I'd say if your current part-time is keeping the bills paid, and you don't think a resume service is the way to go, don't do it.

FWIW, I think you have the stuff too.

I also think you're brilliant at resume writing, and in case I didn't tell you before, I appreciate you cleaning up mine.

Susan, I tend to agree with Heather on the bill-paying thing, but I'm the wrong person to ask: I wrote my first four novels and part of Plainsong at work, in the office, while also running a two-city law firm.

And no, that isn't a brag: I just found that when stuff wanted out, it found a way to get written down. I used to get into the office half an hour early, get four hours worth of legal-related stuff done because I was undisturbed (alone in the office, no phones ringing), and spend the first two hours of my "official" day handing off to my totally amazing secretary (whose mother is a poet and who grokked the writing thing) and working on novel.

OTOH, I had nothing keeping me from writing 24/7 over the past nine years, no day job, no 9 to 5 routine I had to deal with; I ran a catering service and my hours were made entirely by myself. I essentially didn't write a word, diddly squat, not because I was too busy or structured, but because I was disgusted with the industry.

So, YWMV.

I honestly don't know what works for anyone else.

But from what I've read, I think you have what it takes, as well.

I'd say if your current part-time is keeping the bills paid, and you don't think a resume service is the way to go, don't do it.

Paying the bills isn't a problem. It just slows down how quickly we pay down the credit card debt, and I feel guilty that I'm not pulling my full weight in the House of W. But that's something to sort out with DH.

FWIW, I think you have the stuff too.

Thanks! I hope so. Because I never feel more myself than when I'm working on my novel.

I also think you're brilliant at resume writing, and in case I didn't tell you before, I appreciate you cleaning up mine.

Thanks again! I do enjoy the work, and would be happy to do it for pay. I just don't want it to overwhelm my more important projects. But I don't see how I can avoid it, if I go the usual route of advertising through a website, flyers on campuses, newspaper ads, etc.

Paying the bills isn't a problem. It just slows down how quickly we pay down the credit card debt, and I feel guilty that I'm not pulling my full weight in the House of W. But that's something to sort out with DH.

Yeah. That's kind of a you and him thing. But you know, debt isn't that bad, and as long as you have a plan for paying it off, I don't see a problem.

Thanks, y'all. I'll post more tomorrow, I'm sure. I had half of a long post written, but DH and I started talking about it instead. He thinks I should see if I can find a way of doing the resume service in a more low-key way, more word-of-mouth than traditional advertising, and therefore have more control over how it grows. Worth a thought. I may even go back to my career counselor, now that I have a clearer idea of what I do and don't want.

Susan, it occurs to me that when a friend did some freelance resume work in the early nineties (economy suckage almost as bad as now), she went to the local universities/colleges and posted her card up in the student lounges. Got a huge influx of seniors jangling her phone.

On the meme (because I've been holding my breath for about three months and am trying to clear my lungs), I got the following email (as a cc - it was written to my agent) this morning. Famous Flower of Serving Men is the projected second book in the series, of which Weaver is book number one. My editor, Ruth Cavin, has had this for three months - she's 83 years old, her husband has been ill, she's been busy as hell arranging BEA, etc, and I rationally know all this.

But finally, I got this. I think it's an offer to make an offer, but I'm damned if I'm not blinking, and going, huh?

I have read FFoSM and like it very much. I really want to buy it, but I feel that the series is so unusual that I should get some other reactions. It would be a while before the advance galleys go out, but I am going to have a couple of people in the house read it and give me an opinion. I think FFoSM could be pruned down a bit, but even if Deborah agrees, it's a minor matter; the book is fine. Meanwhile, Tom (Dunne) is in England, and when he comes back and gets used to American money again I will talk to him about when and how much to offer.

I hope this is OK with you and Deborah.

So, WTF? She likes it but it's unusual? Everything she's ever bought from me is unusual; this series, at least, is a real live series, with familiar characters and the consonant theme.

I think this is good. Any opinions on whether I ought to be worried or pleased would be welcomed.

She likes it, but she isn't going to commit to buying it until she gets buy-in from the rest of the house. She's saying that she doesn't know yet whether there's a market for the series, as opposed to a market for the first book.

Betsy, that was my first thought but that last sentence made me wonder if it wasn't a question instead of wondering how to present it.

I mean, we're talking about a genre that has mysteries being solved by cats. Ghosts and music shouldn't be a problem. And FFoSM is much more mystery crossover than the first one.

Goddamnit, I want Jenn to call me back. Besides, we need to catch up on Buffy.

I read it the same way Betsy did, FWIW. I think I'd be simultaneously pleased and worried. (I know, I know. I'm a big help.)

What I decided to do about the resume service issue is present my concerns to the career counselor as follows: "I'd like to do this, and I think it'd be a great way to bring in extra income. However, my novel always comes first. I'm worried that a resume service, as I've seen them marketed, wouldn't balance well with that goal. Is there a way for me to control the pace of growth and my workflow? If not, we need to come up with something else."

Because what I'd really like is to do about ten resumes per month. That would be enough to bring in some extra income. And I want to have some control over my deadlines--even if it's, "The first I can get this to you is four days from now. If you need it sooner, I can refer you to some services with a larger staff." Then if that went well, I could start thinking about increasing my marketing push enough to be able to quit my day job.

And I want to have some control over my deadlines--even if it's, "The first I can get this to you is four days from now. If you need it sooner, I can refer you to some services with a larger staff."

That's very good thinking, and allows you to control the flow.