You're right – if the job will kill you and it gives you healthcare benefits, what exactly are you gaining?

Um, huh?

That was in 1985. I'm still kicking — no thanks to the health care system.

It didn't stop me from freelancing. I did it anyway, and was without health care. Why take a job I hate that will kill me in order to have health care and wind up dead anyway?

Now, I'm in a state that has affordable health care.

The health-care excuse did not stop me from making the leap. I was healthier and less in need of doctors once I was freelancing. And, on the rare occasions I got sick, I found treatments that worked BETTER than the traditional medical establishment.

I'm sure your questions were welcomed. 🙂 No writer I know minds a question now and then. It's the "easily answered" ones that make me pause (laziness on their part showing), but I still don't mind helping.

Wendy, I'm seeing that, too. On one forum, I saw someone jump to the conclusion that no response from an editor meant the editor had reassigned her idea to someone else. That's like assuming your spouse is unfaithful because someone called the house and hung up before you could get to the phone.

What I’m seeing more of, lately, is when people reject themselves before a client/editor has a chance to decide whether they’ll take the person on. I see statements from those who say they can’t write a piece good enough to go into a magazine. From what I gather, they’ve never tried to pitch a piece anywhere. I was there, too, in the beginning and every so often I get in this mood. If you don’t have enough confidence in yourself, you can’t convince anyone else that you have what it takes.

I admit it that I emailed a couple of writers earlier on in my career. I don't remember the questions, but I'm disappointed in myself for having done it.

Because of that, I reply nicely and point to a couple of resources including one post that I created in response to a wanna-be writer emailing me.

I don't mind a little complaining if it's attached to a good solid question. Everyone needs to vent. What I don't like is complaining that I'M not doing something for this stranger or that stranger because it's my JOB to do so. I've been fortunate – I've never experienced this personally. However, I know writers who have. I don't know how I'd handle it, but I hope I'd explain calmly that unless there's money involved, I'm not obligated to anyone beyond my family.

And you and Jenn too of course Lori.