iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

love to see my wife @greenwell.bsky.social talking to @poynterinstitute.bsky.social about how I'm a brilliant mathematician (see: my matrix which solves freelancing)

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John Garrison Marks @johngmarks.com · 27/08/2026

I did this course in the spring and it was super helpful. I got all of the questions I’ve ever had about freelancing answered (along with plenty I never thought to ask). Also since finishing the class I’ve had pieces run in The Atlantic and Defector, so I guess it worked.

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

some things @greenwell.bsky.social and I teach about how to build a sustainable freelance career: -how to use a polite rejection to find out what an editor actually wants -where to find well-paying non-journalism work that subsidizes writing -how to turn a magazine story into a sellable book pitch

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Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

For a story: Is there a teenager in your life who would be up for keeping a screentime diary & being interviewed about it? The goal is to capture a week in teenagers' digital lives and center their experiences. Happy to answer questions. We will protect privacy! rainesford.alexandra@gmail.com or DM

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

🚨 freelance journalists 🚨 want to learn how to make a sustainable income, land the feature assignments you want, and have a community of other writers? @greenwell.bsky.social and I are bringing back our online class! previous cohorts have all sold out so sign up today! flyingsolofreelancing.com

green poster, with background of a stack of magazines, with the text "flying solo: a six-week intensive designed to help you build a sustainable (and fun!) freelance journalism career"

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

tldr: hoo boy does prop 13 still have some BIG consequences

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

tldr: change is hard and aging is ungainly! but the indignity of aging—feeling like a lefty student organizer even as others see you as the homeowning establishment—doesn't need to halt change in your community

bloomberg.com

The Seniors Against Senior Housing

America’s elders need more places to live, but even in liberal enclaves that recognize the problem, developers are facing the fiercest foes of all: America’s elders.

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

thank you to my wife, shadow editor and inspiration @greenwell.bsky.social for telling me to write this and Jeff for letting me go long on the people I know best: the upper-class lefties of Oakland

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

when lefty homeowners go up against market-rate senior housing towers, are they righteous middle-class activists fending off greedy developers or wealthy seniors prioritizing neighborhood character over ameliorating the housing crisis? are they David or Goliath? tinyurl.com/4xzkk8td

tinyurl.com

The Seniors Against Senior Housing

America’s elders need more places to live, but even in liberal enclaves that recognize the problem, developers are facing the fiercest foes of all: America’s elders.

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Are you a fiction writer?? Or do you want to be?? Then you should sign up for this online workshop from Sanjena Sathian, who has taught me basically everything I know about how fiction works offassignment.com/short-story

offassignment.com

Writing the Short Story — Off Assignment

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

a panel of features editors just talked to our freelance class and it was genuinely so helpful (as someone who's written for these magazines for years). if you'd like to ask top-tier editors about how to land a story, consider joining the next cohort @greenwell.bsky.social flyingsolofreelancing.com

flyingsolofreelancing.com

Flying Solo

How to Freelance

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

aging can often make the world feel smaller. for nyt well, I wrote about how VR companies are trying to expand older adults' worlds and strengthen their social connections through shared experiences (or: I went "swimming with dolphins" with my elder sources) www.nytimes.com/2026/04/15/t...

nytimes.com

How Older Adults Are Using V.R. to Counter Social Isolation

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Megan Greenwell @greenwell.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

@charleylocke.bsky.social's and I ask our freelancing students about a couple journalists they admire, so I was curious to write out the whole list (minus us). Some good taste in this group! Multiple votes for @praddenkeefe.bsky.social @tressiemcphd.bsky.social @jmooallem.bsky.social @pablo.show

Rachel Aviv (5)
Patrick Radden Keefe (4)
Tressie McMillan-Cottom (2)
Jon Mooallem (2)
Becca Rothfeld (2)
Pablo Torre (2)
Lili Anolik
Laura Bassett
Keri Blakinger
Katherine Boo
Jamelle Bouie
Jimmy Breslin
Taffy Brodesser-Akner
Jessica Bruder
Robert Caro
Ta-Nehisi Coates
Marin Cogan
Pamela Colloff
McKay Coppins
Jenny Diski
Rayne Fisher-Quann
Ann Friedman
Brian Goldstone
Vivian Gornick
Elon Green
Katy Hessel
Kerry Howley
May Jeong
Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah
Marisa Kabas
Bob Kolker
Oliver Knox
Jill Lepore
Ariel Levy
Da Lin
Ryan Mac
Mary McCarthy
John McCright
John McPhee
Julia Métraux
Daniel Moulthrop
Amanda Mull
Vann Newkirk II
Michelle Nijhuis
David Quammen
Josephine Riesman
David Roth
Eli Saslow
Jennifer Senior
Lila Shapiro
Jeff Sharlet
Clint Smith
Sarah Stillman
Studs Terkel
Derek Thompson
Jia Tolentino
Sarah Topol
Jenny Vrentas
Sarah Weinman
Emily Witt
Matt Zoller Seitz

