Day 12:
Finally, I got some real writing done. And my protagonists are hanging on for (emotional) dear life. What more could I possibly do to them to get them to see what direction they need to go?
More writing. That's what.
Day 13:
I really thought I was going to finally catch up today. But things got in the way--some important, some not so much. I helped wrap Christmas presents (yes, we're an early bird family around here), which took up most of the afternoon. Then, just when I was getting ready to get back to the novel, breaking news on the TV. Usually I only keep it on for the noise, but when there's breaking news, the part of me that still harbors that journalism bug wants to run to the TV and watch it nonstop. So my thoughts are with the people of Paris tonight.
Showing posts with label journalism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label journalism. Show all posts
Friday, November 13, 2015
Monday, November 19, 2012
Distractions
I have probably let distractions get the best of me over the past week. I did get the car back, working like new again but spent the equivalent of two new smartphones to have it all done. I decided not to give up on Nanowrimo like I wanted to last week, but as far as actually writing more, it's been tough. The worst part about it is that I'm not suffering from any sort of writer's block--every time I sit down to write, there are plenty of ideas sitting at my fingertips to take the story to the next level. It's getting my butt in the chair that is the hard part.
I'm also distracted by all the news. I have said before that I'm a certified news junkie, and it's true. I've been that way since I was 12 and even though I bowed out of the journalism program in college, the need to know is still there. With all of the conflict in the Middle East, I cannot take my eyes off of the TV. It also doesn't help that I tend to keep CNN or MSNBC on in the background while I work. It's these big stories that make me want to get back into journalism in some fashion, but that's unlikely to happen. So all this passion for news is and will continue to be a distraction. It's so easy to turn off the television, but it's nearly impossible to not open a new tab in Firefox to stay informed.
I'm also distracted by all the news. I have said before that I'm a certified news junkie, and it's true. I've been that way since I was 12 and even though I bowed out of the journalism program in college, the need to know is still there. With all of the conflict in the Middle East, I cannot take my eyes off of the TV. It also doesn't help that I tend to keep CNN or MSNBC on in the background while I work. It's these big stories that make me want to get back into journalism in some fashion, but that's unlikely to happen. So all this passion for news is and will continue to be a distraction. It's so easy to turn off the television, but it's nearly impossible to not open a new tab in Firefox to stay informed.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Monday Blues
...or if I was a less tactful blogger, I would have titled this post "Monday Blows!" I don't know if it's just the same old bad attitude many of us suffer at the beginning of the week, but this day just started off wrong. I have been writing a lot of news articles for work lately. I love them--gets me back into my journalism roots. But the pay is low (as always) and this morning the research was so vague and repetitive that I couldn't get the article to differentiate themselves from what's already been posted to the web. Really--how many different ways can you say that one celebrity is engaged to another one in just 100 words?
Needless to say, I wasted an hour working on these because for the meager wages, I cannot spend a lot of time re-spinning the articles. Similar phrasing picked up on whatever automatic anti-duplicate system they used sometimes cannot be helped.
So now I'm spending the rest of the afternoon/evening inserting poems into my Personas manuscript. There are still some that have to be revised, but it will be a good road map for what my project will look like once its done.
I also spent some time this morning writing a Poetic Confession. Want to submit one of your own? Check out the original post for details.
Needless to say, I wasted an hour working on these because for the meager wages, I cannot spend a lot of time re-spinning the articles. Similar phrasing picked up on whatever automatic anti-duplicate system they used sometimes cannot be helped.
So now I'm spending the rest of the afternoon/evening inserting poems into my Personas manuscript. There are still some that have to be revised, but it will be a good road map for what my project will look like once its done.
I also spent some time this morning writing a Poetic Confession. Want to submit one of your own? Check out the original post for details.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Damn You, Economy
It's finally caught up to me. I thought I was very lucky over the past two years when it came to economic security. Sure, as a freelance writer the work was never exactly "secure" but I was feeling pretty good about the money I was making. Was. Now, I wish I had listened to the same old advice all seasoned freelancers dish out (including myself on occasion): NEVER depend on a single job/project/client, even if the money is good. I've learned my lesson. Again.
Because of this great opportunity I had, I've been out of the current freelance market for about two years. Although I do the occasional paid blog post or paid Twitter ad, 99% of my income came from a single job. And I liked it. I still do. But the whole thing is being revamped, restructured--whatever business term you want to use for it--and there's a potential it could be gone at any moment. At least for me. I'm sure the company will survive, just maybe not with as many hands on deck as they used to have.
I did what any shy, sensitive writer would do. I sat down and cried for three days, staring at a computer screen that said work was not currently available. In recent days work has been available, but not nearly the amount I am used to.
