Comments on: Writers Worth: Snipe Hunting and Other Scary Freelance Things

By: Sharon Hurley Hall

Sharon Hurley Hall — Fri, 18 May 2018 20:09:33 +0000

In reply to lwidmer. Right on, Cathy!

By: lwidmer

lwidmer — Wed, 16 May 2018 15:18:40 +0000

In reply to Sarah.

Sarah, I’m with you on that. Sometimes the toughest thing is getting over the stuff in our heads, isn’t it?

Each roadblock we break through makes it easier for the next one to come crashing down. 🙂

By: lwidmer

lwidmer — Wed, 16 May 2018 15:15:58 +0000

In reply to Gina. Lightbulb moment! Good for you, Gina. So now, what is that project? How soon can you give it your best "what the hell" moment?

By: Cathy Miller

Cathy Miller — Wed, 16 May 2018 13:11:25 +0000

In reply to lwidmer. Spot on, Lori.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 15 May 2018 22:20:46 +0000

It seems that almost anything worth doing involves some aspect of fear or possible rejection. It’s a sad reality that has held me back in life, too many times to count. Lost several opportunities and wasted a lot of time being afraid and too fixated on the opinions of others.
My first “wild goose chase” was merely finishing something. And having the gall to share it with someone…or several someone’s, if they desired.
Doing things I was “afraid” to do, both in writing and the course of life, have ultimately been some of the most rewarding experiences I can remember.

By: Gina

Gina — Tue, 15 May 2018 21:44:34 +0000

I can’t believe how much this one line went off like an epiphany in my head: “Write down that project that you know could be incredible, if you could just pull it off.” Somehow, of all the advice I’ve ever heard, that one line registered as if for the first time — not to mention all the other great advice. Thank you!!

By: Jake Poinier

Jake Poinier — Tue, 15 May 2018 15:32:41 +0000

Well done, Mary. You made me think about something that I’d never considered before: When I don’t get a particular job, I’m usually the only one who knows other than the person who dissed me. It makes it much easier for me to dismiss them mentally. (Heck, I don’t even tell my wife about new projects unless they’re signed!) And yes, I realize that others may do the complete opposite for their own equally valid reasons.

By: Paula Hendrickson

Paula Hendrickson — Tue, 15 May 2018 15:19:40 +0000

So that’s what Snipe Hunting is. Or isn’t. I knew it was fake, but since I was a kid I confused it with the annual Smelt Runs, which always sounded just as, dare I say, fishy.

You raised a lot of great points, Mary. Fear takes many forms, but the worst kind of fear is the type that makes us doubt ourselves and our abilities.

By: lwidmer

lwidmer — Tue, 15 May 2018 13:18:12 +0000

Mary, great post. The “what ifs” plague us all, no matter what level we’re at. What if that client doesn’t like my price? What if they don’t like my approach? What if I lose this client and need to find another?

Personally, I’ve found that once I get a rhythm going in my business, those what-ifs calm themselves down pretty well. Sure, all of the above could happen, but I’m now equipped mentally to deal with it.

By: lwidmer

lwidmer — Tue, 15 May 2018 13:16:13 +0000

In reply to Cathy Miller.

Cathy, the funny thing about that six-figure goal — it’s not the number that makes a person happy (as you’ve found out). The journey what the goal should be (I think Chogyam Trungpa said that). If the journey is enjoyable, it’s worth it. If not, change the goal so that your journey makes you happy.