From Bunny Slippers to Business Plans
I left publishing because I needed a creative outlet. I missed writing and, due to my full-time job — plus my long commute — I never seemed to have the energy at the end of the day to brainstorm and send out pitches, or even string together words coherently.
But that’s not the only reason I left.
I was also worn down by verbally abusive authors: those who thought they were my only responsibility, and who consistently treated me both rudely and unprofessionally. [Read more…]
What’s notable this week? Well, I gots myself a laptop (early birthday gift from my husband) and I also dove in to Freelance Success‘s Summer Query Challenge, which is acting as a great motivator for non-blog-related activities. Of course, all blog-related activities have suffered.
Truce?
I’ll admit it.
I only wanted my husband to get his laptop fixed so that I would never have to leave the cozy safety of my bed ever again.
I loved propping up several pillows behind my back, setting up the small breakfast-in-bed tray, and writing, tweeting, and surfing Etsy to my heart’s content. It was relaxing, and appealed to my inherent laziness.
So it drove me crazy that he was taking his sweet old time replacing his laptop’s defunct power cable.
Then he presented me with an early birthday gift, and suddenly the possibility afforded by mobility seemed limitless!
Hey guys. Friday here. Came quick, too. Maybe it’s the new relaxed pace I’m taking. Doing the next day’s blogging ahead of time. Taking walks every morning. I’m feeling less frenzied, and finding the time to pitch story ideas, market myself, and interact on Twitter again.
And read. Read like crazy:
Her Anti 9-to-5 Guide led the way in my journey to full-time freelancedom. And when My So-Called Freelance Life hit the shelves, I couldn’t stop myself from gushing. It was the book I wished I’d had from the very beginning.
After the jump, Michelle Goodman — one of my top freelance gurus — is kind enough to answer my nagging questions:
I’ve always been a firm believer in the idea that a bad economy shouldn’t doom a freelance career, as long as you’re doing the hustle.
Apparently, I’m not hustling enough.
My income first took a hit when the New York Sun folded almost a year ago, and was hit again when Nerve.com revamped their site about a month ago. Despite several copy editing projects and magazine assignments (both in print and online), my income has failed to recover.
Which is why I’m researching additional sources of supplementary income. After the jump, IÂ share 10 side job ideas for freelancers:
I’ll admit it. I haven’t been blogging much lately. I blame summer. And visiting relatives. And lazy afternoons. And Broadway shows and new restaurants.
I also blame the fact that I’m not quite sure what direction I’m moving in anymore. I’m working on an article for Time Out NY, starting to become a regular face at Lemondrop, and helming a new blog over at Nerve. But it’s not enough. And I’m not quite sure how I want to supplement my income.
When one is not moving in new directions, it’s tough to find new freelance questions to answer. Help me out: Let me know what you’re dying to know.
In the meantime, here’s this week’s link love:
While I use my Twitter account primarily to promote my work, share relevant links, and network with other freelancers, the mundane, the personal, and the desperate often sneak in.
But perhaps that’s a good thing.
Hey there guys. Happy weekend! Here’s the best of what I’ve read lately, in case you’re not already out and about on this gorgeous day:
I spend the bulk of my hours on my computer, and the bulk of those hours on my Google Reader, scanning through the 146 blogs I’m subscribed to. Among those: Lifehacker. The blog’s posts are rich with tips and web apps guaranteed to make my life easier.
Though I can easily search through my Google Reader for the answer to any problem — assuming it’s already been answered in a previous post — there’s just something about holding a tangible reference manual in your hands…
Which is why I was curious to read Lifehacker founding editor Gina Trapani’s Upgrade Your Life: The Lifehacker Guide to Working Smarter, Faster, Better.
