this woman’s work

1. I finally got my Obama yard sign. Our neighbor has a McCain one up (the same kind neighbor who hosted the spaghetti dinner at her church when everyone’s power was out) so I had to make things right in the universe again and balance it out with my sign. Madison was distraught by the whole thing because she didn’t know anyone would actually want to vote for McCain especially someone so nice, (which opened up a nice little discussion about how America is great because we can trumpet what we want to trumpet).

2. Allyo’s husband makes the best mac & cheese EVER. Just so you know.

3. We got Madison a Halloween costume at the thrift store. Total score: four bucks for a plush flower costume that’s head-to-toe and cozy. (It’s this one only in a size 7 so room to grow.) Noah is going as one of the JabbaWockeez. He’s got the clothes and he’s got a mask. Voila! Costume! Plus he’s taking a hip hop class with the rest of his homeschool posse so I’m sure he’ll have the requisite swagger that comes with knowing how to do the ice break freeze box or whatever the kids call it when they spin around and then prop themselves up on one cheek.

4. I’m caught up on book reviews for like the first time in FOREVER. Feels good. I could get all cocky about it but the next deadline is around the corner — next Monday to be exact.

5. I’m going to have to reschedule Noah’s ortho appointment on Tuesday because I have a new gig and I’m meeting with the client the same day Brett accidentally made the appointment. This sucks because Noah’s braces are kinda coming apart in his mouth somehow. But the gig is going to be fun and one hopes lucrative so we can always buy him some new teeth or something.

6. Brett is relaxing into his new job and the hours are easing up now that he’s getting his footing. He gets home early enough that my work-life balance isn’t going to be the nightmare I feared it would be. Not that I won’t whine about it anyway — you know I will.

7. I’m going to see Leslie next week! Yay!

8. I’m growing out my dye job so I can just quit fighting the gray. I have so much gray that I nearly look blond. Seriously. It’s going to age me like a zillion years but I like it — so there. But I don’t like the growing out so much because it looks ridiculous except when I use some wash-in/wash-out dye that lasts about one second. I just walk around like I mean it to look this way and dare people to say something. I think it’s working. Or else people feel so bad for me that they don’t say anything. Whichever — they both work for me!

9. Brett bought Krispy Kremes. I hate him. What doesn’t he understand about my fit by forty goals? “You just don’t want me to become so gorgeous that men fall at my feet!” I accused him. Then I reached for another doughnut. Cream-filled. It was delicious.

Recently a writer pitched herself for a project I’m heading up for a client. Off I went to check out her clips site and get an idea of her skills and expertise. What’s the first thing I see? ADS.

What’s worse is that this person was using google adwords, which pulls keywords from your site to create ads specifically targeted to your audience. So she was asking me to check out her skills while hosting five ads that compete with what she’s offering.

So what first impressions did I get from a quick glance through her site?

• That she’s likely not all that savvy about marketing, which is a pretty big issue for a marketing job.
• That she’s not detail-oriented.
• That she doesn’t understand how the internet works.
• That she’s an amateur.

Would she put a bumpersticker on the front of the clips file she’s sliding across the desk to the HR person? Or stop a job interview to try to sell Tupperware? Then why does she think it’s a good idea to have ads on her “please hire me” site???

Argh. Now I gotta decide if I should say something to her. I mean, I’m not going to offer her work (I’ve already got people lined up) only sometimes when someone seems sincere but misguided I do try to tell ‘em WHY I’m saying no but other times I just don’t have the energy.

I had two great client meetings today. The first was with the owner and staff of this fantastic clothing store in the Short North, Substance. The clothes are beautifully designed, well-made and from sustainable manufacturers (often times using organic goods). There are fantastic purses from Ethiopia and the softest t-shirts designed right there in the store. They even have a handful of desigs made from discarded shirts brought in by customers. And the prices? Comparable to the clothes I was writing up at Express this summer (only much more beautifully, comfortably and respectfully made).

They brought me in for a Q&A about some web 2.0 stuff and I hope I’ll get to work with them further but whatever else happens, count me in as a fan.

Next I headed North to the Short North Business Administration to help John launch their new blog. Chris brought me in on the project — they set up the blog and asked me to help him figure out how to use the software. He’s a funny, personable, friendly guy and I had a good time showing him how WordPress and Twitter work. (He’s shortnorth on twitter.)

Now I’m watching Brett clean the kitchen while we wait for Abby to call and tell us she’s heading over to Kristen’s with the kids.

Anyway, it’s been a busy day and tonight will be a busy (social) evening and tomorrow I have some client calls and work to do then maybe I can rest a tiny bit this weekend. Or something. But today was fun — I like hearing about other people’s lives and I like helping them figure out how to do something new and interesting.

