Fighting the Future: ‘Choice’ and the Family

Breakpoint with Charles Colson ^ | January 19, 2006 | Mark Earley

[Mr. Silverback]

Good for you!

[Mr. Silverback]

What has your experience been like? If you don't mind me asking.

Not at all. I am just starting with the commercial freelancing. The bad news is that I only pulled five digits last year, the good news is that I already picked up a steady commercial customer and the reason my 2005 take was so low was because I was doing so much newspaper freelancing. If you can write at all, your income will depend directly on how much you work the phones and how much professionalism you show once you get jobs. Other factors are largely irrelevant.

I recommend writing for local papers if you are short on publishing credits; Getting jobs from my local newspaper was just a matter of asking. But don't do any more than you need to do for satisfaction and/or publishing credits, because it can get very time consuming. The commercial stuff is where the money is, and there's just as much fulfillment as there is writing for more "artsy" genres. I know that because I came out of sales and marketing, and even before I was in marketing I'd knock people over to get to the writing tasks that my companies had available.

So, I haven't made bags of cash yet, but that's because I pretty much wasn't following Bowerman's plan at all. The non-financial side of the experience (work environment, satisfaction, the benefits for my family) have been top drawer. I wouldn't trade it for any "real job."

Well...maybe I'd trade with a fighter pilot... :-)

I cannot stress the importance of getting Bowerman's book, both of them if you can. He does such a good job laying things out that I have described the book to several people as "the business plan I'm using."

[arizonarachel]

Thank you - I've already bought three books on freelancing, but neither of Bowermans, I did see them on Amazon though.

I imagine this job may be highly difficult to do with a newborn around? Or not so much?

[Gabz]

Is it just me, or is this woman's comment over-the-top insulting to all moms, particularly those of us who enjoy staying at home? And another thing...I have been a professional (retail management) and I am active politically (Ingham Coutny Executive Committee member, Voter ID Chair). In my 36 years, I have "worn many hats" besides that of being a homemaker to my husband and children. Many of those jobs were fulfilling. None of them was as enriching as my current role of wife and mother.

Definitely not just you, my friend.

Hubby and I were discussing just this type thins (again) today. I did my "suit" time, so now it is time for something different. And different it will be. My new venture will be more than just running a produce stand.......I will be producing all the produce as well as utilizing that produce for a line of jellies, pickels and preserves..

My daughter has already decided she's going to be in charge of the herbs. It's going to be a very busy, but interesting spring and summer for us :)

Not a bad goal for a gal born and raised in NYC (me, not the 7yo), is it?

[Gabz]

OOPS, my apologies, sir, I meant to ping you as well to my post #24.

It's amazing how the terms "feminist and feminism" have taken on such negative terms. I've always considered my self a feminist. but not in the manner it is meant now.

I don't need to be the boss or to prove myself, I'm me and know what I am able to do. I have lived on my own, and survived, and could do it again if Heaven forbid such came about. I just happen to prefer to share my life with a man I love, who happens to be my best friend, and believe it or not is willing to put up with me.

Feminism is supposed to be about choice, isn't it? My choice is to stay home. Yet the so-called "feminists" will deride me. But that derision just tells me that I am the real feminist, because their opinion of me matters not.

[grellis]

I think we're femininists, as opposed to feminists.

[Gabz]

OK - I'll go along with that!!!!!

[Mr. Silverback]

I imagine this job may be highly difficult to do with a newborn around? Or not so much?

My youungest is sic, so I don't have direct excperience...but as a Dad I'd say the newborn time would actually be a good time for it, because they sleep so much. I remember the appendix got into specifics on how to handle babies and freelancing.

[Mr. Silverback]

Good words. Best wishes for your business, sounds yummy. Keep me posted, if you're able to sell by mail or online maybe I can give you a shameless plug on the Homebased Life blog.

[steve-b]

Postrel writes that a life lived "attending to small chores" is not "inferior to one devoted to more focused pursuits." But the use of words like errands, small chores, and focused pursuits reveals that, while she will not berate women for staying at home, she does not think much of their choice.

The writer's words specifically reject that notion. Any such perception arises entirely out of Earley's failure to value the various "small chores" that constitute the infrastructure of life.

Physician, heal thyself.