Getting back on the horse is the appropriate metaphor for this situation, but the freelance market has changed drastically in the past two years. First thing I noticed was the number of jobs available. It's probably about half of what it was in 2009 (at least where I look for it). The second thing I noticed was that the stakes are much higher, though the pay seems to remain the same. I came across many ads for jobs that required a master's degree. A master's? You mean I worked for 4 1/2 years for a bachelor's and that's just not good enough anymore? Now I'm not only sad, but angry at the thought that my skills are no longer competitive in this market.
And like I've talked about in past posts, I was looking to branch out, making a more stable career for myself. Something in journalism or book publishing. I still don't have the right skills to be considered for these jobs. Now with the thought that my savings account could be empty in a couple of months, that internship is slipping through my fingers before I even finish the cover letter. I can't pay for travel to get an interview (if one was offered), let alone the money I would need to live during the internship if I was lucky enough to get it.
What can I do now? Many have told me to just go and work at Walmart. "At least it's a paycheck." I've seen too many great creative minds fall into this trap. Once you start looking at a job as nothing more than a paycheck, you've lost something of yourself. It's hard to get back to the dream that you started out with. I don't have a family to support. I don't need all the extras I like to buy. The work that's "just a paycheck" should be available to someone who really needs it. I can't let myself think of a job as just a way to get money. I want to be happy with what I do. And call me young and naive, but I still have that thought in the back of my head that I want to make a difference somehow with what I do.
In this economy, I am still lucky compared to many. For now I still have a roof over my head and food in the fridge. My whining doesn't mean a thing to anyone who can't say that for themselves. I just don't know where to go from here. If I don't make a bold move (whatever that may be), I'll never get to experience what's out there. Money makes the world go 'round. So how bold can anyone really be with $20 in their pocket?
Because of this great opportunity I had, I've been out of the current freelance market for about two years. Although I do the occasional paid blog post or paid Twitter ad, 99% of my income came from a single job. And I liked it. I still do. But the whole thing is being revamped, restructured--whatever business term you want to use for it--and there's a potential it could be gone at any moment. At least for me. I'm sure the company will survive, just maybe not with as many hands on deck as they used to have.
I did what any shy, sensitive writer would do. I sat down and cried for three days, staring at a computer screen that said work was not currently available. In recent days work has been available, but not nearly the amount I am used to.
Getting back on the horse is the appropriate metaphor for this situation, but the freelance market has changed drastically in the past two years. First thing I noticed was the number of jobs available. It's probably about half of what it was in 2009 (at least where I look for it). The second thing I noticed was that the stakes are much higher, though the pay seems to remain the same. I came across many ads for jobs that required a master's degree. A master's? You mean I worked for 4 1/2 years for a bachelor's and that's just not good enough anymore? Now I'm not only sad, but angry at the thought that my skills are no longer competitive in this market.
And like I've talked about in past posts, I was looking to branch out, making a more stable career for myself. Something in journalism or book publishing. I still don't have the right skills to be considered for these jobs. Now with the thought that my savings account could be empty in a couple of months, that internship is slipping through my fingers before I even finish the cover letter. I can't pay for travel to get an interview (if one was offered), let alone the money I would need to live during the internship if I was lucky enough to get it.
What can I do now? Many have told me to just go and work at Walmart. "At least it's a paycheck." I've seen too many great creative minds fall into this trap. Once you start looking at a job as nothing more than a paycheck, you've lost something of yourself. It's hard to get back to the dream that you started out with. I don't have a family to support. I don't need all the extras I like to buy. The work that's "just a paycheck" should be available to someone who really needs it. I can't let myself think of a job as just a way to get money. I want to be happy with what I do. And call me young and naive, but I still have that thought in the back of my head that I want to make a difference somehow with what I do.
In this economy, I am still lucky compared to many. For now I still have a roof over my head and food in the fridge. My whining doesn't mean a thing to anyone who can't say that for themselves. I just don't know where to go from here. If I don't make a bold move (whatever that may be), I'll never get to experience what's out there. Money makes the world go 'round. So how bold can anyone really be with $20 in their pocket?
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
A Plan is in Place. Finally!
Over the weekend I finally worked out all of my professional woes. While I feel I'm a little too old and removed from the internship scene, I actually found one or two internships that will NOT require me to go back to school. They aren't in journalism though. These internship possibilities are in book publishing, which I happen to love just as much as journalism. And like journalism, I am missing some requirements to get the entry level positions, but at least there's more of an opportunity to learn through internships.
Problems? I am nervous about my resume. I'm terrified I will write a poor cover letter. Most of the internships I'm interested in are in NYC (mostly this is a perk, but there's still apprehension there). The stress of a possible interview in the middle of blizzard season. I'm not sure what to do about all those life things I have to take care of (i.e. if I take a summer internship, should I renew my apartment lease? I know I'm never going to want to leave once I get there). But you know what? Even with all of these worries, the prospect of a paid internship in NYC is just about the most excited thing I have had to think about in a good long while.
