It never fails – I’m riding the high of a great freelancing year and a nice holiday season when WHAMO! there’s that damned 1040 tome weighing down my mailbox. Each year I vow to get an accountant. Each year I don’t. Each year I do my own taxes. Each year I get a letter from…
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If Your Paradigm Shifts, Will it Hurt?
I’m a jargon hater. Seriously. I can’t stand the use of five-dollar words when a ten-cent word will do. Yet without fail I see numerous business folks using words like “business critical function” (and where’s your hyphen, people?) and “paradigm shift” when they really mean “important” and “change in business focus.” It’s like an addiction…
Ethics and Common Sense
Writer friend and I were talking about journalistic ethics again. It’s a topic we bring up on occasion, and it’s one that leaves us both shaking our heads. We mainly lament the lack of ethics courses in various college journalism/media concentrations. We wonder out loud and to each other, where exactly do these new journalists…
If the Shoe Doesn’t Fit
Today’s the day I tell a prospective client that his project is not a good fit for me. It’s unfortunate as I think the guy’s nice, but I’ve asked repeatedly for and have not received the project outline or notes. What I have received are musings that are nowhere near related to the project as…
Happy New You
We were at the local coffee house open mic last night. One of the performers looked into the crowd and said, “Happy New You. I won’t say happy New Year because if you don’t change you, it’s going to be the same as last year, isn’t it?” Light bulb moment. We’re so busy looking at…
Resolving Not to Resolve
I hate resolutions. Never has there been any other form of self-promise and goal setting that was doomed to fail at the outset. We make them and instantly break them. Why? Because we aim too high, dream beyond our own abilities, bite off more than we can chew (or chew more than we should –…
Honest Scraps
Dear blogging soul Lillie has awarded me an Honest Scrap Award for telling it like it is. In keeping with the rules of the award, I’m to share 10 honest bits from my life with you, as are all recipients. I’ve never been shy about laying everything out, so here goes. Interesting? You be the…
The Things You’ve Done Right This Year
Even if this wasn’t the banner year you were hoping for, even if you never quite reached that goal you set, you did some things right this year that kept your career alive. Why else would you still be in freelancing? Here are a few things you’ve done that you can be proud of: 1….
Study Time
A few days ago we chatted about learning your craft (meaning your business, though not entirely ignoring the writing part). If there’s a dilemma you’re facing, there’s a book written that will help. Here are a few that have helped me over the years. How to Write Irresistible Query Letters by Lisa Collier Cool. This…
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas….
more animals Here’s hoping you get what you want for Christmas.