Extra Hustle

So to update everyone on my progress:
I'm editing and rewriting my first chapter, and I'll likely write the second one this weekend. I entered a short story into consideration at a couple of literary journals, we'll see how that pans out.
I'm doing some work for The New Colonist and Urban Art and Antiques. It pays peanuts, but it's published so that's a resume builder. Plus, I really like the concept of The New Colonist, and my editor.
I'm wending my way through the wilderness of  clients who contact you to do stuff then just peter out. Nothing like someone who is hot to trot on a project until it comes time to pay you. Of course, I don't do anything until I see that PayPal pending, but it still occupies time I could spend looking for new business.Most irksome.
The extra hustle? I'm trying to bring in some new business, while still being engaged with the comic shops and getting that done, while trying to write this novel, while trying to stay in the loop on all the stuff I need to know. Oh, and my house looks like a war zone.

Inspiration strikes!

So, instead of Wii tennis, I decided to start on my novel. I cannot believe that I am doing this. Like I'm ever going to get it published! I just feel like I have to get it out of my brain. It's just kind of rattling around up there, taking up space and getting in the way of other thoughts. I finished the whole first chapter. I'm editing it now. I might even get brave enough to post it for you, after I re-edit it 600 more times.

the wonderful world of revisions

I've realized I need some ground rules for customers when it comes to revisions. The revisions merry go round can be extremely frustrating. So I'm instituting a 72 hour revisions policy. After that, I'm done with it. I've got to work on my "questioning" techniques so that I can learn to separate the gold from the dross when getting initial information for a press release from a client.

Suckers! Why you fell for 'Dry Erase Board Girl' - Technology & science - Tech and gadgets - Technotica - msnbc.com

Suckers! Why you fell for 'Dry Erase Board Girl' - Technology & science - Tech and gadgets - Technotica - msnbc.com

I admit, I fell for it. I thought it was funny as hell, I was even giggling about it with customers who had seen it. Oh well, even if it is a hoax, it's still worth a chuckle.

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mental_floss Blog � Most Amazing Wikipedia Entry Ever: “Baby Got Back”

mental_floss Blog � Most Amazing Wikipedia Entry Ever: “Baby Got Back”

Here's a hysterical example of a writing geek with too much time on his hands. Definitely brings the funny!

Busy bee

I'm busily applying for jobs on craigslist, and a million other sites. I'm working on my samples. My real problem at the moment is that I need such a wide variety of samples that it's driving me kind of batty.Half the time, when I see a posting asking for samples, I've got to write something new. It's been really hard to even get a contact back, it's so competitive. I am fully confident that someone will eventually like my work enough to hire me. I got my copy of Writer's Market 2010 this week, so I've got some studying to do!

I'm going to start posting some book reviews, for practice. Maybe you will find something interesting among my selections. Expect a great deal of escapist fiction, I've been in the mood to read "junk" lately. I'm thinking so much, my brain needs a break. As a matter of fact, I'm off to devour a Nora Roberts book now.

my first rejection letter

I'm always scouring the web these days, looking for writing opportunities. I decided to apply to eHow as a contributing writer, to share some of my business and marketing knowledge....or maybe just to get my name out. I've been running my own successful business for 13 years, I know a thing or two! I figured, after looking over the site, I'd be an easy shoo in. Fill out an app, provide a writing sample, a resume, then start writing. But sadly, they don't want me. I suppose having a thick file of rejections will make me a real writer, with battle stories and everything. Or, I can just re-apply later, after I rewrite my resume.

Selling Myself

I think that most of the time I will spend working on my writing career will be trying to promote myself and my talent. I spend more time crafting a "pitch" to someone who might want to hire me than crafting the actual article. I haven't tried for anything even d- list yet, but I'm working up to it. Fortunately, years of selling stuff for a living have taught me well how to sell most anything, including myself. The first rule of selling something to a customer, in any industry, is to put yourself in a position of trust with the client. You want them to believe that you genuinely care about their enjoyment of the product.You have to convince the customer that your opinion is trustworthy regarding the product's overall value. Meaning, I have to convince potential clients that I am the writer that they are looking for, and that my product ( my writing) will serve their needs.

Goal achieved in a tiny way

The piece on Believing in Yourself I wrote for Textbroker has been accepted by the client. I am officially a writer! My account has been credited the vast sum of $5.64. Someone paid me money to write for them. I suppose I will have to update my Goal 1 to " Someone pays me more than enough money to buy a Happy Meal to write for them"

My new Examiner page is up and active. My first published work, on Otakon, can be found here

It's baby steps, but it's something!

