Meet Jill Robinson

We were lucky to catch up with Jill Robinson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jill, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

It’s gotten easier over the years, because I can look back at my work and know that it’s all led to the particular moment that I’m in. I remember that very few of us are looking for a perfect person to emulate. I look up to people who are human, like me, who make mistakes and are always learning from others.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m a journalist who covers consumer travel, adventure, culture, and food & drink stories for both print and digital publications. I’ve been an independent journalist for more than 15 years. Before that, I worked in the tech industry, and before that, I worked in the performing arts. My stories range from destination coverage to deep dives into different cultures, from adventure travel to the individual foodways of a region.

I always say that it’s the best gig in the world for someone who’s endlessly curious, because you’re learning new things every day. There’s no time to be bored. To be successful, I need to keep track of the editorial style of a handful of publications, so that when I encounter a story angle that fits one of them, I can pitch that story to an editor. Which editor? It also helps to know who handles what types of stories, so I’m approaching the right person.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Self-motivation is essential for independent journalists. There’s no boss to tell me what to do and when to do it. I have to be motivated enough to seek out the work I want and get things done in a timely manner so I get more work.

Flexibility is also important, because publishing is a constantly evolving industry. Magazines have redesigns, and the types of stories I may have pitched last week need to change to take into account the new direction.

Creativity is key, as well. I need to be open to new ways of storytelling, whether that’s by including images and video with my writing, or making sure that I can cover a variety of topics and ways of reporting.

When you’re early in your journey, it can be challenging to have patience and an eye for the long game. Everyone wants to get those feature articles in the glossy national travel magazines. Practice your craft, get the assignments you can, get paid, focus on where you want your career to go, and you’ll get there.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott is a book that’s helped me so much, that I re-read it every few years for inspiration. She talks honestly about managing a writer’s life, and I love being able to turn to such frank words. It’s like having a dear friend who really sees you.

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Image Credits

Jill K. Robinson

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