Good Tuesday to you! Feels odd starting in the middle of the week, but here we are. Had a great week last week. How was the holiday weekend?
It rained for part of ours. My son wasn’t able to come for a visit, so we decided to head to a meditation retreat at the last minute. We headed to Maryland, taking with us another “meditator” – someone from our local group. It was great to get away, even if it was just for 24 hours. My meditating was awful (too much chatter in the car for three hours, I think), but I was able to manage the devotions well enough.
Yesterday, the rain came down. We woke to a few showers, intermittent enough that I could get outside and tame the front garden and the walkway. He was able to get a bit of mowing in before it began in torrents. Good day to stay inside, so I pulled out a saucepan and made a lentil soup that was both lunch and dinner.
On Friday, I billed half what I’d hoped to earn the entire month of September. What a way to start the month! I have one large project still to finish, which will top my target, plus another project that, if it gets to me this month, will almost double what I expect. Amen. After so many idle weeks, I’m thrilled for it.
That doesn’t mean I stopped marketing. On the contrary – ideas were going out on Friday, even though I was unexpectedly busy. I had planned other things, but one of the interviews I didn’t think I’d be able to do was completed, and I got the article done by 3 pm. Then time for a little retail therapy, then back home. Husband and I went to see a French movie at the theater in town – Point Blank. Really good movie with some excellent acting.
Today I’m getting ready for a trip north. I can’t wait. I’ve been promising the parents for a month now, and I’ll be out of here tomorrow. The fish are calling, you know. 🙂
How was your holiday? What’s in store for you this week?
Awesome start to the month! Enjoy your break -you deserve it! 🙂
This week I'm doing quality control on a manuscript for a client. I've already edited a friend's poetry collection and am planning to edit two small client documents and to proof-read a small ebook I wrote the past couple of months. I also hope to do some project planning for Spring and Summer – I want to write more creatively and finish some of the projects I've started by the end of the year.
Thanks, Colin! Hope you had a successful month, as well. I have to say your website is one of the best I've seen. I sent a friend there to get an idea of what a "good" writer's site looks like.
You sound very busy, Damaria! Sounds like your spring and summer are about to be fruitful for you!
I've been in CT so far this week — head back tomorrow night after seeing my acupuncturist. Juggling two classes I'm teaching, got out the material for Confidential Job #1, wrote a press release, working on the WIP and outlining two novels, trying to decide which one gets to the go-ahead on Oct. 1.
I need to get back to work on my brochure and also get some mailings out for the book, now that it's in print.
I have company coming in this coming weekend, and it's the last few days of Yoga on the Beach. And, of course, the 10th anniversary of 9/11, which is big for me.
Lori, you like to fish? You are my kind of woman. I completed an interview Sunday that I wasn't expecting, so that was good. I took on a short story fiction project, that is proving more difficult than I expected. I'm guess I'm not a fiction writer, but I will be. I need to keep marketing. School has started so I will be busy.
Devon, I'm glad you have such fun and interesting projects to work on now that you're free of the now-ex-client that was so miserable to work for.
We had the rain Saturday, so I did lots of deep cleaning. Sunday I did heavy yard work – cutting weed trees out of hedges while dodging plummeting walnuts. (Teaches me to work in the backyard on a windy day when walnuts are ripe.) Also had the extra dogs here, one wasn't feeling well so I had to take her frequently (three times in the middle of the night!). Monday I cleaned my office and "library' (the tiny former pantry off the office, which was originally the dining room), handed the guest dogs back.
Today I sat down to a potential new assignment from one of the editors who requested story ideas after I sent her an LOI. She asked the dreaded "what are your rates?" question. I just hope my rates aren't too far outside of their rates, but it seems most budget-focused magazines tell you their rates instead of negotiating. Cross your fingers – this would be a nice addition to my client roster.
Sounds like a ton of work, Devon. Do you clone yourself or something in order to get it all done? 🙂
Wade, fished since I was old enough to hold a pole. I like that you've taken on some unfamiliar territory. You'll either improve or learn you don't like it at all. 🙂 Keep trying. I suspect once you get into it, you'll like it.
Paula, I hate that question, but it's part of what we do. 🙂 Fingers crossed for you!
Good news, Lori. Her starting rate was the low-end of my preferred range, but the piece is a light, fun piece that won't require any interviews. And it's not due until around Thanksgiving. She also said something like "Wow me with this feature and future pitches and I'll be happy to increase the rate."
Keep those fingers crossed!
We'll miss you! Have fun.
Thanks Lori 🙂