Trite bumbstickers proclaiming, I'd rather be...fishing...golfing...reading, take your pick, gain popularity for a reason. Rarely does anyone want to work. But I do. Yeah, I'd rather be reading, but since my work requires mass amounts of research I love every minute. Do I sound like I am bragging, my work is better than yours sort of thing. I am not. I am explaining that I love my job or rather jobs because some days I feel like I have twelve, although most connect. Let me count...
Well number one is Writer, wait since I write several vastly different genres, even nonfiction, I think I get to add exactly each type of writing to my list of jobs.
1) Textbroker writer. This Website doesn't pay much and the pay isn't immediate, but it is reliable and easy and quick. This is the online waitressing job, without tips or hungry customers. Doesn't pay much, but does pay. Anyone that can write on topic can work for this website. Your pay is based on your classification. So promotion is available. You can work your way up from proverbial waitress or hack writer to professional freelancer. The writing I do for this site usually involves adding SEO language. SEO? Search Engine Optimization. Or other commerically inclined writing for websites seeking content.
2)On Demand Media Studio Freelance Writer. Tougher with a better reputation. This website hires writers, copyeditors, film-makers and other artists. Assignments are posted and this writer selects the project she most wants or feels capable of writing. Unlike Textbroker where most of the assignments are commerical many of On Demands projects are instructional. Technical skills and experience required for many of the work available on this site.
3) Poet. This doesn't pay in money, but in recognition and publishing credits, the richness of poetry can never be devalued. Furthermore the community of poets, is often warm and wonderful. I just don't have the words.
4) Author, and this is different from a writer? Yes. Writers ask questions. Authors create answers.
5) Novelist. Aspiring novelist, without an agent or a publishable book, despite having written three.
6) Business owner, oh I really hate that title. Busniess admistrator is closer to the work I do for The Lost Word Writers Group - a business in that this group supports, promotes writers (Lost Word Writers) and publishes and sells the work of those writers.
7) Online marketer. Again I really don't like this new role and I think I am using the wrong title. Creating buzz about Lost Word Writers, easy, this group of talented writers does that themselves, just by sharing their work, by participating in our events, and allowing fans and friends to witness it all. I've written about the Lost Word Writers for years for the pure pleasure of it, now sort of part of the job discription. Doesn't take the joy out of writing on my favorite topic, but the pressure is on. The thought that something I wrote or said could harm this talented fantastic (not enough positive adjectives in the world) group devastastes me.
This job title should be Blogger, Twitter(er), and Facebooker instead of online marketer because social networking sites are where most online marketing begins. Unfortunately I've logged into these sites with fun in mind, and though working can be fun, it also must be professional and that isn't always easy in the middle of the night or on a Sunday morning or whenever I can get my hands on Internet Access.
8)Business student, ugh, I haven't signed up for classes yet, but I see it in my bleak bleak future. I even checked out Baker's business administration programs and that fine institution offers a certificate course at the Jackson Campus. So considering applying for fall 2012. I want to go back to school and get my MFA, Masters of Fine Arts, someday, but right now I need to learn more about the business of doing business. Attending the Michigan Small Business and Technology Center free workshops at the Jackson District Library Carnegie branch. Learning as much as I can online. Right now I am typing this at Michigan Works and I love Michigan Business One Stop as a tool
9)Caregiver but I am not a cna (certified nurses aid) and I never intend on becoming one. I am a wife and as most wives know that and mother are the two most time consuming, worthwhile unpaid positions. I am a caregiver for my husband who lives and works with a chronic disease. I am not at liberty to say more because I respect his privacy. Also babysit whenever a friend or family member calls me.
10) Accountant, ahhh yeah that is why I have to go back to school!
11) Law student...I don't need a lawyer yet, but I can not afford to hire an attorney so I am learning as much as possible to avoid that.
12) Trainer, in that I am training the author LJ Bailey to take over my old Lost Word Writers position as Events Coordinator. I am actually really slacking on this one.
I left out my hobbies, like knitting and crocheting, and since I am very unskilled at those fiber arts playing with yarn is time consuming.
Thank you for reading my list. I forgot my reason for writing this. Maybe as a self esteem booster because someone I just met, but already respect, asked me, besides being a writer, reading and playing with yarn arts what did I do? I repeated the question a couple of times and then set to defending myself, which isn't how she intended the question. I remember the time I was challenged about why I called myself a poet and I performed a poem off the top of my head to prove that I was one. I am being challenged right now, but I hope I will answer it with grace and dignity. I think of loved friends. Overcoming devasting challenge with such good humor and kindness. Thank God I have such great people in my life and work that allows me time to enjoy them.
