Hi, I’m Mystique Macomber, a writer, editor and long-time newspaper journalist. Welcome to my website, and thank you for visiting.

I’m a Wisconsin native, and I want to explore the world. Because I am interested in travel, I’ve decided I want to live other places — not just visit. My first stop was the Chattanooga, Tennessee, area. It’s beautiful and milder than Wisconsin in the winter. I achieved my goal of living in Portugal. France is a future place of interest, as are various other spots in the States and around the world.

I attended the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and earned a journalism degree with an English minor. After college, I worked at central Wisconsin newspapers. Aside from sports, I covered every beat and did every job in the newsroom, from reporter to top editor. I loved it, and I loved editing. My favorite thing was working with reporters to get the best stories possible for readers.

So why leave?

Good question.

I knew newspapers were headed in a direction in which experience wasn’t as important as the cost.

Journalists don’t make much money. They tell you that in journalism school — “You’re not going to make money doing this” — but you choose it anyway, because you’re passionate about it. Since I’d been with the same group of newspapers during my career, I knew someone would decide I was making too much money. They could hire two college graduates for my rate of pay, and I’d be out of a job.

Communications expert & writer

An opportunity came up to do community relations for a group of assisted living facilities. The business was growing and needed to go to the next level. I took what I learned in newspapers and made a career change.

I started blogging for the assisted living website. Sometime later, I started writing columns for myself. That’s a practice I continue, and I’ve added a professional blog to this space.

During my time in marketing and communications, I learned a lot about assisted living and caregiving. I also learned I loved being around the residents and their families. It was important to me to work someplace where we made a difference every day in someone’s life.

I want to make a difference

That’s when I discovered I’m passionate about making a difference for people. At the newspaper, we provided valuable information to readers. We helped them know what was happening in their community and why it should matter to them. In assisted living, we provided the essential care they needed to live. We provided support to their families.

That’s why my resume includes this:

I seek a remote position to use my skills as an editor, writer and manager to do good work and make a difference in my community.

I give back to my community

Along the way, I discovered I enjoy volunteering and giving back to my community. I volunteered with the United Way for several years as a loaned executive, employee campaign coordinator and reading mentor. For more than a decade, I’ve helped the Wisconsin Rapids Community Theatre. I took part in the Great Cycle Challenge, raising money for childhood cancer research. Most important to me is serving the Alzheimer’s Association as a caregiver support group facilitator. I wish everyone affected by Alzheimer’s or other dementia would attend a support group meeting.

Volunteering can be fun and meaningful. You meet new people, and you feel good. It also fits my goal of making a difference in my community. No matter where I go or what I do, I’ll always be looking for ways to volunteer.

What’s next: Always writing

When I decided I needed to live other places in the world, I quit my full-time job to look for remote work. It’s hard to move or travel if you have a job that ties you to a particular location. Instead, I need flexibility that lets me live across time zones, across a continent or across an ocean. I continue to write, primarily on health and senior living topics, but I have a wide variety of clients who use my skills to craft news-type articles for their audiences.

If my skills and abilities fit what you need, please contact me.