They are all based on the internet (duh!), and they are run by internet people. That means that they expect things like resumes and all that other stuff.

It always boils down to a list of what I call the “gots”. You may like a movie for its intricate plot or characterizations. Some people, however, rate movies on what they “got” – as in, “It’s got a car chase and 3 breasts and a really dark sex scene”.

Not me.

My clients are people that I win over one at a time. I meet with them. People who rely on what I “got” are impossible to please, because I constantly have to figure out just where to dumb down my resume to meet them. I’ve overshot, undershot, but never hit it just right.

What I “got” is an ability to write. You interested in that? I’m available to hire. But please, don’t take my long and varied life history and try to boil it down to a few little things that mechanically fit into what you think is the right thing. I’m not a robot, and I hope you aren’t, either.

To my mind, the white middle class has far too cheaply sold out its humanity in the highly competitive race for the right resume. This only gets worse when you come to a place where we can’t sit down and talk about things at a graceful pace. Only then can I tell you a story about my life that fits what you are looking for.

I don’t “got” nuthin’, I *am* somethin’. It’s a state of being.

Thank you! I’ll keep an eye on openings for any topic I could write about.

Thanks for answering my questions. I have learned from your advice and will put it in to action the next time I follow-up on a writing job I applied for. In fact, I just recently started keeping track of all the writing jobs I’m responding to in order to follow-up. So, your advice came at a time when I needed it most.

Thanks again!

Pickle ~ True; niche is important but there are only so many openings for just so many blogs so I think it helps to have a few niches you could be an expert in. I have about three or four niches right now. Some have more.

Misti ~ Hey, I think you should not be a pest for sure. Here’s what I do. Apply. Wait a day or two to a week and then email back saying something like, “Hey, just checking in to see if you still have that fab position available — as you may recall I’m interested and have so and so experience. I look forward to us talking more about how I can benefit your blog.” Not in those exact words but you see.

When I check in 1st depends on how hot I perceive the job to be (which is my own feeling I get so I can’t explain it). However, I guess it’s like if it’s a position I know everyone and their dog will apply for I check back sooner. Or if it’s a dream job I check back sooner.

If I don’t hear back I check back again about a week later. If I can’t find the right contact I will email just about everyone until I find it. I don’t consider that pest-like though. One blog I have it took me sending off about 10 emails to various places and people but in the end I got the gig.

Also, I always send thank you emails to people who helped me in my search which cuts the pest factor considerably. Wow, I also talk a lot. See what happens when you ask me a question