So I learned a few things during our power outage on Tuesday, which by the way lasted until 3:30 that afternoon. Because of the experience, I’m amending my back-up plan in light of my latest discoveries. Libraries are lacking two things: quiet and power outlets. My library is great. But there are exactly two outlets…
Phrases That Are Just Wrong
Oh, you know you’ve come across some client gaffes and junk mail phrases that crack you up. Come on – share them here. A few I’ve chuckled at: “Highly seasoned professional” – Unless you’re the main course or you’re currently covered in marjoram, please. Don’t. (Client’s resume line) “We’re better then the rest!” – Then…
The Back-Up Plan
No, this is not a post about backing up your data. It’s about something few of us tend to plan for – power outages. As I write this, I’m sitting in the local library plugged into one of their outlets. A wind storm last night brought down our electric and phone lines, so I’m totally…
Claustrophobia and the Ones We Love
It never fails – they all come home from college and I want to hide. I love them all dearly, and I enjoy the time I get to spend with them. The house is so empty when they’re not around. But it’s so full when they are. Oy, so full. My 10-hour workday seems to…
Too Much Information!
There’s this writer friend who loves to tell her book ideas to our writing group. Mind you, these are always blockbuster ideas, ones you hear and can’t help but think “Damn! Why didn’t I come up with that?” It pains me to hear her ideas, not because I’m jealous (I am) or envious (duh!), but…
Potty Mouth
I was in line at McDonald’s the other day (yes, vegetarians can eat there – I “eat” the milkshakes) when a surly man walked right in front of me as I pulled up to the take-out window. He tossed his sandwich back through the window at the waitress and said, “There’s no f-ing tomatoes on…
Time Off
A friend of mine was saying yesterday how she’s trying to use up her vacation time at work. Since leaving the company we were both at to the one she’s at now, she’s gone from burning through vacation days to forgetting to take them. I listened to her, completely baffled how anyone could forget to…
Do You Have the Chops?
There’s an interesting discussion going on over at Peter Bowerman’s blog right now about becoming self-sufficient at your writing career. You can find it here. The trouble I see, the trouble I often see, is that writers are willing to put enough effort into the career to get it going, but don’t realize that it…
The Inevitable Editor
I’m writing this Monday morning, though you won’t see it until Tuesday. I’ve just run into yet another instance of the “editor” coming out in the non-editing person. It never fails; you give someone the opportunity to edit and they’re going to take it and abuse the power. A current project is proof. I asked…
Union or Not?
We’ve all lamented the lower wages, the lack of insurance, and the general invisibility of our freelance existences. However, if there were a union of like-minded souls out there hell-bent on advocacy and group insurance coverage, would you join? The Freelancer’s Union is a 75K+ conglomeration of freelancers from across the country and across industries….