The Super "Become Independent" Daily Journal Thread

[Matt Willard]

DAY 133 - OCTOBER 14, 2009

This new freelance article is going in a very good direction. And now that my new book has come in, I'm ready to write some good jokes for it tomorrow. Actually, it's because of that book that I skipped out on my intended networking today :V What can I say - it's been a good read so far. Besides that, I also finished a video script (one of a planned many) and another guest post.

Tomorrow I boldly set out to use my new joke knowledge on a variety of things, including Space Quest 5. Also, doing what I didn't get around to doing today :V

[Matt Willard]

DAY 134 - OCTOBER 15, 2009

Well, things got pretty hectic and off-schedule. Mainly because a certain little guest post showed up on Copyblogger, called "The Sideways L: How To Use Misdirection To Make Your Readers Laugh". That's right, the guest post that I wrote! It's amazing to see all the comments and thanks on Copyblogger for making a great post. It's a kickass feeling.

(To read the article itself, go here:

The Sideways L: How to Use Misdirection to Make Your Readers Laugh | Copyblogger)

So, yeah, you can imagine how that distracted me :V Since I'm naturally going to get some big traffic waves to flow my way, I worked frantically today prepping Part 2 of my Scared Silly review. Took up three hours, but it's done. Now I have to get it up there as quick as possible, so I'm preparing for ANOTHER marathon run tomorrow. After that I'll throw up something I have in reserve to give me a break and catch up on my other projects.

I also tried that new joke system today. Not the best results, but somehow my joke speed still increased. I think it just takes time to write good jokes...but I think my mind has finally clicked on what makes jokes really funny to me, so that'll cut down on joke writing time, since I know what really makes me laugh.

Tomorrow is simple-finish the assignment, turn it in, then marathon blog into the sunset. From there, when the blog post gets done, I'll work on video stuff.

[Matt Willard]

DAY 136 - OCTOBER 17, 2009

Sorry I didn't file a report yesterday - at the last minute, I got invited to go over to my aunt's place, so I had to pack up in a hurry. Friday wasn't terribly eventful, though. I finished off my assignment and worked hard on getting a new blog post up. This week, I'll kick back with a post I have in reserve while I work on something new.

Tomorrow I need to figure out the best way to work on my platform-building activities. I want to get them done as quick as possible-dividing time up between two of them doesn't seem to be working well. But, considering I'm going to be working with articles and video...well, that takes time if you're making video. I need to consider the most effective platform-building activities and how to do them as quickly as possible, so I use my time productively.

(Also gonna take care of some minor stuff, especially preparations for my 30 day trial, which I COMPLETELY forgot to buy stuff for today. Plus, some much needed simplification, since I'm starting to feel overwhelm.)

[Matt Willard]

DAY 137 - OCTOBER 18, 2009

Ah, a good start to the week, and things are chugging along nicely. I got invited to do a post on AllFreelanceWriting.com, a website owned by my "mentor", Jennifer Mattern. The pay ain't great, but I agreed to do it since she's been so helpful to me. I don't think I'll take her up on her offer to make it a bi-weekly gig, though. After all, she advises freelancers to maintain a certain pay rate, and I intend to follow up on it :V

Other than that, today was mostly clearing out minor stuff, like Sundays usually go. I drafted a blog post, but I'm deciding to go with one I have in reserve this week in order to free up time for that guest post. Also rewrote some sales copy on my website in accordance with some other advice Jenn gave me. Hope it helps with some conversion. I also added some standup and comedy movies to Netflix in preparation for my upcoming 30 day trial.

Tomorrow I'll be working on my assignments and my two platform-building activities. I've decided to focus exclusively on one "filler" activity at a time while making strides to finishing the latest part of Space Quest. This time, I'll be focusing on a response to the recent trailer for a game called Rocket Knight. I won't work on any other "filler" until it's done. I just hope I can find time this week to record dialogue for it.

[Matt Willard]

DAY 138 - OCTOBER 19, 2009

A good, solid day. My post for AllFreelanceWriting is coming along really well. I'm quite surprised by how neatly it's falling together. I also made some decent progress on Space Quest 5 and my video. I can't record lines for the video until Wednesday, so I might have to fill work time with more Space Quest 5 if I finish with my image gathering tomorrow.

Tomorrow is basically...more of what I did today. Since I've still got three weeks left in my "get 1 more client" monthly goal, I've got to work real hard to make my brand stick.

