A few minutes ago, I was stunned to see a successful writer I know Tweet that self promotion feels “icky” to her.
Love you, Lady, but I don’t know what world you’re living in. In my universe, writers self promote or get lost in the shuffle. And, frankly, anyone working for themselves, creating any type of art or product or even pushing involvement in the cause of their choice must swallow their ego and put themselves out there.
Is it a pain some days? Yes. Do you risk rejection and ridicule? Yes. But if you don’t put yourself out there, no one will.
However, life’s short. If you hate promoting your work or your cause, don’t. There are plenty of others who’ll be happy for the extra space in the spotlight.
After reading My So-Called Freelance Life: How to Survive and Thrive as a Creative Professional for Hire, Michelle Goodman, is my new hero. Only thing is, I wish I bought this book years ago. (Though it wasn’t published until September 2008, by Seal Press.)
The ten bucks I spent on this book will likely save me thousands of dollars over the course of my career. And, it will definitely save me oodles of time, headaches and heartaches.
Though I read the book on my Kindle for iPhone, I plan to buy a stack of paper copies (also only $10 each) so I can give one to all of the classmates and peers who come to me for advice. It’s that helpful. More, it’s a fun read. (I know, not what you’d expect from a how-to book.) I actually laughed out loud several times.
Why’s it so helpful? Well, it’s packed with helpful resources, as you’d expect. But it’s also crammed with real-life, on-the-job experiences that ring true. In fact, in my two years as a full-time freelance writer-for-hire, I’ve run into many of the situations Goodman discusses: Crappy clients, PIE (paid-in-exposure offers), late payments, mind-numbing contracts, organization and administrative frustrations, budgeting woes and more.
Best of all, reading Goodman’s book made me feel good about my progress. It’s also convinced me to stop making excuses, over-booking my schedule and get to work on this Web site. (Thanks, Michelle!)
The book isn’t only for writers, though. If you’re looking to start any type of freelance business, My So-Called Freelance Life is a must read.
I’m no longer working for the organization that asked me to work for them full-time just last week. (I know. Odd, right?) Turns out it wasn’t as good of a fit as it could have been. C’est la vie.
What’s really cool, though, is immediately following that less than stellar news, I spoke to several of my clients and all of them — yes, all of them — had good things to say about my work. Some even had news about their readers’ reaction to my work, and it was all positive too. That’s not to say any of them will tell you I submit perfect drafts, no writer does. But, they do appreciate my hard work and the connections I help foster in our community. And, according to one of them, I’m a favorite stringer.
Since my work there has only just begun, there’s not a lot to report. But, I can tell you the more I learn about what they’re up to the more I am excited to work with them.
If you haven’t already, check out what they’re doing at the Renaissance Computing Institute (or RENCI — pronounced REN-se). No, wait — allow me to sum up:
RENCI researchers are studying how we’ve used the land in North Carolina over the past 30, or so, years. More than that, they’re using that data to help them predict how we’ll use it in the future.
It’s all very cool, kinda geeky but very accessible stuff. And, it’s research that can, and probably will, affect the lives of North Carolinians.
Unlike my work with the local media, there won’t be any bylines to show off, but I will definitely keep you in the loop.
I’ve got a short-term, part-time contract to do some copy writing, create a little buzz and bust up geek-speak into bite-size chunks that have a little more flavor than’s customary for academia. Not sure where this project will lead, for now I’m just happy to be part of the team.
So much for having extra time to work on little things like my Web site this summer! But, I’m not complaining. (No really, I’m not.)
While I wish this site was more put together by now, it isn’t. (So what? The earth’s still turning!)
Instead of learning all I can about digital photography, Adobe’s CS4 professional suite, WordPress and the Thesis Theme (like I planned), I’ve been busy cranking out copy — which is important since every article I work on gets me a little closer to my ultimate goal of being a highly successful freelance writer. I’ve also been learning about digital photography by way of making oodles of mistakes. (Hey. We all have to learn somehow.)
Plus, at the start of summer, I had one idea for my business and now I have another … so, I’m glad I didn’t spend a huge amount of time and money creating a Web site that wouldn’t suit my needs today. I’m also back to the point where the idea of hiring someone to make my Web site something special is much more appealing than trying to do it on my own.
I was first introduced to SARK (a.k.a. Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy) on vacation in Asheville, N.C., more than a decade ago. Someone gave me her book Succulent Wild Woman.
As one of the many people in the world who survived a rough childhood, her message to heal thyself struck a cord. Beyond that, it’s hard not to fall in love with someone who not only writes their books by hand and in technicolor, but publishes many of them that way, too. (She also encourages her readers to color in her books.)
Her works make you want to live a less inhibited life. They urge you to chase your dreams, give into the urge to nap and to explore your creative desires.
So, it is with nothing less that total enthusiasm that I announce this: I’m going to spend the weekend with SARK!
Goddess in Bloom is hosting a 3-day, 2-night “Making Your Creative Dreams Real” interactive workshop near Chapel Hill, N.C. This, my friends, is my graduation present to myself.
I look back over the last many years, some of which were terribly difficult, and think of the many times I’ve turned to a SARK book for a little inspiration. I’ve come a long way in a short time and I know that is due in part to the lessons SARK has taught me through her luscious (she seems to love the word luscious) words.
Thank you, SARK. Can’t wait to meet you so I can thank you in person.
If it weren’t for my FranklinCovey planner, I would be lost. No, I’m not kidding and, no, they aren’t paying me. In fact, I gladly pay them about $50 a year for a planner refill and other planning supplements.
So, I admit it: I put my client’s projects before my own. That’s why you’re not seeing as much action on this site as I’d like to see. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot going on in the background, there is.
But, here’s the deal: I’m busy with writing assignments, social media consulting and volunteering for organizations like ProPublica.org. And, I’m not complaining. I love staying busy, and I truly love my clients.
