Posts
A woman with a very charming accent rang me from the French Tourist Board today and invited me to a PR bash in Manchester to celebrate BMIbaby's new budget flight to Perpignan. I adore France, I've visited many times and lived in Paris for more than three years. Never made it to Perpignan yet, though... I'm not sure why I've been invited, to be honest. I'm not a travel journalist and doubt I could pitch a story on this to a suitable local source. She was keen for me to attend though and emailed me an invitation. The bash is being held in a posh restaurant that specialises in French cuisine and, being an amateur gastronome, I'm tempted to go just for the grub. I'll decide in the next day or so.
I've just been offered a job blogging for a tech company on web issues - it sounds great and I'm keen to do it, at least for a trial period if we can agree on terms and conditions.
I'm horribly behind again this week. I've been copywriting 20 pages for a new web design company - it was a great job to do because of the brief. It should have been signed off last week but the brief arrived well behind schedule and that meant I had to clear the decks of the other work I'd taken on before I could get stuck in. I handed over the first drafts this afternoon (later than intended as I couldn't work this morning for personal reasons) and my client is thrilled. There's a couple of tweaks to do, plus one more page to write up early next month and then it's complete.
My next assignment involves an urgent proofreading job for a small booklet on polyamory (the art of having several loving relationships on the go in an open manner, rather than cheating and having secret affairs). The author is an acquaintance and colleague, so I was delighted to be offered the work. I had a quick read earlier this evening and it looks fantastic. It deserves to sell widely and it will, it is hoped, open a debate on the issue of why monogamy does not always suit people. It'll be published very soon, so go and buy it.
After that, it's catch-up time yet again at Chateau Wordsmith - my list of outstanding jobs grows ever longer. I think I need a secretary as I'm starting to lose track, even with all my bits of paper and computer calendars to note all my commitments in. The trouble is, I'm too easily distracted and I've spent too much time this week playing card games on my PC when I should have been working. Maybe I should uninstall it...
My premium bonds did me proud again this month. Sadly not proud enough to retire, but it's enough to add to my footwear collection. So it's back to the tasklist to keep bringing the quids in...
16 August 2006
13 August 2006
Sunday catch-up
The beloved P is pottering in his shed doing things with electronics, so I've spent my afternoon getting rid of the work backlog.
I have sorted through several mounds of assorted papers that were starting to obscure my desk. A fair-sized stack has been filed in the round cabinet. I've done a bit more of my web copy too - all the tags are written for each page. I have only the home page copy to do from scratch now - that's the one I'm putting off for as long as possible. I've even listened to the last three episodes of The Archers while restoring order to my normally unchaotic workspace. The only thing still outstanding is the books, but they can wait another few days.
I'm now enjoying the relative calm before the onslaught resumes tomorrow...
I have sorted through several mounds of assorted papers that were starting to obscure my desk. A fair-sized stack has been filed in the round cabinet. I've done a bit more of my web copy too - all the tags are written for each page. I have only the home page copy to do from scratch now - that's the one I'm putting off for as long as possible. I've even listened to the last three episodes of The Archers while restoring order to my normally unchaotic workspace. The only thing still outstanding is the books, but they can wait another few days.
I'm now enjoying the relative calm before the onslaught resumes tomorrow...
12 August 2006
A mad week at Wordsmith HQ
Been a bit of mad week here at Wordsmith HQ. My "to do" list seems to be getting longer, not shorter, which is frightening because I've been working my socks off for days trying to get stuff done.
I had a massive head crisis on Monday when my graphic designer rang to tell me that the draft designs for my new website were ready. In the interim I had tried contacting the publisher of the magazine of which I was supposed to be becoming the editor, to no avail. And the guy who runs Connect Media North West had suggested I start a commercial blog. And I'd also been considering putting a blog on my new site, which would bring the total to five as I already have three on the go. Luckily, the beloved P was at home so I went and talked the issues over with him - he made me realise that until I knew what was happening with the mag, there was no point deciding to start yet another blog. Or two. So I decided there will be no blog on the new website and the commercial one would go on hold. I arranged with my designer to see the designs on Wednesday.
