Notes from Minnesota

I'm torn.

As I write this, a little field mouse sleeps somewhere in this office. He's driving the dogs nuts, every time he moves, it takes Jake the Min Pin a good half hour to settle down. He's already torn apart the bottom bookshelf and most of the computer cords under Peder's desk trying to capture his wily prey.

Everything within me wants to poison the dang unwanted visitor and be done with it... yet something within me simply can't do it.

It happened this morning as I sat quietly in my desk chair listening to the Eagle's newest CD. I must have been motionless a little too long because Mr. Mouse crept out from his hiding place and paused long enough for the two of us to make eye contact.

Dang. Eye contact. It's the one action that melts the heart of nearly every human being on the planet. Head to the Humane Society to “just take a look at the dogs” and if you make eye contact, you're sunk. You're going home with a new family member.

I hope this isn't what's happened here.

I had a mouse move in last fall. Caught him in the box trap at least a dozen times. Trap and release. It's the humane choice. What they don't tell you is that the little guy always seems to find his way “home” again! We finally wound up driving ten miles away and dropping him in a field. I don't know his fate, but I sure hope he's doing well and is a grandpa many times over.

I just don't want his grandkids in my office.

So, I'm considering my options. Either way, my new little tenant needs to be gone soon. Real soon.

Enjoy this issue of Writing Etc.!

Beth

Beth's Pick of the Week

Mark November 20 on your calendar. That's the day of the first ever Writing Etc. teleconference.

The topic? Marketing Your Writing Biz and Jumpstarting Your Freelance Income.

I'm taking your questions and revealing my personal system for creating a predictable inflow of work as well as a consistent income.

And what'll this first ever teleconference set you back? A mere ten bucks. (Actually, it's 9.95.)

PLEASE NOTE: If you're a Creative Mindset Newsletter Subscriber, this teleconference is free. Just e-mail me at the addy at the bottom of your latest issue and I'll shoot you all the details.

So, get a pad and paper set to go. Line up your questions.  I'll answer them first come, first served. We've got one hour.

I'll see you on the 20th!

Click this link: http://filbertpublishing.com/tele.html

P.S. Just in case you're wondering, I've banned upsells. You won't hear any pitches either. Just pure freelance marketing  information.

P.P.S. I'm processing all your orders by hand. I like knowing who'll be on the call. Once you sign up, you can expect a welcome e-mail from me with a link with all the specifics as well as my personal e-mail addy where you can send your questions. And yes. I'm recording the call so if you're out of town or busy on November 20, 9:00 Eastern... you'll get a free MP3 download. :)

The October Issue of The Creative Mindset Newsletter

This month's all about marketing your freelance biz.

Freelance writers face some interesting challenges when it comes to marketing their writing skills, books, articles... heck, even crafting an effective query can be more of a challenge than you ever imagined.

In this issue, I cover some essential information you need to get straight before you pen one word.

Sign up today and get your own issue mailed to your physical address, free meditations, teleseminars, downloads, and more.

Here's the link: http://filbertpublishing.com/creative.html

P.S. Did you know that every single subscriber to the Creative Mindset Newsletter will receive Filbert Publishing's latest meditation CD? You missed the last one, don't miss the next. It's guaranteed to blast through writing blocks. Also, you'll get in on every single Writing Etc. teleseminar absolutely free. The first one, as a companion to this month's topic is called "Markeing Your Writing Biz." Sign up today to get all the juicy info.


The Agony and the Ecstasy

Beth Ann Erickson

I entered the freelance world with visions of lazy afternoons, muse-filled evenings, and productive mornings.

Reality?

A little different. Actually quite different.

Running a successful writing business can take more time than you expect, chew through your muse faster than you can say “novel” and take you places you never expected.

Let me explain.

In case you don’t know, I write advertising copy to finance my “novel writing habit.” It’s a fair trade off with fiction writing satisfying my creative outlet and copywriting providing the income I need to (more than) pay the bills, finance my many travels, and keep Cutie Rudie and Jake the Min Pin in trendy puppy sweaters.

Everything rolls along smooth… usually.

And here’s where I thought of you.

Throughout my decade-plus as a freelancer, I’ve noticed that life as a freelancer isn’t always rose petals and bumble bees.

Every break through piece, every single book release, darn near every success is almost always preceded by some sort of trial and/or tribulation.

Book releases sometimes start wobbly due to an unforeseen technical glitch (this is after testing and retesting every single link). Articles are released in glossy magazines with funky graphics or an odd ad right next to it. Sloppy edits have angered (I wasn’t the editor!) my community contacts and created front page headlines under my byline that made me cringe. You name it, I’ve probably watched it happen to something I’ve written.

But I learn a very valuable lesson every time something like that happens. It gives me an edge when I’m placing my next piece, it helps me guide my clients towards effective publicity, it makes my books stronger because they’re backed with solid real-world experience.

Success (for me) always represents a lot of hard work, a ton of lessons learned, and more research than I ever imagined backing it up that success. Oh, if you knew the hours and tens of thousands of dollars I’ve invested in this crazy career… but it’s all paid off in spades.

So I’m not complaining.

With each lesson learned, I become savvier. It’s even more interesting to note how many writers throw in the towel and give up once the road becomes rocky.

I hope you’re not one of them.

I mention this because I hear a lot from various gurus. Many of them reflect this aura that the peachy-keen life of a writer rolls forward as effortlessly as the mighty Mississippi.

Call it inside information, but I happen to know that everyone who has experienced success as a writer has paid the price through blood, sweat, tears, paying dues, whatever you want to call it.

We’ve all endured bad reviews. We’ve all received nasty e-mails. Every one of us has our ego deflated on a regular basis.

And that’s just fine with me.

That’s because every once in a while, I receive the kind e-mail that lifts my spirits, someone takes the time to thank me for all my hard work. The constant encourager who makes all the difficulties worthwhile.

Writing is an odd profession. We bare our souls to the general public and then await the onslaught to follow… positive or negative. If you haven’t experienced this yet, I have no doubt you will.

I mention this because I want you to prepare yourself. Don’t fall for the hype believing that the writing life is as sweet as strawberry kool-aid. But don’t think it’s bitter either.

We need the bitter to enjoy the sweet. We need challenges to build our character.

Once a writer has matured and experienced life a while, faced life’s challenges in a mature and thoughtful fashion, that’s when their writing blooms into a mighty oak that welds power to change the world.

Or at least a corner of the world.

After all, that’s what this profession is all about, right? We aim to entertain, educate, cultivate differences, embrace harmony, celebrate diversity, anger, brighten, skewer, influence, persuade, sell, inform… you name it.

You hold incredible power within mind. Within your body lies a message that only you can release. You belong to what copywriting superstar John Carlton calls the “Brotherhood of the Pen.”

Discouragement is our prime enemy. Allowing it to create a foothold in our creative life can lead to disastrous results.

It is up to you and you alone to control your emotions and keep your dream vibrant.

The only way to fail is to give up. And what a sorrowful day that would be.

So now it’s time to reflect a bit.

How do you face adversity? How do you celebrate success?

But most importantly, how do you choose to use your incredible gift today

~~~

Beth Ann Erickson is the “Queen Bee” of Filbert Publishing. She’s also the author of numerous titles including “101 No Cost and Low Cost Secrets To Turbo Charge Your Freelance Income.” Pick up your copy today at http://filbertpublishing.com/101.html She’s also a busy copywriter, speaker, and publisher of Writing Etc., the free e-mag for writers. 

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I Recommend:

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