12.30.08
Posted in Writing at 10:17 am by mywords
As I come to the end of 2008 and the start of 2009 I’m forced to look back at the year that was – its successes and failures – and look forward to changes and hopes for the new year.
In 2008, I became solely self-employed, and a mother again. I learned how important it is to manage your time and develop ways of keeping myself on track work-wise and housework-wise. I learned that I could be self-disciplined enough to work from home. I have learned that I must balance royalty paying projects with cash paying projects – although I can’t say that I’ve learned how to do that successfully. I’ve learned about markets that I can write for for a decent amount of money. I’ve learned that there are people out there who think that less than a cent a word is good pay. I’ve learned what freelance job sites offer the most opportunities for good paying jobs and how to apply for them.
I started a website (okay, that was late 2007, but it didn’t really get off the ground until 2008), and two blogs. I was invited to participate in a writers’ blog, as well.
2008, I can’t deny (even though I started a sentence with digits!), has been a good year. I have started the career I’ve always wanted. I’ve had good back-up from my job in the Canadian Senate. My to-do list is always full.
In 2009, I plan to tackle that always-full to-do list. One thing I’ve discovered in 2008 is how easy it is to get backlogged and discouraged when that to-do list doesn’t seem to be getting any smaller. It’s heartening that I always have lots to do…but that doesn’t always include my own writing. I have one psychological thriller, one novel, one romantic suspense and one devotional started, but none of them are ready for publication, yet. The psych thriller and suspense books are very close to being “done” – that is, I’m at the editing stage with them. But the fact that they remain on my desk uncompleted and almost mocking me as I come to the end of another year tells me that in 2009, I must make an effort to finish them – NO! I will finish them.
“Finish” in this case means, my psychological thriller and romantic suspense books will be finally edited and ready to query; my devotional will be planned, pitched, and ready to go to print; my three anthologies that I’ve been editing stories for will be printed; my novel will be written, maybe not necessarily edited, but at least written.
I want to be more discerning in the projects I take on. In addition to my own work, I will be taking on one full-length freebie project, one partial freebie project, one ghostwriting project, one transcription project (regular) in addition to a weekly transcription project, a new position with a California publisher, hopefully, by the summer.
In between all this I also have plans to attend the Write! On Canada conference in Guelph and the Editors’ Association of Canada’s annual conference in Toronto. (See what I mean about that to-do list. That to-do list is one of the reasons I’m typing this before 5am.)
In short, I have a challenging but potentially profitable and productive writing year ahead and I’m looking forward to it!
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12.23.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 7:41 pm by mywords
This thought occurred to me on Black Friday or Monday or whatever it was — the first shopping day after the American Thanksgiving when a story came over the radio that somewhere in the US (don’t remember where) a man was trampled to death and several people were sent to hospital when a Walmart opened for the day.
Is getting through the doors first so important that it’s worth killing someone? Apparently this man was over 6 feet tall and was given the post to open the doors, even though he didn’t want to. One of the people taken to hospital was a woman who was 8 months pregnant.
Over the last few days, as “shoppers rush home with their treasures” in between snow storms, this thought has come to me again. Having been cut off twice by people trying to merge, all I could do is shake my head and ask, “Is getting there first really all that important?”
Last week was a wild ride for me as I was out every night and tried to maintain a freelance career and get presents wrapped at the same time.
We really need to learn to slow down and not get so wrapped up rushing. What’s going to happen if that exact thing is not under the tree? If someone is going to be so put out that it isn’t there what does that say about that person – and, if it’s one of our children, what does that say about what we have taught our children.
Sometimes we get too caught up in the gifts – although they are fun (I like giving as much as I like receiving especially with a baby celebrating his first Christmas) – that it overshadows everything else. As a Christian, I try very hard to not let myself get carried away. When I find myself doing that, I have to reel myself in, take a deep breath and say, “It’s okay if we don’t have that thing.”
A couple of months ago, there was one gift for everyone that was going to be it and with my husband working the kinds of shifts he was working, I wasn’t expecting a whole lot for myself. But, some money did come in, recently – actually quite a bit of money – and I was able to purchase a few more things that I wouldn’t have purchased otherwise. So, this Christmas I’m celebrating the first Christmas in over 12 years where we weren’t scrimping and saving and wondering how we were going to pay for Christmas. For the first Christmas in 12 years our bank account is in the black!
My husband arrived home safely from work after several snow storms producing icy road conditions; my children are both healthy; we have a roof over our head, a furnace that works (WOOHOO!!), a church family, and on-line family and the pleasure of counting how many friends I have by the Christmas greetings that are arriving and that I send out.
I heard the most disgusting Christmas song I’d ever heard, yesterday. I don’t know who sings it, but my favorite radio station played this song and it was all about I want everything for Christmas. It had to be the most selfish song I had ever heard. This not too far away from the airing of the song The Christmas Shoes – possibly the most selfless song I’d ever heard. I quickly changed the station disgusted that this song focused so much on getting everything.
