working from home

[mygirl]

does anyone here work from home, using the internet or anything. if so what do you do? how did you get into it. it would be ideal forme towork from home but all i can find offered over the net are scams and cons. any ideas? oh, i also live in france.TIA.

 

[Seraphim]

In my experience, many jobs have the potential to encompass working from home - but it can't be relied upon, and often isn't on offer to begin with.

I work in marketing, and normally I work 2/5 days at home. But I also have to travel to shows and exhibitions, sometimes work weekends - it takes flexibility.

It's something I've wondered about, but as yet haven't come up with any better answers

 

[Sarahkka]

Writing.
But I already have the contacts and stuff to hustle for the work.
Do you have any skills that could be contracted? Writing, illustrating, web design, sewing, cleaning, ironing, cake baking, personal shopping? There are lots of possibilities. Brainstorm what might be needed in your community and start from there.

 

[Pops]

I currently work from home but it took 3 years at the company before I had gained enough respect, trust and worked my way up to a position that allowed it.

I work in Bid Management for a large corporate and only go to an office a maximum of 4 days a month.

xxx

 

[mygirl]

i would give my right leg to be a writer, i have written a book but couldnt find an agent so gave up. ive written poetry that was used in a national mag, ( it was horse and pony but i got paid..) ( four times) lol, but thats as far as i got. i am a good writer and i am told i have talent for it, hmm, i do have a great imagination , but i wouldnt even know where to start. freelance writing would be lovely but its not an easy thing to get into.

 

[Sarahkka]

I PM'd you that website already, but try technical writing for a bit and see where it takes you. And don't give up on the book. It takes ages and ages for most writers to get published. Being published in a national mag is amazing! It's fabulous!
Another thing to try is looking up various literary competitions. There are zillions of them, lots have cash prizes and it can gain you some exposure and keep you in good practise.
If it's what you want to do, go for it.

 

[Seraphim]

Sarahkka... maybe you could give us 5 handy hints
I'm sure I'll have absolutely no energy/time whilst on mat leave... but a girl can dream
Similarly, I have written lots (mostly 'how to', but never even got as far as looking which direction I should be pushing it in.

 

[Sarahkka]

I have written mostly scripts and I get commissioned for them by people who already know my work. I haven't been published, just performed!
I am thinking about exploring the Elance website myself, and I am also looking into grabbing a book from my library on publishing houses and contracts. The one I was checking out before also listed dozens of the literary competitions I mentioned. I plan to try to do one or two this mat leave.
The writing isn't as much a problem (well, it is more difficult than I thought with Simon - it's hard to get unbroken chunks of time in which to concentrate properly), it's understanding the business and protocols. As an actor, I know that I won't be looked at twice if I don't have a good picture and resume, appropriate audition pieces, proper research done on the plays being done in the season and the company I'm auditioning for, etc. Writing is the same. So many many people want the work. You not only need to distinguish yourself by your talent, you need to ensure that you aren't eliminating yourself by silly mistakes. (targeting the wrong market for your work, for example)
I am happy to share what I know, but I am certainly not an expert!
Elliej would be able to give better tips on submissions and marketing your work. She's actually been through it. And by the way ellie, just because you aren't published, doesn't mean you aren't a writer! I don't stop calling myself an actor if I didn't get cast in anything for a season or two! I'd love to hear how you went about marketing both your poems and your book and if there are good tips or heads-ups on "major no-nos" that one might not know starting off.

 

[mygirl]

sadly i am a bit of a defeatist, if it doesnt work in the first couple of goes i tend to give up. but i will try again, and ive had a few ideas today so i will try and round up a few old contacts and go frrom there. ps, maybe i could put a couple of poems up on bnb somewhere to see what you all think?

 

[Sarahkka]

Brilliant!
I believe there is a thread called Writer's Cafe in the groups section that is doing a bit of this. It could be really fun.