The sad fact is most of the screenwriting/producing/directing trades pay about the same low rate. And two of my long-time clients are already among the top paying entertainment trades. That's why the new place is just fill-in work.

Sounds great, Paula. How can you convert that low-paying gig into a higher-paying one?

Good news. The assignment I was expecting came through, but instead of one article the editor wants a series of articles. Too bad their pay rate is low. But the articles will be fairly simple and quick to turn around – and it's a respected publication.

Glad you've got income and work in spite of major surgery lady.

Cathy, good luck on that call tomorrow. Frustrating, for sure!

In following up with one client, the invoice was sent to accounting as soon as they received it (a month ago), but accounting did not process it. It will be processed today.

Another client was billed for a deposit 3 weeks ago on a new project (in which they received a proposal & gave me the green light)and only when I followed up about scheduling a call did they deign to tell me we were "not aligned on fees." My follow-up to discuss terms have been ignored as they are probably waiting until this Friday when we have a call on another project.

A third client was billed 3 weeks ago for the balance on a huge project and only after repeated follow-ups to see if they received the large attachment did they decide to tell me it was "not what they expected." Call scheduled with them tomorrow.

So, if I had all these checks in my hot little hand, it would have been a great May. As it is, I barely met target (which is the 1st time this year I've even done that).

I was supposed to have a series of ongoing projects from the one where we are "not aligned" so who knows how that will end up.

I just landed another project from an existing client. My ongoing blogging projects keep me afloat – thank the Lord.

I did a couple of follow-ups to some prospects I've been chatting with. So, hope springs eternal.

Why do I have a sudden urge to go back to bed? 😉

The painful details:

Queries: Sent four individual queries plus a batch of ideas to Favorite Editor. One assignment so far; there may be more.

LOIs: Sent three, followed up on two older ones. One of the new LOIs had an immediate, positive reply.

Job Listings: Replied to four listings and actually got a positive response from one of them. First time for everything.

Existing clients: Turned in four articles and four columns. Working on seven more assignments all due by June 15th.

New Clients: Expecting a firm assignment from the place that replied to my LOI so quickly.

Referrals: One of my former résumé clients felt so bad when she had to lay off a longtime colleague that she referred her to me to re-do her résumé.

Earnings: Like I said above, my actual income was less than half my monthly goal. But my outstanding invoices and current work load equal my monthly goal. Sadly the bulk of it is for the long-time client with the new owner whose "new, more efficient" payment system takes 3 months. Ugh. Especially painful with property taxes and quarterlies one day apart.