Finding the Day Job

During the entire day of my last shift of my last part-time job in college, all I could think was "I'll never have to work a shitty part-time job again." I was brimming with confidence, and as graduation approached I truly believed it. I had already been offered the job at the iPhone app, which promised me as many hours as I liked, and I was optimistic that at any moment now I'd be offered an entry-level position at a magazine. 

I haven't exactly had the greatest luck when it comes to part-time jobs. I've been fired, laid off, shut out from returning to an old job and was once simply not put on the schedule ever again without notification or explanation. (This last one, I'm pretty sure, was my inept manager not wanting to admit she had been wrong in hiring another person when her business wasn't doing well enough to really warrant one instead of any reflection on my performance.) I've had bosses that I hated, feared and completely disrespected. I had never been paid more than $9.50 an hour. Needless to say, I was filled with excitement at the prospect of never having to deal with that shit again.

And now, I'm applying to part-time jobs again. The thing is, as a freelancer, nothing is ever guaranteed. That iPhone app I trusted to pay my rent? There was a bureaucratic snafu that disabled me from working for over a month, which they didn't bother to fix since it meant one less person on the payroll. After pushing them for the last time, I was back on. But the successful rush they were enjoying in the beginning has now dwindled. Half of the staff is now gone and the hours are extremely low. I'm now only being scheduled for six hours a week during the crappiest shifts (which, at a 24/7 iPhone app can translate to working from midnight to 6am). That's a measly $90 a week.

I've had other smaller success since moving to Brooklyn. But, those are now in the past. I've already described the trouble with On Demand. I was also hired as a writer for a website, but after a week of assignments, I suddenly stopped hearing from them. (I've also yet to receive a check for those handful of posts at a whopping $12 a pop.) I've received enthusiastic responses to my resume that was sent in inquiring about a job, only to be offered an (unpaid) internship instead: "We love you! You're amazing! How about you come work for us? The only this is, though, we don't feel like paying you." I've interviewed for a paid internship, but wasn't chosen (I think they could tell I didn't really want to work there).  I've pitched articles and had them turned down because they were too similar to ones that were already run, or because they aren't quite exactly what they're looking for. And all this isn't even touching on the hundreds of applications I've sent in without any response whatsoever. 

My saving grace is that I live in an "up and coming" neighborhood of Brooklyn, so my cost of living is pretty damn low and easily attainable. That being said, I ain't making it on $90 a week. And so, I've started the humiliating task of finding another crappy part-time job. The worst part is that the competition for these jobs in New York is almost as high as for impressive jobs. You have to have years of NYC-specific experience, certification, and be moonlighting as a model to be considered. After spending the past few months fighting and promoting myself for much more worthy jobs, it's embarrassing to be writing such passionate and desperate cover letters for cashier and counter-person positions. This is especially true since, with my aforementioned history with this kind of thing, I'm using my professional writing skills to seriously spin my experience. 

I can't help but feel a little bit like a failure. I was so proud of myself for making it this far as a writer alone. Even if I was struggling and afraid, I was doing so with pride in the profession of my dreams. I so wanted to be that person that "made it," without ever having to revert to waiting tables. But, it's a rough world out there, particularly for the print industry. I know that, without the exception of a very lucky few, this is the reality for everyone. I know that there are hundreds of people in this city who are living their lives just like I am, pushing papers while they live out their real lives in the evenings and on the weekends. I won't even be completely selling out, since my internship is starting next week. I have two interviews in the next couple of days, and one is even a little exciting even if it's not completely according to plan. So, we'll see how it goes. 

The Siren Song of PJs

One of the challenges a person takes on when they work from home is resisting the urge to spend the whole day in their pajamas. What's the point if no one is going to see you, right?

Wrong! It doesn't matter. If you want to stay a sane person fit for society, do yourself a favor and get dressed. It doesn't have to be a cute, perfectly put-together outfit. As long as it's something other than what you slept in, then you're good to go.

If you fall into the trap of wearing your pajamas day in and day out, you'll start to feel like less and less of a functioning person. It'll affect your whole demeanor and likely take a toll on your quality of work and you determination to work in the first place. Just like with creating a workspace, it's all about the frame of mind when you're working from home.

Not only will  it affect your work, but it'll also carry over to your normal life. I read a great quote in one of the September issues the other day that said "Style is like a muscle. If you don't continue to exercise it, then you'll lose its power." Sooner or later you'll be faced with some social situation and not have a clue as to how to dress for it.

