Reader.Writer.Reader.Writer.Reader.Writer » Freelance writing http://kaymarner.com/blog A blog about reading and writing, by a reader and writer! Sat, 08 May 2010 00:26:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Show me the money…eventually http://kaymarner.com/blog/2010/05/08/show-me-the-money-eventually/ http://kaymarner.com/blog/2010/05/08/show-me-the-money-eventually/#comments Sat, 08 May 2010 00:26:15 +0000 Administrator http://kaymarner.com/blog/?p=296 As if life (and social networking) isn’t complicated enough, I wrote my latest post on She Writes rather than here. (I’m a She Writes newbie.) I hope you’ll follow the link in the previous sentence and read it!


Visit She Writes

]]> http://kaymarner.com/blog/2010/05/08/show-me-the-money-eventually/feed/ 0 Shameless Self-Promotion: Writing Your Bio http://kaymarner.com/blog/2010/03/26/shameless-self-promotion-writing-your-bio/ http://kaymarner.com/blog/2010/03/26/shameless-self-promotion-writing-your-bio/#comments Fri, 26 Mar 2010 15:42:28 +0000 Administrator http://kaymarner.com/blog/?p=233 The Call for Submissions for Bless Your Heart includes a request for a “brief bio.” A few potential contributors have been less than confident about creating this description of themselves, especially those with limited or no publishing credits.

One of my favorite books about writing covers this very topic—-how and why to get over the idea that humility is a virtue, because, when it comes to promoting your writing, it won’t serve you well. The book I’m refering to is:

How to Become a Famous Writer Before You’re Dead: Your Words in Print and Your Name in Lights, by Ariel Gore. Now, with no offense intended to Ms. Gore (I’m calling the book a favorite, after all), this isn’t the most well written or edited book you’ll ever read—-I’d guess there was a race to a deadline involved. But the book’s message is right on, and its delivery is as irreverant and entertaining as the lesson is important to learn.

Give it a read, then take another stab at that bio. I’m willing to bet it will be easier, and stronger, the second time around.

]]> http://kaymarner.com/blog/2010/03/26/shameless-self-promotion-writing-your-bio/feed/ 0 A book contract! I like the sound of that! http://kaymarner.com/blog/2009/10/08/a-book-contract-i-like-the-sound-of-that/ http://kaymarner.com/blog/2009/10/08/a-book-contract-i-like-the-sound-of-that/#comments Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:21:11 +0000 Administrator http://kaymarner.com/blog/?p=127 When I quit working outside the home back in March, I had no idea that before 6 months had passed, I’d be signing a contract with a publisher to compile and edit a book of essays. (Warning: Trite expletives ahead: It was meant to be! It’s a dream come true!)

Besides being one more fact I can point to when trying to convince myself, and when telling others, that, yes, I am a “real” writer (I still need convincing!) it’s fun to have a new project to work on. I thrive on creative projects, especially those that demand organization skills. Kind of weird, since no one would accuse me of being organized at home. I guess organizing bills and throwing away junk mail isn’t as much fun, and doesn’t produce a satisfying end product, like my favorite kinds of projects do.

This book project, an anthology of essays written by parents of kids with ADHD or kids who, for whatever reason, behave in ways that present challenges to their parents, is definitely my kind of project. I didn’t even wait to sign the contract before I got started–I already did a throrough market comparison, wrote the Call for Submissions, and started a long list of venues for placing the Call.

I ran into my former boss, Lynne Carey, the other day, and she’d heard my good news through the workplace grapevine. She congratulated me. “You know how I love having a project!” I said. If anyone on the planet understands my affinity for creative projects, it’s Lynne. I drove her nuts for 9 years with a steady stream of ideas for things I wanted to do, but that ultimately created work for her too.

Well, now it’s Adrienne Ehlert Bashista of DRT Press that has to put up with me! Luckily, I get the feeling Adrienne works a lot like I do. I think we’ll get along just fine.

Watch for more info, and that Call for Submissions, soon!

Read with me; write with me!

Kay


]]> http://kaymarner.com/blog/2009/10/08/a-book-contract-i-like-the-sound-of-that/feed/ 0 Freelance writer in the market for some self discipline! http://kaymarner.com/blog/2009/04/20/freelance-writer-in-the-market-for-some-self-discipline/ http://kaymarner.com/blog/2009/04/20/freelance-writer-in-the-market-for-some-self-discipline/#comments Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:18:06 +0000 Administrator http://kaymarner.com/blog/?p=106 I have time–the hours between 8:45 am and 3:05 pm are mine, all mine.

I have a laptop computer. It’s missing two keys, the o and the p, but long ago I learned to hit the empty spaces where the keys belong just right, and it works fine.

I have wireless internet service at home–and at my favorite coffee shops.

I have a beautiful office center in my bedroom–not a whole office–but a very functional and attractive space to work.

I have several writing assignments to work on.

I have a gift for wasting time.

Today is Friday. Today marks the end of the my third full week of stay-at-home motherhood and freelance-writerdom. What do I have to show for it? A few blog posts and a lot of unaccounted-for time.

I need to develop a daily routine and stick to it. I need to limit the time I spend checking email and websurfing before I start writing; set goals for what I want to accomplish each week.

I keep thinking I should find some books about time management skills for freelance writers, small business owners, or work-at-home types. But wouldn’t reading about time management really just be an excuse to waste more time?

I need to take a lesson from the folks at Nike and…“Just do it!”

Write with me!

Kay


]]> http://kaymarner.com/blog/2009/04/20/freelance-writer-in-the-market-for-some-self-discipline/feed/ 0 Welcome to my blog! http://kaymarner.com/blog/2009/03/24/welcome-to-my-blog/ http://kaymarner.com/blog/2009/03/24/welcome-to-my-blog/#comments Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:41:16 +0000 Administrator http://kaymarner.com/blog/?p=5 Yes, I’m a writer. A real writer.

A few months ago I was drinking coffee at Cafe Diem and writing a post for my ADHD parenting blog, My Picture Perfect Family, when a woman approached me.

“Are you a writer?” she asked. I looked up, and recognized Jo Myers-Walker, a successful local artist.

My first impulse was to say, “Me? Oh, no. I’m not a writer.”

Wait a minute, I thought. Why don’t I see myself as a writer? At this very moment I’m writing–for online publication–with my very own byline–for pay. It was time for me to identify myself as the “real thing.”

“Yes,” I answered, “I am.”

Flash forward to last Friday. I’d resigned my part-time-salaried-with-benifits job at Ames Public Library after 9 years, and was eating a farewell lunch with 15 colleagues.

“What are your plans?” One of them asked.

I’m officially, unequivacally, for-better-or-for-worse a freelance writer!

Oh my god, what have I done?

Please join me as I begin my journey as a REAL writer. I’ll share the history of how I started writing, and keep you updated as I live the writing life.

For me, a life-long reader, a book reviewer, and a long-time public library staffer, writing and reading are inseparable. I’ll also write about my favorite reads–for adults, teens, and kids; fiction and non-fiction; some on topics I write about professionally–adoption, ADHD and learning disablilities, books, and writing.

Please stop back often!

Kay


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