I suppose I shouldn't feel too bad.

[nerinedorman]

If I have to look back over 2008, it's not a bad year all things considered. I've made peace with the fact that I really am in the right job at the right time and that, strangely, I DO enjoy (perversely) working with clients to lay out editorial about "Bob the Butcher's 15th anniversary". It's not that bad.

I had a client in on Thursday who made it

Comments

[david_de_beer]

I hate end of the year, tbh. always get the blues in some way.
yeah, take the good that you can. 2 shorts now, maybe more and bigger later. this is the way it goes.

re: getting critiques: you do know you can join Critters or Critiquecircle or Liberty Hall or sign up for the OWW workshop or maybe even Virtual Clarion right?
I have the links somewhere, but quick googling should do the trick and most of them are free. well, cept for the last 2.

[nerinedorman]

I've been a veteran of the Critters Workshop since 2003. I think I've outgrown the group, however. Still am not pro enough for one of the other groups you mentioned on your blog post the other day.

[david_de_beer]

yeah, I also don't think you should stay with the same group too long. CC might be some new air for you. Liberty Hall is free and worth a look and has a nice mix of amateur to pro.
OWW is not about pro or not, just costs money but some people seem to like it.

[nerinedorman]

Well ... considering our home loan going through about six months ago, we're still in that nasty 12-month period of adjustment before the obvious benefits of not paying a landlord rent each month start becoming a reality.

Money is an issue and I'm already part of an organisation that costs me $80/year. I'll consider OWW once things are more settled.

I'm just so tired of the hacks and the amateurs not being "sophisticated" enough.

BTW ... do you have some time for a short story? I've just finished my next but I think the content is too mature and too specfic for Critters.

[fledgist]

Novel-writing is far more craft than art. Getting it right takes damn' near forever. I've just read one writer's (since this was f-locked, I'll keep it anonymous) description of his own struggle to make it as a self-employed novelist (beginning with decision to become a writer at age 8, and reaching economic self-sufficiency at 44). This included writing 15 crap mss before getting to his first salable novel. If you can get a salable novel after two or three tries, you're ahead of the game (but unlike my other friend, you've been working in a writing-related field all your working life, and he hasn't).

[livejoan]

Quoting:
"That's what makes it worth it. Give me a dozen shitty clients but just one who stands there and actually says "thank you" and it all becomes worth it."

I _so_ know what you mean. Sometimes I do the big rescues, and they're so happy I've saved their event for them. One marine girl had one jacket ruined by a competitor. Just ruined! They left it ripped and torn, and had the gall to tell her no one would see it!!! Fortunately, she had another coat, which I took in to fit her. So was so grateful, she gave me a twenty dollar tip.

Yes, customers like that do make you feel like you're really doing some good, not just earning a puny paycheck.

[nightcircle]

:) Getting published or at least starting the process is my big goal for 2009. Congrats on the short stories!

[nerinedorman]

It's been an uphill struggle but it's starting to become worth it. The trick is to persevere until you get it right. And, also, to continuously hone your craft.

[docbrite]

You've posted such interesting stuff on prime_liquor that I took a look at your personal journal and decided to add you as a friend. Hope you don't mind!

[nerinedorman]

Dear Doc, I don't mind at all, ;-)