I dedicate the following to anyone who has ever loved…a car.

We didn't want to give you up. We really didn’t. I hope you believe us. We did everything we could to keep you in our lives for as long as we could. Longer than most would do for their automobiles. Two decades is a long time in car years. But like beloved family members, or best friends. Or pets. The time together is never long enough. Never mind that your undercarriage was rusted out. Who would look? Never mind the AC stopped working. We opened the windows and the breezes sufficed. Never mind that the oil leaked out on to the garage floor, caught on a cardboard pad that we’d periodically replace. So what’s a little incontinence? Do you discard a person just because the body is slowly breaking down? 

From that first day back in December, 2005, we felt we were made for each other. There was no period of adjustment. No ramp-up time needed to acclimate ourselves to your cabin. We instantly felt at home. You weren’t an automobile. You were an extension of ourselves. Smart looking, if I may. Comfortable to be with. Classy, but not flashy. You were us! Whenever I approached you or saw you approaching me, I swelled with pride. You were immediately identifiable from a distance, with your pert, Mona Lisa-smile grill – unlike today’s grills, designed to look like mad dogs with mouths wide open, bearing their fangs. And your color! It stood out from any other on the road. “Parchment” it was called. Whether in a parking lot or parked along the street, we could pick you out in an instant. Like us in Nashville, you did not blend.

Your features? They were ahead of their time – at the time: There was the “beep beep” parking assist that has become rare in today’s autos. Living with it for 20 years, we now can’t – won’t -- live without it. It has been a “must” for our next car. There was the robotic-looking cup holder that stayed camouflaged within the dash, yet with a gentle prod, appeared gracefully, silently unfolding its slender arm. So cool! So Scandinavian! There were power seats on both driver and passenger side, operating in six different positions – including up and down – even for the passenger! And yes, embedded in its rearview mirror, it even had a compass – something today’s cars can no longer accommodate, due to all the electronics interfering with the Earth’s magnetic field. It all made so much smart sense. Not surprising, considering Saab’s aviation pedigree. 

Our sweet Saab. Our home on the road. Like any home, when you leave it, memories start flooding in. But cars are special in that everything goes on in a confined, enclosed space. Conversations are carefree as you pass city streets and country lanes. Eyes on the road, talk flows like streams of consciousness, or as Ken would call it, streams of unconsciousness. And when we embarked on our songwriting journey, I’d sing my songs to Ken and he'd react exactly as I’d hope. To Something Done – bursting out with, “Oh, that’s fantastic!” And I Bought a Gun Today – “Who ARE you???” and Falling – “Moody. You’ve literally captured the act of falling – but in love!” One of the best memories of all was sitting in the Jewel parking lot, coming up with lines to the second verse of Beautiful Place – “Every night’s a date night…an I-can’t-wait night…Eating Popeye’s chicken…in our little kitchen.” Top of the world, ma! 

So often I was alone in the car when lyrics popped in my head – (You’re Still There) “Buy a bunch of lacy push-up bras…Drown my sorrows in Häagen-Dazs.” And (Watershed Moments)  “I recall when you were three-foot tall, asking me to dance” as I exited the parking lot at Treasure Island. And as I parked in the Old Orchard parking lot, (Party in the Back)  “Got the old man smilin’ like I knew he would, Boss high-fivin’, it’s all good”). And so many more.

It was always special showing our new cars to our Moms and Dad. I wish Mom could have seen the Saab. She would have loved everything about it, the color, the sophisticated shape – saying how gorgeous and “smart-looking” it was. But I know she was with us in spirit when we’d drive Dad and Mom-in-Law Adrienne everywhere, talking non-stop as we’d travel out to Judy and Dan’s. Or to doctor appointments. Or wherever they wished to go. After Dad willingly gave up the keys to his cherished 1989 Lincoln Town Car, I’d love taking him shopping at Jewel, where he chided me for walking slower than his swiftly striding 94-year-old-legs. I’d take him to the post office (he never trusted mailboxes), and to his favorite hangout, the hardware store, always eager to rummage through the sales bins or search for a gadget to add to his already overcrowded workshop, or I should say, his tool emporium. 

