Meet Gail Worley

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gail Worley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Gail with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

As a seasoned writer and publisher based in New York City, I can attribute my strong work ethic to a combination of early influences and personal experiences. My passion for music was ignited during my childhood in the 1960s, inspired by my older sister’s enthusiasm for The Beatles. This early exposure fostered a deep appreciation for music, which became a central focus throughout my early life.

During my college years at the University of California, Irvine, in the early 1980s, I was actively involved in the campus radio station, KUCI, and the school newspaper. These experiences allowed me to develop technical skills in radio broadcasting and gain initial exposure to journalism through writing album and movie reviews. My college years were also instrumental in shaping my professional discipline and dedication to developing my brand.

After relocating to New York City in the late 1980s, my career flourished as I contributed to various online and print publications, both local and national. My willingness to network, embrace diverse writing assignments, and expand my professional base contributed further to a strong work ethic. It’s worth noting that my successes were owed in part to doing a lot of foot work, talking to everyone, knowing how to ‘work the room,’ and being open to writing about topics I was unfamiliar with in order to expand my resume. My work ethic is a product of an early passion for music, formative experiences in college media, proactive networking, and a relentless pursuit of diverse interests within the arts and entertainment industry.

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?

Over the past 21 years, I’ve built, polished, and expanded my website and online home base, Worleygig.com, into the ultimate platform to showcase my brand. I’m 100% dedicated to publishing diverse and engaging content that reflects my love for art, design, food, and travel. In recent years, I’ve expanded into new categories, including substantial content on health and wellness — a niche I began exploring during the Covid lockdown — which has resonated with many readers.

What I love most about Worleygig.com is how it allows me to continually develop my creativity. Nearly all the photos featured on the site, aside from a few stock images, are captured by me during my daily life and travels. This has been a fantastic way to hone my photography skills while drawing inspiration from the vibrant world around me, especially in New York City.

Although I no longer focus primarily on music and shifted to a design and art emphasis some time ago, I remain open to introducing my readers to topics that ignite my passion. My hope is that this enthusiasm sparks something meaningful in them as well.

Above all, I value the freedom of being my own boss. Each day brings new discoveries, and that’s what makes my current writing career so rewarding and fun.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Having a broad knowledge base has been incredibly beneficial in my career. My deep understanding of contemporary pop and rock music, coupled with my academic background in modern and contemporary art (a minor I pursued in college), has provided a solid foundation for my work. Additionally, spending over 10 years working in the architecture and design industry has greatly influenced my sensibilities and expertise in covering the art and design world.

One essential quality for success is perseverance. Never give up, and never let anyone tell you that you can’t achieve something. Early on, I let my parents deter me from following my true passion by insisting that I couldn’t study anything artistic. Instead, I was encouraged to focus on academic subjects in college. While I studied foreign languages, it’s no surprise that where I’ve ultimately thrived professionally is in the art and design industry. Looking back, I sometimes wonder where I might have ended up if I had followed my inner voice and pursued a formal education in art and design. Still, I’m grateful for the path I’ve taken — it’s been a fantastic journey.

When it comes to skills, the best way to develop your writing is not only to write every day, but to be an avid reader. It’s equally important to remain open to advice from others. For a long time, I resisted taking professional advice from colleagues, believing that my way was always the best. But once I let go of that mindset, I discovered that other people often have valuable insights that can improve your work — even if you’ve been doing it differently for decades. Be open to trying new approaches; you can always revert to your original method if the advice doesn’t work for you.

For aspiring writers, seek feedback from editors and let others read your work to provide constructive criticism. This is one of the most effective ways to grow and refine your craft.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to receive valuable advice and support from friends and colleagues, but one instance stands out as particularly impactful because of its recent significance. During the Covid lockdown, my writer friend Ken Pierce, who runs the website Piercing Metal, offered me some game-changing assistance. Ken and I had been colleagues while writing for the late Metal Edge magazine, and we remained friends even after the publication folded.

Ken, always on the lookout for ways to improve things, approached me with questions about the backend maintenance of my website. To be honest, I didn’t even know what he was referring to at the time. He introduced me to essential website maintenance practices I had been completely unaware of. With his guidance, I was able to strengthen the foundation of my website, which led to a significant increase in traffic and improved its overall aesthetic.

Ken was incredibly generous with his advice and spent a lot of time coaching me through these updates. While I did compensate him for his help because it was so valuable, I still feel very lucky to have had his expertise and guidance. This experience reinforced an important lesson: sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know. Staying open to advice and suggestions, even in areas you think you’ve mastered, can lead to incredible growth and improvement.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Portraits of Resilience

Sometimes just seeing resilience can change out mindset and unlock our own resilience. That’s our

Productivity
Perspectives on Staying Creative

We’re beyond fortunate to have built a community of some of the most creative artists,

Confidence
Kicking Imposter Syndrome to the Curb

This is the year to kick the pesky imposter syndrome to the curb and move