Getting Started: Freelancer

I'm freelancing! Officially.

Last week, I visited a local newspaper (which is fairly new, but well-established) to see if they were hiring staff in "layout, copy-editing, mostly writing--anything, please--ANYTHING, I'm begging you!"

The editor informed me they were not. But I could freelance any articles the reporters didn't have time to write! He named a price, and I accepted, thanking the gods for having escaped the minimum wage world of work-study. Then he invited me to the 8 a.m. Monday morning editorial meeting.

Ouch. Mucho ouch. I'm mildly fascinated by, but not proud of, my ability to remain solidly in bed, despite the thrashing of alarm clocks and glare of morning light. After summer's months of going to bed and awaking much too late, I was not eager to blow this opportunity by sleeping in. On Sunday night before bed, I literally prayed. "Dear God, could you please - I know it's my responsibility - never mind - I just need to wake up tomorrow, thanks. From Laura." *

BUT apparently this was the newpaper's first early Monday meeting, and the time was not terribly popular for anyone. At 8:01, I was the first writer at the office, besides the editor. Karma and luck have rewarded me with an invite to Thursday's editorial meeting at 11 a.m.

So, for work: one of the staffwriters was in my high school band and graduated a year ahead of me. She generously gave me one of her stories on a local nature conservatory's annual fundraiser, which I finished and will hopefully see printed this week! I also have a long-term project on local going-green efforts for the paper's quarterly magazine.

So that's my story for now. Still sending resumes and waiting to hear back from other places, but at least I'm doing something!



*I guess you're supposed to end prayers with "Amen," but it always feels like I'm reading a letter, the proper closing of which is a signature.