a

by Stephanie Wiebe

The business of freelance writ-
ing is a lot like raising children
—— a fun, painful, deeply
rewarding and time-consuming
venture. And you're never certain
how things will turn out in the
end.

While writing is often con-
sidered an att, it is also a busi-
ness. Freelance writing combines
the best of both: an outlet for
creativity, and cold, hard cash.

Charles Dickens didn’t write "A
Christmas Carol" because of his
burning desire for self-expression
—— he desperately needed the
money. Even Shakespeare had to
pay the grocery bills.

_ The business end of freelance

writing is often the most difficult
for writers. Writers write, just as
plumbers plumb and teachers —
teach ——~ but without marketing
the work, a writer can end up
with a closetful of unread prose;
and Revenue Canada has no
sense of humour toward haphaz-
ard bookkeeping.

Oddly enough, a piece of writ-

ing is usually sold before it’s

actually written. The buyer pro-
poses a concept, and the writing
is created to suit that buyer’s
request, Another form of market-
ing, "querying", has the writer
proposing the idea to the targeted
buyer. Neither method is truly
satisfactory —— what the writer
really wants, is to independently
create a masterpiece and have
editors fight over who gets to pay
a million dollars for it. Life rarely

Revenue Canada: no sense of humour

works out that way.

Background research can be
fascinating, but time consuming.
For every subject written about,
the writer has to acquire a mini-
education. Thus, writers are
known to be curious, insatiable
readers. Library "overdue book"
lists abound with writers’ names.

Once the information is
gathered, the writer can finally

write. Tris is the smallest part of
the project. The writing itself
goes quickly —— it’s continuous
re-writing that puts bags under
your eyes and makes your bones
grow brittle. I just re-wrote that
paragraph three times, and I still
don’t like it. Often, re-writing
time is restricted by deadlines,
however, inciting freelancers to
sweat over a phrase until two
a.m. An impending deadline
means this paragraph won’t be
re-written a fourth time.

As a business, freelance writing
means long flexible hours, chal-
lenging work, and an inconstant
income. And I wouldn’t choose
to do anything else for a living.

Uniquely Yours Bridal Boutique

x

Lisa & Kelly would like to thank
all past and present customers
for making our first six months

so successful.
Wine and Cheese
October 17, 1991
7:30 - 10:00 p.m.

10% OFF all in store stock. :
50% - 75% OFF selected Wedding Gowns, Bridesmaid, Grad.

& Party Dresses

4617 Lakelse Ave, Above All Star Shoe Repair 638-1773

* 1st birthday celebration

* 10% OFF every purchase
or rental booking

*. FREE FLOWER LOON to
first 50 customers

* birthday cake, coffee,
snacks

* KIDS! Enter our contest -
Name our Big Clown (every
entry gets a FREE hellum
balloon) and WIN an
AMAZING FLYING
FUNSHIP($95.00 value)
Draws closes 1 pm Sat.

Oct. 19th.

® Mower i

Birthday
Celebration .

635-6312

and,

%

&

* newly expanded

* FREE balioon animais
face painting and magic
performed throughout the
day.

* Fun draws and contests
every 1/2 hour - great
prizes - $100 gift certificate
and much more!

* guess the number of
jellyoeans

* Ninja Turtle, Pink Gorilla
and other fun characters to
greet you.

* GIANT 500 balloon release
at 2 pm.

Terrace Review —— Wednesday, October 16, 1991 15

QUALITY CLOTHES
FOR TODAY'S
PROFESSIONAL WOMAN

Co-ordinates By:
Pantman, Koret, Chic
& Denise Petites,
Niccolini & Fen-nelli
Coats

ONLY AT ROSE'S,
INN OF THE WEST
LAKELSE AVE.

4620 Lakelse Ave.,
Terrace, B.C. .
ph. 635-4550

4

Glass Slipper
. Bridal Shoppe

a Kick Off the Fall Season
{~~ with a fresh new

| contemporary
. style in Ladies Wear

e Suits for the office
¢ Knits for Dinner
* Sizzling Partywear
From sizes 3 - 24
Great Selection
“Glass Slipper”
“Not just a Bridal Shoppe.”

s tu#/dio 4605 Lazelle Ave.
Terrace

PH. 635-6966
Shirley Marleau

DON*T GAMBLE

We have qualified loggers waiting for job
placements. HIRE A LOGGER is a unique
Terrace-based employment service. We try to
qualify all personnel before placing them on
the job site.

HIRE A LOGGER

Personnel placement,

safety management, .
‘equipment listing, cost accounting ©
Burga Anderson, manager
4925 Keith Ave., Terrace
phone 635-5500