[Jerry Grinkmeyer]

Hey Matt,

I've been away from this forum for a few months and when I came back I saw your ballsy first post in this thread. And no, I did not read the whole thing. But I did read the last few and it sounds like you've really gotten your act together and are moving in a positive direction. Congrats, and I'll be checking in from time to time.

[Matt Willard]

Originally Posted by Jerry Grinkmeyer

Hey Matt,

I've been away from this forum for a few months and when I came back I saw your ballsy first post in this thread. And no, I did not read the whole thing. But I did read the last few and it sounds like you've really gotten your act together and are moving in a positive direction. Congrats, and I'll be checking in from time to time.

I guess when you get mad enough, you can push into a bold new direction. Thanks for the support.


DAY 139 - OCTOBER 20, 2009

Eh, today was a bit mixed. It started off good - I used a new joke writing procedure which really kept my momentum up, where I write out my rough jokes to go back later and polish. I'm not done with my current article yet, but it's coming along really well. I have to try this method out more often.

After that, though, I admit that I caved and went to the mall because my sister's work screwed her over and messed up our plans to see Where The Wild Things Are. It wasn't a complete waste, though. On a whim she bought me a 2 CD sampler of various comedy albums, which I'm really grateful for. Later on I also got my comedy writing workbook, so it'll be really helpful for that 30 day comedy study trial, which will hopefully begin soon.

Tomorrow I need to reverse tactics and record lines in the morning, since I'm getting free time. From there I move on with my assignment and other things I've been doing this week. I hope tomorrow I get the comedy DVDs I selected at Netflix, so I can begin my trial. If not, I'll try to get some material from the library and focus more on my new workbook.

[Matt Willard]

DAY 140 - OCTOBER 21, 2009

Ah, making nice progress. I record all my lines in one go, so now I can get right to editing together my work. I also finished up my assignment in what is possibly the fastest time I've managed so far, so I'm really glad. Space Quest 5 got some progress, finished revising a guest post...all around good.

Tomorrow I have some time before the next article needs to be written, so I'll attend to my market flood, as well as some dedicated networking, which I musn't skimp on.

[Matt Willard]

DAY 141 - OCTOBER 22, 2009

You know what I discovered today? Video editing is a real drag. Yeah, I've edited videos before, but I notice it's a lot smoother when there isn't much to edit. That's why I can polish off Space Quest 5 or commentaries over video games easily - the editing is basically syncing up commentary to footage, and I'm done. But with Rocket Knight, I saw all the manipulating I had to do, all the extra images I had to make, and I was all, "screw this". As a matter of fact, that's why other video reviews I've tried bombed - I get really bored of extensive editing.

So this means my market flood strategy needs to focus on things I can put out quickly, like articles or really quick videos. Fortunately, I have a guest post I'm working on, so that'll take center stage tomorrow. And since I know I can create value quickly with commentary, I'll do some of that tomorrow with a co-commentator.

[Matt Willard]

DAY 142 - OCTOBER 23, 2009

Bleh. Started out fine, then I ended up wasting a lot of time and getting nothing done. If I'm gonna make this business work, I need to have more discipline. Well, since I got The Well-Fed Writer today, I can at least read through it tomorrow.

[Matt Willard]

DAY 143 - OCTOBER 24, 2009

After a good rest, I'm ready to attack the new week. My biggest concern will be having patience throughout my efforts to create and deliver value, but I'll do the best I can to make it happen. Tomorrow I'm working on my last assignment for this current deal, revising a lot of stuff, and doing my usual Weekly Progress Report.

[Matt Willard]

DAY 144 - OCTOBER 25, 2009

Once again, a good start to the week. I just hope I can keep it up. Made a lot of revision progress, and I readjusted my market flood strategy to create and deliver value quickly. Since my revisions were a bit ahead of what I expected, I also did some dedicated networking and a bunch of minor tasks.

Tomorrow is a lot of joke writing. I'd better eat good tomorrow to make sure my game remains top-notch. I'm also going to make some guest post pitches - after all, if I can get on Copyblogger, then obviously I'm good enough.

[Matt Willard]

DAY 145 - OCTOBER 26, 2009

Bleh. Today was a struggle. I had difficulty working on my assignment because a good opening eluded me, and I didn't have any other projects to switch to in order to keep my momentum up. My joke writing for my blog was weak, and I only managed one guest post pitch. Fortunately, after that, things picked up: my joke writing for a guest post went well, and my comedy study hour went fairly smoothly.

Since I'm going to see a movie tomorrow (which I really need to after today), tomorrow will be simple. Just working on my assignment, blog, and some dedicated networking.

