OMG! We are about to have a prolonged stretch of spring weather. It appears the Winter of Wet is about to end. Praise the gods!
I have another blog I write in from time to time, a blog about urban farming, but I haven’t written in it for over three weeks now because I got tired of writing about the rain. Maybe that will change this week.
OUR PUPPY
Well, it really isn’t OUR puppy, but rather my son’s…but my son lives in a room out in the back yard, so Bev and I spend a lot of time with this puppy. Her name is Penny and she’s a Chiweenie (sp?), and she is adorable and fun and exhausting, all at the same time.
Penny has just taken over the house. She is convinced that the world is her oyster and the rest of us are just here to answer to her every need. I had forgotten just how exhausting puppies are but, at the same time, who can be angry with a puppy? Certainly not me!
So I spend a fair amount of time watching Penny, and the most entertaining of those times is when she is in the backyard interacting with the chickens and rabbits, all of whom are bigger than Penny and much-more established in the “pecking order” than Penny.
But Penny simply doesn’t care. She sprints off into the backyard and acts like she’s the new boss in town. She is totally fearless in the face of Butter Bitch, our meanest chicken, and Alice, our killer rabbit. Penny does this kamikaze thing, running full-speed at the animals, and then changing course just before eminent disaster, and she’s quick enough to pull it off without suffering the consequences. It’s pretty entertaining to watch.
And, of course, I draw lessons from watching Penny’s antics.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” Nelson Mandela
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Taking talent out of the equation for just one moment, why do you think most writers fail miserably at marketing their books?
Think about that question for a moment.
Penny is too young to know fear. She simply doesn’t understand the dangers she faces in the backyard, the possibility that any one of the animals, at any moment, will grow tired of Penny and just peck the hell out of her. Penny doesn’t understand apprehension based on pain or negative consequences in the past, so she just goes off, full-speed ahead, and does her thing.
How about you? Is marketing holding you back and, if so, why? Is it that you simply don’t like to market yourself, or is it because you are afraid of the pain of rejection?
Just curious!
NEW CUSTOMER
When it rains it pours. I recently picked up a new freelance customer. He’s a multi-millionaire in Texas, he is starting a new business, and he needs over 200 articles (SEO stuff) for his new website. He heard from a friend about this freelance writer in Olympia, Washington, who does a good job , so he called me, offered me the job at a good rate, and so now I’m busier than a one-armed paperhanger with crabs.
The point is this . . . I’m often asked how to find freelance jobs. Finding them is not difficult; finding good jobs is much harder, and it often, if not always, depends on your track record and your talent.
Work your craft!
Have a terrific week!
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
Aw, Bill love that you are getting to interact with your son’s puppy, Penny and she sounds like a fun spirited doggie. Also, we had such a rainy April here that I believe it rained at least 4 out of 5 days a week for the few weeks. Finally it was sunny just in time for my oldest’s communion this weekend. I almost had forgotten what the sun and warmer weather looked like though. But here is to nicer and more spring weather to come hopefully now for us. Happy Tuesday, my friend 🙂
God, Janine, I thought I was too old to enjoy a puppy, but I love this little one. She has raised the enjoyment level in this household, and I’m sure glad we got her. And I’m sure glad you are my friend. Thank you for always being here. Here’s hoping sunny weather is on the way for both of us.
Congratulations on your new freelance work! We have a cat like your Penny. She has discovered the outdoors but she doesn’t understand the dangers.
Thanks Donna! I wish I had the unbridled sense of adventure that puppies and kittens have.
A real nice chat here. I like getting caught up with your life. So this Texan is the same that you rejected for going out there and ghost writing?
Same guy, Eric. I guess he settled on what I was willing to do, and we all end up happy. Thanks my friend. I’m glad you enjoyed the visit.
Very entertaining Billy! I have a great visual in my mind of what is happening down on the urban farm and I loved reading about it.
Such good news about the writing gig, so happy for you and so proud of you. I always think that the best jobs are those which come to you. Those are the ones which are more than their weight in gold as they are the confirmation of just how far you have come.
I totally agree with you, Sally! I would love to phase out my freelance work, but instead it is increasing. LOL I appreciate your kind words. Thank you!
Congrats on that freelance stuff, Big Bro! I may be joining you: found out a couple days ago that our program won’t be funded next year.
I now have to decide if I’m going to try to keep writing the way I am now and find some sort of “safety net” job, or just go for it…a second time. Eh…this time I’m much wiser in my approach and know a lot more about building a life on the internet and it takes time. I am about to publish the first coloring book, but finding freelance work seems scary <– WHELP, that's a loda fear right there, eh? XD I may have to message you…you know…because you're my Big Bro and full of good advice. 🙂
Glad it's stopped raining where you are. Hope you're enjoying that sunshine between all those writing gigs. 🙂
I love that quote you have up there. I think about Mandela…and so many others with regard to conquering their fears. Part of this marathon I want to march is for social justice – because this growing compassion inside of me demands it. But the idea is scary: walking along the road for a social justice mission. I plan on doing some media releases about it…and well, that would be a whole 'nother loda fear right there.
