Writer Watch: Traveling Without Moving

If a client wants to take you from NY to LA by way of Canada, don't do it!

While I am getting ready for fall classes, paying off some bills and other related stuff, I'm still looking for new ways to make ends meet. Though most of my clients are great, some are slowing down as my bills are on the rise.


Anyway, I hate long-ass dialogues.  I feel that if you saw my oDesk profile, this should give you enough information to let you know whether I'm a strong candidate.  Okay, you want to speak via Google Chat or Skype. I, personally, don't have the best luck with those methods but for the client with a large project in mind, this is a reasonable request.

Last week, one prospect was flustered at the fact that I noted that I do not work outside of oDesk if that's where you found me. 


*shrugs shoulders*


What I do hate are pages and pages of instructions to submit samples, unpaid ones at that.  


Just now, I had to read a long letter, open a spreadsheet, adjust it and then read more pages that pretty much said the same thing. Then there was a diagram chart, and another page that pretty much repeated itself.  All that and they had nothing for me as far as the samples went.  Just a bunch of poorly-taken pics that I needed to describe in great detail (copy).  


It was almost an hour of my life but I could have been doing something else in the meantime.

Ads From Hell

Mini-mall in Hawthorne, CA  SW corner of El Segundo/Prairie Aves.

Writer Watch: When to Say Goodbye

Well, good news folks! This weekend I've registered to finish the rest of my classes in the fall and am finalizing my financial aid papers this week.  So far, my classes are covered by a grant and I hope to get on work-study.


Anyway, this means I get to say CYA to:

• whiny clients that pay nothing 
• clients who take their time paying 
• and maybe even those that promise work and either never deliver or procrastinate to where it's a real balancing act on my end.

That only leaves about 1-2 people out of my 6-7 oDesk clients.  Problem is that their drama has caused my brand to miss out on quite a few opportunities.


I'm not mad because it's my call but even when I emphasize that late pay means I pay interest on my bills, I've only had one honor me because of their negligence. One person has a niche that is really hard to create fresh content for unless I spend at least 10 hours a week researching why people should buy their product.  The way things are set up I can only give about half that time every week.  Every time I find a routine, they find a reason to complain or say something that lets me know they're not all there.  Oh well, thanks for the memories.


So if you're one of those clients where the above applies to you, hopefully you will realize that not all writers are completely at your mercy and should never be taken for granted.  Especially if the content is going to be used for marketing purposes.

Craigslist Hell

Ads From Hell

Help Wanted: Personal Assistant Needed for Supermodel

Now there are many ways in which to look at this, LOL  Courtesy of Rhymes with Snitch.


Yes, you will need boxing gloves but Naomi Campbell's been in the game for over 25 years, which is a really long time.  


And she has an incredible work ethic despite a public battle with addiction.


So there's your job stability which will allow you time to continue your education, buy a home or just play catch-up on your bills.  Or write the great novel.


As much I would like to do the above and more, I won't even consider it because if she touched me even once....one of the most beautiful faces in fashion would instantly become a thing of the past.