Uncategorized | Words on the Page

Avoiding Ethical Dilemmas

Posted on July 20, 2011 by lwidmer

Nice, busy day yesterday. I managed through a small project in the morning, a large section of an even larger project, then spent the afternoon putting together a press release. I did a bit of research for my article, and today I’m ready to write it. That in itself is an event. I have this…

Terseness on the Edge of Town

Posted on July 19, 2011 by lwidmer

Yesterday was nice and busy. I got in a large chunk of an annual project, and I made decent headway on it. It’s a huge document, and the client is hoping to have things proofed and formatted by August 15th. I hope that’s possible. In the past, things have taken much longer (it’s really big)….

Guest Post: Now What?

Posted on July 18, 2011 by lwidmer

Remember that little Twitter tweetup Anne Wayman and I hosted a few weeks back? Turns out there are more great ideas coming from those 140-character conversations than I ever expected. Today’s post is no exception. Andrea Altenburg, technical writer extraordinaire, has provided a superb primer for writers new to the profession. She’s graciously agreed to…

Beautiful Day

Posted on July 15, 2011 by lwidmer

Forgive me now – I’m working on about 5 1/2 hours of sleep. If I ramble more than usual it’s because I’ve nodded off mid-sentence. The U2 concert last night, in a word, was magnificent. Truly. Only one other time have I left a concert feeling deeply moved, and that was Santana, whom you might…

Working With PR

Posted on July 14, 2011 by lwidmer

Busy day again, amen. I finished a large project (just a section – more on the way), and got some smaller stuff accomplished. I worked on a personal project, then it was off to the pool to relax. Finally. I feel like I’ve been running through my week. It’s going to get worse before it…

Finding Work Through Prompts

Posted on July 13, 2011 by lwidmer

Check out Wade Finnegan’s Quality Writing blog: he’s interviewed yours truly. Thanks, Wade! Yesterday was nuts. I spent the morning on a large project, then headed off to get some medical tests done. A communications foul-up had me taking a different test than the one I’d scheduled. It also meant my quick 45-minute trip turned…

Guest Post: Following Your Muse

Posted on July 12, 2011 by lwidmer

I love when random conversations evolve into a learning experience. Such was the case last week when Anne Wayman and I hosted our second Twitter tweetup (#writingsquared if you want to read). Anne Maclachlan joined the conversation, and she said something that intrigued me. In an email conversation afterward, she told me she was “an…

Invoicing and Butt Kicking

Posted on July 11, 2011 by lwidmer

I was reading a post over on Anne Wayman’s site on preparing invoices. One of the commenters posed the predicament of collection. He wondered aloud (and then said what he’d do) how one goes about collecting. While I love his response: “…kick his butt” it has some impractical applications in the real world. Figuratively, though,…

Better Client Contact

Posted on July 8, 2011 by lwidmer

It rained yesterday. Just a short rain – less than an hour – but I was thrilled to see it. I can’t remember the last real rain we had. Wait – yes I do. End of May. Wow. Really? I spent the morning on a tricky client project. Usually they’re easy, but this one had…

Time Management for the Unorganized

Posted on July 7, 2011 by lwidmer

Ah, timing is everything. I asked Anne Wayman to do another Twitter tweetup yesterday only to find out seconds before that I’d chosen the very time our President was tweeting. Nuts. I don’t know why I thought he was tweeting at 11:30. That time was stuck in my head. Oh well. Thanks to those of…

Devon Ellington

July 7, 2011

I should market every day, but I don't. It takes a completely different mind-set, and I have trouble switching out of it once I'm in it, so I usually have a set period of time each week put aside. But, when I'm on deadline, I focus on what's on deadline, not the marketing — which is not a good choice.

Ashley

July 7, 2011

I'm best at cutting out all the time-wasters like Facebook. I can get sucked into reading posts for an hour, so when I turn it off, I find I get a LOT of work done. I've never played the games on there because I just find them silly, but I do play Words with Friends, so that can be a time waster too. It's best if I limit myself significantly on those things if I'm under the gun.

Also, I find that I'll do simple tasks to procrastinate doing important but more complicated tasks. Yesterday was a perfect example. I have a blog post I need to edit for a friend, but I also have two papers due for class tomorrow. I wanted to edit the blog post because it's shorter and easier, but it's unpaid and not on deadline (and therefore less important!) than getting my papers turned in on time. I had to consciously tell myself: Do not edit the blog right now. Do your paper. And guess what … I did! 🙂

Lori

July 7, 2011

Devon, you're right. It does take a different mindset.

