Changing Perspectives

("Wednesdays with Murray" has been cancelled this week. My son had a dental appointment, so we weren't able to go to breakfast.)

I've had a few dental issues in the past few months and my dentist may be able to retire early because of it. But this morning, my son was the victim...uh, I mean patient. He's getting ready to have braces put on, so needed to get some work done first. Though he's old enough to do it alone, he wanted me to stay. The dental assistant was kind enough to bring me a chair by my sons feet.

As I watched from that angle, I learned a lot of things. It was completely different from me being the one in the chair. I could see each instrument clearly. I could see the "dance" between the dentist and her assistant-how they flowed through each procedure. My son's dental work wasn't all that different from mine and yet, from that perspective, it looked completely different.

Writing is no different. It's all about perspective, especially when it comes to freelance writing. I often come up with a thought which is not even an idea yet. It's just a fleeting thought about a subject that might make a good article. By taking the idea, setting it in one place and then walking around it, I can come up with a variety of ways to approach it. I may even decide to discect it and create several different articles. I may look at it from a first-person perspective, or perhaps it makes more sense to go at it in a less personal and more informational way.

Perspective is everything when it comes to writing. By looking at an idea from different angles, you can end up with several articles for a single idea. And more articles translates into more money. More money means more trips to Hawaii and who doesn't want more trips to Hawaii?

New Element

Oh whoops. When I added my biography (right), I thought one would have to click on it. But that was too much work to delete it all, so I guess I'll see if I can live with it or not. It makes me feel rather naked with it just sitting there for the world to see.

I was perusing a few websites and found that I really like to go to the person's biography to learn about them before doing anything else, so why not make my site look like that? That's where I got the idea. I wouldn't want you to think I came up with it all by myself.

Anyway- whatdaya think? ~Karen

May Goals - Time to find a balance

Hi Friends- Wow. Has it been that long since I've been here? Yep, guess it has. Well here's what's on my mind; Every month for the past 12 months, I've made monthly goals. Most of them have to do with freelancing. And I've had some success with it too, which is fun. But what I miss is writing books.

So this month, my goal is to dedicate the majority of my time to editing/rewriting and marketing my books. I have several that are finished. One in particular, a children's book called, The Summer Snowball, has been on my mind lately. I know there's a place for it somewhere and I intend to find it.

I want to continue freelancing, especially since I'm finally making some money at it...Ah success! But I want to find a balance. I don't want to give up on my books just because the publishing industry is so huge. I don't want to give up just because I don't get the (near) instant gratification of publication, as I do with magazines. And I especially don't want to give up just because it's hard and seems impossible, that my little manuscript would happen to land on the right desk at the perfect moment in an agent or publisher's day.

I'll post more specific goals after giving this some more thought. Do you make monthly goals? What are they? ~Karen

The Rejection Dog

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." -Thomas Edison

Wow! If that's not inspiring, I don't know what is. Writing can be so difficult, especially on the emotions. If you're writing for publication, you know what I mean. There is something about rejection that makes you want to quit. Go figure! But as writers we must go against logic and continue to go back again and again to that dog that bit us. We'll learn new approaches along the way and eventually, it just may lick our hand and send us a check. Until then, we must persist, because success is just around the corner. ~Karen

100 Years From Now

I have fabulous news. I just received my copy of a magazine called, "The Mid-Columbian." I'll include a link when it is ready. My article about the history of a local park is published in the March/April issue. This is very exciting for two reasons. First of all, the park I wrote about was conceived of 100 years ago by a group of women who dreamed of a city park.

The 58 acre park is right across the street from our house and my kids, when they were little said it was their park. It now contains some of the oldest trees in our state. They are beautiful and stately trees. There is also a playground, a man-made hill for sledding, a rose garden, and an aviary. Also on display are a bronze sculpture and a civil war cannon. At the center of the park is an almost 100-year old bandstand. Anyway- I just love the thought that someone saw so far into the future. They organized the planting of small saplings, the same ones we now sit under for shade from the summer sun. Makes me contemplate what I am doing now that will live on 100 years from now. Hopefully my writing will. Hopefully the people I touch today and during my life, will in turn touch another generation and I will live on that way. It's a tall order, isn't it? The life of every person carries the possibility to change the world. Amazing! ~Karen

P.S. Just realized I only gave you one reason why having this article published is so darned exciting. Guess you'll have to tune in later to find out the second reason. ~K

Crown of Disappointment

I got a check in the mail the other day. It was for an article I wrote and that check alone was enough to meet my modest financial goal for January. My 2008 financial goals for my freelance writing business are cumulative. In other words, I set a specific amount for January and after that, my goal is to make a bit more each month. So I'm off to a great start.

