I think this is what they call Serendipity

I never in my life thought I would look forward to work each day. Never in my life. I get up at 6am every morning, race upstairs to the bonus room (uh, I mean my office) and start my day. I've learned so much and my mind is racing with ideas for my business. Heck, I even turned down a job from a guy in New York City. I just didn't have a good feeling about it, and I said no. I felt so powerful at that moment. After I turned it down, I kept hearing his words in my ears. "You are an entrepreneur and I need that for my business". ME....an entrepreneur.

So many good things are happening to me this month, that I can't get over it. I went to a writer's meeting last night and just sat awestruck at some of the folks who read their material. Such raw, undiscovered talent. I think next month I will read a poem I wrote some time ago called "In My Skin". I've kept my face in a jar by the door for too long, to quote Eleanor Rigby.

More musings later.

Contracts, Writing and Referrals, Oh My!

Wow....who knew that writing for a living was such a big business? I'm finding that getting work for Bios, Press Releases and Web content are not as plentiful as the Ghostwriting gig. Man.....I am being bombarded with referrals from other writers as well as getting some business myself for this. Not that I am griping mind you!

The biggest pain I have found so far is getting contracts out, copied and sent to the client as well as tracking who gets what on commission. Small issues that I am loving!

Ghostwriting rocks. By the way, I framed my first dollar :)

More musings later

I'm still in shock...

I logged into AOL as I do each morning of my writing career. I noticed an email from a company that I sent my book, "Glittering Secrets" to for film consideration.

I read the email. I read it again. I read it again. I read it again. By God, they are interested in converting the book to film. I sat stunned in my chair staring at the email glowing on my laptop screen. Then I began to write an email to everyone I have ever known in my lifetime.

I won't believe it until I actually see the process started.

Life is good. DAMN good.

More Musings later.

P Diddy and Me

Great news to report! After 4 solid days of cold calling, taking editing tests, etc, I have one of my first gigs as a full time writer! I'm really looking forward to it. People are amazed that leads are coming about already, and I have to say that I am pretty shocked myself. This is FAB if I can keep it up!

The 7th was my birthday, but it turned out to be a pretty horrendous day for most Tennesseans as it was the worst tornadoes to hit our area since the 70's. It wasn't much of an issue anyway, as P Diddy insisted on hanging out with me that day (and the day before). I tell you, he makes me so incredibly exhausted and I just feel crappy in general. I kept trying to lose him, and to tell him to get lost, but he is obnoxious that way. Oh well. You can't control others, only yourself, right?

By the way, P Diddy is my nickname for Parkinson's Disease. Did I mention that I think he sucks?

More musings later.

Nose to the Grindstone and loving it!

I wasted no time in jumping right into the middle of my freelance writing career! Monday morning, bright and early, I raced to Walmart and bought a wireless keyboard/mouse so that I could get right to work.

Hunched over my laptop, with the windows up in my bonus room, uh, my office, I busily googled, yahooed, media bistroed and everything else getting my name out there. I labored over Google adwords (if you have any suggestions, please please give me a comment!!!!!), and I created my spreadsheets for quotes, contracts and the like. I'm in heaven.

AND, to make things even better....my friend, Drew is also working to be self employed, as I am! So, that means I have a buddy to go to Chamber of Commerce meetings with and someone to network and bounce ideas. We have a pact to get together to meet next week, which is cool. We'll meet for coffee or something and go over our plans and ideas.

Life is really cool right now...ok, where's the money?

More musings later.

The Shackles are Off...

Well, my time is done. No more fighting morning traffic, walking into a sea of beige cubicles, fax machines, and printers. It's over.

I might have mentioned in previous posts that my coworkers decided to take me to lunch for my goodbye. I was very nervous about this lunch as I have never felt that we glommed due to my differentness. For those of you that feel like the outsider of your coworkers, you know what I mean.

That is where my friend comes in. I won't mention her name, but this person has worked for this organization for a long time, and insisted that she accompany me to the lunch. Granted, she didn't know my coworkers, but she knew I felt wierd about the whole thing. I finally agreed to her taking me. What did I have to lose?

We walked in, with all eyes upon us, and my friend smiled, introduced herself to each of my coworkers and chatted easily with all of them. Not that she ignored me either, my friend turned this uncomfortable gathering into a great, easy social event. The thing that it did for me, was give me legitamacy. My coworkers saw me in a new light, not the misfit, but knowing someone with years of experience and knowledge, someone socially graceful.

I think that is when the shackles fell off.

More musings later.

