CJs Right Writing

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I was Freelance, when Freelance wasn’t Cool

A recent study reveals 34 percent of American workforce is freelance*

The digital age has completely changed the way Americans choose to earn a living. Freedom to work from virtually anywhere is a powerful draw away from the daily grind of traditional jobs. Freelancing affords people, who previously were unable to work outside of the home, a way to earn a paycheck and return to self-sustainability. The rogue movement that is freelance shows no signs of slowing any time soon. Some experts predict that by the end of 2016 the number of wage earners working from home (or where ever they want) will double.

I am a perfect example of an individual who’s taking advantage of the resources available to her. Without the internet, I would be completely penniless and relying on the government to keep a roof over my head. It’s been a long hard road, this freelancing thing.

Bouncing Back from Illness

I am the boss. I am the chief writer/editor. I am the marketing director, proposal writer, accountant, and customer service agent. So what happened a month ago when I was unable to work because of severe physical illness? Nothing—absolutely nothing happened. Clients moved on, blog stalled, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ fell flat, and no money was earned.

Creative Circle is an amazing site for freelancers

Click above to go there and check it out today.

Cooking Secrets and Tips

America is on the go–a home-cooked meal, every night, is out of the question. Unfortunately, processed foods have made Americans among the unhealthiest nations in the world. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, more than ⅓ of children and more than ⅔ of adults are overweight or obese. Eating healthily doesn't have to mean breaking the bank or spending every day in the kitchen. There are simple secrets and tips to get you in and out of the kitchen in no time, and will put affordable and healthy meals on your plate.

Building Self-Esteem: Becoming Functional Out of Dysfunction

To be nobody - in a world which is doing its best . . . to make you everybody else - means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting.

- E E Cummings

Self-esteem is how we feel about ourselves. Things that influence our self-esteem are many, including personality, physical and emotional health, abilities, appearance, habits, and morality. We might feel positive about some and negative about others.

Feelings we have about ourselves can fluctuate from day to day. One day we might be confident and determined. Another day we might feel insecure and unhappy. Discovering our overall true feelings about ourselves isn't as simplistic as the definition of self-esteem leads us. We must allow for a measurement of our feelings. Self-esteem is a physical, emotional, and spiritual value we assign to ourselves.

Avocado: The Ultimate Super Food

Unlock Your Brain Power with this Amazing Fruit, Lovingly Known as Alligator Pear

 

When I say beta-carotene, what comes to mind? Huh, you say. Carrots, right? Sure, just roll with me. So, when I say lycopene, you say…yes, tomatoes. Lycopene and beta-carotene are two extremely important anti-oxidants most closely associated with orange or reddish fruits and vegetables. Well, guess what green, weird shaped fruit, has more of both anti-oxidants with one peel tied behind its back than a pound of carrots and a bunch of tomatoes put together. Yep, that’s right…the all mighty Alligator Pear! That’s not all. We’re just getting started on the amazingness of the avocado.

Eating Write: Brain Food for Writers

Walt Whitman fancied oysters and steak for breakfast. F. Scott Fitzgerald claimed apples and canned meat helped him concentrate. Truman Capote survived on mint tea and martinis when deep into his work. Three of the greatest writers in the entire world, and no thank you…I think I’ll stick to chewing gum and drinking coffee.

All Out

A Lesson in Growth

The following is something I'm not so proud of, but it is something that brought me to where I am now. A lesson in growth.

Is Harmony and Balance Possible?

How can you tell if there is true harmony and balance in your life? I used to ask that of myself often. I wondered how I would know if I had reached the zenith of balance and harmony in my life. I began to realize there is no zenith. It's a constant struggle to keep things balanced, so where is the harmony. The simple fact is that it is what we make it to be. What is for us may not be for others. So there is no real answer anyone can give but to themselves.

