Did you know you speak much louder when you pick up your cell phone than when you’re sitting across from someone at a restaurant? Did you know that I heard every word of your conversation about the dog needing to see a vet for that “oozing, pussing foot” problem? Did you know I heard it…
Moments of Accidental Genius
I know the mood I intended when I started writing my latest novel attempt. I was reaching for a feeling of wallowing depression that encompasses the life of someone akin to Gilbert Grape (read the book – it’s phenomenal; or watch the movie – Depp and DiCaprio are marvelous). How it translated in the writing…
Your New Best Friend
I had a really nice conversation with a PR woman yesterday, one that may turn out to be a lucrative partnership. I used ProfNet on PRNMedia religiously for article sources. This gal has answered two of my inquiries and has supplied me with some great sources. In our last email exchange, she offered the usual…
Baghdad Burning
I am not a political person in any sense. I don’t discusss politics as I find it a boring waste of time that polarizes us into camps of thinking, stripping away individual thought. I get passionate about issues, but I believe that real change isn’t going to happen at the highest level of government –…
Escalating Payment
I guess that’s a nice way of saying “commencing litigation.” I was relaying the huge amount of outstanding invoices (over $9K) to my husband, who asked why I didn’t have an attorney to chase these things down. Well, probably because I can’t afford one. He questioned that logic, citing that attorneys would typically take a…
Admitting to Limitations
Got a note from a prospective client the other day after I’d responded to an ad. The question came – Do you have experience writing about this, that, and this other thing? I didn’t have that experience. All of us get these questions. Not all of us have the experience they’re looking for. It’s at…
Yes Virginia, There Really Are Pork Bellies
I’m researching a new article on the financial crisis. Finance is something that’s fascinated me, but not quite my strongest area yet. The article I proposed has to do with speculation in the markets. Okay, I’ve lost most of you right now. I know, I know. Stop snoring and listen up, though, for I’m about…
Why Blogging Isn’t The Same As Article Writing
I read an interesting article in The Atlantic this week by Andrew Sullivan about blogging – why we do it (or more to the point, why he does it). He made the point that blogging is not like article writing in that your audience is not once-removed from you. If they don’t like what you’ve…
Return of the Sham Job Offers
Ah, fall. Gorgeous scenery, crispness in the air, the march of the morons… I’m talking about the sudden onslaught of gawd-awful job postings that seem to crop up as the holidays near. Not that crappy offers have a particular season, but they tend to be in ample supply right now. One I read yesterday had…
When You’re Out of the Office
Man of mine had minor surgery on Friday, which meant I had to free up my day in order to help him pre- and post-surgery. I informed the client base, but not all. Why? Because not all needed me that week. In fact, only two actually needed to know where I was and why I…