From Bunny Slippers to Business Plans
It’s been a good week. I’ve been ridiculously busy at the office. I’ve been ridiculously busy at home. And it seems that query challenge karma alone is bringing new opportunities my way. (At the moment, I’m at Barnes & Noble, working on my ongoing copywriting project and doing some market research.) Before I dive back into work, I wanted to share with you this week’s link love:
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I don’t typically write about writing here. Or at least I try not to. Not directly.
I try to keep my content inclusive to all freelancers, despite how obvious it is that I’m a total booktard, and a slave to producing content.
But this past Monday marked the beginning of the FLX Query Challenge, a friendly, biannual competition in which teams rack up points depending upon how many queries they send out each week, and how many assignments they land. I’ve been on a pitching hiatus for awhile now — due to my new job at YourTango, my career coaching certification program, and an ongoing copywriting project — but I’m excited to start putting out feelers again … especially since I’m a team leader this time around.
So for all those writers out there — writers who are trying to get back into the pitching rhythm, writers who have been pitching all along (show-offs), and writers who are just starting out — I thought I’d put up a refresher on the pitch process.
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Work has been pretty damn good lately (aside from the occasional seasonal slump). And — conceited as it may sound — I credit myself for a lot of that. After all, I’m the one who got me here. When I was unhappy at my 9-to-5, and daydreaming about freelancedom, I figured out the steps I’d need to take in order to make it work, and then took them. I self-educated myself with a shit-ton of how-to books. I took writing and pitching classes through MediaBistro and at the New School. I attended a ton of MediaBistro networking events, and formed a writing group. I secured a freelance gig before jumping ship and, during the transitional period, was working two jobs at once. And when I’d left my 9-to-5 behind, I took on another unpaid, post-college internship in order to gain more experience, contacts, and clips.
I seem to be pulling out of that slump I was in for the past couple of weeks with my at-home freelance work. My copywriting is going faster, and easier, and I’m also feeling fired up for Freelance Success‘s regular query challenge, which starts tomorrow, and for which I’m actually a team leader (talk about accountability…). On top of all that, I’m loving my part-time, on-site job more and more every day (which happens to make life — and my commute — a lot less gloomy). How is everyone else weathering the long winter?
Okay, okay. I know what you’re here for. This week’s link love:
Hey guys! In my new role as Assistant Editor at YourTango.com, I am responsible for hiring editorial interns, and it’s about time for me to seek the next batch. Interested?
YourTango is a fast-growing online media company/web mag that provides content devoted to love and relationships. We’re seeking a motivated editorial intern to join the YourTango team. Responsibilities include:
– writing for our news/trends/celebrity blogs
– contributing content ideas for video, features, photo galleries, etc.
– photo research and editing
– social media marketing
– and content production.
Requirements:
—Excellent writing skills
—Photoshop experience
—Familiarity with online media (basic HTML, CMS experience, knowledge of SEO)
—Ability to commit to a part-time 4-month–or full-time 3-month–internship
A small stipend or college credit is available.
If you’re interested, you should e-mail me with your resume, cover letter, and a sample blog post (previously published blog posts are also accepted).
Well come on, guys! Send along those writing samples! And if you know someone else who might be interested, pass it along!
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Early yesterday, Marie Claire tweeted a link to a group of articles they have online, on how to beat the Sunday blues. Funny, that. Lately, it feels as if every day is Sunday.
Do you ever have weeks like that?
I hope you’ll forgive the lack of original content around here lately. I’ve been looking for a way to get my freelance groove back but, for the moment, it eludes me. This is partly because I’m enjoying my office job so much. I’m really into the work they’re giving me, and I’m allowing it to spill into my at-home life (naughty, naughty). I’ve also been feeling groggy, and blocked when it comes to the big copywriting project I’m working on. When I’m writing something good, I can feel it. My pulse races. I’m totally psyched. And it’s fairly easy for me to whip up a first draft. But lately, it’s been like pulling teeth, and this makes me nervous. I feel as if I can’t force it but, at the same time, it needs to get done. Soon. Any advice for me?
But that’s not what you’re here for! This past week’s link love:
This past weekend, I did something truly revolutionary: I didn’t do a damn bit of work. Instead, I spent a day cleaning the condo. I threw a party. I caught up with people I hadn’t seen in eons, due to my all-encompassing absorption with my work. I took down the Christmas decorations. I even enjoyed a leisurely lunch out with my husband. Tonight? My husband and I are meeting up with a group of friends to see Avatar at the IMAX theater. Work? What work? I’ve been completely unproductive. But it’s nice to feel a part of the world again.
Before I head out to the theater, here’s your weekly link love:
Well here we are. Another month (and…erm…an extra week) gone by. Time to face the music. ::winces::
Last month’s goals:
2009 is behind us, and good riddance to it. Though it ended on a high note — with big-money projects, the start of my career coaching certification program, and a new job — the bulk of it was a struggle, due to a continuing downward spiral in my income. I worked my booty off, though, which is why I’m so convinced that 2010 is going to rock extra hard.
In fact, I had hoped to end things, and kick 2010 off, with a bang by taking my final career coaching exam this past Wednesday, but I was struck down with a stomach bug that day, and have been laid low by that ever since (blech). Since I’m so nervous about passing (because I’m a neurotic maniac), I decided to hold off until I was feeling my best. Still, the week was a good one. I was extra-productive at the office on Monday and Tuesday, and was even included on Marie Claire’s Twitters Every Woman Should Follow list, in the career section. It felt good to be recognized as a career writer, especially after being pigeonholed as a sex writer for so long.
Here’s hoping 2010 rocks for all of us. And now, your link love:
