Comments on: Monthly Assessment: March 2016

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 12:44:40 +0000

Paula, that sounds like a really good month! You've had a few of those lately, haven't you? And I have the same reaction when the work pile dwindles. You start to worry about dry spells.

Congrats on the radio play, Devon! I hope there will be a link where we can hear it. You do some really interesting things!

Sorry about Amber Quill. You've had a good long relationship with them, no? I'm sure your series will find a new home. I hope the new publisher will be as good to you as the folks at Amber Quill were.

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 20:27:48 +0000

I had a pretty good month, except for the last few days.

I was thrilled that a radio play of mine was accepted in VA and will be produced/performed in June (yes, there's money involved).

I also had a mixed media piece accepted into a local art show.

I had some good opportunities, and some more on the horizon.

The most effective has been staying on top of calls for submission, and networking in person at chamber events and the artist hobnob.

I finished a book manuscript. It's marinating, while I work on the next one.

Amber Quill shut its doors, but I'm excited by some new possibilities. I hope to move the Gwen Finnegan series to another publisher by the end of the year, and the digital shorts should be repackaged and out again over the summer.

Fingers crossed!

By: Paula

Paula — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 19:06:13 +0000

March was pretty good for me. But like you, I was so overwhelmed with work I didn't have the time to even think about LOIs or queries. I did reply to two job postings, though, to no avail.

I turned in the first of three quick advertorial assignments to a new client. They increased the word count, but pay per word so I didn't mind. When I turned it in the publisher thanked me and told me it was great. (The first project for a new client is always nerve wracking, so Inappreciated the feedback.)

My existing clients kept me busy: I turned in six assignments to Favorite Editor, one article to another editor I love working with, a copywriting project for my sister's company (my invoice is covered by her end client), and Ineven squeezed out two columns.

I am working on five additional assignments that will all be wrapped up by next week., One may be sent in before the calendar changes to April.

As for earnings, I received payments for $1500 more than my modest monthly goal, but if I turn that one piece in yet today, I'll have invoices out for double my monthly goal. And the projects I should wrap up next week total more than half my monthly goal.

So my bottom line is that I need to keep doing what I'm doing!

The funny thing is I've gotten so used to juggling 10-15 projects at once that being down to just five has me feeling a bit antsy.