My dream has always been to write great fiction. Since I was a little kid.
However, what I find myself doing these days (and for the past several years) is writing mostly non-fiction. I'm also doing a great deal of editing.
Does this cause me distress? No. Working as a freelance commercial writer is extremely satisfying.
What I thought I'd miss most was the creativity--that part of my soul that controls the part of my brain which caused me to want to write fiction in the first place.
As I call on my sales, and marketing and promotion, experiences to create great "copy" for my clients I've come to realize that, while not writing fiction, the creative side of my being has been elevated to its highest and best use. An old Realtor phrase (yep, I've sold real estate), but one I utilize regularly.
What we do doesn't always define who we are, but as long as what we do brings satisfaction within ourselves, our chosen career IS producing our highest and best use for our time on this planet.
March 25, 2010
March 23, 2010
Do You Need a Fax Line?
We run two businesses from our home. Dear Husband has an auto transport business, and I'm a writer--just in case you hadn't noticed already.
We haven't had a land-line in too many years to count, but it has become increasingly important for us to have an in-house fax line. Well, actually, that isn't a true statement because DH needs an in-the-TRUCK fax line.
While the bulk of my work is done online, thankfully, the man in my life was spending between $15 and $30 per week sending faxes. If he doesn't fax the brokers' paperwork in, he doesn't get paid.
After some serious thought and research, we settled on My Fax. The cost is about $12 per month.
It isn't as easy to use as simply walking up to the machine, punching in the phone number, laying the pages to be faxed in the tray, and then hitting the send button. It's a bit more time consuming. Okay, quite a bit more time consuming.
The pages to be faxed first have to be scanned and saved on one of our laptops. This can take some serious time. Then, the person doing the faxing--which is usually me since I'm the one spending time in the home office--gets to go to the My Fax website to do the faxing. From there it's a matter of attaching the scanned and saved pages--much like sending an email--except it takes longer.
While I'd like it if the process were quicker, considering that we run "wireless" at home, and with cell-ISP in the truck, it could be much worse.
I could have to put on real clothes, haul the paperwork to my car, drive to my local Kroger store, and then stand in line waiting to fax.
For someone who often gets so wrapped up in writing that I sometimes forget that I'm still wearing pajamas at 4:00 in the afternoon, that would be much worse!
So if you're a pajama-clad writer who doesn't want the expense of another phone line, My Fax just might be the solution to your fax problem.
We haven't had a land-line in too many years to count, but it has become increasingly important for us to have an in-house fax line. Well, actually, that isn't a true statement because DH needs an in-the-TRUCK fax line.
While the bulk of my work is done online, thankfully, the man in my life was spending between $15 and $30 per week sending faxes. If he doesn't fax the brokers' paperwork in, he doesn't get paid.
After some serious thought and research, we settled on My Fax. The cost is about $12 per month.
It isn't as easy to use as simply walking up to the machine, punching in the phone number, laying the pages to be faxed in the tray, and then hitting the send button. It's a bit more time consuming. Okay, quite a bit more time consuming.
The pages to be faxed first have to be scanned and saved on one of our laptops. This can take some serious time. Then, the person doing the faxing--which is usually me since I'm the one spending time in the home office--gets to go to the My Fax website to do the faxing. From there it's a matter of attaching the scanned and saved pages--much like sending an email--except it takes longer.
While I'd like it if the process were quicker, considering that we run "wireless" at home, and with cell-ISP in the truck, it could be much worse.
I could have to put on real clothes, haul the paperwork to my car, drive to my local Kroger store, and then stand in line waiting to fax.
For someone who often gets so wrapped up in writing that I sometimes forget that I'm still wearing pajamas at 4:00 in the afternoon, that would be much worse!
So if you're a pajama-clad writer who doesn't want the expense of another phone line, My Fax just might be the solution to your fax problem.
February 17, 2010
The Website is Updated! Finally!
The website has finally been updated! www.lindajhutchinson.com The Links for Writers page was so corrupted that I'll have to re-build it from scratch, but I've gotten so many kind comments on it over the years, it's towards the top of my priority list.
What amazed me the most during the re-vamp was how easy it was to obtain testimonials to include! I simply sent out an email asking those who felt comfortable writing a line or two about their professional dealings with me, to please do so. I thanked them in advance, and let them know while I'd appreciate the nod, it wasn't something I wanted them to feel uncomfortable about. I was humbled. Take a look at the testimonials page. My thanks to each of you!
What amazed me the most during the re-vamp was how easy it was to obtain testimonials to include! I simply sent out an email asking those who felt comfortable writing a line or two about their professional dealings with me, to please do so. I thanked them in advance, and let them know while I'd appreciate the nod, it wasn't something I wanted them to feel uncomfortable about. I was humbled. Take a look at the testimonials page. My thanks to each of you!
January 23, 2010
January 05, 2010
10 New Year’s Resolutions Every Freelancer Should Have
It’s that time of year again. The time when we reflect on the past 365 days, examine our accomplishments and shortcomings, and then determine how THIS year we will make things better. Whether it’s losing weight, getting healthier, working harder, mending broken relationships or just being a better person, something about the end of a calendar year causes us to take stock and set goals for improvement.
For freelancers, this season is no different. In fact, running your own freelance business requires the end of the year assessment. I would suggest it even requires self-evaluation much more often than annually.
Each day, each week and each month should incorporate some continual consideration of where the freelancer stands in attaining their respective goals. Here are what I believe to be vital resolutions that all freelancers should adopt in order to enter the next decade with the maximum power to reach their fullest potential.
Read the full article here.
For freelancers, this season is no different. In fact, running your own freelance business requires the end of the year assessment. I would suggest it even requires self-evaluation much more often than annually.
Each day, each week and each month should incorporate some continual consideration of where the freelancer stands in attaining their respective goals. Here are what I believe to be vital resolutions that all freelancers should adopt in order to enter the next decade with the maximum power to reach their fullest potential.
Read the full article here.
Sleep Challenge 2010: Women, It's Time to Sleep Our Way to the Top. Literally.
Sleep Challenge 2010: Women, It's Time to Sleep Our Way to the Top. Literally.
Join Huffington Post's Arianna Huffington and Glamour's Cindi Leive as they track their attempts to sleep more for January!
"As women, we make a lot of New Year's resolutions -- "lose 10 pounds" and "finally write that novel" and "lose 10 pounds -- seriously." But this year, the two of us (that's HuffPost's Arianna Huffington and Glamour's Cindi Leive) are suggesting you make a New Year's resolution that could improve the status of all women in this country, starting with you. No, we're not talking about universal child care or even banning Tiger Woods from ever texting again. If you ask us, the next feminist issue is sleep. And in order for women to get ahead in this country, we're all going to have to lie down and take a nap."
Read the full story here.
Join Huffington Post's Arianna Huffington and Glamour's Cindi Leive as they track their attempts to sleep more for January!
"As women, we make a lot of New Year's resolutions -- "lose 10 pounds" and "finally write that novel" and "lose 10 pounds -- seriously." But this year, the two of us (that's HuffPost's Arianna Huffington and Glamour's Cindi Leive) are suggesting you make a New Year's resolution that could improve the status of all women in this country, starting with you. No, we're not talking about universal child care or even banning Tiger Woods from ever texting again. If you ask us, the next feminist issue is sleep. And in order for women to get ahead in this country, we're all going to have to lie down and take a nap."
Read the full story here.
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