The Saab. Memories. A part of our little family. After a long and reluctant search, we finally found our new car, a Nissan Sentra. Shiny black with “cappuccino” leather interior. It is, admittedly, gorgeous. It has the rare “beep beep.” Yay! A driver’s power seat – not the passenger’s seat, but it is raised high enough so I could see over the dash. Sitting in its cabin surrounded by all the computerized features made me feel like Rumpelstiltskin having just woken up in a new, almost foreign technological age. Hopefully, we’ll get used to it. But we couldn’t help getting emotional about it. 

As our Saab was parked at the dealership behind the bars of a wrought iron fence, I was hoping it couldn’t see us, standing by our new Sentra. I can’t imagine how it must’ve felt. An old, favorite dog being replaced by a frisky young pup. I hope it didn’t look as we drove away. And I pray, how I pray, it found a new home. Someone who will fix it up. And love it and care for it like we did.

Love, your daddy and mommy, 

Ken & Laura 

-- Laura Stigler

For those who had enough of my tech talk, I apologize. But last month I did promise to lend a few more tips here in the June Stet. I also promise this will be my last column on the subject. (Unless, of course, you beg me for more!) 

The reason for these columns, by the way, is because many times, tech issues can be the bane of a writer’s existence. Whether it’s a software upgrade, a computer glitch or our own mere ignorance, it can interrupt our work flow, aggravating us, distracting us, getting in the way of making progress – or a deadline. So if even one of these tips can get you through all that, then my work here is done. 

It's on the menu. This might seem a labor intensive exercise, but is often where you’ll find your answers. The idea here is to check every item in that menu bar (including "Preferences" and "Settings") to see if something might apply to your problem. Say you’re writing an article in a Microsoft Word document. Suddenly, a word you’re using is indicated as misspelled. But you know it isn’t! You hold down your mouse to see what suggestions are being offered, and the suggestions are in another language! For instance, “Willkommen” is suggested to replace “Welcome.” Huh? But examine the menu. When you get to “Tools,” “Language” is in the drop-down menu. Click on that and sure enough, “German” is highlighted. The solution: Scroll to “English (US),” make that your default language. Dort! Problem solved.

Reboot. Ah, the answer to so many computer – and life’s problems! One example: I was trying to do the very quotidian task of printing a one-page document. What could go wrong, right? After giving the “Print” command, I noticed the printer was taking wayyyy too long to upload the doc. Losing patience, I cancelled and tried again. I waited again. Still nothing. Finally, I turned off the printer, waited 30 seconds (always the recommended waiting time), and turned it back on. Boom-sha-ka-la-ka! The printer spat out a perfect copy within seconds. The lesson: When your device is acting odd, balking, freezing – whatever, do the reboot. It can’t hurt and most always works.

YouTube demos. Anything you can’t figure out, chances are YouTube has a demo of it. Some problems you’re encountering may be more complex than others. I won’t get into it but here’s an example – that I was able to improve on in the comment section, and was thanked by the YouTube creator!

Then there are demos of stupid stuff. Like how in the heck do I put the ear pods back in the too-clever-by-half Apple Travel Case? After wasting 15 minutes trying to figure out the darn thing, I consulted YouTube. Sure enough, a simple demo solved it beautifully. I had to sit back and marvel at Apple's cleverness.

Again, I could go on with more tips. But don’t worry. I won’t. However I will leave you with this last bit of advice -- a warning my husband gave me after I had experienced an iPhone nightmare: Don’t do anything technical after 8:00pm. Nothing good ever happens then. Trust me.

-- Laura Stigler

And the hints just keep on coming. Remember my last month’s post where I dropped a bunch of tech-related tips for you to file away? By popular demand, I’m back to give you a few more you may find handy, whether it’s on your computer, smartphone or just being online. The following are not tips I’ve received from so-called tech gurus, but ones I discovered either purely by accident (aka dumb luck) or just my own dogged determination to find an answer. (There MUST be a pony in here somewhere!)

I’ll start with my latest encounter with an Apple “Genius.” Recently, I upgraded my iPhone to iOS 18.3.2. I did so reluctantly because it’s never simple. Upgrades always take you out of your comfort zone, delete things you like, add things you’ll never need, etc. But I went ahead with the upgrade just to stop the hounding of notifications to do so. 

It ended up going pretty smoothly – that is, until I wanted to check on some photos my sister had sent in previous texts. I went to the area where all her photos are stored. They were gone. So were photos from other friends’ texts. Now I’ll admit, I seldom check on those pix. But when you want them, you want them. For reference. For nostalgia. Whatever. I felt sick to my stomach. I called Apple Support, steam blowing out of my ears. Barely controlling my temper, I told the Genius what happened. She put me on hold for a few minutes, only to come back to tell me that yeah, with the upgrade, those photos were eliminated. “What?” I said in a modulated scream, ”Why would Apple ever want to do that?”  “I know. I know. I’m sorry. It’s happened to me, too,” the Genius empathized. 