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

I'm texting with a freelance writer friend about how she needs to bet on herself—advice I learned from *another* freelance friend. writers, may I suggest betting on yourself by snagging the *last spot* in me and @greenwell.bsky.social's class on building a freelance career flyingsolofreelancing.com

flyingsolofreelancing.com

Flying Solo

How to Freelance

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

reminds me of the time that a high school senior asked me when I applied to college and, when I replied "2009" (very normal/young time to apply to college), he earnestly asked me, "what was it like to apply to college before the internet existed?"

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

for Businessweek, I talked with dozens of people who have retired for their expert advice on what to do (and what to avoid), from financial best practices to adjusting to being at home all day with your spouse to how Gene Simmons finds joy in the little things www.bloomberg.com/features/202...

bloomberg.com

The Secrets to Retirement Success

How to handle your money, spend your time and get the most out of post-work life.

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

flyingsolofreelancing.com

Flying Solo

How to Freelance

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Megan Greenwell @greenwell.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

if the article about the Fortune bro has made you despondent about making it as a journalist without “writing” stories with AI, @charleylocke.bsky.social and I have *two spots left* in our next six-week class about building a freelance career.

flyingsolofreelancing.com

Flying Solo

How to Freelance

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Megan Greenwell @greenwell.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

oh, we're doing Freelancer Pay Discourse? perfect time to announce that @charleylocke.bsky.social and I are starting another round of our class on how to build a freelance career! you can actually make freelancing work without just waiting for people to offer you $3 a word, I promise. sign up now!

flyingsolofreelancing.com

Flying Solo

How to Freelance

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

good news for magazines: my extremely offline husband just asked me, “have you heard of an article about gooning by daniel kolitz?”

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

freelance journalists! learn how to build a career that's sustainable, interesting, and fun from @greenwell.bsky.social and me in our six-week intensive. the class is almost sold out! flyingsolofreelancing.com

flyingsolofreelancing.com

Flying Solo

How to Freelance

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Megan Greenwell @greenwell.bsky.social · 10/01/2026

I hear from a lot of people who think there's no way to make freelancing work, but it's easily the most sustainable and stable job I've ever had. If you're freelance-curious, consider signing up for the class @charleylocke.bsky.social and I are teaching on how to pull it off.

flyingsolofreelancing.com

Flying Solo

How to Freelance

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

OUT: bracing yourself for layoff season, navigating emotionally draining workplaces, cold-pitching IN: taking a class about how to build a satisfying freelance career with @greenwell.bsky.social and me flyingsolofreelancing.com

flyingsolofreelancing.com

Flying Solo

How to Freelance

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Megan Greenwell @greenwell.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

Thanks to a generous donation, we have added another scholarship slot for the class! (Details about how to apply in the link below.) We’re about half-full, so get in now if you want to participate.

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

for the new york times magazine, I wrote about people through objects that defined them: the recliner where Brian Wilson quieted his anxiety; the cross that Ozzy Osbourne’s welder dad made for him; how Kitty Dukakis defied convention through her wedding dress www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/m...

nytimes.com

Beloved Objects Left Behind by Val Kilmer, Ozzy Osbourne and Others We Lost This Year

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

I often hear from burnt-out journalists considering freelancing. as I tell them: come on in, the water is fine! if you're also freelance-curious, @greenwell.bsky.social and I designed a class to help you figure out how to do it. flyingsolofreelancing.com

flyingsolofreelancing.com

Flying Solo

How to Freelance

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Reposted by Charley Locke

Joseph Bien-Kahn @josephbienkahn.com · 05/01/2026

Editors: I have a fun Esses Magazine project in need of a Miami-based freelancer with extensive knowledge of the city/food/culture (racing expertise optional). Who knows somebody who fits the bill?

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Megan Greenwell @greenwell.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

@charleylocke.bsky.social and I designed a class to help freelancers make more money from more sources, and have more fun doing it. Not just how to pitch, but how to find lucrative work, how to build community, how to manage your money. We’d love it you joined us. flyingsolofreelancing.com

Week 3:
The Editors
Don't take our word for it re: what makes a great pitch. We'll host a panel of editors from major publications who are hungry for new ideas. You'll have the chance to ask them about how to structure your pitches, how much reporting to include, and what to leave out. You can even run the seed of a pitch by them to get feedback on what they'd want to know before assigning the story. We'll definitely include editors from magazines that pay freelancers $2 a word and up, but we'll also leave space to invite editors you want to hear from.
Week 4:
Building Community and Practice
Freelancing means sacrificing built-in colleague relationships that happen in a newsroom. That means you have to (and get to) build those relationships yourself.
We'll delve into how to develop community with other freelancers, both online and in-person, and how to rely on your colleagues for accountability, editorial advice, and support. We'll also cover some ways to think about "networking" as building relationships with people who you'd like to work with and whose work you enjoy.
(And no, you don't need to live in NYC to do it!) We'll also talk about how to develop a consistent writing practice to improve your skills outside of formal assignments.

