Comments on: Write On!: Rules for Breaking into Writing http://www.almostgotit.com/2009/01/23/write-on-rules-for-breaking-into-writing/ With every failure my reputation grows Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:01:53 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Kieran http://www.almostgotit.com/2009/01/23/write-on-rules-for-breaking-into-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-2382 Kieran Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:50:33 +0000 http://www.almostgotit.com/2009/01/23/write-on-rules-for-breaking-into-writing/#comment-2382 I came across this by chance but I have enjoyed it's content. I am one of those that has just been writing and recording as a form of self expression.....and exorcising my demons. Now I have turned to blogging also as a means of expressing myself but I am still getting the hang of the technology. The thought of being paid for something that I have always been compelled to do, is a little like looking for the philosophers stone. Writers write because they have to, it makes them restless when they don't the lucky ones get paid for it. But I also think that we can do anything that we put our minds too. I came across this by chance but I have enjoyed it’s content.
I am one of those that has just been writing and recording as a form of self expression…..and exorcising my demons.
Now I have turned to blogging also as a means of expressing myself but I am still getting the hang of the technology.
The thought of being paid for something that I have always been compelled to do, is a little like looking for the philosophers stone.
Writers write because they have to, it makes them restless when they don’t the lucky ones get paid for it.
But I also think that we can do anything that we put our minds too.

]]> By: What I Am Reading This Weekend | Summer Jobs - Seasonal Work - Cool Jobs on the JobMonkey Blog http://www.almostgotit.com/2009/01/23/write-on-rules-for-breaking-into-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-2381 What I Am Reading This Weekend | Summer Jobs - Seasonal Work - Cool Jobs on the JobMonkey Blog Fri, 06 Feb 2009 22:52:38 +0000 http://www.almostgotit.com/2009/01/23/write-on-rules-for-breaking-into-writing/#comment-2381 [...] Rules for Breaking into Freelance Writing @ Almost Got It. More suggestions about how to pursue a freelance writing career. By the way, you [...] [...] Rules for Breaking into Freelance Writing @ Almost Got It. More suggestions about how to pursue a freelance writing career. By the way, you [...]

]]> By: The “Honest Scrap” Award « James Viscosi’s Scribblings http://www.almostgotit.com/2009/01/23/write-on-rules-for-breaking-into-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-2373 The “Honest Scrap” Award « James Viscosi’s Scribblings Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:22:11 +0000 http://www.almostgotit.com/2009/01/23/write-on-rules-for-breaking-into-writing/#comment-2373 [...] them, thus violating one of the rules about breaking into the writing field mentioned in AlmostGotIt’s two excellent posts from a couple of weeks [...] [...] them, thus violating one of the rules about breaking into the writing field mentioned in AlmostGotIt’s two excellent posts from a couple of weeks [...]

]]> By: Fr Dave http://www.almostgotit.com/2009/01/23/write-on-rules-for-breaking-into-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-2365 Fr Dave Sat, 31 Jan 2009 11:13:23 +0000 http://www.almostgotit.com/2009/01/23/write-on-rules-for-breaking-into-writing/#comment-2365 Once again just commenting (in standard gushing style) that it is wonderful almostgotit draws so many articulate "have something worth reading/hearing" people to comment. I'm in the community business and what she does is community building. We're not worthy We're not worthy! Once again just commenting (in standard gushing style) that it is wonderful almostgotit draws so many articulate “have something worth reading/hearing” people to comment. I’m in the community business and what she does is community building.

We’re not worthy We’re not worthy!

]]> By: Dennis the Vizsla http://www.almostgotit.com/2009/01/23/write-on-rules-for-breaking-into-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-2360 Dennis the Vizsla Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:38:42 +0000 http://www.almostgotit.com/2009/01/23/write-on-rules-for-breaking-into-writing/#comment-2360 A very good and insightful post! I wonder sometimes what would have happened if I had tried to go for a full-time writing position rather than relying on a "real" job to pay the bills and writing on the side. My wife suggests that we would be living under a bridge somewhere, but there's a chance that she's wrong ... A very good and insightful post! I wonder sometimes what would have happened if I had tried to go for a full-time writing position rather than relying on a “real” job to pay the bills and writing on the side. My wife suggests that we would be living under a bridge somewhere, but there’s a chance that she’s wrong …

]]> By: almostgotit http://www.almostgotit.com/2009/01/23/write-on-rules-for-breaking-into-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-2358 almostgotit Fri, 23 Jan 2009 19:07:24 +0000 http://www.almostgotit.com/2009/01/23/write-on-rules-for-breaking-into-writing/#comment-2358 <em> ;0) Pages! I *do* have an edit key, but it's too much fun reading your comments to use it! (and you are on my privileged list in any case, meaning your comments auto-post immediately. But if you REALLY want me to edit anything after-the-fact, I can...)</em> ;0) Pages!