Don't let that happen to you!

Creating a Workspace

Before a few months ago, I hadn't used a desk since I had dial-up and had to be tethered to the wall in order to go online. Even when one was provided for me in dorm rooms, I always preferred to sit on my bed. I didn't have one in my room at all in my apartment for the last year of school. But when I knew I'd be moving to the city, something didn't sit right with me about the idea of a professional writer conducting her business from her bed. So, I bought a desk. And I vowed to actually use it.

My rule was going to be that whenever I was writing for work that I would sit at the desk. This rule has already been broken a handful of times, but usually I'm good and actually follow through. (Like now, for example. I knew it would be far too silly to write about the importance of writing at a desk curled up under my blankets.) The key is to make your workspace enticing. Create an area that's comfortable, inspiring, pleasing to the eye. As in, make it a place you actually want to be and work in.

One of the toughest parts about working at home is battling cabin fever. As much as an everyday job can suck sometimes, at least it's a routine excuse to get out of the house and go somewhere different. We don't have that luxury. In fact, I'm assuming that most people don't even have a separate room to call their office. Instead, "going to work" means going off to that corner in the studio, living room, or bedroom. I'm about four feet away from my bed, and maybe one foot away from my dressing area. But, somehow, whenever I'm sitting at my desk I do feel that it is a separate entity in my room, and that I'm in a much different environment than when I'm on my bed. Most importantly, I like being here. I'm surrounded by things that I enjoy. It's probably the area that has the highest concentration of things that make me happy in my whole apartment (aside from my closet, that is). Here it is:

1. This is my clock. It is an hour behind. I never changed it from daylight savings time because I rarely use it to see the time. I have my computer/watch/phone to do that. It's there mainly for the aesthetic, and because I really like the sound of a clock ticking. Most people hate that sound, but I find it really soothing.

2. When I moved into my first apartment, I expressed the desire for "big girl art." This meant that it was framed, and it wasn't just a print or a poster. My best friend's mom got these for me for my birthday, and they eventually wound up in my hands right before I moved here. I like them because they make me feel sophisticated and adult. The ladies in the picture are very fashionable and glamorous, which is what I want to be. It reminds me of the lifestyle I want to have, and who I'm usually writing for.

3. This is my bookcase. I plan to paint it sometime soon because it's not very attractive. It has one of my awards in it to pump my ego, my trusty Totoro to watch over me, reference books, notebooks and the books I've enjoyed enough to purchase and tote around with me. It's often been helpful to stare off into space in their direction, which leads to me thinking about them, and then helps me direct my writing or think of an idea. 

4. This is my snazzy to-do basket. There isn't much to say, but I figured it needed an explanation.

5. This is a wind-up brain that my dad gave me as a stocking stuffer. I keep it there because I think it's hilarious, and it's somehow extremely useful to wind it up and watch it walk around my desk as I'm thinking. I suggest everyone gets one.

6. These are my initials in antique printing press blocks. I've been on the hunt for these for a year, so when I finally found them at the Brooklyn Flea I was thrilled. I'm a fan of antique anything, but I'm especially obsessed with letterpress. I love the aesthetic and the values it has. I find it inspiring.

7. On a more technical note, a good printer is a must. This is a Canon MP160 and I've been very happy with it for years. It has a scanner and copier in it too, which I have made use of a hundred times. The scanner is particularly useful for freelance writers who tend to conduct business digitally. There will be plenty of times when you'll need to scan in your signature, or a copy of your ID for paperwork. It simply doesn't make sense to not get an all-in-one like this!

8. These are postcards of covers of amazing retro pulp fiction novels. They're ridiculously funny and, again, they come from a period that I find inspiring. In case you can't read them, their titles are Tender Hearted Harlot, Loves of a Girl Wrestler, and Fleshpots of Malibu. 

9. All of the desk organizers I found in stores were awfully utilitarian, so I decided to make my own that were cheerier. I got three sheets of coordinating craft paper in fun patterns, and then simply used Modge Podge to paste them onto old jars of assorted sizes. 

10. This is a squirtgun. There's a kitten in my apartment, and she likes to jump up on the shelf and bat at my earrings. This used to be effective until she started fighting back.

Not pictured, but oh so important: A memo pad. Definitely necessary. 

If you make your workspace inviting, you'll be much more moved to actually sit down and get to business. It's all about the inspiration. 

