Writer. Wordsmith. Witty. Wise.
Rational, reliable, and relatable – yes. Friendly, empathetic, and intuitive – you bet.
Get to Know Marla
I am a groundhog and an ENFP personality type.
Part extrovert, part introvert, I’m an independent, free-spirited Aquarius who shares a birthday with Punxsutawney Phil’s shadow-or-no-shadow celebration. Yes, I read astrology and books on psychology, personal growth and finance, holistic health, and other new age stuff. Chakra healing, affirmations, boundaries, natural health – sign me up.
After earning my graduate degree, I took a few of those personality assessments to figure out my next path. I do believe the Myers-Briggs ENFP type fits me. ENFP stands for Extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Perceiving. My alma mater Ball State University notes that we’re known as “The Champion.” ENFPs are creative, energetic, outgoing, service-oriented individuals with well-developed verbal and written communication skills.
I learned resilience at a young age. And my life did not go according to plan.
My parents divorced when I was 2, and I was bullied in elementary school. But I still managed to excel in school. My first life goal was to earn a bachelor’s degree and get out of my hometown. I attended three different universities, moved states, got married and divorced, and worked a full-time job while earning my bachelor’s degree – all by age 22. I still graduated with a 3.8 GPA and on schedule. And getting married at 19 to the wrong person altered the course of my life and made me leery of doing it again.
I have two degrees. But I don’t recommend a second one. 
Like most 20-year-old college students, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. While attending the University of Northern Florida, one of my instructors suggested journalism or magazine writing. Shortly after, I returned to my hometown of Muncie, Indiana. Ball State University is well-known for its School of Journalism, so it seemed like a good decision. Go Cardinals! I enjoyed a rewarding career as a community newspaper reporter and feature writer for more than a decade. Those were the days when you mailed your resume to an employer. One interview – you’re hired.
My second life goal was to earn a master’s degree, which I accomplished in 2012. The plan was to move out of journalism and into nonprofit work. It turns out that career transition hasn’t been easy to make. In hindsight, I wish I would have skipped graduate school or studied something else. At least I paid off my loans before buying a new car (or house), but it’s safe to say my master’s degree has not put me on the path to financial freedom. Following a strict budget and Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps and living on less than I make, which hasn’t been much, saved me. Unfortunately, faith and dreams don’t pay bills!
I’m a Hoosier who hasn’t lost her accent and moved to Muskegon for the beach.
Okay, not really. I actually moved to Muskegon for a cool gig as an arts and entertainment reporter and features writer at the Muskegon Chronicle. But when I saw Lake Michigan, it sealed the deal. I live for the summer and enjoy going to the beach, boating, camping, and hiking. I also like relaxing in my backyard, watching birds, and having fires. I stay sane during the winter by snowmobiling, sitting by a blue light, and drinking lots of coffee!
I dream of being a barefoot writer.
Call me a drifter and a dreamer, but I don’t care about keeping up with the Joneses. My dream job would be to jet set around the world as a travel writer. I’d even be happy to pack up a camper or buy a tiny home and travel the country. My significant other keeps me grounded in reality and prefers stability (and a steady paycheck), so I get my travel fix by visiting different places in Michigan and taking a vacation once a year. One highlight of graduate school: The opportunity to study abroad in London. The trip racked up those student loans, but I felt alive, happy, and hopeful. You can read some travel blogs here.
I’m honest, authentic, and I keep it real.
Well, I am a writer. And a Miller. And a Muncie Southside Rebel. Writing is something I have always been good at and comes naturally to me. I still have my Young Authors stories from elementary school. Despite the low pay, I feel fortunate I have been able to make my way as a reporter and a freelance writer. But I sometimes wish I would have picked a practical profession like crunching numbers! I did a stint as a College Success Seminar instructor and always encouraged students to trust their intuition, pursue their passions, and really think about what will make them happy. I gave it to them straight – adulting is hard – and a college degree doesn’t guarantee success in life!
I love learning new things, and I’m not afraid of change.
With that said, I am open to new opportunities and careers because adulting is hard. Stability (and a steady paycheck) does help lighten the load and keep the lights on. I took a job with an auditing and accounting firm – me, a writer, looking at spreadsheets. And after reading the memoir Hillbilly Elegy, I am feeling the nudge to get started on my third life goal – writing a memoir about my life. This page is a test run.
As Anne Lamott says, “You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.”
I’m a cat mom to two gray cats, Ozzy and Trixie, who found us during the pandemic.
As the Universe would have it, we happened to be outside doing yard work on a cold October afternoon when we heard cries in the backyard. And there were two 5-week-old gray fluff balls that were cold and hungry. A pet owner since the age of 20, I loved and cared for Mr. Kitty and two dogs, Taylor and Sugar, until their final days and that heart-wrenching trip to the vet that every pet owner dreads. Finally pet free, I planned to stay that way for a while. But three years later, I realize these backyard kitties rescued me.
I make daily to-do lists and love inspirational quotes.
“Don’t compromise yourself. You are all you’ve got.” – Janis Joplin
It’s hard to pick just one, but that pretty much sums it up!
To learn more about my skills and background, visit my Writing Services, Why Hire Me, or About the Writer. Contact me at 231-286-4946 or marlarmillerwrites@gmail.com.