My mind wandered to what I should buy with my little chunk of change;

• a bouquet of flowers?
• take my family out to dinner?
• order pizza?
• treat my husband to a movie?
• put the money in savings?
• travel to...OK it wouldn't get me very far
• a new pair of shoes?
• books/magazines?
• a crown?

Huh? A crown? Well yeah, and it's not the kind that will sit atop my royal head. I went to the dentist yesterday and it seems the decision on how to spend my money wasn't so difficult after all. My broken tooth needs a crown. So it looks like my hard earned money will be gobbled up by...my tooth. Boo! It just feels so...wrong! Why is it that when I got a regular paycheck as a teacher, I didn't think this way, but now I feel that any money I make writing should be spent on something...beautiful, something celebratory, something romantic?

Maybe it's that now there's such a one-to-one correspondence with the money I make. I know exactly what I did to earn that money. I know how many hours I spent writing the article. I know the struggles with finding markets, and working with editors. Oh, I don't know. What I do know is that my little chunk of change just shrunk. It'll only pay for 1/4 of my crown. The good news is that at least I won't have to waste time dreaming of what I'll spend my next chunk on...it's already been decided for me. ~Karen

Learning to Divide my Focus

Boohoo! I bought the t-shirt and everything. And now I have to wear it in shame. I just couldn't keep up with the National Novel Writing Month challenge. Well, in all honesty, I could have, I just chose not to. I worked hard at freelancing this month and found it extemely difficult to divide my focus in two directions.

And in real life I'm not so good at it either. I like to start a job and finish it before moving on. I like to clean one room at a time and when it's done, move on to the next. I eat all of one serving on my plate before moving to the next. And I designate one day a week to run errands and pay bills. As I write this, I think, "What a freak." Do you think I need therapy?

Obviously, this is not a good trait for a writer. I've been working on it, but it still just doesn't feel right. It's impossible to come up with an idea for an article, write it, edit it and submit it before working on anything else. So I'm trying to come up with a system. So far it's been pretty haphazard.

I have found that once I write the rough draft of an article, it is best to let it sit a day before editing it. So right now, that's what I do and the cycle begins; write article 1, edit article 2...but that's as far as I've gotten.

Any freelancers out there have a system that works? If so, let me in on the secret.

In the meantime, I'll just be sitting here, feeling like somewhat of a failure, but all the while celebrating that although I didn't finish NaNoWriMo, I did start. I did get the first 10,000 words of a very good book written and I have faith that at some point, I will return to it.

And now, back to figuring out a system for a reluctant multi-tasker (that's me). ~Karen

Published!

I sent my manuscript one day and was published the next. It's true. They were just different books. I mailed my manuscript yesterday and today got a surprise in the mail. Remember that Chicken Soup for the Nurses' Soul anthology I've talked about? Well, today I got my copy in the mail. My name is in the table of contents. My story is on page 92 and my bio is in the back of the book...very cool!

This is the first time I've seen my name in a book! It will be in bookstores on December 7th, so I did not expect to see it this early. I actually thought it was junk mail since the return address said something about "health." It sat in my living room all day. I was saving it for my husband to open even though my name was on it. Afterall, I do the bills, he does the junkmail. But he insisted I open it and I did reluctantly. Sheesh!

What a surprise! So warn the neighbors, alert the media, tonight I'm doin' the happy dance!

photo: post office where I left my baby (not literal baby, of course)

Karen

Great News!

My name is in print! I am beyond excited. In the mail today was a copy of Bleech magazine http://www.bleechmagazine.com. And in the magazine is my article, "Take Back the Night." It's the very first time my name has appeared in a print magazine. I suppose I should play it cool in case an editor or publisher reads this, but I'm too excited to pretend! And maybe it's good for an editor or publisher to know what this means to a writer!

The article is one that I really believed in, and not just the writing itself but the idea. When my daughter was in high school I made a deal with her. If she didn't get invited to a dance, then I'd let her have a girls-only party at our house for her and her girlfriends. This article is an extension of that idea.

And this is a milestone for me too. It just feels right all the way around.

