The not-so-safe 9-5 office job

There’s about a 95% chance I’ll be losing my steady office job at the end of August.

Don’t worry, I’ve already taken many deep breaths and clamped down on the muttered curses.

This isn’t an elephant-sized surprise.  I was hired on a 1-year contract with the potential for continuing employment.  And although my bosses have said they’d like to keep me on, budget costs are being cut and the company I work for can only afford to upkeep the tech guys.  The general research staff (aka…me) are being considered disposable unless things change between now and then.  They won’t really have the work available to keep me busy nor the money necessary to feed my wallet.

When I was presented with this tidbit of information, I didn’t freak.  Surprise!  Actually…I kind of breathed a sigh of relief.  Okay, well first I laughed about my assumption that my 9-5 grind was such a safe and secure bet.  And that there was no way I was disposable with such a solid education beneath my belt.  Shows me.

I’ll tell you why this wasn’t such a bad revealing though.

1. I hate the job anyways. I’m getting paid laugh-worthy wages to do stuff I didn’t sign up for.  Most of the time, I have nothing to do.  So I spend my time staring at a blank computer screen.  I even contemplate stabbing my eyeballs out with two straws and blowing them like spitballs at office mates on occasion.  Yes, it really is that boring.  This job fulfills me about as much as that week I tried a coffee diet.  Think I’m joking?  I actually filled out an application to be an elephant groom at African Lion Safari just to escape its clutches.
2. I have a back-up plan. My previous employer (whom I absolutely adore) has reminded me on more than one occasion that her door is always open.  Sure, it’s still in the research field, not completely in the direction I’d like to be heading.  But it’s something.  Whether I can get part-time or full-time work with her, at least I’m promised some sense of security with a paycheck for the time being.
3. I have an excuse to aggressively pursue my true dreams and career aspirations. I can finally devote more of my focus and time to getting my freelance business off the ground.  When I gave the news to my dad about my potential job loss, even he said: “It’s probably the best thing that could happen to you.”  And he’s right.  Because I’m not happy where I am or with what I’m doing.  I’m not stimulated, I have no sense of self-progression, and all I’ve gotten out of the deal is a wallop of frustration.

Ed Gandia’s post at The Wealthy Freelancer made a great evaluation of the current economic climate and increasing lay-offs when he said:

That’s why I’m confident that a large percentage of these “funemployed” will come back (when their severance and savings run out!) as freelancers and solo professionals – not as corporate execs. They want the high pay, but they’re not willing to compromise too much to get it. Which means that in many cases they’ll have to settle for less until they build their solo careers.

But I think most of them will be OK with that. The freedom to design the life they want and live by their own rules will be the biggest reward. And it won’t be long before many of them are earning more (and doing more of what they want) than they did in their corporate jobs.

So for the rest of you facing a similar situation, here’s to working twice as hard for twice the rewards!  We’re all going to be just fine.

Like Nike said…just do it.

To think too long about doing a thing often becomes its undoing. ~ Eva Young

I came across a thought-provoking post today on Freelance Switch entitled “Just Get Going”.  To be quite frank, I sat up in my chair faster than my closest girlfriend takes to decide that a $300 pair of heels from Aldo is a perfectly rational purchase.  I became suddenly and uncomfortably aware that  I had fallen prey to the mind-boggling form of procrastination Martha calls “I must get all my ducks in a row before I start promoting my business”.  Bummer.  Why did it take such a kick in the butt for me to recognize the  unnecessary limitations I’ve been putting on my potential success?

Actually, I guess it wasn’t that big of a surprise.  This has always been one of my biggest pitfalls.  For whatever reason, I imagine that it’s possible to be absolutely prepared before making a decision or taking action.  I’ll spend more time than needed on a particular project because I’m confident that some level of quality perfection can be attained.  It’s kind of like a syndrome, now that I think of it.  And it really does prevent me from making progress or jumping on opportunities that I might otherwise have snagged.

I was startled by how little marketing I’ve been doing lately when that’s really where my focus should be since I’m just starting my writing career.  I mean…no matter how many tweaks I make to my business website, it’ll never be perfect enough for my tastes.  Despite how much I research and read up on the business of freelancing, experience will always be my best teacher.  And that fear of letting go of a writing project until I’ve revised it a bazillion times is only sucking up the time I could be using to build my business and scope out additional assignments or clients.  That’s what I should be doing.

