Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Career reboot?
During the past several months I have grown increasingly dissatisfied with my writing. I'm not sure why. I'm not "blocked," the finished manuscripts are as good as, and occasionally better than, they've always been, and I continue to sell most of what I write. I'm not good at introspection and self-analysis, so, despite repeated attempts to define my dissatisfaction and the possible causes for it, I come up blank.
Even so, I have pondered the idea of a career reboot. (It seems to have worked for the Batman movie franchise.) I've considered turning the computer off for a couple of months and spending my time doing something--anything--other than writing.
Would I return to the keyboard refreshed? Or would I have done nothing more than lose two months of productive writing time?
Alas, a careful examination of my bank balance suggests that a lengthy break from the keyboard might be counter-productive. I've grown accustomed to three hots and a cot and have no desire to become a starving artist.
Maybe all I really need is a vacation. That's something you don't often get when you're self-employed.
Even so, I have pondered the idea of a career reboot. (It seems to have worked for the Batman movie franchise.) I've considered turning the computer off for a couple of months and spending my time doing something--anything--other than writing.
Would I return to the keyboard refreshed? Or would I have done nothing more than lose two months of productive writing time?
Alas, a careful examination of my bank balance suggests that a lengthy break from the keyboard might be counter-productive. I've grown accustomed to three hots and a cot and have no desire to become a starving artist.
Maybe all I really need is a vacation. That's something you don't often get when you're self-employed.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Inside joke
The cover of John Lange's Zero Cool (Hard Case Crime) features a picture of a woman on a beach towel who has placed the book she was reading on the sand beside her. The book? John Lange's Grave Descend (also from Hard Case Crime).
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Two thoughts unrelated to writing
Yesterday I filled my gas tank and instantly doubled the value of my car.
Hillary Clinton has compared herself to Rocky Balboa, the white boxer who didn't know the meaning of the word "quit." Apparently she didn't see the first movie. Rocky lost to a smooth-talking black man.
Hillary Clinton has compared herself to Rocky Balboa, the white boxer who didn't know the meaning of the word "quit." Apparently she didn't see the first movie. Rocky lost to a smooth-talking black man.
Deals with the Devil
For five years and one month I've been a full-time freelance writer/editor. Today I'm a...what?
After much discussion, I've leased my soul to the devil. Effective today I'm a part-time employee of one of my key clients. There were numerous reasons for this change in our relationship, but the upshot, for me, is a modest increase in gross income and a significant decrease in self-employment tax.
I'll still be freelancing 30-40 hours each week, so I'm still a full-time freelancer. But now I have a part-time job.
So it goes.
After much discussion, I've leased my soul to the devil. Effective today I'm a part-time employee of one of my key clients. There were numerous reasons for this change in our relationship, but the upshot, for me, is a modest increase in gross income and a significant decrease in self-employment tax.
I'll still be freelancing 30-40 hours each week, so I'm still a full-time freelancer. But now I have a part-time job.
So it goes.
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