Some of the best fiction plays with the myths we know and love. Star Wars deliberately engages archetypes. The Dresden Files plays with religion in a way that makes if feel immediately relevant. Neil Gaiman does this in all of his works, from Sandman to Good Omens to The Graveyard Book.

Eluveitie does this with some of their songs. Omnos addresses some of the roots of the Red Riding Hood myth. Check it out here.

It’s sung in Gallic, so you’ll want to use this link — which includes translations into English.

 

Also: I’m pleased to announce Chris Jordan of Texas as the winner of our Cthulu Haiku contest. He will receive honor, glory, and a copy of a short story never before published.

One objection to life as a freelancer is that the work isn’t stable, that you can’t count on a steady income the way you can from a regular job. This is true in some ways, for example the rhythm of ebb and flow in a payment cycle. Some months, I make very little. Others, I gross more than I ever saw working for “the man.”

For most people, though, it’s not this instability of income that’s the main objection. It’s the stability of employment. Without a job to go to, and an employer giving you a salary, there’s an illusion that a freelancer has less job security than somebody with a “real job.”

But that’s just not the case.

As an employee, you’re out of luck if your employer shuts down. Often with very little warning. You have to start looking for a new job right away. Even if you don’t lose your job entirely, you can suffer cut hours. Your benefits might erode, or you can lose potential income as salary caps try to deal with a bearish economy.

As a freelancer, you’re less exposed. I have 5 regular clients and a running string of one-off or occasional assignments. Two weeks ago, one went belly-up. No more assignments available, and no communication as to why or whether or not they’re done for good. If that had been my boss, I’d be out of luck.

Instead, I can increase my output for my other clients — and take other opportunities because I have a bit more time. Part of freelancing is consistently seeking new assignments. As those come in, they’ll replace the income hole from the one. Even better, I can work harder when work becomes available. My income is unlimited as long as I’m willing to work.

Freelancing still means getting paid slowly, and often in unreliable spurts. It means taking more responsibility for your own success. It means careful attention to budgeting and cash flow.

But it doesn’t mean instability or a lack of job security. In fact, it means the exact opposite.

Thanks for listening.

Another writing contest for the close of this week!

Step 1: Look at this picture:

Step 2: Write a haiku. Aspiring writers, loyal fans and general malcontents alike should send in their entries by commenting below. If you’re shy, you can email me at brickcommajason@gmail.com instead. The winner will receive a signed copy of my newest short story The Eighth Day, printed on Rich Corinthian Leather, the flesh of the unclean, or resume paper (my choice). Submissions are due by next Thursday. I’ll pick the winner Friday morning and announce during next week’s Friday Fun. Show us all what you’ve got.

With fond respect to Mrs. Mary Carol Day, my Sophomore and Senior High School English teacher, we really need to stop teaching spelling in schools. My reasons for this belief are simple:

1. Standardized spelling is less than 200 years old — a linguistic flash in the pan.

2. Spell checkers mean none of us have to know how to spell (though we should definitely learn the difference between common homonyms).

3. Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe.

Number three is a fairly common internet meme that’s been around for years. One of my favorites, and apparently it also works in French

Sleon une édtue de l’Uvinertisé de Cmabrigde, l’odrre des ltteers dnas un mtos n’a pas d’ipmrotncae, la suele coshe ipmrotnate est que la pmeirère et la drenèire soit à la bnnoe pclae. Le rsete peut êrte dnas un dsérorde ttoal et vuos puoevz tujoruos lrie snas porlblème. C’est prace que le creaveu hmauin ne lit pas chuaqe ltetre elle-mmêe, mias le mot cmome un tuot.

and Portuguese

De aorcdo com uma pqsieusa de uma uinrvesriddae ignlsea, não ipomtra em qaul odrem as lrteas de uma plravaa etãso, a úncia csioa iprotmatne é que a piremria e útmlia lrteas etejasm no lgaur crteo. O rseto pdoe ser uma ttaol bçguana que vcoê pdoe anida ler sem pobrlmea. Itso é poqrue nós não lmeos cdaa lrtea isladoa, mas a plravaa cmoo um tdoo.

  So seriously, people. We can spend our time on more valuable pursuits. And don’t get me started on how much time my son spends on cursive handwriting, and none on keyboarding. Thanks for listening.