I juggled a few copywriting jobs - I was behind schedule on two of them. The others I've been able to put back a few days. I'd also barely started writing the copy for my own site. I haven't done my books for a fortnight. And the paperwork is piling up on my desk for all kinds of things. I just felt like going out into the back garden and yelling "Aaaaaaargh!" in a very loud voice. Only the thought of having to explain myself to the cops prevented me from doing so.
A client who offered me work 6 weeks ago then never contacted me again rang out of the blue full of apologies. She wanted me to do an urgent job and I agreed. I expected it the next day but it never arrived and I got an email at the end of that day saying sorry, but I wasn't needed after all. But she wants to use me in future. Another company got in touch about writing a newsletter for them - a useful chat but she wants me to pitch. I will, but I'm sceptical as to whether it will lead to anything.
Anyway, Wednesday arrived and I went to look at the web designs. They are excellent. It gave me the kick I needed to get on with writing my copy and it's progressing well, although I'm dreading having to write the tags.
On Thursday, the mag publisher rang at last. Change of plan. The investment he was hoping to get for the magazine hasn't come through yet, so he's decided to edit the mag himself for just now. He suggested I become Contributing Editor in the meantime, as I can source lots of new writers and photographers plus generate feature ideas. We'll talk more about it next week, but it sounds like a good compromise until the money issue is resolved. At least I'm still in there - at first I thought the message was going to be "sorry but I've changed my mind and found someone else instead to do the editing".
That means I can now gives some serious consideration to the commercial blog idea. I have someone in mind who might be interested in being part of the team. A phone call and pub meet are required...
It's already the weekend and before Monday I simply must clear the papers off my desk and get some semblance of order back in my working life. I wish someone would invent a 50-hour day.
I had a massive head crisis on Monday when my graphic designer rang to tell me that the draft designs for my new website were ready. In the interim I had tried contacting the publisher of the magazine of which I was supposed to be becoming the editor, to no avail. And the guy who runs Connect Media North West had suggested I start a commercial blog. And I'd also been considering putting a blog on my new site, which would bring the total to five as I already have three on the go. Luckily, the beloved P was at home so I went and talked the issues over with him - he made me realise that until I knew what was happening with the mag, there was no point deciding to start yet another blog. Or two. So I decided there will be no blog on the new website and the commercial one would go on hold. I arranged with my designer to see the designs on Wednesday.
I juggled a few copywriting jobs - I was behind schedule on two of them. The others I've been able to put back a few days. I'd also barely started writing the copy for my own site. I haven't done my books for a fortnight. And the paperwork is piling up on my desk for all kinds of things. I just felt like going out into the back garden and yelling "Aaaaaaargh!" in a very loud voice. Only the thought of having to explain myself to the cops prevented me from doing so.
A client who offered me work 6 weeks ago then never contacted me again rang out of the blue full of apologies. She wanted me to do an urgent job and I agreed. I expected it the next day but it never arrived and I got an email at the end of that day saying sorry, but I wasn't needed after all. But she wants to use me in future. Another company got in touch about writing a newsletter for them - a useful chat but she wants me to pitch. I will, but I'm sceptical as to whether it will lead to anything.
Anyway, Wednesday arrived and I went to look at the web designs. They are excellent. It gave me the kick I needed to get on with writing my copy and it's progressing well, although I'm dreading having to write the tags.
On Thursday, the mag publisher rang at last. Change of plan. The investment he was hoping to get for the magazine hasn't come through yet, so he's decided to edit the mag himself for just now. He suggested I become Contributing Editor in the meantime, as I can source lots of new writers and photographers plus generate feature ideas. We'll talk more about it next week, but it sounds like a good compromise until the money issue is resolved. At least I'm still in there - at first I thought the message was going to be "sorry but I've changed my mind and found someone else instead to do the editing".
