Starting Again

Alright. After a really long break, I'm back in the saddle again. Or rather, I am circling the horse, sitting on the saddle, sliding back off to do everything other than ride. I NEED to put together my portfolio. This whole process fills me with dread.

This morning, I finally started work on it. I took everything I downloaded and categorized them into folders. Not usable, usable and good copy with bad look (meaning final clip has grammar/style/typo issues I had no control over or missing links and images so the page looks bad).

All I have to do is this:

1. Take all the hard copies I have and scan them into a scanner.
2. Crop so they look nice.
3. Make color copies of hard copies/scanned pieces.
4. Add labels to each piece.
5. Make physical portfolio.
6. Make e-portfolio.

Which isn't a hard process in and of itself. The part that makes it something I've put off for five years is the emotional part. I can't seem to do this without the constant chatter in my head and it's not nice. Slacker, loser, you really haven't done anything with your life have you? etc. run through my head constantly and I have no idea why I am so frickin' hard on myself. Or, even more importantly, how to make it stop long enough so I can produce my portfolio.

Okay, let's see how to get this done.

First Love and More Names

I still have the stuffed Snoopy my parents gave me when I was three. It's older than my sister and half most of the guys I've slept with.
In Minneapolis/St. Paul, there is a giant Snoopy statue I always take a picture with. I love him with all my heart. I am even contemplating naming my biz Dark & Stormy or Stormy Night. LOL. I love Snoopy on top of his house fingerpecking at his typewriter.
Friday the 13th is always lucky for me. I just barely got on my flight back to DC today. Just barely. Denver was anticipating massive snowfall today but it didn't happen. I'm on 4 pm standby tomorrow. Grumble--I could have taken the redeye back tonight. jer got transferred to LA. I am so excited for her. I'm hellbent on making sure she gets headshots done by Michael. She is too beautiful/tall/leggy/thin/photogenic not to model right now.
Sat next to an attractive older (married) and chatty man. Was nice. He kept trying to see what I was reading (book on names and brands) and what I was writing (names, names and more names).
I'm sure I'm up to 300 now. It's finally starting to get fun. I think it' like exercise: at first it sucked and it hurts and it's stressy and boring. Now that I've been doing it for a few weeks and reading books and white papers and etc. on naming and branding, I am more confident that I know what I'm doing and I'm narrowing down what I want. I like short names that pop-- mostly words that start with C, K or G. I like double gg and I'm looking for words that evoke emotion or a good visual. I want warm, fun, dependable and good. Clever isn't really what I'm selling. I don't like puns, rhymes or "witty" names. I want a word or two that conveys writing but doesn't hit you over the head with it. I want to be different. But I don't want something that I have to explain to someone. You get it or you don't. It has to be fun to say. I also realize that even though i'm specific that i'm only writing now, the name has to be able to take expansion into marketing, branding and even design work if i end up teaming up with a graphics person.
so that's it. i'm going now. bye.

277 and Counting

Holy guacamole. Still looking for the elusive perfect name. I've come up with 277 names thus far. I taped a bunch of sheets on my wall and wrote them all in marker. I forgot some of them. Some make me cringe. Some, I'm still liking. Later, I will run a red line through all the ones that start with the word "word" or "write." (I always wondered why the ending punctuation goes inside the quote. It seems wrong. Math has it right: put the punctuation in logical order.)

So, I do notice that I like strong words- anything that has a strong consonate, preferably in the beginning. I also like double consonates (especially double gg's), and the words I pick tend to be online magazine titles and porn sites. I don't like puns- I think most of them are cheesy. I am definitely practicing what I preach: show, don't tell. I dislike the names that tell me something. As I've always said about those tees that say "Princess," "Hottie," etc. If you have to tell me, it probably ain't true.

Also, in doing a little competitor research, I noticed that the less professional looking/seeming sites tend to have names that are like bestcopy.com, increasedsaleswriting.com, cleverandwittywriting.com. (All, hopefully, made-up names here.) I noticed a lot of branding and naming companies have really boring names. The Name Lab, Brands R Us. Umm, yeah, I want to hire you and pay you lots of money to come up with my identity. Of course, there is the argument that they started their company before everyone else jumped on the bandwagon and named themselves. I guess that would be the perk of being first.

