Waving the White Flag

January 12, 2012 by ·
white_flag_tattered

Image credit: Neil Wykes on Flickr

I’ve given up. Given in. Surrendered.

At the end of December I saw the info about January’s National Blog Posting Month, in which the goal is to post every day for the month. Like the impulsive git I am, I signed up.

I immediately knew it was dumb. That this, of all times, isn’t the right time for me to be able to do that. But I saw a comment from someone who had done this previously, and she indicated she’d found it really helped her writing. Like the glutton for punishment I am, I thought that sounded great.

The thing is, it was great. Even though I only lasted 10 days (9? not long anyway) I actually really liked it. It did help me think about writing in different ways and I enjoyed the challenge. But the other night I called it quits. I admitted what I had known was coming, took a deep breath and packed it in.

Life is a little easier now, and I feel less like my head is going to explode every night. I’m going to bed at a decent time and getting up earlier to have extra cuddles and cartoons or to go to the gym in the morning.

But I’ve lost momentum, and my writing mojo. I no longer know what to say. I’ll find my groove again, I’m sure, and go back to posting a reasonable amount and focusing on what I really want to share.

But for now I’m waving the white flag.

Filed Under: Randomness, Writing · Tagged With: , ,

Waiting for Winter

January 8, 2012 by ·

Moving from the mild west coast, we had braced ourselves for the reality of a harsh Canadian winter on the prairies.

Not so much, as it turns out.

At least not so far, anyway. It snowed shortly after we moved, which made for lovely winter walks, but it hasn’t snowed since and it hasn’t even been especially cold.

Everyone keeps commenting on how nice Mother Nature has been to us so far, and I do appreciate it. But I’m secretly a little bit disappointed. I love snow, and I’m perfectly prepared for it to get cold. Plus I’ve got a long list of things I want to do, and many of them are classic winter activities.

There’s still snow on the ground (in some places, anyway) and the local ski hill has been doing a good job making their own. We ventured up there today (more on that tomorrow) and then, with the spirit of adventure and wanting to explore some more, went down to the lagoon to watch people skating.

Apparently it’s just cold enough to keep the lagoon frozen, though it was definitely getting damp in certain areas. We walked around on the ice and watched others skate, gathering once in a while around the fire pits to warm up or drink a warm drink. Music rang out from speakers in the park, and overall it was a perfectly lovely way to spend an afternoon.

Harsh cold or not, we’ll be back with skates in hand.

skating-on-the-lagoon

Filed Under: Happy things, Randomness · Tagged With: , , ,

Gratitude, Comment Love and Something Entirely Unrelated

January 3, 2012 by ·

Confession: The revision history on my last post is RIDICULOUS. I edited it over and over and just could not get it right.

It actually started off as my blogging anniversary post, and it was directed at those of you who come here and read and offer support. I wanted to tell you how much that has meant to me over the last year. How much it means to me now.

Writing about something as personal as depression—especially in the moment, as so many of my posts were—feels incredibly vulnerable. I wrote about those things because I needed to have them live somewhere other than inside my own head, but there was also a part of me that wanted to hear I wasn’t alone. And wow, am I ever NOT ALONE.

starling-flock

Image credit: Joffley on Flickr

Over the last year I have come to realize just how many people struggle with depression and anxiety, and I hate that there are just SO many. But I love that there is so much support out there too, and that it’s becoming more and more okay to admit to these things.

So in the end, after realizing that it simply wasn’t working, I wrote something more simple for that anniversary post and said what I really wanted to say, which is: Thank you for loving me. But I didn’t give up on the rabbit.

I played around with that post some more and eventually decided it was actually about something different. And then it got to a point where I thought it was good enough, so I published it.

And then you all took over.

I’ve had so many incredible comments and messages and re-tweets on that post. It seems I struck a nerve. I keep trying to respond to those comments, and I will, but right now I don’t really know what to say. It’s all making me feel a bit weepy.

So again: Thank you.

On a related note, if you want another glimpse into why it’s so important for us to write about depression and have it be acceptable, go and read the latest post by The Bloggess. Jenny, if you don’t know her already, is absolutely, stunningly hilarious. But she also deals with mental illness. She writes about that pretty openly, but this post really blows the doors off. Go, read, and give her some love.

And now sometimes entirely unrelated…

I wasn’t actually planning to post today because I signed up for NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) for January, where the goal is to write a post a day for the whole month. And after I signed up I decided that was crazy, so I intended to cheat (sort of) and just direct you to my Just.Be.Enough. post today. But then you were all so nice and I kind of got sidetracked writing this.

Anyway… I did write a post for Just.Be.Enough. today and it’s about Spanx. See? Entirely unrelated.

I’m going to close comments on this one, so please either visit me at Just.Be.Enough. or go and give Jenny some comment love. (She’s already got over 1,000 comments, but what’s a movement if not something that really takes off?)

