Freelance Writing Blog

Guest Post: What’s Your Writing Dream?

Posted on by lwidmer

Many thanks once more to dear friend Anne Wayman, who has given us two great posts this week, this one included. I love Anne’s approach to writing – she brings it from her soul. What’s Your Writing Dream?By Anne Wayman Because I have a blog about freelance writing (AboutFreelanceWriting.com) and because I also coach writers,…

I Heart Singer Songwriters

Posted on by lwidmer

I love the Susan Boyles of the world – those people whose unassuming looks hide real talent. This guy is just like that. Brett Dennen’s solo version of his song “She’s Mine.” Share some of your favorite artists. Who are you listening to?

Guest Post: The Letter of Introduction

Posted on by lwidmer

When I put the call out for guest posts, there was one person I contacted directly. Paula Hendrickson, better known for her ongoing knitting extravaganza over on Paton’s Blog is a work horse. Okay, more than I think she should be, but hey, if she has the energy, who am I to say? She’s a…

Artful Delivery

Posted on by lwidmer

Boy meets girl. Boy and girl fall in love. Boy and girl break up. Boy sees girl afterward in bar. This song wins the award for best delivery of an emotional meltdown. Listen to the whole thing. The whole song is just brilliantly executed to convey the emotion. It’s the reason I started listening to…

Guest Post: How Much Time Do You Really Spend Writing?

Posted on by lwidmer

When the call went out for guest posts during my vacation, Anne Wayman was one of the first people with her hand up. I was excited to see what she’d provide because I’ve been one of her not-so-secret admirers for a while. Per usual, Anne has delivered a thought-provoking post. How Much Time Do You…

Expanding Your Musical Horizons (Or Not)

Posted on by lwidmer

While I’m gone, I thought it might be fun to introduce you to some of the music you see on my iPod updates. Just an attempt to share my favorites and maybe expand your music library a bit. Or make you glad you didn’t pick up my iPod by accident. Either way. I came across…

Guest Post: Life Lessons from Project Runway

Posted on by lwidmer

By the time you read this, I’ll be in Shannon, on soil that’s been calling me since birth. Hard to explain it, but I’ve never felt quite “complete” before. I’ve always felt there was a home I needed to get back to, even before I realized how Irish I was. Listen to the instincts. I…

On the Search for Leprechauns

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Rain by Scott Blasey Today is the last post you’ll get out of me until the end of the month, but stick around. Plenty of folks have helped fill this blog with excellent information and advice. I spent yesterday putting things in order. Let me say I LOVE AT&T Wireless. Setting…

Let’s Be Consistent

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Sweet Sophia by Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers Many thanks to my camera company, Fuji, which responded quickly to my call asking for help. I’d sent the camera in for repair and had received mixed messages on when I’d get it back. I explained calmly but with a little “oh dear”…

Of Weekends and Strong Drinks

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: The Clowns by The Clarks With weekends like the one I just had, I’m glad to be able to come to work and sit for a while. Not only are we preparing for a vacation, but let’s throw a party in there three days after we get home. Oh, and four…

Eileen

Great weekend. My freezer is now stocked for the winter; got half a cow and half a pig from Polyface Farm (a beyond-organic farm made famous in Michael Pollan's "Omnivore's Dilemma"). We took a day trip yesterday to WV, where we own a few lovely wooded acres on which we hope to build someday, and attended an apple butter festival. Came home with plenty of apple butter, apples, and apple cider, or course. The perfect fall weekend. This week, I finish up one large project and begin another with a client who is an absolute dream to work with. Have a great vacation!

Lori

How was the book, Eileen? We have it on the shelf – one of many to-be-read ones. And I remember that satisfied feeling of putting all the meat in the freezer (we used to raise our own). Makes you feel like saying "Bring it!" to Mother Nature. 🙂

WV in the fall – gorgeous! You lucky devil.