I think I’ll take Martha’s advice and just get going – or as the Nike proverb puts it -  just do it!  Who cares if my ducks aren’t all in a row?  They probably never will be.  Time to get off the procrastinator bench and be a doer.  I’ve got to market fiercely and concentrate on sniffing my way to new assignments and clients rather than dwelling in the slush pile.  I recommend you other creative perfectionists to do the same.  Eventually your rise to action will pay off.

And remember…reward yourself.  You deserve it.

Back Again!

Hello everyone!  This is just a quick shout-out to let you know this blog is going to be experiencing a rebirth.  To make a long story short, with the current economy, the Ireland plans fell through.

Look for a new post coming soon!

Blogging Hiatus.

This is just a quick post to inform everyone that I will be taking a bit of a blogging hiatus.  The winds of change have come upon me quickly and unexpectedly.  Since I may be going overseas to study Journalism for a year in Ireland in September, I have a lot of eggs to get in order, and not much time to do it in!  However, I am planning on starting a new blog detailing the process of applications, funding, and hopefully (provided I get accepted) the adventures I have out there.  When that project gets started, I will definitely post a link through for everyone.

Thanks for all your support and happy holiday season!

Talk soon.

The Balancing Act of Freelancing with a Full-Time Job.

Kites rise highest against the wind – not with it. ~ Sir Winston Churchhill

Balancing freelancing writing with a full-time job is tough and challenging.  I won’t lie or sugarcoat the facts. I’ve been doing it for a few months now, and there are some days where I just squeeze my eyes shut and clench my fists, trying to summon the motivation from deep within.  Hoping there’s still some left in my reserves.

I’ve been keeping my 9-5 job in an effort to get my feet wet in the freelance writing industry before I take the nosedive in.  I’m not too prideful to say that the steady paycheck keeps me comfortable either.  It allows me to avoid moments of panic when I’ve got bills piling up on the desk or one of my pets suddenly decides to get sick and stare at me with bulgy, discomfiting eyes until they are magically cured by a $500 vet’s solution.

Eventually, I will go full-time.  But I don’t feel ready quite yet.  So until then, I will continue to juggle both jobs, catching the falling balls with whatever I may – hands, mouth, feet.

Dealing with the stress of a lot of deadlines the past couple weeks between both my regular job and my freelance writing gigs, I decided to channel my stress into a blog post that might help others in a similar situation cope with a demanding schedule.  I’d also love to hear advice or helpful suggestions from others, so feel free to add to my list.

1. Create a schedule and stick to it. With two jobs, good time management is obviously in your best interest.  Some people like to keep a daytime calendar, others prefer to use Internet-based tools such as Google Calendar, some prefer daily to-do lists, while others may use a combination of these.  Do whatever works for you, just do it.  By setting goals and keeping to a set schedule, you will find it easier to keep your responsibilities and deadlines for both jobs organized.
2. Take care of your health. Being dedicated to two jobs can be very time-consuming and really take its toll on your mental and physical health.  Do not work around the clock.  Make sure you schedule in free time for yourself, family and friends every day.  Try to keep the work you do on weekends to a bare minimum.  Get at least 7 hours of sleep a night.  And exercise!  It’s important to keep your body healthy and active in order to nourish your mind and keep the creative juices flowing.   You will not produce your best quality work otherwise.
3. Get help from others. Not everyone has this luxury, but if you do have a willing and supportive spouse or partner, family or friends, get help where you can.  This may include assistance with the accounting and paperwork aspect of your freelancing so you can better devote yourself to writing itself.  It may also include a partner or kids taking up a little more responsibility with household chores or duties to give you more time to juggle both careers.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it from loved ones, as long as it’s a reasonable request.
4. Don’t take on too many side gigs. If you are keeping a schedule and are effective with your time management, you should have an understanding of how much time you can really devote to your part-time freelance interests without interfering with your day job or ‘you time’ (and yes, you better schedule this in).  Do not take on more than you can feasibly handle.  Sure, you may be excited by the writing gigs that are made available to you and want to take them all on until you’re buried in a heap of work that has no end.  Remember, other opportunities will come.  You do not have to take every writing job that you are qualified for.  Be selective and only commit yourself to what you can handle.
5. Take mini-vacations. If you don’t take a break away from both jobs time and again, you will suffer burnout.  Remember to take a mini-vacation every once in a while to de-stress and enjoy time away from the pressures and demands of having two jobs.  After all, you deserve it!

