What’s on the iPod: January Wedding by The Avett Brothers
I hope everyone had a nice holiday weekend. Ours was spent with my youngest at her off-campus house in western PA. She made an incredible meal, and we spent the day with her and my parents. Then we went to see Harry Potter. It rained, but the next two days were quite cold, and Saturday we awoke to snow.
We drove home, stopping at a rest stop in the middle of the state, where I walked in and saw a classmate I haven’t seen in decades. Ironically, we had both talked on Facebook about going home, but neither of us were sure we’d be able to visit anyone. And there she was, 100 miles from our hometown, ordering lunch at the same rest stop.
Today will be spent contacting more potential clients. Today, I’m contacting former interview subjects. I interview a lot of people, and I’ve secured one or two regular clients that way. I don’t ask while the project is still live as I don’t want any notion of conflict of interest, but I don’t see a problem with contacting folks after stories have run and checks have been cashed.
Also, today will involve more knocking on former clients’ doors. I’m staring at a pretty dry month, much like last month, which is typical for this time of year, but isn’t acceptable. Holidays are just plain expensive. I think the only bright spot of not having projects in front of me and a reduced workload from regular clients is it makes taxes less painful come January.
Tomorrow I’ll post my monthly assessment. I hope you do, too. Some of you are very good about putting up both the good and bad of it. That’s what the exercise is designed for – to get us to remain accountable to ourselves and each other. Nothing motivates me like having to face the masses – even if you’re friendly. 🙂
What’s your week looking like?
8 responses to “The Push is On”
Very busy. I'm teaching, have a couple of blog posts due, an assignment for Confidential Job #1, and working on the article — for which I still have to send you the right questions! 😉
Along with unpacking, raking, decorating, and all the rest.
Normally, my December is slow. This year, it will be crazy. I am racing to get a few things off my desk to begin a huge new project that came in out of the blue. Not only does it come with a big fat check, but it is also a chance to work with one of the greatest minds in the magalog industry. Fortunately, daughter#2 is a great cook and dying to earn some money, so she will be cooking dinner all month and making all the Christmas cookies.
Eileen, paying the kids to be cooks – I love it!
Devon, you've got quite a bit of raking ahead of you! I do too, but focusing on yours keeps me from sobbing uncontrollably. LOL
So far, a slow month for me as well. I am finishing up a marketing piece and a newsletter and have some blogging to do.
I'm hoping to do all those things I put off to get 2011 off to a fast start.
I've got a 1400-word article due today and am still waiting for my final two sources to squeeze me in. (Blame the Thanksgiving holiday – they were too busy clearing their calendars before taking a few days off, and now that they're back they need reminders.
Cross your fingers I can get a 1 or 2 day extension. This is my only active project right now, but I can't get it all done in one day without all of my info.
Started my day with a teeth-grinding chat (which is my least favorite communication channel) with a third-party participant (which is my least favorite creative arrangement) who's trying to stir up trouble with my main contact. It's one of those gigs where I am glad I negotiated a premium rate.
It's been a better autumn than last year, though that's as much a comment on 2009 as on this year. Bunch of transcribing and articles to write this week, and I also need to get the Freelance Forecast survey finalized and uploaded for the Dec. 1 launch.
Cathy, here's hoping my organizing has the same effect on 2011. 🙂
Paula, I'm having the same trouble getting responses to my emails. I'm inches from picking up the phone or going elsewhere for quotes.
Jake, my 2009 was pretty good, so I hope that means your Fall 2010 has been great. And I'm looking forward to the survey!
I had two good surprises. I was able to catch one of the guys while he was on the road. Great interview. The other guy was out of his office, but a third source I'd called 10 days ago called. He said he'll try to get someone to answer my handful of questions ASAP.
Article still isn't written, but the editor is fully apprised of the situation and said, "Sounds good."
Oh – I wrenched my back today too. Not too badly, but just enough to be annoying.