So am thinking. Trying to make this fun because I am so stressed about it. Along with daily job postings for copywriter jobs in fun places, I'm starting to crack a little in resolve. Gotta do this or I will hate myself forever.

So, I think I still have a bit more names to shift through before I come up with a winner. This is starting to feel like dating. As I am getting skeptical that Mr. Right will come along, I hope I don't get that way about Perfect Business Name.

Big Fish in a Little Pond

Finished one flyer for my client. Regaled Malio with stories of my client. He's a hoot. Started the second flyer. Even threw in a free tagline.

The naming process is still in progress. I've realized that I am not practicing good branding--I've been stuck on this whole word deal that I am not positioning myself away from my competitors. So, now it's going to get hard. Maybe fun if I stop stressing and have fun with it.

I'm going to buy butcher paper tomorrow and put every name I've scribbled onto it then make a list of whether the domain name is in use or just parked.

The cool thing is that this process is truly forcing me to sift through everything to the essence of what it is that I want to convey to the people. I did *finally* realize that I need not include the word "word" in my name. Why?

Copywriters with the word "word" in their name (not a comprehensive list):

marketing words
the word shop
word shop
word association
word feeder
word doctor
straight forword
sales word plus
word content
word power
ideas to words
word asssoicates
word navigator
wore words
wicked word craft
the right word
the word biz

How am I going to stand out in a sea of words? How am I going to preserve when everyone and their mama is hiring in-house copywriters right now? It's tempting to go work for one making much more money than I am now.

So Close

I was so close I could taste it. I had a name, went to go register it and it's already registered. Even though putting the name in the addy bar gave me the result I wanted, I didn't check to see if it was registered.

So here's the dilemma. (Odd how this morning, I was kinda unsure and got more sure during the day.) The dilemma: Do I go ahead with the name and use a different extension like .biz or .us and risk people not remembering that it's not .dom? In that vein, would I try to buy the .com when I have more money?

Do I go back to the drawing board and come up with another name altogether? I'm kind of chomping at the bit to get this naming thing done so I can finish my marketing materials and get to prospecting.

I started working on my brochure. Feeling good about it. Still not quite sure how I want to lay things out but getting a stronger sense of my brand so I'm content. The testimonials I've gotten back from my clients are phenomenal. I am so pleased!

Still freaked out about my finances. Thebutcher offered to buy me a laptop if I come and visit. Not sure if it's a loan or a gimme or whatnot but either way, it's nice to have options.

Everyone is being so supportive as I panic and all. I've noticed that the whole process freaks me out greatly but if I just sit down and just write and brainstorm through the fear, I get it done and it's not so scary on the other side.

So, am working on my brochure even though I have no name. And working on my client's stuff tonight as well.

Taxes have been sent to accountant and must pack for trip tomorrow.

What's in a Name?

I'm frustrated and stressed but okay. I've also just noticed that I've gained a large fat roll on my midriff. Not good.

Been trying to name my company all week. My friends are unanimous in that they hate the name I came up with (too stuffy/boring/sounds like fiber optics).

My designer friend ixnayed "Communications" and likes "Press." Communications is definitely telecom but I've noticed design firms and writers using it a lot more lately. I'm against using press because it sounds too print and publishing related.

I kind of like "Writing Company" as a tongue-in-cheek and throwback name ending but it's too long. Like The Nitty Gritty Wiriting Company.

Even when I find something I really like, it's already taken as a domain name. I feel unoriginal and stupid. I'm also putting a whole lot of pressure on myself because I want to get this done as soon as possible so I can get my marketing collateral done and get working. I also know that it's imperative to come up with the perfect name. Just like it's imperative to have perfect marketing collateral. It's not a perfectionist streak. It' s just that I'm a copywriter and I'm marketing myself as a professional who knows what she's doing. If my marketing materials and my name don't convey that in the first ten seconds of looking at it, I'm not doing a good job, am I?