Make Editors and Clients Want More.

Tis now the very witching time of night, when churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out contagion to this world. ~ William Shakespeare

Happy Halloween to everyone! Halloween is definitely one of my favourite times of the year.  I remember as a child lugging a pillowcase over my back, grunting and swaying like some hunchback, determined to accumulate enough sweets to give myself a sugar-high for weeks to come.  I wish you all many tricks and treats.

Today I wanted to write a small post about what I have learned to date in establishing strong relationships with editors and keeping them coming back for more.  Feel free to comment and add to the list!

1. Go the extra mile. Editors and clients appreciate writers who make their work easier.  This means you may have to extend yourself a bit.  Try your best to always get enough information about the writing project up front so you aren’t constantly harassing them for more details.  Understand the requirements ahead of time so there’s less editing and revision in the long run.  Make sure your piece is polished when submitted so your editor doesn’t have to almost entirely re-write your words.  Sloppiness will get you nowhere.  Try to work as independently as possible so your editor or client doesn’t feel like they have to make extra time to give you guidance and support.  If a photograph is required for a project and you’ve got the basic skills to do this yourself, why not take the initiative and provide a photograph yourself so an extra person doesn’t have to be hired to do the job?  Not only do you earn their appreciation for cutting down on their workload, but you can make some extra cash for handling both elements of the project.
2. Be open to suggestions. If you’re writing for a living, part-time or full-time, then obviously you’re talented.  Sure, sometimes a client or editor makes a suggestion for revision that makes you gnash your teeth together and contemplate sticking your eyeballs with two straws and firing them like spitballs.  You’re the professional writer, after all.  You know best, right?  Maybe.  Whether or not a project is better the way you imagine it, if the hand that feeds you has something else in mind, take their needs and wants into consideration.  This is priority.  If you really fear that it will negatively impact the finished product, discuss this openly with them, state your reasons, and try to seek middle ground.  But never, never, never downplay their input.
3. Don’t be lazy – respect deadlines. Unless you’ve been incapacitated by some finger-eating flesh disease or zombies have invaded your city, always make sure you get a project in by its deadline.  In fact, getting it in a day or two in advance will make editors kiss the ground you walk on and clients come back with more projects in the future.  Life happens and occasionally you may have to request an extension, but only do this under dire circumstances and do it well in advance so editors or clients have time to rearrange their own schedules if necessary.  If missing deadlines becomes a regular occurrence, you may soon find that nobody wants to hire you and you have a reputation that limits your opportunities.
4. Always be professional. Don’t treat editors or clients like best friends by being overly casual.  You are running a business and should therefore conduct yourself accordingly.  However, this doesn’t mean you can’t meet for coffee on occasion or send greeting cards on special holidays.  You want to be friendly and approachable, but you also want to be taken seriously after all.
5. Suck up…but just a little. Overt ass-kissing is never pretty.  You don’t want to come across as pitiful and desperate.  But you still want to show gratitude and appreciation for the business your editors and clients provide you.  A compliment here and there always helps.  Keeping the lines of communication flowing even when no current projects are taking place is important too.  If you show interest in your editors and clients, they will return it, and this increases the likelihood of landing gigs.    

Nose-Diving into Economic Turmoil.

We are made to persist. That’s how we find out who we are. ~ Tobias Wolff

The economic recession. One could argue it’s the hottest topic on freelance blogs these days. Some are muttering low-toned warnings of hardships to come. Others are screaming – ready to abandon the freelance business like a bad date – unable to muster the courage to search for positive possibilities. And here I am, embracing it as I teeter on the tip of the diving board, ready to fall into a sea of uncertainty.  I could sink or swim.  How can I even consider pursuing this career in its beginning stages when our financial grounding is so unreliable? I’ll tell you.

Men with Pens wrote this fabulous post about recessions being a good time to start up a business, and I agree with them.  So hold onto your quizzical stares and gaping mouths for just a moment.

