Dear Reader,
I’m a gigger. That’s what Word Raccoon and I are. Giggers. I know the more common term is freelancer or even gig worker, but gigger sounds more fun.
Pardon me, WR and I were called away for a moment to rescue a squirrel, or so we thought. Whenever we hear a squirrel in apparent distress now, we run off the porch, heedless of whether or not we have shoes on, to see if we can help.
This one was across the street in a tree on the side I couldn’t see, and it took me a minute to figure out what was going on: the neighbor’s cat was eyeing the poor squirrel’s winter stash of nuts. As soon as the cat moved a space away from it, the squirrel’s squeaks grew softer, but still audible. The further away the gray cat slinked, the quieter the squirrel. I’m still tempted to go over and shoo the cat away. I may be rooting for the neighborhood cats’ romance from a few months ago, but I am firmly on the side of the squirrels in all things.
WR agrees.
Where was I?
Ah, yes. Today I took my LinkedIn out of hibernation (yes, that’s a real thing) and updated it. I laughed as I read down the jobs I’ve had. Mostly gigs. Gigs suit my personality, and my writing aspirations.
Someone said yesterday that I always have so many plates spinning. “Textbook ADHD,” I was able to say. At least now I understand it and don’t just feel embarrassed about it.
My gigs tend to overlap. Sometimes I finish one as I transition into the next, sometimes I juggle both until I feel comfortable in the newest.
Gigs typically are short term, provide more independence (WR will not be managed, LOL), and often let you set your own hours. If WR can write book reviews or pitches at 2 a.m., that sounds just right for her.
Need extra money for a vehicle repair? Gig.
Want to pay for a trip? Gig.
Gigs are often project based. My ADHD brain thrives on novelty. Start and stop dates are important to WR. Or at least optional ones.
Alas, the gig economy usually lacks medical or retirement benefits. Stability can also be an issue. I hate this, but AI ate a gig I really, really liked, one that I had worked at for a few years. I don’t blame anyone; it was a business with a slim profit margin, and this will likely help them stay afloat. In fact, I told them I loved working for them but that they couldn’t afford me. We pretended it was temporary. We both knew it wasn’t.
(Not all of my gigs are on my resume, btw, so don’t go poking around thinking you’ll discover which one I’m talking about. I’m not looking to embarrass anyone.)
Online gigs also align well with my good/bad arthritis days that I experienced so regularly until we figured out my arthritis treatment last year. Sometimes already WR forgets how tin woman she felt before then, though she still does have some limitations.
WR and I, being between gigs, are ready for a new challenge. There are options, everything from working for a literary journal to creating educational materials. We are open to seeing what the world brings us, even as we build our own business, too.
(Microdramas are still very much on our radar, and we’re moving forward with investigating that trend.)
Although things have changed since I last looked for new gigs, I know I’ll find something.
And WR, while she prefers to work from home at her own pace, will do what she needs to do. A benefit of working away from home, if it comes to that, would be an excuse to dress up every day again.
Depending on the job, I suppose.
WR likes this part of the process. It’s a little like dating, isn’t it?
And regardless, a rough draft of this third novel will be finished by year’s end.
Drema