Karen

New Experiences

Something that I love about freelance writing is the opportunity to learn new things. Whether I am researching the body's ability to absorb anything through the skin within 20 minutes (Amazing huh?) or I'm interviewing local business owners, it's all a new learning experience. But truth be told, I'd prefer to sit in my comfortable box, in a comfortable room, in a comfortable house with comfortable people than put myself out there. I don't know what I'm afraid of. Maybe it's not fear at all. Maybe it's human nature to strive for the common, the known...the comfortable and predictable. This month I made a goal of creating opportunities for four new experiences.

And as I've thought about what those experiences might be, I've realized just how ordered my life has become. I'm not a hermit or anything, and yet when I go for a walk, I tend to only go one route. Why? When I shop, I only shop at certain places. Why? When I go out to eat, I frequent two or three places. Why? I don't really know why. I just do it and I bet I'm not alone. So beyond the four experiences I'm creating this month, I am also becoming very conscious of what I regularly do...and changing it.

If it is true that we are only three people away from someone who can change our lives, how will I ever meet them if I keep cycling through the same experiences over and over. One of my experiences this month was a visit to an organic farm which has only been in operation since March of this year. I went to possibly write an article about it but it became so much more than that.

It became a glimpse at a life I know nothing about. Though I am surrounded by farmland, I know nothing about farms. And this farm is striving to be completely sustainable. I touched a horse and met a small pig, the runt of the litter. I was introduced to a chicken named, "Ike." I walked around on the land and felt a part of what its owners must feel. "It just feels good to be doing this." the owner said.

And I agreed. It does.



photo: welcome table farm

Karen

Sharing Goals with Strangers

Hi Friends- It's the first day of a new month (October-in case you didn't know). And time to set my monthly goals. Over at Absolute Write, there is a thread for freelancing goals each month. I don't know why it works for me, but it does. I mean, how can complete strangers motivate me? How can I be propelled forward, writing and submitting more, just because I know I can go brag about it on the thread? It makes no sense. I could do the same with my family or my friends, people I have actually seen in real-live flesh-and-blood.

Maybe it's the writer thing. You know, we writers tend to think alike. It would take volumes for me to explain myself and my writerly experiences with my family, but with writers, it takes just a few sentences. So each month I post goals to complete strangers and I work hard to meet those goals. And it works. Why?

I don't have a clue. Any ideas?

Write Now,

Karen

Why Ignorance is Good

Knowledge is good but sometimes so is ignorance. How many times have you thought of doing something but then remembered, or been told-that it's impossible, that the odds are stacked against you? A few months ago, I posted a question on a writer's site I frequent. In responding, someone told me how impossible it would be for me to publish my book. He said that 'even though you might think it's a great story, no one wants to read a story about you and your dad, no matter how poignant.' He went on to list the odds of ever making it in this tough line of work. He told about receptionists who stamp, "Rejection" on your manuscript without even passing it on to the editor. Basically, he was saying that I am foolish...perhaps even stupid for even dreaming such a dream. Was I discouraged? Sure I was. Who wouldn't be?

Recently I was honored to be able to attend an inspirational seminar by Jack Canfield. He told about a man named Cliff Young. Let me tell you the short version of the story.

Marathon runners are notorious for their training. And in Australia, the race to train for is the 875 kilometer endurance race from Sydney to Menbourne. It is the worlds longest and toughest ultra-marathon. Enter Cliff Young.

Cliff showed up on race day and signed up for the run. He stood next to runners sponsored by big names like Nike. Most were under 30-years old and equipped with the most expensive outfits. Cliff stood next to them at the starting gate; his attire...OshKosh overalls, and galoshes over his work boots, in case it rained.

Cliff, at 61-years old, had never trained for a marathon. He'd barely heard of one. When a reporter asked him just what made him think he could run a marathon, he explained that he was a farmer. "...we couldn't afford horses or four wheel drives, adn the whole time I was growing up...whenever the srorms would roll in, I'd have to go out and round up the sheep. We had 2,000 head and we have 2,000 acres. Sometimes I would have to run those sheep for two or three days. It took a long time, but I'd catch them. I believe I can run this race; it's only two more days. Five days. I've run sheep for three."

Every professional athlete knew that it takes 5 days to run the race, and that you would need to run 18 hours a day and sleep 6 hours. But that was every "professional" athlete. Cliff did not know this. So while the other athletes slept, Cliff shuffled on. During the race, someone asked him what his tactics would be for the rest of the race. He said he would run until he finished it.