The plus point: a lot of the copywriting websites I've seen are wholly unprofessional looking. Many of them have decent/good/great writing but the sites look like someone used a template and threw it up. Awful design. A few are really stellar. Like I drool when I saw them. There's a design shop with a flash site that I am totally in love with. I hate Flash with a passion--it's one click away from a sale in my book, but the site totally made me stay and watch the intro. That's NEVER happened to me before.

So, I'm stressed and fucking crew desk keeps converting me to ready reserve which means I can't go into the city and see the cherry blossoms or anything.

What I'm hoping for: an aha moment. Where I'm excited about my name and it's available with the .com extension and everyone likes it too.

So any encouragement, love, kisses and inspiration would be lovely. And sex would be nice if you can find someone who doesn't mind a rolypoly Miss Em.

New Client and Fun Things

It's been a busy week.

Good Stuff
My first client.
I IMed a friend to ask about hosting a site and what that means.
I didn't realize the company he owns is a hosting company. He offered tohost my website for free. I offered my writing skills for their nextbrochure or whatnot.

Talked to friend who is doing my business cards and coding my websitefor me. He's still happy to do it and appreciates all the buddy passesI've sent his way.

Four people are writing testimonials for me.

Artlyn yelled at me today for not asking her or Kyle to design mybrochures, biz cards, logo or website. She's like hello, we're bothgraphic designers stupid. I didn't want to ask them because they aresoooooo busy. Wohoo. My shit's gonna look sooooo good.

Was trying to decide whether to use my name or have a company name.DIdn't want something cutesy like "Write Connection" or "WriteSolutions" but don't really like the idea of just using my name.So, here's my company's name-iiiiiiffffff I can get the bastards thatare parking my domain name to sell it to me for a reasonable price.

To Do/Issues to Resolve

Domain name
Body of brochure, website
Logo design
How the hell am I going to pay for all this?
Gotta get my taxes done
Call client and get work started
Quickie prelim business cards

To answer some questions:The monetary goal of $20,000 is both realistic and unrealistic. Incommercial copywriting, it can be realistic because the per projectfee is far higher than say a freelance article. It's not enough to paymy bills but a more tangible goal than "to make enough to make endsmeet." I didn't want to create a goal that was a lot lower, say a fewhundred or thousand because I needed a goal that seems impossible butnot. Kind of like nanowrimo's goal of 50,000 words in a month. Seemsimpossible but isn't but is enough of a goal to kick your ass. I needan ass kicking.I think I will try and post semi-weekly progress reports to keep me onmy toes and also so I have something I can look at to see myprogress.

Serendipity

It's been an interesting week. Just got back from a grueling 3-leg trip: Chicago, St. Thomas, San Juan, DC. I'm physically beat-down but wide awake. But...I broke my phone and my Internet connection went haywire. I totally freaked out because they are my lifelines to work, my friends back home and I am starting to ramp up with my projects.

Laid over in Vegas. Lovely 85 degree weather and had amazing Ethiopian food. Laid over in Amsterdam and walked around in the hail, absorbing lovely Dutch design (and lovely Dutch men). Germany, Holland and Switzerland all have the best graphic and tangible product design. Soaking in all that simple, modern, clean design helped.

Despite working a lot and the technie mishaps, I've landed my first potential client. Because of the technie mishaps, I went to the library to check my email. The Small Business Development Center was having a seminar on starting your own business so I decided to stay for it. The cool thing is that they have this resource library and free counseling. The best thing of all: it opened my eyes to a gem of a prospect list. All these new businesses need brochures and marketing collateral.

I also realized that many of the small businesses in an area so close to cosmopolitan DC (don't laugh too hard, it is a big multiculti city even if they don't act like it) are run by immigrants. This big eyed girl understands English as a second language issues and cultural sensitivity. It looks like I may have a specialty, a niche.

