Posted by: Nichole in Business, Giving Writers a Bad Name, Writing, activism, challenge, clients, freelance bidding sites, freelance writing, income, lesson learned, low paying gigs, mad as hell, motivation, writers
Over at one of my favorite blogs, Lori is asking us to stand up with her and make today, May16th, Writer’s Worth Day.
What is Writer’s Worth Day? I am soo glad you asked! It’s one day where we take a minute to devote our blogs to calling out the crappy low paying gigs and (in my opinion) scams as well.
Let’s look at it this way. I make a decent wage. I take on assignments that pay relatively well but it’s taken me two years to get to that point. It was after two years of lowering my rates to equal the low balling non-English speaking writer with poor grammar, who posts on forums that states “I write good English. Can do 500 words for $3.00″. All in the hopes that they would choose me over them.
What the Frick was I thinking?
I know what I was thinking -
Read the rest of this entry »
Two weeks ago on my
Weekend Rambling post, I received a comment from Ellen:
I decided to read your blog because you mentioned it on WAHM.com on the Today.com thread. I really don’t know why you think people are interested in your life and that of your family. It is so narcissistic. I guess people read your blog for various reasons. But I won’t come here again. And if you really want to make money for your trip try writing professionally. Blooging for $5 a post is a hobby. Your writing isn’t too bad, but raise the bar a bit.
At the time I read her comment, I had just found out my uncle had passed away and didn’t have the strength to deal with it. Negativity wasn’t quite what I needed. However, dear Ellen had alerted all of you to my newest blogging venture and even if she didn’t plan on returning (though she did come back, again and again to the tune of 14 times), I wasn’t ready to announce my newest blogging gig. I figured all things in good time, you know?
Now that things are returning to normal here, I do want to tell you all about the new blogging gig that is close to my heart.
Anyone who reads this blog knows I have four kids and they are an important part of why I haven’t returned to the insanity of 9-5 commuting. Staying at home and making my way through the changes we were experiencing was the reason for this blog in the first place (even if Ellen can’t realize that family and life is what blogging is about sometimes). I think I’ve managed to turn it into a little more than that but eh… you can’t please everyone.
You also may know that I moderate a forum at cafemom for Moms whose kids are in Elementary School. I’ve lead this group for seven years (including the clubmom days) and it always amazes me how many parents don’t realize they are their child’s biggest activist. No one will fight for your child like you will.
When today.com did a round of hiring, I quickly put in my application for a blogger position and I am now blogging at The A+ Activist. I am so thrilled to be able to take my years of forum moderator and put it to use in the blogosphere. The blog is still fairly new but you know me, I will have lots to say and it’s a place where I can put my outspoken nature to good use (the narcissism will be optional of course! 
).
I encourage you to please stop by The A+ Activist and feel free to join in on the discussions or email me if there is anything you’d like to see discussed.
Posted by: Nichole in Appreciation, Life, Muti-tasking, Organizing, Writing, catching up, children, family, loss, scheduling, work
Just isn’t enough. I appreciate everyone’s kind thoughts and condolences.
I took a break from blogging last week. I felt I had enough to do with work and the sudden passing of my uncle just wouldn’t allow me to concentrate. I knew that trying to blog, the drive back and forth to my father’s and my uncle’s where everyone would meet multiple times this last week, writing, housework, kids schedules, it would just all be too much so I let the one thing go that I felt I could.
I miss my uncle terribly right now and dear hubby I know, feels a little more lost in this world now too but if my uncle were here he would tell us to get busy - that we were burning daylight. (I am a firm believer that there is more to death than being gone so I do believe he is with me. However, that is for another conversation )
Needless to say I am behind and working like a crazy lady to catch up. In more ways than one it seems. So this last weekend, the kids and I worked on restraightening the house, laundry, and just general putting everything back in its place. A big thank you to my MIL (if she reads this) for coming out and doing all my dishes on Thursday night while we attended the showing - I needed that help more than anyone could know.
But now it’s time to get back on track right? I still have loads of writing to do and there doesn’t seem to be an end to it. Plus, Bug and I are getting ready for the DC trip and I am trying to plan for the weather and I am feeling a tad like Santa Claus right now as well. I am making lists and checking them twice- starting with the books I want to take a long with me. I am trying to locate my earphones for my mp3 player (and make sure it is stocked with music). I am debating on whether or not to take my laptop for the evenings back at the hotel… Bug thinks I should because he knows it can double as a portable DVD player as well. However the thought of leaving it in the hotel room worries me.
I am also trying to make sure that dear hubby and my mom in law also have a good schedule for the kiddos. There will be softball practice for Bebe plus her first game and a brownie meeting as well. Those four days need to run smoothly for them and I am in charge of making sure that happens (at least on the end of knowing where they need to be and when).
Lastly, I am working on posts and ideas for the week I am gone. I’ve worked on a few things in my head this week and I look forward to using them for some good blogging material while I am gone.
Aaahhh let the chaos of a new week begin.
I will be honest folks, I am in a bad sort right now. I don’t even know how to write it out…
Yesterday we had a death in the family. My uncle passed away and it has hit me in a way I didn’t expect it to. I had just talked to him last weekend on the phone and delivered his girl scout cookies to him.
I don’t know that I will be around much this week. I want to spend as much time with my family as I can. Work will still have to be done but if I am able, I want to be with them.
He is missed so much right now. Our hearts are aching with a pain I can’t even find words for. Our world just got a little darker and a little smaller without him in it.
So the blog may be barren for a bit. I know it was last week as well (and I guess narcissism aside, you didn’t miss me anyway right?) but I promise as soon as I gather the world back up around me again and help my children heal and dear hubby cope… I will be back to providing you with the same blog fodder you expect from me.
