Yvonne Battle-Felton

To be general, I love writing. To be specific, I love certain types of writing.

What interests me as a writer is the psychology of characters--I am intrigued by motivations, actions, dialogue and how these components intertwine to determine character reaction, character relationships: character.

While I say I want to write for a living; I mean I want to make a living as a writer. I picture a published writer, an award or two, an abundance of time and writing what I want, fiction and nonfiction that explores the depths of my characters.

In pursuit of my dreams, I find myself accepting freelance projects to--you know--feed the kids. The projects I accept are typically things that intrigue me: branding deals with the relationship between words, the expectation of dialogue and action. I accept editing projects, write ad copy, perform voice overs.

Recently I was offered two projects: One I could not afford to take, and one I could not afford to turn down.

These are the lessons I've learned from them:

1. Outline (verbally) the expectations and scope of the project.
2. Reiterate (in writing) the expectations and scope of the project
3. Provide realistic timelines and cost estimates
4. Be clear about payment terms—methods and time frame
5. Project specific contract signed by both parties
6. Check in half-way providing status: progress, hours put in, cost estimate, sample and estimated project conclusion.
7. Ask fellow freelancers for advice
8. Choose projects with discretion: not every project is the project for me.
9. Price based on realistic, inform estimate of time and resources it will take.
10. Be selective: Not every project is the one for me.

Posted by Yvonne Battle-Felton at 02:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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I have always been leery of reviews.

Books, movies, companies, merchandise, what ever the product or service, I seldom trust testimonials, endorsements, or personal statements unless I respect the source.

A quick search of most products or services will pull up the product, its competition, client testimonials and customer reviews.

It should be universally understood that information provided by the manufacturer and/or provider and its competition is biased.

Word-of-mouth is just as powerful today as it was yesterday.

Blogs, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and the thousands of services in between, rely on the premise of networks and the sharing of information. The power of telling a friend, who tells a friend, who tells another friend, has gone exponential.

With all of this information exchanging, sharing, updating, blogging and twittering about, the FTC reminds us that nothing has really changed. When making decisions based on someone’s experience, recommendation, or testimonial, you have to consider the source. The recent Link1 ruling takes it one step further--effective December 1, depending on the source, the information provider, exchanger, sharer, updater, tweeter, or in this case, blogger has to disclose it.

The ruling encourages bloggers to reveal relationships which may influence their reviews, testimonials, essays, etc… of products or services. Influence can take the form of money, product, trade.

The language is highly subjective to interpretation.

Bloggers are encouraged to act responsibly by disclosing this information. If they refuse, a letter may or may not go out, action may or may not follow. The ruling is vague in its language but broad in potential.

Sadly, it’s also necessary.

The often blurry lines between marketing, promotions, and testimonials are not any more or less murky than they were a decade ago, but the opportunities to mislead consumers and their networks are.

I like to believe that people are more savvy and less likely to believe everything they read. I like to believe that people recognize an ad when they see it. But then again, I also like to believe that writers willing disclose relationships that may influence their pieces.

The FTC reminds me that this is not always the case.

As a blogger, I hold myself responsible for everything I write. As a reader of blogs, I hold myself responsible for everything I believe.

Posted by Yvonne Battle-Felton at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Recently, I got a letter that my son’s school failed the state test. Not a state test, the state test: the Maryland State Assessment Test or MSA. The test that decides funding, staffing, academic performance: the test. It’s a report card, a ‘how does the school compare to other schools in the state’ and equally as importantly, a ‘how does your child compare to other students in the state’ marker.

Each year, my children perform well, very well to be precise. Some years their schools do not.

This year, my daughter’s school passed the statewide test, my son’s did not. The letter from his school is nicely worded. It says something about under performing and reevaluating. It’s very positive, but the bottom line is that something is missing between teaching and learning: something just doesn’t work.

Four years ago, I got the same letter before my daughter was supposed to go to the same school. That year, I opted out and was able to transfer her into a performing school.

Today, the program that made such a transfer possible is defunct, and so though my son exceeded the state expectations, I can’t just bail out. And, I’m not sure I want to. There is always the option of private or charter schools. So my son, who is in gifted and talented classes, is not there out of lack of options.

My son has made lots of friends at this school, so like it or not we are vested in the community.

Problems and all, it feels nice to belong to a community.

His school plans to make some changes some academic, some administrative. I plan to make some changes too. This year, I plan to be not just a member of the PTA but a participant. I am looking for opportunities to volunteer around my schedule and my comfort level. I am considering leading a journaling workshop to help get kids excited about words again.

Whatever I do, this year, I plan to affect change.

This year, community begins at home.

It doesn’t end there.

Posted by Yvonne Battle-Felton at 09:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

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