I bet your current corporate job isn’t ’secure’ either. Not only is the freelance business ‘iffy’ as far as financial security, but that steady office job you may rely on isn’t either.  In fact, you’re always at risk when your ability to work and make a decent income is dependent on someone else.  The economy has just served to worsen the situation due to increased lay-offs and more companies deciding to outsource rather than pay full-time employees that require extra compensation.  And in the freelance business, you can’t get laid off.  The only one in charge of your success is number one…you.

Freelancers generally have multiple streams and sources of income, not just one. If you work for a company that is going under, they’re all you have.  They sink, you sink.  However, most freelancers have multiple sources and streams of income…if one deteriorates, so what?  You will have other clients to rely on and in the meantime you can start marketing for new clients.

It’s cheaper for companies to hire freelancers than employees. In-house staff will decrease, giving freelancers more opportunities to get work.  Work still needs to get done, companies are still buying, and freelancers are the cheapest option.  More outsourcing means more work for freelancers, and more work means more money.

Freelancers aren’t new to marketing themselves, selling themselves, and relishing that entrepreneurial spirit. We’re flexible by nature, and marketing and selling ourselves is one of the biggest aspects of the business.  This gives us all an advantage over people who have been long-term employees and aren’t used to having to continuously search for employment.  Furthermore, many freelancers are taking advantage of the people in this situation by offering their resume writing skills up for grabs during a time when job-searchers desire any little extra ‘bling’ that will set them apart from the competition.

There’s a higher demand for marketing materials. Due to the recession, many companies are revving up their marketing output.  This will give copywriters a chance to increase their own business by helping struggling companies regain the cutting edge they need to continue being successful and rise above competing businesses.

So don’t push the panic button just yet.  Increase your marketing efforts, try to put a little more into savings, but take advantage of what opportunities are there.  And they are there…you just have to be open to them.

My First Experience Interviewing A Source.

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.  You are able to say to yourself, “I have lived through this horror.  I can take the next thing that comes along.”…You must do the thing you think you cannot do. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

For those of you who have read my previous posts, you will recall that I said I had managed to land some steady assignments with a local newspaper.  I was ecstatic to have the opportunity to get some published clips to my name.  There was a catch, of course.  I’d have to learn how to interview sources, and this was something I was just a little bit (okay, a lot) nervous about.

 

I’m my own worst critic, as I’m sure most writers and creative thinkers are.  I had to overcome a lot of self-doubt and spine-tingling fear when I picked up the telephone to dial one of the main sources for my first story.  In fact, I think I hung up at least three times before I finally let it ring through.  I kept assuming my first attempts to interview a subject would result in: epic fail.  But I was wrong.

 

Instead, I ended up on the line with one of the most interesting individuals I’ve ever exchanged words with.  He wasn’t the red-eyed, horned demon I was imagining.  He didn’t try to chase me back into freelance hibernation, guffaw at my questions, or challenge me with three-word responses.  He was open, honest, giving, and appreciative.  Even though he wasn’t my primary source for the article, I actually got more valuable information and quotes from him in the end.  As a result, I was able to craft the article into something I didn’t imagine it could become.

 

Here’s a few things I learned about interviewing subjects through my own experience:

