I’ve been freelance writing for a long time, and one thing that still surprises me, even though it shouldn’t, is how much my work changes from week to week, month to month, year to year.
I’m looking at the first?third of 2013, for example, and I haven’t written a single book under contract (meaning I have not been assigned by a publisher to write a book). I’ve had loads of good news on existing books, which is great! And I’ve even got some trade book news to share soon that I’m super excited about. But the educational publishers I usually write for have not been knocking on my door the past few months.
Instead, I’ve spent almost all of my writing time on two things: assessment writing and copyediting. I’ve done 15-20 assessment passages over the past few months, and I’m about halfway through (I think) copyediting a big project of teacher lessons and student workbook pages for a reading program in another country.
It’s all interesting work, some parts of it more challenging than other parts. But I have to admit it feels odd not to be turning in book manuscripts this spring. But that’s freelance writing. The market changes. Your relationship with particular publishers changes. And your work changes. I think it’s both a pro and a con of this writing life.
How is your writing life the same or different from what it was like 2-3 years ago?
For me, it seems like loads of freelance work come in spurts. I’d really like a break/vacation, but publishers keep knocking on my email wanting help. I really appreciate the money, but the stress of deadlines + keeping up with being a mom and wife are hard! Many nights we order food. In Korea, most restaurants deliver, even McDonalds! I’m glad you have work, too! Maybe your load of book ms is right around the corner.
So true, Tina! Always in spurts. And it’s wonderful to have work and income, isn’t it? I do try to focus on that. But it’s definitely draining, too. And hard to plan around. I hardly EVER turn down any freelance jobs because a dry spell could be just around the corner. I’m glad there haven’t been any dry spells super recently, but I’m starting to feel really overwhelmed, too. Between work and our daughter’s huge graduation party this Sunday (involving loads of home/yard repair, and we are highly unhandy), my husband and I are about to drop. We’ve been eating fast food or restaurant food 5-6 nights a week! Hopefully things will calm down after we survive the party.
Congratulations on being so in demand! And I’m going to hope for both of us a break of a few quieter weeks soon. Especially a break where we know there’s more work waiting on the other side of it, so we don’t spend that precious time trying to drum up business. Thanks for sharing–it was fun to learn a bit more about you:>)
For me, it seems like loads of freelance work come in spurts. I’d really like a break/vacation, but publishers keep knocking on my email wanting help. I really appreciate the money, but the stress of deadlines + keeping up with being a mom and wife are hard! Many nights we order food. In Korea, most restaurants deliver, even McDonalds! I’m glad you have work, too! Maybe your load of book ms is right around the corner.
So true, Tina! Always in spurts. And it’s wonderful to have work and income, isn’t it? I do try to focus on that. But it’s definitely draining, too. And hard to plan around. I hardly EVER turn down any freelance jobs because a dry spell could be just around the corner. I’m glad there haven’t been any dry spells super recently, but I’m starting to feel really overwhelmed, too. Between work and our daughter’s huge graduation party this Sunday (involving loads of home/yard repair, and we are highly unhandy), my husband and I are about to drop. We’ve been eating fast food or restaurant food 5-6 nights a week! Hopefully things will calm down after we survive the party.
Congratulations on being so in demand! And I’m going to hope for both of us a break of a few quieter weeks soon. Especially a break where we know there’s more work waiting on the other side of it, so we don’t spend that precious time trying to drum up business. Thanks for sharing–it was fun to learn a bit more about you:>)
I so appreciate your blog. Like you, I haven’t had a bit of work for hire but have had 23 school presentations due to the release of a leveled reader I wrote for Penguin Books for Young Readers.
I love the writer’s life. It’s unpredictable but always interesting.
Ann
Whoa! That’s a lot. Congratulations–I bet you are getting so relaxed with it–and what great exposure for your book.
I’ve had increased school visits and library events and young author’s conferences this spring, too. I kind of forgot about that (even though I’m going to be presenting Thursday, Friday, and Saturday!). It is nice if when one area (like my wfh books at the moment) slow down a bit, something else increases to pick up the slack–and provide some income!
I just put ICE CREAM SOUP on reserve–looking forward to reading it. Thanks for chiming in!
I so appreciate your blog. Like you, I haven’t had a bit of work for hire but have had 23 school presentations due to the release of a leveled reader I wrote for Penguin Books for Young Readers.
I love the writer’s life. It’s unpredictable but always interesting.
