Some good news! Or at least I hope so...

Avatar for colomom99
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Some good news! Or at least I hope so...
6
Tue, 08-25-2009 - 4:51pm

Hi all! I posted about a week ago that I had a job interview that didn't go very well and was feeling down. I had mixed feelings about it but we really needed some income. Since I still haven't heard from them I can only assume it is a no. BUT (drum roll please) in the past 10 days I have snagged four -- count 'em -- freelance jobs. Just when I thought everything had dried up. Three national magazine assignments and one cable network website. A couple of them are still in the proposal stages but since they called me there is little doubt they will turn into contracts. This is in addition to another piece that is on hold while we wait for things to get sorted out.

This has happened to me so many times I feel like I have whiplash from riding the roller coaster. I get discouraged and time is running out before our savings is gone and I start to panic and then, boom, the work comes. My Mom calls it a sign that I need to keep plugging away on what I really want to do rather than take a job I probably wouldn't like. That in itself is a miracle because my mom has never been especially supportive and is very, very risk aversive.

Sorry. Just had to post with good news for a change. Still digging out from the mountain of debt this past two years of unemployment/ under employment has brought. The added irony is I got a letter saying I was eligible for extended unemployment because I'm still not working what they consider steady and fulltime. I guess I will hold onto my eligibility status in case things go south again but won't file for payments. Woohooo....

Jenny

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-02-1998
Tue, 08-25-2009 - 5:24pm
Congratulations on getting the free lance jobs.




iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2008
Wed, 08-26-2009 - 8:18am

It amazes me sometimes how life can work it's own problems out.

Norma


"Patience is the best remedy for every trouble"- Plautus


iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2003
Wed, 08-26-2009 - 8:32am

So glad things are looking up for you! Way to go!


Bex -


"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift -thats why its called the present."


Bex -

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2008
Wed, 08-26-2009 - 8:50am

Ah, a very good problem to have, until it gets lean again.


Small business, including contract work, usually runs on cycles, typically 3 month cycles, and this is why:


You spend a bunch of time marketing your services, applying for work and meeting with potential clients.




Avatar for colomom99
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Wed, 08-26-2009 - 9:27am

Ah so true! I have heard as a writer I should have things in four stages at all times: current story, work that is in revision stages, stuff I am pitching or waiting to hear about, and looking for future stories. I'm still trying to wrap my brain around being that organized and compartmentalized. Oh for the days when I did one thing at a time!

I once read an essay by a woman who started writing fulltime at the same time her husband quit his job to go into business for himself as a graphic artist. She talked about how they would get to the "59th minute of the 11th hour" and then a check would arrive in the mail. Boy can I relate.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-04-2009
Wed, 08-26-2009 - 9:50pm

Congrats!

Keep working hard and cultivate your networking at the same time...that will come in handy to land future assignments.