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FIB - Scams 101 - Ye Olde Archives

Great Fear -- (ummmm, make that "Holy Terror") --

Posted By: MaaMaw
Monday, 18 July 2005, at 10:39 a.m.

In Response To: Oh yes. Quite possible. (Mel. White)

I considered taking this offline, but I'm sure there are other Writing Wannabes following along, so let's keep it here a while...

and thank you SO much for your advice, Mel. You might be responsible for finally getting me where I've always wanted to be.

======================================

Okay, I'm listening. You've got me salivating. Drooling shamelessly. Heart pounding. Sweating profusely. Shaking like a leaf.

That's all "excitement" because it would be a dream come true.

It's also terror -- terror of the paralyzing variety.

I've just spent the last couple of hours cruising "writing for money" sites and looking at credentials such as these:

Deputy Editor of...
a novelist and political columnist for...
a senior editor at...
agriculture minister of France...
a magna cum laude graduate of...
an advanced degree in English and American Literature...
etc. etc.

I have edited theses and dissertations for some of those people about to get "advanced degrees," and I have improved their work at least 1,000 percent -- so *I* know I'm qualified.

But nobody else knows I'm qualified.

What am I, after all?

Nothing.

Yes, I have almost 25 years' experience in editing and proofreading (note that I never "just transcribed," I always did major editing, and my business only became exclusively medical transcription the last few years) -- but I do not have access to ANY of my old clients due to my agreement with the woman who stole my company (it is not in my best interests to breach the agreement and contact ANY of the people I worked for at this point).

Yes, I have my web sites -- full of what is essentially amateur Erma Bombeck-style comedy.

I do not have a degree.

I do not have a verifiable history.

I do not have a portfolio.

I do not have time to do a bunch of work free to build a portfolio.

I would love to jump in headfirst, but I don't see how I can compete. By just plopping up my own web site and mentioning it here and there, I should be able to pick up some proofreading and editing...

but it scares the bemeekers out of me to jump in somewhere like elance and start bidding on jobs. (Remember, I can't afford to throw my time away at this point -- a situation of my own stupid making.)

Is it this scary to submit your articles to magazines? Are your "credentials" competing with overwhelmingly impressive "credentials" --

or do your articles speak for themselves, regardless of how much of a "nobody" you are?

Luv,

MaaMaw

MaaMaw's Magnificent Toolbox

Messages in This Thread

Have you read MAAMAW'S CLICKY NOTES today?
Excuse me... You MISSED them??
At the top o' the page in the blue bars (sheesh!).

Tossing around local biz ideas.... (and one I just found if you like making things).... (views: 964)
MaaMaw -- Sunday, 17 July 2005, at 12:38 p.m.
- I believe you;re going to have to be licensed by the health department (views: 1048)
  Mel. White -- Sunday, 17 July 2005, at 1:00 p.m.
  - I think so too.... (views: 958)
    MaaMaw -- Sunday, 17 July 2005, at 3:27 p.m.
    - Husband for Rent (views: 971)
      Cornelius P. Crumpacker -- Sunday, 17 July 2005, at 5:27 p.m.
      - Alas.... (views: 896)
        MaaMaw -- Sunday, 17 July 2005, at 6:16 p.m.
        
        Re: Alas.... (views: 996)
        Sandi Moses -- Sunday, 17 July 2005, at 6:19 p.m.
        
        But, but, but.... (views: 914)
        MaaMaw -- Sunday, 17 July 2005, at 8:51 p.m.
        
        Re: But, but, but.... (views: 901)
        Mike S. -- Sunday, 17 July 2005, at 9:01 p.m.
- I don't know about bagels but... (views: 971)
  Sally -- Sunday, 17 July 2005, at 7:11 p.m.
  - Neat idea... but the closest Krispy Kreme is 138 miles away (and with gas prices, bwahahahaha) [DNO] (views: 947)
    MaaMaw -- Sunday, 17 July 2005, at 8:54 p.m.
- Something to consider since... (views: 886)
  Sally -- Sunday, 17 July 2005, at 7:20 p.m.
  - OMG, what a horrible thought!! (views: 907)
    MaaMaw -- Sunday, 17 July 2005, at 8:55 p.m.
    - Re: OMG, what a horrible thought!! (views: 909)
      Sandi Moses -- Monday, 18 July 2005, at 6:45 a.m.
- Re: Tossing around local biz ideas.... (and one I just found if you like making things).... (views: 1003)
  Mike Jolley -- Sunday, 17 July 2005, at 10:35 p.m.
  - For what it's worth, I agree here. (views: 909)
    Mel. White -- Monday, 18 July 2005, at 6:08 a.m.
    - This idea grabs me by the "goohoolies" and gets my "goohoolies" all atwitter..... (views: 1027)
      MaaMaw -- Monday, 18 July 2005, at 7:16 a.m.
      - P.S. It's the husband who will be cleaning at all hours.... (views: 902)
        MaaMaw -- Monday, 18 July 2005, at 7:18 a.m.
      - Oh yes. Quite possible. (views: 953)
        Mel. White -- Monday, 18 July 2005, at 7:53 a.m.
        
        Great Fear -- (ummmm, make that "Holy Terror") -- (views: 925)
        MaaMaw -- Monday, 18 July 2005, at 10:39 a.m.
        
        Re: Great Fear -- (ummmm, make that &"Holy Terror") -- (views: 1226)
        Mel. White -- Monday, 18 July 2005, at 11:19 a.m.
        
        argh! Edit!!!!! (views: 925)
        Mel. White -- Monday, 18 July 2005, at 11:23 a.m.
        
        And then I got the numbers wrong. Sigh. (views: 929)
        Mel. White -- Monday, 18 July 2005, at 11:26 a.m.
        
        Re: Great Fear -- (ummmm, make that "Holy Terror") -- (views: 916)
        Jim G -- Monday, 18 July 2005, at 4:25 p.m.
      - Re: This idea grabs me by the "goohoolies" and get my "goohoolies" all atwitter..... (views: 1129)
        Mike Jolley -- Monday, 18 July 2005, at 12:01 p.m.
        
        Ebooks and print-on-demand (that's what I'm doing with my adoption book) [DNO] (views: 949)
        MaaMaw -- Monday, 18 July 2005, at 12:06 p.m.
- Re: Tossing around local biz ideas.... (and one I just found if you like making things).... (views: 916)
  Mia -- Monday, 18 July 2005, at 8:15 a.m.
  - I liked these ideas, BTW (DNO) (views: 902)
    Mel. White -- Monday, 18 July 2005, at 11:28 a.m.
- That PayPal Donation Button: We've Waited Long Enough (views: 930)
  Tom Brownsword -- Monday, 18 July 2005, at 2:07 p.m.
  - Re: That PayPal Donation Button: We've Waited Long Enough (views: 957)
    Jas -- Tuesday, 19 July 2005, at 4:04 p.m.
    - This is why I have such a problem with it.... (views: 961)
      MaaMaw -- Tuesday, 19 July 2005, at 6:13 p.m.
      - You Are Providing A Very Useful Service!! (views: 887)
        Terry L. Nibbe -- Tuesday, 19 July 2005, at 7:02 p.m.
      - One Observation... (views: 923)
        Tom Brownsword -- Wednesday, 27 July 2005, at 1:51 p.m.

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