What's Your Freelancing Worth?

Yeah, I know I haven't exactly kept to my goal of posting more regularly, but I've been absent for good reasons and I'm back for an even better one. Tomorrow, one of my favorite bloggers, Lori Widmer of Words on the Page, will be holding the second annual "Writers Worth Day." It's a concept I'm all over so it's brought me scurrying out of my hole once again.

You see, one of the main reasons I've been neglecting my blog is because I value my worth as a professional. Long-time readers may recall that a while back I was lamenting the slowness of business. Despite the lull, I refused to lower my rates and standards. Instead, I focused my time and effort on marketing. I contacted clients I hadn't worked with in quite some time. I offered additional services to a few ongoing clients. I applied like mad to potential jobs that sounded interesting and lucrative. And I turned down low-paying jobs even in the face of limited income.

The impact wasn't immediate, mind you, but slowly, the desired effect took place. I'm now staring down a glut of work for the foreseeable future, none of which makes me feel like I've sold myself short (or out). Soon, I'll have made up all the income I lost out on during my slow period and I'll be doing it with my head held high. And the kicker is, if I'd compromised my self-worth as a result of that slowdown, I'd have tied myself up too much to accept these better paying jobs I'm enjoying right now.

Moral of the story: NEVER devalue your worth. Let's celebrate in unison as we share this lesson, and may we all say, "Screw you to anyone who dares to devalue us in the future.

A New Freelance Health Risk

Apparently blindness is the latest risk to freelance writers.

Seen on Craigslist:

Writer/Editor needed
"Help! Writer needed to help edit an article (art related) that I can't see anymore. About 4 hours (I think). Send resume and hourly fee."

Not sure how this job seeker is going to read the resumes s/he receives. And if s/he can't see the article anymore, how does s/he guarantee that respondents will be able to?

Popping My Head Out of the Freelance Hole

Yes, I know I've neglected this blog recently, but I have good reasons--to me anyway. Now that April is officially over, I can brag that I made it 30 for 30 in the Writer's Digest Poem-a-Day challenge. I also got a good start on my ScriptFrenzy attempt with 37 pages written and a solid outline completed for the remainder. Creative writing wise, I'm feeling mighty proud of myself.

My workload has also picked up (praise the Lord). With two of my large regular gigs due next week and several new assignments that are expected to last through May and one even into June, the late-spring income front is looking good as well.

Now, toss in the warm weather I've been waiting six months for, and that's my recipe for absence. I'll try to be a little more regular about posting in May. How was your April?