Oh last night I sent a proposal for a project that I’m really really really hoping gets approved (it’s a work thing — not a writing thing) because it would be a blast to put it together and I’d like to see what people would make of it. If you think you can type with your fingers crossed, please consider crossing them!

My dad: I mentioned yesterday that my dad gave me a pep talk, which was just what I needed. My dad is a financial planner (here’s his linkedin) and he cut his teeth as a door-to-door insurance salesman. He knows from hustling and working on commission and not letting the bad days stop you cold. He knows a lot about marketing and networking and all the things I’m trying to learn. A pep talk from him includes stellar advice and encouragement.

(As some of my longertime readers know, my dad and I have had our issues. One of the latent consequences of Brett losing his job and me going out on my own this past year and a half has been to help me build a positive, nurturing and loving relationship with him. Thanks corporate lay-offs!)

My mom: I can always count on my mom to boost me up and cheer me on. She’s my biggest fan. Just knowing I can call her anytime is enough to make me not need to call her, you know? Unconditional love that I can take for granted — well, I know that’s made me the woman/mother/writer I am. PLUS! She has this fantastic elliptical machine that’s gym-quality that I’ve been nagging her to loan me for years. (She used to use it a lot but doesn’t so much these days.) I nag her out of habit now because she always rolls her eyes at me. But guess what! You guessed it! She’s loaning it to me ’til she retires (a couple years away) and that means: ENDORPHINS! Yes, my friends, a steady workout is in my future! Our own elliptical trainer is getting noisier and lumpier every time I use it, which precludes using it. Can’t get on when the kids are occupied watching tv because it’s too loud for them to hear the television. Can’t do it while they’re sleeping in the morning or after they’re in bed because it’s loud enough to wake them up (it’s just below their rooms). I get it this Sunday and I am already full of joy just thinking of it!

Brett’s parents: They’ve offered to take the kids whenever I need it and whenever their schedules allow (they’re very busy retirees). I hate to ask because I’m like that but today they called and asked — asked! — to take the kids fishing. As if I’d refuse. This is incredibly fortunate because I have a lot of work and the kids are driving each other nuts so I can’t leave them to kinda play together since I’m breaking up a lot of fights that go like this, “You’re a potato.” “Mommy! Noah called me a potato!” “Rudikins tattletale!” “Mommy! Noah called me a rudikins tattletale!” Then poking/tickling ensues or the dreaded looking in each other’s direction without being invited to look. “He’s looking at me!” “What — I can look!” “AHHH!” “Rudikines potato!” “Mommy!” etc etc etc. Clearly not a day for work.

And this is why the grandparents are at the top of “my god, you are awesome people” list. This is why we’re in Ohio and not in the beautiful Pacific Northwest!!

Seems like I’m living in a snowglobe minus the snow. I’m discombobulated and every time I think I’ve got my footing again — shake shake shake — I’m knocked off balance.

Good news: Let go of a timesuck client that people have been telling me to let go of for months.

(shake shake shake)

Bad news: Client still hasn’t paid me for last month of work.

(shake shake shake)

Good news: I think working around Brett’s schedule is more than do-able because the kids are older, I’m better organized and teleivion is a magical baby sitter.

(shake shake shake)

Bad news: Brett isn’t loving the job.

It’s kinda like that only it’s everything. Every. Little. Thing. So that’s how my mood is, too.

Good news!

(shake shake shake)

Bad news!

(shake shake shake)

Ad infinitum.

I am neither happy nor sad about this or that or the other thing but I am interested — sorta like a bystander in denial that the shake-ups are actually happening to me. I find this to be a sanity-saver since I’m pretending not to nice the way I’m being buffeted by whichever rotten kid is messing with my personal snowglobe.

(shake shake shake)

I finished most (not all) of my work to-do list but tomorrow is pretty open to get more done. I have a phone interview with a potential client in the afternoon but otherwise nothing scheduled so I want to crank out at least most of a big project (we want it to launch by the end of next week) so I can clear my desk to start research on another big project (also due at the end of next week).

Today is Thursday, which means Abby and Kristen are already off having a gay old time with Lynne and the kids but I’m not with ‘em ‘cuz I had work. Fortunately they took Noah (Madison didn’t mind staying behind since Brett was staying, too) since it’s the big kid who really suffers when we miss out on stuff. Brett and I are waiting for the husbands to get off work and then we’re all car pooling over there for pizza. I hope that I’ve figured out how to relax by then — I think I may just have to have a drink tonight. So there. And I think I’ll leave my cell and iPod at home. (Dare I? Oh rats. Yes. Darnit, I’m taking the night off!)