The Ego Cycle

One of my biggest handicaps for working in a creative field is that I don't quite have the ego for it. Let's face it, artists are narcissists. When I'm thinking logically (which isn't often), I'm pretty convinced that I'm a good writer, but remembering that beyond a few moments is tricky. I've noticed that it's always the same cycle whenever I embark on a new project.

While I'm planning it and just starting out I get extremely excited and optimistic. I'm fixated on the thought that this is The Idea, the thing that'll get me noticed and published and famous and rich. It's the best idea I've ever thought of! It's going to be great! Amazing! Spectacular! It'll get me on the cover of New York Magazine!


But then, as I start working on it (and therefore remembering that writing requires work) I get down on myself. I'll think, "who am I to think that I'm anyone worth writing? Who in their right minds would ever want to read this crap? This is awful! Why would anyone care about what I have to say?" This last question is particularly strong in my mind since I write memoir. I'm just some nobody, some young nobody. Who would want to read my writing outside of my friends and family?

If I get over this bump (and, sometimes, I don't) I'll truck along for a little bit more out of duty than passion. Then, slowly but surely, I'll get excited about it again. I'll remember why I loved the idea in the first place and the conviction is renewed.

And repeat. It never ends. I've come to notice that this exact cycle exists as a freelancer, too. (It probably exists for every profession, but for now I'm going to pretend it's a unique problem to writers.) If I get a yes or two, or a promising lead, or even an exciting no (Bon Appetit may not have had room for any more freelancers, but they wrote me a personalized letter to tell me so!) then I'm all confidence. I pride myself on the fact that I'm doing the seemingly unthinkable: supporting myself as a writer straight out of college. I'm able to remind myself that it was naive to expect a position at a magazine by graduation, and that I'm doing all of the right steps to be able to get there soon. I take note of all my little successes instead of focusing on the big picture where I'm falling a little short.

But then, the days will pass. I won't hear anything from any of the dozens of jobs I applied to that I truly thought I'd be perfect for. I get worn down from the constant competition, the importance of luck and connections to get anywhere in this industry (of which I have little), the endless disappointments and frustrations with my gigs and lack thereof, and of course my increasingly pitiful paychecks. I start to think that I'll never make it, that I'm bound to completely fail and have to move out of the apartment that I love in the city that I love back to living at my dad's house upstate (which literally drove me crazy the last time I lived there for more than two weeks). It makes me want to give up and assume the fetal position in bed forever.

One of the most difficult parts about freelancing is getting over that state of mind. Even when it seems completely hopeless, you have to get out your computer and keep trying. Keep searching those ads, keep applying to jobs, keep pitching articles. Read your old blog posts, articles and stories to remind yourself that you can do it. (Even reread your acceptance emails to remind yourself that others think you can do it too.) Then, get the hell out of the house and go to events, museums, parties, restaurants, flea markets. You're not going to come up with any new ideas by staring at the same wall you've been staring at for six straight hours. Sooner or later, you'll get some sort of validation to encourage you to keep at it again. Trust me, you'll be back to thinking you're awesome in no time.

Scam? Or Not A Scam?

Wading through help-wanted ads for writers can be tricky. First of all, everyone wants and needs writers but are somehow stuck in this mindset that they don't really need to be paid. I can't really justify this logic (a more drawn out rant may be coming in a future post) but that's the way it is. What's even more aggravating than unpaid "positions," however, are those ads that calm your fears about being paid and the fine print reads something like "10 cents a word" or "2 cents a word" or "20 dollars for fifty one-hundred word articles." There are also the ads that claim their site is finally the way to make a living as a writer, so sign up now!

I have two general rules for this, and then I will touch on some specific sites that you're likely to come across in your hunt.

1. If you have a degree relating to writing and/or any experience whatsoever, do not accept unpaid work. The main exception to this rule is if you land an internship with a magazine that you'd find in the newsstands in New York City. Having the name on your resume, the contacts and the experience is (usually, hopefully) equivalent to being paid. If any ad starts going on about how working for them would be great for "expanding your portfolio" or "gaining experience" or "increasing visibility for your blog" just keep on clicking. Writing for them won't do anything for you, and will do everything for them. If you're concerned about clips, write your own blog (or ten) instead. This will show you're passionate, dedicated, well-informed and knowledgeable about the web.

2. If they ask you for money, it's a scam.  This should be obvious but, then again, if nobody fell for it these scams wouldn't exist.