I still couldn’t believe it. The software Geniuses at Apple could not be that stupid. I sat at the edge of my bed and started to look at my settings. Maybe I had something turned off. I made sure that everything in the Messages app that said “shared” was turned on. It was. Nothing seemed awry. I went back to my sister’s texts where the photos have been stored...and suddenly...several started to appear. Slowly, more and more popped up, with a message saying something like, “Indexing may take time to complete.” Sure enough, the following day, all the photos were back in place. A big “Whew!!!”

So there it was. The “indexing” process. Something I learned a while ago when the same thing happened to all my emails. I should have known! I so badly wanted to call Apple back and inform them of what they obviously did not know. Maybe I will. But for now, I can’t help but gloat. HEY APPLE, WHO’S THE GENIUS NOW!

The lesson: Instead of panicking at what you think may have been lost, wait. It does take time to “index” -- get things back in order – photos and emails. If in a day or two everything is still missing, I then give you permission to call Support. And scream.

(This one tip took longer for me to explain than I thought. Will continue with more in the June post. Stay tuned.)

-- Laura Stigler

Hey, listen. If the folks at Apple’s “Genius Bar” can call themselves that, why can’t I? More than once I’ve been able to solve my tech problems while they put me on hold to consult their supervisors. They’d come back with some roundabout answer – if any answer at all, and I would tell them a far simpler solution I discovered by pure dumb luck. Put that in your e-cigs and vape it, Einsteins!

So while I’m not yet to the level of, say, a Steve Jobs, I feel somewhat equipped to pass along to you some fairly basic tech knowledge that I’ve gained along the way. Maybe you have already discovered these helpful nuggets, but for those who’ve ever been stymied with various computer or online tech issues, some of these solutions may come to your rescue, eliciting an “Aha!” at the discovery. Or a forehead-smacking “Doh!” response, since they may be so simple. So obvious. 

So here we go:

Switch browsers: That’s right. Just switching your browser can solve many issues. As when you click on a link and the page won’t load. Or in my case, I was trying to create a hyperlink for a client’s website. The link wouldn’t link! I switched from Safari to Chrome – and voilà! the hyperlink worked. I will say, much as I love my iMac, there may be sites you visit that are not optimized for Safari (Mac’s built-in browser). So it’s always good to download a few different browsers on to your dock. Besides Safari (my default), I have Chrome and Microsoft Edge. Firefox is also a good one. And speaking of Microsoft Edge...

Whole-page screenshots: Say you’ve written a magazine article. For your portfolio, you want to keep a copy as it appears online. If the content was long and necessitated scrolling, I normally would have to take screenshots window by window and then cobble them together within a PDF. Not with Microsoft Edge! You simply 1) go to the three little dots in the upper right corner, 2) go to “Screenshots” and choose “Capture.” 3) Hold your mouse down, drag it horizontally across the article, then scroll down all the way to the end. Once you’ve captured the entire article, let go of the mouse and there it is: your entire content appearing from top to bottom with all the images and masthead that accompanied it – in the popular PNG format. Then click "save." It’s a beautiful thing.  

Leave it to AI: Be it a Microsoft issue, Zoom, HP – or wherever I was looking for technical support, I can’t tell you how many times I’d enter the topic of my concern on their “help” page, and up would pop hundreds of articles – all of which had nothing to do with the what I was looking for. Community forums? Usually they’re filled with lots of “expert” advice that is way more complicated than need be. “Empty your cache!” (I call it the monkey test.) “Trash your operating system and reinstall!” (Gaaaa!) “Whirl a rubber chicken over your head while hopping on one foot!” Ok, maybe not that last one, but just as useless. Often the solution: I simply enter the question or problem in Google along with the name of the software / platform / app, etc. with which I was having trouble. Sure enough, not only will AI come up with the exact and simple answer, but provide the link to where the solution is found on the software’s (platform’s, app’s, etc.) very own support pages! 

