Welcome to Kathryn Bechen INK! I'm so glad you stopped by my lifestyle writing website/blog and I hope you find my articles, tips, e-books/books both enjoyable and helpful.
When I meet new people and they ask me what I do, it always makes me smile to observe their varying responses when I answer with a big smile that I'm a professional writer. Once they've digested my answer, a steady stream of curious questions usually begins!
So here's the skinny...
What kind of writing do you do and who hires you?
Non-fiction. Most recently:
*Contracted by one of the largest Christian book publishers in the world to write the book Small Space Organizing: A Room-by-Room Guide to Maximizing Your Space, which is now:
- Quoted in national and regional media like Martha Stewart Radio, Family Circle magazine, The Washington Post's ExpressNightOut.com, and more. Please CONTACT ME to request a media interview.
What else are you hired to write?
*Feature articles for national and regional newsstand-quality magazines
*Professional bios and marketing copy for creative entrepreneurs
*E-books
*Newspaper articles
What's your writing specialty/niche?
I'm a lifestyle writer who's passionate about bringing people information, ideas, and inspiration, usually about the topics below:
*General home and garden
*Home how-to
*Interior decorating/design, especially on a dollarwise budget
*Home and home office organizing
*Weddings
*Travel
*Inspirational/motivational
Do you have any formal writing education/training?
Yes, I hold a four-year B.A. in English and Education, and as a lifelong learner, I continue to attend writing conferences and groups and read books about writing. I also earned my interior decorating certificate, blissfully "marrying" my love of both writing and interior decorating/design.
Have you won any writing awards?
Yes, my articles have won Excellence in Journalism Awards from the San Diego Press Club, one of the largest press clubs in the U.S. The entries are judged by press clubs all over the country.
Have you ever taught writing?
Yes, I've taught writing, English, and reading in public schools and for Sylvan Learning Centers.
When did you first start writing?
As a young child, and it evolved. An essay I wrote for my 8th grade church class, "What Being a Christian Means to Me," was read by our minister to his congregation and I won a college poetry award at age 17 when my high school English teacher asked me to enter the contest. My university professors read my papers to their students as writing examples. Largely because of all those wonderful people cheering me on, I had an inkling at a young age that writing is what God gifted me to do, and I feel have a responsibility to share my gift with others.
How would you describe your writing style?
Based on the e-mails I receive from readers around the world saying I motivate and inspire them, and that they feel like I'm a friend by their side, I guess I would say "how-to with heart."
What "well" do you draw from most as a writer?
My own eclectic life experiences. I was born in Hawaii, and I've lived in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, New York, and California. Experiencing such culturally different locales and people, working many different jobs, traveling a lot with my husband, and being a passionate lifelong learner and voracious reader have all greatly shaped both my writing and interviewing style and skills. Let's just say I'm equally as comfortable and curious about interviewing the All-American girl next door about her cozy cottage home as I am writing about beautiful resorts, a celebrity wedding planner, or how to organize a home office!
What's your writing process like?
I usually write something nearly every day because if I don't I feel like something isn't quite "right" with me. And when I'm on tight magazine deadlines I hole up for days on end and write with zestful abandon! Then I'll take a break for a couple of days to rest my body, mind, and spirit. Thankfully, I have an understanding hubby and patient friends who understand my passion for my work.
How did you get published in national home & garden magazines?
Along with my hubby Steve, I've decorated and organized all 13 (you read right!) of our personal residences as we've moved during the years of our marriage. I earned my interior decorating certificate from Decorator Training Institute and started Kathryn Bechen Designs online decorating website where I wrote and posted some articles and soon after that a veteran New York national newsstand magazine editor found my website and e-mailed me, asking to hire me to write articles for her magazines. So once again, I was being led back to my first love: writing.
How did you start writing about weddings?
True story! My hubby asked me to ride along with him to our vet to buy cat food and I went into the bridal stationery store next door and struck up a casual conversation with the owner. She happened to be the publisher of San Diego Style Weddings magazine, so fast forward to my first assignment from her the very next week to interview a celebrity wedding planner who orchestrated a $1.7 million dollar wedding. The publisher liked the story I wrote so much that she immediately hired me to write several more feature articles and Real Wedding stories. That was several years ago and many articles later.
How did you start writing about organizing?
Organized With Ease and managed it for several years. As a result of all of that "real life" hands-on organizing work, plus teaching organizing seminars, I wrote my organizing e-books.
What kind of writing do you do for creative entrepreneurs?
I write their business marketing copy which might include their professional bio, website or brochure, business card copy, etc.--any written materials they use to market their creative business. I've also edited some of their own writing projects too. I enjoy interviewing them extensively by phone about how their company came to be and has successfully evolved, and then it's great fun to use just the right words to showcase their unique talent and business. I've written for interior designers/decorators/stagers, professional organizers, caterers, garden designers, graphic designers, and more, from all over the U.S. Here are some of the writing samples and testimonials.
How did you come to sign a book contract with one of the largest Christian publishers in the world?
