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Wednesday Workshops

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Ten Thousand Words by The Avett Brothers Did I really just have a day where I wasn’t running full throttle? I can’t tell you how refreshing it was to get done all those small projects I’ve been putting off until I had time. I even had extra time to record an…

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Technology Rocks

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Ten Thousand Words by The Avett Brothers Don’t forget–next week is the Trade Magazine webinar! Sign up here and get the two-session series.   Yesterday was an unexpected break from the madness that has been my last two months. I had two phone calls scheduled that never occurred, and while that…

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Disabled

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Through the Dirt and the Gravel by We Were Promised Jetpacks Lovely, albeit hot weekend. Early Saturday morning I drove to northwestern Connecticut to see my son and his girlfriend. The drive was beautiful — just a little rain as I was leaving home — and I was able to put…

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Organized Chaos

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Blunderbuss by Jack White Yesterday was one of those days where I thought I’d have plenty of time to get one thing done, but of course didn’t. I started with interviews — had to get through them so I could get the article finished. But husband was home with his own…

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The Beat of Your Own Drum

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Eyes Wide Open by Gotye Just 12 more days before the Trade Magazine Webinar begins! Don’t miss out on this two-part series that shows you how to build a trade magazine career. Click here for more info. I’m not sure I know how to relax anymore. I spent much of yesterday…

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Wednesday Workshop Links

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: The Rifle’s Spiral by The Shins Yesterday was unexpectedly, blessedly slower. The pace up to this point has been break-neck speed with no pit stops. I was glad for a small reprieve. I wrote a radio script, pitched another magazine query, researched two current article projects, and wrote a few blog…

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Your Payment Terms

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Backwards Walk by Frightened Rabbit I’m chipping away at these projects. I made some serious headway on the article due next Monday, and I managed a few client email blasts. Also, I sent over a brief assessment of a client editing project. I’ve already warned them I’m up to my neck…

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Weekend Errands

Posted on by lwidmer

Wild Horses by The Rolling Stones It’s nice to have a weekend that creates enough of a diversion to push all thoughts of work out of the way. That’s how my weekend was. My plan of heading to Atlantic City to splash in the waves was trumped by dangerously oppressive heat. In my travels on…

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Getting Paid on Time

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski What’s on the iPod: Sore Thumb by We Were Promised Jetpacks Finally — I made some progress on the pile of projects. My third article is waiting for some key quotes, but it’s finished a week ahead of schedule. The next one has a source lined…

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Rewarding Yourself

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Turning Tables by Adele Wow. That was short-lived. I was able to spend exactly three hours on Tuesday relaxing. Then four new projects came in, three of which are due next week. One is a 2K-word article. Marathon time again. Yesterday was a nice mid-week break. There are benefits to living…

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  1. Devon Ellington Avatar
    Devon Ellington

    Some months, when the bills are paid, I can reward myself. Other times, when they're not, I have to scramble those extra hours.

    Usually, I'll take a day to do something fun in the area, or I'll buy books. Buying books is the best reward.

    At the end of a good workday, I usually sit on the deck with a glass of wine to watch the sun set. That's the best reward for being a freelancer — knowing it's all up to ME, and I get to pick and choose most of what I want to and love doing.

    Reply
  2. Lori Avatar
    Lori

    I have to agree — books are a great reward. I'm up to my eyeballs in them. We've nine bookcases crammed full (one custom-built one takes up an entire wall in the basement) and are about to create a library for more bookcases. I need to make more money so I can take a few months off to read them all!

    Reply
  3. Krista Avatar
    Krista

    I also have a stock pile of books I need to read. There is a second hand shop close by run by individuals with disabilities that sells soft covers for 50 cents and hardcovers for $1.00. Such a treat for 4 or 5 bucks!

    Last year I took on a project where I made about 10 grand in six weeks. It was, I can honestly say, pure hell. I was stuck inside for most of August, worked day and night, and had some serious sleep deprivation issues.

    At the end I bought myself a nice camera, got hubby a suit, went out for a nice meal, and bought a second hand car with cash (once again dodging the car payment we've managed to avoid up to now). I'm STILL not sure it was worth it though. LOL

    Reply
  4. Paula Avatar
    Paula

    I'm getting better about not working weekends, and I always take the last week or two of the year off (easy, since no one else seems to work then, either), but last weekend I put in two very full work days because of a last-minute assignment for a summer issue with a drop dead deadline is tomorrow. That's a quick turnaround for a 2,500-word feature – one I'd pitched – so I had a lot to do. I rewarded myself by ordering a working dinner on Saturday – green papaya salad and shrimp spring rolls from my favorite Vietnamese restaurant.

    Yesterday I meant to write the article, but I goofed off (without guilt). I didn't start until late afternoon, but got about 1,500 words knocked out.

    But big splurges? Totally out of the question. I had pangs of guilt over a $20 dinner. I do like the idea of nail polish as a splurge. Do you have Five Below? That have great wild colors of polish that are 2 or 3 for $5.

    Like Devon said – spending comes after the bills are paid. Right now I need to scrape together the second property tax payment and still somehow pay for all these poorly timed repairs. (Oh! Yesterday, despite no strong winds, a large branch fell out of a maple tree in back, crushing the already drought-stressed hedges it fell on. I guess now even nature breaks when I'm around.)

    I don't know what landing a $12K project would feel like, but I did a $4,700 article 12 years ago. I'm sure I must have spent a little of that on something that wasn't a necessity.

    Reply
  5. Lori Avatar
    Lori

    Oh Krista, I wouldn't be sure, either! When a job affects you that much, it's not worth having. But I'm glad you were able to splurge a bit. 🙂

    Paula, good for you! Glad to hear you're starting to take time for yourself. And I was at Five Below two days ago — I bought (and now use) a hula hoop. 🙂

    Reply
  6. allena Avatar
    allena

    My reward is always travel, from a day on Lake Michigan and hour away to a couple months in the family home in Mexico.. . Sometimes I have to work while traveling and I'm ok with that… I read a study that said people are happier with spending money on travel versus STUFF, psychologically, and I can attest to that.

    Reply
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