Teach Your Children WellI’m excited – my daughter’s journalism class has invited me to talk with them tomorrow. The teacher wants me to tell them what a journalist’s life is like. It should be fun, despite the hour (7:30? Do people dress that early?). One thing I have to address is deadlines. In fact, if…
Author: lwidmer
When There Isn’t A ClueA recent editorial in the local newspaper featured a new freelancer going on about how much she was enjoying what she called “the latte life” – sitting in cafes and being a writer. She painted such a lovely picture of what freelance writers do all day that I wanted to be…
The Complaint Department Recent “writerly” talk turned to what’s discussed in weblogs. Some suggested that weblogs were bitch-and-moan sessions that reflected badly on the writer. What’s your weblog say about you? Do you complain? If your clients were reading your weblog, would you still stand by your posts? It made me think about what I…
Jobs Listings In hopes that some of the work I come across will be a better fit for others, I’ve decided to start posting weekly job listings. Here are a few I’ve found – Freelance Technology Investments Writer Freelance Writers Regular Article Writer News Writer Newport Daily News Specialist Regulatory Writer
Write About What? If you haven’t read Kristen King’s Notes in the Margin newsletter yet, now’s a good time. That’s because Kristen was kind enough to include an article from yours truly on what to write about. Thanks, Kristen! While at the site, please feel free to subscribe to Kristen’s email newsletter. It’s loaded with…
More Meme (sigh)… I can’t ignore it any longer. Leigh tagged me. Here are the questions I must answer: To whom am I blogging?I blog to writers both new and not-so-new. Am I talking to you?I hope so. I hope through my mistakes and through what I happen to have done right, you learn something….
The Mantras Talk of various mantras has made me wonder – what are your mantras? I’m not talking just those things that motivate you. What abotu those things that you must refuse to do? I have a couple: – I will not work for less than I could make at McDonald’s.– I will not work…
When to Hold Your TongueI have this new project (an ongoing one) that isn’t going well. It’s not the work – no, I’ve done some already. It’s the level of organization in my client (the nonexistent level of organization, to be precise). I do not like to “kiss and tell” as they say, so that’s…
Working for Ad Revenue One word – don’t. Oh, the employers offering you the ability to write for a percentage of the site’s ad revenue make it sound so great, but ask yourself this – when was the last time you clicked on an ad while surfing? How many times this week? Ooo, that little?…
No Spec Work! I was alerted recently to a website that is out to do good for the creative world – www.no-spec.com. This site is dedicated to creating awareness among writers and designers regarding working on spec. Give it a look. I feel so strongly about never working for free (unless it’s for your mother)…