The power of observation
Before acting
Jenn Chen
Writer & photographer with a penchant for chips. I'm endlessly inspired by my child-of-immigrants upbringing, culture, travels, food, and natural elements.
How I organized my system
Going into the weeds of my brain.
13th freelance-versary
Sharing the monthly highlights from my 13th year
The tone
A letter to paid subscribers about an interaction I had at Expo
The optics could’ve been better
The optics could’ve been better I used to be confused by the reference to “optics” in phrases. It felt like yet another circular logic corporate-speak word. But I get it now and the word kept popping in my head throughout Expo weekend. For many things, the optics could’ve
On momentum
Shedding, sustaining, and gaining—a letter for paid subscribers
Day jobs
Are they worth having?
How rituals ground us
(*me, how they grounded me)
Coffee moments in Taiwan
An essay of words & photos from my trip
🔎 In Focus
🔎 In Focus: Brit Alexandria, Part 2
"I am not a monolith. I'm not telling you this is how you have to treat disabled baristas. We are all different. So accept that there are things that I won't know because I don't know everyone on your staff."
🔎 In Focus: Interview with barista, writer, and advocate Brit Alexandria
We talk about being a barista, coffee hot takes, endometriosis, and their creative writing practice.
freelancing
Finding the right sounding boards
Never ask a friend for business decision advice if that person is not a business owner themselves.