Well, at least it's not the flu.

Web MD says I have a common cold. Sure feels like the flu. I was completely out for close to 18 hours at a time over the weekend. Poor husband. Poor children. Poor clients. Poor me.

Back to work.

A Bit of Inspiration

A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit.


Great things happening here at GardenWall...

First, rough week last week as I ran the Scholastic Book Fair at my child's school.

Second, I've found a return rate on jobs applied for of about 5%--- HOWEVER, this past week I've got a couple bites from potential clients that I first approached in the Summer. So that return rate may be heading upward.

Third, I am quite happy to see an incredible repeat rate with some customers. I think this is a very positive testimony to potential clients, so I will soon be adding a portion to my website that details those who keep coming back :)

VERY Important Things to Know About My Blog Today

• The colors now match my branding.


• The blogs on the blogroll to your right are the best out there.


• You can now subscribe via RSS.


• The picture with this post is added simply because it is from the most beautiful place on the planet: Alberca de Los Espinos, Michoacan, MX.

Happy Reading.

Potential clients: if you're considering me for a project, please be advised that I am at my most motivated this month!:)

Found a Great Blog For Other Writer Mommas:

http://emomsathome.com/freelance-parent/


They talk a lot about the daily hurdles we've got to combat in the writing business.

Dear Jack,

Dear Jack,

I'm not your personal jester. I know it looks like I'm not doing much, sitting here very still with just my fingers moving. But I am actually typing. And I am typing words that turn into pay. And pay turns into things like food. And heat. Things that you enjoy.

So, in the future, I would kindly ask you that you not treat me as your personal plaything. This means:

• No whining when you're bored.


• Please stop jumping on me.


• Don't make sudden, loud noises. I am often in a state of deep concentration, and they tend to scare me.


• Quit looking at me expectantly everytime I stand up. It is not game time.

And, since he doesn't understand me, would you please kindly tell the cat to stop laying in front of the monitor? I mean, I know it's warm and all, but come on. It's really hard to write with his 20 pound mass sitting right in front of my screen.

Watching My Hours

When I redid my website (for the 800th time) I put a project minimum on there stating that I wouldn't accept projects under a certain amount of pay.

This is because I've found that, even for a smallish project, I have to invest a minimum amount of time setting up the project in my records, communicating with the buyer, and getting the specifics of the project. So a project worth one hour of pay actually takes two hours.