Why I Love My Job

I love my job. They say if you do something you love, you never work a day in your life. Well, let me tell you, I work my butt off! And I love it. Read the article I wrote about my job here.

Recall Runaway

"Mark can hear his tires squealing as he races around the bend. Now his foot is completely off the accelerator but the turn has turned into a steep hill. He’s gaining speed! Mark is sweating now. “What in the world is going on here?” he says in desperation as he glances down. Is the pedal stuck on the floor mat? With no time to figure out what the problem is, Mark realizes another hairpin curve is right at the bottom of the hill he is now zooming down. Panicking, Mark stomps on the brake. Nothing happens. He puts both feet on the brake and all but stands on the pedal. Nothing!

Mark curses out loud as he tries to control his speeding car. There is no way he can make this turn! Beyond the highway is a densely wooded forest. Not only is his runaway car not slowing down, it’s speeding up! Mark closes his eyes. How is he going to pull out of this?" - Recall Runaway

What would you do?

You have got to check this out! A web developer that I work with just launched this site and game, Recall Runaway. A colleague of mine wrote some of the content.

FREE Workshop! Internet Marketing for the Writer

Join me at the Shawano City-County Library Saturday Feb. 13th.  I will be teaching with the Shawano Area Writers.  This FREE workshop will be held in the Engel room from 10-11:30am.  I hope to see you there!

*This program will be focusing on Internet Marketing for the Writer, but anyone interested in internet marketing may find this workshop beneficial.

FREE Writing Workshop in Shawano!

The Shawano Area Writers are offering free writing workshops. Classes begin Saturday January 30, 2010. They will be held from 10am-11:30am at the Shawano City-County Library in the Engel room. This is a six-week course, but you need not attend every session if circumstances do not allow.

On Saturday February 13th I will teach a portion of the class, focusing on Internet Marketing for the Writer. I hope to see you there!

The Power of Words

I continue to grow in respect and appreciation for the gift of writing. I can not tell you precisely when I first recognized what written words could do. I once happened upon a journal from when I was first beginning to write. I was impressed by how quickly two or three words grew into sentences and stories.

My first true romance was with poetry and lyrics. Appearances caught my attention. Emotions and rhythm kept me captivated. My older brother lovingly convinced me that I couldn’t sing. So, logically, I wrote.
I don’t think I would have survived teenhood without my notebooks and all the scraps of paper that I wrote upon. Writing was my therapy, escape, and means of connecting. It helped me express every facet of each emotion, ruminate over decisions, analyze events, and put into play life-altering choices.

Pen and paper are readily available and inexpensive. Likely you have received many of both as swag, promotional freebies. How oft we overlook the power of the ever present, simple things.

As of late I am reminded why I must write. No, it is not a choice. It is a need. For all that writing has done for me; I need to reciprocate in kind. I must give back at least what I have taken. Yes, it is the business writing that pays the bills, but creative writing is the salve of the soul.

What moves me to this recent growth and appreciation? I’m so appreciative of a recent gift. I dare say when I last received its equal. A book. Not just any book, but memoirs from my maternal grandmother. How I devoured every word.

My 100% Irish, Catholic grandmother who raised 11 children took me from her first childhood memories to today, at 84 years of age. And I’m reminded why I write, why I need to really write. How many lives were touched by the stories of her late husband, her world travels, and caring for all those kids.

After completing the book I placed it prominently on my bookshelf. It is sure to be read over and over. I’m also sure I will have more questions for my mother after each time I read it (until now I thought she was perfect). I hope my mom writes like that some day. I know her grandchildren (7 so far) will enjoy her story. I hope someday, someone enjoys mine.

Ode to Owens, Inc. - The Passing of my "Day Job"

This is not how I pictured this day to be. There was no pomp. No circumstance. No great feeling of liberation. No symbolic leap taking.

I expected someday to write a blog post exclaiming that I had finally quit my day job. I imagined how that would smell, taste, and feel. There is no glory. No feeling of relief or grand accomplishment. The doors just closed.

I came to Owens as an optimistic 21 year old. I brought a fresh perspective and willingness to learn. I started entering daily production information 20 hours a week. The list of what I’ve done and learned since then is long. Professionally- I’ve grown immensely.

