As a professional freelance writer, I find myself immersed in words on a daily basis; whether I’m intently focused on a current project, or drafting up an alluring email to a prospective client, each word makes a difference. Words, chosen well, can make a potential snore-fest into web content that keeps one’s eyes on the screen, hungry to find out more. This challenge is what I love and—yes, I’ll admit it—sometimes hate about the freelance writing life. But when our clients feel we’ve delivered five-star content, the kind of personal stories or clear technical description that they couldn’t generate for themselves, well, it makes the struggle worth the effort.
Sometimes when the grind of business writing drains the gusto out of me, I turn to my first love: poetry—particularly free verse poetry (though I love tussling through a pantoum or sestina every now and then!). Like writing a client’s bio, or making mundane background information more interesting, writing free verse poems requires just the right words, the right rhythm and sentiment. Okay, perhaps it’s not as dire to make a grant application read like a piece by William Blake, but it must have resonance with the grant review board!
Unlike freelance writing for clients, free verse poetry accesses a different part of my brain where troves of untapped thoughts, ideas and feelings hang out. Sorting through the smorgasbord becomes my biggest task. At first I welcome this opportunity but, like freelance writing, the struggle waxes and wanes in intensity. I’ll admit to having days when I feel like gnawing my own limbs might be a better option than sitting at the screen trying to find the right way to describe my daughter’s hair (Stringy? Fluffy? Golden? Like the color of a sand flea? Errrrrgh!)
The funny thing is, I don’t regret in any way my devotion to writing—in any form. I’ve had the honor of having my work published in a number of literary journals over the years, and my chapbook Urban Animal Expeditions (Dancing Girl Press) was just released this September. My life as a poet has unfolded wonderful experiences for me. Earlier this year, I was invited to read at Oyez Roslyn!, a unique reading series in Roslyn, Washington, that blends local writers and historians with out-of-town writers. Writing and studying poetry have also given me opportunities to spread my knowledge through teaching young people in the Seattle Public Schools and in homeschool environments. I believe these affirmations, like the testimonials that happy clients share with The Writers K, will keep me freelancin’ and free versin’ for all my days to come.
Great post, Katy! Very clearly written. Poetry. What a great inspiration for when you are stuck. So much richness and texture in poetry. I’m sure after reading a good poem you’re better able to turn a dull object into something brighter, shinier, and more exciting! Thanks for being so honest about how incredibly challenging the craft of writing can be.