MONSTER IN THE BED



Today began at the inhuman hour of 6:30 a.m. I believe only monsters and household pets are up at this hour. My cat would disagree, as even she expressed her displeasure at the scraggly-haired fellow disturbing the pillow on which she and Mrs. D rest their collective heads. So, if I'm not a monster, why was I up? Excellent question. It's almost as if you're prompting me to write this blog entry through a series of subtle questions. Well-played reader, well-played.

I slapped my alarm clock at 6:30 a.m. to begin the second of two blogging positions that started this week. The first, you're reading here. The second is for a daily paper and has the bonus of compensation. Blogging was never something I imagined doing for a living, it's a strange and interesting addition to one's resume. It's also complicated when trying to offer a polite, encapsulated view of what you do at cocktail parties. Stick with paralegal, nobody ever has a follow-up question for a paralegal.

Hey, but what about your neat opportunity as a blogger? Good point. This was a case of my resume being on file and my willingness to update editors with the stories that I had published for the past six months. A friendly, but professional note every month never hurts.

And that's how I ended up with an early wake-up call. But keep in mind, my bed became my office in a few short minutes. Coffee was brewed, the MacBook Pro was booted up, and voila, the commute was over. So what if I looked like Charlize Theron.

A MOMENT LIKE THIS



Kelly Clarkson had her song, I have acceptances. Today, after five pitches over the course of two years, a major women's magazine said yes to an idea. That idea was shrunk from a feature story to a front-of-book piece, but it is a door opener, a clip, some money, and terrific piece of mind. Perseverance is rewarded.

More importantly, it's a chance to show what I can do and that is why we work in our pajamas folks. For a moment like this, when America takes a chance on a round-cheeked girl from a small town in Texas...ummm, I mean a slightly, unshaven man from Brooklyn. Perhaps, this is why I've had difficulty breaking into women's magazines?

For the record, all boys like the song, Break Away. We sing it when you're not in the car. The braver ones of us sing it even if you're there.

Get In The Zone



Do you ever have days when you're in the zone? It's difficult as a freelancer to quantify the work you've accomplished in a given day at times. As research bleeds into internet surfing and checking e-mail turns into chatting, the divide between work and play becomes a fickle line. But then there are days, such as today, when queries flow, editors answer their phones, and sources become available like sweet free candy.

Today, the Determined Freelancer [this is the first and last time I'll refer to myself in the third person] was in the zone. This afternoon, four queries with strong sources, a clear knowledge of the publication, and a solid news hook were sent to editor's inboxes. In many ways, your query letter is a lot like asking for a date. You better show a lot of confidence and nail it right out of the box. If your opening line biffs it, you might as well pack up shop. That's why I think it never hurts to start with your name and then a quick explanation of why this query is awesome. After that, just write what would sound fun to write and read. The rest usually takes care of itself.

Are you a quantity or quality query letter writer? Should we all be both? Something to chew on, like delicious Kinder Suprise Eggs, which I credit for today's inspiration.

IT'S GO TIME



Hello from the secret home office of the Determined Freelancer. While I would love to pretend that it is a floating monitoring station, similar to the bubble home of the two guys looking for Desmond on Lost, this office is, in actuality, somewhere in Brooklyn.

Or is it really a floating monitoring station and I’m just stringing you along? That’s the kind of suspense, which should keep you coming back each morning.

On to the purpose of this and subsequent entries- this is a blog for determined freelancers, people earnestly trying to make a living via the written word. Whether you type in your pajama pants or pinstripes, you’ll find an upbeat and encouraging voice right here documenting the experience of one pajama-pants-wearing freelancer in the hopes of convincing you that you’re on the right path.

Ed has asked me to share triumphs, procrastination techniques, and just what it means to be a writer and businessperson. You’ll learn about my joy after leaving an editorial assistant position (that’s right, everyone is an editorial assistant at some point) to string for a community newspaper. I’ll even tell you how I parlayed that half-a-hundred per story opportunity into a staff position. And finally, keep your eyes on those computer screens boys and girls, to hear about our hero’s leap back into the freelancing world and the move from Boston to New York City.

Over the past year in Brooklyn, I’ve learned a lot about finding work and adjusting to life as a freelancer. I encourage you to do the same in this space. My success to date has come from persistence and help from editors and writers along the way. Let’s discover together if the Horatio Alger myth still holds- that a bit of luck, pluck, and virtue will lead to success.