Musings from a Writer: Material for "Handicapped"

Musings from a Writer: Material for "Handicapped"

Getting ready to leave the Corporate World Grind

I talked to some coworkers today, and I could tell....beyond the regular paycheck and the plastic insurance card in the wallet, they are jealous. Theres that deep green tint in the eye that says, "God, I would love to find my passion and do it all day". Alot of people think finding your passion is an easy venture, and even though I have found mine, I can tell you without hesitation that it was a very difficult road.

I thought for so many years that music would be my route. Not so. Although I would never trade my experiences, I am glad that I am a writer. It is compatible with my soul. Like I said, I've had some awesome experiences....auditioning at Juilliard at 17, performing with symphony orchestras and meeting some famous folks along the way, yet....a writer is what I am. Hopefully, you can tell that from my posts.

If not, I'm going to discover what a pauper is all about.

More musings later.

Marking time in the Corporate World.

I have 4 1/2 business days left in the Corporate world. You know it is bad when you start including fractions into the countdown. Have I said I can't wait to leave? Yes, I believe I did. Anyway, I was looking at my posts the other day (ok, this morning) and noticed not 1 comment.
Now I thought with the last post at least, it would have spurred someone to say something.....

Which leads me to wonder, "Does anyone really read these blogs?". Ok, I know I sound like Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex in the City, as she is musing over her column. I've read a few that were really interesting. I like the ones that are more like a personal journal. I know blogging has grown to be a Corporate America tool, but I like the intimacy of it. Mind you, I know millions of people have access to a blog, but it just seems like a great way for one person in this great big world to say, "Hey, I'm here".

More musings later.

Material for "Handicapped"

Yesterday my partner and I went to Alive Hospice to speak to the Director about displaying her photography for the residents to enjoy. It was a very difficult experience for her and myself as we have both lost our grandparents that we were very close to, as well as a mutual good friend that battled cancer. We toured the facility, and found it to be a very nice place for residents and their families to be together.

We were both feeling a bit down after the experience and decided to get some lunch to cheer us both up. We walked into a restaurant that caters to gay patronage and who did we see? My coworkers from work. That is when I decided that this would be good material for my one woman show, "Handicapped", because when they saw me walk in, I was as good as a lepor. Not to mention that when I introduced my partner to them, they simply stared at her and provided much uncomfortable silence.

You see, I decided that I would base my play on the term "Handicapped" to indicate that people that fall into this category don't necessarily fall into a "physically or mentally" challenged definition. They could fall into any type of definition that limits their growth, character or spirituality as a person. I think the handicapped term I am speaking of is BIGOTRY.

More musings later

Good Lord, It's all I can do to sit through another meeting.

I have what they term as "Short Termer-itis". I sit through a staff meeting, doodling away bored to tears. BUT....ecstatic that it will soon be a thing of the past. It's such a waste of time to go through a work day as if on remote control, and far too many of us do just that.

As I sit through these meetings looking across the conference table seeing people dozing or people composing a grocery list in their head, I am thinking of my bonus room at home. My laptop with a separate keyboard will be on the table with my briefcase and papers strewn about as I busily clickity clack on my pc. There is internet access up there, so I will be on the net most of the day I am sure, OR doing my cold calling to potential clients. I've already decided that I will have to break for lunch around 11am so I can watch Ellen!

I can't wait to make it really happen....go to Chamber of Commerce meetings, network and more. If I were Mary Tyler Moore, I would go outside and throw my beret up in the air!

More musings later....

Oh wait....

I was on my way to logout and saw a blog entitled "MC Hammer"...Hammer has a blog??? I'm getting old.

More musings later.

Don't worry, there won't be 11 days of countdown!

Well, another day down. It sounds so negative to wish days away, so I am trying not to do that. (I'm failing miserably!). I came across a fellow blogger's weblog, (is that proper grammar?? Jeeez) and was quite impressed. Paul Chaney is his name and he has a blogging company. Of course, I am intrigued. You start giving me a slew of client names, unusual or unique marketing schemes, and I am all over it. Now whatever posessed me to major in music in college? Go figure.

As a writer, I thought I should pursue all the various types of writing including blogging. I didn't think I would like it, but I am becoming a fan. Another way for exposure for me. I think I will surf some more before going back to work....more musings later.

12 Business Days and Counting!

Just 12 more days and then I can call myself a full time writer! For so many years, I've done my writing business on the side, and I've been on a God-awful contract for 2 1/2 years doing IT work (what posessed me to do that???? oh yeah, $ kuh-ching).

Anyway, March 31st is my last day, and it can't come quick enough for me. I am so sick of doing the corporate crap to make money! If I hear "strategic" or "alliance" or learning "pieces of the business", I will retch.

So, for anyone that is interested, I have a company "Simpson - E Publishing" and I think it is going to do very well. I do marketing and sales copywriting (so I can properly synergize your company's strengths). Google my company and you will see I have been quite the busy bee.

More musings later....