That means I can now gives some serious consideration to the commercial blog idea. I have someone in mind who might be interested in being part of the team. A phone call and pub meet are required...
It's already the weekend and before Monday I simply must clear the papers off my desk and get some semblance of order back in my working life. I wish someone would invent a 50-hour day.
09 August 2006
The perils of poor punctuation
If anyone out there still thinks punctuation is not that important, take a look at this.
A business colleague passed the link on as he thought, correctly, that I'd be amused. I was, and still am.
It just goes to show how absolutely vital correct punctuation is, and how horribly expensive it can be if - to use popular parlance - you fuck it up...
Without wishing to give my age away (and I'm not that old), I was amongst the last of a generation of British school pupils who were taught grammar and punctuation during English lessons. By the mid-1970s, it had gone out of fashion and for the next 30 years the weird belief that children being able to "express" themselves was more important was predominant. As a result, millions of young adults can't spell, don't know the difference between "might" and "may", and have no idea what a dangling participle is. My view is that you cannot express yourself properly if you don't know the rules of your native tongue.
Part of me thinks "why should I care?", because it means more work for me. And yet I do care. If I didn't, I wouldn't be in this profession. And I find it immensely sad that 16 million adults in the UK (that's half the workforce) have the literacy level of an 11-year-old child.
That's an 11-year-old who has been taught English properly, by the way.
Fortunately (or unfortunately, if I want work), grammar and punctuation are being taught again in schools. But it will take another 15 years at least before we start to see the results. And in the meantime, businesses will continue to suffer the economic consequences.
Right, time to get off my high horse and open a bottle of wine...
A business colleague passed the link on as he thought, correctly, that I'd be amused. I was, and still am.
It just goes to show how absolutely vital correct punctuation is, and how horribly expensive it can be if - to use popular parlance - you fuck it up...
Without wishing to give my age away (and I'm not that old), I was amongst the last of a generation of British school pupils who were taught grammar and punctuation during English lessons. By the mid-1970s, it had gone out of fashion and for the next 30 years the weird belief that children being able to "express" themselves was more important was predominant. As a result, millions of young adults can't spell, don't know the difference between "might" and "may", and have no idea what a dangling participle is. My view is that you cannot express yourself properly if you don't know the rules of your native tongue.
Part of me thinks "why should I care?", because it means more work for me. And yet I do care. If I didn't, I wouldn't be in this profession. And I find it immensely sad that 16 million adults in the UK (that's half the workforce) have the literacy level of an 11-year-old child.
That's an 11-year-old who has been taught English properly, by the way.
Fortunately (or unfortunately, if I want work), grammar and punctuation are being taught again in schools. But it will take another 15 years at least before we start to see the results. And in the meantime, businesses will continue to suffer the economic consequences.
Right, time to get off my high horse and open a bottle of wine...
07 August 2006
NWE yet again
Sorry if this is getting boring, folks!
The BBC has taken quite a long time to pick up this story, but at last it has found space for it.
Yet another reason for the BBC to get its act together when it comes to reporting from the regions.
And I note that Cheshire is still invisible as far as Aunty is concerned - their coverage on the NWE comments that the paper's geographical remit is Cumbria, Lancs, Merseyside, Isle of Man and Greater Manchester. I sometimes wonder if I'm living in a parallel universe or black hole...
The BBC has taken quite a long time to pick up this story, but at last it has found space for it.
Yet another reason for the BBC to get its act together when it comes to reporting from the regions.
And I note that Cheshire is still invisible as far as Aunty is concerned - their coverage on the NWE comments that the paper's geographical remit is Cumbria, Lancs, Merseyside, Isle of Man and Greater Manchester. I sometimes wonder if I'm living in a parallel universe or black hole...
Available 24/7? I don't think so...
As a freelance, I’m often available at short notice for clients, whether they are longstanding favourites or new ones. Providing a fast turnaround is something I can offer most of the time because of the type of jobs I tend to take on.
However, there are always some who seem to think that being freelance doesn’t entitle you to a private life.
