The Freelance Pursuit: Greeting Card Writing?

I’ve spent the afternoon/evening holed up in my office with the fan on (the fan is a definite must, it’s 90 degrees out there, people!) trying to decide on what’s the best way to make some side-money writing.

wpid-img_20150907_200046383_hdr.jpgI had a friend at work give me a list of websites that I could use as some options to look at. Not all of them are just for writers. They are as follows:

www.workersonboard.com

www.ratracerebellion.com

www.elance.com

www.guru.com

www.wahm.com

www.freelancer.com

While freelancer, guru, and elance, are all geared towards writers or freelancers, wahm (work at home moms), ratracerellion, and workersonboard, present numerous ideas for that someone who wants to make a little extra money from home, either by writing, or other ventures.

I guess I should go right ahead and thank that person who suggested these to me, because I sure did find a lot of options out there. I guess I didn’t know what I was expecting, really, but writing for greeting cards was not one of them.

It makes sense: someone has to write those often overly-sappy hallmark cards, and those humorous often off-color you’re-getting-too-old-for-this-many-candles cards…so, why not me?

Like everything, it seems like a difficult business to break into, but according to some articles that I’ve read about the business, it says that it’s the one that pays off the most.

Anyway, here are some greeting card/slogan websites that I was able to check out more thoroughly:

www.ephemera-inc.com

www.oatmealstudios.com

If you’re a bit off-color yourself, and like to write quirky, sometimes dirty and sarcastic humorous stuff, then http://www.ephemera-inc.com is for you.

Now, what do I do?

I guess I never thought of writing for greeting cards. Who knows, maybe the next time you buy a birthday card, it’ll be from me!

Orr…not. Especially if I don’t get to working. Any of you also have the youtube videos suck you in?

Ah, the life of a procrastinator.

Hope everyone had a great Labor Day!

Part 2 Confessions: Edits and Extra Thoughts

I was having some formatting troubles with my post last night, so in case you missed it, you can view it here.

I asked my boyfriend what he thought about it and he was like, yup, sounds like you really hate your job.

And don’t get me wrong, I don’t like it there…and am currently in the process of finding something new, but mostly I wanted to express my frustration at the lack of options for college graduates like myself and other people my age.

I was told to dream big growing up, and yet…reality doesn’t seem to make a lot of dreams possible nowadays!

Anywho, I’m not giving up though, and if I’m meant to write for a living, well, I’m just going to make that happen!

Best wishes to everyone and hope you enjoy your weekend! And keep on writing!

 

Part 2: Confessions – I am a child of the 90s, and yes, I hate my job

Part 2: Confessions was supposed to be about facing my Writer’s Fear, but this rant is very much-needed so hold onto your hats people. If you missed Part 1: Confessions, Struggling with Writers Fear you can read it here.

working manIt’s no joke, the majority of middle class Americans are probably in the same boat – working day in and day out, struggling to make rent and hating the 8 to 5 job that pays the bills but keeps them locked to the grindstone. No freedom to do what you want, when you want and where you want.

It’s work all day for little pay. It’s time clocks, and meetings and little vacation days. It’s cramming in a few texts during 15 minute breaks. It’s knowing that the boss-man is always watching, waiting with that memo that doesn’t make sense.

It’s managers that get promoted when they don’t know a daaamn thing. It’s – not who you know, it’s who you blow.

It’s “The Office.”

It’s…politics.

Several weeks ago, I moved to a new town, packed my bags, said goodbye to the folks and grabbed an easy 8 to 5 job that is now slowly eating my brains out. (Note to self, remember to apply for new jobs a bit sooner next time.)

At any rate, its amazing how dysfunctional some companies are. Where people get treated like numbers and the company gets away with it. How ridiculous the rules of attendance are, of break times, of self-importance. When did it get to be like that?

When did I become of a peon in the great big world of the machine? I don’t remember signing up for that.

clip art handsI am a child of the 90’s. I was told to follow your heart, follow your dreams, go to school for what you what. Well…if this is where a Liberal Arts degree in English Literature gets you, I feel gypped.

Today I got told by a girl barley in her twenties that I didn’t know anything. And that jolted me to a stop. I’m sorry? You don’t know anything about me, much less what I know and don’t know. At any rate, it pissed me off.
I’m a twenty-five year old college graduate, who works hard for nothing, and The Writer in me is ready to stand up and pay attention. I don’t deserve to be anyone’s bitch, much less the company that I work for.

I’ve decided it’s time to be honest, and its time to be honest with myself. I want to write for a living. I want to find the freedom in my job, and in myself to work hard and do what I love to do day in and day out. With no fear.

Maybe the ridiculous of this company is pushing me in the right direction – I am soo very close to just quitting my job and starting to write for a living.

If I were honest with my self, I would admit that I am wasting my time being responsible for once. Sometimes you have to be a little reckless to follow your dreams. I mean, who ever said that getting what you want was easy?

I have to remember that it’s not my job that defines me, it’s who I am and what I chose to do with my time here on earth that makes me who I am.

And it is my time to be honest with myself.

tampaI thought that I would make April a month of Confession Posts. Mostly Writing related, but this rant caught up with me tonight and needed to be let out. I know that there a lot of college graduates out there and people my age who feel the same. And we need to be heard and to support each other.

Look forward to Part 3 Confessions: How to Beat Writer’s Fear in a few weeks!

Any thoughts? Ideas? Rants of your own that need to be heard? Comment below! Writing is freedom! Let’s take advantage of it!

Spring is finally here!!

Well, it’s already April and I realize its been almost a month since I posted last! Holy crap! Where does the time go?

Thought I take this lazy time on a Saturday night to do a quick update. Tired myself cleaning and doing errands today, so naturally it is time to relax, get on facebook, and write (theoretically). :p

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Me in Tampa, leaning against a palm tree. (From my trip earlier this winter.) I kinda wish I was there now!

Long story short: I started a new job, which has kept me occupied for the past month or so. It pays much more than the other job I had this winter, so here’s hoping I can start saving money this summer. I am basically a Collector, so if you have defaulted on your student loans – beware! I’ll be like: Give me your money, fool! πŸ˜‰

It’s great to have a job where I can start saving money, but I haven’t written anything in about a month. (sad face) This new job has taken up all my energy and my focus. I’m hoping once I know what I am doing, the stress factor will go down and I won’t be so exhausted at the end of the day. :/

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More beachy scenes from pretty Tampa.

In the back of my mind though, I still dream and I still plan. My characters are still there waiting, the story still yet undiscovered. And then I remember all the short stories that I have started and have yet to finish. The short stories that I hope to see in print someday…Spring is all about new beginnings though, right?

Spring has arrived finally, even if there is still a chill in the air. And I’m thinking: Move out of the way winter, it is time for the fun stuff to happen!