The First Official Rant Day
Today is my Rant Day. I’ve decided I need to designate at least one day of the month as the day when I get to vent without feeling guilty for doing so. It’s unprofessional, but dang it, sometimes it’s just so necessary. I see my favorite irreverent freelancer, Kathy, take venting to artistic heights and I envy her the ability. So here goes.
Today’s topic is an old one – people who want to be writers who expect you to map out their careers for them. Like I said, I love helping and giving advice when I can, but when someone says, “Okay, give me a list of steps I must to take in order to be successful”, I want to scream. If you cannot figure out for yourself how to build a business, no list from any successful or semi-successful freelancer will help you. I’m sorry. Get off your duff and do some work for yourself. Oh, and while we’re at it, I can give you that list. It’ll cost you, because that’s called Career Coaching, friends, and career coaches get paid big bucks per hour. But even with the list, what are you gonna do for yourself? Huh? Sit there and say, “Gee, staring at this list for the last month hasn’t helped.” Hell no it hasn’t! You gotta put the seat leather into the job for yourself. It’s not going to come to you simply by asking for it! Sheesh. If it were that easy, the world’s wanna-be artists would all be writers.
I had help back in the day. I had marvelous tutors who gave me advice on where to look and what to do. However, the help I received was in the form of answering a specific question about a specific problem. “Where can I find information on writing a good query letter?” or “Where can I find clients who need my specialty?” Beyond that, dear readers, I busted my hump to figure it out for myself. I read. I subscribed to Writer’s Digest for years until I found that I had finally surpassed the content. I bought books on writing written by working writers. I studied them. I learned how to do it. Guess what? I’m no exception. Most of the writers I know started out in the same way. Oh, and my career started long before the Internet, so if I did it, you have no excuses.
Yes, ask questions. Please. But don’t be lazy. If you want to be a writer, do a little research for yourself. I’ll help, but I’m not going to be your mother and do it for you.
Right on! I’m so sick and tired of people who think you “owe” them because you’re making a living and they’re making a stink.
Hey, I was just going to say every day is a Rant Day for me, but you beat me to it. You deserve at least one a month! Now don’t you feel better already? ;o)
Worlds better, Kathy! :))
Great post, haha.
My favorite is “I’m interested in getting in the freelance business. How should I start?”
?!?!?!
HOWL! Isn’t that one a stitch? It’s a common question, so I suppose it’s someone asking for guidance in one aspect or another, so I don’t mind that one so much. The ones that get me are the ones that ask others to do the work for them. Arrrg!!