Many solutions I’ve found by pure accident. In fact, in doing a bit of research for this article, I JUST discovered something you can do on Safari: In the “File” menu, export an entire online article (or web page, etc.) as a gorgeous PDF (as opposed to doing the screenshot method described above)!!! Sooo streamlined! I’ve checked and you can’t do that on Chrome or Edge. Yay, Safari! 

These are just the tip of the tech tips I’ve serendipitously discovered. I’d like to share more. Perhaps in another article. This sort of thing actually gets me high. Call me a geek. Even better, call me a Genius. But call me especially if you need some help! I promise I won’t ask you to whirl a rubber chicken over your head.

-- Laura Stigler

A few weeks ago, an article was brought to my attention that was written by Sun-Times columnist Neil Steinberg. Or I should say, written by AI impersonating Mr. Steinberg. With a few directives entered into ChatGPT by Neil, the article captured his essence, spitting forth his snark, his self-deprecating humor, his penchant for clever metaphors, his knack for irony, his general wise-a**, often cynical tone. Much to Neil’s chagrin – and frankly, mine – the writing was remarkably good. 

Damn! How could this be? It left me – and Neil – with an uneasy feeling. Like being introduced to someone who looked, acted, sounded and talked exactly like you. Creepy.

So is this what our world of writing is coming to? Can we be replaced or ripped off that easily? Granted, humans have been parodying (and parroting) other people’s styles for eons, be it in the writing or entertainment profession. I myself have often done it in my own writing projects, assuming someone else’s character/personality. My Dad, a writer, used to call it “Method Writing.” You take on the voice, mannerisms, style, etc. that would conjure up a particular entity. In my own line of work, Advertising/Marketing, it’s almost a requirement. Example:

For one assignment, I had to write a website for a design consultant. She was brash, funny, blunt, highly knowledgeable and professional. I had such fun “channeling her character” and in the end, received the best compliment of all. She gleefully said it sounded as if she wrote it herself. 

Sorry if that came off like a brag. But nothing could have made me happier. And that’s just it. Writing, even if it’s just a Thank You note -- makes me happy. Fulfilled. Knowing that consciously or sub, I could somehow dig into the well of all my experiences, my stories, my inherited traits, my ability to reason, and above all, be imbued with that ineffable, mysterious thing we call “soul”... it will all mush together and come out on the written page in readable form. Hoping that in some way, it moves the reader. To laughter. To tears. To inspire. To donate. To buy something! 

Does AI do all that to get to a final draft? 

Most importantly, if you’ve ever had AI do the writing for you, how did it make you feel? Sure it saves time. And clients’ money. Maybe the result even adheres to the new standard of being “good enough.” But something is missing. And the ones who mourn it most...are writers.

This is not to be a tirade against AI. That would be stupid. Lord knows, its usage is, can and will be invaluable beyond our imaginations. As writers, it could be fantastic for research purposes, or to get the juices flowing. Or to spark an angle that otherwise wouldn’t have occurred. I’ve noticed, too, that many of the jobs being offered on various job sites are for “AI Writers.” Since they obviously require a knowledge of AI, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for us writers to learn how to use it. Certainly it would be another arrow we can add to our quiver of services. 

But please. Let that not stop us from using our own noggins. Let’s not worry. Let’s be happy. Let’s keep on writing. Even if it’s just a Thank You note.

-- Laura Stigler

P.S. Writing this article made me happy.

In March 2024, the U.S. Depart of Labor enacted the “Classification of Employees and Independent Contractors Under the Fair Labor Standards Act.” Nullifying the previous Administration’s far simpler and more IC-friendly rule, this new rule was patterned after California’s complex AB5, a law that determined whether or not independent contractors were in fact their clients’ employees. The result: over 4.5 million careers of ICs and entrepreneurs were destroyed overnight in over 600 fields. With the USDOL 2024 rule launched, the job destruction was poised to spread nationally to millions more. 

That was then.

A bit of hope

While fully supporting unions, the current Administration has voiced strong support for all workers, affirming that all workers, be they W-2 employees or 1099 independent contractors, have a right to earn their livelihoods however they wish. It’s just the American way. 

Yet there has rightly been some consternation at the nomination of former Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer for U.S. Labor Secretary. She had been a proponent of the AB5-based anti-independent contractor PRO Act (Protecting the Right to Organize). But here’s where a glimmer of hope comes in, offered by Patrice Onwuka, director of the Center for Economic Opportunity at Independent Women’s Forum. Quoting her from a recent issue of Kim Kavin’s Freelance Busting newsletter:

“The Labor Secretary serves the agenda of President Trump. Former Congresswoman DeRemer is no longer beholden to the constituents of one district or that may have had heavy partisan leanings. She has to represent the interest of all U.S. workers, employers and businesses. That may give her a broader perspective that many interests need to be considered.