Ann
Whoa! That’s a lot. Congratulations–I bet you are getting so relaxed with it–and what great exposure for your book.
I’ve had increased school visits and library events and young author’s conferences this spring, too. I kind of forgot about that (even though I’m going to be presenting Thursday, Friday, and Saturday!). It is nice if when one area (like my wfh books at the moment) slow down a bit, something else increases to pick up the slack–and provide some income!
I just put ICE CREAM SOUP on reserve–looking forward to reading it. Thanks for chiming in!
I find your descriptions so refreshing!
I’ve been tight-rope-walk-ing the last 3 years between writing and illustrating. Writers have very distinct tastes in illustrations, sometimes detailed visions of the image to accompany their words.
They have little experience with the techniques for illustrating, and can’t relate to the technique, but only the finished image. I heard one editor say she waited 2 years for a chosen illustrator to become available for a book. No wonder publishing takes 4 years or more.
Meanwhile, e-publishing can be a blip.
Over the last 3 years I’ve found most of my revelations unfolding when we present at a poetry reading: aloud brings perspective.
Jeanne Poland
Interesting observations, Jeanne! That’s one thing about self-publishing–most people, even most traditionally published writers like me, have little real insight into the processes of visual arts. Even though I appreciate that illustrating a picture book, for instance, is every bit as demanding and time-consuming as writing one, I really don’t know much about the ins and outs. It’s always a revelation when I get to hear an illustrator speak at a conference and see their process. Or even just revealing blog posts, like the one at 7-Imp with Erin Stead showing some of her linoleum blocks from if you want to see a whale. (http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/?p=2562) Amazing.
It’s hard just keeping track of my writing career and all its variations and fluctuations. I can’t even imagine throwing illustration into the mix. That’s the silver lining, I guess, of my having absolutely no artistic talent:>)
Thanks for sharing!
I find your descriptions so refreshing!
I’ve been tight-rope-walk-ing the last 3 years between writing and illustrating. Writers have very distinct tastes in illustrations, sometimes detailed visions of the image to accompany their words.
They have little experience with the techniques for illustrating, and can’t relate to the technique, but only the finished image. I heard one editor say she waited 2 years for a chosen illustrator to become available for a book. No wonder publishing takes 4 years or more.
Meanwhile, e-publishing can be a blip.
Over the last 3 years I’ve found most of my revelations unfolding when we present at a poetry reading: aloud brings perspective.
Jeanne Poland
Interesting observations, Jeanne! That’s one thing about self-publishing–most people, even most traditionally published writers like me, have little real insight into the processes of visual arts. Even though I appreciate that illustrating a picture book, for instance, is every bit as demanding and time-consuming as writing one, I really don’t know much about the ins and outs. It’s always a revelation when I get to hear an illustrator speak at a conference and see their process. Or even just revealing blog posts, like the one at 7-Imp with Erin Stead showing some of her linoleum blocks from if you want to see a whale. (http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/?p=2562) Amazing.
It’s hard just keeping track of my writing career and all its variations and fluctuations. I can’t even imagine throwing illustration into the mix. That’s the silver lining, I guess, of my having absolutely no artistic talent:>)
Thanks for sharing!
Yea for Laura! Publishers need creative, caring professionals like yourself. Most of all, those young readers need you. Keep poking those editors!
Yea for Laura! Publishers need creative, caring professionals like yourself. Most of all, those young readers need you. Keep poking those editors!
Writing, rewriting, manuscripts rejected, smooth them out, send them right back out again, got hired to teach children’s poetry workshops for Women in the Arts in Orlando, FL, went to TLA and tested out poems from my one man show POETRY TIME and came away convinced that with continued hard work and a splash of luck I can do this for a living one day. Oh, last 3 years I’ve been published in 6 anthologies and 2 e-books. Progress is being made!
You are the poster child of being everywhere, working hard, and networking (in a great way). Congratulations on ALL your accomplishments!
Writing, rewriting, manuscripts rejected, smooth them out, send them right back out again, got hired to teach children’s poetry workshops for Women in the Arts in Orlando, FL, went to TLA and tested out poems from my one man show POETRY TIME and came away convinced that with continued hard work and a splash of luck I can do this for a living one day. Oh, last 3 years I’ve been published in 6 anthologies and 2 e-books. Progress is being made!
You are the poster child of being everywhere, working hard, and networking (in a great way). Congratulations on ALL your accomplishments!