The Freelancer’s Survival Guide: Failure Kristine Kathryn Rusch Since I’ve been dealing with setbacks, I suppose I should go all the way, and talk about failure. Failure isn’t something I’m fond of, but not for the reason that you think. I happen to believe in failure. I think that we learn by failing. Watch any child learn how to walk and you realize that it’s all about failure. No child gets up and walks the first time he is set on his feet. Children pull themselves to their feet, then fall on their butts. Then they pull themselves up, take a tentative step, and fall. We as adults know that it’s only a matter of time before the child starts scurrying across the living room toward the collectible books … Read entire article »

Artwork donated by Pati Nagle. The Freelancer’s Survival Guide: Setbacks Part Three Kristine Kathryn Rusch Once again, we’re talking about setbacks and unless something goes really wonky, or someone asks a very good question, this should be the last time. In the previous two weeks, we covered all kinds of setbacks. I divided setbacks into four types: 1. Financial 2. Mechanical/technical/production 3. Physical 4. Emotional. Part one dealt with financial and mechanical setbacks. Part two dealt with physical setbacks. Which leaves emotional setbacks for part three. In some ways, emotional setbacks are the most difficult setbacks of all. You can blame outside forces for each of the previous three setbacks. For example, you ran into trouble because the economy collapsed. Or because your biggest client didn’t pay you. Or because someone sold you tainted … Read entire article »