So all weekend (I didn't realize today is Saturday), I spent on a plane, yes, but I also spent a lot of time brainstorming and focusing my brand, working on my colalteral.

I've been trying to decide whether to have a company name or just use my own name. I'm coolw ith using my own name but having a www.myname.com really strikes me as a vanity thing. I'm pretty disagreeable to the idea of it but I didn't want a cutesy, punny name like The Write Solution; The Write Girl; Write On; Write, Ink. ; Writers, Ink. (that kind of madness). So as I was deadheading to Chicago, the right (not write) name popped into my head. It's perfect. It conveys the feeling and image I want, isn't saccharine nor kitschy, conservative but modern. So I Internic'ed it and no one real owns the domain. Of course, the domains I want are parked. Shiznit. So am currently begging advice from my techie friends as to what to do. And begging info from all my professional friends on every possible thing I need to get up and running.

Meet with Mr. Potential Client mid-week. Previous clients are writing testimonials for my website and brochure. Designing basic business cards for right now and more involved biz cards, stationery, brochure, website for launch, hopefully by end of April. I need a graphic designer who'll barter/partner.

Week One: Prospect List and Marketing Materials

So, as I’ve been sitting here every night at my computer with a spreadsheet and a document open, along with a minimum of three chat boxes and trying not to freak the fuck out.

I’ve realized that it’s okay to chat while I work as long as I don’t allow the chatting to override the work. It keeps the Freak Monster at bay. I think I will use my blogger blog to chronicle the process of becoming a full-on freelance writer. Trying to use 43things but I’m having a hard time with it. Also, as much as I’d love to put all my goals on there, I have a strong aversion to having my everything up for anyone to see. If I could block my goals so not everyone could see them, that would be cool.

I broke my phone last night. Turns out, it’s still usable to a minimal extent. I did buy a used old Verizon phone at the thrift store for 10 bucks. And it works. Why? Because Verizon won’t let me upgrade my phone without an additional 2-year contract and their cheapest phone is $130-150 (bullshit). Since my contract ends in June, I really don’t want to do that. Most likely, I will be changing service.

So am dealing with marketing materials for myself and a prospecting log. So, I’ve read a lot of books on freelancing, writing, yaddah, yaddah. Currently, I’m reading “The Well-Fed Writer” by Peter Bowman. So far, it’s my favorite because it feels organic and practical. He wrote it when he had only been freelance writing for about 2-3 years. Although his background is in Marketing and Sales, it was good to get a freelance writing book from someone who wasn’t an ad man for 20+ years at some high profile agency.

I was relieved when he said it’s difficult getting clips from your clients (hell, it’s hard getting clips from an in-house department four steps away!). He also made a few points that I don’t like but know are true. Mostly in terms of drumming up business but it’s the stuff I hate doing: networking, calling people, all that face to face stuff. That’s why I’m a writer. Oddly, I do tend to be in professions where I am supposed to be a people person.

Made a decision not to go with a company name and just use my name. Now wondering whether I need a brochure or not. Mostly, because I don’t really want to create a brochure. Why? Because I actually have to think about what it is I want to do: how I am a great resource, why and all that. Essentially, I have to focus my product and services and figure out how to market myself. Somehow, I have no problems doing this for other people, and quickly, but it’s painful for myself.

On the flip side, although I am terrified at the prospect of calling a ton of people and selling myself to them in 10 seconds or less, I’m really excited about my prospects. I have a handful of high powered friends I can ask for referrals. Cold calling isn’t that bad after the third or fourth one. It’s the anticipation of it that sucks.

I looked at a few copywriters’ sites today to check out my colleagues/the competition. There are a few who are amazing and the rest are seemingly decent or not-so-great. The websites also range from great to horrific so I think I’ll do okay with what I have planned.

So these are my projects for the week: prospect list and marketing material fodder.