For example, a couple of months back, a potential client rang up on a Sunday. I was out at the shops when the phone went so my beloved P took the message. I had contacted this person by e-mail first thing the previous Thursday morning and asked her to ring me that afternoon. She didn't, nor did she call Friday. As it was a bank holiday weekend, I – like millions of salaried wage slaves – had no intention of working over the break. Especially as P works long hours and we like to make the most of our free time.
I wavered about calling back for an hour or so, then decided to after all. Guess what – she wasn't there! Doubtless she was out enjoying the long weekend. So I left a voicemail, suggesting she ring me on Tuesday, when the nation’s workforce would be back on the job.
I don’t understand why clients assume that freelances are available 24/7. Granted we can work strange hours – I know for a fact that many of my fellow freelances slog away at weekends to meet some outrageous deadline. I, however, prefer to keep to regular office hours, even though I work from home. I’m often at my desk early, usually around 6.00 or
That particular Tuesday, the potential client never rang me back. And frankly, I couldn’t be bothered to call her yet again. I wasn’t that desperate for work. Anyway, that Tuesday was already looking horribly full. An early job to be done by 10.00 am, a telephone meeting at 10.00 am with a business contact, a call with the potential client who thinks it’s ok to ring me on a Saturday lunchtime, a book chapter to finish editing, a check-up at the dentist and a friend dropping by at 5.30 pm before we headed off to the pub for a regular monthly social night out.
My typical working week is equally crowded, with meetings, projects to be completed, clients to chat to, invoices to be mailed... That is why my weekends are precious.
You wouldn't call the council on a Saturday lunchtime to get them to do something, because you know no one will answer the phone. So please don’t assume that freelances don’t have a life outside work. Because we do.
05 August 2006
North West Enquirer again
I see The Guardian has picked up the story too about the recent job losses at the NWE. Some interesting facts are starting to emerge about circulation levels - 10-12,000 copies a week of sales is well below the intended target of 15-20,000. As I said before, it needs to improve distribution and probably do something about publicity too...
04 August 2006
Wannabes - part 2
Following on from the guy on the business forum I network on, who fancied being a copywriter because he thought he could "have a crack at it", more wannabes are emerging from the woodwork.
It's definitely the silly season, or the heat...
The latest is a 16-year-old who has no shortage of ambition and drive and wants to make lots of money. Does he want to learn a skill and put the graft in? No. He publicly tossed a few ideas around on the forum - offering a personal newspaper delivery service was one. Teaching football to primary kids was another. Then he decided that because his school teacher had praised his creative writing, that he ought to become a professional writer. I asked him if he wanted to be a journalist or write novels and pointed him towards a few websites so he could read around and consider his options. I encouraged him to ask me any questions and he sent me a private message asking about routes into professional writing. He wanted to know what books he could learn from. I sent him a lengthy reply, with more web links, pointing out that he should consider an NCTJ course.
Next thing, he's started a new thread asking for advice on offering book-keeping services. Every single reply he got suggested he get an accounting qualification of some sort. He didn't reply to these very helpful people who generously offered him advice.
But I did get another message from him, this time asking about copywriting. He'd done some research on the net and found a course that was industry-recognised but told me he didn't want to do it. Could I recommend a book instead that he could learn from?
By now I was exasperated. His motivation is clearly to make money (and I don't doubt that one day he will succeed), but I wonder where his passion really lies. It seems he just wants to launch straight into a profession with no training or experience, in the belief that it will make his fortune. Ha! I wish. I told him of the thousands of experienced, talented journalists out there, struggling to survive because of low rates of pay, and doing PR and copywriting to make ends meet. And I asked him why he didn't want to go on a course. Needless to say, I got no response.
Cue big sigh... I kind of admire his chutzpah but unless his heart is really in his chosen route to fame and fortune, I doubt he'll make it. What happened to learning and hard work?
My best friend has decided to become a copy editor - she, by contrast, has taken the wise step of getting the right training (she has the raw talent and I'm encouraging her all the way) before she jacks in her current job. This bright teenager (bright in every other way) thinks he can take a short cut. If only it were that simple.
