I am a freelance writer.
I’ve written for consumer magazines, trade journals, custom publications, websites and e-zines, including Sacred Fire, the Performance Menu: Journal of Health and Athletic Excellence, the B-word, Ultimate MMA and Spezzatino, to name a few.
In addition to my work as a freelance writer, I also work with small businesses on search engine optimization (SEO), copywriting and communications.
I’m also a seasoned copyeditor and proofreader, helping polish book proposals, manuscripts, articles and sales copy before it hits the shelves or mailboxes.
I’ve been working with independent print media since I started self-publishing in 1991. I spent two years serving as a National Teen Correspondent for the now-defunct Blue Jean Magazine. I’ve also worked in public access television and in the public school system.
I primarily cover health and wellness, fitness and nutrition. However, I’ve also been known to cover everything from business to social issues and everything in between. Please check out my portfolio for some writing samples, or take a look at my testimonials to read what previous clients have to say.
Latest Blog Entries
Yael’s Variety Hour: Stuff We Like, WTF Files, Sports & Food
We’ve got all kinds of goodies for you to read this week!
From the WTF Files
Stuff We Like
- BitchTapes: It’s Money, Honey | Bitch Media. Songs about money.
- How To Shave Like Your Grandpa. From the aptly-named Art of Manliness blog. This makes me wonder if my grandma used old-fashioned razors, too.
Sports and Fitness
- In MMA’s War on Drugs, Some Experts Say We’re Not Fighting the Right Battles. And they would be correct.
- What Makes A Nightmare Sports Parent — And What Makes A Great One. Good info here.
- 7 Things I Learned in 2011. Everything Eric Cressey writes is gold.
- Girl wrestler Makes History in Iowa. Woo hoo!
Food & Recipes
- One Woman Killing Spree. A year of hunting, fishing, gathering and growing.
Book Review: Submit Everyone by Dave Camarillo and Kevin Howell
The follow-up to Guerilla Jiu-Jitsu is now out, and I was lucky enough to receive a review copy from Victory Belt in the mail. Dave Camarillo and Kevin Howell teamed up to write Submit Everyone: The Guerilla Jiu-Jitsu Files: Top Secrets for Becoming a Submission-Focused Fighter.
First, a word about the layout. The book is written up like a military tactical handbook, laid out to look like typed surveillance report files. I’m a complete geek, so I love acronyms like SIT-REPs (situational reports), POA (plan of attack), POE (path of escape), SNAFU moments and the after-action reports. etc., but if you’re not into it, the military dossier theme, constant use of slang, and reference to everyone as SUBJECT: LAST NAME, FIRST NAME might interfere with your enjoyment of the book. But if you’re all about secret guerilla files, you’ll dig it. Just make sure not to skip the intro, where there’s an explanation of the terms used.
The book is divided into 7 “files” with 1-3 sections each, but the theme throughout the book is on submitting everyone, or constantly attacking, from “bad” positions as well as “good” positions, during fixed positions or transitions, attack attack attack. Camarillo does advance position at times instead of just throwing out submissions, but the book definitely lives up to its title; submissions are king. If he’s not working a submission, he’s setting up a submission. In the world of point jiu-jitsu, this is actually quite a refreshing stance to take, and the techniques showcased (and the plethora of crisp photos) more than make up for the contrived language.
The submissions emphasized are mostly fairly basic; leglocks are not included but many chokes are, as well as armlocks (including armbars, omoplatas, kimuras and more.) This isn’t just a list of subs, though, as the book shows many combinations, and how to transition from one failed submission to attempting another, always aggressive, always tactical.
Who’s it for? I’d say this is not a beginner manual, though the mindset and philosophy behind the book is relevant to everyone. But I’m guessing you’d probably have to be at around blue or purple belt level to appreciate the plethora of techniques, details, and suggestions offered for “SNAFU Moments.” But I’m guessing–I’m a white belt and while some of this made a ton of sense to me, other parts were clearly over my head. Of course, even beginners can put this on the shelf to pull out and use as a resource from time to time, but it’d probably be much more valuable to at least an intermediate-level player.
The book is available on Amazon for around $20, and runs for $34.95 on newsstands. It is almost 350 pages long, with no filler, so I’d say it’s worth the cost. If you have the book, I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts in the comments.
Yael’s Variety Hour: Outspoken (Plus Food, MMA, & BJJ, As Always)
I hope you had a good Valentine’s Day! Mine was comprised of getting my taxes done, doing some grappling, boatloads of cooking, eating entirely too much food (oysters, a strawberry salad, rosemary balsamic chicken with baby carrots, a raspberry torte) and trading presents with my man. He got a stress ball shaped like a hand grenade and a bird calls CD (how’s that for yin and yang), and I basked in pink roses, chocolate truffles and a very cute card. And then there were the dishes. Not that I’m complaining.
Anyway, here’s the posts for the week–hopefully something for everyone!
OUTSPOKEN
Margaret Cho wrote a really nice rant in response to Karl Lagerfeld calling Adele “a little bit fat.” It’s really fun to read. Check it out: Margaret Cho to Karl Lagerfeld: Fuck You and Your Fucking Glasses.
One of my new favorite gift sites is Keep the Faye. I especially dig the demerit badges.
FOOD
Well, this week I wrote about buying oysters at Coastal Seafoods, and began a three-part interview series with Dakota Jazz Club’s duo chef team.
In disturbing news, the Feds shut down an Amish farm for selling fresh milk. Sad times.
MMA/BJJ
This week, I wrote my regular Fightergirls column on women’s MMA and recapped the Primetime MMA fights in Burnsville.
Are you a fighter looking for insurance? You’re in luck–Breaking Muscle’s Val Worthington has written a post about just that: Insurance for MMA Fighters – It’s Real and It’s Affordable.
In BJJ news, here’s a post on one competitor’s experience at the IBJJF Europeans. I’m sure most of us can relate to at least part of this.
And just in case you missed it, I recapped 3 local BJJ seminars with Lucas Lepri, Bill “the Grill” Cooper and Roberto “Cyborg” Abreau.
SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION
I’ll be teaching a class at the Loft Literary Center on August 4th on breaking into magazine writing… More info later, but save the date!
