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Blog to support the book "Creatively Self-Employed: How Writers and Artists Deal with Career Ups and Downs" by Kristen Fischer |
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About Me
30-something Jersey gal working as a freelance writer. Starbucks addict, beach-lover, kitty mother.
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Wednesday, March 28, 2007
I know I should provide more how-to career resources. But my book isn't how-to...so why should my blog be? I'm all about leaving it up to you to find answers. I'll give you some wisdom along the way. But today's just for exploring on your own and having fun! But giving you all inspiration is so much more fun. For me, finding new blogs has always been a great way to rev up my spirits. I do it even when I need a lift between work! So some quick links to inspire you as a creative entrepreneur...while giving you good business tips!
The Reinvention Coach: Great insight into doing what you love. Spa Clientele Marketing Tips Blog: Pssst! The tips work for any biz! Free eBook on Building an Effective Website: Free! Yay!
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Love love love posts with tons of links. Especially when mine is one of them! The chicas at SheepDogPD developed this list of great sites for creatives--enjoy!
Forums (designers/creative/crafty/indie/self employed) BlogHer forums Get crafty forums Creatively Self Employed Boards Graphics.comHow Design Forum Inspiration Forum SpoonoStart Up Nation Sugar frosted forum The Switchboards Directories (small biz/ professional/networking) 4 networking AIGA Linked in Merchantcircle.com N Post Smallbusiness.com Directories (Blogs) Blog Burst bloggers Blogarama Delightful Blogs Designers who blog del.ic.ious technorati.com Top 150 marketing blogs Directories (biz bloggers) Biz Nik Directories (women bloggers/biz owners/creative professionals) Blogs by Women Blogher.com Associations (crafty/ women) Craftrevolution.com Girl at Play Alliances/Associations Invitation Stationery Alliance AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) Tuesday, March 20, 2007  The new message board is up. Won't you come say hello? http://creativelyse.proboards101.com/index.cgi Wednesday, March 14, 2007  IF... The fabulous Penny Dullaghan has created the Illustration Friday Blog. Check it out! And something cool from Ilese Benun's latest newsletter: Do you know what response rate you need for the mailing to be profitable? If not, check out this new (and free) online ROI calculator from my long-time client, Bob Bly: http://www.bly.com/calculator.php. All you do is enter the costs--postage, mailing list rental, printing, etc. The tool automatically calculates the response rate you need to break even. Bob was also featured in the book, so it was cool to see this new tool on his site! Friday, March 02, 2007
INTERVIEW AT CREATIVITY-PORTAL.COM
Welcome back, readers. Please join me this month as I interview creative self-employment expert, Kristen Fischer. Author of Creatively Self-Employed: How Writers and Artists Deal with Career Ups and Downs (available at Amazon) and owner of her own copywriting business, this busy woman took some time out of her packed schedule to discuss her book and other creative matters with us. Q: What was your first job as a young woman? A: My first job out of college was as a newspaper reporter for a weekly newspaper. After getting my degree in environmental science and not wanting to go into the field, I decided to find something I was good at. I knew how to write; so I pursued journalism. I never thought I’d wind up staying with writing, though at that time I dreamed of being a full-time writer. Q: What path led you to create this fabulous career? How did you make the leap from day job to dream job? A: After working as a reporter, I decided to try to use my degree and wound up working for an environmental firm. I was writing their reports. I gained great technical- and business-writing skills there but knew my heart wasn’t in science. I took a part-time job as a copy editor at another newspaper and built my own business on the side. It took about a year before I was busy enough to go out on my own. I still have many steady jobs that give me that foundation — it’s way too scary to just rely on one-time jobs! Q: Would you like to tell our readers a little bit about your exciting new book? A: Creatively Self-Employed: How Writers and Artists Deal with Career Ups and Downs shares stories from real-life creative souls who are dealing with putting their work out there, marketing themselves, rejection, loneliness and trying to build thriving businesses. It’s not a how-to book; rather, it uses examples and anecdotes as a form of support to help creative people press on with their endeavors. The goal is for readers to see they are not alone in these trials that are completely unique to the creatively self-employed. Q: Please discuss some of the challenges you faced while writing and publishing this book. A: To be honest, I never wanted to self-publish. That was a challenge in itself. It was difficult to get over the fact that I couldn’t get an agent to take my idea. I contacted several agents that loved the proposal, but said the book wouldn’t have a wide enough market. After I got over my disappointment, I decided that I wasn’t going to let them decide if my dream would come to reality. I used iUniverse.com to self-publish. Thanks to my book editor, Kristen King, it wasn’t as hard as it could have been. But it’s tough doing it all yourself: production, artwork, promotion. I knew I could do it, though, since I had so much success putting my own business together. Q: What is the most rewarding aspect of being creatively self-employed? A: I relish being able to go out for tea in the middle of the day, or being able to nap when I want. I love being able to cuddle with my cat when I need a break from writing. Hopefully, my book will help people stay on their authentic career paths. These are all simple things that make it worthwhile. It took me a long time to publish my book. Being a writer was a given, but being an author has always been my dream. I’m excited to continue writing, and I also have a new chapter of my life on the horizon. I love writing, but working with books is my real passion. Read more at http://www.creativity-portal.com/bc/molly.childers/careers-fischer.html. Thursday, March 01, 2007
Hollah.
 Ben Dattner, who contributed to the book, was on NPR yesterday talking about team building for companies--and why those corporate retreats don't always work so well! Congrats, Ben! Listen to the clip, here! |
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