Words on the Page

Things That Make Me Smile

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading upstairs: Shopgirl by Steve MartinWhat’s on the iPod: Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People Busy day doing nothing billable – yet. Worked out details with a partner on an upcoming project. Also put together a mailing list for an upcoming conference I’m attending. I’m trying to drum up business before the…

The Low-paying Rut

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: In These Shoes by Bette Midler Yesterday was one of those “busy” days where I didn’t accomplish much that anyone could see. But there was significant progress made on an upcoming project and more planning for yet another one. And I got a note from a client via Twitter – he’s…

Your Face Value

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: F*ck You by Cee Lo Green Don’t you love getting books? I’m not your Kindle type, so don’t come singing the praises of yet another computer screen to me, but I appreciate that you buy books in any form. I prefer paper. But my son and his girlfriend sent a package…

Censorship v. Common Sense

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: The Jungle by Upton SinclairWhat’s on the iPod: All You Ever Do is Bring Me Down by The Mavericks It’s funny what happens on a blog when you’re not looking. I went back over the comments added to this blog over the weekend, and I found myself doing something I don’t normally…

Is it Monday Already?

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: It Doesn’t Matter Anymore by Linda Ronstadt Had a great weekend thanks in part to a sunny, warm Saturday and an Irish sessions on Sunday. We managed Saturday to get the yard in shape for spring, and if I’d had seeds, there would have been peas in the ground. I’ve been…

Worthy Tip: This Job, Not That Job

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Late Wife by Claudia EmersonWhat’s on the iPod: Better Together by Jack Johnson I have a guest post up over at About Freelance Writing. Give it a look when you can. Oh, if I had a nickel for every lousy job offer I’ve come across, I’d have more money than the jobs…

Stealth Networking

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: She’s Mine by Brett Dennen Slow day yesterday in terms of projects being billed, but not so slow in terms of projects being developed. Two in the pipeline could be both lucrative and fun. How often does that happen? I had time to read a CRM (customer relationship management) magazine that…

Guest Post: Being Artsy Isn’t a Career

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Flame by Scott Blasey Jenn Mattern is a virtual traveler. She’s decided to go on a month-long blog tour this month, and her second stop on the tour is this very blog. Amen. I was thrilled when she offered to share her wit and wisdom with us, and the post below…

Free Does Not Compute

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Modern Leper by Frightened Rabbit Yesterday was blissfully quiet – enough so that I managed to get the bulk of my article fleshed out. After a quick review today, the invoice goes out. I’m waiting for some quotes to be approved, and I’ve given him until noon today to get back…

Monthly Assessment: February 2011

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: The Runaway by The Clarks I have a post up over at Anne Wayman’s About Freelance Writing. Go on over and give her some comment love. How was the weekend? We spent Saturday cleaning the basement and hauling stuff away. Finally, we can walk down there again. We’d had a minor,…

Devon Ellington

February was good, March will be lean, but then it picks up a bit. I have enough work so I think I can take August off.

I posted my list on the Goals, Dreams, and REsolutions site, along with some re-envisioning this month's events have caused:

http://goalsdreamsresolutions.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/february-2011-wrap-up-re-envisioning/

Jake P

I've been sick as a dog for a little over a week, and survived a hard-drive fatality (story here) early last week. Considering all that, I managed to do just about everything that needed doing. I even started doing my taxes while high on Benadryl.

I have family coming into town this week and spring break is in two weeks, so I'm gonna need to throw things into overdrive, yikes. But, hey, my calendar shows Great Big Sea on the 23rd, so that's the carrot dangling out there!

Lori

There you go, Jake! That's a concert to look forward to!

Sorry to hear you've been sick, and even more sorry about the hard drive crash. That's just sickening, isn't it? Thank God you were able to save the photos! That makes a strong case for online storage.

Devon, I love your GDR site! You always impress me with how much you manage to do in a month. I'm running to catch up.

Gabriella F.

OK, I'll play, even though my results this month are embarrassing.

Income: Low, low, low! I could have made this month more solid by finishing a few assignments early and booking the income to February. But I decided that wouldn't matter to my overall annual income, so why make myself nuts?

The result: A pitiful February, but March is totally booked, and if all goes as planned, it'll be one of my best months ever.

Queries: Sent a bunch to current clients and got a good response, which is what's making March stellar.

Worked all month on trying to land a writing gig with a new-client book publisher, which I did. But I ended up turning down the work because they offered only $.15 a word. (The editor rambled on during the payment discussion, saying, "Yeah, some people complain about our pay, but I tell them, it's what writers are paid today." Sorry, hon, not this writer [especially when the book topic is a specialized subject like business law!]).

I'm willing to negotiate a lower rate for steady, long-term gigs. But not that low.

The good news: I made some progress toward launching my own little business gig! Another freelancer and I are discussing teaming up with a website publisher to launch a subscription-based website on a specialized topic.

I think that's the only way we writers can control our own pay in the future–working for ourselves more than for others. Nowhere near launch, but pleased with forward progress.

