It’s cold, it’s dark, it’s raining and I want SUMMER. I want SUMMER right now. I know worldwide the gag is that we live in a constant shroud of cloud and rain, but usually, at this time of year, even us poor, pale, pasty-faced Brits have a little bit of sun and warmth. Not this year, it seems.
At the moment, I am without work. The situation is one step away from being critical and with one opportunity closing, I need to find some more work. Unfortunately, I am the worst freelance writer…ever! No, it is true. Trust me on this. I’ve done my darndest to network, to make contacts, but I am just not breaking through anymore. It is a concern. Take the following reply I received from an editor this very morning:
An editor with an arse for a head wrote:
Unfortunately you seem to be writing for our competition. I’m afraid we can’t use the same writers that they do.
Thanks,
Graham
Well, excuse me. I didn’t realise that I was working in such an exclusive industry. This has happened to me before and if an editor sees that you write for another competitor, they won’t hire you. This means that even if you haven’t written for that magazine for a couple of years (like in my case) you are stonewalled out. Does this happen in other professions?
Imagine the scene. A young fellow goes for an interview at Burger King.
Employer: I see that you’ve worked for McDonalds, Mr Smith?
Potentential Employee: Yes, I can explain. It was a Saturday job when I was at school.
Employer: Sorry. We can’t hire you. You’ve worked for our competitor.
Potential Employee: Nooooooooooo!
And so my patience is wearing thin with the whole media industry. It is so facile and shallow and nasty that even a little underacheiving sprout like me finds it hard to continue.

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