Her past support for the PRO Act raises questions, but that bill is dead. Now, she has an opportunity to demonstrate her commitment to self-employed Americans and President Trump’s commitment to the economic engine of this country by working to undo the damage of Biden-era policies. She has assured us at IWF that her door is open to everyone. She's listening.”

That is good to hear. But it’s not enough.

As I’ve urged in my past columns, it’s vital that we, as freelancers, voice our strong support for laws that uphold our Constitutional rights to live and work as we please. So again, I urge you to contact the following and voice your support. It won’t take long. But it could go far in making sure the right laws are passed that will finally and forever put our worries to rest:

Call or email these Senators

As of this writing, there is no set date for the confirmation hearing for Ms. Lori Chavez-DeRemer. But that is when Senators must be emphatic in their insistence that she will support the entire workforce, including independent contractors. Kim Kavin suggests we contact every member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), of which Senator Bill Cassidy (a big IC proponent) is the chairman. 

Says Kim, “You can tell them we all want a Secretary of Labor who will respect, protect and defend our freedom to choose self-employment.” 

It could be as simple as that. Find contact info here.

Perhaps most importantly -- and even easier, is to contact both your State's Senators (Durbin and Duckworth for IL), as they will be involved in the confirmation process. Find contact info for all U.S. Senators here.

Call your Congressman/woman

Only when a bill is put through the rigors of legislation and becomes law, can it put a nail in the coffin of all the job-threatening nonsense.  The Modern Worker Empowerment Act is one such bill. There could be others. Contact your U.S. Congressional Representative and say you want protecting independent contractors to be a priority for the current legislative session. 75+ million Independent Contractors are counting on them. 

Find your representative here.

Contact the President here

Once again, a quote from Ms. Kavin: “...the Trump administration needs to hear from us all that we want our freedom to be self-employed prioritized. The White House must return as quickly as possible to standing on the side of America’s entrepreneurs.”

You’ve got the ammo. Now do battle. 

Other references:

Freelancers Defend Economic Liberty from Vague DOL Rule

https://fightforfreelancersusa.com

https://www.freelancebusting.com

Happy New Year, everyone! Hope you all enjoyed the Holiday Hiatus and are ready to embark on a year that holds much promise of good things to come. Amongst which is the merger between IWOC and the Writers and Publishers Network (WPN) that I’ve been writing about in a previous Stet issue.

I thought it high time to clue you in on where we currently are. While there

are still many details to work out, I would like to mention a few of the areas that have been discussed between WPN president Kathleen Kaiser and the IWOC merger team of IWOC VP George Becht, Treasurer Brent Brotine and yours truly. What has so far been agreed upon I believe will 1) stoke your enthusiasm and 2) allay any concerns.  Such as...

The WPN website. What IWOC will be bringing to the organization is our unique and invaluable mission of helping freelance writers succeed in their business. To that end, IWOC webmaster Roger Rueff is collaborating with WPN’s webmaster Lisa Angle in the redesigning of WPN’s website to include a section entitled “Freelance Writers Division.” This will incorporate all the features from IWOC’s website that are devoted to the IWOC mission, including:

• The Online Directory, where writers can list their specialties and areas of expertise.
• The “Find a Writer” feature, where potential employers can search out writers whose specialties/expertise match their needs.
• Such items from our Member Resources page as contract templates and presentation handouts.
• The Job Sites page, listing 50+ links to various Job Sites
• And more

• If your IWOC membership is paid up, you will automatically be incorporated into WPN’s membership data base and continue to be included in the Online Directory. 
• At renewal time, you will pay a fee of $65. 
• Once renewed, any member who wishes to be included in the Online Directory will pay a small fee (TBD). There will be no limit to the number of specialties and areas of expertise you can list.
• If your IWOC membership has lapsed and you wish to join WPN/IWOC, you will pay a first-year fee of $85. Subsequent renewals will be $65. 