Brett asked me today what my dream job was and I said writing stuff I want to write (in a cabin in the woods and one of those fancy but not too fancy cabins, too, more like a Usonian house than Laura Ingalls) but if he means my dream job in light of a need to make money, I’d still say this is pretty close. It’s not like I spend all — or some weeks even most — of my time writing stuff that gets me all hot and bothered but it’s still writing or strategizing and talking to people who are passionate about what they want to do, all of which I like. Someday I hope to spend lots of time alone (with my family — they can come, too) in the green quiet writing essays but meanwhile this will do. Especially if there are friends with pizza and hard cider at the end of it.

And in many ways it’s the perfect job because once he’s through the 7-week training he’ll go to second shift (3:30 to midnight), which means he will remain the primary caregiver when I’m working. We can have a big lunch as a family (instead of dinner) and on the days when I’m up to my neck with work, he leaves just as PBS Kids starts their afternoon programming, which means I can use the TV as my childcare during that time as women have done throughout the ages. Or at least throughout my particular age.

The two challenges are the 7-week training because it’s 9 to 5 and not worth it to go through the fight to find a decent sitter (I will cobble together childcare from family and friends so I’m not that worried — plus Noah is a good last-minute sister-wrangler) and it’s too far for him to walk/bike but not on a bus line. We may get a junker car for awhile. That’s what we did before — he had a lousy 2-door monstrosity that got great gas mileage and was just for his commute. For now likely he’ll take the van and I’ll rely on those friends and family for when I need a ride. Again this is why we moved here — there’s enough walkability that I don’t need a car most days anyway so it’s not a huge insurmountable block. I can always drive him, too, and we can take the bus to some of our homeschool stuff, which the kids will think is a treat and will remind me of Portland since that was our sole transport back then.

While I will no longer be the sole wage earner, I’ll still need to add my income to make our budget because the pay off for the flexible hours is not such great pay but we expected that. Our main goal is not to let go of our business because that has the most potential to give us the lifestyle that we want. And I have to admit that it’s nice to know that some of the heat is off of me so I won’t need to feel guilty when I’m writing something that won’t pay the bills.

1. Brett is working today. In honor of his new job, he bought jeans. The last time I saw Brett in jeans I was pregnant with Noah. I don’t recognize him. He’s more of a khakis guy.
2. Madison is digging in an enamel pan full of stale grains from the back of my cupboard. Bulgar, stoneground oats, something else I don’t recognize and some left-over alphabet noodles. I keep a pack of cheap plastic animals for these kinds of activities. Plastic dinosaurs and their ilk go well with dried beans, playdough or water play. This pack has been around since Noah was digging in stale grains.
3. I got a weird phone call last night at 9pm from someone who wanted to talk to me about my Salon essay only she referred to it by the name Adoptive Families gave it when they reprinted it. I don’t know how she got my home number (my work number is on my web sites) and she didn’t exactly explain why she wanted to talk to me either. I’ll call her back because I’m curious but I feel a little odd about it.
4. I got a very new-to-me assignment last week — something I’d never done before — and it was a total kick. The client seems happy so I hope I get some more like that. Did I mention it was a kick? Said client says that they can keep me busy and busy I like. Also got contacted by two other possible clients. Am feeling potentially wealthy.
5. Brett got a new-to-us BBQ yesterday courtesy of this family. (Their neighbors had it out on the curb.) Between you and me it’s pretty beat down but what do we care as long as it works?
6. We can’t decide on a new color for our living room. I’m tired of the red wall and want to paint a stronger color on the rest of the room because our couch is just about the same color as what’s currently up there. I enjoy taping paint chips to the wall and wandering around trying to figure out which one works. Seriously.
7. I’m missing some Memorial Day Weekend events because of our gas hog of a van. Such is life in 2008 (and beyond).
8. My mom came and got Noah yesterday to try out her Wii Fit. Then he’s off to a sleepover tonight with friends. Tomorrow we’re hitting the Clippers game to see fireworks.
9. We’re thinking of giving up cable because we’re watching too much television. We’ll keep Tivo because we already paid for it (and because it allows us to watch Lost after the children go to bed). When we bring this up the kids weep — especially the big one. We’ll see.
10. Sometimes I wake up in the morning and just know it’s going to be a great day. Today was one of those mornings. Now I’m off to go play in it!

I almost always get done with tests before anyone else in a class. (The exception was math and foreign languages.) Sometimes I’d get done so far ahead that even after rechecking my answers I’d feel too embarrassed to go up and turn my test in so I’d sit for another ten or twenty minutes. This was because if I turned my test in too early my teacher would inevitably say something like, “Are you sure?” or “Take it back and double-check.” The insinuation being, of course, that anything done that quickly must be a mess. Only (with the exception of math and foreign languages) it never was. It’s because I read fast and I can put my thoughts together quickly. And with keyboards? I type about 115 words per minute.

