Image by J0nB0n via Flickr
This month has got to be the most frustrating month bar none. I have so many projects coming at me at once that it’s driving me crazy. I thought that writing for a living was going to be a breeze. All I had to do was sit at home, type into a computer and let my creativity flow right out of me. Right now, I’m dealing this (X) amount of work assignments with my contract employer that pays me very well. So well, that I don’t want to severe ties with them. Rule of thumb, if you’re a contract employee with a major corporation who pays you to provide, provide, and provide writing material, you don’t have the luxury to sit on your ass. Find out if company exists first off, have some face time with some of the administration staff, and also check to make sure the payroll checks don’t bounce. It’s embarrassing to do all that work and still have nothing to show for it.
The job is fine and it keeps me happy. But they are a contract company, eventually, the contract will end, and it’s back to square one again. Clearly the only way to survive would be to find another contract company. But you can only stakeout Craigslist for so long. Currently what I’m doing is using one writing gig, to bankroll another writing gig. Months ago, I’ve completed a non-fiction book. Unfortunately, I have no publishers. So I decided to seek help from website CreateSpace to publish my book. Self-publishing is available, but it is not cheap. I picked CreateSpace because they’re legit and their asking price is very reasonable. I self-publish my book and if it’s successful I wouldn’t have to rely on freelance assignments anymore. Remember always do your research and your due diligence when it comes to making financial ventures. Last thing you want is to see your mistakes or poor choices posted on Red Flag.
Right now, I’m shooting for the stars and by stars, I mean Hollywood. Spring is my favorite time of year. But you know what else a great time of year is? Applying for a job working in network television. I have a film degree. So naturally, you would need to go to California or New York and start your career right? Wrong. There is no point going to a place where everyone is super competitive and the rent is too goddamn expensive. Who isn’t an actor, director, producer over there? You need to be in a position in which they come to you and not the other way around. Last year I applied for a writer job for CBS. I didn’t get in and I was bummed out. But it only made me want it more. So, I decided to apply for CBS, along with ABC, NBC, Fox, and CW. If you’re going to gamble, why not go completely all in. Maybe I might get into one network or maybe I could get into all three? One year or two years from now, I could be producing one of my own shows.
This is what I’m dealing with from now or at least until the end of summer. The book deal is moving forward regardless, and my contract job is still going strong. As for my application as a writer for network TV; most of these internships don’t begin until early 2012. So in the meanwhile, I have to continue writing. The best amount of advice I ever got was that if you ever wanted to get anywhere in life, you have to be wiling to work for it. The whole attitude of being unambitious and lazy never helps anybody. There’s a time to work smart, and a time to work hard. And when you’re a writer, you have to work hard. I’m just one guy and this is what I have on my plate. What’s your excuse?
Related articles
- 9 Ways to Make a Living as a Freelance Writer (imittcopy.com)
- 4 Benefits to Freelance Writing (jacobtullos.wordpress.com)
- What is the Freelance Life? (howtolivethefreelancelife.wordpress.com)