And that is what he did. Every night he got a little closer to the lead. By the last night, he passed the world-class athletes. And by the last day, he was way out in front of them. Not only did he finish the race, he won first place, beating the record by nine hours. What was going through is mind as he ran? Sheep. But he wasn't counting them...he was chasing them, imagining he was trying to outrun a storm.

I've read that only 10% of freelancers actually make a living at it. Why not me? The stats are even more grim for getting a book published. Why not me? In fact...why not you? There will always be people who are quick and even anxious to tell you you can't succeed (like my discourager on the writer's forum). And there are always statistics to back up their opinion. So what? Who cares? Does anyone know you better than you do? Does anyone know your drive and your determination?

Cliff pictured going out to rescue his sheep during a storm. Every minute of every hour, of everyday, he kept that image in his mind. Slowly, methodically...he kept going. What is that mental image for you? What is your biggest, boldest and brightest dream? What do you want that you are afraid to even voice? Get that image in your mind. If you need to, draw a picture of it and put it on every surface of your home. Cut an image from a magazine, or write the words with magic markers. Do whatever it takes to keep your dream constantly before your eyes. With that powerful mental image, you can do anything. Anything!

Write Now...because it IS later than you think.

photos: Cliff Young

Karen

No Parachute Desired

Have you seen this new show on the Discovery channel? It's called Survivorman. I love reading memoirs, and I love documentaries. Yes, it's true. I love documentaries! And I am woman enough to admit it. I like reality T.V. Well, let me clarify- I like reality television that truly is reality television. I don't like the MTV version, where each person has a hidden agenda, usually they aspire to be an actor or actress.

The reality I like is more like this show Survivorman. The premise of the show is that this man is dropped in a variety of situations that will require him to use his survival skills to...well...uh...survive! He is dropped off in the middle of a remote area with no food, no water and no shelter. In the episode I watched, he was dropped in the Canadian Rockies. Why do you care? You probably don't. But keep reading.

It was something that this Survivorman said. A bush plane pilot agreed to drop him off at his destination. And when he did, Survivorman made an interesting comment. He said, 'Because of the frigid temperatures, these pilots don't carry a parachute onboard. If their plane goes down, there is no way they would survive." So this bush plane pilot takes off knowing that if he doesn't do it just right, he'll die. He knows that even if he were to survive the plane crash, he'd be a gonner in a matter of seconds. And yet he keeps doing it, again and again.

Have you ever been in a situation like that? Yeah, me either. Then why are we so stinkin' afraid to do something as simple as write a book, or write 27 articles in a week and send them off to our dream publications? It's not like if we fail, we die. If we fail, we just eat a bowl of ice cream, a bag of cheese Doritos, and a box of Hot Tamales (oh wait-that's me), and hit the power button again and have another go of it. I think that sometimes a little information is useful, but too much can be fatal to a writing career.

Surround yourself with people who think you are fantastic. Surround yourself with people who think you are a freakin' genious! Write the best you can write, and then send it off and write some more. Write like there is no possiblity of failing. And if you do fail; if some editor sends you a rejection letter; if someone has a severe lapse in judgement and doesn't see what a genious you truly are-give them a break-everyone makes mistakes. Send your piece, your article or your book, to someone else. Afterall- if you fail-you won't die!

Write Now!

-Karen

Help me Name Myself

I just set this up as a poll-see right. If for some reason, you can't access the poll, please leave your response as a comment to my blog. First a little background. My first and middle names are; Karen Lavinia. My maiden name is Fisher. My married name is Alaniz. I am a freelance writer and also have written a book. I want to be consistent with my name and I really need to make a decision soon.

Some things to consider;

• My book is co-written with my father (Fisher)
• My book is about our relationship.
• Will Alaniz or Fisher be of benefit one way or the other? Fisher is easier to spell and remember. Alaniz is at the beginning of the alphabetized shelves at Barnes and Noble (hey- I can dream).
• Will the hyphenated name be difficult to find?

OK. So here are the choices;

• Karen Fisher-Alaniz
• K.L. Alaniz
• K.L. Fisher
• Karen L. Alaniz
• Karen L. Fisher
• Bob

Please let me know which you like and if you have time, tell me why. A big THANK YOU to my writerly friends!

-Karen...uh I mean Bob...I mean K.L. Fisher...I mean...