• All members will have access to all meetings, webinars, seminars, etc. – most of which will be held on Zoom and be recorded for later access. Depending on the format, these programs/meetings will be free for members or offered at a discounted rate. 
• Locally speaking, we would still like to continue in-person meetings here in Chicago, but this would be dependent upon venue availability. However...
• Coming up with program ideas that are targeted to freelancers will, of course, take volunteers who are willing to serve on the Program Committee. Details on that will be forthcoming.
• To keep up the camaraderie aspect that has endeared so many to IWOC, we hope to continue throwing our annual Spring, Summer and Holiday parties. 

It’s expected that the merger will be complete, website and all, by June of 2025. There is still much to be done, but much to look forward to. I will keep you posted as things progress.

In the meantime, wishing you a Happy, Healthy, Safe, Prosperous, Productive – and Exciting New Year!

-- Laura Stigler

At this time of year, I thought it would be a good idea to start a tradition and repeat a post bearing thoughts – and a song -- to carry us throughout the holiday season. It's a message that's worth keeping in mind. And will never get old. 

Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas to all! 

_______________________ 

As I sit here in lotus position upon my mountain top (remind me to bring a pillow next time), I’ve come to contemplate something no great philosopher has ever thought of before: The Secret to Happiness. What brings happiness? Living in a country where each is free to pursuit their own, it’s no doubt different for everyone. For me, it’s being productive – especially when it has to do with creation. Whether it’s a project I just finished for a client, or having written a song – that’s the absolute best. Where I get most of my “highs.” It can also come from being productive in other ways. Making a particularly succulent beef bourguignon, for instance. (Ask me for the recipe.) Or finally cleaning up my office. (I can breathe better!) Anything, big or small, that I can accomplish to my own personal satisfaction makes me happy. Temporarily, at least. And that’s the catch.

Creativity. Productivity. As with anything in life that isn’t permanent, it ebbs and flows, often influencing my moods. So what can sustain us in between? Keep us buoyed during the down times? Or all the time? In light of all this heavy pondering, I’d like to share the lyrics of a song I wrote recently that might provide at least one answer. 

Picture it being sung by a guy. A real character with a twinkle in his eye. Not a spring chicken, he’s been around the block several times and after experiencing life’s ups and downs and witnessing much, has gained this bit of wisdom...

THANKS TO GRATITUDE

Written by Laura Stigler-Marier

Well I may never get to Easy Street

But I walk to town with shoes on my feet

No, that ain’t my McMansion on the hill

But my four walls keep out the evening chill

And my job may not be what dreams are made of

But at least...I ain’t been laid off

Yeah, compared to most my troubles are few

And the ones I got 

With the help of God 

I manage to get through

Yeah happiness ain’t nothing but an attitude

And I am one

Happy son-of-a-gun

Thanks to gratitude

Ya know, Easy Street has got its share of potholes

And what’s behind them mansion doors, God knows

As perfect as that other side may seem

Up close, the grass ain’t always all that green

Rich or poor, we all got our problems

If you’re alive...you got ‘em

Ah, but compared to most my troubles are few

And the ones I got 

With the help of God 

I manage to get through

Yeah happiness ain’t nothing but an attitude

And I am one

Happy son-of-a-gun

Thanks to gratitude

Thankful for my friends

For my simple life

And thank you Lord for sending me

My saint of a wife

Ohhh, happiness ain’t nothing but an attitude

And I am one 

Happy son-of-a gun

Yeah I am one 

Lucky son-of-a-gun

Thanks to gratitude

It’s all about gratitude

Thank you, gratitude

--Laura Stigler

P.S. If you would like to hear the melody, contact me and I could send the scratch track. Trigger warning: I’m singing it acapella. 

“Thanks to Gratitude” c 2024 Laura Stigler-Marier & Ken Marier

-

A round of applause please for those who attended our September 10 Writers Roundtable. A success by all accounts! As is our custom, we did not record the meeting out of respect for everyone’s privacy. But that doesn’t mean those who couldn't attend should be kept in the dark. I’d like to share some of the knowledge gained during that hour that may answer some questions on your mind as well. Such as...

1. How do you find work? This is the $64K perennial question that comes up at all our Roundtables. Here's a sampling of suggestions offered, all worth exploring:

• LinkedIn: According to Consumers Advocate, LI is one of the top five resources for job recruiters. So how successful is it in matching you up with prospective clients? In talking to IWOC-ers it varies widely. I know of one who, after a few years of not having any luck with LinkedIn, credits it for recently having landed her steadiest, most lucrative client. Conclusion: If you’re not on LI, it’s worth the try. Just make sure your profile is tempting enough to attract clients. There are five LI presentations on IWOC’s Member Resources page offering tons of invaluable tips.

