Comments for Working Writers of Wisconsin

Comment on Amazon takes one for the team by Joel Habush

Joel Habush — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:12:14 +0000

Point well taken. As I followed you through all the steps, I was lead to feel your pain.
The main reason I stick with my cellular phone provider, U.S. Cellular, besides the important one of service–no dropped calls, is customer service. I want an iPhone and U.S. Cellular doesn’t offer one—they say the numbers just don’t work, but I’m loyal to them, they accommodate me in all other ways.
I used to have AT&T and they were a bunch of…(expletives deleted). They may be changing their ways; every year they are rated last in customer service satisfaction, and I hear they’re starting to pay more attention to their customers because their grasping, intransigent attitude has cost them sales.

Comment on Got Originality? by Judy Fossen

Judy Fossen — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:29:45 +0000

This is an excellent reminder. Even the best professional writers can lose enthusiasm from time to time, settling for a banality bunt rather than aiming for the fence. Working Writers of Wisconsin has always given me the reminders and other support I need, as an independent writer, to keep my quality of work high and my approach to each project fresh. Thanks, Joel!

Comment on Before you push send, take one last look by Joel Habush

Joel Habush — Sat, 21 May 2011 13:57:30 +0000

Your comment is awaiting moderation. This is a corrected version
May 21, 2011 at 7:55 am

Excellent advice and I’ve always followed it to the letter when it came to any work for a client. But, when I was my own client I slipped up. The other day when I submitted an entry in a short story competition; I had proofed the story several times, and then after I had made a few final changes, as the deadline was nigh, I sent it off without further checking.
After I printed it out, to my chagrin, I found some embarrassing typos.

“My bad” won’t suffice.

Comment on Before you push send, take one last look by Judy Fossen

Judy Fossen — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 17:21:47 +0000

This is excellent advice for all levels of writers. It’s easy for professional writers to speed through this final assessment, after all the time invested leading up to it. Thanks for the reminder, Kate!

Comment on Tales of Working at Home: The Woof Stops Here by Kitty Foth-Regner

Kitty Foth-Regner — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:47:02 +0000

Are you talking about my Basset, JoAnn? Nine years old and louder than ever?

Client and case-study interviews are bad enough. It’s even worse when you’re trying to do a radio interview with a critter howling and pawing at the door. I did nearly 50 of them when my last book came out; the only way I could silence her was to put her crate in our attached garage and cover it with multiple blankets. I could still hear her, but the radio audience could not.

Then there are the cats …

Comment on Are smart phones replacing smart writers? by Judy Fossen

Judy Fossen — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 21:20:53 +0000

Thanks for the big chuckle, Michele! This just happened between me and my 25-year-old son recently. His text message made absolutely no sense, so when I responded, “What???” his message back was “My ‘smart’ phone isn’t so smart.”

Comment on Don’t Be Afraid to Hire a Freelance Writer by JoAnn Petaschnick

JoAnn Petaschnick — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:37:07 +0000

Joe, very well said. Thank you!
JoAnn

Comment on Tales of Working at Home: The Woof Stops Here by JoAnn Petaschnick

JoAnn Petaschnick — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 22:29:45 +0000

Patricia and Mike, thanks for your comments. I knew I wasn’t the only one with pet issues.

I think I’m going to have to get one of those shiatsu massagers – sounds great!

Comment on Tales of Working at Home: The Woof Stops Here by Mike Starr

Mike Starr — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 21:48:21 +0000

Lily, one of the two cats who generously allow me to share their home, perks right up whenever I get on the phone. She instantly appears on my lap, at my feet or stomping across the desk, meowing loudly as if I’ve been neglecting her for weeks. Of course, the more important the call, the more she sounds off.

I’ve also been seriously considering changing her name to the loud expletive I yell at her when she knocks something on the floor (something that seems to be part of her mission in life).

Comment on Tales of Working at Home: The Woof Stops Here by Patricia Winsten

Patricia Winsten — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 21:12:26 +0000

This is hilarious, JoAnn. My german shepherd went nuts over a squirrel a few days ago when I was conducting a phone interview. The woman asked if I was calling from a kennel. I think she was kidding.

A dog keeping your feet warm is one of the perks of working from home. Here’s another: That same wonderful UPS man left a package on my doorstep not five minutes ago. (The dog did not bark because he always carries treats in his pocket. Smart guy.) I am now working and having a shiatsu massage at the same time with my brand new Brookstone i-Need lumbar massager. This nifty, inexpensive little thing straps right on the back of your chair. Anyone who is chained to a computer for hours at a time should run right out and get one. Unless you work in a “real” office, where the groans and moans of bliss would gather a group of gawkers to see who is in your cubicle with you.

Nope, Brookstone is not my client but I’d sure love to test their products and write reviews for them…)