Rarin' to Go!

Last night I went to my "information session" for the Tech Comm program that I'm starting.  Oh, you guys, I'm so excited! I'm not a complete twit, I know it's going to be a lot of work, some of it very hard and frustrating, but finally having the chance to make this major life change just has me jumping to get started.  I wish I could start tomorrow! 
It was an interesting mix in the group.  We had a journalism student who was coming to some harsh conclusions about the reality of journalism these days, a former tech writer for Microsoft who was coming back after a ten-year hiatus and realizing that none of his skills were marketable any more, two former construction workers whose coworkers were tired of them correcting their grammar all the time and decided to find greener pastures, an executive assistant from California who had been out of work for two years and couldn't find anything in her field, and a library student in her late fifties who was simply bored.  And me. 
One of the speakers was a tech writer from Microsoft who gave us a breakdown of what it was really like on the job.  And the thought that kept running through my head was, I can do this!  I can really actually truly do this! 
Besides the overall Tech Comm certificate I will have at the end, each class has its own individual certification.  And each class has a portfolio project so that when I'm done I will have a "real" portfolio (instead of the barest scrapes of one that I have now).  Things are looking up!  It's nice to be able to look towards the future and not just see more of the same. 

The Shady Side of Writing

As I branch out and learn more and more about the weird world on online writing (SEO optimization? keyword frequency? whosit whatnow?) some of the things I'm finding out are causing me to question a lot of assumptions. I've always had a healthy streak of cynicism, I've been scammed my fair share, and working in a pharmacy has certainly caused me to never take anything at face value.  But recently, I've learned a lot of truths about things you might read on the web.

Here is the truth that I have learned:  Everything is BS.  Okay, maybe not everything.  But you are going to have a hell of a time separating out the crap from the gold.

Guess what?  There are companies who pay writers (not even well, I might add) to write blogs that will be posted under another person's name, who will ask writers to essentially plagiarize an article so they have fodder for their website, to write product reviews for items that they have never tried, to provide controversial commentary on an article.

On one of the sites I have been writing for (not going to name and shame here, sorry!) a writer on the forum was asking for opinions from the other writers about a job that he had recently picked up and was being paid for.  A company wanted him to write a number of "articles" about their product, and was calling it marketing and promotion.  But what they actually wanted him to do was write glowing first-person reviews that were going to be distributed around the web on various review sites.  He was feeling this was a bit sketchy, but decided to do it for the paycheck.  Several people chimed in, verifying that they too had done this sort of job. And not just the glowing reviews!  Some had even been hired to write BAD reviews about competing products!

The upshot?  Don't bother researching product reviews on the web.  You have no way of knowing if they are authentic or if they are bought "opinions."  The ones who defend this practice claim that it's no different than a TV commercial where a paid actor gives his "testimonial."  But this isn't exactly true, is it?  A TV commercial will have a disclaimer somewhere on it that says "Paid Actor."  Also, there is a certain level of expectation involved.  I know perfectly well when I see a TV commercial that it is being paid for by the company that makes the product being advertised.  I take whatever is being said with a grain of salt.  However, when I read a review on Amazon, or Yelp, or wherever, my expectation is that an actual customer is posting based on their actual experience with the product.  Well, it just ain't so.

What are your thoughts on the subject?  Would you be willing to write a review for money for a product you haven't even tried?

**** Disclaimer-- All posts on this blog are conceived in the brain of Amelia Ramstead.  Which probably explains a lot, actually.

Moral Dilemma

Sometimes we become experts in topics we never actually wished to know about.

This has happened recently, and I am learning the ins-and-outs of a system that I am embarrassed to admit I had never given much thought to before.  My dilemma is that I feel like I want to do something with all this newfound information.  But I don't want to feel like I am benefiting from it either.  I feel like I have an obligation to share the information with others who might be in need of it, but I might not yet be in a position to help others yet when I am still in so much need of help myself.   I keep going 'round and 'round with it and I can't seem to come to a decision.

I was going to ask somebody who is helping me deal with this about this situation at our meeting yesterday, but I chickened out.  I'm so afraid of looking like someone who is trying to capitalize on a misfortune when that is not the case at all.

But isn't the oldest adage to write what you know?  My intentions are good -- I want to write from a "first-hand help" standpoint...
So complicated!

Have you ever found yourself in this situation? What did you do about it?

Positively Rejected

Sometimes we find encouragement in the strangest places.

I know that I'm just a beginner to the game, but I'm starting to piece some things together.  I've started to get rejection letters back and they have actually been quite encouraging.  I know, I know.  That makes no sense whatsoever.  But wait.

I was under the impression that the typical rejection letter would be cold, impersonal:  Dear Writer (maybe your name if you are lucky):  Thank you for submission.  We are sorry that it does not meet our needs at this time.  Good luck in your future endeavors.

So imagine my surprise when I received this (names have been changed to protect the innocent):

The first paragraph is pretty standard rejection letter.


Dear Ms. Ramstead,
Thank you for submitting your proposal to Rxxxx magazine.  We read each query we receive carefully, and take them  very seriously.  Unfortunately, due to the high volume of articles that are sent to us, we can only publish a small percentage of the pieces we receive.  After careful consideration, we do not see a place for your story in Rxxxx.

