|
2003, 2004 & 2005: Named one of the
101 best Web sites for writers by Writers Digest Magazine. |
The No Fee Contest Book includes more than 190 no fee contests.
Interaction
Publishers... Make Write From Home your Homepage.
Write From Home
Kim Wilson P.O. Box 4145 Hamilton, NJ 08610 Tel: (609) 888-1683 Fax: (609) 888-1672 E-mail: kim@writefromhome.com
|
Life of a Writer Mom Column
What's Not On the Resume by Carla CharterI was sending out my resume one day when I started musing about all the skills I've developed as a write from home parent. Skills that aren't listed. The resume of course lists all my publication credits and appearances, all the regular stuff you'd see on a writer's resume. But what I noticed were the items that weren't there. Skills that weren't tangible but were just as important to an employer. So, I decided this column would be a good place to list all those skills that us write from home parents have, but never take credit for. The first non-tangible talent I have acquired as a write from home author is multi-tasking. I can finish an article, deal with my children's school, and make color guard practice all while on deadline. Thanks to my ever faithful datebook I can even head off potential multi-tasking conflicts as much as a month in advance! The second talent I have fine-tuned is the ability to function with sleep deprivation. It's a skill that has stayed with me even after graduating from the baby years. I can write an article, get kids on the bus, and do a phone interview all on five hours of sleep. Not that that's my preference of course, but when I'm in a tight spot, I can proudly do it if I have to. Then there is the cleaning skills I have acquired. I'm sure most of the other writing moms can relate. You have an important interview that you finally land. While you wait to meet the interviewee, you discover a small handprint on your carefully chosen suit. If you're anything like me, there's no need to panic. In my pocketbook/writing bag/emergency kit, I have the answer. Whether this little sign of love comes in the form of chalk, fingerpaint, chocolate, or anything else, I usually have the necessary equipment to make it disappear or at least fade to a point of being unnoticeable. And let's not forget the fitness training that comes from being a writing parent. Yes, I can meet a deadline, all while typing around the napping child in my lap. I am so good in this field that often the sleeping child doesn't even wake until I've sent the article. Then there are arm stretches, which for me usually come in the form of important phone calls. My younger ones seem to have a sense about which phone calls require quiet. And when those calls come in, it is their signal to start arguing over the same toy or to start disagreeing about who said what to whom, all in a very loud voice. Yes people, with a look, I can usually quiet them down and separate them with my two hands, all while suggesting to the person on the other end that we might want to set up a specific time to chat, preferably I'm thinking, when everyone is in school. I'm sure my readers could add a few more skills to my list, but my point is this: I think sometimes those of us who work from home don't realize how talented we are, not just in the writing arena, but in multi-tasking, negotiation, scheduling, organizing, and just being there for everyone else. Carla Charter is mom to Samantha, Halden, and Mathew. In addition to being a mom, Carla is a freelance writer specializing in newspaper and magazine journalism. Among her publication credits are Woman's World, American Indian Report and New England Business Journal. Online she has been published in Scubasource.com and Military.com. She teaches creative writing courses at Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner, Ma. Recently her novel Across Lots has been serialized at http://www.newenglandwow.com. She may be reached at cjfreelancewriter@earthlink.net. |
Have You Read...
New to freelance writing?
Authors Area
Resources |
|
Send mail to
kim@writefromhome.com with
questions or comments about this Web site. Report broken links to
kim@writefromhome.com. |
Writing
and Illustrating Children's Books
