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Clearing My Conscience

As a freelance writer, I’m often called on to be an expert on all kinds of topics.  Of course, I’m not really an expert on these things.  As a result, I think I may have lost my ability to trust just about anything I find written anywhere, ever. I mean, I haven’t had a dog since I was in elementary school, and yet I’ve been tapped to ghostwrite articles on how to train search and rescue dogs.  I can barely remember to take my pre-natal vitamin every day, but I write a lot of articles about the importance of health foods.  I’ve written an entire book on tattooing but have spent a grand total of about 30 seconds in a tattoo shop in... [Read More...]

My Job. Well, This Week, Anyway.

As a freelance writer, do you ever just sit in front of your computer and gloat to no one in particular about how awesome your job is?  I just caught myself doing that as I reviewed what is on my calendar for the next two weeks.  The variety of topics is actually kind of hilarious. Want a little peek into what my days look like?  Here’s what I’ve got up my sleeve right now: Two articles about funerals Twenty articles about printers and toner Ten articles about tattooing A white paper on fundraising One article on online event registration Rewrite a company sales letter Four more lessons for a marketing class Four blog posts on green living Four... [Read More...]

Top 10 Time Sucking Websites that Actually Rock

So, one of the things I like to do with this little blog is to direct you to fun diversions, or even to make up some of my own. Apparently, I’m too good at it, as after introducing my husband to several of my favorite time-sucking sites, he disappeared from the face of the planet. I’m now diving into the Internet to mount a search and rescue operation for him.  I thought I’d do my part to help you find oblivion, too. You may already know some or all of these sites, but they’re worth checking out every once in a while. Pretend it’s research or something. 1.  http://icanhascheezburger.com/:  Lol Cats are hilarious... [Read More...]

Clients Just Hate Those “Yes Men”

In case it’s not clear, that title is totally sarcastic.  Do you ever notice how clients who really couldn’t write their way out of a paper bag somehow have a whole lot to say about your professional writing?  I usually try to take it in stride, perhaps gently pointing out that I’ve got a decent command on the language and that’s precisely why they hired me. The worst was when I did some writing for a client’s client.  My client paid me, but her client didn’t pay her, saying “It was garbage and I had to rewrite the whole thing myself!”  I was completely insulted, as you might imagine.  First... [Read More...]

I’m Much Better in a Crisis

// So, I’m at a strange place with my freelance writing. I seem to have exactly enough work to do.  How is this possible?  How can the scales have managed to balance in such perfect alignment? The truth of the matter is that is sort of freaking me out.  Maybe it’s because I’m used to always being freaked out about having too much to do (how am I going to make all those deadlines?) or about not having enough to do (how am I going to pay the bills?), but I can’t seem to just sit back and appreciate a situation where I have precisely the amount of work I can do in exactly the number of hours I have available to do it. Oh, and at good... [Read More...]

Wordy Wednesday – Double Ds

// Below you will find several sets of letters. If you add the same letter to both the beginning and the end of the group, you will have formed a real word. For example, _REA_ would become “DREAD” when a D is placed at the beginning and the end. Put your answer in the comments without looking at what other people have said. 1.  _rudit_ 2.  _oly_ 3.  _atharti_ 4.  _ictate_  Read More →

Yes, I am a Whiner

// s it spring yet? I’m one of those lucky people who are disproportionately affected by the seasons, and I have to say that I would sure like for spring to show up any old time now. I have friends in Texas and Louisiana who are bragging about 70-degree+ weather, and I want to physically hurt them. I’m sure it’s the lack of sunlight that’s making me feel so violent, and isn’t that a bit ironic? Of course, I know what’ll happen as soon as the sun comes out. I’ll hole up in my house or office, trying not to sweat to death and wishing it was just a little cooler. It happens every year, and it makes me feel like a whiny, bratty... [Read More...]

Lewis Black on Writing a Book

// Anyone out there identify just a bit too much?  Read More →

Awesome Low-Tech Design

// As the wife of a bonafide GEEK who we regularly refer to as “gadget guy,” I’m privy to a whole lot of upcoming technology.  It was actually my hubby that introduced me to blogging, Facebook, podcasting, Wi-Fi, and a slew of other technological advancements.  Most of them before there was much of a bandwagon to jump on, although they’re now all common, everyday parts of life, aren’t they?  He bought me my Kindle, my Zune, my digital camera, my Blackberry, and all the other devices for which I now have to pack individual cords and chargers every time I leave home for more than an hour or two. So, I was excited... [Read More...]

The Vices of Very Creative People – Part 1

// If you go through life free of bad habits, you won’t live forever, but it will feel like it. In my neverending research into what makes a good writer, rather than me actually writing, a number of things began to present themselves about the way authors conduct themselves these days, certainly as opposed to the lives some of our predecessors. These days the early life of the writer is mostly disciplined and planned by demanding publishers. Especially when there are twenty authors waiting for their shot should one get a little too big for their britches after their first success. Back in the day there were certain vices that would sometimes... [Read More...]

The Most Ridiculous Job Posting of the Day Award

// So, I’ve spent a little time today hitting the Guru.com job listings, and I am kind of grossed out.  When my partner and I first started our business, we relied on that particular tool a lot to secure work.  Mostly, it was because we didn’t know where else to look.  Since we’ve been in business, we’ve developed some great client relationships that started on Guru, so let me get that out of the way up front. On the other hand, there are some really, really stupid postings there.  Like this one: Hello Fellow Writers!* I represent a company which launch and manage various websites. I Need GOOD AN, COMMITTED WRITER/S... [Read More...]

Wordy Wednesday

// Below you will find several sets of letters. If you add the same letter to both the beginning and the end of the group, you will have formed a real word. For example, _REA_ would become “DREAD” when a D is placed at the beginning and the end. Put your answer in the comments without looking at what other people have said. 1.  _scap_ 2.  _inu_ 3.  _ecorde_ 4.  _itera_  Read More →

Who Can Work When There’s So Much to Do?

// What a week.  What a freakin’ week. So, I got a little down in the dumps recently and decided that what I apparently needed to feel better was to completely upend my life.  For some reason, I just feel better when things are clean and organized, and very few things in my life have been clean and/or organized lately. So, I started by creating a monstrosity of a to-do list.  Seriously, the sucker is something like five pages long and includes stuff like “wash the moldings in the kitchen” and “take down Halloween decorations.”  (Yes, I am aware that it is January.) One thing that wasn’t on my list was to change offices.  My... [Read More...]

Facebook FTW

// So, I have this fairly strict rule of not allowing clients to follow me on Facebook.  I say it’s fairly strict because there are technically three who do follow me:  Deb Ng, who I think of more as a friend than a “client;” a local marketer, for the same reason; and a client I’ve had for years who friended me before I had thought of the rule.  I thought it would be pretty rude to “unfriend” him after I came up with my hard-nosed approach, so I’ve just let that sleeping dog lie. It was actually this third guy who made me realize I should probably institute some sort of policy regarding clients, as well as the people who work... [Read More...]

Wordy Wednesday

// In my ongoing attempt to thwart the efforts of all those participating in the Wordless Wednesday meme, I’ve found a site that lets you play Hangman.  Not only that, but there’s a Shakespeare category.  Let the nerdiness commence! http://www.superkids.com/aweb/tools/words/hangman/bard.shtml  Read More →