What’s on the iPod: All You Ever Do is Bring Me Down by The Mavericks
How was your weekend? We had glorious sunshine and high temps. Beautiful days to be out and about. Too bad I wasn’t.
Ah, it’s just one thing after another. There’s something about an invasion of the body that brings out every other thing you didn’t want to deal with. Mine is an intestinal infection — one that has happened before but never to this degree. It made walking, even moving, difficult. Luckily no fever, but the ache was enough to halt me in my tracks. Today, so far, is better. I’m hoping the antibiotics are finally working.
Now on to the monthly assessment, which I can’t put off any longer. Given that I worked a total of 10 days this past month, I don’t have a lot to show for it. But here’s the damage anyway: Note that most of these results came in after I got home on the 18th, including any marketing efforts.
Queries:
I sent out two. One has resulted in a double assignment (possibly — the editor is to get back to me this week). Just what I needed. My bank account is holding its own, but I need to replenish the funds. The other is in the hands of another favorite editor. I’m hoping he’s inclined to one of my ideas or has another to send along to me.
LOIs:
I sent some those few days prior to surgery (May 6, 7, and 8), but nothing substantial. I still have a good deal of conference contacting to do, so I kept it simple on the LOIs. However, those sent during the show did net me one quick job when I returned on the 18th, and I’m talking to other clients at the moment.
Exisitng clients:
Two clients came to me: one with a rush request and the other with a job due on Friday, which is manageable. I didn’t market to them, and thankfully they had a need when I had a financial need.
New clients:
As I mentioned before, one new client showed up thanks to an LOI I’d sent not in April but sometime before that (March perhaps?). That resulted in last week’s job and some ongoing possibilities. I have the list of projects before me. I’m waiting to see if my first draft came close to what they’re after. If so, I may have a good bit of work to take me through the summer and well into fall.
Have another new client thanks to the conference. I’m working on a longer term project right now that I’m excited to get going on. I won’t make a fortune doing it, but it will be fun and educational — right up my alley.
Other new clients are in somewhat of a holding pattern. I’m talking with them and they’re holding off partly because of my surgery and recovery and partly because they’re trying to find ways to utilize me.
Earnings:
Ah, here’s the part I’ve been dreading. As of last Monday, I expected to report no earnings at all. Happily though, work came in last week and I was able to send out two invoices. Not great, but considering I haven’t been around most of the month. I’m okay with that. Sometimes there are more important things to deal with and work must take a back seat.
Bottom line:
I’m really glad I got the bank account in great shape this year. That’s been a blessing and one less thing I’ve had to worry about during this entire surgical ordeal. Also, this all happening right after the conference was untimely in a way (couldn’t get projects lined up while the prospects were still thinking about it), but it was also good in that I could get some things scheduled and get some money rolling in again. While I’m at about 25 percent of what I normally bill, I’m still earning and I’m going to cut myself a little slack. Stuff happens. It’s okay to roll with it.
How was your May? Were there any surprises, good or bad? What’s your plan for June?
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