Releasing My Voice While Conserving My Energy

I’ve sent several pitches for essays and articles into the wild. Some have vanished into the dark woods, never to be heard from again. Others have come back holding an editor’s hand, praised as “special” but still homeless, politely wished well as they wander off to keep searching.

Most of my pitches haven’t found a place to grow into full articles, essays, or stories. It’s discouraging, but it’s also part of the industry. Still, every single one has value, even if a few may have now aged out of relevance.

Recently, I realized something important: those pitches being endlessly beach-balled from editor to editor might be better off if I simply wrote them to be posted here.

The Old Plan

Originally, I wanted to transform my best pitches into the kind of deeply researched, interview-heavy pieces you’d expect to see in places like Vox, The Walrus, or Slate. The idea was to build a portfolio of professional-grade journalism to showcase here that might impress those publications enough to, in theory, lead to consistent work with them.

It was a solid plan, but also a costly one. Each piece could easily demand $500 to $1,000 worth of unpaid research and effort, all for the possibility of future opportunities. And there was another risk: that these polished, “neutral” pieces might lose the personality and messy charm that readers actually come here for.

The Pivot

So, the plan is shifting.

I still intend to breathe life into the pitches that haven’t found a home, but instead of heavy, reported journalism, they’ll take the shape of what Beyond the Balcony does best: opinionated, personal, and a little messy by being full of anecdotes, reflections, and my own voice.

That doesn’t mean no research, and it doesn’t mean no effort. Some pieces may still draw on interviews or sources. But they’ll stay rooted in the essay/editorial style that fits naturally alongside everything else here.

Why the Change?

Because I need to be realistic. I need work, and more importantly, I need income. Even if I launched a Patreon today or plastered ads all over the site, my current audience size means I’d probably only be able to budget for one weekly coffee at Tim Hortons. That doesn’t come close to covering the bills.

For now, my priority has to be pitching, applying, and delivering the very best work to the paying clients and publications that I do have. My time here, while precious, has to be used wisely.

What That Looks Like

• I’ll aim for one longer piece each week that will be something over 1,000 words that digs deeper.

• Most days, I’ll post shorter but thoughtful pieces (200–500 words), the kind of daily spark that keeps the site alive.

• Reviews will mostly be in the 200–800-word range, with brevity helping me conserve energy while still sharing my thoughts.

In short, there will be something here every day, but I need to balance it with the work that actually pays the bills.

The Future

If the audience grows, and if Patreon or other support turns this site into a real source of income, then yes, I’d love to bring reported pieces that blend my personal voice with deep research and interviews. That’s the dream. But even if it doesn’t happen, I’m grateful to have Beyond the Balcony as an outlet for my writing, my passions, and my voice.

If you value what I share here — the reviews, the essays, the messy honesty — and you’d like to see Beyond the Balcony and The Movie Breakdown podcast continue to grow, your support truly makes a difference. Even a small contribution through PayPal helps me carve out more time and energy to bring my best work here.

I don’t take this community for granted. Every reader, every kind word, every bit of encouragement fuels me to keep going. Thank you for sticking with me and for believing in what I create. I’m excited for what’s ahead, and I hope you’ll join me for the ride.