Practice makes perfect

Today I did my first few assignments for Textbroker.com. The basic idea for that site is that companies hire writers to write or ghostwrite for them. So far today, I have written glowing reviews of two gift items, and a small treatise on men's hats. It pays peanuts, but you can do as many as you want in a day, so it's good practice.

My eventual goals are as follows:
1) Have someone pay me money to write stuff for their publication. once I receive actual money for my writing, I will then feel justified in calling myself a writer. Even if it's just a buck or two. Being a "writer" to me means someone, somewhere is paying you money to write.
2) Actually make a few bucks at this thing, so that I can afford treats and extras. With the recession strangling my business, I need to find another source of income to supply my needs...Okay, my wants. I want to have new clothes, I want a laptop, I want to be able to travel and see my friends. I'm a needy sort. Maybe I can spin this thing into paying for my extras.
3)Someday, somehow, have one of my book ideas published as a real honest-to-god book. With covers and pages and my picture on it and everything. From a real publishing house, not a vanity press. Yes, friends, I also harbor the impossible dream of being a successful author. It's a faraway, candy-colored dream, but it's in my brain.

And yes, on the day that I receive my giant check for writing the new awesomeness, I will buy you all drinks.

Small Success

On Tuesday I applied to Examiner.com to write for them. I chose Baltimore history as my topic and put together a sample. Submitted, received, thanks you'll hear from us in two weeks blah blah blah...and 24 hours later, there's a mail in my inbox saying I've been accepted. Someone liked my writing. That alone is pause worthy.

It's small, and it's not remunerative, but it's "published". It will look good on my resume.I expect it will be pretty fun to do the research and write the pieces. My sample piece had a 250 - 300 word max, which was hard for me. My original piece was 500 words, I had to do some major evisceration on it to meet that maximum. For interested parties, here's my sample:

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Federal Hill is renowned for both it’s beautiful views and it’s role in Baltimore history. With panoramic views of the Baltimore Harbor, the hill provides visitors with an opportunity to see the historic waterfront in a park setting.

Digging deeper into the history of Federal Hill uncovers some important episodes in the city’s history . Federal Hill was known a until 1789 as Signal Hill, and was the location of a maritime observatory. During the celebrations to commemorate the signing of the Constitution, it was renamed Federal Hill.

There are a number of tunnels under the hill. The original purpose of the tunnels is unclear, with local speculation ranging from mining excavation to storage for ammunition. The city has made no archaeological efforts to study the tunnels.

Federal Hill played an important role in the Union’s plan to control Baltimore during the civil war. The southern sympathizing city was an important railroad , and the Union need it to move men to southern battlefields. Early Union troop movements through Baltimore resulted in angry mobs of Baltimoreans harassing Union soldiers , culminating in the Baltimore Riot. In 1861, Federal Hill was occupied by Union troops under the command of General Benjamin F Butler. Earthworks and gun emplacements were built, with the guns faced into the recalcitrant city’s business district. Legend has it that one of the tunnels under the hill was built in this era to allow soldiers enter the fort.

Federal Hill today is a beautiful park. In the summer months, the free “Flicks on the Hill” series at the American Visionary Art Museum brings families to the hill to watch free movies projected onto the Museum wall. Tourists and locals alike climb the hill for fresh breezes and a beautiful view of the waterfront, among the whispers of history.

First!!1!!!1

In all seriousness, I'm starting this blog to hone my writing skills as I begin pursuing my dream career - writing. Yes, at my advanced age, without a formal education, and completely broke, I've decided that this is the perfect time to become a writer. Right now, I've just started to apply for freelancing gigs and build up my Kate Moss thin resume. The old saw is "practice makes perfect", so practice I shall. I'm going to use this blog to both track my progress as I try to become a paid writer, and hone my craft.

Expect random snippets of stories I am working on, essays on stuff I'm reading and thinking about, and the occassional vent on wether or not I can do this. Oh, and anything I do for samples, and news if anyone actually pays me money to write something. So, expect pretty much anything.

So, grats on finding my blog. This is either going to work out amazing well and I'll be using my mad writing money to take my friends on extravagant trips, or I'll never make a cent and become frustrated and bitter. Either way, it's going to be a hell of a journey.