I *do* have an edit key, but it’s too much fun reading your comments to use it! (and you are on my privileged list in any case, meaning your comments auto-post immediately. But if you REALLY want me to edit anything after-the-fact, I can…)

]]> By: pages http://www.almostgotit.com/2009/01/23/write-on-rules-for-breaking-into-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-2356 pages Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:39:11 +0000 http://www.almostgotit.com/2009/01/23/write-on-rules-for-breaking-into-writing/#comment-2356 Again, a missing word (you don't have an edit key on this thing, Almost?): If had *not* been so stubborn in my willingness to do that 10-15 years ago, I might not have struggled so much over the years. Again, a missing word (you don’t have an edit key on this thing, Almost?): If had *not* been so stubborn in my willingness to do that 10-15 years ago, I might not have struggled so much over the years.

]]> By: pages http://www.almostgotit.com/2009/01/23/write-on-rules-for-breaking-into-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-2355 pages Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:33:19 +0000 http://www.almostgotit.com/2009/01/23/write-on-rules-for-breaking-into-writing/#comment-2355 There is a word missing in the last sentence of the second paragraph of my post above. It should read: "If you don’t play well with others, then the person with the writing job you want will not ask you to come play in her sandbox." Yes, cat bobble heads. One of my co-workers edited a piece on the bathroom that also doubles as a home office. I should also note that my first job (the one I didn't network to get) was straight out of college and paid the princessly sum of $7,000 a year. Yes, this was many, many years ago, but still. I've tried other things over the years, but could never be happy with them. So, I write. It satisfies my soul even when it's not the dream job. But I have had dream jobs along the way: state capital bureau chief for a statewide newspaper, co-author of an acclaimed children's book on the Japanese American internment camps in WWII, articles in national magazines. One thing, that it seems several folks here have figured out, is that you have to pay your dues and even then sometimes it's just plain luck of the draw. Plus, you have to be willing and able to negotiate the world wide web. If I had been so stubborn in my willingness to do that 10-15 years ago, I might not have struggled so much over the years. There is a word missing in the last sentence of the second paragraph of my post above. It should read: “If you don’t play well with others, then the person with the writing job you want will not ask you to come play in her sandbox.”

Yes, cat bobble heads. One of my co-workers edited a piece on the bathroom that also doubles as a home office.

I should also note that my first job (the one I didn’t network to get) was straight out of college and paid the princessly sum of $7,000 a year. Yes, this was many, many years ago, but still.

I’ve tried other things over the years, but could never be happy with them. So, I write. It satisfies my soul even when it’s not the dream job. But I have had dream jobs along the way: state capital bureau chief for a statewide newspaper, co-author of an acclaimed children’s book on the Japanese American internment camps in WWII, articles in national magazines.

One thing, that it seems several folks here have figured out, is that you have to pay your dues and even then sometimes it’s just plain luck of the draw. Plus, you have to be willing and able to negotiate the world wide web. If I had been so stubborn in my willingness to do that 10-15 years ago, I might not have struggled so much over the years.

]]> By: Working Girl http://www.almostgotit.com/2009/01/23/write-on-rules-for-breaking-into-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-2354 Working Girl Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:08:24 +0000 http://www.almostgotit.com/2009/01/23/write-on-rules-for-breaking-into-writing/#comment-2354 A most astringent post. Very nice. A most astringent post.

Very nice.

]]> By: almostgotit http://www.almostgotit.com/2009/01/23/write-on-rules-for-breaking-into-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-2353 almostgotit Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:11:33 +0000 http://www.almostgotit.com/2009/01/23/write-on-rules-for-breaking-into-writing/#comment-2353 <em>Cat bobble heads? Thanks, Pages, for your own contribution to this (okay, rather intimidating) discussion. Pills and Priuses (what's the plural of Prius?) notwithstanding. @Quin: Re #1 and #2: as I recall, you are teaching, correct? Which means YOU ARE BEING PAID TO WRITE, aka #2 (lectures.) And you are doing what you must (#1). Check!</em> Cat bobble heads?

Thanks, Pages, for your own contribution to this (okay, rather intimidating) discussion. Pills and Priuses (what’s the plural of Prius?) notwithstanding.

@Quin: Re #1 and #2: as I recall, you are teaching, correct? Which means YOU ARE BEING PAID TO WRITE, aka #2 (lectures.) And you are doing what you must (#1). Check!

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