It's definitely the silly season, or the heat...
The latest is a 16-year-old who has no shortage of ambition and drive and wants to make lots of money. Does he want to learn a skill and put the graft in? No. He publicly tossed a few ideas around on the forum - offering a personal newspaper delivery service was one. Teaching football to primary kids was another. Then he decided that because his school teacher had praised his creative writing, that he ought to become a professional writer. I asked him if he wanted to be a journalist or write novels and pointed him towards a few websites so he could read around and consider his options. I encouraged him to ask me any questions and he sent me a private message asking about routes into professional writing. He wanted to know what books he could learn from. I sent him a lengthy reply, with more web links, pointing out that he should consider an NCTJ course.
Next thing, he's started a new thread asking for advice on offering book-keeping services. Every single reply he got suggested he get an accounting qualification of some sort. He didn't reply to these very helpful people who generously offered him advice.
But I did get another message from him, this time asking about copywriting. He'd done some research on the net and found a course that was industry-recognised but told me he didn't want to do it. Could I recommend a book instead that he could learn from?
By now I was exasperated. His motivation is clearly to make money (and I don't doubt that one day he will succeed), but I wonder where his passion really lies. It seems he just wants to launch straight into a profession with no training or experience, in the belief that it will make his fortune. Ha! I wish. I told him of the thousands of experienced, talented journalists out there, struggling to survive because of low rates of pay, and doing PR and copywriting to make ends meet. And I asked him why he didn't want to go on a course. Needless to say, I got no response.
Cue big sigh... I kind of admire his chutzpah but unless his heart is really in his chosen route to fame and fortune, I doubt he'll make it. What happened to learning and hard work?
My best friend has decided to become a copy editor - she, by contrast, has taken the wise step of getting the right training (she has the raw talent and I'm encouraging her all the way) before she jacks in her current job. This bright teenager (bright in every other way) thinks he can take a short cut. If only it were that simple.
03 August 2006
North West Enquirer facing difficult times
Browsing the Connect Media North West site this morning, I came across this news. The Press Gazette has reported that the North West Enquirer has made some job cuts at senior level.
I'm quite a fan of the NWE, as I've blogged before. It covers the whole region from the Scottish border to Derbyshire and provides a uniquely regional angle on the issues in our area. The bigger picture, so to speak. And of course, it's not London-centric - the mainstream media often forget that life exists north of Watford, or they choose to ignore it.
However, the two main problems are too many hacks and not enough sales staff, and poor distribution. As the Press Gazette noted, 15 journalists for a weekly paper is quite top heavy - by comparison, there are only 7 sales staff. It's not difficult to notice the lack of advertising on the NWE's pages. I'm no fan of advertising but papers need the income from ads in order to survive. The NWE desperately needs more ad sales to boost revenue and secure its future. In fairness, the paper launched at the start of the summer, which can be a slow time for ad sales. Not to mention potential readers disappearing on holiday...
The other chief difficulty is finding somewhere that sells it. The convenience store across the road from Wordsmith HQ stocks it, but many newsagents in Chester don't. Visitors to my house see it lying around and ask, "what's that? I've never seen it before" or "I've never heard of it". The NWE needs to make a concerted effort to improve distribution or it won't gain readers. And without readers, it won't get advertisers.
I sincerely hope that this bad patch will pass for the NWE and that it will go forward to take its rightful place as the essential read for those of us that live in the north-west.
I'm quite a fan of the NWE, as I've blogged before. It covers the whole region from the Scottish border to Derbyshire and provides a uniquely regional angle on the issues in our area. The bigger picture, so to speak. And of course, it's not London-centric - the mainstream media often forget that life exists north of Watford, or they choose to ignore it.
