As I continue to struggle to make my freelance life profitable one thing has become abundantly clear – I need some type of structure.
I first realized this when looking at business cards.

I met with some people locally and they all told me the same thing – “Tell us what you want, and we’ll make it happen.” Sounds great, but do you know how many options a girl has?? Glossy or matte. Picture or not. Multicolored or two tone? Font style, size, color…it’s just too much! That’s why I went with an online company. They had some samples laid out for me – all I had to do was add my personal touch.

The same thing is true when it comes to my writing. I don’t do well with vague guidelines. When I see that someone wants devotions, I panic. Sure, they only need 200-400 words, but about what? Christmas lights, cookies, my cat? There are simply too many options, and it overwhelms me. Perhaps some day I’ll be able to handle something like that, but for now I can’t handle the enormity of the freedom (and I’m not blaming the publications – this is completely a Karin thing).

With that in mind, I’ve decided to participate in another local newspaper, but this one is a little different. I’ll be writing for The Elk Rapids Progress, and I can focus all of my efforts on the school section. While that alone thrills me, it’s also exciting because the Progress is doing something very different – it is a cooperative newspaper.

It’s similar to the way public radio works. There are sponsors. There are contributors. And we all own the paper. That’s right. Just like your local co-op, this paper is a co-op. I like it for many reasons. I can admit it – a big bonus is the pay scale, but I also like the idea of the community-owned, community-sponsored paper. I’ve become increasingly frustrated with the way big businesses treat their customers (you should check out my personal blog for some specific rants), and I like being able to not only support local businesses, but to also contribute to and own a stake in it.

This is a new concept for all of us involved, so it’s going to be a learning experience for everyone. I’m excited to see how it works – I’ll make sure to let you know!

QUESTION: I can’t think of an appropriate one today because I touched on a few different subjects, so let’s go with this: Shamrock Shake or Egg Nog Shake?