The color green used to mean only one thing and that was jealousy, either as the green-eyed monster or green with envy. Today, however, green has a whole new positive meaning. Green now describes anything that is environmentally friendly. It is a realm that took off a long time ago and left me standing at the airport in my niche of travel writing.
First, I need to report that my health is back to 100%. I’m completely recovered from what I’m now referring to antibiotic poisoning. The medical bills came in and my two-month illness cost over $5K. But, the important thing is that I am completely recovered and back to living a normal life. Hallelujah!! I even went out for sushi this week. I ordered the huge combo platter – 5 types of sushi and 6 types of sashimi. My mom said, “You are flirting with disaster!”
I’ve been making notes about common themes that are emerging in the entries for our Summer 2008 24-Hour Short Story Contest. I thought I’d share these with you today so you can see how difficult it is for some writers to come up with completely original variations of a common theme.
This Week:
Complacency is rarely an option for a freelance writer. Magazines fold, smaller book publishers get swallowed up by larger publishing houses and websites run short of cash. Therefore, even with nearly 50 published non-fiction books and plenty of web content to my credit, I still find that it never hurts to pick up additional small writing assignments and, more importantly, make new contacts. With that in mind, every few months I peruse the freelance assignments on the job postings boards. Ironically, while the names and faces in the publishing business change very often, the tone and general approach of the freelance writing job sites remains the same.
I am working on a manuscript adapting one of Shakespeare’s plays for the education market. If I wanted to include Shakespeare’s original play, will I be able to do it? The basic play, is in the public domain. I have typed the original play from a collection printed in 1825. Your suggestions are valued and appreciated.
Many writers – including myself – have big dreams. We want to top the bestseller lists and see our novels made into major movies. We yearn for bylines in “the big time”, hoping to see our articles teased on the cover of our favorite magazines. We dream of the day that we can earn our living through our words, something I have achieved after many years as a writer.
Do you know if this course is legit, or of anyone who has participated in this program? Any news of it, good, bad, or indifferent? I have tried to search the Web, but I don’t come up with much–some pro, some con, but no substance to lead me to pursue it or to disregard it.
After my weekend of hell, waiting for my body to wage internal war in my gut while withdrawing from five weeks of antibiotics, I’m feeling much better. Still have some residual effects but I’m no longer homebound. Yea!!
Through WritersWeekly Whispers and Warnings, we publicize deadbeats, scams targeting writers, and even lowly spammers (who also target writers). The names of these jerks pop right up on google, through our Whispers and Warnings posts, and also through other websites, like ripoffreport.com. They are ripe for the picking by any writer willing to take the time to google a potential client’s name.
Sadly, I hear from writers all the time who type a varying version of this: “Aaarghh! I wish I’d googled that deadbeat’s name before working for/with him/her!”
