For every writer who’s proclaimed “Writing is my life!” there are slews of overworked writers aiming a finger of their choice at them. Over on Tess Gerritsen’s blog there’s a discussion about writers who are pushed by publishing houses to crank out more and more work in less and less time. The discussion revolves around…
The Cycle of Madness
Recently, a writer friend and I were talking about the cyclical nature of our business. We may be in the pink today and in the soup tomorrow, for projects come and go like buses and men who are no good for us. She and I were discussing the times we nearly tossed it in. Yet…
Spotting Stupidity
Fantastic post of the week – Jennifer over at Catalyst Blogger has a great post showing you the free offers out there and why you shouldn’t take them. Read this. It’s all you’ll need to know when cruising the job boards. Thanks, Jennifer!
Defining the Relationship
Heard from a writer friend recently about a client who hired him to do one thing, yet proceeded to expect quite another. He was hired to do editing on the client’s manuals, yet now the client is expecting full rewrites (on a project he had no hand in from the start). A bit brazen, no?…
Second Skin
A little off-topic today: Did you see the story about the Abercrombie and Fitch store in Virginia Beach being cited for violating the town’s obscenity laws? It’s here. Seems the posters showed a bit too much skin for some passersby, and the police agreed. A&F has a tainted history of showing us more than we…
Recession Proof
Fellow writer and consummate blogger Devon Ellington posted about the need for writers to buck up in their expectations of what they should earn. As she put it, “Yes, we ARE in a recession. Sometimes you need to take a job you don’t really want to make some quick cash. But don’t settle. Always strive…
Let’s Talk Numbers
With the onslaught of what I think are the worst possible “job” offerings out there right now, I think it’s time for us to talk once more about valuing yourself. Kathy Kerhli, whose Irreverent Freelancer site is one of my go-to sites each day, has dug up a winner for her Middle Finger of the…
Reinventing the Edge
As I watched the IMAX production U23D this weekend, which was freaking amazing, I thought to myself, “Self, why do you suppose more bands aren’t going for these innovative productions?” As I sat there counting freckles on The Edge’s arm and watching the verbal foreplay Bono and Larry Mullen were having with lyrics and a…
Problem #1 – Making Time for Marketing
I’m spending extra hours this month trying to get all the projects done on time. See, they all (save one) have the same deadline. They all need to be finished on or before January 31st. I’m working some twelve-hour days mixed in there with some ten-hour and one or two 9-hour days. I took on…
Alligator Skin
Last night I was explaining to a non-writing friend how I’ve learned over the years to implant a healthy dose of doubt and more than a little moxie into dealings with new clients. As she gasped and muttered “Oh dear” as I mentioned casually that even new clients are thought of in terms of how…