Week 5:
$$$
Let's take the stress out of managing your money. We'll go into detail about exactly how to set achievable financial goals, track invoices, and plan for inevitable fallow periods.
We'll also bring in the best accountant in the business, from the firm that works with both of us and almost every other freelancer we know, to tell you how to minimize both your tax burden and your stress.
Week 6:
How to Advance
There are no promotions when you work for yourself, so how do you grow your career? Whether you aspire to write big investigations, books, podcasts, or TV, we'll bring the experts to you. An in-demand book agent will discuss what she's looking for when she scouts journalists to sign, while a journalist turned TV-writer will talk about exactly how he made the switch. By the end of the workshop, you'll have a map for how to go from point A to point B - and tools for figuring out your own long-term goals.

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

when I was laid off, I couldn't have imagined that I would find freelancing to be the most interesting, stable, and lucrative job I've ever had. five years later, I can't imagine wanting a staff job instead. if you're freelancing-curious, come learn how to make your own good job in journalism

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

@greenwell.bsky.social and I are teaching a class about how to build a freelance career: how to pitch effectively, find colleagues, be a good boss to yourself, and so much more. Join us for a 6-week intensive on how to create the best job you've ever had! flyingsolofreelancing.com

flyingsolofreelancing.com

Flying Solo

How to Freelance

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

I'm always for more transparency about how to make freelancing work! here's my income breakdown for this year: 48% writing (reporting) 40% academic/brand writing 10% event production 2% teaching

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Megan Greenwell @greenwell.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

My pal and freelancer extraordinaire @charleylocke.bsky.social and I are working on a cool project to help other full-time freelancers and wanna-be full-time freelancers make it work financially, so STAY TUNED. 🤭

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

just called Kaiser's medical advice hotline and the nurse answered the phone by sneezing three times. astonishingly efficient role reversal: Nurse Patrick, how are YOU feeling today?

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

Cool perk of my beat though is that today I won bingo at senior housing

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

every time I forget how weird reporting trips are… traveling to go be as extroverted and emotionally engaged with strangers as possible, and in the off-time I’m like scarfing down a weird sandwich in a rental car and wandering around an anodyne/interchangeable motel room

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

I’m in line at jiffy lube and the teens sitting on a nearby bench are talking about how much they love the paris review. magazine culture is alive and well, folks, and it’s getting an oil change in portland.

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

looking to feel old? one of my teen mentees just told me about her "2014 Tumblr playlist," which she listens to as she pretends to be experiencing what it was like to be a teenager "back in those times"

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

two teens just told me that after seeing a story I wrote in a print nyt magazine, they now think I'm "so famous and so real." print as clout: not dead!!!

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

all this talk about the “golden age” of magazines… I would just like to say that, I, too, experienced it (wore pencil skirts to my vanity fair internship in summer 2012, where I fetched graydon carter’s lunch from hale & hearty and delivered packages to writers’ brownstones in the west village)

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

had a dream last night that I was on a flight with zohran and he traded for a middle seat so that a mom and a little kid could sit together. just the kind of good guy he is

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

for NYT Magazine, I wrote about how AI sees and makes sense of us—and the freaky ways it can help us understand ourselves better www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

nytimes.com

A.I. Can Already See You in Ways You Can’t See Yourself (Gift Article)

Some of the technology's most startling new abilities lie in its perception of humans.

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

there's so much pontificating from experts about how teens don't date or hook up anymore. so I talked to the *actual* experts on being a teenager today (teenagers themselves) www.vox.com/even-better/...

vox.com

Is young love really dead?

Teenagers today are maligned for being anti-romance. What’s really going on?

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

I wrote about how the Trump administration is making life worse for aging Americans, which includes both seniors with financial security and those of us who aren't seniors yet @theatlantic.com www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...

theatlantic.com

Baby Boomers’ Luck Is Running Out

After a lifetime of good fortune, the generation has become vulnerable at exactly the wrong moment.

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

remember: if a source refuses to answer your questions, it could be because they don't trust you. but if they're in middle school, it also could be because *checks notes* they're mad at their mom and you were on speakerphone.

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Charley Locke @charleylocke.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

love to get punked by a source (called a teen and got his voicemail, which was one of those "hi! ... hello??? ... can you hear me???" recordings. teen boys, making me stammer confusedly from 2002 to infinity)

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