My life, as lived by Kutcher's Law—By: Melissa Van Hoorne

I awake every morning and repeat Audrey Hepburn's quote as a quiet mantra: “Nothing is impossible: the word itself says I'm possible!”, otherwise, my day isn't quite the same. I created my magazine, This Freelancer Life (Shameless plug – thisfreelancerlife.com), because it is a life full of possibilities and, to my surprise, expressing these possibilities has become very popular with other freelancers! I can't say I'm surprised at the success due to the lack of content in the marketplace relating to the everyday freelancer, but I remain humbled by it nonetheless. I never, ever take anything for granted.

Criticism: The Door to Self-Improvement

Most people hate criticism. We feel personally attacked if someone gives us an honest opinion and it's not the opinion we hoped for. We have done our absolute best at something and want recognition for our accomplishments. We are hurt if anyone finds fault or points out something from a different perspective. Even if somewhere inside us we secretly agree, it is instinct to protect our hard work and so we puff up our egos to sow disdain in their criticism. "Who are they to judge us?" we ask ourselves; when we probably asked for their opinion is the first place. They veered from the script we had intended to hear from them, and we are not amused.

Motivated Against My Will

Sometimes motivation is expected of us, before being asked if we want to be motivated in the first place. People assume we will be over the moon about something, when we haven't had the time to contemplate any possible interest. Other times there are tasks we need to tackle that makes burning at the stake seem more attractive. Such is life, full of surprise and mystery and the mundane. Who really wants to clean out the rain gutters on a sunny, Saturday afternoon...not me, but it might be the only free time I have to get it done, so I do it. I try to think of what enjoyable activity I may have to look forward to later.

Working From Home: Julia's Story

 

What follows is a fictional account based on interviews and comments submitted by actual people who were, or are currently working from home. Any similarities between the character, Julia, and any other living person are strictly accidental. Julia is a composite created to observe a hypothetical, work from home, scenario.

Julia is thirty-two. She graduated high school then attended a local community college. Julia finished college in 1998, with an AA in psychology, fully intending to follow a career in social work. However, finding the entry-level job market slim in her community, Julia winds up waiting tables at a local pub for tips, where she meets her current husband. After dating a few years, they are married in 2003. In early 2005, she gives birth to their first child. Julia waited tables up until three weeks of her due date before taking maternity leave. Money was tight for the growing family; dreams of being a social worker seemed to be slipping away from her.

Journalists Code Of Ethics

Seek Truth and
Report It
Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.

Journalists should:

— Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.
— Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.
— Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability.
— Always question sources’ motives before promising anonymity. Clarify conditions attached to any promise made in exchange for information. Keep promises.
— Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.
— Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.
— Avoid misleading re-enactments or staged news events. If re-enactment is necessary to tell a story, label it.
— Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Use of such methods should be explained as part of the story
— Never plagiarize.
— Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience boldly, even when it is unpopular to do so.
— Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.
— Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status.
— Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.
— Give voice to the voiceless; official and unofficial sources of information can be equally valid.
— Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.
— Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.
— Recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public's business is conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection.

Do a Dollop of Daisy!

Okay, I know it doesn't make any sense, but I just have to let it flow. When I draw a blank, and can’t come up with anything to say, I stop thinking. Then I type the first thing that pops into my head. Obviously, the first installment on my new site means a lot to me. First impressions are everything—hence, the title, “Do a Dollop of Daisy.”

I realize you’re confused and probably wondering why you should continue to read on. I will bring it all together for you by the end of the next paragraph, I promise. Thank you for bearing with m—I am a freelancer, you know. We are quite a different lot of people.

There’s this “thing” about me. I don’t know what you’d call it. I am frozen. My brain won’t function until I can push past this “thing.” Most of what is pulsing through my thoughts right now is jingles, and pieces of goofy songs. Why does this happen? I’m going to call it, FASP (First Article Syndrome Paralysis).

What would you do, for a Klondike bar? I would write this crappy first piece, so I can move onto the next (not crappy piece). That way, number one is behind me. I can focus, and FASP can have no effect on my ability to function. So, please don’t judge me by this dollop. The upcoming editorial is going to be a daisy.