Happy Happy

Okiedokie, artichokie. I love writing that for some reason. AnnaNicole and my sister are fond of saying that. So, I’m in multi-chat mode. I’m chatting with friends old and new while I am brainstorming what I want to put in my marketing brochure and brainstorming my prospects list. So, a lot of good things are happening. One friend’s business is picking up a lot of work lately. Another friend just finished his documentary and a major cable channel is interested. Another friend is 95% done writing his play. I’m kind of excited that a lot of good career related things are happening to my friends. I’m also kind of excited that I’m actually plugging along. Sloooooowly, but surely. Must…keep…momentum…going….As I was chatting and brainstorming, I realized something kinda big: I have a number of powerful friends. As in owns own companies, even big ones, is the Chief XYZ of whatnot and then some. I actually pulled down the friends/buddy list on my instant messenger tool and realized that I have a good number of friends who I can harass for referrals, business and send my brochures to who actually have enough clout to make people stand up and take notice. I still need a graphic designer though. Not just for my stuff, but when I get a client who needs design work as well as copy work.

Unofficially Official

So, I've been toying around with the idea a bit lately and today, I've finally come to a decision: I am now on Dating Hiatus. Why the announcement and not just letting it happen quietly? Mostly for myself. It's like cheating, no one knows unless you announce it. Mostly, I have this strong sense of ennui when I think of the guys I've met lately and that is a big red alarm saying that I need to take a breather. I've also been wondering about the whole "finding the One" thing and relationships and marriage and all that and I'm not so sure of what I want or even who I want. I'm also not sure if I want whomever I would attract as a lifelong partner in my current state of affairs. I will, however, keep my current going-ons since I consider them friends first and snugglebuddies second. Am finding that I don't like working as a server. Bartending is fine. I enjoy that but serving is a whole 'nother animal. But this is good; it's motivating. I've sat down and sketched out the five-year plan in an Excel spreadsheet and actually put my goals into bite size pieces, complete with target completion dates, what about the project scares me or thrills me and quantifiable successes. So I guess I have something to occupy my life while I'm not dating. (I'm totally being facetious here.)PS-Why am I keeping a profile up on a personals site if I'm not dating? Blog addiction. Plus, I like Blogworld. Is it odd that my favorite people on a personals site are all women?

Dreams

March 10, 2007 Dream

I was on a plane. A widebody, going somewhere international. It was going to be a long flight. I was in my uniform but I was passriding. I was sitting in economy. Somewhere near the front or the exit row and I think I even had the whole row to myself.

I went into business class to see if there were any seats open. There were lots of single seats open here and there. Business class was configured oddly and was huge. I found a seat next to a baby in a carseat. He was covered in hair. He was a hairy baby. I pretended not to notice and put my bag under the seat.

I went back to economy and waited. The CSR made an announcement that all the passengers were on and we could spread out/move seats. Or he told me that I could move to business class. I’m not sure which. When I woke up, I thought it was weird that he didn’t change my seat for me since people aren’t allowed to move cabins if the CSR didn’t move them.

I went into business class and wondered if they were going to feed me- if they’d have enough food then realized that I was okay with just having a better seat. I found my stuff next to the baby and it was a normal baby but now there was a dad next to him and a seat open next to them. Before it was a two-seater. I grabbed my bag to go change. I went to first class to change. You had to go through a tunnel and the bathrooms were there and the first class cabin was off to one side. There were pee puddles in the lavatory room. It was a huge room, like the size of a bedroom with vivid blue carpet. The cheap, plasticy kind. There were urinals and stalls and pee on the floor. I put my clothes on a railing and hoped no one would come into the open space. I had my usual pass riding outfit: black slacks, white button down shirt and black short sleeve sweater. I put on the pants and found that there was a pa’u on top of my shirt. It was the colors of my first halau. It was blue but the green overlay was jagged like a jester’s collar. There was another one under it. It was white with the green jagged overlay and a Tibetan mandala in red on it. They weren’t mine. They were too big but I took them with me. First class cabin was empty so I was surprised I wasn’t sitting in first either. I figured the CSR was new or got confused. I came back to my new seat and a little kid came running up and sat down in my seat. I assumed it was his dad. I excused myself and got my bag from under his seat and found another seat in a different part of the cabin.

