For about as long as I’ve been writing for the Lincoln Parish Journal, I’ve also been working on a little side quest in my spare time. At some point, I realized I spent so much time attending local events, exploring new places, and trying local food that I might as well share it. So, a couple of years ago, I started posting tourism content on social media as “Hanna in Louisiana.”
Last week, I went on my first sponsored brand trip to create content. Now, I felt a little guilty writing an article about my side venture because it felt like a shameless self-plug. But with some encouragement from my boss, I’m bridging the gap between my writer side and my social media side with this column. For today’s article, I’ll be writing in collaboration with my alter ego, Hanna in Louisiana.
Although my passion for making videos started with my love of Northeast Louisiana, lately I’ve been venturing a little farther west with some of my content. I was pretty excited when I got invited on a trip to stay at a hotel and casino in Shreveport, spend the day highlighting local places, and meet Food Network celebrity chef Jet Tila. Surprisingly, during the same week as my trip, I also received an invitation to a private dinner at a restaurant in Shreveport with other local creators and writers. Being a busybody and someone who likes to make the most of a free trip, I packed the rest of my Shreveport-Bossier to-do list into an already busy schedule for the week.
I’m totally bragging when I say it was one of the most fun weeks ever. I hung out with local creators at a delicious restaurant, collaborated on projects with local eateries and drink shops, and really got to experience what makes Northwest Louisiana so cool. But, of course, the most awesome (and nerve-wracking) part of the trip was meeting Chef Jet Tila. Although I really had nothing to be nervous about because Jet is probably the nicest celebrity you’ll ever meet. He showed us how to cook his famous pineapple fried rice, signed our cookbooks, and answered our many cooking and lifestyle questions. He genuinely seemed like he loved being there and even spilled a few upcoming Food Network surprises. Now I have to do the thing I’m worst at in the world: keep a secret.
I came home to Ruston feeling very motivated to keep making content and writing. As much as I loved my little vacation, nothing beats my hometown. So, with a little newfound inspiration, I’m planning lots more highlights in the Lincoln Parish area and beyond. I think I’ve kind of hit the jackpot with my jobs as someone whose passion is my home state. I’m so grateful that my career has become getting to write about, talk about, and discover more about the place I love.
So, thank you to the Lincoln Parish Journal and to the people who follow my social media for basically giving me a soapbox to stand on and shout about how much I love Ruston and Louisiana. I couldn’t be happier doing what I do.
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