So Many Pet Peeves, So Little Time

Some wise old sage out there has the answers I seek. Why, oh why does every public library stock Writer’s Market books from four years ago but not the most current version? Why do people write books claiming to help you with your writing or writing career that are filled with generalities rather than specific common-sense advice? Ever notice that all the magazines for writers are filled with plenty of encouragement but precious little info on critical issues like where you’re going to find your health insurance when you go fulltime?

I could complain about this stuff til I am blue in the face. Instead, I’m going to offer some suggesions that we writing bloggers and blog readers should take to heart to make our world a better place. I’ll direct these comments to myself and anyone who wants to jump on my bandwagon is welcome along for the ride:

My goals–call them my early New Year’s Resolutions for 2009–include the following for this space:

1. Find and publicize health insurance resources for freelancers.

2. Publish specific and detailed business advice for freelance writers and bloggers.

3. Delve more deeply into survival basics for writers in the start and intermediate stages of their careers.

4. Describe in detail my own struggles and solutions for common freelance problems.

5. Encourage other bloggers to do the same by inviting them to write guest posts here at FZ on the topics listed above.

I am deadly serious about finding ways to become a more practical and helpful resource to the freelance community—the blog scene is full of these websites that offer generalized advice that all that helpful. You know the ones I mean, blogs that write headlines saying “How To Build Your Freelance Client List” then dispense advice like “Get in touch with people who might buy your work and try to sell it to them.” You DON’T SAY! No kidding, I never thought of that before. Wow. Almost as useful as my article below which will teach you how to play the flute:

HOW TO PLAY THE FLUTE FOR FREELANCERS:

1. Find the holes on the flute where your fingers should go.

2. Put your mouth on the mouthy end.

3. Force some air into the flute and make a groovy sound.

4. Now you know how to play the flute, and will be a millionaire in no time.

Folks, I make a solemn vow to you…NOT FREELANCE-ZONE.COM. We have offered plenty of specific and generalized advice, but I think the most valuable information is the most detailed, however short. One thing I love about Cath’s posts here are her short and sweet resource updates. Any specific resource for writers is a good thing, no?

One blog model I like is Adventures in Freelancing, which doesn’t claim to be anything except what it IS…I yearn for more blogs like this. The tagline is EXCELLENT. “Making newbie mistakes for you since 2008”. More blogs like this, please.

So I’ll end my caffeinated rant here, but with the notion that I am not quite done listing my goals for the coming year. The minute we get past Halloween I start thinking about New Year’s Eve and while 2008 has been quite good, I think 09 will be much better, especially round here at FZ.

3 thoughts on “So Many Pet Peeves, So Little Time”

  1. First, how much tea did you drink today, Joe?

    Second, awww- thanks!! That really means a lot to me.

    Third, yes to all your points. There are very few real resources out there, and some days, my confidence that it is actually possible to freelance F/T starts to diminish.

    Fourth, I’ll mail you my 2009 Writer’s Market that I bought (before I started coming here….). We can start an internet mail exchange for this lone copy. Although, that will give the book quite a large carbon footprint 🙁

  2. While I do agree wholeheartedly that there is a dearth of good writing mags out there (and books), there are a few that do the job–and then some. Unfortunately, this is not true across the board and many are super general. This type of generality is ok for brand new writers, but doesn’t help the rest of us out there very much.

  3. Sometimes we need specifics and sometimes we need the generalities that can be molded to each specific situation.

    As for the writer’s market – most of the libraries only stock what is donated or requested. Make a point to request on at the first of each year and you might have on in the library that is up to date ;).

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