It's All in the Details

In addition to this blog, I post on LinkedIn. Today I started writing a post for LinkedIn and in the process realized that the meme that I had taken off of Instagram was incorrect. 

The meme reads "We were together. I forget the rest." And is attributed to Walt Whitman. As I started writing, I decided to find the year that these words were published, only to find that this quote is in fact of paraphrase. The true wording is highlighted below.

This detail causes me angst because we are surrounded my misinformation. Furthermore, it means I have to look up everything I post. The rabbit hole of Alice in Wonderland doesn't do the internets justice. (Internets is the part of the web that is full of half truths. It sucks you in and steals your time without any lasting consequence or knowledge.)

Mostly I am upset that I was almost duped into putting false credit on a paraphrased quote. Almost, but the details saved me this time.


Once I Pass'd Through a Populous City
by Walt Whitman

Once I pass'd through a populous city imprinting my brain for future
use with its shows, architecture, customs, traditions,
Yet now of all that city I remember only a woman I casually met
there who detain'd me for love of me,
Day by day and night by night we were together—all else has long
been forgotten by me,
I remember I say only that woman who passionately clung to me,
Again we wander, we love, we separate again,
Again she holds me by the hand, I must not go,
I see her close beside me with silent lips sad and tremulous.

Writing for Real

A few months ago, I decided to take the advice of a friend and start my writing business. I went through the business procedures, put up a website, and a blog. Now, the realization of being a writer is shaping itself more concretely in my mind.

I have taken on a new persona, at least in name. And gained a new client. But, it still seems weird to me to introduce myself as a writer. I still awkwardly answer questions and think it's funny how some people think I'm creative based on my occupation.

This writing journey is like sunrise. What will the day become?

Life is a learning process. So I continue to learn. Anais Nin wrote, "The role of the writer is not to say what we can all say, but what we are unable to say." 


My next challenge is figuring out what people mean to say when they use words that often don't tell the whole story.

When is Going "The Extra Mile" Too Much?

Recently, I met with a prospective client. She asked me for my credentials and I verbally went over them and later sent her some links to sample writing. This was not enough to convince her to do business with me. So she asked me to write a sample for her based on information about her product.

I am trying to build my business and do not have very many clients, therefore I obliged. She sent me some links and some ideas she wanted in the writing and I sent her my sample. It took me about an hour to write the sample; every word has to be just right. 

Starting a business is tricky in this regard. Everyone tells you that you have to build a solid reputation and follow through, but what about working for free? Potentially, I will get this job and then I will be paid to complete the rest of the work, but as of now, I'm not visiting the bank. 

What things have you done to gain or keep a client?

Taking a break after working for free 

Startup Grind: Chrys Bader-Wechseler

Last night was my first Startup Grind in Redwood City. I networked with a handful of people before the speaker, Chrys Bader-Wechseler came on. Networking is still awkward, especially in a crowd of techies. Chrys spoke of his new social media site, Secret. It's only available on iPhone right now so it was a bit of a let down to hear about something I couldn't use immediately. They are working on the android app.

Derek Andersen and Chrys Bader-Wechseler at Nest GSV

My favorite quote from Chrys is:
"I like to make things simple--distill them down so you can just pick it up."

This is my goal in my writing business. In a world of endless choices, people just want to pick something up and know what to do with it.