A Conversation About Freelancing

I’ve mentioned before how much I enjoy reading the freelance job postings on Freelance Writing Jobs. Today I actually engaged in (GASP!) commenting on a post. Though I’ve had a few comments here at freelindy — and thanks to those of you who took time to show me a little love — my shyness usually overwhelms me even online.

Today, however, I broke my silence. The bloggers in the FWJ community are running a contest to see who the next professional poster on the site will be. In this freelance version of American Idol, one anonymous candidate, Megatron, had the idea for all the writers to talk about the writing habits they believe they share with others and the habits they think are unique. Everyone has found a “buddy” with whom they can compare writing stories and experiences.

Many of the responses amused me. Some people can write with Dave Matthews blaring, some write better in the morning, and some can write only with total silence. Some of the responses inspired me. There are writers with chronic illnesses, those who (like me) are intimidated by the query process, and those who have a unique ability to inspire and encourage other writers.

The sense of community engendered from the post really amazed me. It has been truly rewarding to follow the conversation today and to note that fellowship does not necessarily require a physical presence. Props to FWJ, and to Megatron, for presenting freelancers everywhere an opportunity for meaningful, inspiring conversation about their craft.

Baby Steps

Psychiatrist: You care too much about the world. You take it all too seriously. You need to lighten up.

Me: But there are people dying of malaria in Africa. Malaria. Really. And then there’s the homeless. And there are poor people right here in our little town. People who have to decide whether to have dinner or pay the light bill. And there are old people who are lonely, and young people who have no friends, and people who don’t have running water…

Psychiatrist: So what are you doing to help? And why do you think you can change all of that?

I am an idealist. I firmly believe that if we all work toward a common goal, that it can be achieved, no matter the cost. But one of things that makes the world so great — diversity — is also one of the things that prevents everyone from working together.

Catch 22.

I wrote about this briefly in Gifts, where I mentioned my struggle to discover how best to use my talents. I bring it up again because of a comment my father left on that post:

Just remember that when God made the world, he made it of lots of small pieces. The largest mountain is made of many small stones. Each one plays its part and is important in its own right. If we wait for the one big thing we think we should do with our lives, we may be missing the many opportunities to do lots of small things that bring happiness, help and hope to others.

Thanks for the advice, Dad. I’ll still worry about malaria in Africa, but I’m going to cut myself a little more slack. Instead of waiting for my big chance to save the world, I’m going to work a little harder at the small things. Baby steps. It’s all about baby steps…

So You Think You Can Dance

Season Four of So You Think You Can Dance was my first experience of watching every episode of a reality show. It was the first time I’ve ever been so engaged with a television series that I found myself planning my activities around the show. This could be a sign that I have no life. Or, it could be the sign of extraordinary entertainment.

From the beginning, I watched my favorite couple, Katee and Joshua, dance their way past the competition. Though Joshua was never classically trained (as Nigel often commented) he seemed to be able to pick up new routines with ease. Katee was simply beautiful and flawless at everything she attempted.

There were others whom I enjoyed watching: Will, with his grace, technique and athleticism; Twitch with his charisma and style; Courtney G. with her energy and fabulous characterization; and Chelsea with those ridiculously fast legs! But no one could match the chemistry of Katee and Joshua. Even when they didn’t dance as a couple, they brought something special to the stage. Something more “real” than many classically trained dancers.

Tonight’s finale crowned Joshua the winner, and Katee took the top prize for the girls. Kudos to Joshua for having the courage to face thousands of dancers with more experience and training. So You Think You Can Dance is really the best of what reality TV has to offer. It gives unknown dancers from all backgrounds and genres an opportunity to showcase their talent. It also proves that you don’t have to be a classical dancer to be the best in America. Congratulations again Joshua, and thank you for giving us one heck of a show!

A Note about the Recipes

After redesigning the blog and reading older posts, I have to admit that the ones that talk about recipes are boring.

I had good intentions when I started this blog. I wanted to write more. I wanted to write about important, life-changing events. I wanted to catalog my thirty-day experiments and take notes. I wanted to motivate others to make changes in their lives, too.

Unfortunately, I’ve never been a very good cheerleader. (My career ended in sixth grade.) I am excited about all the new veggie recipes I’ve been making, but I can’t get inspired enough to write about them without yawning. So, farewell to the freelindy cooking school. If I come across something really fabulous, I’ll put a nice little link at the bottom of a post. Otherwise, I think I’ll focus on the other things that inspire me, like dead writers and empty beaches!

p.s. The stuffed zucchini recipe was really gross. Go for the curried chick peas and dahl instead.

On the death of Alexander Solzhenitsyn

This morning I was saddened to note that the writing community lost an important, if controversial voice. Alexander Solzhenitsyn died on Sunday at the age of 89. Last month, while unpacking a box of books, I came across my copy of One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich . After I finished organizing the bookshelf, I spent a few hours re-reading Solzhenitsyn’s most famous novel.

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich details 24-hours in the life of a political prisoner in a Russian gulag, or prison camp. The story highlights the camp’s harsh conditions, and concentrates mainly on the importance of survival. Though Ivan Denisovich’s story is fiction, it was based on Solzhenitsyn’s own seven-year imprisonment in the 1950’s.

