Working on the Weekend

It might be Memorial Day weekend but I'm not eating hot dogs or watching fireworks displays. Instead, I'm working.

I spent part of the morning cleaning and organizing my office. There was a stack of papers a mile high that needed to be filed. Over the past two years, I've tried countless times to teach Molly and Milo how to file but they can't seem to grasp the concept. Molly runs out of my office the second she hears the shredder and Milo curls up on top of the contracts and pay stubs that I'm attempting to alphabetize. It took several hours but every last bit of paper that was on my office floor is now filed away. One of these days I'll spend a weekend organizing my clips...

I have two articles due tomorrow and a to-do list a mile long of things to accomplish before I leave for Toronto later this week. One of the (most annoying) things on my to-do list is a task I'll tackle first thing in the morning: Following up on overdue payments.

Most of the time, I submit an article and an invoice and the payment process is seamless. Other times, I have to e-mail and call editors and AP departments numerous times before a check ever makes its way into my mailbox. Right now, I have one payment due for an article that was submitted in DECEMBER. I'm certain the editor wouldn't be so blase if it was his check that was months late.

For every check that takes months to come and every editor that ignores e-mails and voicemails about overdue payments, there is an editor who is responsive and on-the-ball. A few weeks ago, I got an e-mail from an editor who was just checking in to make sure my check had arrived. It meant a lot to me.

Freelancing is all about balance: rejections and acceptances, low-paying gigs and lucrative assignments, amazing editors and PITA editors. I'll count myself lucky that most of my experiences are positive. After six years of freelancing, I can honestly say that I can't imagine ever doing anything else.

Taking a Break

The minute the spring arrives, I find it impossible to focus on work. As the days get longer, my work days get shorter. I've spent the past few weeks having long lunches under Carolina blue skies, spending hours romping at the dog park and relaxing on my patio with a good book. In other words, I've been lax about posting.

Despite spending less time in my office, I'm still writing. I've been working on a number of corporate projects, writing magazine articles and sending queries. I've sent two book proposals in the last month (and I'm anxiously awaiting feedback on both) and I'm working on a website for The Green Year.

Next week, I'm off to the Grand Canyon to take part in Hike for Discovery, a program coordinated by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. You can learn more about the event here.

I'm off to Toronto at the end of the month. My niece is due on May 28 and I'm going to help with diaper changes and middle of the night feedings. Actually, I'm really going so that my brother-in-law will cook homemade meals while I snuggle with the baby. (I'm not too proud to admit that it's been a long time since I've had a delicious meal that wasn't prepared in a restaurant)!

In June, I'll be presenting at the 2008 Magazine Writer's Workshop in Boulder, Colorado. I've heard great things about the conference and I'm excited to be part of it. Drop me a note if you're going to be there.

I just got word (the phone call came in the middle of typing this post) that there could be a very exciting project on the horizon. I should know more in the next few days. It could mean no more long lunches or afternoons reading on the patio - but it would be a great career move. Stay tuned...