I’m a starving freelance writer

May 18, 2008 

Often when other women - mothers and otherwise - ask me what I do, I keep it simple by saying I stay home and have fun with my son. Because that’s what I do. No complications answering I’m a freelancer juggling writing and stock trading with some more fancy terms as stay-at-home mom thrown in. Unless specifically asked neither is the past history of working revealed. Past experience has taught me this works great for two reasons: one, if the other lady has a similar history of working and now staying home with the kid, then it opens a can of worms with non-stop whining and bitching about the lack of support system blah blah that doesn’t help me anymore - it’s just depressing. Secondly, it gives room for other interesting topics to talk about that doesn’t involve kids, notes exchange on their vaccination programs, feeding habits and sleeping schedules.

Working women think it’s cool to be a freelancer earning good bucks from the comforts of your home and staying home with your child. Mothers who quit their jobs feel they wished they could do that too and earn some money while on a break. But the truth is that I’m a starving (so to say) freelance writer with the checks always in the mail and never making it to the bank. People who change tracks or careers mid-way through their professional life have a plan and build on the secondary one slowly before making it their primary source of income. They don’t give up their job that pays their bills first while trying to get the hang of the other one. I planned but executed poorly. Didn’t have no plan B if plan A didn’t work. No backup - it’s good at times not to have plan B because that’s what you give your full - some call it commitment. Per Plan A, I write. A lot sometimes. I’ve been flexible accepting assignments I don’t necessarily enjoy but the check is assured and a little practice and building on credentials hurts no one when you’re starting out. Contrary to what most people think that online writing is easy and pays well, most of the jobs are ugly and pay in the range of Re.1 a word. Imagine if you were to make a living with that kind of payment how hard one would have to work!

The area I’m told to have failed miserably is in marketing. This is an age of self-promotion. I mean look at all the blogs - the bloggers being a good case in point. It’s a vicious circle - people spend hours on end everyday commenting on each other’s blogs patting their backs for every word uttered - be it right, be it wrong all too careful to be politically right and not highly opinionated unless you are very popular. Nothing wrong in that you might say! Sure, if it’s worth the effort and a means to what you ultimately want - traffic, popularity and credibility. Just being good without shamelessly self-promoting will not get you anywhere. Sell, sell and sell - to editors, publishers if you want to earn the moolah. I’m learning my lesson and hope to be out of the starving phase soon enough. Spread the good word. So long!

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One Response to “I’m a starving freelance writer”

  1. dungri on May 28th, 2008 5:43 pm

    hey lakshmi, read your blog… you have a flair for writing, alright! are you interested in writing for pune mirror? i could put you on to somebody senior… have my contacts there :) write to me at dungri2002@yahoo.com…

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