Starting today, I have 120 days to get my act together. A sparkling resume! A flawless cover letter! The determination of something bigger and greater for myself. And seriously, a chance to see the city I have always dreamed about.
Problems? I am nervous about my resume. I'm terrified I will write a poor cover letter. Most of the internships I'm interested in are in NYC (mostly this is a perk, but there's still apprehension there). The stress of a possible interview in the middle of blizzard season. I'm not sure what to do about all those life things I have to take care of (i.e. if I take a summer internship, should I renew my apartment lease? I know I'm never going to want to leave once I get there). But you know what? Even with all of these worries, the prospect of a paid internship in NYC is just about the most excited thing I have had to think about in a good long while.
Starting today, I have 120 days to get my act together. A sparkling resume! A flawless cover letter! The determination of something bigger and greater for myself. And seriously, a chance to see the city I have always dreamed about.
Monday, September 19, 2011
It's Back
You know that drive I thought I lost? The motivation? Well, it's back--and with a vengeance. I haven't felt a creative high like this in a long while.
The only problem I seem to have now is what to focus on with all this energy. Today, I have been bouncing off one project and on to another. I started with poetry this morning, then I went over to the novel this afternoon. And because I'm all of a sudden interested in being involved in journalism again, I'm researching various topics of interest and trying to find the best way to break back into it all. I got a full plate, that's for sure.
What will become of me in the next couple of months? Something other than status quo, I'm hoping. I'll give myself a tentative deadline of January 1, 2012 to surprise myself, show a little confidence--get something worthwhile done. I'm determined to have a career I can be proud of.
The only problem I seem to have now is what to focus on with all this energy. Today, I have been bouncing off one project and on to another. I started with poetry this morning, then I went over to the novel this afternoon. And because I'm all of a sudden interested in being involved in journalism again, I'm researching various topics of interest and trying to find the best way to break back into it all. I got a full plate, that's for sure.
What will become of me in the next couple of months? Something other than status quo, I'm hoping. I'll give myself a tentative deadline of January 1, 2012 to surprise myself, show a little confidence--get something worthwhile done. I'm determined to have a career I can be proud of.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
I have only 6 weeks left until I graduate. I applied for a job that, if I get, will start right away. I don't know how that's going to fare on my projects, but... we'll see how things go.
I'm promising a completely random blog entry today...
Ever heard "Shake It" by Metro Station? Only the GREATEST SONG EVER (for the moment). I listened to it about twelve times before my scriptwriting class today. Then, at least two more times after class, then got sick of it, so I switched back to listening to the Monkees.
I have an awesome idea for nanowrimo this year... it's a story I thought of (according to the date I wrote in the top right corner of the page) in high school. I didn't know I had good ideas then... who knew? But, it's gonna be great. It'll be the breakout novel of... whatever year I actually finish it.
I'm impatiently waiting for my rare book to come in the mail. It's not too rare (1992 1st edition) but... still. I got for a fraction of the price of any other copies listed anywhere on the internet.... am I rambling? Anyway, it's the Japanese language through John Lennon's eyes. The Book is titled Ai or something like that (Japanese for "yes" if I've done my homework properly). Too bad there was only ever one edition of it.
I also ordered (though I will be unemployed in 6 weeks) Anderson Cooper's memiors. With shipping, I got a like new hardback edition for under $5. I think it'll be worth the money. I don't read many memiors (I should) and reading his will just bring me back to the days when I thought I could be a journalist... boy, seems like a long time since I thought about that.
Oh well... I SHOULD be thinking about my homework and how the hell I'm going to get it all done this weekend... even without any distractions.
I'm promising a completely random blog entry today...
Ever heard "Shake It" by Metro Station? Only the GREATEST SONG EVER (for the moment). I listened to it about twelve times before my scriptwriting class today. Then, at least two more times after class, then got sick of it, so I switched back to listening to the Monkees.
I have an awesome idea for nanowrimo this year... it's a story I thought of (according to the date I wrote in the top right corner of the page) in high school. I didn't know I had good ideas then... who knew? But, it's gonna be great. It'll be the breakout novel of... whatever year I actually finish it.
I'm impatiently waiting for my rare book to come in the mail. It's not too rare (1992 1st edition) but... still. I got for a fraction of the price of any other copies listed anywhere on the internet.... am I rambling? Anyway, it's the Japanese language through John Lennon's eyes. The Book is titled Ai or something like that (Japanese for "yes" if I've done my homework properly). Too bad there was only ever one edition of it.
I also ordered (though I will be unemployed in 6 weeks) Anderson Cooper's memiors. With shipping, I got a like new hardback edition for under $5. I think it'll be worth the money. I don't read many memiors (I should) and reading his will just bring me back to the days when I thought I could be a journalist... boy, seems like a long time since I thought about that.
Oh well... I SHOULD be thinking about my homework and how the hell I'm going to get it all done this weekend... even without any distractions.
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