R xo

Filed Under: Better world, Happy things, Hard things, Randomness · Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Our stuff has arrived

December 7, 2011 by ·

Finally. We’re all one med dose away from an insane asylum.

moving-truck-arrives

Excuse me while I disappear for a bit to unpack. Further updates as events warrant.

Filed Under: Happy things, Randomness · Tagged With: , , ,

Lame Freelance Writer Postings

November 16, 2011 by ·

help wanted - idiot preferred

A few months ago I started doing some freelance writing, and every day or so I scan the postings looking for freelance writers. Some of them are hilarious, some eye-roll worthy, and some plain dumb. Here, for your entertainment, are some of the goofiest ones I’ve seen recently.

The Freaks:


Work with a CPA

Dear Friend:
I became a CPA 40 years ago.
I hardly practiced.
Instead I became a teacher of visualization and have taught students worldwide.
And these students have attracted their own students.
And so the business prospers year after year.
And what does that all have to do with you?
Simply publish this letter in ads, social media, etc and work with me.
You pay nothing to me.
When someone responds to the letter, as they will, send them to me.
As they begin study with me, you get paid.
Want even more money.
Arrange to be one of my students.
As a CPA, I created the easiest business in America to generate money.
Of course, I am very proud of the good it spreads as well.
I would love to invite you to share how much good it can provide you.

I’m not even sure I understand this, but I’m pretty sure I’m not this guy’s “friend.”

—

Writer needed to edit and spice up my writing

I need someone to edit and add a little spice to my letters that I send to my potential customers. I am not interested only in a proper english but I also want the letters to sound hot and interesting… I want my phone to start ringing. If you have the skills and experience in writing sales/marketing letters and are not expensive I would like to use you r services right away. Please email me something that you have written.

Yeah…no. (I’m not that sort of girl.)

—

Copywriter WANTED. Write Faster & Better Than Me? 

This is for serious copywriters only. Please only reply if you can verify the quality of your work.I am looking for a candidate who can write AS GOOD as I can or someone who can at least get close to writing as good and as powerful as I can.

…I’m primarily looking for writers with
* good storytelling
* fast/very good with research
* extremely good writing – that flows and is filled with emotion. When I say emotion I mean emotion that’s appropriate for that specific product.

Example:
* You will be EMBARRASSED if you continue to go days without improving your acne with the XYZ product. Not only embarrassed, but you may continue to go weeks and months feeling rejected, isolated and uncared for… simply because your skin isn’t clear *

1. I have no doubt I can write “as good” as you can. 2. I can get emotional with the best of them, but getting emotional about zit cream is a stretch, even for me. 

The cheaters:

Master’s level research paper needed NOW!

I will pay someone $200 to do a 27 page research paper dealing with criminal justice. Paper needed in 3 weeks! You or we will pick the topic together, get it approved, you pick the reading materials and then you are on your own. I need someone that can start immediately! Thanks!

You know, I have a master’s degree and I really don’t want to write any more master’s research papers, especially if I don’t get the credit for it. And that’s like $7/page – SO not worth it. 

—

Master’s level criminal justice essays $8/question NOW!

I need help with 5-6 assignments each assignment has 5 essay questions that needs to be answered APA with 300 words. I am paying $8 per question/answer. I need all assignments in 3 weeks (2 per week would be fine). I am willing to negotiate the pay. Need someone that can start by tomorrow. This is a master’s level criminal justice class. I provide the reading and questions and I pay through paypal. I might have another project for you too. Thanks!

Oh hey, it’s you again! Do your own damn papers. 

The cranky freelancers:

I don’t work for free

Please quit posting gigs if you aren’t able or willing to pay. If you can’t afford $100 for copy on your website, then write it yourself.

Also, linking to my site from your site is not payment unless you have over 100k unique visitors a week – and you don’t.

Thank you, now go away.

Noted. (Fair point, though.)

RE: WRITING ASSISTANCE FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN RELATED ARTICLES (what a joke)

You want to pay $0.01 a word? The irony behind that is that it’s slave labor at that rate. Offer something acceptable at least and respect people of this profession you scumbag.

  • Location: what a joke
  • it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
  • Compensation: Slavery

I think you need to take your meds, dear. 

—

Ice Cream Evaluators Wanted

I am currently seeking local ice cream enthusiasts to evaluate a popular local chain. If you are interested in sampling ice cream and pastries and writing about your experience, please respond to this post for more information.

Is this not freelance nirvana? Ice cream evaluators? Sign me up! 

 

On a more serious note, I’ve been doing freelance writing work for a few months now and while I certainly haven’t figured out the secret, I’ve been reasonably successful for someone who’s just getting into it. I’m thinking about doing a post on what I’ve learned from a newbie’s perspective, so let me know in the comments if you’d be interested (and if you have any questions in particular).

Filed Under: Randomness, Writing ·
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