Now, on to more specific sites. The following are bound to pop up on your go-to job resources (which should be Mediabistro, Ed2010, journalismjobs.com and Craigslist - don't knock it, that's how I've gotten pretty much everything in my life) and after trudging through hundreds of ads and not hearing a damn thing, your curiosity is bound to be piqued. Here's what I've found.

On Demand Studios


I currently am with On Demand. I was extremely skeptical at first, but they are a legitimate business. Whether or not you're going to be successful with them is hit or miss. The concept is that they exclusively receive assignments from various service journalism sites. You sign in and can snap up whatever ones you want. Once an article is claimed, you have a week to submit it to an editor. They request a rewrite, if needed, and as soon as it's accepted they send you the payment through Paypal, which is a nice perk.

The problem is that, unless you're specifically qualified for more niche sites like livestrong.com, their main supplier is eHow.com. These articles are requested by everyday people online, so the titles you're given (the title of the article is all you're given) are usually poorly edited, vague, unclear and totally random. On Demand attempts to categorize them, but they're mostly misfiled. More often than not, I haven't the slightest idea how to approach the article, even in categories that I consider myself somewhat of an expert on. Here's a screen capture of the listings tonight under one of my favorite categories, Fashion:

See what I mean? As you can see, articles go for a paltry $15 a pop, which is pretty pathetic. But, I figured that if I could do 3 articles a week, that would be groceries (it's how you have to think as a freelancer). However, it's so rare that I find a good match that I've so far completed only two articles in the month or so I've been with them. I wouldn't put them down too much, though. Depending on your preferred subjects, willingness to be diligent about checking the listings, and ability to bullshit if necessary, this could be a very good fit. Conclusion? Not a scam. 


Suite 101


Suite 101 is an "online magazine" where writers can join and publish any old article, which is basically like writing a blog. The way writers are paid, though, are through "royalties," which translates to ad shares, pretty much. I haven't personally written for the site because it always seemed sketchy to me, but the message reads loudly to me: you aren't getting paid shit writing for Suite 101. I can't imagine earning more than a couple of dollars total with them. Just examine their pitch closely. Sure, they mention getting paid to write in every section, but what they focus on a lot more is joining a community of writers and getting your words out there. It's just the type of copy that I warned against in ads earlier, only packaged much more brightly. Conclusion?
Scam.


Examiner


Examiner talks a good talk. It looks legitimate enough, and it is a bit exciting to be given a distinct title like "Examiner: Bakeries." Their application looks like they're serious; it is lengthy and demanding after all. They want writing samples, resumes, edit tests and a commitment of x number of articles a week.  But, once all that
is dusted off, they really don't have anything to show. Working for Examiner is yet another commission-only type gig. How much you get paid is dependent on how often your article is viewed which, let's face it, is likely to be "only rarely," for which you're probably getting a couple cents a hit. This does not a salary make. So, a more demanding site with the most constraints of the pack for the least amount of money? Conclusion? Scam.


oDesk


oDesk is similar to On Demand in that it's a resource for other potential employers to put their listings all in one place. They have gigs from all around the world for all sorts of jobs. Unfortunately, they tend to attract ads that are more along the lines of "$10 for 30 articles" than anything substantial. Also, there's some kind of odd process of bidding how much you want to be paid, and when you input that it adds a couple more dollars to what the employer would be billed. I honestly don't understand it, but I've been too afraid  to test it out or look into it further in case I accidentally screw myself over somehow. For reference, this is what a job posting looks like:

It just doesn't feel right to me. Conclusion? Scam.


Yup, it's rough out there. The reality is that I spend at least an hour or two everyday searching through my job resources. Out of the hundreds I see a day, maybe ten are a good fit and realistic to apply to. Out of the ten, I'll maybe hear back from two. And out of the two, maybe one of them will actually follow through with what they promised. Writing ads are as truthful and fruitful as nonprofit and promoting events these days. Don't be that person on the sidewalk shoving flyers in people's faces.

Organization is Key

People never believe me when they say this, but I love to be organized. Yeah, my room may always be ranging from untidy to disaster zone, but that doesn't equate to being disorganized. (It was a sad sight when I came home the first time after going away to college to see that my dad had thoroughly cleaned my room. I was looking for a book to bring back with me and had to ask him, "Dad? Have you seen my book, So and So? It was halfway down that third pile from my bed when I left, but now I can't find it anywhere.")

With a million deadlines, meetings, forms and sources of income to keep track of, it's crucial to come up with a system or else you'll

a) Go crazy.
b) Crash and burn.
c) Lose a client (or all of them)
d) All of the above.

