I’ve been dragging my heels on making a decision. I don’t usually hem and haw over things so much. Just a few words into Greg’s original JDate profile, I was hooked. Thirty seconds after meeting Brody, I knew I was taking him home. Twenty minutes into reading about UCSD’s Copyediting Certificate Program, I resolved to sign up—though I put it off and ultimately got waitlisted for the winter session, leading me to believe I may have a slight fear of actually succeeding – but more on this in a future post. I pick out my own clothes, decide on my own hairstyles, and write my Facebook status updates according to however I’m feeling at the moment. All of these things are hilarious, too, because they make me seem spontaneous, when what I really am is a hardcore planner.
Here’s the background on my impossible, yet somewhat trivial, decision. I’ve started doing a little more freelance work and thought it might be a good idea to have a business card. I’ve only ever had one business card when I freelanced for a small non-for-profit, and I was very hesitant to hand it out. It seemed like an odd thing to bring up in conversation – “oh, by the way, I write eco-friendly enewsletters and you should sign up. Here!” There was no motivation for me to network. I was already getting paid generously per article and having more registrants wasn’t going to directly benefit me. It also wasn’t my passion. Sure, I like to recycle and conserve energy and resources as much as the next guy, but I wasn’t gung-ho about it. It was just a freelance gig I’d somehow managed to nab by writing a silly little rhyme about water conservation.
This new business card would be for ME. I’ve started helping people out with their resumes a little bit and I’d love to gain more (aka PAYING) clients. I have a passion and a knack for this and really feel great about helping people find work, particularly when they’ve been unemployed for an extended time or are new to the city, or even new to the whole “earning their keep” thing. I’d love to suavely hand over a business card after freshening up their resume so they’ll keep in touch or pass my name along to another potential client.
In addition, I’m doing more freelance work in general. And though it’s making me just a teensy bit insane, I like it. I like to be busy, and being busier keeps me more focused so I’m less likely to procrastinate or melt into the couch to the tune of Teen Mom reruns and Kitchen Nightmares marathons. Knowing that I’m contributing to our savings by putting in a little extra work and effort also makes me feel proud in a way that I just don’t feel working at my full-time job. Odd, I know. But who doesn’t like making money? We start as little kids. First it’s the Tooth Fairy. Then the lemonade stand. I also recall trying to sell greeting cards and friendship bracelets in my neighborhood. Money used to be about Garbage Pail Kids cards and candy, but these days, money = medical and financial security, comfort, food, seeing my family, vacations, clothes, gifts for others and the occasional splurge. So if I have to work a couple more hours a week to get all that, is that really such a struggle?
There’s also a small business in my neighborhood that had a totally useless website filled with lorem ipsum text (the Latin placeholder words people use to determine layout in documents, for the web, etc.) for half a year. I continuously emailed them to offer my services (even for free) in creating engaging brand copy to help market their café. But I never heard back. Maybe if I’d walked in with a business card, that opportunity would have panned out.
Also, I like free lunch. And many restaurants offer free lunch and other items through monthly drawings – if you drop your business card into the fish bowl. It just doesn’t seem fair that because I don’t happen to have a business card, I can’t get free food.
So, for all of these reasons and more, I’d love to legitimize and validate myself as a writer, and maybe even get a little better at that whole networking thing by ordering business cards.
Last weekend I designed an inexpensive card online and showed it to Greg, who, just before I was about to click “order,” suggested that I grab a website domain. BWAH??? Put my work out there? Actually show my writing? Gain clients and exposure? Hold on, buddy. I just wanted a free lunch.
I mean, not that I’m not excited about the prospect. Last year I began this blog and I’ve enjoyed the limited exposure and sharing my writing with friends, family, and quite a few strangers from across the globe that seem to have an obsession with desert blond tarantulas and spiny stick insects. (My WordPress Site Stats don’t lie, you bug fanatics!)
But I can’t decide on the website name. I’ve narrowed it down to my top two candidates, and though some of you have already voted, I really need your help. This website would appear on my business card, and possibly even be added to job inquiries, future cover letters, and more to link to my resume and examples of my writing, including short stories, this blog, reviews and other articles I’ve penned.
I’ve already posted the vote on Facebook, but people are divided…and so am I! Is it better to keep it professional and simple and have my first name in the URL, or do I want to be quirky so people will remember me? What do you think?
Please vote by commenting on this post. The top two contenders are:
- Wordsbyjenny.com
- Nerdforwords.com
Help me decide and get over my weird little fears of making a decision and putting myself out there—give me solid reasons as to why I should use one over the other for a professional site. I promise I’ll make a decision soon, because if I wait too long, these names might get snatched up by someone else!
Thanks in advance!
scaredwitless 
I like wordsbyjenny, it gets your name out there.
agree with Myra! I still like wordsbyjenny.com…….BTW-another great blog! and Greg is absolutely right-definitely put your amazing writing skills out there!!!!!!
Nerdforwords all the way! Great idea to have a Web site with your writing and your contact info!!
Add my vote for wordsbyjenny and a website as well!
I’m with Ada, nerdforwords. Its quirky, creative and more ‘you’ than wordsbyjenny. I get the whole professional thing, but for some reason it appeals to me. Good luck!
I like wordsbyjenny. But have you tried googling it? You get immediately directed to multiple links to a book by Jenny McCarthy. Could this be a problem?
I assume you considered — but for some reason rejected — “Jenny writes good”? Just askin’
Russ
Ran it past Dad and nerforwords gets his vote too. He likes the quirkiness and thinks it’s different and will catch people’s eye.
Wow. I see the dilemma. Very split crowd. But for what it’s worth, Eric and I like wordsbyjenny.com – we think it might appeal to a broader clientele. Maybe add in something memorable with colors/logos, etc. if it’s important to stand out and show creativity (???). Our two cents. Good luck!!
Hi! Would you tell me if you recommend the UCSD Copyeditor certificate program? Thanks for your comments!
Hi Laura, that’s a complicated question! I ultimately decided that Copyediting was not for me and have (unofficially) dropped out of the program. I did, however, take the Grammar Lab class and Copyediting I, and I think both have been pretty lucrative as far as refreshing me on grammar rules and proofreading–two things I use constantly in my work as a copywriter. It also looked pretty sweet to have some continuing education after my bachelor’s degree on my resume.
I thought the classes were difficult, at times, especially Copyediting I, because there are a lot of right/wrong ways to copyedit, and I constantly questioned myself. I honestly thought I’d fail. The classes are graded pretty generously though and I got an A in both. I thought that the “participation” element of class was a joke, since in Grammar Lab, everyone would respond to my instructor’s questions with the same answer, written in different ways.
Basically, I’d say if you want to write, or be an authority on writing and proofreading, definitely take the first two classes. But it only gets harder from Copyediting I, and more time-consuming, so I’d start with those and see if you want to pursue it further. Hope that helps!