objet trouvé

A Weekend Wonderful, Part 2

The only thing that didn't quite work the way I'd have liked is the sleep, but I'll trade that for the kind of weekend this past one was.

I had enjoyable conversations in different forms with different people, which mean worlds more to me than anything else. True blessings.

I ended up watching two movies having something to do with diaries (The Motorcycle Diaries and Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason, the latter being an Easter gift from mom).

My mom made me an Easter lunch (tuna with pickles on a sesame seed bagel and barbecue chips) and my dad prepared a take-out dinner for me (orange glazed, multi-seasoned barbecued spare ribs, with shrimp and coctail sauce provided by mom) when I was wanted to leave for a mid-afternoon nap. I watched some soccer and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, did some reading (more of The Word On The Street and started Mister God, This Is Anna) and partook in a bit of photography (which I'll post soon).

I learned some new roads to take, heard and read words filled with grace, felt a lot of warmth and had a child smile and wave at me with both hands.

My happiness continues...

Pushing Myself

I'm going to start taking my own advice, and the encouragement of others, and pursue a full time freelancing career.

I've got all the books, I've read a lot of material, and I know how to write, report, interview, things like that. So now it's time to push myself and make things happen for myself. I have a 2005 Writer's Market (huge book), as well as books on how to start a business, publishing a magazine, and freelancing in different genres.

I have to develop core subjects on which to focus (I have those already in mind), develop story ideas and query letters, send things out and start writing, and hope hard work, persistence and talent will get me some assignments.

Along with this, I'm going to develop a website just to showcase my portfolio. I hope to have that up and running by the end of the month.

I've plotted this sort of thing out many times in my head, but haven't even dipped my toe into the pool. Outside of a few assignments that were more or less handed to me, I haven't pushed myself hard enough. Time for that to change.

Needing Experience

I need more experience.

Some positions I've seen are asking for significant design/layout experience with specific programs that newspapers use. My actual newspaper layout experience is long ago and far away, and I don't think even the limited web design experience I've given myself will translate, particularly since editors at smaller papers want to see evidence of being able to multitask--write, report, layout, work the desk, etc.

To Tape Or Not To Tape

Even with the criticism that comes with being in the media, I love journalism, particularly sports journalism, and follow the issues and trends related to it closely.

Anyway, I'm reading about whether or not to tape record interviews. I fall into the taping camp, myself, but I do understand those who say they don't. They don't want an artificial device to get in the way of the conversation. Better stuff comes with the tape recorder off. It takes too much time to transcribe, especially on deadline, etc.

Thinking Out Loud

I'm just going to think out loud here about some writing ideas I have, so bear with me as do this. You should be thankful I'm not saying all this out loud as I normally would (I reserve the right to do that anyway.).