• Freelance Success (FLX), a membership-based website and publication. Subscribe for a monthly or annual fee and gain access to a treasure trove of resources, job listings, classes and more. IWOC members who belong swear by it.

• Network wherever. Think you have to attend planned business-oriented events to network? Actually, you can network at a wedding. In a grocery line. In the bleachers at a Bulls game. Wherever you may strike up a friendly conversation with strangers, what you do for a living may come up. Mention you’re a writer and you’d be surprised at the wide-eyed reaction, followed by something like, “Hey, I need a press release done!” or “Do you write websites?” That happened to me when I attended a fundraiser hosted by a real estate company, resulting in several writing projects (press releases, videos) for a dance company! One of my most awe-inspiring clients ever.

• IWOC’s Job Site Page lists 50+ job sites, ranging from the most popular (Zip Recruiter, indeed, etc.) to numerous ones you may never heard of – but look very promising. Check ‘em out.

• Cold Calling Karma. Yes, it’s old-school. Yet the human voice can go a long way in making connections in this otherwise email- and social media-obsessed world. But there are rules, such as always starting the convo by succinctly identifying yourself and asking “Do you have a moment?” when a prospective clients picks up the phone. Most miraculously, once you get in the cold-calling groove, a client that wasn’t even on your list may come calling you out of the blue. That’s the karma part. Jim Leman’s guide to “Cold Call Marketing” can be found on our Member Resources Page. The advice is timeless.

2. What do I charge? Another one of those questions that eternally plague us. How much to charge for a magazine article? A website? A blog? Several suggestions poured forth. Among them:

• Writers’ Market not only includes a pay rate chart for an extensive list of writing categories, but it is a gold mine of: writing opportunities for writers of nearly every discipline, lists of professional writing organizations, and more. Buy online or peruse at your local library.

• Search! Ask Google or Duck-Duck Go what a particular writing profession charges. All sorts of info will pop up.

• Communicate. Negotiate. What to charge may simply depend on who you’re working for. Various magazines will have a set rate for article writing. Ad agencies may have a range of rates they’ll pay copywriters according to their experience. It’s just a matter of communicating and even negotiating, once a client has expressed interest in your services.
  

Much more was covered in our session. To those who attended, thank you! And to everyone reading this, feel free to comment below to share advice that has worked for you.

Till the next round...

-- Laura Stigler

Well that went fast! So fast, in fact, that it would behoove us to sit back and reflect on it a bit – just to remind us of what IWOC has been up to in the last year...and what lays ahead. Please join me in first looking into the rearview mirror – just to refresh our memories of the good times that were had by all.

2023-24 IWOC Programs 

They did it again...

Challenging as it may have been – and always is when it comes to mining for programs and speakers that would capture the interest of IWOC members and friends of IWOC, once again the Program Committee of Betsy Storm, Jay Schwarz and Jeff Steele (with contributions from other IWOC-ers) has jam-packed the year serving up the following. Anyone who came and saw, came out wiser businesspeople and savvier self-marketers, loaded with ideas about adding more “value added” aspects to their writing services. 

• IWOC’S Ever-popular Annual Writers’ Roundtable, where everyone gets their say. (This is the only program notrecorded, so all participants can speak freely.)

• Meet Special Guest Hedy Weiss: The renowned theater and dance critic pulled back the curtain to reveal the thrills and challenges that come with that enviable job. She also gave us a peek at her career as a professional dancer before she leapt over the footlights and into the audience to become one of the keenest observers of the theater and dance world. 

• Hear Ye, Hear Ye: Monetize Your Book(s) via Audiobooks:  Audiobooks expert Kevin Theis spelled out the many avenues for writers to turn their current, printed work into easy-to-download audio projects, sometimes at a cost and sometimes not.

• Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Explained: Friesen Press publishing consultant Christoph Koniczek outlined the ways in which self-publishing differs from traditional publishing, and how the unrestricted nature of the latter path might align better with your publishing needs.

• AI for Writers: What You Need to Know: Many of the questions plaguing writers about how AI will affect them were answered by prolific book author, journalist, guest lecturer and regular contributor to high-tech magazines, Carol J. Amato – an AI aficionado.

• Current Legal Issues Concerning Freelance Writers: Presented by attorney Steven Baron of Lawyers for the Creative Arts, Mr. Baron covered such topics as copyright law, plagiarism, attribution and more.

