Re: FBOFW, 1-10


Rilchiam@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> Just wanted to clarify this:
>
> peterson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> > >
> > But "dial it back" doesn't work in that venue. You can't "dial it back"
> > and have any success at all. If you're turning down work or blowing off
> > deadlines, you're gonna be off the list. That's experience talking, not
> > just a competing fantasy about how freelancing works.
>
> You're using the fallacy of the excluded middle.

No, actually, I'm not. But thanks for the assumption.

> Either Mike does
> nothing but work, or he quits freelance entirely. There is a third
> option. Spend a certain amount of time, like two, three hours, writing,
> then when the timer goes off, stand up, stretch, and join his FAMILY
> for an hour, or even a half-hour. Then go back refreshed. Working
> non-stop all night might actually be hindering his ability to focus.

Did you know any architecture students in college? They're a lot of fun
when there is no project hanging fire, because they're wonderfully
creative people. But then there IS a project hanging fire and they
transform into moles. They just frikkin' disappear into the bowels of
the building and when they come out again, three weeks later, they look
like plague survivors.

Freelance writing is like that, too. In my case, it was a sideline
while I tried (unsuccessfully) to be a novelist, and so, yeah, I was
able to set up a system that worked well. But most of my assignments
were pretty low level -- I'd have to go interview someone, write it up,
turn it in. I couldn't change the deadlines, but I could slide things
around as you describe.

And then I'd get the $50 or $150 I deserved for the effort I had put
in. And we'd go out to dinner and wasn't that nice?

But when I got a "good" project, it was a whole different thing. I'd
become one of the mole people, and my family would work around that
fact. And at the end, you get $1500 or $3000, and it's worth it for
both parties. But you're not dictating the terms and setting the
deadlines -- they tell you what they need and when, and you can either
say "Yes" or you can say "No." And if you say "No," they don't call you
again.

Here's what else you're not seeing -- Mike pitching and pitching and
pitching, and dealing with clients and doing all the sales that
precedes these demanding contracts. Freelancing is about one quarter
writing and three-quarters selling. I gave it up because the market had
collapsed in our area, so I moved back East and took a job at a
newspaper because I only had to sell myself once and then I had a
relatively easy time. And every time that paycheck rolled in without my
having to make 5 phone calls and write a couple of snippy reminders and
maybe have an attorney friend drop a note, I would be delighted to see
it again. It felt like I was cheating, it was so easy.

Mike has chosen a tough racket -- but he's good at it, and it's
something he was working on before he met Dee. He's successful well
beyond the average, and she should be proud of that, and supportive.

But elsewhere someone asked, if his career matters so much, why did he
get married? And the answer is because she was supportive when they
were single. It was after the ring went on that she took off the mask
and betrayed that trust by getting pregnant on purpose, knowing he
didn't want it, knowing his career was at a critical juncture, knowing
that he was too nice a guy to call her bullshit and kick her out.

He married her because he trusted her.

Damn fool.

Mike Peterson
Glens Falls NY

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: FBOFW, 1-10
    ... If you're turning down work or blowing off ... I agree with you that Mike isn't blameless here and I hear what you're ... As for the break you describe above, writing really is a creative ... Especially when I was freelancing, if I was in the mood to write, you ...
    (rec.arts.comics.strips)
  • Re: Question about dual headset for re-dictating using VR
    ... > frustation of having a set of earplus plus the mike ... > out the window, hence I've always gone back to the keyboard and expanders, ... > Does anyone know if a dual purpose headset has been created. ... > I'd also love to hear from anyone who is having success with VR and ...
    (sci.med.transcription)
  • Re: msado27.tlb has missing dependency info
    ... > Thanks very much, Mike, for your swift answer. ... It pretty much explains .dep files. ... But if you're up against a deadline and you don't think ... success, ...
    (microsoft.public.vb.general.discussion)
  • Re: Desktop Icons
    ... Thanks Mike - I have been trying that, but without success. ... The trouble is that the icons stay put throughout the session, ... >>I can successfully place my desktop icons where I want them, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)
  • Re: Cant start OE redux
    ... HKCU/Identities key, without success. ... As far as the DBX files, ... I checked all hidden and system files. ... Mike ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6_outlookexpress)