I recently stood in the gravelly snow of spring and stared up at the roof of my garage, observing it with what must surely have seemed like knowledgeable expertise. The man beside me did the same, and we made quite the pair – this roof was a serious matter. “Mmm… I don’t think I want to get into this project,” the man mused, never taking his eyes from the blue tarp that hid rotting boards and moisture-soaked sheets of plywood. I nodded, having expected as much. What happened next struck me, though, and I appreciated
> Read MoreArchives for March 2009
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Are You Struggling Over a Small Readership?
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How many people read your blog? 1,000? 500? 300? Maybe even just 100 readers or less. Those numbers might discourage you. Just 100 readers. That’s nothing, you think. You look at the big blogs you admire, and with a low heart, you notice their reader stats so proudly displayed. They have thousands of daily readers showing up. They have the readership you dream of, the stats that make you envious. Maybe those numbers make you feel small. You might wonder if you’re writing every day or two for nothing. You may feel like you’re wasting
> Read MoreThe Magical Whiteboard and the Fruits of Labor
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For my first official Men with Pens post, I asked James whether I should write a serious post or a funny one. James shrugged, and I realized I’d asked possibly the stupidest question ever, slapped myself across the face, and sat down to write about The Magical Whiteboard. I have a problem with procrastination. If you are of the human persuasion, you probably do too. I suspect that humans are the only creatures who have a problem with procrastination. Monkeys, for example, probably don’t sit around thinking, “Should I go climb a tree so I
> Read MoreHow to Stay Sane and Alive if You’re Creative
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There are days when I’m consumed by my fears, anxieties and worry. The words don’t come. The pages are garbage. The brilliant idea slipped through my fingers, and it’s gone forever. There are other days when I revel in the love of words like I’m rolling in lottery money, throwing it up to the air in great handfuls while I laugh. I could touch the sun. I could talk to god. I am a writer. This is my lot in life, to endure great struggles and anguish, and to dance in fantastic victories with the
> Read MoreAre You Losing Faith in Your Writing Dream?
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Many people dreamed of becoming writers when they were younger. They spent teenage years crafting short stories, building fantasy worlds or reading cereal boxes while eating breakfast. Words were part of their lives. They voraciously read every book they could get their hands on, spent hours walking through bookstores and filled shelves with beloved novels. Then they grew up. They finished their schooling, got jobs somewhere, and set aside their childhood dreams of becoming a writer. Their love for writing never really went away, but its importance faded, set aside because of other adult priorities,
> Read MoreInterview with Pen woMan #4: The Rogue Taylor Reveals All
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1. What prompted you to join Men with Pens? You already have your own business, right? I do, and I intend to continue expanding it. The Men cannot bring me down! Seriously, though, James has been indispensable for business advice, and working with the Men frequently has helped me understand how I’d like to operate independently. We rogues aren’t averse to alliances, though – and working with MwP has given me a lot of freedom I wouldn’t otherwise have to pursue my own projects without worrying that my experimentation would cost me my livelihood. I
> Read MoreHow to Plan a Freelancer Vacation So You Can Refuel
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A note from James: Last week’s post on the life of freelancers and their runaway trains hit a nerve – many people could see themselves on that crash course to burnout already. One resounding question many people had was, “How do we take our hand off the throttle and start coasting towards a refueling station?”Alex Fayle brings the answer. Enjoy. Recently James invited me to write about runaway trains and freelancers who want to kill themselves working too hard…Wait, I mean freelancers who want to die in a train wreck… Well, something like that, anyway.
> Read MoreA Skewed Sense of Time Screws Up Your Schedule
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Casinos play some interesting mind games to keep players at the tables. They’ll do anything to make you forget the outside world exists. There are attractive settings with enough class to make anyone feel like James Bond in Monte Carlo and free drinks as long as you’re playing at the slot machines or the tables. Floor plans are designed so that you have to travel through gaming areas to reach restaurants, shops and shows. Dealers are friendly enough and might even grant you a small winning streak. (Then tables will change dealers and you can
> Read MoreThe Single Freelancer Policy that Saves Your Soul
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“Mmm… That’s not really what I’m looking for. Let’s revise this and give it another shot, okay?” Usually, a revision request is perfectly fine. It’s normal and part of the job, in fact. Unless you have special powers or a crystal ball, you can’t read other people’s minds. Getting it right 100% of the time on every first shot just doesn’t happen. That’s why revision policies are important. You need to clearly convey to your clients that you have some form of guarantee for their satisfaction, and you also need to make sure that you
> Read MoreIs Your Life a Runaway Train?
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Alex is a good friend of mine, and I’m glad. He and I have this interesting synergy, where just a quick comment out of the blue from one of us sets off the professional radar of the other. I leap on this; he pounces on that. (No one gets hurt in the process.) Recently, he pounced, and the result was this post. Read it. Print it. Stick it to your forehead if you have to. (You know who you are.) And, of course, enjoy. If you know James, you know he’s a great guy and
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