Buckling Up
Eager to get this new fantasy editor freelancing biz on the road, I have managed to complete my current editing job, a book on nursing, two weeks ahead of schedule. By buckling down earlier, I’m ready now to buckle up!
Did I skim? Did I do a poor job? No! In fact, I was uncannily focused. I worked relentlessly both Saturday and Sunday. I put a hand up to distraction. I was the very alert Queen of Productivity, and I marvelled, yes, marvelled, at what a good job I did.
This kind of work has eluded me for almost all of my time as a freelancer, and now I know why: because I never have a strong enough goal when I receive an editing or proofing job. I simply keep the deadline in mind, which is often, as in this case, about two weeks longer than I need. I’ve tried to trick myself into believing I have a shorter deadline but there hasn’t been anything good enough to keep that belief in place.
This time, the promise of a free week to work on my business plan before we head up to Algonquin for a week of camping and before I receive my next job kept me going. I need something like this to keep me on track every time I have a job. Something more than just the money at the end (soon enough that will be the sheer enjoyment I get out of working on fantasy fiction!). Instead, what I am doing now will help me get to where I want to be. There: instant motivation. And inspiration!
But this already long post has nothing more, really, to do with productivity (for a great productivity post, see “It’s Time to Strip Naked”). This post goes past productivity: because I was productive, I now have free time to put this fantasy editing site into motion, to do what I really want to be doing.
And I’m jacked! James over at Men with Pens has been making it quite exciting, and already Harry has sent me a site to play around on to see what my capabilities are (um, almost nil).
Best of all, I haven’t even given them my downpayment yet and the two of them are already chatting about my biz and thinking about it to themselves. And you know what they call it when they talk to each other?
EditQuest.
Yes, Brett, you genius, you: the name has stuck! And I’m quite happy with it. I haven’t been able to think of it or talk about it any other way myself. So thank you, so very much!
And thanks to everyone else who helped with the brainstorming! I can’t wait to launch this baby (I have a lot of writing to do before that, though) and show off what you’ve all been a part of in some way, whether with encouragement, ideas, discussion, inspiration, advice, or just plain shared excitement and support all around.
Having readers like all of you here is the hugest treat for me. I appreciate every one of you. You’re the reason I’m in the car, buckling up, and getting ready for one helluva sweet ride!
Filed under: Uncategorized | 12 Comments
Hi Steph,
Wow, the name really sounds great. I like it too. How cool that you got inspired by your online friends and together you came up with a groovy name.
I know for a fact that you’ll love what the Men with the Pen’s design for you. I’ve used their services twice and was very pleased on both accounts. Actually ecstatic is more the name.
Thanks for the link to my post I’m glad to have inspired you to get your site moving. I look forward to see it when you are live.
Hey Monika!
I’m glad you like the name! We were all brainstorming and then along came Brett, and he shot out, first off:
EditQuest
Fantasy Editor: Have sword, will travel
Just like that.
James recommends that I come up with a clearer tagline, but EditQuest is here to stay! I owe Brett something amazing.
Yes, I’m very happy with James and Harry. And there’s so much to read about them, too, on other people’s blogs, like interviews done with them and things they’ve both written, that not only do I find them so incredible and capable but I also find myself wanting to be like them! Only I’m just one person…I’ll have to settle for half as good!
No problem for the link to your post. You deserved it: I had gone to your site with nothing to write, and I left ready to compose a post. So thank you, again!
EditQuest is a pretty great name. Congratulations on coming this far. I hope the rest of your ride is nice and smooth.
Thanks, Shawn!
Steph,
Woo hoo! Glad to have helped out. If you want to give me something amazing, then just run with this and do great things.
I know you will.
Besides, seeing you do it encourages me to keep pressing forward with what I’m doing. So thank *you*.
-Brett
PS – yes, Monika’s post is really great too – I’m off to comment!
Brett: I am very happy, smiling out loud here, that I inspire you as you do me. We’re just going to be two productive peeps grinning our heads off and finding new ways to constantly say thank you to each other.
And I’m okay with that!
I think of you and your projects often. Hope they’re going very well! I look forward to hearing about and seeing the wonderful results.
I still liked the name “Thunder Fuck”.
But that’s just me.
Friar: that’s just the nostalgia for drunken times talking!
I bet you chose EditQuest because LavenderQuest was taken?
Great progress, and even better to hear about your productivity level.
Beth: Yes. LavenderQuest was already taken. I had a little cry over that. In fact, LavenderQuest.com, .net, .ca, .org., .biz., and every other extension you could think if. Popular, that lavender.
As for that productivity level…well, Purolator has picked up and I would normally say productivity has flown the coop, but no. I have washed the dishes, swept, done laundry, taken out the dog between rain and claps of thunder, registered my new domain at InMotion, answered every comment here and read blogs and commented there, intermittently tried to calm down the farting dog who is hyperpanting (and apparently gassy) out of her fear of thunderstorms, and now I’m about to get something to eat. After I answer my email. All this productivity can make a girl hungry.
After that, I plan to email my two journal clients to see if they have work, and then work on EditQuest.
Is EditQuest up yet? It’s a great idea. I’ve been thinking about having a blog on my website just specifically about writing, since I don’t cover that too much in my current one.
Hey Steph! (Dube) Welcome!
I checked out your site (Dube’s World) and look forward to exploring it much more (when the sun goes down, that is, because it’s so gorgeous out right now and I can’t resist being out!).
So do you mean you have another site and you want to add a writing blog to it? I’m curious!
I will always advocate blogs and I think it’s a great idea for you since you’re a writer! For an great example, take a look around at menwithpens.ca: it’s their business as well as a blog that relates to their services. They are an upfront team of two who blog expertly about writing, marketing, site design, and so many other things. They also have a creative writing role-playing game, and a large and loyal following. I suggest them becuase they’re a great example of a website and blog put together.
I think blogs are the most wonderful vehicles for…well, so many things! EditQuest will be a blogsite, as opposed to a conventional website. There will be some static stuff too still, but it will basically operate as a business site (the editing side) and blog, where we’ll discuss everything fantasy, from writing to getting published to gaming, etc. I really look forward to it!
EditQuest is in the planning stage right now, and I’d like to get a bit more organized and written before I get Men with Pens to start designing the site, but there will be a big announcement when it is up! I’m hoping not to take a long time.
Thanks for asking, btw, and for commenting!