Most parents just want to see their children be successful, but unfortunately that can turn into power struggles when it comes to career choices. Although your life is ultimately your decision, it is often hard for parents to stay out of the decision, since many parents help pay for college. They want to see that their money wasn’t wasted. Telling your parents that you’d going to avoid the job search and instead be a freelancer can be daunting.
My parents are supportive, and proud that I can make a living as a writer. That’s not to say that they weren’t nervous …read more

I have a friend who’s mother is VERY supportive of her career in freelancing (as is my own mother, but this story isn’t about me!). Said friend works on a number of personal projects as well, and has recently decided to self-publish a novel she’s been working on for about three years now. It’s a good option to self-publish, in her case, because of the subject matter of the book and because she has a very clear way that she’ll be able to sell copies. She doesn’t need a publisher.
But I digress. My friend is having a hard time with …read more

Stanley Bing wrote a delightful, tongue-in-cheek column yesterday for Fortune. It included 13 jobs for retirees . While some of us hope that our retirement accounts will support us without the need for a job during our sunset years, others worry that retirement without something to do will be…boring. Besides, what happens if you retire just before the stock market crashes ? Bing offers these intriguing options for retirees who aren’t quite ready to call it quits:

Treasure hunter
“Before” picture model
Miniature golf caddy
Plant person
Artisan cheese taster
iPhone app writer
Greeter
Airport chauffeur
Mall cop
Grass monitor
Early bird specialist
CEO of a bailed out, TARP or Chapter 11 …read more

(www.thegoldenpencil.com)
Darn. I’m in the middle of the umpteenth pass on chapter three and it’s pretty awful. Or at least it was until I just took out some 400 words! The 400 words weren’t all that bad, but they were terribly redundant. I don’t think I double copied anything; no, I’m sure I didn’t. The passage was just too different than the rest to be one of those errors. It looks like I simply didn’t pay enough attention to what I had already written when I created this one.
The truth is I had spend considerable time writing 400 words that simply …read more

I’ve heard writing teachers say it, and I’ve heard magazine editors say it: “Throw out the first three paragraphs!”
What in the world are they talking about?
The truth is, even for professionals, the first couple of paragraphs, if you’re writing an article, or even the first chapter if you’re writing a book, is likely to be dreck. I’m not sure why. It’s almost as if the mind has to warm up somehow, maybe by writing some semi-coherent sentences, or even a full paragraph or three or four before the good writing kicks in. I know it often works this way …read more

A client sent me to a meeting and put me up overnight in a very nice hotel. When I checked in, they asked for my credit card, which I gave them. The next morning, when I looked at the invoice which had been slipped under my door, I confirmed that the billing address was my client’s and not mine. The meeting was highly productive, the amenities at the hotel outstanding and I felt totally pampered.
A couple of days later I was checking my business checking account online and realized I’d been charged for the room and the meals… not only …read more

Back when I had a studio, I was drowning in paper. Guess what? Now that I’m in a two-bedroom, with one bedroom as my office, the problem hasn’t gone away… it’s just spread out more.
Back at the studio, I worked with Jennifer Hofmann of MyOrganizedBiz and Inspired Home Office She helped me solve multiple organizational problems, and one solution stood out. I had a project of my own I was working on and I kept forgetting it amidst the work I was doing for clients. The solution was a bright red file folder that would sit in my line …read more

Yea! I’m moving… out of my tiny studio where for three years or so I’ve used a hiddenbed (www.hiddenbed.com) It’s a great solution for a tiny space, but I’m not taking it with me. I’m moving to a small two bedroom and my writing business will get it’s own office. I’ll be able to take a nap without putting the bed down, and to start the computer without lifting the desk up.
Can you tell? I’m delighted… but… (how often there’s a but) I put it up for sale on Craigslist and someone’s coming at 1 p.m. to disassemble it and …read more

Since 1999, The Poynter Institute, probably best known as PoynterOnline, has offered a fellowship program for young journalists. The program has become known as a “boot camp” or graduate degree in six weeks.
The chosen few get to work with journalists who are at the top of their game.
Maybe you want to apply. We certainly need good journalists these days; if only they can get some independence.
Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing – a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision – for those who want to get a book written.

Yech… there was a snarl in my prescription for the medicine I take to stave off migraines. Sure enough, one struck last night. I’m coming out of it now, but this is all I’m writing today.
I’ll be back tomorrow.
Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing – a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision – for those who want to get a book written.