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:) I think somewhere in an earlier blog...
I wrote exactly that: A writer is only as good as his last story...be it a book, a film, a comic strip, a Pulitzer Prize winning piece, whatever!
posted by
Wordwizard
on July 19, 2005 at 3:07 AM
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mayb - thanks for sharing that story with us
posted by
littlemspickles
on July 17, 2005 at 7:26 PM
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Psychologists call it 'recency' -- the tendency
to focus on the most recent time period. You see the same phenomenon in stock and mutual fund performance, with the emphasis placed on last month's or last quarter's returns, and downplaying or ignoring the longer term record.
Interesting post.
posted by
ARGUS
on July 13, 2005 at 4:56 PM
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QuirkyAlone thank you. I suppose in a way I am laying the groundwork that when I am less than perfect again it will be OK.
posted by
Azur
on July 13, 2005 at 10:47 AM
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It's good that you were able to mend the fence and it seems, see why it happened so that you don't repeat it. However, none of us are perfect, nor immune to making mistakes now or in the future. Taking responsibility, though...shows character.
posted by
Julia.
on July 13, 2005 at 10:35 AM
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NCwriter, thanks for saying that. I believed it was best to acknowledge it rather than bluff my way through.
posted by
Azur
on July 13, 2005 at 10:11 AM
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May B,
This has happened to me before. I started writing less than stellar stuff do to my workload and other stuff going on in my life. I caught myself though and made a huge effort to "up" my writing. You did a good thing by emailing your editor. Very professional.
posted by
NCwriter
on July 13, 2005 at 6:22 AM
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May
Thanks for this entry. I enjoy your column/blog.
posted by
Joe_Love
on July 13, 2005 at 12:13 AM
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It is interesting how when one writes about the realities of writing and making a living from it that there are fewer readers. Perhaps it is the case that people prefer to preserve their notions of it.
posted by
Azur
on July 12, 2005 at 10:53 PM
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Thanks Ms N Dependence ...corrected
posted by
Azur
on July 12, 2005 at 4:47 PM
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What you say is indeed true MayB...
also....
PFFFFT!
"Staff writers can offer get away...."
posted by
Transcendental_Child
on July 12, 2005 at 3:51 PM
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Word.smith, we have to balance doing the best we can and when we reach the moment where it is good enough to send. The longer you work at it, the easier it will be. However occasionally even very experienced writers get it wrong as did I recently. But it will be OK
posted by
Azur
on July 12, 2005 at 3:04 PM
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Sassyass64, you must let the information go. In writing my articles I process the information and forget 99.9% of it. Otherwise my head would explode. It is my choice to do this as it is yours. No matter what work we do we all have lives so somehow we must find a balance. Recently I was out of kilter. Say no occasionally and if you don't make sure to come up with a work regime and stick with it. Other parts of life are equally important.
IN writing I always think of the editor who has a life too and does not need to extra long days on my account. I remember the writers who would think nothing of filing late and filing stuff that needed work and who made my days unneccessarily long.
posted by
Azur
on July 12, 2005 at 3:01 PM
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This is bringing home to me the
seriousness of this freelance business. It must be so demanding to write constantly and for different clients. Another thought I have is that we should always produce the best work we can. It works out to our advantage if and when we falter.
posted by
word.smith
on July 12, 2005 at 3:00 PM
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By the way
I am not complaining, I am just frustrated. My brain only holds so much information.
posted by
Sherri_G
on July 12, 2005 at 2:54 PM
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A thick skin is definitely required for this business
I used to write 400 to 800 word articles, but I can't seem to get away with that anymore. Now freelance jobs being offered expect anywhere from 1,000 to 7,000 words, and just when you have finished they are on you for another article. My shoulders are killing me, my back aches, and I am getting dark circles under my eyes from the lack of sleep. They do not understand that you have a life besides the one that entails writing. I also work with people who are forgiving, "thank God", and I don't have to edit very much these days. Usually I have two weeks to finish an article which isn't bad considering that I spit out about 1,000 per day now.
posted by
Sherri_G
on July 12, 2005 at 2:53 PM
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