1. Act confident.  Even if you’re shaking like Little Red Riding Hood in her knickers, pretend you’re confident.  Pretending is often enough.  Wear the cloak of confidence and not only will you project this onto your interview source, but you’ll also begin to feel more confident yourself.
2. Be prepared, but not too prepared.  Being prepared is part of what gives confidence.  By having a list of questions I wanted to ask my interview source rather than winging it, I felt more comfortable because I had a roadmap of where the interview was going.  But don’t be too prepared!  I skipped some questions if my interview source provided them as extensions of other responses rather than wasting time being redundant.  I also came up with a few extra questions that were jump-offs from something intriguing he mentioned that I hadn’t thought to cover or probe further with initially.
3. Imagine it as a chat or discussion, not an interview.  I went into the interview with the frame of mind that it was not an interview.  I know, you’re like – what kind of dribble are you feeding me?  If you use the word “interview” with your source, they immediately thing formal and boring Q&A.  If you use terminology like “chat” or “discussion”, it automatically gives a different impression.  Like you’re just two strangers chatting over coffee in the middle of the afternoon.  Rather than just doing a strict question and response, also interact, throwing in the occasional “that’s quite interesting”, “uh-huh”, “oh really?”  Just having this flavour of exchange in mind while talking to your source opens up new avenues of communication.  They’ll feel encouraged to relax, open up, and be far more genuine.  And this is the golden material you want!
4. Ask open-ended questions.  Don’t ask questions that can be answered with “yes” or “no”.  You want to ask questions that allow for creative and developed responses.  Don’t ask: “Do you like being a teacher?”  Instead ask: “What do you find most fulfilling about being a teacher?”  This gives you material your readers will want to know about. 
5. Ask easy questions first and last.  Starting off with the easiest questions builds rapport and familiarity.  Save the tough, detailed questions for the middle after you have some level of comfort with one another.  Then at the end – to wrap up and end on a positive note – throw in a couple more of your shorter, easier inquiries.
6. Permit tangents, but only brief ones.  Some of your best material will often come from tangents that your interviewee takes you on.  But remember, if they aren’t providing fruitful information that will add to your article, re-focus and get them back on track.  Simply saying something like, “I’d love to get back to that point you made earlier about…” will suffice.
7. Be unbiased and neutral.  Be as neutral as possible.  The interview is about them and not you.  It doesn’t matter if you hate them, worship them, or are indifferent.  Whatever your stance (if you have one going in or develop one during your talk), do not let it seep into the interview.  This will affect both the type and quality of material you get back.  If you’re meeting in person, meet on neutral ground – not at your house or theirs.
8. Keep notes.  Even if you’re recording the interview, it’s best to take notes.  Record the correct spelling of terms or names you aren’t very familiar with.  Scribble out your brainstorming.  Add in comments about tone, body posture, etc. if this is applicable and you are in-person.
9. Remember legalities.  In Canada, which is where I’m from, it’s illegal to record anyone without their permission.  However, no matter where my source calls home, I always ask simply out of respect.
10. Always be considerate and show gratitude.  Make sure you schedule a time and day in advance that is considerate of your source’s going-ons.  Give them multiple openings and let them decide what is best for them.  Then stick to it!  Respect their time and don’t start the interview late or early.  If something comes up, reschedule well ahead of time.  And most of all – say thank you!  Show gratitude, send a little thank you card or note, whatever it takes.  Remember your source had no obligation to give you their time or attention.  They are helping you.

Getting Started With Marketing.

I build confidence when I practice a variety of shots – hitting it high or low, working the ball. A lot of golfers go to the range and just hit full shots. That doesn’t build on-course confidence, because you won’t always hit full shots out there. My confidence is built on knowing I can effectively work the ball in any circumstance. ~ Joanne Carner

Although I may just be getting started in the business, if there’s one tidbit of advice I’ve heard across the board from fellow freelancers, it’s to market like a squirrel on speed.  I’ve had two questions:

1. How do I market when I’m just starting out and don’t have many clips to show?
2. Yeah, but what if I’m swimming in a sea of work – which I dream of while sitting in my bunny-tail pajamas sipping cocoa every night – what then?  No need to market, right?  Why should I if the clients are all running to me like a cup of coffee on Monday morning?

In response to question two I was told: You better market no matter how many clients you have!  Remember after the feast comes the famine, and unless you enjoy being in a slump, you do not want to neglect the marketing aspect of freelancing even when you’re up to your neck in work.  Good advice, I must say.  One must always set aside a small chunk of each day or a good portion of time once or twice a week to focus on the marketing aspect of the business to maintain steady work and cashflow.

When it comes to the first question, here is what I have learned to develop my own client base:

