Meet Megan Nicole O’Neal | Freelance writer and aspiring author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Megan Nicole O’Neal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Megan Nicole, how do you think about risk?
I’m a big advocate for experimenting and not being afraid if things don’t work out the way you planned. Because when I look back at my life, usually the biggest moments of growth happened after I “failed” at something.

The first time I pitched an editor as a then hopeful freelance writer, I spent hours coming up with a story tailored to this outlet, and I remember feeling dejected that never heard back from them. However, that editor, unbeknownst to be, forwarded my email to an old colleague who ended up loving the story—and that’s how I became a writer for SUCCESS Magazine.

Or in 2019 when I moved my entire life to a new city to work for a non-profit I was passionate about, only to be laid off in 2020 after the non-profit had to cancel nearly all of its fundraising events for the year. Not all risks will pan out. Sometimes you’ll run into doors locked shut. And that’s okay. That experience taught me so much about myself and what I wanted, and lead me to the next right thing, which ended up being a much better fit than what I’d “lost.”

Outside of work, I try to do at least one out-of-my-comfort-zone thing from my bucket list each year. Some of them are fairly easy or silly. While some have been more challenging or didn’t go the way I envisioned (I see you altitude sickness on Kilimanjaro summit). But always, those experiences end up being the highlight of my year. To me, taking risks is a necessary part of living life to the fullest, and I’ve found it becomes less scary when you’re not set on one specific outcome.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a freelance writer for outlets like SUCCESS Magazine, Forbes, Indeed and more, while also working full-time doing public relations in the tech industry. Most people view journalism and PR almost in opposition to one another, but I’ve always seen them as more complementary.
My experience as a journalist teaches me how to get to the root of what makes a story interesting, and my experience in PR teaches me how to compellingly influence someone to take on a story I’m proposing. Both make me better at each role.

At the same time, with consolidating media outlets and the rise of AI, both industries are changing rapidly. Journalism and PR are completely different from even five years ago, so I’m constantly learning and evolving with it. And I can’t believe where it’s taken me. I’ve had the opportunity to interview some truly amazing people, like marketing genius Bozoma Saint John, makeup artist Mally Roncal, and inspiring small business owners who are making their communities a better place. I love that I get to ask questions and tell stories for a living.

It hasn’t always been easy though—both PR and freelance writing are notorious for facing constant rejection. One story I was particularly passionate about took about 40 no’s before I finally got a yes that landed it on Forbes. Obviously hard work and consistency are key for success in general. But in my experience, a lot of it has to do with not taking no personally, or letting someone’s no stop you from believing the next person might say yes. For me, that’s really come down to listening to that little whisper in the back of your mind telling you to keep going, even if it scares you or doesn’t make complete sense at the time. And trusting yourself enough to know that you’ll be good no matter what.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I grew up in San Diego, so it’s impossible to pack all of my favorite places into one week! But I’d say you can’t go wrong with any of these:
– Hike Torrey Pines
– Eat the Focaccia Di Recco Honeycomb at Davantis Enoteca in Little Italy, squid tacos at Point Loma Seafood, sample different vendors in Liberty Public Market and anything in Convoy
– Visit a brewery. Societe, Deft, Pure Project and Fall Brewing are my favorites!
– Go stand-up paddle boarding in Mission Bay around sunset
– Browse through an independent book store, like Verbatim Books
– See a play at the Old Globe theatre
– Lounge on Del Mar beach with a breakfast burrito from Roberto’s

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Yes! A few years ago, NYTimes bestselling author Luvvie Ajayi Jones shared one of her favorite affirmations and I still think about it often:
Let my helpers find me.
I love this because it makes the world feel more welcoming. None of us live on an island. Sometimes you just need to meet the right person who will forward your pitch to a friend. Or mention your name in a room you’re not in. You’re really just one email away from your next break. And it also reminds me to pay it forward and be a helper to someone else.
If you haven’t read any of Luvvie’s books, go check them out. You’ll laugh, be inspired to think differently and close the book as a better version of yourself.

Website: https://mnoneal.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megan_n_oneal/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megannicoleoneal/