Hey, all. I need help with something actually cheerful -- my poor Buffistas have been having a shitty time of it.

I think most of you know that I will be trying to set myself up this June as an actual, no-shit, website and domain name, business-card, portfolio-havin' independent consultant for writing, editing, research (with small personal strategy and organization sidebars, but that's not the emphasis right now; writing is.)

So -- help me come up with a name?

I want to use Erin Lastname as part of it, definitely; I'm not required to set up as an LLC in KS if I'm using my name, and frankly, I don't plan on having employees; I want my business name to have MINE.

BUT...I have to have a tagline/domain name for my stuff. I don't just want to be ErinLastname.com. Right now, I'm thinking "Erin Lastname: Wordslinger for Hire" but I really want suggestions, feedback, ideas, practical tips. Keep it simple -- Erin Lastname, Freelance Writer, Editor, and Researcher (which I think is kind of boring) or....? What?

I'm planning on having this name on my webpage, business cards and flyers; I'm going to use DreamHost, so I'll need an email address: erin-------@wordslingerforhire.com or something. I'm thinking about using MailChimp, too, but I'm still researching, but this is break, so I want to bust ass on my business plan (I'm not seeking capital or a loan; I just want a business plan, because I AM VIRGO and I think a plan is useful.)

So...all you sexy people out there...ideas? Cautions? Links? Benefit of your experiences? Now the time for me to set my brainstorming out on the community at large, because, frankly, you guys are going to be my best resource.

(You can keep it to thread, but I also welcome emails at profile addy.)

THANKS GUYS!!!

X-Post with Bitches

Is 8am a reasonable time to disturb your apartment manager? My plans to return to bed were disturbed by nasty backup in my kitchen sink.

Is 8am a reasonable time to disturb your apartment manager?

Yes.

8 am is completely within business hours, ita.

And, no answer. Looks like I could have gone as early as 7 am. Apartment stinks, man. That liquid backup is FOUL.

This week is not starting well.

I left the house at 6:45 this morning to come use the gym at work, only to discover that my key card wouldn't work on the gym door, plus I just realized I am wearing a dress, and I have an appointment with the oncologist, and the first thing they are going to say is "strip to the waist."

eta: and now I have a run in my stockings.

Erin, how about: Erin [last name] Wordsmith.

Cash, that's some mighty ass you're banging around that track. You need to work on your War Face. I want you to practice your grimace in the mirror before the next bout.

Rainy day in SF. Back from taking Emmett to school and have to move the car ahead of the street sweeper. Matilda's out of school as it's on a furlough day.

Erin, I like Hec's suggestion of Wordsmith. Perhaps with some kind of tag about forging, and or a logo with blacksmith tools?

Way to go, Cash's ass!!

Way to go away, Kathy's ass!!

I've thought about Wordsmith, and I like it; my only concern is that there are a lot of wordsmith websites out there.

Would something like Erin ------: Wordsmith be professional and distinctive enough? I don't want to be too complex, twee or esoteric (I told Barb if I had my druthers, I'd be Erin ------, Writing Consigliere, but that's TOO esoteric, but I like it -- literally, a mercenary "lance" for writing. Hee.)

Would a domain name like erin-------wordsmith.org turn you off as a potential client? An email addy like erin-------@erin-------wordsmith.org?

I'm worried "wordsmith" has been used a lot by similar professionals. Maybe try riffing off "editorial" or "pen" instead, or use something like:

Erin Lastname, The Last Word ...
...in writing, editing, and research.