Here's where things get interesting.


We appreciate your willingness to share your expertise on executive skills (I'm an expert!?!?) with other women, and your passion for what you are writing about is clear.  You have a unique voice (I hear that a lot.  I hope it's not editor-speak for "You suck!") and make an interesting and inspiring statement about how these skills relate to and may hinder xxxxx (I'm not telling -- no vultures!).  Thank you for considering Rxxxx for your professional endeavors (heehee they think I'm professional!).  We are glad that you identify with the voice of our magazine.  We wish you the best of luck with your writing.  Please do not hesitate to write us again in the future.

So have rejection letters become more touchy-feely these days?  Or did I get lucky?  It certainly feels like they think my writing is worthwhile and I hope that's the case.  The letter makes me feel energized and ready to send out a dozen more queries, even if all I get back are nice rejection letters like this one.

I guess I'm just easy to please.

Please don't tell anyone.

The First $50, or SQUEEEEE!!!

As most of you know, I am now in my mid-thirties and have finally started to write, something I have always wanted to do. 

Why so late?  I've started and stopped a dozen novels, some of which I think were actually pretty good ideas, always sure that whatever I was writing was pure garbage.  Clearly, I've had some real self-esteem issues.  Last year I hit the wall and realized that I was just not happy with the way my life was going.  I was unhappy in my job and that was just the start.  I had managed to complete a novel the year before for Nanowrimo and, stinker though it was, I had had my first taste of success.  I started writing another novel in the spring of last year and you know what?  I actually think I have something there!  I'm still in the process of editing it, but it's coming together. 

In the meantime I realized how much I enjoy writing, and one day I sat down and googled "How do you become a freelance writer" which led me to a site called "About Freelance Writing".  I read everything carefully, followed some links, set my butt firmly in front of the computer and got started. At this point I've published a few articles online and I've sent out some query letters to magazines.  A couple weeks ago I got my first actual rejection letter and, instead of feeling awful and, well, rejected, I actually felt initiated, like I was now officially a member of an exclusive club. 

The best news is, this past weekend I made my first $50 off something I had written and I don't think I've ever been prouder of myself (okay, I exaggerate, I was prouder when I gave birth to my kids -- but it's pretty close!).  But to know that what I am doing is actually valuable in the real world is magical.  It opens up so many doors and possibilities.  Every time I see a piece of this coming together, my mind gets blown all over again. 

What I'm Reading -- Lemon Cake Edition

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake  by Aimee Bender

This was a book club selection, probably one that I would have missed had I come across it on a shelf in a bookstore.  That's kind of sad, because I give it a wholehearted "two thumbs up."  The premise is unusual and interesting.  Rose Edelstein, at age nine, suddenly discovers that she has a strange new ability.  She can taste her food in a way that nobody else can.  She can discern where the ingredients in the food come from, all the way down to the address of the factory that made the pasta, but more importantly, she can taste the preparers' emotions and the secrets that they hide. When she eats her mother's cake and tastes the intense sadness and longing that are hidden inside, her life changes.

The thought that stays in my mind after finishing this book is:  What would Rose taste in a meal cooked by me?  I know what I hope she would taste -- love for my family and friends, enjoyment in a good book, humor and fun.  But I wonder if the worry and fear would come through stronger?  Would there be an undercurrent of depression with a seasoning of hysteria? Would she turn away in disgust at the jealousy and hurt that might come through?

So my question to you.  If Rose, who can taste your secrets, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, was eating your most prized dish, what would she taste?

Playing the Writing Lottery

When I first began trying to get this ship off the ground, my mind felt like it was trying to force rusty gears to spin.  Ideas were coming slowly and unreliably.  I figured, I've got all the time in the world!  No worries, this will happen eventually.  But secretly I was afraid that the well would dry up and I would find myself staring at a blank screen, my jaw open, maybe a line of drool running down.  Lovely picture. 

What I'm finding instead is that the more I write, the more the ideas start to flow.  I can start on one topic and little tangents start springing off and going this-way and that.  I notice this a lot when I write the articles.  This topic leads to that one, and this to that other and so on and so forth.  Since I can track what people are searching for when they find my articles, I can use that for inspiration, too. (In fact, if the well ever truly does run dry, I'm going to hit those lists for ready-made topics.)  One of the best places for thinking of ideas is work (hee hee).  My mind wanders and the what-ifs start to happen.   I love typing that first sentence and watching and seeing where it goes. 

I've spread out a bit more, too.  I currently have five queries floating in the ether.  I'm sure to most professional writers that's a joke, a drop in the bucket.  But for me that's really exciting!  And that's the lottery, right there.  Any one of those could hit, or they all could flop.  When you play the lottery, you don't actually play to win.  You play for the chance, that one shining moment where all the stars align.  You know full well you'll most likely never hit the lottery, but my god, it's fun to try.  I don't expect any of those queries to land.  But you know what?  I don't care!  It's fun!  I'm playing for the game! I'm watching my hits slowly creep up, hoping that what I've written helped somebody in some way, even if it's just an idea for dinner. 

I'm also hopeful that inspiration will hit and I'll come up with a brilliant idea for that elusive short story.  I know it will happen sooner or later, but in the meantime I'll follow all of these leads that I've managed to accumulate.