However, the two main problems are too many hacks and not enough sales staff, and poor distribution. As the Press Gazette noted, 15 journalists for a weekly paper is quite top heavy - by comparison, there are only 7 sales staff. It's not difficult to notice the lack of advertising on the NWE's pages. I'm no fan of advertising but papers need the income from ads in order to survive. The NWE desperately needs more ad sales to boost revenue and secure its future. In fairness, the paper launched at the start of the summer, which can be a slow time for ad sales. Not to mention potential readers disappearing on holiday...
The other chief difficulty is finding somewhere that sells it. The convenience store across the road from Wordsmith HQ stocks it, but many newsagents in Chester don't. Visitors to my house see it lying around and ask, "what's that? I've never seen it before" or "I've never heard of it". The NWE needs to make a concerted effort to improve distribution or it won't gain readers. And without readers, it won't get advertisers.
I sincerely hope that this bad patch will pass for the NWE and that it will go forward to take its rightful place as the essential read for those of us that live in the north-west.
02 August 2006
More on No!Spec
A while ago, I blogged about the No!Spec campaign. I consider No!Spec to be highly important in terms of educating work providers as to why creative people shouldn't work for free.
Recently, the very dedicated people behind No!Spec have been busy again, this time contacting writers, editors, photographers and the like to contribute towards a survey about designers. The aim of the survey is to get designers thinking beyond design itself and taking into account how they need to work with other creatives in order to produce a quality finished product. A lot of newly trained/qualified designers come out of college full of ideas and raring to go, but fail to consider how they interact with others who have input into a project.
I was asked to participate and the questions were intended to elicit responses about deadlines, briefings, budgeting, keeping people in the loop, building in time for tweaking final versions etc. I gave my tuppence worth on how I like to work with designers (regular readers will already know I work regularly with a very good designer in my locality) and the issues I think are important.
The No!Spec team are getting plenty of responses from their pool of interviewees and the results should form a useful toolkit when collated for the raw talent coming into the market. I await publication with interest.
Talking of working for free, I've just taken on an unpaid job. Not an "on spec" job though. I've been asked to write a monthly column for a free magazine distributed to homes and businesses in Chester. The column will be on good written business communication - the various aspects such as business blogging, why it pays to outsource company literature to editors and copywriters, the pitfalls when firms get it wrong etc. Naturally, my willingness to do this for free has an ulterior motive - to boost my profile in the local market! I'll get a free ad and a plug for my business, thousands of people will see my writing skills firsthand, in the comfort of their home or office, and I'll get a nice, warm feeling from knowing that not only have I helped some floundering businesses to start thinking about how they can improve, but also seeing my turnover increase as a result.
Sometimes, it does pay to work for nothing...
Recently, the very dedicated people behind No!Spec have been busy again, this time contacting writers, editors, photographers and the like to contribute towards a survey about designers. The aim of the survey is to get designers thinking beyond design itself and taking into account how they need to work with other creatives in order to produce a quality finished product. A lot of newly trained/qualified designers come out of college full of ideas and raring to go, but fail to consider how they interact with others who have input into a project.
I was asked to participate and the questions were intended to elicit responses about deadlines, briefings, budgeting, keeping people in the loop, building in time for tweaking final versions etc. I gave my tuppence worth on how I like to work with designers (regular readers will already know I work regularly with a very good designer in my locality) and the issues I think are important.
The No!Spec team are getting plenty of responses from their pool of interviewees and the results should form a useful toolkit when collated for the raw talent coming into the market. I await publication with interest.
Talking of working for free, I've just taken on an unpaid job. Not an "on spec" job though. I've been asked to write a monthly column for a free magazine distributed to homes and businesses in Chester. The column will be on good written business communication - the various aspects such as business blogging, why it pays to outsource company literature to editors and copywriters, the pitfalls when firms get it wrong etc. Naturally, my willingness to do this for free has an ulterior motive - to boost my profile in the local market! I'll get a free ad and a plug for my business, thousands of people will see my writing skills firsthand, in the comfort of their home or office, and I'll get a nice, warm feeling from knowing that not only have I helped some floundering businesses to start thinking about how they can improve, but also seeing my turnover increase as a result.
Sometimes, it does pay to work for nothing...
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