Comments on: When You’re at the Mercy of Others http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/ Freelance Writing Jobs for All Writers Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:52:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Freelance Writing Jobs » Blog Archive » Help My Post Vanished! http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/comment-page-1/#comment-16507 Freelance Writing Jobs » Blog Archive » Help My Post Vanished! Sun, 10 Feb 2008 02:22:47 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/#comment-16507 [...] been a strange blogging week. As Deb referred to in an earlier post this week, a client was having some major server issues. I also happen to work for said client, so I’ve [...] [...] been a strange blogging week. As Deb referred to in an earlier post this week, a client was having some major server issues. I also happen to work for said client, so I’ve [...]

]]> By: Opal Tribble - Addicted to Writing http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/comment-page-1/#comment-16485 Opal Tribble - Addicted to Writing Sat, 09 Feb 2008 19:59:20 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/#comment-16485 This happened to me a week and a half-ago. I had made the final cut for a writing gig and they requested a sample following their writing style. When I went to submit it later that day. The website was down. They were down for two days. Sunday they were back, and I submitted my sample explaining the delay. Of course, they already knew it so that wasn't a big deal and I got the job. This happened to me a week and a half-ago. I had made the final cut for a writing gig and they requested a sample following their writing style. When I went to submit it later that day. The website was down. They were down for two days. Sunday they were back, and I submitted my sample explaining the delay. Of course, they already knew it so that wasn’t a big deal and I got the job.

]]> By: tina http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/comment-page-1/#comment-16461 tina Sat, 09 Feb 2008 15:32:05 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/#comment-16461 I totally work on another project. Last September we had a serious lull at my main job and I wrote fiction for another venue. I submitted them and now it is February and am getting 'surprise' contracts on that fiction. I totally work on another project. Last September we had a serious lull at my main job and I wrote fiction for another venue. I submitted them and now it is February and am getting ‘surprise’ contracts on that fiction.

]]> By: Deborah Woehr http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/comment-page-1/#comment-16345 Deborah Woehr Fri, 08 Feb 2008 15:44:10 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/#comment-16345 The biggest annoyance I've experienced is when I'm in the middle of saving an article that I've just written and the server hangs up. I've since learned to copy what I've written right before I click the Save button. That way, I can paste it into my word processor to upload later, if necessary. @Dannie - I can totally relate to the nap and kids thing. :) The biggest annoyance I’ve experienced is when I’m in the middle of saving an article that I’ve just written and the server hangs up. I’ve since learned to copy what I’ve written right before I click the Save button. That way, I can paste it into my word processor to upload later, if necessary.

@Dannie – I can totally relate to the nap and kids thing. :)

]]> By: Dannie http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/comment-page-1/#comment-16335 Dannie Fri, 08 Feb 2008 14:33:16 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/#comment-16335 I find down time to be a blessing. It allows me to get ahead on other projects and it is always a plus to have extra time when you are getting a new blog up and running because you have that much more time to get content on. Then of course there are times when something happens and I take a nap because I need the extra energy - that is only if my kids let me :) I find down time to be a blessing. It allows me to get ahead on other projects and it is always a plus to have extra time when you are getting a new blog up and running because you have that much more time to get content on.

Then of course there are times when something happens and I take a nap because I need the extra energy – that is only if my kids let me :)

]]> By: Ann G. http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/comment-page-1/#comment-16324 Ann G. Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:53:43 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/#comment-16324 We had a storm ripped through VT back in August that uprooted trees, tore off roofs, snapped power poles in half on both ends of our road. So for three days, we had no power, no Internet, and no phones. I have to say that by the end of 24 hours I was ready to pull my hair out. I read a lot of books and went for extremely long walks with my kids. I hand wrote any articles that didn't require research. (Our libraries here are tiny and not current with books so researching there is pointless.) We had a storm ripped through VT back in August that uprooted trees, tore off roofs, snapped power poles in half on both ends of our road. So for three days, we had no power, no Internet, and no phones. I have to say that by the end of 24 hours I was ready to pull my hair out.

I read a lot of books and went for extremely long walks with my kids. I hand wrote any articles that didn’t require research. (Our libraries here are tiny and not current with books so researching there is pointless.)

]]> By: Diana http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/comment-page-1/#comment-16300 Diana Fri, 08 Feb 2008 08:40:44 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/#comment-16300 As a fellow b5er, I know the tech team worked their hardest to fix the issues. I have to say though, I didn't make the most of the day, I instead used the massive blizzard outside to take a little break. As a fellow b5er, I know the tech team worked their hardest to fix the issues. I have to say though, I didn’t make the most of the day, I instead used the massive blizzard outside to take a little break.

