The highest compliment

There's nothing quite so good for a writer as when another writer pays you a compliment. I recently posted a link to Will Write for Chocolate, a new web comic that I've delighted in following. The author found my blog because I'd linked to hers, and linked back to mine from another of her blogs for writers. Here is the link as it appears on Inkygirl, and the compliment she paid me:



I was, of course, quite pleased by the compliment as well as the traffic she will, no doubt, send my way. I'm also thrilled to gain a little recognition in the freelance community. Whether or not it's true, it makes me feel like the effort I've put into freelancing is actually getting me somewhere (and it probably is true, considering the upward trend in my income). I only hope my hard work continues to pay off!

The reject article finally published...

A month or more ago, I blogged about an article that nobody wanted. I'd written it after going to the grand reopening party for Attic Bookstore. To refresh your memories (or just save you the time of trying to find the old blogs), I wrote the story for a local paper, who then decided that they didn't want the story after all - the bookstore's goth theme didn't fit very well with their paper. Next I submitted it to a local magazine, even though they don't pay their writers - I just thought it would be a waste if the piece went unpublished. However, I didn't exactly feel like revamping the article for no pay, so when the magazine said it wasn't their style, I withdrew it. I then submitted it to Associated Content, an online informational database that I sometimes write for. They didn't want to pay me their usual measely payment for it, since it only covered one local business, so I had to resubmit it for publication with no pay (one time rights only, of course). It took them a while, but my piece on the grand reopening of the Attic Bookstore in Englewood was finally published. I'm glad that's over; it was such a headache for a while there.

I often feel the articles I write are like my children, so the thought of having one rejected, fated to exist only on my computer, was heartbreaking. I made the decision to publish the piece even if it meant not getting paid for it, but I was shocked by the way publishers treat writers who are literally donating their time and work. Really, if they're not going to pay us, they should at least show a little respect! I guess that's why I rarely write for free (or almost-free) - any publisher who doesn't pay their writers (or pays only a couple of bucks) most likely doesn't respect their writers.

In any case, I felt that I learned a lot from the Attic Bookstore article fiasco.

• One, it sucks when publishers tell you they're interested in a piece but then change their minds once they see it - but there's nothing you can do about it. Therefore, have backup plans - someone to send the piece to next.
• Two, unless a piece really is time-sensitive, it probably isn't worthwhile to give it away just to see it in print as soon as possible. If the piece can wait, then so should you - take your time to find someone who will at least give you something for the time and effort it took you to write the piece.
• And three, there may be articles like this one - the children that you wish you hadn't created - but there will always be plenty of good articles (and good publishers) to make up for it.

Well, there's my lessons for the day. That being said, feel free to take a look at my article!

A heartwarming news story

Do you ever get tired of the depressing story on the news? I ran across a news video that is wholly different from the norm, about a surprising basketball hero at a school in New York. I don't even know what I can say about it, except that it is guaranteed to move you.

A bad omen for all American women

Today USAToday ran an article about a ban on abortion that South Dakota is trying to pass. I was absolutely astonished by what I was reading. I mean, can they even try to pass a ban like this, with Roe v. Wade still in place? I guess the idea is probably to pass the ban in South Dakota first, and then use it to overturn Roe v. Wade at the Supreme Court level. Just the thought gives me the chills. I already have enough problems dealing with my health thanks to the U.S. government, without them taking away my right to govern my own body.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: if it gets much worse in this country, I'm moving to Canada. At least there, I'll have guaranteed health care, which, as a diabetic, is probably my most basic need.

Granted, the conservatives are always searching for a way to erode the rights given to women by Roe v. Wade. However, if this attempt begins to pick up speed, I will most certainly get involved, as I'm not going to sit on the sidelines and let the government tell me what I can or can't do with my own reproductive system.

Staple-less and proud!

Yesterday Michael had his 10-day (well, 11-day, to be precise) checkup with the doctor who performed his microdiscectomy. While he was there, the nurse took out his staples. She used a little tool that wasn't a staple remover, but rather similar... Michael said it hurt, as I can only imagine. However, he really has healed up rather fast - faster than you would think, considering that surgery was performed through this incision less than two weeks ago.



Michael has also been able to back off on his Percocet doses, which is a sign that it's probably healing just as quickly inside as well. He still is not allowed to twist or bend, and he's supposed to change position - between sitting, standing, and lying down - about every twenty minutes, but he is definitely more mobile than he was a week ago.

Finding time to write

This week's post on my favorite web comic/blog for writers, Will Write for Chocolate, was on finding time to write. Although the post is written by and for write-at-home moms, I still found the issues and tips applicable to my own predicament - particularly with Michael home 24/7, recovering from back surgery. Between taking care of Michael, taking care of housework (well, when I can), and doing everything else we do with both of us home, time to write is at a premium. It's ironic, too, because lately I'm getting more time to write than ever: already I've more than doubled my January income, and February isn't even over yet! I'm certainly facing a challenge: how to find time to write as a write-at-home girlfriend/caretaker (instead of a write-at-home mother).

Luckily, Michael is currently taking a nap. I'll see what I can get done while he sleeps (and hope that it doesn't make me sleepy too)...

The bottom feeders debate

I've gotten into a bit of a debate with Angela Hoy, over at Writer's Weekly, about bottom feeders. As you may remember from my past blog entries, Angela Hoy has ranted about bottom feeders in the past. Usually I agree with her - writing an article for $1-$5 is downright insulting - but it seems we have come to a difference in opinion. I mentioned to her that I kicked off my freelancing career by writing for internet databases, earning $15-$25 per article. At first I was somewhat naive about it, but pretty quickly I learned to only write on topics that allowed me to pound out an article in about an hour's time; eventually, I set my standards at the equivalent of $15 per hour (which was about what I got at my full-time technical writing job, so I figure that's my break-even point). Although I still write these from time to time, for the most part they served their purpose as a jumping-off-point for my career, while earning me a decent wage.

However, Angela disagrees; she thinks that $15-$25 is not enough if I'm signing away all rights. I see her point, and if the article were anything I'd want to reuse, I would completely agree - but most of these articles, while well-written, are certainly not groundbreaking. For work that I put a lot of time and creativity into, I would never sign away all rights for $25, but I just don't see the harm in it with these. Besides, higher paying gigs are harder to come by for newbies like me, and I still have bills to pay in the meantime!

For examples of my one-hour wonders, see my articles on pets, parenting, cars, and beauty.