A new focus

For the last four months I’ve been attending Full Sail University to get my bachelors degree in Mobile Development. So far so good. I have a high GPA and find the work fairly easy, (knock on wood). I absolutely love my Designing Computer Graphics class. It was a bit intimidating at first glance, but once I started to learn the tools its so much easier. I have a few items to add to my portfolio and others that I am going to adjust a bit before they go in.

I do hope to find some freelance work soon, since being a student is tough when you aren’t working. I’ve been trying various projects on Crowdspring, but no luck so far. Only high ratings on my designs, but none of the clients have chosen my designs yet. I spoke to a few other designers on crowdspring and they passed on some of their knowledge, that if you have no previous chosen projects from clients, it takes a lot longer for clients to choose you. If you do have work that has been chosen previously, then you have a better chance of getting your project chosen. Now if I could just get that one client to choose one of my designs.

This is the first post I’ve created since 2009. Wow! I’ve been busy with everything lately. New school, looking for a job and projects, remodeling our home, and just living life.

-UpSideDownGrl

Tuesday – And the World Turns yet another day!

I began designing mock logos this today. I’m at home all day today and don’t feel good at all. I have the flu or some really bad food poisoning. I’m not exactly sure. Yesterday I completed half of my sign up for college and next month I have to complete it. I’m going to get my programming degree so I can actually make some money. Writing is a lost cause. There is no money in it anymore like there use to be a few years ago. I use to be able to support myself with working as a freelance writer. Now days though no one wants to pay a writer anything but a few pennies. So going to college and working for QLF are my only choices at the moment. I want to work on some freelance web design if I can find someone who is willing to hire me (not even for the going rates for web designers) and let me get some experience and some one I can use as a reference. But many aren’t willing to take a chance. What ever happened to those who were willing to take a chance with someone and give them a chance to show what they can do for you. Now everyone is so selfish and will only let you work (with no experience) for free.

When I started working as a writer I had no experience. None what so ever. I failed English in College and barely made it thru in High School, but did anyone ask for a resume, did anyone ask how much experience and education do you have? No of course not. But today they do. And they’re asking for this info for what reason. Most of what they ask for is web content which only stays up for a month. No one actually reads articles online – they just skim it. Well I guess that is enough of me bitching about the writing world. From now on I am no longer a writer except for my blogs and websites. I will no longer be writing for anyone else unless (yes of course there’s an unless) they can pay a decent amount of money for what I write.

All Rights Reserved! ©2008 UpSideDownGrl

The Outsider – Me, Myself, & I

Wow, its been a while since I’ve posted anything! I’ve been working back at the shop full time for the last week. Monday I’ll be working as well after I set up my financial aid and everything else I’m going to need to start back to college in the Spring.

Something I’ve noticed over the last few months or so is that everyone treats me as an outsider. I’m no longer really included in anything and pushed to the side for other “more important things” to take my place. I don’t feel welcome anywhere – not even at home. I don’t know why – but maybe it is for a reason. Maybe to push me to move on with my life and those who are meant to be in my life, will be and those who aren’t, well they’ll be gone. 

I’m working on my Computer Information Systems (CIS) degree and will have over half of it completed within nine months. I know my plans for what I want to do with my degree and have found a shortcut to start a career in nine months instead of waiting 2 years to get my degree before I can start making the big bucks. I have met a great advisor who is helping me through the loop holes and helping me land one of the highest paying salary jobs in the area. I’m so happy and can’t wait until next September. No more having to write for pennies. I am still writing, but most of my clients have hired someone else because I have raised my rates. Blogs are now $20 -$35 per post instead of $10 and $15. Q & A  and articles up to 500 words are $45 each and my hourly rate is now $25 per hour. This is still under the current going rates for these types of articles and posts, but I feel I will still come out ahead with these rates. But many of my clients have looked for writers in India and other countries where they are willing to write for pennies – this in turn leaving American writers with no work. I have also started up web designing again. My rates for that are $50 an hour for now. Soon I hope that it will take off and I can make a pretty good income with that until I finish my degree. Well, I have to finish up the laundry and catch up on some other stuff around here.

Setting Up My Business – Today

My business name is Meisha MacKenzie. I’m setting up my site today.