I got done with this job too quickly, too. I’ll likely still have edits and there’s more to write next week but as of now, I’m done with this stage and I feel so, so nervous about it. Being a fast writer makes me worry.

(Of course this seems crazy because I’m also a very slow writer, which also makes me worry. I take forever to write an essay but service or marketing communications stuff I can write really really fast.)

I got my feedback from two people today and they only wanted minor changes but I still feel like I must’ve done it wrong. (And in fact, I see something I deleted on one sheet but not on another and am afraid it’ll sit there glaring at them and pulsing with, “Do not hire her again. She missed this deletion because she is TOO FAST.”)

I really have no idea what reasonable expectations are so I guess that’s why I’m always worried that I won’t meet them. Argh.

(In financial news, the missing check has been sighted along with the other missing check winging their merry way into our checking account. Our records should reflect that any minute now since they were released yesterday!)

Kayoz asked, “I was wondering how you figured out how much to charge for all this corporate writing work, and how you still figure it out for each new job? How do you know how long it’s going to take?”

I figure it out different ways and sometimes I don’t figure it out because I’ve gotten the job through a great, locally owned placement agency here in town. In that case they negotiate for me and it’s generally always lower than my regular rate. But it helps me expand my portfolio, which I need right now and they also make sure I get paid, which is awfully nice. Plus when I was first starting out and registered with them, they sat me down and showed me how to craft my resume and portfolio. I love them! (Register and tell them I sent you — really. Because they hand out gift cards for referrals! Yippee!)

Other ways I figure out:

1. Ask Julia. When I’m working for her, she’ll walk me through my billing. When I’m not working with her, she’s been generous in helping me figure out what to charge and how to invoice for it. I knew nothing about deliverables until she explained all that to me. For example, let’s say I’m making the kids lunch and I’m going to charge them for it. (I really should. Those kids are getting soft.) I’d break it down into tasks:

• Developing the lunch menu
• Making and serving the lunch
• Cleaning up after

I’d divide the fee up (say $15) so I could charge by the steps. And I’d list what they get for each of those three things. So for “Developing the lunch menu” I would tell them that I would create a nutritional evaluation after considering the available resources in the cupboards, including picking up a jar of peanut butter should stock so demand and taking into account what they ate for breakfast and are planning to eat for lunch as well as any allergies, food sensitivities and personal preferences. After all, that’s what planning lunch is, right? The deliverable there would be a printed menu and report explaining why those menu items were chosen. That would be five bucks.

Setting down the deliverables makes me think about the entire task to get a really good idea of how much work it’s going to be including how much I’ll need from them, (which lets me think about how much work THAT might be, too). It also gives the client a chance to think about what they really need from you. So for one client I showed him the deliverables and he said, “I want you to do these steps and then we can talk about the next step and I know I won’t need this other step.” (We did the first two and then I did the third and he liked that so much that I did end up going onto the fourth.) Or they might say, “Oh, come to think of it, we already have the menu so we really just need you to make the lunch and then clean up.”

In your deliverables you can also say what you won’t do. In the case of making lunch I might add, “Client will supply utensils, serving dishes and counter space. Client gets one free edit of sandwiches if they are not sliced as client prefers. If client wants seconds, there will be an additional charge.” See, you state straight out how many edits this includes, how many meetings or phone consults and then if they want more? You can explain that then you will bill at X hourly rate.

I learned all this from Julia. Sadly, not everyone has a Julia (although we all deserve one) but a mentor is a valuable thing to have so keep your eye out.

2. I research online. If you google “what do I charge for a brochure” you’ll find people talking about that stuff. Now I’ll tell you — the prices you see will vary widely. You may not charge what someone else charges or you might not charge for one project as much as you charge on another because maybe they’re going to give you a lot more copy so you’ll be doing less writing and more editing. Or maybe they need help coming up with a brand message and so it’s not just a brochure. That’s why it’s better to figure out what your hourly rate is and then look at the deliverables to figure out what you’ll charge. But I do google to get an idea of how other people approach things in part because then I know what clients are expecting. Although Julia has warned me not to charge what I think people are willing to pay (a negative way to look at it); instead I should charge how much I need to make to make doing the work worth it to me (a positive way to look at it).

Frankly, I’m still learning what to charge and last time I was working with someone as part of a package I charged X amount and the project manager looked at it and told me it wasn’t enough. Then she sat me down and explained why I was undercharging. Projects that are more consulting than writing are just hard for me to figure out. It seems counterintuitive to me because consulting is sharing info and writing is work. But Julia says knowledge is more valuable and she ought to know being all knowledgeable and stuff.

Like I said — I’m no expert in this; I’m still feeling my way and leaning on my mentor an awful lot but hopefully I explained how I’m going about it.