Oh, I believe that was mostly God's doing! At the advice and coaching of an author friend, I attended the San Diego Christian Writers Conference which is one of the largest Christian writing conferences in the U.S. I had two book publishers and an agent interested in my writing. I signed a contract later with Baker Publishing Group. That's the short version of the story. :)
Have you ever interviewed any famous, near-famous, or high-achieving people for magazine articles?
Yes and I love doing those interviews!
*I interviewed Warren Buffett, the legendary financial investor, and his mother, for a newspaper article when I was just 26 years old. It was my first published feature article, and I was paid the princely sum of $25!
*I interviewed my favorite bestselling lifestyle author friend, Alexandra Stoddard. It was great fun to be invited by her personally to attend one of her "Happiness Weekends" at her home and see where she writes her books that have so inspired me and many others.
*I've also interviewed actress Meg Ryan's personal professional organizer, a wife whose in-laws own one of the world's most famous racehorses in the world, a celebrity wedding planner who orchestrated a $1.7 million dollar wedding, a Miss United States World who married the former Special Counsel to U.S. Attorney Janet Reno, and a bride who planned her wedding while she was training for the Olympics, no less!
You can see some of those articles here.
Do you ever go on location for magazine articles?
Usually I do all my interviews by phone, and I prefer that M.O. as it's very efficient and I can easily write an article that way. Last year though I was sent by a magazine to Palm Springs, CA to tour about 15 beautiful resorts and write a travel piece. And once in awhile I do go on site in San Diego, CA, where I live, if I feel like getting out of my "ivory writing tower" (a.k.a. my home office) for awhile. Here's an article I went on location to "research" because I thought it would be fun. And it was!
Who or what inspires your writing muse?
Mostly people. Sometimes beautiful places. Quiet solitude. Prayer. Certain people just seem to say things in a way that will spark a creative writing idea and my muse kicks in. I never know when it will happen, but it always does. I guess in business they call it synergy, and in a lab they call it chemistry. As a writer, I call it inspiring the muse and I love when it serendipitously happens!
Do you get letters from readers and do you read them?
Yes, I've received heartfelt e-mails from all over the world and I treasure them. It almost always brings me to tears when people tell me that I've motivated and inspired them to improve their life. I try to personally answer as many of my reader e-mails as I can, but with my contracted writing deadlines and my commitment to live a balanced personal life with my dear hubby, it's not always possible.
What's been your proudest and happiest moment as a writer?
Both of these moments were happy ones:
*Being contracted by one of the largest Christian publishers in the world, Baker/Revell
*Winning San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards the first time I entered their competition
With all that good fortune, have you had any writing hurdles?
Of course. Every published writer has had hurdles, just like any other career. But instead of focusing on the negative, I choose to focus on my successes.
Have you ever missed a writing deadline?
No, not once in 20+ years. Not even when I broke my writing arm while under my first book contract. I feel it's the mark of a true professional writer to meet their deadlines.
Do you consider writing your full-time career?
Even though I've done other work while I was also a part-time freelance writer, at this stage of my life, since I've been writing full-time now for several years as my own business, Kathryn Bechen INK, I most definitely consider writing my career.
What do you find most rewarding about being a professional writer?
What do you find most challenging about being a professional writer?
Long days typing at the computer causes physical strain and stiffness. I invest in professional massage therapy and chiropractic for that and I try to take a break now and then at my favorite tea place.
What's your physical writing space like and what kind of computer do you use?
I live in an urban high-rise in San Diego County, California, USA, and my favorite place to write is from my king-sized bed! I share a home office with my hubby and I use it for administrative work, but I don't write in there. My trusty computer is a champagne pink-colored Sony laptop; I've invested in making my writing tools and space very comfortable and attractive so I can produce my best work.
Do you have any writing assistants?
I do all my own writing, but I do have three "assistants." :)
Are you available for media, blog, teleseminar, and webinar interviews?
Yes. As I mentioned earlier, I'm a media guest expert. Available interview topics include home decorating on a dollarwise budget, moving with ease, home and office organizing, small space organizing, and married couples decorating together to blend their tastes harmoniously. (See my poem, "Decorating Without Divorcing" for a light-hearted humorous read.) Also please see my Media Room, Upcoming Events, and Teleseminars and Webinars pages for more information.
Do you do phone or in-person consultations?
I no longer do one-on-one in-person or phone consultations so that I can focus exclusively on writing and media interviews. However, my e-books/books are written in a "friend by your side cheering you on" style, so by purchasing them, you'll feel like I'm right there consulting with you.
Do you have any favorite writing and/or life quotes?
I am indeed, a quote addict! Here are my favorite writing quotes, and my favorite life quotes. Oh, and I'm also a list junkie, so here's my Life FAVEs List. (And I hope you'll write up one of your own!)
Parting thoughts:
Thanks so much for your interest in my lifestyle writing! Please enjoy my FREE gifts for stopping by today. And if you're interested in hiring a writer, or need a media guest for your next article or radio show, please CONTACT ME.
*(See the pink boxes on the right side of this page.)
Kathryn :)