[Matt Willard]

DAY 146 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

Well, I did as much as I could today, considering I went off at 2 to see Where The Wild Things Are. It's been a huge struggle to write jokes lately. I really think I'm gonna need to take a vacation soon to restore my batteries. Until then, I'm gonna do the best I can to keep my momentum going.

Tomorrow it's working on my assignment, blog, guest post work...you know the deal.

[Matt Willard]

DAY 147 - OCTOBER 28, 2009

A better day today! Reading ahead in my workbook made some things click, and I revised jokes fairly well today. Still wish I was a bit faster, but it wasn't as bad as it was on, say, Monday. Along with typical assignment and blog, I did some dedicated networking and guest post work.

Today I realized that I need to do more queries if I want to lay the initial groundwork for attracting clients. With that, I'm spending time tomorrow searching for more blogs and sites to query to, as well as sending a few out with guest post ideas. I plan to do this a lot more often in the coming weeks as another aspect of my market flood strategy. (Of course, typical assignment, blog, and networking to follow.)

[Matt Willard]

DAY 148 - OCTOBER 29, 2009

So my client told me to back off on the articles, so now I'm in my first "slow period". In the coming weeks I'm going to be needing to write more queries and make some direct submissions as a result. Joke writing was...okay, I guess. I used my new free hours to write up some really fast rough jokes for a roast I'm doing, which was fun to do. Blog work was still slow, though, and I only got around to making one guest post pitch. Also, my dedicated networking felt fruitless, so I think I'll be gradually focusing more on queries and submissions over that in the future.

Well, I do have some pressing guest work to do, so it's time for a nice change of pace. My big projects tomorrow are that roast and a Sega Master System mini-retrospective I want to get done in a week. I'll also be trying desperately to finish my next blog post, as well as putting the finishing touches on another guest post and such.

[Matt Willard]

DAY 149 - OCTOBER 30, 2009

Some very nice progress to finish off the week! My rough draft for my roast is going well. Soon I'll have enough jokes to start revising. And while I thought I wouldn't be able to get a blog post up today, it turns out I could! So I did that, and I finished a draft for one of my guest posts, did a lot of work for another...so yeah, a good day.

Tomorrow I am off, and after working very hard this week, I deserve it.

[nhaasch]

Now could you imagine that you would have been posting here for 150 days? I'm happy to see you continue! Keep up the great work.

[Matt Willard]

Originally Posted by nhaasch

Now could you imagine that you would have been posting here for 150 days? I'm happy to see you continue! Keep up the great work.

Will do.


DAY 150 - OCTOBER 31, 2009

With my Halloween plans annoyingly crushed, today was dull. At least I got a break. Tomorrow it's back to action. Celebrity roast, retrospective guest blog post, some notes for my own blog, and the Weekly Progress Report.

[Matt Willard]

DAY 151 - NOVEMBER 1, 2009

Woke up an hour early today due to Daylight Savings Time, so I looked up some old Zen Habits articles. It inspired me to work slowly and in the present moment today, which was pretty helpful. It was hard to keep it up, though - takes more concentration than you think.

Anyway, finished writing the rough draft jokes to my roast, finished notes to my next blog post, finished revising my Master System retrospective, and did my Weekly Progress Report. Had more time than I expected, so I took care of some minor stuff too.

Tomorrow I'm going to keep working on the stuff I did today, as well as take notes on CopyBlogger's "Content Marketing 101" series. For a guy in my field, it could prove useful. I promise - when that's done, I'm going to work on queries. I'm also going to do my best and keep on working slowly, with mindfulness and focus.

[Matt Willard]

DAY 152 - NOVEMBER 2, 2009

Bit fragmented today. Tried to take it all nice and easy, but that didn't feel so productive, so I went back to my usual structure and it was better. Maybe I should alternate depending on my mood?

Anyway, the roast is coming along well. Just started revising the jokes. Also made headway on my retrospective, though it could have been better. Since I plan to advertise my guest work on my blog, I'm not stressing so much about the post this week. I also went through Content Marketing 101 and took notes, gaining some new ideas, which will definitely help out. (On the side, I applied to two intriguing gigs. One immediately didn't pay out, but time will tell on the other.)

Tomorrow I'm basically continuing to work on my stuff, but I'm also going to start drawing together an article query for a magazine.

[Matt Willard]

DAY 153 - NOVEMBER 3, 2009

Hmmm. It's going to be hard to balance speed with writing the kind of jokes I want. I hope that, as I improve, I can consistently aim for the jokes I want and quickly revise them to be as good as possible.