I became the resident Excel guru and proofreading extraordinaire. I was the keeper of data. The go-to girl. If you needed a graph or chart of sales for the last five years sorted by state and specie and profit margin and color-coded to match the salespersons’ hair color- you came to me. I dabbled in customer service and marketing. I did my time answering phones. I even filled-in on the production line, sanding doors. I could tell you the standard labor and overhead rate for a square foot of finished flooring. I could tell you the Kanban quantities that were set for French door mullion.

Personally- I’ve changed. Since I’ve been working with Owens my tastes and hobbies have grown. I’ve come to know myself better. (I now understand why they say the human mind isn’t fully developed until age 25.) I’ve rekindled my love for writing and started freelancing. My husband and I bought a house. We had our first child.

For five years I was a dedicated Owens’ employee. I hardly ever said no. I faced challenges and new assignments head-on. I’ve taken classes and attended meetings. Owens was a good place for someone like me. Someone that doesn’t do well if they get bored. Someone that needs more work than they can handle. Someone that always wanted to learn.

Now, I’m asking, “What’s next?” I have such a mix of conflicting feelings. I’ve given a lot of myself to this company. Owens was a good company that made really good products. I can’t say I’ll miss the year-end inventories that had me working (on one occasion) 18 hours straight. I don’t think I’ll miss all the sawdust. Of course, many of the people there I will miss.

When I was pregnant I thought about how nice it would be if I could work from home. For a little while I thought I was close to realizing that dream. Then things changed. After selling so many articles so fast, suddenly no one was hiring freelancers any more. I never lost the passion for writing. It got buried away a little bit, but would always resurface.

I think this entrepreneurial spirit must be in my blood. There really is no logical explanation for someone to start their own business. It must be genetic. I witnessed my parents’ business ventures and all the hassles and headaches that came with them. For some reason, that is what I want. And I have a strong desire to see businesses succeed.  Maybe that's why I like business writing so much.

I always thought someday, in my own sweet time, I’d quit that day job. Now unemployment has been thrust upon me. I didn’t take the leap, but I was nudged. The question is, “Do I jump?” All these clichés and metaphors are coming to me now. Sink or swim. Taking the leap. No there was no press release, no going away party, no well-wishers, no investors. It’s just me. Me with a pen and a little more time to do my thing.



*Thank you Owens for five great years and for this fresh start.

Shawano Area Writers

Recently I decided to attend a meeting of the Shawano Area Writers. I’m so glad that I did. This talented group meets at the Shawano Library once a month and they are also very involved in the community.

The members don’t limit their craft to writing; many are artists and musicians. Today the Shawano Area Writers paid a visit to The Cottages, an assisted living home. Here they performed for the residents. Poetry, articles, and stories were read. One writer also told a tale punctuated by songs she wrote for the violin. It was a lot of fun.

I look forward to getting to know this group better. The objective of the group is to help each other grow in their art and to become published authors.

If you’d like to read the poems I performed today they can be found here and here.

Special on Writing Services!

I’m running a special on writing services for the month of December. If you sign up for a free subscription to my blog you’ll get 10% off any writing services contracted during the month of December 2010. Services do not have to be completed during the month of December, but the contract must be signed within the month. Please call or email with any questions. I can be reached at 715-584-6773 or terra@fletcherfreelance.com.

Benefits of Hiring a Freelance Writer

Affordability

Most small and mid-size businesses don’t have the need to hire a full-time writer. In addition to the payroll costs, consider the taxes, benefits, and office space that would be required to employ another person. Ad agencies also charge rates that are outside the budgets of many companies. A freelancer has very low overhead and can reflect that in their rates.

Quality

Freelancers live or die by word-of-mouth advertising. They work hard to create quality copy so you tell your colleagues about them. Freelance writers also produce copy for a wide variety of industries and are able to bring a fresh perspective to your business. A freelancer becomes an extension of your marketing team.

They know what works and require very little of your direct involvement. Your time is better spent doing your thing. However, if you need personal attention and additional advice a freelancer is more likely to be in a position to interact with you. Small and mid-size businesses have to compete with large corporations to get attention from ad agencies. Unlike an agency, when you work with a freelancer you have the benefit of directly interfacing with the person that is producing your copy.

