Tiggers like to bounce

Tags

bouncing, Copywriting, Creative Writing, excitement, freelancer, Incredible Dateless Wonder, maiden voyage, Melbourne, professional writer, skipping, Success, Tigger, TomKat, Writing

Well, it might be all grey skies in Melbourne right now, and yes, unfortunately we do have TomKat in residence, but regardless, I’ve been wearing a bit of a grin in the last week.

And no, it’s not because I’ve broken my Incredible Dateless Wonder streak (geez, I only wish!!).

BUT… I’m now officially a paid freelancer. My first copywriting gig is in the bag. Done and dusted. I’m so excited!

It was so nerve-wracking, taking that maiden voyage. Sure, it’s only copy and not a novel or anything, but hey – people still either like it or they don’t (read fear of rejection).

Feedback was slow initially, but then I was told ‘the work is good’ by my contact (the one I got the job through). While I’d submitted what I thought would be a first draft with several revisions to come, she tells me they only had minor changes because they really liked it! She then went on to ask me to submit my invoice.

My very first ever invoice as a professional writer. Yippee!

That day, I kinda walked down the street with a bit of a strut. Half not quite believing it, and half doing my best to not skip like a five year old child.

I know, it’s not really a huge deal in the greater scheme of things, but it is for me! Validation in the form of people valuing my writing and paying me for it!!

Then today I got a really nice email from the CEO of the foundation, which went something like this:

…thank you for the work you put in on the wording for our fundraising flyer, it was very much appreciated.

We made a couple of structural changes but in essence kept your wording and the basic flow of what you had put together.

It is now with our creative guys to find a way to structure the flyer so that it flows from page to page and has the desired emotive impact. We will keep you informed as we go along and will ensure we get you a copy of your handiwork when it is finished.

If we need some additional creative writing in future we will be very happy to give you a call…

TEEHEEHEEHEEHEE!!!

So I tweeted my excitement and in reply my contact tweeted “…signing your cheque prompted it!”

Signing my cheque, eh???

Why, thankyouverymuch!!

Which means very shortly I’ll be able to pay my yoga teacher the outstanding course fees I owe, and a few other bills I’ve been putting off.

All courtesy of my creative writing skills.

I can’t quite explain how that makes me feel… it’s rather empowering and really FUN earning money doing something I enjoy. And via my own steam, too.

It’s very exciting that they said they’d use my services again too, and who knows (the fates willing) where things will lead from there?

So I’ve been doing a little bounce or two, and a skip and a dance (when no one’s looking) and wow, just enjoying my self-made moment of success.

As soon as I get a PDF of the finished flyer (artwork being done by a design agency), I’ll post it here.

WHOOHOO!!!  😀

~Svasti

A little faith in me

Tags

Belief, Blogging, Copywriting, Faith, Freelance writer, Inner critic, Kung Fu Panda, Po, Svasti for hire, Unemployed, Writing

I still don’t have a job. It’s all a bit of a tease right now… just missing out, hearing about this one and that one. But nothing confirmed for ongoing work.

Yet.

However, seems I’m slowly and in miniscule ways (inch by inch even), developing a little bit of belief in myself…

Thanks in no small part to this blog, and of course to the lovely people who read my wild rantings here.

See, what’s just happened is this – last week, someone I used to work with (years ago) and who I’m Facebook friends with, posted a status update: Looking for a freelance writer who understands cyclists.

Wait-a-second…! That sounds like… it could be me!

Granted, I’ve never worked as a freelance writer. But I’ve done plenty of copywriting in other jobs I’ve had, both for websites and print materials.

Then of course, there’s this here blog. When I first started writing it, I gave myself permission to write without worrying too much about quality, with good reason.

For years as a high school student I was known for my writing, but the problem was… my mean old inner critic. Harsher than any of my teachers. I’d write and re-write and exhaust myself in the process. I was never happy with what I wrote, no matter what other people said.

So I stopped all together. Gave up the pursuit.

But this blog grew as something of an impulse – a very strong desire to save my sanity. And in writing endlessly here (with feedback from some of you good folk) my confidence in my writing abilities has grown. Slowly and tenderly.

So much so, that when I saw my friend’s status update, I was brave enough to suggest my services! She asked for some sample writing, but I didn’t have anything suitable (not sending stuff from my blog!). Said I’d put something together within a couple of days and submitted it by my self-imposed deadline.

Got an email the next day saying her boss was very happy with the sample, and they’d get back to me with a brief, some timings and to agree on a rate…

Someone is gonna pay me to write copy!!

Better still, it’s for a non-profit organisation that promotes cycling safety (right up my alley). Of course, it’s not yet a done deal, not until we’ve got some kinda agreement in writing. It’s a pretty good start though (here’s hoping my writing about it won’t jinx anything)!

Just today, I was asked to go to their offices for a briefing this Thursday. Yippee!

It’s only a one-off at this stage, but its something, right? And it could turn into more somethings? Yes? That’s what I thought!

And I’ve been thinking… perhaps this lack of work is all about me learning some kind of lesson. That, actually, I need to break away from the type of work life I’ve had to date? Become more flexible and independent in how I earn a living? Who knows, but that’s how I’m choosing to take it…

As such, I’ve decided to add another page to my blog (coming soon)! And it’ll be all about: Svasti for hire – copywriting, blog design, website production, SEO and digital marketing.

If you know anyone who’d like to hire a slightly neurotic, but highly creative yogini who’s got some kinda okay skills in the communication arena… send ‘em my way!

Oh, and I’m also gonna be doing some work for Anthroyogini sometime soon (when she sends me a brief!) on her upcoming big idea (which really is kinda cool).

~Svasti