What did you talk about this week?

Well, here we are at the weekend. Time to relax, unwind and recharge. Also time to look back at the week that was. The Fibro was a hive of activity and conversation this week. Mostly centred around splashbacks and cupboard profiles. But we did manage to fit some other stuff in too. Some are personal, some are professional (as in, for a story). I'll leave it up to you to decide which is which...

Cold Chisel, prawns that had been hidden in a bag in our laundry for five days, freezing said prawns in container, under-bench top sinks, the wall that was and then wasn't, green olives, balsamic vinegar, visitors, moving house, bathroom cabinets, community grants, worm wee, soccer, concentration, Lego mini-figures, birthday parties, Cars 2, scooters, vacuum cleaners, milkshakes, organising one's office, organising (specifically) my office, the decision to have a baby, fitting in 'relations' as a working mother, Mosman, blogging, bloggers, pitching, ideas, the state of the freelance writing market, finishing the damn book, feeding the fish.

What did you talk about?


PS: I'm Rewinding at And Then There Were Four this weekend. Link up an old post for new comment love! Hope to see you there. 

[image: Disney/kidsfunreviwed.com]

Tips for writing features #6: Hide and seek

Last month, I sent a pitch for what I considered to be a fabulous and timely feature to the relevant editor at a major women's mag. One with whom I'd worked successfully before. One that I thought was just the right contact for this particular story.

Crickets.

Two weeks later, I followed up that pitch with a polite, friendly email, repeating the pitch in a polite, friendly manner.

Crickets.

One week later, I sent a polite, friendly email thanking the magazine for considering the pitch and politely letting them know I'd be taking it elsewhere.

Crickets.

I reworked it to new specifications, took it elsewhere and sold the story.

Today, I had a conversation with a friend about the importance of developing a thick skin when it comes to freelance writing. Thick skin, used in the sense of Rhino Hide.

There will always be rejection (and someone not even responding to your email lands squarely in this bracket). No matter who you are, or how long you've been working as a freelancer. People who work regularly as freelancers are the ones who take that rejection and use it to plaster another layer of insulation on their skin. Creating a suit of armour.

It ain't pretty. But you're not looking for pretty. You're looking for work.

[image: a 1955 advertisement for Royal typewriters, available from FrenchFrouFrou/etsy - I am seriously lusting after a Royal typewriter in rose pink or mint green. Just saying.]