• Suburban Bigamy author Michael Zimmerman Shares Memoir Secrets: Mr. Zimmerman spoke not only about his heart-wrenching personal story, but offered his take on the best ways to tackle a writing form that is often a challenging, emotional, yet ultimately rewarding journey. 

• Special meeting: How the USDOL Rule Can Affect You:  Of Lawyers for the Creative Arts, Illinois Super Lawyer Lori Goldstein helped us wrap our heads around the recently enacted “Classification of Independent Contractors and Employees Under the Fair Labor Standards Act," a rule that can affect the way 72+ million Independent Contractors (including writers of all stripes) work and live. And that can impact 45% of the U.S. economy.

• Video Scriptwriting: Give it a Shot:  Ace video scriptwriter / producer / narrator Greg King entertainingly talked about the how-tos of writing video scripts. He also regaled us with stories of what went on behind the scenes in shooting some of his favorites.

• LinkedIn Success Secrets: “LinkedIn Whisperer” Mary Wu, treated us with solid, actionable guidance on how to polish your LI profile, enhance your network, and improve the quality of your online interactions.

• Missed any of the above? No problem. Download the podcasts (except for the Roundtable one) on our Member Resources page to benefit from the info- and advice-packed gems. 

  Got ideas for writing- or business-related programs? Contact the Program Committee. We welcome them all! 

  2023-24 IWOC Parties

  Keep a bunch of freelance writers cooped up in their lairs all year and when given the chance, they come out to play in full force. As is our tradition, last year we gave everyone three chances to let loose and party like it’s – well, 2023. At December’s Holiday Party, we let it all hang out at hands-down fave Star of Siam. For our perennial August Greektown bacchanal, we opa’d at scenic Athena. And to welcome the Spring Equinox, we dove into delectable appies, BBQ ribs, chicken and veggie kabobs at the Weber Grill. Fab-u-licious.

  Events of Interest

  IWOC wasn’t the only one who put on must-see programs. We also passed the word to IWOC members about these world class events:

  
  

• American Writers Festival at the American Writers Museum and Harold Washington Library Center

• Chicago Freelance Business Workshop presented by the Institute for Independent Journalists

• 2023 Writer’s Workshop hosted by IWPA’s (Illinois Woman’s Press Association)

• 6^th Annual StoryStudio Writers Festival

• Television writer/producer Patty Lin discussed her book, “End Credits: How I Broke Up with Hollywood” at the American Writers Museum

• Share Your Story on Jacqui Just Chatters podcasts, offered several times throughout the year

• Award winning writer Mark S. King and community leaders representing Chicago’s HIV and LGBTQIA+ communities read passages from Mark’s recently published book, My Fabulous Disease: Chronicles of a Gay Survivor and shared personal reflections. 

• 
  

  Promoting our members

  We’re always telling members to come blow your horn. Or we’ll blow it for them. And so we did...

  
  

• Two States of Single: Essays on Family, Love and Living Solo, a 2020 book by IWOC member Julie A. Jacob, was accorded a glowing assessment by reviewer Victoria Lynn Smith. 

• Heather Kenny landed the plum assignment of writing a monthly column about style for The Midst, a new online publication for women in their 40s and 50s. Fun reading that's really relatable.

• And as we do every year, IWOC participated in the 2023 Printers Row LitFest, displaying and selling our author members’ books at our table while talking to thousands of passers-by on the virtues of IWOC and how we help freelance writers succeed in their careers. (Volunteer to help staff the table and join the fun at this year’s LitFest on the weekend of September 7 & 8. Contact organizer Joseph Wycoff.)

Reflections on the future

While it was indeed an excellent year and IWOC has had a wonderful 40+ year run, it’s no secret that the times they are a-changing. Due to the many factors that I covered in last month’s President’s Post, IWOC will begin the complex process of merging* with the Writers & Publishers Network / Independent Writers of Southern California coalition. But we’re not going away any time real soon. Until that merger is complete – which could take around 9 months, we’ll still be planning programs and parties to educate and entertain all our members and subscribers, starting with our September 10 ever-popular Writers' Roundtable. Hope to see you there!

* Don’t forget: On September 10, we’ll be holding elections on the 2024-25 Board of Directors slate AND a membership vote on the merger. Mark it down and please attend!

-- Laura Stigler