I went on a long, long break form my creative career cause I was feeling burnt out due to some failures and now I can't seem to get back into it, possibly because I no longer have a financial incentive to do so. How can I fix this? Warning: Long, super privileged person problems.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on May 7, 2013 -
18 answers
I'm job hunting for the first time in a few years, and I just saw a perfectly delicious looking Content Editor gig at a women's apparel website. They want me to include my writing portfolio, for obvious reasons.
What's the most current best practice for how this should be formatted and attached to my application email? I have a variety of blog, website, and social media content from my current and former jobs. Should I just pick my favorite clips, toss them in a word doc, and attach it? Something fancier? Any formatting specifics? Should I also include a link to my personal website with more samples? Thanks, writerly Mefites!
posted by anonymous
on Apr 12, 2013 -
6 answers
I'm a writer married to a jazz musician. I always hoped I'd end up in this sort of arty, creative marriage. But there's a problem that is becoming overwhelming. In spite of fully expecting me to experience and support his art, my husband never, ever, reads anything I write. Not a two-page story or a blog post much less anything longer. He says he feels awful about never getting around to it (and I've made it clear it's fine if he hates it—I just want him to be willing to check it out) and he seems to be sincere... But he still doesn't read it. It really hurts me.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Jan 26, 2013 -
90 answers
What are the legal rights and obligations of someone reading aloud in public from a published book?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Dec 24, 2012 -
5 answers
I'm pretty sure I'm about to lose my job. How do I identify and pursue freelance writing opportunities in short order?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Oct 22, 2012 -
9 answers
What are the realistic odds of a movie studio buying rights to fiction? What steps could one take to even attempt this?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Aug 6, 2012 -
21 answers
Given my present situation, how do I find a day job that allows me to pursue my interests? If you've ever found yourself in a similar situation, how did you change things for the better? Exciting personal details inside!
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Jun 17, 2012 -
11 answers
I'm a PhD student, and I'd like to do more academic networking over email. How does this work, and what should the emails sound like?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on May 16, 2012 -
14 answers
How do you prepare yourself for failure before it comes? What do you read or watch to allow yourself to let go when a labor of love has failed?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Feb 20, 2012 -
12 answers
My s.o. is applying for a medical residency in the US. We'll know where we're going to be placed in mid-March and chances are good that we'll end up in Baltimore, New Haven or Providence. I work in a field with very limited options in these three places and I'm wondering what I can do over the next few months, if anything, to prepare in case I have to move and get a new job.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Dec 27, 2011 -
11 answers
Rejection's part of being a writer. I can deal with rejection. How do I deal with the embarrassment?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Nov 1, 2011 -
17 answers
Good idea? filter: I am a huge fan of the show TrueBlood. In fact, I had an idea for a short story based on a storyline that I did not think they would pursue in the series. Well, a year later, the short story ended up being a book. I know I cannot publish it, but should I send it in to the show's producers? Lots more detail within...
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Oct 18, 2011 -
28 answers
How do I deal with my impending success? Is there any way I can feel like less of a fraud, and can anyone who has been through this before give me tips to move the process along?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Oct 11, 2011 -
21 answers
Need help figuring out a complicated "how much to charge for an article" situation.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Aug 21, 2011 -
2 answers
Help. I am a junior academic but I'm not as good of a writer as I'd like to be and I'd like to change that.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Aug 7, 2011 -
9 answers
Okay to point out a friend's errors in a professional product meant for public consumption?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Jun 24, 2011 -
17 answers
I used to write, draw, make funny things that I put out into the world to share with anyone who was interested. I liked forming connections with people, enjoying shared interests and talking about ideas. I liked creating online communities and seeing total strangers develop meaningful connections with each other. Now I just want to hide in my hovel and watch old Buffy episodes while the world burns.
How can I regain my desire to engage with humanity? [more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Jun 3, 2011 -
25 answers
I am currently a student in a graduate program. A very close friend, who is in the same program, has begun sending me essays for school and correspondence related to her job search to proofread. In doing so, I have noticed a pattern: her writing is full of truly awful, egregious run-on sentences. Nearly every sentence is a run-on. My friend is very smart and accomplished, and I'm not quite sure how she's come this far without this issue being brought to her attention. She has been experiencing disappointment in her grades and career search, and I suspect that this problem may be contributing to the situation. (We are in a highly competitive and nitpicky field.) I think that as a friend, I have a responsibility to bring this to her attention, but I have no idea how in the world to do so in a way that's sensitive and doesn't make her feel bad or damage the friendship. Do I need to tell my friend? If yes, how do I bring it up?
posted by anonymous
on Mar 21, 2011 -
28 answers
I'm a freshman composition instructor who wants to rock the evals. But how? If you've taken a first-year college writing or rhetoric course, what teaching practices made for a good (or horrible) experience from the student's perspective?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Feb 15, 2011 -
12 answers
Resources for beginning songwriters and lyricists (that would make kickass Xmas presents?)
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Dec 5, 2010 -
9 answers
Struggling writer asks: Help me write a non-cringeworthy love scene! What are some of your favourite literary love scenes, and what made them great?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Nov 11, 2010 -
25 answers
I have a job opportunity to write for a blog--a web site somewhat similar to Gawker. The founder of the site doesn't know what the going rate is per post and I don't either. Any insight?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Oct 12, 2010 -
15 answers
How can I succeed in writing a truthful and complete autobiography without self-sabotaging the project before it's done?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Sep 8, 2010 -
5 answers
How do I leave my grinding, soul-crushing technical support job? I want to be a freelance copywriter and copyeditor, but I don't know how long it will take to build a solid business.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on May 23, 2010 -
11 answers
I want to eventually publish a high school / college level math textbook, but I have no idea what I'm doing.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on May 19, 2010 -
6 answers
Resume help
I'm in need of a professional to retune my resume. And I need help.
Long story short:
Is there someone you used who 'knocked you out'?
(If you're a mefite who does this, I'm interested in your services as well)
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Apr 23, 2010 -
5 answers
Posting anonymously because I want an unbiased opinion.
I am a fiction writer and full time postgraduate student. I am currently working on my first speculative (multi-genre) novel with the aim of having it finished by the end of the year. Is it a good idea to put up a sponsorship page where people can chip in to help me complete my goals?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Apr 13, 2010 -
30 answers
So, I’m applying for an amazing-sounding job with an organization that works to create peace and address the root causes of violence against women internationally. They want a sample of policy writing, but I haven’t done any!
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Mar 5, 2010 -
4 answers
I'm looking to find and join a Cambridge/Boston writing group comprised of (other) professional / experienced writers and producers of film and television.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Jan 31, 2010 -
4 answers
How do I successfully do freelance writing (my night job) about my industry (my day job)?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Sep 10, 2009 -
3 answers
How do you write for your blog? I'm just starting out and would like to know how others approach writing and editing ...and maybe if there is a secret Bloggers Bible no one's told me about?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Aug 14, 2009 -
22 answers
In writing a research book, how far along should I be before approaching publishers, agents, etc? Help needed to get my nonfiction pop culture centric book into bookstores
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Aug 3, 2009 -
7 answers
Would it be seen as (and is it really) exceptionally tasteless to write a fictional novel about a soldiers' experiences in Iraq?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Apr 6, 2009 -
16 answers