Anyway, worked on roast, blog, and retrospective, with good results. However, the query didn't go all that well. I let fear get in my way. I didn't have a lot of in-depth knowledge of the magazines which I had guidelines for, so I blocked myself from writing anything. Well, tomorrow I'm going to try again. THIS time, however, my goal is to finish a query. It can be an awful query for all I care (though I will strive to make it readable and professional). But I've noticed the trend - I have to fail first for my mind to click, so by planning to finish and send queries over having them succeed, the law of averages will take over as I keep learning on how to do them better.

Tomorrow, same stuff as before, including FINISHING that query.

[Matt Willard]

DAY 154 - NOVEMBER 4, 2009

Lots of stuff done today! Not only did I finish my retrospective, but I also finished my roast! Now I just need to find the time to record it...it has to go up very soon, and I'd hate to not be able to use it.

Also, since humor queries are unneccessary, the fear to conquer at this point is finding time to write stuff and send it to magazines. I brainstormed initial ideas, so now the objective is to commit to it.

Anyway, since I've written a lot lately, it's time to back off on it for a bit. I'm going to be drafting up a humor article to sell, naturally, and there's some blog work too, but tomorrow I'm going to do some dedicated networking (which I really need to catch up on). I'm also going to gather images for the roast, since I'm preparing a slideshow.

[Froztwolf]

Seems like you are being rather efficient in the last week, moving along at a nice pace.

Are you being effective as well? Is the movement in the direction you want to be going?

[Matt Willard]

Originally Posted by Froztwolf

Seems like you are being rather efficient in the last week, moving along at a nice pace.

Are you being effective as well? Is the movement in the direction you want to be going?

There are flaws, but this is the direction I want. I hope to refine my process as I go.


DAY 155 - NOVEMBER 5, 2009

Well, the work day quickly turned into shop day. After drafting a humor article to sell, I finally decided, "Dude, you need a haircut." Since I had finished my guest work this week, I decided now would be the time to bop up to the mall. I got my haircut, but ended up spending more time there looking for other stuff I've been meaning to buy. Then when I got home, Mom asked me if I wanted to go to Wal-Mart, and since I've been looking for a shelf...

So yeah. Now I have a shelf and a video game and stuff. Tomorrow we must make up for this. Gonna work on the piece for sale, update the blog with this week's guest post stuff, dedicating networking...that stuff.

[Matt Willard]

DAY 156 - NOVEMBER 6, 2009

This day didn't really go anywhere, either. My carefully laid plans were demolished when I realized that I still had a lot of work to do on the roast, and since it's due tomorrow, I attended to that.

Then I got hungry and went to McDonalds. When I came back I was feelin' pretty tired from all the junk I ate, so I went ahead and did my comedy study for the day.

Ah, well. We'll bop back into action on Sunday. Tomorrow is heavy video editing time.

[Matt Willard]

DAY 157 - NOVEMBER 7, 2009

With my pressing movie edits done, I can now turn towards the new week. Since I didn't do what I meant to do on Thursday and Friday, Sunday will attack those again. Namely, working on material to sell along with blog stuff. I'll also be doing some dedicated networking along with the Weekly Progress Report. This week I really want to make progress on filler video content and Space Quest 5.

[Matt Willard]

DAY 158 - NOVEMBER 8, 2009

I'm goin' to the fair this Friday, so we must make sure that the rest of the week as productive as possible. I finally managed on a good humor article idea and began working on it. Did some blog work too by firing out four rough jokes. As for my dedicated networking, I realize now that the places I should be as a humor writer need to change, so I'm moving in that direction and joining more of the right groups and stuff.

This week I want to start work towards making new video content to spread my brand, along with finishing some freelance humor work. With that, I'm working on my article tomorrow as well as preparing a new short video. Also, after blog work, I'll take a little break by searching and applying for good writing gigs that fall in my price range.

[Matt Willard]

DAY 159 - NOVEMBER 9, 2009

This day was strange. It kinda dipped, then improved again. I went to breakfast, which quickly expanded to a Wal-Mart trip. To adjust for that, I skimped out on blog time to work on my humor article. Didn't finish revising, looked at some jobs and realized that humor writing has to be approached differently. Messed around for a bit, then drafted and revised a video script, giving me enough time to finish revising that humor article as well.

Well, I ain't complaining. Stuff got done. Tomorrow is a LOT of joke writing - freelance article, blog, and my video filler. In between I plan to use my new online subscription to Writer's Market to search for more markets that take humor stuff.

[Jaycee]

Hey Matt,

it's really inspiring to see you moving onwards despite minor setbacks. Longterm success is yours, for sure.

Keep going!