]]> By: RLD: Taekwondo Happiness http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/comment-page-1/#comment-16291 RLD: Taekwondo Happiness Fri, 08 Feb 2008 07:00:52 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/#comment-16291 I was just at the mercy of an apocalyptic snowstorm and I used the downtime to do the things I never have time for, like exploring new blogs :) I was just at the mercy of an apocalyptic snowstorm and I used the downtime to do the things I never have time for, like exploring new blogs :)

]]> By: Peggy http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/comment-page-1/#comment-16289 Peggy Fri, 08 Feb 2008 06:48:42 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/#comment-16289 I know just what you're talking about. And I totally agree. : ) I would not stop visiting a blog just because it was down for a day or two. Bloggers who are so paranoid about that need something else to worry about. I know just what you’re talking about. And I totally agree. : )

I would not stop visiting a blog just because it was down for a day or two. Bloggers who are so paranoid about that need something else to worry about.

]]> By: Leo http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/comment-page-1/#comment-16287 Leo Fri, 08 Feb 2008 06:32:05 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/#comment-16287 One advantage of having your webservers in your home is that there is generally very little downtime. The downside is that when there is downtime - you're the one fixing it. But I have to admit that on a recent trip, I lost the ability to connect to the Internet for a couple of days. Once I got used to the idea, it actually was a nice break. Enjoy the unexpected, and look for the ways to enjoy downtime! One advantage of having your webservers in your home is that there is generally very little downtime. The downside is that when there is downtime – you’re the one fixing it.

But I have to admit that on a recent trip, I lost the ability to connect to the Internet for a couple of days. Once I got used to the idea, it actually was a nice break.

Enjoy the unexpected, and look for the ways to enjoy downtime!

]]> By: becky http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/comment-page-1/#comment-16270 becky Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:40:23 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/#comment-16270 I would try to catch up on other things and just write offline. I generally write my posts first in Scrivener anyway. I would try to catch up on other things and just write offline. I generally write my posts first in Scrivener anyway.

]]> By: Bill http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/comment-page-1/#comment-16262 Bill Thu, 07 Feb 2008 22:15:32 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/#comment-16262 Last year when my computer crashed, I'd write my posts on a pad, type them at work on my lunch break, and then post from there. Sure it wasn't fun, but I wasn't 5 days behind once I got things up and running again either. Last year when my computer crashed, I’d write my posts on a pad, type them at work on my lunch break, and then post from there. Sure it wasn’t fun, but I wasn’t 5 days behind once I got things up and running again either.

]]> By: Kristen King http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/comment-page-1/#comment-16257 Kristen King Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:09:07 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/#comment-16257 I try to enjoy the break, and encourage and support the people fixing the problem as much as I can without getting in the way. On my good days, anyway. :) But most days are good days, thank goodness! kk I try to enjoy the break, and encourage and support the people fixing the problem as much as I can without getting in the way. On my good days, anyway. :) But most days are good days, thank goodness!

kk

]]> By: Valencia http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/comment-page-1/#comment-16246 Valencia Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:09:32 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/#comment-16246 Breaks are a welcome mat. It can be a little annoying at first, especially if you need to stick to a strict schedule. But once you embrace the down time (and realize it's not the end of the world), it can be a great time to catch up on housework, get out the house, or do absolutely nothing. Breaks are a welcome mat. It can be a little annoying at first, especially if you need to stick to a strict schedule. But once you embrace the down time (and realize it’s not the end of the world), it can be a great time to catch up on housework, get out the house, or do absolutely nothing.

]]> By: Mary Ward http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/comment-page-1/#comment-16245 Mary Ward Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:03:32 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/#comment-16245 I smile blissfully, enjoy someone else truly being at fault (in fact, a network I blog for had a similar probelm yesterday and today), and graciuosly accept the gift! I smile blissfully, enjoy someone else truly being at fault (in fact, a network I blog for had a similar probelm yesterday and today), and graciuosly accept the gift!

]]> By: Katherine http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/comment-page-1/#comment-16243 Katherine Thu, 07 Feb 2008 19:53:12 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/#comment-16243 I'm with you - downtime can be pretty special! I love taking the time for myself, or working on other projects that are more personal to me - such as writing poetry or working on a screenplay or something. I’m with you – downtime can be pretty special! I love taking the time for myself, or working on other projects that are more personal to me – such as writing poetry or working on a screenplay or something.

]]> By: Phil http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/02/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/comment-page-1/#comment-16241 Phil Thu, 07 Feb 2008 19:51:14 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/when-youre-at-the-mercy-of-others/#comment-16241 I try to find another way to get the work done if at all possible. For example, if my ISP's mail server is down, I'll use another e-mail service. If my client has OCR (optical character recognition), I could fax copy, which could be scanned and read in on the other end. This hasn't happened, but it's the avenue I would explore. If the client can't receive the work or use it due to an outage, I try to catch up on bookkeeping or something else that doesn't get me involved so that I can respond when the clients systems come back up. I try to find another way to get the work done if at all possible. For example, if my ISP’s mail server is down, I’ll use another e-mail service.

If my client has OCR (optical character recognition), I could fax copy, which could be scanned and read in on the other end. This hasn’t happened, but it’s the avenue I would explore.

If the client can’t receive the work or use it due to an outage, I try to catch up on bookkeeping or something else that doesn’t get me involved so that I can respond when the clients systems come back up.

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