Just a reminder – tomorrow is Writer’s Worth Day. It’s time for all of us to post on our blogs or leave comments around the blogosphere motivating our fellow writers in the beginning stages of their careers to value themselves enough to demand proper payment. Whatever you feel like sharing – education on what to charge or how to spot a raw deal, posts encouraging others to bring their prices to at least minimum wage, whatever moves you.
On to other things…. there should be a task force that prohibits dorks from using the Internet. Here I was, over 2 years into my Blogger experience when a writing chum points out that my feeds have no titles – and no content, for that matter. Uh, huh? She was kind enough to spend some time fixing the problem for me, which turned out to be lack of a Title space on my posting options. Why it doesn’t default to this is beyond me, but I should’ve investigated a bit further. Thank you, Kristen. 🙂
The week is going much better. My Jetta will live, amen. It may not be 100 percent, as I think the bent axle is going to come back to haunt me, but my daughter can drive it while we’re out of the country, which is good. We spent last night looking for flights to Heathrow, and like fools we waited until this morning. The price tripled. Oy. But again, we were fortunate. He called his travel agent. We were able to get the same ticket for just a smidgen more than what we’d have paid last night. Amen again.
I’ll be out for a little more than a week. And I’m nervous. It seems like every time I have a vacation, I come home to zero work. Mind you, I do have ongoing work that keeps me busy at all times, but the larger projects tend to drop off if I’m not here to light fires under my career. How does one effectively come back and drop into work again?
Here’s how I did it this time – I set up some smaller projects with deadlines shortly after I return. Knowing I will come home to some activity makes me feel much better about leaving. Also, I’m sending out a proposal today for another article project, which may or may not have a later deadline, but will still give me some work through the lean summer months. Another possible project waits, as well. A very busy company that needs editing help is on my to-do list for Monday. I’ve contacted them twice, and this is my follow-up to see if we can line something up for when I return.
It’s always hard allowing yourself time to relax. Why not make it easier on yourself? What do you do to prepare both for your vacation and for the time after?
Lori:
As far as relaxation is concerned, I have far too little of it.
I am what you’d call a workaholic. Honestly, I like it that way, but it can absolutely lead to burn-out. (Insomnia, anyone?)
No vacation this year. 🙁 But maybe next year! *perks up*
Angelique
Oy, add me to the clueless club. I’ve been meaning to try to figure out how to make my titles clickable and therefore searchable, but I haven’t a clue. When you have time, would you be so kind as to share how you resolved this issue?
SOOOO glad to hear you’re taking a vacation. I’m hoping to enjoy my first real one in, oh, about a decade within the next month or two. I’ll be following your experience with how work pans out both before and after a much deserved (and needed) break.
I have a very difficult time taking time off for more than a day. I don’t know if it’s the workaholic in me (ssshhhh, I did NOT just admit that in public) or the fact that I’m terrified of not having income for at least a week.
it’s not a good feeling. I adore freelancing and am so lucky and fortunate to have the ability and know how to make my living like this, but I don’t like the feeling of being scared to take time off.
Have a great vacation.
The key, Marijke – stockpile funds. I saw this vacation coming back in February, so I limited my shoe purchases (yea, right – to only 8 pairs??) and started watching what I spent indiscriminately. Amen. I have a small cushion in case things get tough later on.
Thanks, Devon. :))
Vacation? What’s that?
Hi Lori, in theory, absolutely. and I do. But I have this issue with no income for that week. It’s just *knowing* that there’s nothing coming in. ack!!!
Lori,
Have a fantastic time in London! Sounds like you’re in a good place work-wise. Try and relax and enjoy yourself — you deserve it!
Great blog and good posts. You are right, we should encourage writers to share their knowledge with one another.