Write a story based on the phrase “a new chapter.”
Write your response in the comments below. Best entry gets a shout out next week!
Stay safe and keep writing!
—- Lady Jabberwocky
Prompt of the Week: A New Chapter
Author Archives for ladyjabberwocky
Things I Miss (And Don’t Miss) About Freelancing
Hello writer bees!
Hope you all are staying safe and creating some beautiful work.
As many of you know, I started my new job a few months ago. Left freelancing behind for a cubicle job in insurance. What a life changing experience it’s been, I’ve learned so much. The other day, when I had to work from home, it reminded me of the good ol’ days of being a freelance writer. Now, I’ve written about the pros and cons of freelancing before. Today, I’m sharing what I miss and don’t miss about freelancing. To give you guy some insight on my time as a freelance writer.
Please note; This is solely based on my experience as a Freelance Writer. Freelancing is different for everyone. And it is possible to have a full time livelihood as a freelancer.
What I Miss
Freedom
With freelance, you really can be your own boss. If I wanted to wear pajamas and sleep in and work in the wee hours of night, I could. Also, I had the opportunity to control my workflow and to choose flexible hours. I miss the freedom to work on what I want, when I want. Sure, the structure of a 9 to 5 is probably better for me. I like the routine of an office job. But once in a while, I yearn for the luxury of sleeping in and wearing sweatpants all day.
The Creativity
I miss the innovative side of being a freelancer. Like outlining a post or editing material for a customer. Starting from scratch and building something worth reading. And when you finish a creative project and the client loves it, oof, that’s such a satisfying feeling. In the insurance world, the language used is so formal and specific. Nothing lighthearted about it. Thankfully, I have the Lady Jabberwocky blog and my WIP mystery novel, where I can write how I please. I don’t know where I’d be without those projects in my life. Creating engaging, fun content for readers just makes my heart happy. And I do really miss that part of being a freelance writer.
What I Don’t Miss
The Uncertainty
As a freelance writer, I had my dark and scary moments. Not knowing how much work I’d have in a week. Not knowing how much pay I’d make in a week. The stress crushed me. Often, I worried about if freelancing could support me and be a real career. Yes, I know there are amazing freelance writers out there making a good living. For me, it was difficult. Job security, benefits, a steady salary, all those things were uncertain for me. I feel so incredibly lucky right now just to receive a paycheck every other week. Some aren’t so lucky.
Loneliness
In freelance, you are basically a one person operation. Just you and your workspace. I rarely left the house. It got pretty lonely. Sure, you’ll get requests from clients, but emails aren’t enough. Don’t get me wrong, I like my solitude every now and then. I’m a shy introvert to the core. However, It’s nice to interact and collaborate and learn from other people. Being social and working with a team of really fantastic folks is a gift.
As overwhelming as it can be sometimes, this cubicle job is like my golden opportunity. It helps get my boyfriend and I closer to our goal of one day living together. And I can still manage on my WIP and this blog while still working a 9 to 5. It’s an ‘only for now’ kind of gig. Who knows, maybe one day I can make a real living as a writer.
What do you do for a living, when you’re not writing? Have you ever freelanced before? What do you like about freelancing, or what do you miss about it? Talk to me in the comments! I love hearing from you.
Stay safe and keep writing.
— Lady Jabberwocky
Prompt of the Week: Birds of a Feather
Write a story based on the word ”bird”.
Write your response in the comments below. Best entry gets a shout out next week!
Stay safe and keep writing!
—- Lady Jabberwocky
Remember the Crazy Times of 2020? (Humor 100 Word Story)
Sometime after the pandemic….
“Hey, look what I found.” She pulls out a crumpled mask from the bottom on her purse. “Remember those days?”
“How could I forget?” She cringes, inspecting her face in the mirror. “The mask acne.”
“The struggle to find toilet paper?”
“The orange president?” They laugh together.
“And all that hand sanitizer.”
She gasps. “So much hand sanitizer.”
“I’m still trying to lose that quarantine fifteen. During lockdown, I ate nothing but cereal and pizza pockets.”
“Those were crazy times, huh?”
“Crazy doesn’t cut it.”
“But we got through.”