But, conquer them, I shall.
On my desk right now is a book – a biography – my Richard Stengel called, "Mandela's Way: Fifteen lessons on Life, Love and Courage" with a preface by Mandela himself. Great minds think alike, huh? I don't have much time for reading extra things at the moment (starting next week I might when the program ends and I have to work in my office until June 23 – my last day), but when I was checking out the book I'm reading for my LIFE project, that was next to it and…I couldn't help myself. I love, love, love these kinds of books. Maybe I'm delusional in thinking that I could crank out fiction when I mostly love to read stuff like this.
Anyways, I'm about to end up writing a novella here, so I'll just stop at a good place and call that a big ol' comment. 🙂
Sending you hugs from NC (lawd help us, lol).
Lil Sis, I love your mind and your desire to learn and your willingness to try new things and take a risk and…and…and….heck, Lil Sis, I just love everything about you. 🙂
I love puppies too and would love to have another reside with us but with so many rescue dogs in need of homes we will most probably get an older one. Congrats on your new job sounds interesting! Good luck my friend with the market tomorrow, we are having a “heatwave” here this week (all of 19C) perfect for market trading!! Hugs across the ocean xx
Perfect for sure, Irish! We will have perfect weather for our market today….I sure hope it goes well for Bev’s sake.Anyway, hugs and thanks
I adore hearing about your puppy’s antics. If nothing else can make me smile or laugh throughout a day, my dog will manage to do so. Aged 9, officially she’s not a puppy, but unofficially … well, that’s a different matter!
Re your question about marketing, I would say that I suffer from a bit of both the things you mention. The trouble is that if you fail to market, you end up failing anyway. I’ve just designed a new book cover for my dog-related novel, as I think that the last cover was standing in the way of sales. I’ve sorted out its kindle and audiobook covers, but am having a few technical issues with the paperback one. Once I’ve mastered this, I will have a new cover reveal and relaunch with some proactive marketing.
Hope you have a wonderful week, my friend, and the sun stays shining for you 🙂
Thank you Sarah! I am hopelessly behind in my writing and commenting. Oh well, hope springs eternal, or so I’m told. Best wishes with that new cover, and thank you for your thoughts on marketing.
Oh, Bill, I’m always behind with writing and commenting, but haven’t yet learned the art of stretching time to accommodate everything I would like to do.
Well thank you for your patience and understanding, my friend.
Hi Bill, You spoke too soon re the weather as it’s clouded over here today ~ Eeek! C’mon spring weather, come back to us! Congratulations on the new client and it sounds like a steady gig for a while so I’m applauding you 🙂 I’m also smiling reading about Penny the puppy (has a nice ring to it) xo
Thank you Christy! One more nice day here and then back to late winter. Sigh! It was sure nice while it lasted.
Hugs from Olympia
True, “depends on your track record and your talent,” however it is your dedication and your PRODUCT my friend opening door for more. (The same in our woodworking business, mere advertising has been our product.)
Congratulations on both, a new contract as well as a new “Penny”…
All true,Michael my friend, all true. All is well in my world, and I’m wishing you peace and love today, and always.
Bill
We’ve got a ten year old dog who’s just too small to have room for fear!
It’s always amusing, seeing him walking along sniffing at a fence and the Rottweiler going bonkers on the other side.
As for marketing, I seem to do well on the ‘one on one’ but haven’t really approached any bookshops or stuff, I’ll keep plugging away.
That dog of yours is a bright fellow. He knows that fence is security. As for plugging away, one step at a time, my friend.
I guess puppies are the only ones who can get away with such exuberance. When I do it, my kids tell me to settle down ‘cos I’m embarrassing them.
Have fun with Penny.
Oh Zulma, you and Bev would get along just fine. She is just like the puppy. LOL
Best of luck with your new writing gig! Is this based on your track record on this blog, or both blogs (this one and the urban farming blog) and HP, or do you have additional places where you market your writing?
I am hoping that if I keep up with my own blog activity, I will attract some good clients. When I publish a post, I usually share it via FB, Twitter, G+ and LinkedIn. It seems to get me *some* traffic.
Hello again, Karen! No, this new job came from a reference based on previous work I had done for someone else. I really don’t work social media much in search of work. I just let my writing speak for itself and sooner or later something is offered. I’m in a nice position where I don’t really need any extra work, so I can pick and choose. 🙂 It hasn’t always been that way but it is now, thankfully.
Congratulations on the new client, Bill. Pretty cool that you were recommended to someone clear at the bottom of the continent!
Penny sounds like a hoot. Tell me something: what, pray tell, is a Chiweenie? Is it a Chihuahua Dachshund mix?
That’s exactly what it is, Sha, although we have our doubts. No doubt she has Chihuahua in her, but we think Terrier instead of Dachshund. And congratulations on spelling those two breeds correctly. LOL
No need to congratulate me, Bill. I had to Google the spellings when my original attempt resulted in red squiggly lines! 🙂
LOL…I feel better knowing that, Sha!