(With thanks to Al Franken) I’m talking about rental car companies, insurance companies, and anyone or any company that sugar-coats anything unsavory and packages it as a “deal.” Rental car companies, much like insurance companies, have you coming and going (ironic as that statement may be). I rented a car yesterday so daughter could get…
How Can You Expect the Unexpected?
I had big plans today. I got up early and got some ongoing project work out of the way so I could concentrate on an article that has a short deadline. Only I get this call from my child – “Mom, come outside. I’ve had an accident.” Not what you want to hear when your…
Best Posts of the Week
Some posts just warrant extra attention, don’t you think? Maybe I’ll make this a weekly habit, maybe I won’t. But I’ve decided when I come across an invaluable article or blog post, I have to share it. This one in particular caught my eye. Urban Muse Susan Johnston wrote an excellent guest post over on…
Your Other Boss
Now and then in your career, you’re going to run into your other boss. I’m not talking God, and I’m not talking your spouse or better half – I’m talking about the client or client’s company that wants control over your words. You’re going to see these people most often just after you interview them…
Isn’t That Special?
Once upon a time, a youngish writer had dreams of being a sought-after fashion writer. She wanted to write for Woman’s Day, Ladies’ Home Journal, and Redbook. She thought that was success, and she knew if she could break into even one of those magazines, she’d be able to call herself a real writer. That…
A Message to You From a Fellow Writer
If Harlan Ellison’s message about valuing your own work doesn’t motivate you to take yourself seriously as a writer, do yourself and everyone in the business a favor – take up knitting. What do you think? Are you ready to get as incensed about people expecting freebies as he is?
Doing Nothing Wrong
So you sit there every day waiting for work to appear, but nothing, eh? The projects you had are finished and work seems to have dried up. You’re searching, but in those same, dried-up spots on the Internet. Well, I’m here to tell you you’re doing nothing wrong. That’s right – the nothing you’re doing…
This Week’s Best in the Blogosphere
Fridays I’m usually all full of motivation because hey, it’s taken me all week to rev up the internal engines. But you stick one cloudy, damp morning in there and the covers are coming back over my head and I’m hibernating. Today here in the East promises to be warmer and could it be? Sunny….
Calling in Sick
Don’t you want to crawl back into bed the minute you wake up and realize you’re out of sorts? Do you? No, neither do I. Woke up with a bit of sinus pressure. As the day wore on, I realized this may be a full-blown sinus infection. My face hurts. (Reminds me of the bad…
One More Day
Mini Milestones One more day for you to surf on over to the Biz Chicks Rule site and vote for yours truly, possibly scoring your own prize in their What I Want to Be contest! It’s also one more day before the nonpaying client gets notice of litigation. I try to be fair and nice,…