Turnaround

Freelance writers want to work and are almost always available. Most freelancers are not tied down to a strict 9 to 5 schedule. I’ve gotten phone calls at 8pm and I’ve done writing on Sunday afternoons. If I don’t work, I don’t get paid. Freelancers are highly motivated entrepreneurs. A freelancer can’t afford to hold on to a project for long periods of time. If they don’t do their work, no one else will do it for them. If you are really in a rush, a freelancer’s rush charge will be significantly less than that of an agency.

Why Hire a Copywriter?

They say that if you build a better mousetrap the world will beat a path to your door.

Not true! For one thing, have mousetraps really changed over the years? If I were to buy a mousetrap I’d pick the basic cheap one over a fancy, brightly-colored trap for twice the price. On the other hand, if the new and improved mousetrap highlighted it’s eco-friendly materials, humane methods, and guaranteed results, I’d probably spring for it (pun possibly intended).

Today just about anyone can build a mousetrap or offer professional mousetrapping services. Each of those companies probably has a website and a direct response marketing campaign. Yours has to be better than theirs are.

There it is! That’s the big marketing secret. (Well, one that I’ll let you in on here. Stay tuned for more.)

Tangent Alert!  ***Do you have a professional looking website? Today people Google before they flip open the phonebook. If your business doesn’t have a website-- stop reading this right now and go get one! (You don’t really have to stop reading. In fact you should read this, but I want you to know how important a website is! Ok, off my soapbox and back on subject.)***

You are really good at doing your thing. You have the passion, persistence, will, drive, and ambition. You have all the ingredients necessary to succeed at doing your thing. Entrepreneurs raised me. I know that you are a different breed.

How do you stand apart from the competition? How do they know you are so great? In addition to truly offering the best mousetrap or service, you need to succinctly present the features and benefits your customers receive from choosing your company.

As we become better at the thing we do- we surpass our contemporaries. A successful businessperson knows they can’t be good at everything, nor do they want to. As your business grows your time becomes more valuable. You should be doing your thing. A recent client of mine likes to quote Ross Perot. He says that you don’t have to be good at everything to succeed. You just have to have the right people.

Let me give you an example of how the mind works.

One day a man named Andrew (okay, he’s my husband) was on the phone patiently explaining to a friend how to do an automotive repair. Now, I consider myself a car enthusiast. We attend several car shows a year.  I've had several articles about cars published.  I could change my oil or a tire, should I choose to do so. My brother is a racecar driver. My parents’ business sponsored racecar drivers when I was growing up. We went to the races every Sunday night. Yet, I had no idea what Andrew was talking about.

Andrew was so frustrated that his friend couldn’t figure out how to do this “simple” repair. Andrew said, “It’s so easy. You just look at it and you can tell how it comes off and how to change it.”

I told Andrew I wouldn’t have been able to figure it out either. He still couldn’t understand why his friend didn't get it, after all, it was so simple. I said, “Well, I can’t understand why you can’t spell. To me it just comes naturally.”

Words. Writing. Yeah, that’s my thing. And I do it well. Call (715) 584-6773 or email me today. I’d love to help you do your thing and make sure everyone knows to get their mousetraps from you.

"Thank you!" from Valley of the STARZ

I just had to share this email sent to me by Teo from Valley of the STARZ.

"Hello Terra, THANKYOU! for your expertise in taking my thoughts and bringing them to Life. Your proper presentation of the written word is EXACTLY what Valley of the STARZ LLC needed! No business is easy, but with Creative Content Writers such as yourself, I now truly understand and VALUE the importance of having one on my Team! "Thank You" for Helping Valley of the STARZ LLC stand up and move forward! Teo"

Thanks to you Teo!  Teo is a great guy, very easy to work with.  Contact him for all your entertainment needs.

Valley of the STARZ

I’m very excited to be working with Teo from Valley of the STARZ. Teo has an impressive business background. A few years ago he decided to start an entertainment agency. Valley of the STARZ features quality musicians, professional impersonators, comedians, and actors. Teo has hired me to help with the content on his site. If you are looking for some entertainment for your next event, be sure to check out Valley of the STARZ.

Don’t forget to check back as I transform Teo’s website!