As I looked at the gifts wrapped that sat under our tree that my parents had brought, I thought, If those were the only gifts we had for Christmas I would be quite content with that. I had so much to be thankful for.
I challenge you to not let things get carried away. Look at all the things you have going for you. Let’s not be so “get” centered that we forget to be truly thankful.
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12.16.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 5:04 pm by mywords
Last night was our Ladies’ Night Out event at my church, which we try to have once a month. It came at the end of a very busy day – up since 5 and didn’t really stop until 12 hours later while I waited for the pork chops to cook.
One of the most fun activities of the evening, besides all the Christmas cookies I got to bring home, was when we got to share our most favorite Christmas memories and, I must admit, I have quite a few of those.
But, I thought perhaps those are the greatest Christmases of all. Not the gifts, the lights, the decorations, the trampling people to death to get that one gift that your child will probably enjoy playing with the box of instead – it’s providing memories for others. Those who may not have a job, this year, because of the economic down turn (I know there are 66,000 auto workers up here (Canada) without jobs this Christmas).
You never know what your gift either small or large, cash or gift, or kind word will mean to somebody else.
I grew up in the Salvation Army and often volunteered at the toy depot that my parents ran. I was one of the lucky ones that got to hand out memories to families. I know there are a lot of parents who don’t even celebrate Christmas that have their hands out and aren’t really truly thankful for what they receive – their only goal is to take what’s available. Then there are others that come to us as a last resort. They don’t know where else to turn. They’ve tried to do things themselves and are so disappointed that, for whatever reason, they are unable to provide a single gift for their children.
We had one mother like that come in that I will never forget. She had a little one (3 years old, I think) and a 6 year old. My friend and I were handed a garbage bag each and sent into the storage area to put together a memorable Christmas for these children. But, I think it meant more to the mother than it did to the kids. We emerged from the back with two bags full of toys and the mother burst into tears. She was so thankful that through us she could provide her children with something for Christmas. I will never forget that woman.
Nor will I forget the mother who came to us looking for groceries because there was too much month at the end of the money for her to provide food for her two teenage sons.
I will not forget the least paid of those I worked with on Parliament Hill who provided the most gifts for the toy drive.
I will not forget the Christmas that saw us strapped for cash, and the kindness of someone (was never told who did it) who went to the trouble to order gifts for us – they had Purolator stickers on them – which were presented to us one Christmas Eve. I was in tears as I wrapped them that night.
I will remember those children who will receive a small gift through Operation Christmas Child, this year, that normally have absolutely nothing. Not even a roof over their head.
I will remember the family that our church is sponsoring this Christmas and know that whatever I can give would be most appreciated.
I will remember those people, and how happy I was when someone cared enough about me to help me, and in turn help those where I can – and be thankful for what I have, because somewhere out there is someone who has less that I have been blessed with.
What can you do to create a Christmas memory for someone less fortunate?
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12.08.08
Posted in Writing at 10:57 pm by mywords
I’m back…that was a longer hiatus than I’d intended. It started with a one-week posting stint on another writers blog I participate in on a rotating basis (everydaybloggers.blogspot.com). Then I got swamped with a new article editing project and two transcription projects and I’ve only just now come up for breath.
This has led me to today’s post about learning to say, no.
When I decided to work from home, one of my goals was to spend more time doing housewifey type things, because with my busy work and commute schedule nothing was getting done. Well, my commute time has been filled in with freelancing and my working hours are about the same as when I was working full-time and freelancing part-time. And, my house is still in the same state.
It’s not a good thing for me to be stressed and having to juggle freelance life – job hunting, the pressures of being responsible for bringing in my own work, finding work, writing and editing for that work – with the unpredictable schedule of a relative newborn (he’s nearly 4 months old now, so not really newborn any more) is a challenge. I normally just try to go with the flow, but when bills are piling up and the bank account seems to be sinking lower and lower, I find I have no choice but to still spend nearly 12 hours a day in front of the computer working.
Is that a legacy I want to pass on to my newborn who faithfully sits beside me day in and day out watching me work. Do I want him to get the idea that mommy only ever sits in front of the computer all day and so that’s what he should do? No.
I want him to learn how to manage time successfully so that things get done and are kept on top of, and that there will always be time for him…not just me waiting for him to go to sleep so I can concentrate, without interruption, on the next project.
So, mommy-hood and writing career are still battling with each other.
I guess this will be my New Year’s resolution. I answered one pollster’s question about what I wanted to do in the New Year and I said, I wanted more free time. I have a gazillion books sitting behind me waiting to be read. I have four books of my own sitting there waiting to be finished and a whole host of others waiting to be written. I have a new baby who will be walking and talking before I know it. I have a 12-year-old who is growing into a young man and future high school student. Perhaps this is the work-at-home version of supermom…but I’m quickly realizing that whether I work outside the home or from within the home, there still needs to be balance.
Here’s to finding that balance in 2009.
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