These are four things that I highly suggest you do to get things in order.

1. Buy a planner, and then actually use it.

I find planners really exciting, but maybe that's just because I'm a nerd. My favorite thing to say (or think) these days is "let me check my calendar." Write everything down, even the things that repeat every week. Carry it with you wherever you go and look at it at least once a day just in case. Some people go crazy with color coding the different entries, but I'm not that organized. I personally like Moleskine's line of planners. Part of it is because that's what all the hip kids use, but it's mostly because it has a blank lined page opposite every week. This is perfect for writers because you can always jot down ideas when you're inspired or use it to take notes on an assignment or write down contact information. The notebook's also a great size for portability, has enough space for each day, a pocket in the back for tucking any cards or tidbits, and has really texturally pleasing paper.

2. Create a digital filing system.


If I were to leave all of my files dumped in the standard document folder, it would be completely overwhelming. I find it very helpful to create new folders to stow everything away in. I have a folder for every client where I keep all of my assignments and paperwork. I also have a "Job Hunt" folder, where my resumes are as well as any cover letters, queries and edit tests. Even though I have an online portfolio, I also have a folder where I keep a copy of my favorite, most impressive and most useful articles, posts and clips are in case I want to quickly attach one to an email. This all takes a couple more click-throughs, but it's much better than scrolling through a list of potentially hundreds of documents.

3. But don't forget a good old fashioned paper filing system.


Every now and then, I still have to deal with a piece of paper (shocking, I know) so it's also important to file these properly instead of throwing them in your Everything Drawer. I brought some pretty files from The Container Store to make it a bit more exciting, and then got a freestanding hanging case that lives under my desk. I have a file for Incoming Money, which is for paycheck stubs. Then there's the less fun Outgoing Money, for bills. Then I have a paperwork file for contracts and tax-related things. The one thing I'm not doing so well with is remembering to print out anything that should go in any of these files for business that's all done digitally.

4. Set up your "books."


Since your money is coming from all over the place, and you'll likely be doing your own taxes (which I'm terrified of doing, but we'll talk about that again in September) it's essential to come up with your own little accounting system. You need to know where your money is coming from, and how much you're really making. If you keep track of it along the way, it'll make collecting all that information much easier when it comes to tax time. I haven't bothered to look at Quickbooks or anything like that. For now, I'm satisfied with creating simple Excel spreadsheets. For my steadiest job with the iPhone app, which is the only gig that has defined hours, we fill out bimonthly timesheets to send in. But for my more independent jobs where I write articles for the same company as a freelancer, I create a document that has a column for the name of the assignment, the date I submitted it, the price of the assignment, and the date when I was actually paid. I keep this document in the folder for the job. Depending on how often you write for each gig, each spreadsheet can be for a month, or for a quarter. My plan is to print everything out at the end of each quarter for safe-keeping, and use them to make a master list.

Sometimes, you can feel like you're being pulled in a million directions, but these few things have seriously helped me stay sane and in control.

Hello There

I think this is now the eighth blog I've started. But, hey, I'm a writer, so it's basically compulsive. So, why am I now writing a blog about writing? Because I've only been at this a few months and I've been wildly successful and failed miserably a dozen times over. There's a lot of material here! I'm mostly working from home, alone, so I don't have anyone to learn from, gossip with, rant to, or help out, and I want all that. If that's the case with me, then I can only assume that's what it's like for everybody. So, I'm hoping this will be somewhat of a virtual water cooler. If you're a writer too, then come on in and join me. If you're thinking about being a writer, well, I'm going to be brutally honest, so maybe you'll learn something.

And now, a little bit about myself. I just graduated from Emerson College in Boston, which I think is an amazing writing school. I was a year early (thank you APs!) so I waved goodbye to all my friends and moved to Brooklyn on the assumption that a contracted position at an iPhone app would continue to run full-time. My dream is to land a steady job at a magazine while continuing to freelance on the side. Right now, I'm just freelancing...at places that pay me shit and have little to no hours. I'll be starting a fashion internship at an amazing magazine in a few weeks but it is, of course, unpaid. I also just finished the first draft of a nonfiction book and am thinking about actually trying to get it published.

I'll be writing about the pros and cons of freelancing, the trials and tribulations I go through, tips and tricks I've picked up along the way, and any other stories that strike my fancy and will hopefully strike yours. Feel free to chime in!

See you around.