Friday, November 27, 2009

Epic Flail

Did I mention this yet? I got laid off from the web-copywriting job. At first, I thought this would spur me to new and greater freelance efforts, but I am feeling paralyzed. I actually have made some great strides, contacting people and trying out for various really cool-sounding gigs. On the other hand, when it comes to pitching specific articles, I find myself at a loss. How did I ever do this?

My posts are forced, right now, to be short and frantic. I just don't have the luxury of thinking deeply, and that panic is probably really bad for my actual writing. But time is at a premium, and so is energy and focus.

This is it. This is me making this work for real. I must find a baseline gig and pile individual assignments on top of it in the middle of the worst job market in the history of forever. See? I just paralyzed myself again, I AM SO BAD AT THIS!

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Online Copywriters Suck, Part II

In fact, it sucks so hard, I'm not all that upset to have been laid off from my day-job writing copy for an online shopping site. Okay, so my husband's also unemployed and we're looking down the barrel of a big, broke gun. What better way to kick my hiney back into freelance mode?

I've already submitted a personal essay, am doing a spec column, and am seeking out more information on a request for pitches. The last time I was laid off was August 2001, which turned out to be more than disastrous and I still ended up doing all right; let's see how I do this time around.

Stay tuned.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Online Copywriters Suck, Part I


Holy Crap! This is why I hate my job. Because Sephora didn't hire me. Instead, they hired the person who did... THIS!

Here's poop in your eye!

Thursday, July 09, 2009

Why Did I Ever Procrastinate Before?!

Good god. Freelancing on top of a full-time job when you have a baby is insane. But I can't give up on the freelance -- it's the work that feels good, where I feel as if I'm using my skills rather than corporate-droning myself to death. Besides, I still hold out hope that I can go back to freelancing full-time.

Anyway, I'm amazed that I ever felt like I couldn't get anything done when I had all the time in the world. What was wrong with me?? Now! Now I need all the time I wasted then! Wouldn't it be awesome if it turned out that's what procrastination was? Banking free time for when you really needed it?

Here's hoping I get my latest story in by deadline, or close enough to it to keep my editor calling.

Ooh, I know -- I'm going to finish that spec personal essay for my pal at the women's magazine. Quick, before the baby wakes up... OOPS she's up.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

I Love Being Tagged "Hilarious"

Oops. It's been a while since I updated. I was freelancing quite a bit while out on maternity leave, but with such truncated work hours, I had to make hard choices. Blogging lost. That's not true: I blogged, but not about work.

I thought it was hard not to procrastinate before. Turns out: I had no idea. When a wailing, hungry child brackets your time into three-hour segments, you get a stark lesson in just how much time you screw around. Seriously? Just as I would wind down my "just-for-a-minute" web reading, my husband would wander into the room with my big-eyed schmoo, and I'd have to admit I'd squandered my precious time yet again. 

It has taken some time, but I think I'm getting the hang of it now. 

Anyway, check out my iPhone Oscars, which I squeaked in right under the wire before the real Oscars. Man, I love my iPhone, Dr. Horrible, and Oscars.