Linking arms, they return to a crowded party.
Is this a great short story? Probably not. But it is a reminder, that eventually, this pandemic will end. And when we get through these crazy times, who knows, maybe we’ll laugh about it someday.
For now, stay safe. Wear a mask. Social distance. Take care about one another.
Keep writing, writer bees!
— Lady Jabberwocky
Prompt of the Week: Silver Linings in 2020
Write about one good thing that happened to you during 2020. It couldn’t have been all bad.
Shoutout to Stuart Danker for their honest response to last week’s prompt.
Write your response in the comments below. Best entry gets a shout out next week!
Write with Heart,
Lady Jabberwocky
My Writer Goals for 2021
Happy New Year, Writer Bees!
Congratulations, we have survived 2020. It’s been a crazy year, but we made it.
Looking back at my 2020 resolutions, I’m surprised at the goals I set before the pandemic. Yes, I’ve been writing more often, which is awesome. And I’ve been focusing on staying positive, even in the midst of all this chaos.
There’s this particular quote that’s giving me hope of this upcoming new year. After the plague, came the renaissance. I truly believe artists from all backgrounds will find inspiration and make the world beautiful again with art, music, dance and stories. I only wish to be a small piece of this renaissance.
So, without further ado, here are my New Year’s Resolutions for 2021.
Create New Content
While my new job is taking up a lot of my time, I still want to create content on this blog. I have some ideas brewing for future posts. In the comments, let me know what kind of content you want to see more of. Writing tips? Short stories? More on my writer experience? I’m curious about what you guys think. All I want to do is create engaging content for all of your readers. That’s a big goal for me this year.
Finish my WIP
Isn’t this my new year’s resolution every year? Yes, yes it is. I want to finally finish – and hopefully publish – my mystery WIP. Since NaNoWriMo, I’ve been working on my story a little bit everyday. In the chaos and depression of 2020, my motivation has its highs and lows. Despite that, I’ve actually been making progress on my WIP. Could this be the year? I really hope so.
Gain Confidence
This is just a general goal. Sometimes, I struggle with feeling anxious and insecure, and I want to find confidence in myself, in all that I do. In my work, in my writing, in my relationships, I want to learn how to keep my chin up and not be so hard on myself. Maybe I’m being dramatic, but I think I’m starting this next chapter in my life, and I want to be braver. Brave enough to face what’s to come.
What are your goals for 2021? What do you hope to accomplish in the new year? Talk to me in the comments!
Stay safe and keep writing!
— Lady Jabberwocky
Prompt of the Week: What’s Your New Year’s Resolution?
What’s your New Year’s Resolution? What goal do you wish to achieve in 2021?
There were two great entries for last week prompt. So, shout out to Flynn and Michael Raven for their fantastic fiction.
Write your response in the comments below. Best entry gets a shout out next week!
Write with Heart,
Lady Jabberwocky
Prompt of the Week: The Gift of a Lifetime
Write a story based on the word ”gift”.
Write your response in the comments below. Best entry gets a shout out next week!
Stay safe and keep writing!
—- Lady Jabberwocky
The Wonder of Wintertime – Fantasy 100 Word Story
“I love wintertime, Mama.”
“Do you?”
“Uh-huh. I like how the snow sparkles.”
Curled up in their den, the mother watched her child and the snowfall. A forest of evergreen trees coated with a thick layer of shimmering white. The little one skirted the entrance of the cave, sticking his forked tongue out to catch snowflakes. Icicles hung like jagged teeth above them.
“Can I catch one someday?” Claws reached for the sky. Snowflakes instantly sizzled, melting against red scales. “And keep it until the springtime comes?”
The dragon mother smiled at her youngling, “Of course you can, dear heart.”
I’m currently buried under a pile of snow, thanks to the nor’easter that just hit New York. This story was inspired by that blizzard and from watching the snowflakes from my window.
Happy holidays everyone! Stay safe and keep writing!
— Lady Jabberwocky
Prompt of the Week: Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow.
Write a story based on the word ”snow”.
Write your response in the comments below. Best entry gets a shout out next week!
Stay safe and keep writing!
—- Lady Jabberwocky
