Freelance Writing, Hard Work!

My day begins checking rejections and acceptances, praying for more of the latter. You have to have a tough hide to offer your precious words to a world with far too many writers and too few publications.

Everything I do, I do at the computer. Okay, with a couple of obvious exceptions. My keyboard is a menu of cookie crumbs, chips and other flotsam. It gets a brush down every day. My desk is a collage of books, papers, empty plates, empty pop cans and my green thermal mug that holds a continuous supply of ice water.

Typically the email will contain a letter from a publisher who likes my work, but needs me to change, edit or otherwise tweak my article or story. I try to get these done first, as they are my least favorite chore. This takes three mugs of green tea, heavy on the sugar. Sometimes it takes several revisions before an editor is satisfied with my offering. This used to depress me, but then I learned that the changes are not major, nor a reflection on my skill, but just little things that stood out to a reader.

Freelance writing is hard! Woe unto to those who say, "Gee, it must be nice to sit around all day and just write." You have to be dedicated to your words in order to do this work and keep your sanity.

Then it is time to answer personal correspondence. A writer really needs to keep up with friends, fellow writers and the current market. Because I a hermit by choice, I reach out through email to those I like and exchange tips with on a daily basis.

When evening rolls around it is time to watch a movie or read. I am a voracious reader. All the top writers say read, read, read. It is important to have interests that keep your mind sharp. I am especially fond of Dean Koontz and today the mail brought me a copy of "Husband", his latest book. Life is good!

As I go through my routine there are frequent pauses to scribble down a thought or piece of poem that is dancing in my head, or to look up words that are new to me. A writer has no set hours. The must moves when it wants and I can't afford to lose track of thoughts or ideas that might mean an article, a poem or an essay.