If I write it in my blog, I have to do it, right? Well, I also said a few months ago that I was going to bike up Karen’s hill sometime this year, and I don’t think that’s going to be happening…I am too darn…(use your imagination and fill in the blank)…to haul myself up that hill on a bike! But this is serious…next year (unless my husband is out of work or something), I’m going to be a lot more careful about the work-for-hire jobs I take on.
I’m not going to say what the project is in case the editor would happen to be reading my blog, but this is supposed to be fun. And it’s not fun. I’m resenting every minute this project is taking me away from my “real” writing. It pays well, though. In fact, it’ll pay for my cleaning service for the next year and a half. But I didn’t take it for the money. I took it because…I’m still in that you’ll-really-pay-me-to-write-something-for-you? fog that I can’t seem to break out of. When I’m offered an assignment, I usually look at it from an hourly wage standpoint. If it pays $50-100/hour, I take it. But I think I need to ask myself what am I really getting out of this? Would my time be better spent on my own projects so I get more of my own books out there? (BTW, Wendy, if you’re reading this…I’m still more than happy to do Boxcar Children books!!! Those ARE fun…and they’re not work-for-hire…)
What I HAVE gotten out of doing all this work-for-hire, though, is peace of mind that if I ever find myself in a position where I need to support the family, I probably could do it.
work
Sorry you’re buried in work! (We’re buried in snow!)
I love the Boxcar Children books. I haven’t read one in years, but they were my favorites as a kid.
Re: work
They were my favorites as a kid, too! That’s one reason I enjoy writing them so much now….even though they make me laugh because they’re so sticky sweet. It’s great family entertainment when I’m working on one, though…my kids love to throw out inappropriate ideas for what the Aldens can do next.
How much snow did you get? We didn’t get any here…just a little ice the night before last. My youngest was hoping for a snow/ice day yesterday, but the ice was gone by morning.
snow
What an interesting few days in terms of weather!
Wednesday, the freezing rain started about an hour before school pick up. Wednesday night they said we’d get up to 17 inches. By Thursday morning, they cancelled it all, so we went out to play in the ice (because that’s what you do when you live here and usually only get ice storms!) By lunch time, they predicted snow again. By 3:00, we had about 3 inches. I think we wound up with 6-8.
The funny part is that by the airport, they got almost none. The airport is the official weather recording site for KC, so the weathercasters were joking that this never happened. As close as 20 minutes north of here, they only got a dusting!
Very unusual for us! The kids are enjoying a snow day with real snow!
I can so relate to this! I used to write work-for-hire (non-fiction banking stuff – ECH!!!) Anyway, it sent me into the dumps every time, but it paid well. Hope it works out for you!
PS We share something in common, and I just wanted to say–she’s wonderful!! 😉
And . . . I have a question about your work-for-hire. Do you mind if I e-mail you? Thanks so much, Dori, and good luck!
marybeth
Not at all…do you have my e-mail address?
Is it the e-mail on your website?
Yup. (I don’t like to post my e-mail address, so I’m glad you found it.)
I’m glad you did! (Friending you right back!) I checked out your blog and user info…it looks like we have a lot in common. And I’m going to look for your book, Refugees — looks like my kind of thing!