Next dream: the only thing I remember is that there was mounds of snow everywhere totally undisturbed. I looked down and I’m not sure if I was outside or inside but I could see outside and there were animals outside. Mostly dogs. There wasn’t any shelter anywhere around. It was a residential like area but the people who owned the animals didn’t know or didn’t care that dogs are social and also need a roof over their head (a house, a cave, something sheltery). So the dogs are outside and I look down and see that there is a narrow but deep hole in the ground. The earth is dark brown and moist looking next to the start white snow. I see a lamb and a big furry dog (like a Shepard or something) in the hole. I realize the dog and lamb have created their own shelter and dug a hole to lie in to conserve heat and be away from the wet, cold snow. I look in deeper and there’s a fluffy, furry little black puppy in further. The snow keeps falling into him from the sides of the hole. I worry that all the dogs will die of exposure and I worry that the puppy will die because it was buried alive

Margaritaville

Mar 9, 2007 6:23 pm0 Views
I forget how much I like working in a bar until I'm working in a bar. I started my first day in a bar in my neighborhood. I like it so far. The employees are pretty chill and seem to enjoy each others' company, the managers are cool with my schedule and the patrons are pretty relaxed as well. The food is really, really good, too. I was expecting regular bar fare but this stuff is top notch. I would actually order steamed veggies and salad there--they are fresh and good. The vibe is definitely beach house hang out. The only thing I am concerned with is that you can smoke in bars in Virginia. I have a headache today and I'm not sure if I will get used to a smoky environment.So, the decor got me thinking about the beach. Apparently, I can go to the beach in Delaware and some other places that are closer than Virginia Beach which is 3-4 hours away. No surf anywhere though. I am wondering if I should just sell my surfboard? I mean, I could see if Yikes will keep it for me in Mexico. Currently, it's just gathering dust (dirt since it's still waxed). Shipping it here is pointless since there isn't any surf. Aside from that, being productive lately. Writing a lot lately. Reading a lot too. I'm really liking Chuck Palahniuck. I've read "Lullaby" and am reading "Fight CLub." I like Fight Club better as a short story but the book is good.So the plan for the week is to work in el bar all weekend, hop on a plane to LA on Tuesday or late Monday night, see parentals then come back Thursday or Friday in time for Friday night date. Work like hell rest of month, rinse, repeat. Within that time, I want to get all my tax stuff together for the accountant, write a short story, revamp written short story and make a target list and finish query. Hurrah! I like it when I'm productive!

Follow Your Dreams

I was in the shower this morning and realized a couple of things. 1.) It's easier to shave with a straight razor than a normal one. 2.) Many of my friends have given up lucrative and, often, highly respected careers to follow their dreams and relieve physical and, most likely, emotional pain.

Cases in point: fashion designer worked for household name clothing companies is now teaching fashion and in the middle of launching her own line. Architect now teaching interior design and owner of a custom scent fragrance and joujou boutique. Former computer geek who then owned a technical headhunting company now turned fairly famous deejay. Highly paid executive assistant now runs painting classes and regularly exhibits her own art. Fashion stylist runs a popular clothing boutique and has some pretty high profile clients on a freelance basis. Another fashion stylist is running a lifestyles website exclusively for plus size men and women. An office manager who opened a restaurant. Marketing executive who is a fullt-ime freelance writer. And a ton of doctors, lawyers, stockbrokers, etc. who've become flight attendants.

I was stunned to see that I'm surrounded by people who've taken the path not followed to follow their dreams. Many of them had friends, family, loved ones caution them, resist and fight their changes along the way. A few have lived in poverty so low that we laugh about it now but it was hard to go from making bank to hiding from the bank.

Some are wildly successful, some have failed and gone on to other things, some are still working to make it what they dreamed. The one thing that I hear time and time again? They're happier with their lives now than when they were "successful."

So, take that dream and run. No one is saying quit your job and join a commune. But that dream is waiting for you. Take a little, bitty first step to make it happen. It's scary. It's not easy. But you'll be glad you did.