Today we’d like to introduce you to Roxana Becerril.
Hi Roxana, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Growing up, I always gravitated toward my English and writing classes in school. The way authors had with words captivated me at a young age. When I discovered writers like Joan Didion who did creative, journalistic pieces in a narrative format, I knew I wanted to do the same. I like telling real-life stories about real people. I decided to start my career as a writer a few months after college, I quit my 9-5 and started pitching story ideas to publications and slowly grew my client/project portfolio. Now, I work independently, writing for local and national publications and for individual clients.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
There has been a bump or two along the road, the first dealing with actually starting my business and finding clients. Starting is always the hardest part. Another challenge has been project management. As an independent contractor, it’s really just me doing everything — from landing clients to arranging interviews, writing, editing, managing finances, and other tasks. Keeping track of your clients and which ones have paid or not can be hard to keep up with when business takes off.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a journalist and writer. I take on different projects; sometimes, I’ll cover the opening of a new trendy restaurant, and other times I’ll profile creatives making an impact in our community. Writing about lifestyle, Latino topics, art, and culture bring me the most joy, or really any project that I’m passionate about. That can look like meeting a Latina businesswoman making headlines and writing about her story, or it can mean covering the remodel of the district in which I grew up in.
I’d like to think I’m known for connecting with the community, giving a voice to people, and sharing their stories. I’m most proud of all of the stories/gigs I’ve landed independently. I’m one of the youngest writers in town, being invited to/covering big events. I think my drive and ambition at my age set me apart from the rest.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t attribute success to luck, in all honesty. In the grand scheme of things, I am lucky to be privileged enough to live in this country and to have the emotional and financial support to go after my dreams which I am very grateful for. But when it comes to my actual skill set and knowledge, luck has very little do with that. Those two things are what help my business grow, and neither of them stem from chance or luck but rather hard work and dedication.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/byroxyb
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roxy.becerril/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/roxybecerril