1. Get a website.  Every writer in this technological age should have one.  So many freelancers have told me this is the prime way they have landed clients without really putting forth any effort.  It’s ideal to have clear contact information, details on rates and services provided, an online portfolio of your best sample clips (provided you have some), and also a little blurb about who you are so clients can recognize you’re human too…not just some static robot that pumps out a trillion words a second.  Having a face and personality to someone they are going to hire is surprisingly important.  And if you don’t have any clips to put on your online portfolio, why not start building it with fictional samples?  Even if you don’t have work published, create a sales brochure for a nonexistent company or write a few articles on topics you’re interested in to show potential clients that you’re capable.  Nowadays, many companies or internet services offer freebie website space.  Website builders will even allow you to design your own simple layout so money isn’t an issue.  I have a friend working on my website now.  She’s a freelance graphic designer, also trying to get samples for her portfolio, so she’s helping me out by designing a website for me and I’m helping her out in turn by giving her a sample she can use in her portfolio.  Win-win!
2. Start a blog.  It doesn’t have to be about writing.  Mine is, but it can be about any topic you’re interested in.  Just make sure you have a ‘niche’ or focus, because this is more likely to develop an audience that follows your posts.  Sometimes having a specialization can also help you land writing gigs that require ‘experts’ in a certain field.  Blogs are great for driving traffic to your website and letting people get to know a more personal side of you.  Potential clients may even offer you blogging projects or pay you to guest post on their own blogs.
3. Cold call and email.  This was pretty scary to me when I first heard it.  But guess what?  Cold call and email got me my first lucrative gig.  I didn’t query with a specific idea in mind, but you definitely should do this if you’re trying to break into a magazine.  I didn’t even send a cover letter or resume.  I simply contacted a local newspaper about getting an internship in order to develop my portfolio.  The response?  I was asked if I would like to try taking on a few paid assignments.  Now I’ve got my first reporting jobs and I can’t say how happy I am that I overcame my fear to try this kind of approach.  Just think of it this way…the worst thing that can happen is the person says no.  Call or email to introduce yourself, your writing interests, specify if you have particular talents or expert areas, then ask if they have any freelance writing opportunities.  Simple!
4. Query letters.  Great for pitching ideas to magazines.  These take practice to develop, but there are a lot of great books out there that will help you with the specifics.  I personally recommend Renegade Writer’s Query Letters That Rock.  This book not only shows you how to map out a successful query letter, but it also proves that sometimes breaking a few rules will set you apart from the crowd!
5. Online job forums and bidding sites.  I have never used a bidding site, nor do I think I ever will so long as other options are available to me.  They’re usually low-paying gigs that won’t get you very far and you’re competing with a massive group to land the assignment in the first place.  However, it’s a great idea to check out online job sites for freelancers.  I regularly check Craigslist, but there are others out there such as Sunoasis Jobs, Online Writing Jobs, ProBlogger Job Board, etc.  In fact, I found my second writing job through Craigslist.  It isn’t the highest paying, but it isn’t the lowest either.  And it will also offer me some extended work rather than a one-time assignment.  So look for something that suits your qualifications and interests, apply, and see what happens!

Reading to Write.

I have often reflected upon the new vistas that reading opened to me.  I knew right there in prison that reading had changed forever the course of my life. As I see it today, the ability to read awoke in me some long dormant craving to be mentally alive. ~ Malcolm X

Books have always been my lifeblood.  Ask anyone who knows me well and they will tell you I’m known to have my nose stuck in a book.  My parents started reading to me at a very young age to help with my early mental development.  I was a natural, hungering for books of all kinds, feasting on them one-by-one until my teachers were struggling to replenish my supply.  In fact, my proficiency with reading was what caused them to push me ahead a year.

Perhaps some might think: What does reading have to do with writing?  My response…everything.  I truly believe that you must read enormous amounts in order to write well.  How else do we learn to write except from the words of others?  I personally view reading and writing as inseparable, one reflecting on the other.

These are the top three reasons I read to develop my writing skills:

 

•  Critical reading skills translate into critical writing skills.  When researching subject areas, one must learn how to absorb and evaluate other texts.  From this ‘raw material’, a writer must then polish, refine, and shape these fragmented pieces of information, eventually connecting them into an understandable whole.  Learning how to read critically will inevitably help you write effectively.
• Reading provides inspiration.  Reading can help you brainstorm and snowball your own ideas, providing valuable beginnings for your ongoing writing projects.  If you’re experiencing writer’s block, reading might be the best cure.  It will open your mind to new possibilities and perhaps invoke the inner muse you’ve been searching for.
• Reading can make you aware of good writing vs. bad writing.  Ever read a book that made you snore in two seconds flat or gag due to poor style and flow?  How about one that made you turn the next page past the late midnight hour or tugged at your heartstrings?  Not only will reading help you recognize your own tastes, interests, and writing voice, but it will also signal the differences between good writing and bad writing.  When you learn to recognize what makes good or bad writing, this will help you avoid the pitfalls of those writers that made you cringe and imitate the ones that kept your attention.