Forgotten” composed by Frank La Rocca and the importance of sacred music. National Catholic Register listed my article in an April post highlighting “The Best of Catholic Blogging,” which was incredibly humbling.
What challenges do you face as a freelancer, and how do you overcome them?
Although I feel some nerves before interviews, I learned that if I force myself to approach people, I fall into a “flow” where I’m able to lose myself in the incredible stories people have to offer.
How do you stay motivated and manage your time while juggling multiple projects?
The times I have been the most inspired have been when I have brought my writing to the Adoration chapel and worked on it with Jesus.
In terms of time management, I love checklists. If I don’t write it down, chances are I will forget it. I have a long virtual checklist on my “Notes” app, where I set personal deadlines and keep track of freelancing assignments, graduate school homework, and fiction-writing goals.
What is the most interesting or unusual project you’ve worked on in your career?
Hands down, my favorite project has been creating and curating the Archdiocese of Miami’s Through the Catholic Lens blog.
Through the Catholic Lens is devoted to rediscovering art, media, and entertainment through a Catholic worldview. Aimed at teens and young adults, the monthly articles show how our Catholic faith lets us see our favorite entertainment in a whole new depth – whether that’s movies, music, photography, or anything in between.
The blog has been going strong for a year and has featured a host of talented writers on everything from Star Trek to basketball!
What advice would you give to someone just starting out as a freelancer in Catholic media?
When I began interning at the Florida Catholic, the greatest gift I received was mentorship. My advice is to find a mentor, someone who is willing to answer your questions and take you under their wing. I truly wouldn’t be where I am today without the many people who continue to guide me with their expertise.
How has freelancing helped you grow personally and professionally?
Interacting with Catholic media professionals has taught me practical lessons on how to live out my faith. Freelancing has also given me the opportunity to exercise many marketable skills: journalism, photography, copyediting, archiving, social media content creation, podcasting, and even video set design … and the list goes on.
More about Emily:
- Writing portfolio: lnk.bio/emilychaffins
- Email: ec.freelancewriter@gmail.com
- Instagram: @the.smallest_things
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/emilychaffins