Happy Valentines’ Day

Wow, I haven’t written here since October 2008. What is wrong with me? I manage to keep up my facebook page and even my myspace, but an online journal, nope – just can’t seem to get it up to date. Well, starting today, I plan on at least one entry a week. I hope for more however.

Lately I’ve been working and sick. The flu and acute bronchitis – UGH. I’m getting better now though, so it was back to work Friday and now its the weekend. Yay! I’ve been trying to pull together a portfolio of my photography. I’ve been printing and printing and searching and printing some more. So far so good. Now to just find someone who is willing to look at it and possibly hire me to shoot some stock photographs or something. Any suggestions?

Today is GREAT!!! – Busy Busy Busy

I woke up this morning – a bit late because I just didn’t feel like getting out of bed cause my tooth hurt a bit, but once I did get out of the bed I checked my email and there was an email from someone who wants to purchase a few of my prints. I was so excited and a bit in shock. I couldn’t believe it. I mean I posted my photographs up for sale but never actually thought I would get any inquires for a purchase.

I think today I’m going to work on my website and try to print out some photographs and have them matted and framed and put them up for sale. I just got another contract – wee!!! I’m so happy and it’s pretty good money as well. I can’t wait! Finally the money is coming in – (hope I didn’t speak too soon)!

It’s time to start saving up for my next vehicle. All of mine have been sold or I have gotten rid of them. Now it’s time to start saving up!

I guess it’s time to get down to business! I’ll update more of this entry later.

All Rights Reserved! © 2008 December M. Raynes

Talking is Hard To Do!

Just like the headline says “Talking is hard to do!”. Yesterday my front bottom tooth split. Not sure why, and now I can’t speak clearly. I haven’t made it to the dentist yet – no insurance plan and no cash equal no cure. So, sitting here talking to my new friend on Yahoo and emailing my old friends and catching up on some DVR stuff is all I have to do since there’s no work right now. At least I don’t have a job that involve talking with voice. I couldn’t imagine being a phone rep or something, I’d never be able to get through the day. 

Well, this entry may not be all that long. I just feel like crap today – so there’s really not much to say about anything. I have quite a few emails to answer and I want to work on my website today and add some informative text. But that probably just won’t happen today. 

It’s cold here today. I’m not sure if it’s just because I feel bad today or if it really is cold. It’s only September – it should still be hot outside. Well, I guess I’ll write more in this later.

All Rights Reserved! © 2008 December M. Raynes

Unclutter My Life Day!

UNCLUTTERING MY LIFE
Today may be a Monday, but I call it “Unclutter My Life Day”! I’ve only lived in this house with my boyfriend not even a year yet and you would think I’d been here for the last 10 years. I have so much stuff. I started out with hardly nothing, then suddenly it began building up. The office closet is crammed full of stuff (nothing really of use). The basement is also starting to get cluttered up as well. Since we’re currently doing renovations on the house I thought I’d unclutter it as well.

I’ve already started to unclutter my life somewhat. Last night I gave my boyfriend my 1988 Chevy Camaro that we just bought no more than a month and a half ago. We got it for me and he repaired what needed to be repaired and was waiting for me to put it on the road. With there being no work lately, I couldn’t afford to put it on the road and since I don’t really go anywhere I decided it wasn’t a real high priority. He wanted it on the road so he could drive it, so to make him happy – it’s all his now. The downside to doing that is I no longer have a vehicle of my own. I drive the Jeep which he is in the process of trying to sell – so once that is gone, I will have nothing to drive.

“I have work, how much would you like, and in what time frame?”
I keep searching for writing jobs online, and some of the editors I contact have empty promises of “Yes I have work, how much would you like and in what time frame.” That’s all I hear with no projects sent to me and no other responses from them. Is it true? Am I just a burned out freelance writer of 9 years that no one wants to hire anymore. Do editors only want to pay $3.50 for 500 words now days. What happened to making $40 per 500 words? Where did all those jobs go. I bet they’re still out there and are probably the same jobs that these editors are pawning off for only $3.50 an article and they keep the remaining $36.50 for themselves. I guess that’s why the call it “The Article Mill”.

Learning Photoshop Elements 6.0
Today I also want to learn to use Photoshop Elements 6.0 well. Right now I can crop a pic and add text to it. Other than that, not a damn thing. I’ve searched forums and google for tuturials but still none that are specific enough. I guess I’m going to have to break down and buy the book. 

 Well it’s a plan
Okay, I have decided to try to sell some of my photographs to magazines. Some of these magazines pay much more for photographs than they do for articles. And I have a ton of old photographs and I can take plenty of new ones to send out. Yes photographs are a bit more difficult that conducting the printed word and make it sound just right, but I think I can do this.

All Rights Reserved! © 2008 December M. Raynes

Just Another Day

Well so far today I have searched for jobs online. Not any luck really. Last night I sent out a few inquiries and received on back (with hopes). She said that if I was picked out of a trillion other writers then the job was mine along with about 4 others. That’s fine by me. The pay is pretty decent as well. Today is Sunday, so nothing much to do really other than search high and low for work.

I may put some stuff on ebay for sale. I do have a book to sell. “Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer”. I just bought the book, read it twice and it really didn’t help me out at all. I’ve read so many that say the same thing, so why not sell it and maybe it’ll help out someone else. I don’t really have much to sell on ebay, but maybe I can find something. I was thinking about some photographs, pictures I take around the area, but still I can’t see why anyone would purchase such a thing on ebay when they could get it from their local Micheal’s Store or A.C. Moore. I guess I really should search for a forum where people are selling their photographs and if they’re actually making an income from it. Hmmm… I’m gonna add that to my to do list today. Along with learning Photoshop Elements 6.0.

You can purchase some of my prints here. <— Link prob. does not work. I will be checking that out. So far the page says “SERVER ERROR” on their website.

All Rights Reserved! © 2008 December M. Raynes

Saturday & It’s Raining!

Well, it’s finally Saturday and it’s raining outside. Seems to be the overflow of Hurricane Hanna, but I don’t mind it. We need the rain. Today, there’s really not much planned, just the norm. I will search the internet high and low for an online writing gig – find a few, apply for them and then move onto my photography portfolio. Yesterday I stayed in my office all day. Today however I think I may sit in my Saturday workstation. I usually sit in the living room, but lately I’ve kinda tried to keep my living room for living and my office for working, not that much work really gets done in there anyway. So maybe out here in the living room today (yeah right) some stuff will get done.

Well, even if nothing gets done today, it’s the weekend. No harm done, right! Today, I may just search photography guidelines for magazines. Every magazine has photographs in it, although many magazines have their own personal photographers, I may be able to sneak in there somehow with a photograph or two.

Okay – Today’s plans:

1. Laundry
2. Update Photography Portfolio
3. Clean out the Fridge
4. Update Netflix
5. Search Craigslist for writing jobs
6. Twitter – enough said
7. Update Facebook

This entry will be continued!

All Rights Reserved! © 2008 December M. Raynes

A Photo Entry

 

Shadow Cats

All Rights Reserved! © 2008 December M. Raynes