For me, once I finish a project or take a break, I can switch gears then. I welcome it. But it's really easy to let marketing suck up a ton of time, so I have to limit myself or I get no paid work done. 🙂

Ashley, do NOT mention another game to me! I'm awful. I get pulled into them too easily.

See, I have the same thing. I have a blog post to write that's ultimately much more fun than what I'm doing. Oh well. Fun comes later. It's like a little reward. 🙂

Paula

July 7, 2011

Today's title speaks directly to me. But more for my disorganized office (okay – house) than for time management.

I seldom do any marketing (or anything but write) on a deadline-driven "writing day," but on ordinary work days I usually deal with marketing-related things in the morning. Occasionally in the afternoon, too. Even on the writing days I'll make notes of ideas I want to pitch, but that's about it.

Coincidence or not? The time of day I tend to focus on marketing is about the same time I try to check Lori's blog.

My biggest time waster is probably trying to fit everyday household chores into my workday. I threw in some laundry this morning (and need to start another soon), I need to do dishes, and it's been so dry I need to go water my window boxes, potted plants and mini-garden. Oh, but remember, I'm taking today and tomorrow off. Well semi-off. I've got one set of edits to do and would like to do some marketing.

Ashley

July 7, 2011

Words with Friends is a free scrabble app for your phone. I only play a word every other day or two, so it doesn't take up too much time. My ID is hedgiemomma if you wanna play 😉

And yes, I already know I am a terrible person for mentioning it.

Wade Finnegan

July 7, 2011

Lori, thanks so much for the interview yesterday. I learn so much from you and no worries about the time thing.

I'm too passive with my marketing. I've been feeling like who am I to say hire me. As I stated before I don't like to toot my own horn. Lori reminded me if I don't, then who will? So, I will set time aside each day to put myself out there. I will even try some cold calls next week. I'm not just a writer, I'm a business and I need to treat it as such.

Gabriella F.

July 7, 2011

Oh, I feel your game pain. I don't play any FB or computer games. But I'm a crossword gal, and I just this weekend willed myself to sit down and conquer Sudoku. I was able to break the code on easy puzzles.

Then yesterday, I tried some medium puzzles. I'm cornfuddled again–but friggin addicted!

Anyway, onto marketing. I'm also a binge marketer, and I know I should be more even paced. I mostly do it when I have lulls, and because it works, I have little incentive to change that pattern.

But I know I should be more diligent. No question about it. And with you constantly reminding me, someday, I will. How about I start with a web page?!

Lori

July 7, 2011

Well Paula, we can't have you neglecting Lori's blog! LOL Shoot! Forgot my own laundry. Back in a minute….

Ashley, I'm glad it's a phone app. I don't have a smart phone – just an idiotic one. On purpose. For this very reason. 🙂

Wade, toot away! And to your question "who am I to say hire me?" You're Wade Finnegan, professional freelance writer, and you're more than ready to exceed expectations!

Gabriella, definitely start with a Web page. 🙂 And I have electronic Sudoku and crossword puzzles on my e-reader thingie I was gifted for my b-day. Since I won't read books on the damned thing, I'll play games instead. LOL

WordVixen

July 7, 2011

Yes- you should definitely avoid smart phones! I just got an iPhone and there's a Farmville app. Totally enabling. 🙂

I'm pretty good at turning off the games, though, if I have something pressing. Since I tend to obsess and lose interest with everything, I've learned to just go with the flow. Sometimes I'll work my tush off on my sites for a few weeks, then I'll do nothing but play FB games for a few weeks, then I'll just knit and crochet for a few weeks, then I'll curl up and read for a few weeks, and so on. Since I still have a day job, it works for me. I can accomplish more on whatever I'm doing when I'm into it than trying to force myself into a schedule. Not that it would work well if I had clients. 🙂

Kagem

July 8, 2011

I've done a little more marketing on the phone, and it has made me realise that there is a whole world out there outside that I need to contact.

I wish I could be more consistent with marketing.

Lori

July 8, 2011

Wordvixen, I think I will avoid them. 🙂 I have enough electronic distractions in my life. I can't see how adding one more will enhance my life. Rather, I think it would invade on it significantly.

I like how you let your life flow in and out of interests. Sounds much less stressful than trying to get it all done yesterday. 🙂

Kagem, try scheduling your marketing. Open Outlook or whatever calendar program you use, pop it in as an appointment, and make a commitment to be there for that "meeting" with yourself. 🙂