Eileen

Lori, the book was life changing for me. We now get all our meat, poultry, and eggs only from sustainable farmers. I get produce from farmer's markets whenever possible instead of the store. My kids get a hot breakfast every day and we don't do nearly as many processed foods as we used to. All meals are cooked from scratch. And on and on and on. Pollan's book started it for me.

Lori

We're vegetarians, so the book is there on the recommendation of someone else. But I'm glad it's life changing – we're mostly organic and "from scratch" people. I love seeing others espouse that. Funny how once those processed foods disappear from your system you feel just that much better. I notice, and maybe you do too, that when I have something processed, I feel wonky and out of sorts.

Cathy

Weekend was great. The cooler weather has been so much better for training for the 3-Day Walk. I am getting so excited. It's the weekend before Thanksgiving & I am going the weekend before to see all my buds in San Diego-can't wait!

I'm starting the writing part on a white paper and have some articles & blogging lined up. Need to throw out the marketing lines-that twitchiness again.

Have a fabulous vacation,Lori!

Anne Wayman

Good weekend… Omnivore's Dilemma is a thought provoking book for sure.

Cathy, will you have time for a cup of coffee or something in San Diego?

I got all the papers that had gotten unstacked because of my minor flood sorted, and actually dealt with, well most of them. Feeling virtuous.

Lori

Cathy, I want your energy. 🙂

Anne, thanks for your thoughts on the book. And I hope the flooding was minimal.

Paula

I'm glad to see so many here are into from-scratch cooking. For years people have looked at me like I'm crazy. "Why would you want to do that when you can open a box?" Um, because the processed "foods" are way too salty and sweet and don't really taste like real food. I'm one of those semi-vegetarians: I don't eat meat or poultry, but I will eat some types of seafood.

My weekend was odd. It started late Friday night when a vacant house two doors down from me caught fire. That's just one of three vacant homes on this side of my block (the house between that one and mine is also vacant, as is one two doors away from me in the opposite direction). Apparently squatters got in and started a fire in a cooking pot they'd set on a hardwood floor in the middle of the living room. What's weird is the night before I thought I heard a noise coming from one of those adjoining yards, but assumed it was a cat… A cat with matches?

Houses here are maybe 10-12 feet apart, most are wood-frame, and the fallen leaves and dry conditions make for great fuel. If not for a neighbor who happened to see the flame just after it started, that house and others could have been engulfed.

I have a deadline this week, so I'll be nailing down my final two interviews and transcribing most of the week.

Cathy

Anne-I will make the time! 🙂

Lori-you definitely wouldn't want my body after those jaunts. The older I get, the longer it takes to not feel an ache or two-if fact-it may be about 5 years now. 🙂

Sal

Hey Lori,

"When you want to pet him, forget it. He's not interested. Must be an Aquarius."

I resemble that remark 😉 As for the mowing, pruning, etc., those also sound fun (separately) but when put together, could cause extreme distaste for yard work.

I hope you have a blast on your vacation and don't worry about the party until you get back. As for the rest of the week, I am trying to get back into the freelance life and community. A lot of work lined up and looking forward to diving in. Have a great vacay and RELAX!!!

Lori

Hey, Sal! How are you? Long time no see! Good seeing you here.

Sal

Hey Lori, glad to be seen. I feel like I am poking my head in the door again after a 2-year exodus from the community 🙁 Now that I am freelancing full time, I am super-excited to begin contributing again and catching up on everything that I missed.

I was reading some of the comments above pertaining to food (funny how I can always spot the comments that deal with food – guess it is the Italian in me) and I completely agree with you. Our family is also on the "from scratch" and mostly organic routine. While we are not vegetarians, we do eat few meats and when we have something processed (even a can of green beans) we all feel yucky after. It is crazy how bogged down processed foods can make you feel after you haven't had them in a while…

becky @ misspriss

It's funny you all mention the food stuff. I'm on a sugar-free diet. And when I do take a bite of something that isn't sugar-free, I can immediately tell the difference. (Same with red meat – I haven't had red meat in months.)