Fishing for Work

by Becky Scott

I’ve decided that freelancing is a lot like fishing. I love to fish. There’s nothing like a day on the water, catching fish, spending time with friends, and enjoying life. When freelancing is going well, it’s pretty much the same: a great day in front of words can feel pretty good.

But sometimes it doesn’t go so smoothly. On my very first tuna trip, I was so excited to get started. I got up early (which is HARD, y’all) and took a trip to the head (that’s the restroom for you landlubbers) to get cleaned up and ready for the day. But I heard a “click” while I was in there, and I got a sinking feeling. Yes, a sinking feeling is NOT something you want to have on a boat.

I tried the door. Locked. From the outside. The head always has a latch on the outside to keep the door from flying open during rough seas. It was early, and very few people were up. I jumped up and down, yelled, hollered, pounded on the walls. Nothing. If you could only see this adult, looking like a temper-tantrum throwing 2-year-old. Eventually, I made enough of a racket to wake someone up in the bunkroom. Lucky him – his head was next to the wall I was pounding on! He got up and unlocked the door for me. Safe! Whew. I went on to catch the biggest fish of the day, just beating out the guy who had locked me in. Sweet justice!

My writing days sometimes go like that. I get up early, ready for the day. Tumble out of bed, stumble to the kitchen* to get my caffeine on. Then I get to the computer and… nothing. I’m stuck. “What do I write about today? Oh, I don’t know, what do YOU want to write about?” Sometimes I forget and have this conversation out loud, to the annoyance of my spouse. Oops, sorry honey. I pound on the keyboard in frustration, making enough racket to wake the dead. Or in this case, our sleeping child.

And then, my muse finally catches up to me, stopping by to unlock the door. Ah, sweet release! I’m in the groove, I’ve got my mojo going. I’m tossing bait (queries) left and right and getting bit! Woohoo! Hot rail, I’m coming through! (I’m bit and the fish is taking me around the boat – look out!) And just like that, this working for myself is all right. I can do this every day. And I even get PAID to do it. This is great! I’m on fire and loving it.

That’s what a great day of fishing feels like, and it’s what a great day of writing feels like, too. I may get locked in the bathroom sometimes, but I eventually get out. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

*bonus points if you know/catch that reference

Becky is a freelance writer and editor in San Diego, Ca. She writes about a variety of topics including business organization and productivity, automotive info for women, personal blogging and celebrity real estate gossip. Visit her online at www.beckyscorner.com