ISBW #55 - Freelance Work
I’m back after being gone and then ill. Thank goodness for antibiotics.
December 06, 2006 | Mur Lafferty | Comments 9
Entry Information
Filed Under: Podcast
I Should Be Writing 2.0
The podcast for wanna-be fiction writers by a writer who’s still learning. Writer Mur Lafferty discusses rejection, cover letters and getting the oomph to keep going.
Writing Angel | Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
Mur, I totally understand what you mean about edits! I completed the edits for a historical novel I wrote last year just before November (NaNo!). It’s now wish friends who are acting as my first readers and I don’t want to know about any of it! At least until February, maybe March? Good luck with getting yours done.
Alex | Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
Glad to have you back - need more tea?
Marc de Puma | Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
Thank you for this episode of I Should be Writing I really enjoyed hearing about your experiences with freelance work. As well as your advice and tips concerning freelance work.
Something you mentioned: How is your daughter doing? I hope that she was not hurt too badly.
Mur Lafferty | Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
Alex- thanks, I had some friends bring me tons of tea this weekend. I’m set for a while.
And Marc, she’s fine, we just checked her out at the dentist again, she’s doing great.
OzWriter | Dec 7, 2006 | Reply
G’day Mur,
I think you sell yourself short with how you’ve built your freelancing work/career. Sure the first contact sounded a bit like, “a friend of a friend” kind of deal, but the rest of it I think you have done some hard work.
You obviously get out there, do a bit of networking, press the flesh, do some self promotion. All those things I am sure have helped you immensely.
If you had just stayed at home waiting for the contacts to happen maybe you wouldn’t be as successful as you are. For me the message I got out of your Podcast was get out there, circulate, be social and look for work. Don’t wait for work to look for you.
I think that is advice everyone could take on board.
Thanks for the Podcast, it is the first I have listened to (ever) and I really enjoyed it.
Glenn.
Jan | Dec 10, 2006 | Reply
You spoke about frustration with your novel editing and wanting to get the darn thing over with before the year. I don’t think you said the word, but I definitely sensed it, somewhere under the surface: Procrastination.
My tip for you: Creative Procrastination.
Find something worse than the edit, and put THAT at the top of your list. Now spend a little time getting thoroughly bummed out about the new horror task. In this new reality, editing ten pages of your novel will be a pleasant diversion from feeling guilty about not doing the task at the top of your list.
Cheers from Vancouver
Jan Karlsbjerg
http://www.jankarlsbjerg.com/blog/
Computer King | Dec 11, 2006 | Reply
Glad to hear the little one’s doing well.
Edits can kill. Time. Kill time. LOTS of time. And sometimes brain cells.
But it’s the price we must pay.
I’ve got some editing to do and I shouldn’t procrastinate further.
Oh, and I dropped your promos into my latest episode(to be posted tonight/tomorow morning)
Erin O'Brien | Dec 16, 2006 | Reply
I am a freelance writer here in the states. The misery of writing is the same over here is it is over there.
And antibiotics don’t help.
Sorry about nano. Congrats on Hub.
J. D. Harper | Jan 10, 2007 | Reply
“Tool Time” is the fictional tool show on the 90’s sitcom “Home Improvement,” which regularly featured the primary character, Tim Taylor (played by Tim Allen) hurting himself and causing property damage in amusing ways.
This Old House is a real home improvement show. That’s all I know about that.