Words on the Page

Tears, Smiles, and Money

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Ten Thousand Words by The Avett Brothers Sometimes the busy weekends can be busy in good ways. After a slightly rocky beginning, my weekend ended on a high note. Friday night I barely remember. I stepped away from this computer exhausted, having had a week that started before 9 am and…

Friday Randomness

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Hypocritical Kiss by Jack White Last day to save! Sign up for the 8 Top Tax-Saving Strategies for Freelancers webinar and get $25 off the price! Just $49.95 gets you money-saving tax advice, and over $374 worth of goodies! Sign up here. Just $49.95 — less than you pay for cable! A…

Entrecard, Exitcard

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Hardliners by Holcombe Waller Ready for tax season? It’s not too early to learn how to save big on your taxes with some smart deductions and simple record-keeping. Join guest presenter Julian Block for a special webinar – 8 Top Tax-Saving Strategies for Freelancers sponsored by Anne Wayman and me. Julian’s the guy to…

Marketing Strategy: Reliability

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Runaways by The Killers Ready for tax season? It’s not too early to learn how to save big on your taxes with some smart deductions and simple record-keeping. Join guest presenter Julian Block for a special webinar – 8 Top Tax-Saving Strategies for Freelancers sponsored by Anne Wayman and me. Julian’s the…

Rabbit Recovery

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Jezebelle by Blaudzun SAVE BIG ON TAX WEBINAR: If you don’t know your Schedule C from a hole in the ground or if you have questions about deductions, losses, extensions, or self-employment taxes, join Anne Wayman and me and our special guest presenter, Julian Block for this special webinar – 8 Top Tax-saving Strategies for…

Weekends and Freedom

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: State Hospital by Frightened Rabbit News for all you tax-averse freelancers: If you don’t know your Schedule C from a hole in the ground or if you have questions about deductions, losses, extensions, or self-employment taxes, join Anne Wayman and me and our special guest presenter, Julian Block for this special webinar…

Know Your Goods

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Untitled (Love Song) by Counting Crows Had a bit of a fractured day yesterday. Had a small string of revisions on the large client project, and that consumed a good bit of the day. Also, it was my daughter’s birthday, so I had to dash out and finish final preparations midday….

Getting the Financial Ducks in a Row

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Unfaithful by Rihanna Wow. I’d forgotten what it was like to have a little free time. Yesterday I revised one document, edited another, and then had time to do whatever I wanted. I looked for more work (glutton for punishment), attended my online course (if you’ve not checked out the free…

Open Thread: What are Your Requirements?

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Yes I’m Cold by Chris Bathgate Interesting day yesterday. I spent much of it unraveling notes and charts from a client conference call. I was able to put together a rough draft so that the client has something to work with. I’m certain this one will come back a few times….

Monthly Assessment: September 2012

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Almost Famous by Eminem How was the weekend? Ours was an emotional roller coaster of sorts. We went from a funeral to a Celtic festival on the same day. His coworker, a lovely, 31-year-old woman, succumbed to sarcoma. It was a lump that appeared two weeks after the birth of her…

Devon Ellington

September was good and busy, and October will be so, too. I'm pitching for November and beyond, and I'm up for a steady local gig — pay wouldn't be that great, but it opens a lot of doors for me for other things, so, as a short-term thing, it's worth it, if I get it.

I'm working in CT this week, and it's more stressful than it should be. I think I'll be easing away from this client. But at least I can meet with an agent while I'm here on Wed.

Paula

September can be summed up in one word: Disappointing.

Yes, I was sick for a week, but I worked through it, so that's not the issue.

Instead of queries I focused on LOIs this month and sent out five. One had to be sent snail mail since I couldn't find the editor's e-mail address, but that let me include a lot of clips that I would otherwise have had to attach. And I don't like attaching files to cold-call LOI e-mails.

I replied to two job listings that dovetailed nicely with my experience, and both were for respected companies. That was just last week, so no word yet.

For existing clients I turned in one column and three articles, and picked up one fun assignment from Favorite Editor.

My only new client continues to be a résumé client who can't decide what to list from her most recent job (apparently she hated it). It took a couple weeks to convince her the old "format" she loved made absolutely no sense. The biggest problem is she takes about 1-2 weeks to reply each time I send follow up questions.

No referrals.

Earnings were dismal. Less than half my modest monthly goal. Why? Chronic late payer is now two months past-due (based on his lax terms) on something that ran in July, and as of today is past due on something that ran in September. Like Lori's slow-payer, neither of the top contacts at this place have the courtesy to reply to my messages. Also, a regional magazine I write for is slow – but that editor contacted me, saying the accountant had to remind her to approve invoices and get them to her, but promised she'd do that the next day. I expect their check to arrive today or tomorrow.

The work I did for the late-payer and the regional slow-payer combined is nearly the same as my monthly goal.

Bottom line: Chronic late-payer has to be replaced. Soon. So I'm redoubling my LOI efforts effective immediately.

Lori

Good way to make lemonade from that lemon, Devon! Good luck with the agent inquiries.

Paula, I agree. That late payer is long overdue for the door.

Kimberly Ben

My September was pretty disappointing too, Paula. I'm working on improving things for October.

Lori

Hang in there, Kim. Better things are coming. 🙂

Anne Wayman

Is it October already? Sept. seemed to go by in a flash… it was pretty good to me actually…

Paula

Late-Payer update. I just sent the Final Notice, and cc-ed their very nice (and put-upon) editor. She replied to me saying they told her they'd mailed my check this weekend. I don't think she quite believed it, since she asked me to let her know when it arrives.

The funny thing is, in each e-mail to the bosses I ask them to reply directly, like they used to. Now everything comes through the editor. I think I scare them.

Also good news: I may have picked up a quick little editing job through my sister. The same client of hers I've edited bios for before again asked her if "your editor" could so a small job!

Paula

Could do a small job. Yeesh, thank goodness I don't get paid for blog comments. I'd need to fire myself thanks to all my typos.

Gabriella F.

My September was pretty good to me, too. The past two weeks were crazy trying to get it all done. But I figured it was necessary since July and August were decent, but I didn't do much to make them fantastic.

October's scheduled, so I have to now start focusing on November. But I'm like you, Lori. Been building up those recurring monthly projects so that if I get no other work, I've still got an acceptable income base.

I currently have three regular projects (two that require weekly work, and one that requires monthly work). I also have a fourth that's every other month. It's not enough to live on, but it's slowly grown over time. Hallelujah!

Lori

Glad you had a good September, Gabriella! Hallelujah, indeed!