In defense of..well..me.

I work at home. I am a writer. I write things. I write articles for news and entertainment and I also write commercial posts for various websites. I feel the need to explain this because there seems to be a misconception about what I do all day. I write. I guess if I was sitting at a desk in a building owned by someone else, instead of my house it would be easier for people to grasp. Please think about that when you ask me what I do all day, or if my house is really clean. Is your house really clean? I mean you aren’t there all day, so there isn’t anyone around to make dishes or mess it up. No?

Yes, working at home has a lot of perks, I get to make my own schedule. This also means that I end up working at night and on weekends a lot. I don’t have to drive anywhere, there are lots of snacks. I can listen to whatever I want to as loudly as I want to. I can take a break and go for a walk. These are all true. I am also really lonely. It’s just me and the dogs here. This is why I love the IM, and the FB, and the Twitters. You are my co-workers. It would be nice if you would add up all the time you spend shooting the shit with your fellow office mates before you make a shitty comment about how I’m on there all day, because it’s actually far less time than you spend at the water cooler. I just have a visual record of my time wasting.

Because I publish things online, and know how to use Mailchimp to send newsletters, and know how to post things to WP, does not mean I am a web designer. It does not mean that I know how, or that I want to make you a website. It does not mean that I know how to write code. It means that I am a writer, who has grasped some pretty basic software in order to get things published online in the hopes of making some money. To me, that’s like saying to someone, “Oh, I see you are taking pictures with your iPhone. Would you like to photograph my wedding?” See how that’s crazy? Yes, I’ll write your newsletter. No, I will not “do” your website.

Also, no. I don’t want to work for you for free. Would you ask your friend the plumber to come around and fix your toilet for free, you know to add to her client list to boost her credibility? Oh, that would be rude? Huh.

I am a total brat for complaining about my sweet deal. I am truly lucky and grateful for the opportunities I have. I have just grown weary and tired of feeling defensive all the time. I wouldn’t trade places with anyone, and it’s a small price to pay for my charmed existence. But still, it’s annoying.

3 thoughts on “In defense of..well..me.

  1. sing it sistah! you know i hear you loud and clear! i resent the implication that if you work from home you aren’t really working, it’s crappy and i wish people would stop. just yesterday someone made a snarky remark to me about how i’m on FB all the time – really? how would they know unless THEY are on it all the time, too?
    i guess the up-side of getting to work in yoga pants and sweat shirts makes it all worth-while…oh and getting to know cool peeps like yourself. xo

  2. “But it’s Tuesday at noon and you work from home. Why can’t you pick me up and drive me to the airport?” I know exactly how you feel. It gets annoying having to explain to people that even though you work AT HOME, you still have to WORK. I have a 9 to 6er just like most everyone else, except I get to do mine at home since my company is 3,000 miles away and the commute would be a bitch.
    And unlike everyone who works at an office and gets to leave the office on nights and weekends, since my office is my home I feel guilty being home and NOT working!!
    But I’m super thankful for my IM and Facebook “coworkers” who help keep me sane all day!

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