Tag Archives: writer

SO YOU WANNA BE A WRITER…STEP 10: WHEN THE HONEYMOON IS OVER, PERSEVERE

I’m heading into my 5th year of full-time freelance writing. I was crafting content part-time for four years prior to launching my business, Nenn Pen, Ink, full time. That puts me at nearly a decade of professional wordsmithing. The honeymoon is over. But that’s not all bad. I’ve been married to my best friend, Chris,Continue reading “SO YOU WANNA BE A WRITER…STEP 10: WHEN THE HONEYMOON IS OVER, PERSEVERE”

SO YOU WANNA BE A WRITER…STEP 8: GET ORGANIZED

I love restoring order from chaos. I don’t enjoy the chaos part, but I like to organize. It’s what helped me keep my toy department neat during my brief Kmart career, and I think it’s why I don’t mind cleaning up the kitchen after a party or dinner. I’m a big believer in “a placeContinue reading “SO YOU WANNA BE A WRITER…STEP 8: GET ORGANIZED”

SO YOU WANNA BE A WRITER…STEP 6: GET PAID

You set up shop. You had fun puttin’ on the blitz. You landed some freelance writing gigs. You even managed to get a respectable rate. Now…how do you put that money in your pocket? You may have heard horror stories about freelance jobs. “I did all this work for a client and never got paid!” “ItContinue reading “SO YOU WANNA BE A WRITER…STEP 6: GET PAID”

SO YOU WANNA BE A WRITER…STEP 5: SET YOUR RATES (And Watch Out for S.E.T.)

If you serve value meals, you can count on earning at least minimum wage. When my husband was a teacher, his union helped negotiate contracts that determined his salary and raises. My brother-in-law runs his own moving business, and there are moving company regulations in place that determine what he can and can’t charge hisContinue reading “SO YOU WANNA BE A WRITER…STEP 5: SET YOUR RATES (And Watch Out for S.E.T.)”

So you wanna be a writer…Step 3: Puttin’ on the Blitz

No…I said BLITZ Blitz: 1. an intensive or sudden military attack. 2. a sudden, energetic, and concerted effort, typically on a specific task We don’t need to involve tanks or bombers, so let’s focus on definition #2. Although, I do like the word “attack.” It’s really what I’m recommending you do next: Attack job opportunitiesContinue reading “So you wanna be a writer…Step 3: Puttin’ on the Blitz”

How a Country Song Made Me a Writer

Have you ever seen the TV show, Leverage? It’s one of my favorites. I own all five seasons. Here’s the gist of it: It’s lighthearted and fun, with enjoyable characters. My favorite is the “hitter,” Eliot, played by Christian Kane. I didn’t realize until I watched the season-three episode, “The Studio Job,” that Christian isContinue reading “How a Country Song Made Me a Writer”

How a Snowstorm Made Me a Writer

I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was old enough to wield a pen. In kindergarten, I was crafting whimsical poems inspired by Shel Silverstein’s greatest, and by second grade I had a stack of short stories I loved to share with anyone who would listen. As I grew, I dreamed of someday achievingContinue reading “How a Snowstorm Made Me a Writer”

When the Penguin Talks Back

Picture a cute little penguin in a red ball cap, carrying a blue lunch box. This is Petra, a character I created for one of my children’s books. I sent him on an adventure, during which his encounters include an octopus searching for eight shoes, a juggling walrus with only one tusk, and a gigglingContinue reading “When the Penguin Talks Back”

Good Enough? Part One

I’ve written how analyzing can be paralyzing. Perfectionism can be a similar paralytic. As a perfectionist, I don’t want to do something if it will only be good, not great. When the bar is set at perfection, it’s often hard to even try. It can stop me before I get a chance to start. ItContinue reading “Good Enough? Part One”