We were lucky to catch up with Joan Zaruba recently and have shared our conversation below.
Joan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. The first dollar you earn in a new endeavor is always special. We’d love to hear about how you got your first client that wasn’t a friend or family.
I got my first freelance editing client because of a website glitch. Let me explain.
A couple of months ago, I shared one of my manuscripts with a sister of mine who used to live in Duluth, MN. My sister said my writing and life situation made her think of a former English teacher turned writer and publisher in Duluth. The woman’s name is Heather Wilde. She said I should check out Wilde’s memoir, Tumbled, and see if she would be a good fit for publishing some of my work.
I wanted to read Wilde’s book to get to know her better before I contacted her about her publishing services. I went on her website, clicked on the cover image of Tumbled, and ordered the book. At least I thought I did. About a week later, an adorable little book called Pig Tales and Popcorn, by Heather Wilde with Patricia Passero, arrived in my mailbox. I didn’t mind accidentally buying this book, but I still wanted to read Tumbled, so I emailed Wilde to let her know what happened. In my email, I decided to open up to her about my life and ask to learn more about her experiences as a teacher-turned-writer and publisher. In her reply, Wilde thanked me for bringing the website glitch to her attention and graciously offered to schedule a Zoom meeting with me the next day so we could talk.
Soon, we were smiling at each other on the screen and sharing hard truths about traumas we’d endured. The kinship we felt was instant! Wilde invited me to a networking event hosted by the Twin Cities Chapter of Business & Bubbly; at the event, we further solidified our bond. We began leaving each other encouraging voice messages on Messenger about both personal and professional news. After I opened up about my money woes, Wilde offered to hire me as a freelance editor for two manuscripts for her publishing company Hezzie Mae. I was thrilled and immediately agreed. Connecting with Heather Wilde and Hezzie Mae continues to lead to amazing connections and opportunities. Never have I owed so much to a website glitch!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Joan Zaruba, and 2025 is the year I am fully embracing my identity as freelance writer and editor. This career change follows almost two decades of working as an English teacher in secondary education. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Communication/Literature Education (grades 5-12) and a Master of Arts in Human Development from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. My new mantra is “Keep Moving Forward,” and I am passionate about helping my clients do the same. Forming strong relationships is key to being an effective teacher, and I bring that same relationship-first philosophy into my work as a writer and editor. I collaborate with clients to improve their writing projects thus enabling impactful growth, clearer communication, and creative expression.
My most recent editing job was for a nonfiction manuscript; however, I work with nonfiction and fiction manuscripts. When I’m not editing work for clients, I am writing poetry, YA fiction, and nonfiction narrative essays. You can often find me reading my poetry at local Open Mic Nights. I have had four nonfiction stories published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series: “That’s What Moms Are For” in The Magic of Mothers and Daughters (2012), “What Would I Do Without You?” in Devotional Stories for Wives (2013), “Comrade in Arms” in The Dog Did What? (2014), and “Absolutely Worth It” in The Magic of Dogs (2020). I am also excited to share I will be working with Heather Wilde to publish my debut YA novella We Watched Moonbeams with Hezzie Mae this year!
You can reach me at [email protected] or on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/joan-oen-4b89bb19/.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
Yes! Open Mic Nights. I have been writing stories and poems since I was a little girl. And since I was a little girl, I thought the only way to share my work with people I didn’t know was by getting published. The stories I’ve been fortunate enough to get published have brought me a lot of satisfaction, but nothing compares to the instant feedback I receive by sharing my writing in an open mic setting.
Open mics are an inspirational environment filled with fellow creatives. It’s a rewarding way to share one’s writing. My first open mic experience was on my son’s birthday in November last year. I wrote two poems, “The One That Got Away” and “Where I Ran To,” to help me process my recent experience of finding freedom and safety after separating from a toxic partner. But just writing the words wasn’t enough. I needed to read them out loud, almost like a public declaration of my newfound strength. The audience provided a safe, welcoming environment for me to share my story. With adrenaline coursing through my veins, I stood in front of a room filled with mostly unfamiliar faces and witnessed the audience experience my words.
Was reading very personal poetry at an open mic night nerve-wracking? Yes. Was it also exhilarating and incredibly healing? Yes and yes! Hearing the audience’s reactions to my words, making eye contact with them as I shared pieces of my heart, and then soaking in their enthusiastic applause changed me for the better.
I highly encourage anyone who claims the identity of writer or poet to try grab a mic and get up on stage. Just be warned—you may become addicted to the feeling, like I have!
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I recently did a reflective exercise to discover my three core values. The exercise started with identifying several values that appeal to me from a long list. Eventually, the process whittled down my selections to three words that resonated most with me: expression, impact, and integrity.
Expression, impact, and integrity: these three core values drive my decisions along my creative journey. I am embracing my identity as a writer because I ache to express the feelings, memories, anxieties, traumas, and dreams swirling around in my head and heart. I want to share my writing with the world because I yearn to make a positive impact on others. I want my written humor to elicit laughs and my vulnerable sharing of trauma to invoke tears. This is what being human means to me; this sense of connection that happens when a reader empathizes with heartfelt writing.
My editing work is another way for me to share my core values with others. Editing is how I help others express themselves and make a powerful impact on their readers. Lastly, the value of integrity guides all my decisions both personally and professionally. When the you-know-what hits the fan, as it always eventually does, I have the inner peace of knowing at least my words and actions were rooted in trying to do what is right and good. My sense of integrity has enabled me to rise above challenging personal circumstances and made me a trusted co-worker, employee, and friend.
If you can’t instantly say what your core values are, I encourage you to take the time to figure them out. Once you know your core values, you can lean into them in ways that will prove beneficial in your creative journey.
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