Anyway, thanks for sharing your monthly assessment, Lori. It forces me to do the same, which, while depressing sometimes, is necessary!

becky

Started a new gig mid-month, so the full effects will hit in March.

Jake, I feel for you. Just last night, after I edited some articles (and emailed them to myself, thankfully), I closed my MacBook Pro. And that was the last time it booted up properly. Going to have to take it in today, it appears.

And my brand new Win7 laptop is doing some crazy things as well. Random crashes are starting to happen. I don't think I've even had it a full month yet.

What is it with me and computers right now? The universe is determined to take away any excess income? Is that it? *sigh*

Lori

Becky, if you tell me your new laptop is an HP, I wouldn't be surprised. Too many people around me have had huge issues with their laptops. I have their desktop, which I bought from the company. It's been terrific, but you couldn't give me their laptop.

Gabriella, good for you! Okay, February wasn't the best, but look at your March! Sometimes we have to invest in ourselves in order to grow business, which you've done.

I would have walked on that publisher, too. That's absurd! That is NOT what writers are paid these days – only what she pays them. And she's foolish – she'll get what she pays for, which ain't much.

LOVE the idea of your business gig! I think you've hit on something very critical – we DO have to make our own paths by working for ourselves more. Super idea!

Paula

First off – Lori and Gabriella, I am already inspired by your yet-to-be announced projects.

I can sum my February up pretty quickly: Lots of work for too few checks.

Remember, I don't count my income until the checks have cleared. That's because good intentions can't pay my bills – something two publishers apparently think actually works. Yes, I'm on their butts about it. One agreed to a payment plan for a small $160 piece they ran in their November issue. Yes, a payment plan. They probably hoped it wasn't worth my time to pursue a measly $160, but they were wrong. It's my money. I earned it. Pay up. Wouldn't you think a publisher would be embarrassed at having to pay off a $160 story in installments?

The other place isn't nearly as far behind, but they don't pay well enough for me to cut them any slack. They keep trying to assign more articles and I keep saying, "Ask me again after I've been paid."

I've been busy with two articles, columns, and a series of small projects. I sent a boatload of queries to Favorite Editor in anticipation of a huge annual issue coming up in June. Have another idea to send her today. Two other favorite editors let several of us know they'll soon start assigning for several special issues that run from May through August, something they'd cut back on last summer.

No job postings. No new clients.

I wish I could bill someone for the unpaid hours I spent shoveling this month, which last night officially broke the snowiest February ever for our city.

Actual earnings were about 1/3 of my goal, but my invoice-able output is just a couple hundred dollars shy of my monthly goal. (That doesn't count the outstanding invoices I'm still trying to collect, which combined almost as much as I've invoiced out for the month.)

Lori

Give 'em hell, Paula! 🙂 I like that you chase the payment. We all should. If we owed our doctors or mechanics even five dollars, they'd bill us for it (and expect it). We are just as much a business entity.

As for your snow, ours is almost melted, save that pile at the mall. It's raining and wam here today. I'd rather it was snowy, but hey, you get what you get. 🙂

Wendy

Wow. Computer problems galore, I guess. My desktop went down and I'm in the process of overhauling that. Pain in my behind. It's my lifeline. I have my laptop, but it's not the same.

I haven't really looked,but I think my Feb. was pretty average for me.

becky

Lori, it's a Sony Vaio. And I'm beginning to think that's why it was on sale… but got hubby one, too, and his seems to be fine so far.

I'm way more concerned about my macbook. I didn't do a full backup recently, but I've been transferring documents via email and thumb drive anyway, so I don't think I will have lost much of anything.

Lori

Oh no! Becky, that's supposed to be a terrific machine. And I'm sorry about the Macbook, too. Bad week for computers!

Wendy, not you, too? I'm going to back up beyond my daily backup. All of you have me a little worried!

Paula

You guys have all made me nervous. I've got an older desktop Mac and no backup computers.

Irreverent Freelancer

My February was not so great, which was disappointing after a really good December and January. On the plus side, I picked up a new client and I have another really good lead that (fingers crossed) should lead to work in March. Both of these I scored through job ads, so I wouldn't count that avenue out completely. I'm just really picky about what I apply to. Another client I haven't worked with in two years reappeared, which was a nice surprise. I've got plenty of work this week, so I'm cautiously optimistic about March.

Wendy

Really, if I didn't do any backup, I would be up sh*t creek and it wouldn't matter if I had a paddle or not. My external hardrive and my online backup sources saved my butt. I lost a couple of minor things, though, but they aren't worth worrying about.

Lori

Kathy, I hope your March is much better as a result of that client reappearing. Fingers crossed for you. 🙂

Wendy, it's scary, isn't it? Right now, I back up with Mozy (the freebie), but I have nothing else. My husband wants me to partition the drive and save to it, but what if the entire drive dies? I'm more inclined to go external.

becky

Got a call yesterday regarding the Mac – it's a known issue & covered by Apple. Whew!

Now here's hoping the Vaio behaves…

Lori

Amen, Becky!

Fingers crossed on the Vaio!