Reading One Day reminded me again of the cruelty humans can unleash upon other humans. Even now how many people are held as political prisoners, caught up in the intrigues of nations? How many of the accused are as innocent as Ivan Denisovich? How many are guilty of treason or crimes of terrorism? How many are incarcerated only because they spoke against oppression? How many prisoners will perish at the hands of government officials, their objections forever silenced?

Though I don’t necessarily believe that the Western ideal of democracy is the right form of government for every nation, I do feel blessed to live in a country where I can express my beliefs without prejudice. Alexander Solzhenitsyn was exiled from his motherland for writing about his experiences in the gulag. He exercised his literary voice at the expense of his Russian citizenship and his home.

I often take my right to write for granted. I can type a blog post on any subject and remain free of persecution. I can write a novel about anything, create a website about anything, as long as I don’t infringe on the rights of others. But even today, there are many who are not as fortunate as I.

As writers we would all do well to remember that we have a unique opportunity to speak out against the issues we oppose. Alexander Solzhenitsyn was one voice, one pen. His novels revealed the inhumane conditions to which Russian political prisoners were exposed. His legacy forever changed the world’s view of the USSR.

What can your pen do?

Adventures in Vegicipes (a.k.a. vegetarian recipes)

I think there is a direct correlation between how much I post and how much I cook. That’s odd, because up until a year ago, the only cooking I did involved a package of Kraft mac-n-cheese or a frozen entree. There is also a strange relationship between the amount of prepared food in the fridge and how clean the house is. The house is usually cleaner if I’ve cooked and written a blog post…

Anyway, today I experimented with tofu. (Please, refrain from jumping up and down while reading. I know, I know, you’re ecstatic!) My first experience with the soy curd was about ten years ago. I wasn’t a fan then, but I’m going to try a little harder this time around. I purchased two packages of the refrigerated, firm organic sort of tofu. (It was surprisingly inexpensive!) I did have to ask a someone where the tofu could be found. It was in the refrigerated organic section right next to the portabello mushrooms. One package was labeled “spicy” the other “plain.” I opted to go with the spicy.

I drained it, and let it marinate in some olive oil and a bit of balsamic vinegar for a while. I haven’t yet found a site that’s really dedicated to giving a step-by-step tutorial in the basics of tofu. I will post the link when I find one! After it had marinated for thirty minutes or so, I fried it, and served it in a sun-dried tomato wrap with fresh beefsteak tomatoes, lettuce and a cream-cheese-dill spread. I’ve come to believe that fresh dill absolutely does not agree with my stomach. We’ll leave it at that.

The tofu itself wouldn’t win any prizes at the state fair for tastiest meat-like substance. On the whole, it wasn’t too bad. When I eat the leftovers, I will forgo the dill spread. I might also serve the rest with the curried chick peas & dahl that’s been simmering on the stove tonight. I plan to serve it over basmati rice, with a stuffed zucchini. The curry is really fabulous and fairly easy to make (the hardest part was figuring out what dahl was!) Here’s a link to the wiki about dahl. I used a bag of plain lentils. I’m still not quite certain if that’s what I was supposed to use, but it turned out nicely!

Tomorrow I have big plans for vegetarian picnic caviar from the Vegetarian Times magazine. I’ll also post on how all the dishes from tonight went over with the family. D finally has a day off, and we get to have our first full-family veggie meal!

Until then, happy eating!

The Best Laid Plans

Robert Burns, an eighteenth century Scottish poet, is one of my favorite writers. His poetry expresses his pure love of language and the rhythm of speech. That being said, my favorite Burns poem is To a Mouse on Turning Her Up in Her Nest with the Plough, November 1785.It’s a cumbersome title, but the jist of the poem is that he’s reflecting on what happens to this mouse once he’s ruined her “wee-bit heap o’ leaves an’ stibble.” The final stanzas are my favorite:

A New Semester in the College of Life

For the past month I’ve been looking nonstop at FWJ (Freelance Writing Jobs) to figure out how I can build a portfolio as a freelance writer so I can quit my painfully boring day job and do something I love. I’ve read every blog post on the site for a month. I’ve scoured the job leads. I’ve worked on my resume. And I’ve wasted countless hours in a fruitless search for any live links to one of the 300 or so advertorial articles I wrote over a seven year period for a local newspaper. (Apparently they don’t archive advertising!)

Can you spell f-e-l-a-f-e-l? Better yet, can you make it?

Yummy fruit has replaced cookies for dessert!

I started the month-long vegetarian experiment yesterday. Though it wasn’t scheduled to begin until August 1, I’ve been dying to try some of the recipes that I discovered while conducting my “veggie research.”  So we got a head start.

Dior on a budget

Another favored product has fallen victim to my budget cuts: Charmin Ultra Strong.

To be honest, I can deal with store brand dishwashing detergent, cleaning products, hairspray, sandwich bags, bread and spices. I will comparison shop. I will use coupons. I will drink Check cola. But even in the depths of debt, I have never, ever purchased cheap toilet paper. Until today.