14 Comments
User's avatar
Rick Lewis's avatar

Arggh. Feeling you here in this messy volatile realm Camilo. I suspect there might be other opportunities or categories of work that don't appear on the radar because they're one-off custom roles for good writers that you won't even know exist until you stay the course long enough to have one drop into your lap. But maybe not. The ChatGPT gig sounds like a living hell. Koi Vey. But . . . dolphins are assholes??!! What? How? My week might be ruined.

Expand full comment
Camilo Moreno-Salamanca's avatar

"Koi vey" hahaha. You don't know how much that made me chuckle, Rick. Thank you.

The opportunities are out there. That's what gives me hope. My crossroads right now is more whether I want to go down the path to gain the skills to get these opportunities, or if I'm better served putting my talents to use i na different manner. Time will tell!

Expand full comment
James Bailey's avatar

I was going to ask,Camilo, if the dolphins are assholes is your Van Halen contract rider M&M test to make sure we are paying attention!

The best part of the whole story is that the gig was over in a month, and not 6 months. That would have made it 5 1/2 months too long.

Have faith my friend.

Expand full comment
Camilo Moreno-Salamanca's avatar

That's true, James! I do take that as a blessing. Sometimes wisdom comes from extremes. This was one of such cases.

Expand full comment
Alex Michael's avatar

LOL "Koi Vey"

Expand full comment
Negheen's avatar

Your unapologetic attack on dolphins may cause a cultural war. Yet, I do want to highlight the most powerful statement (for me) is “to keep swimming”. You got this!

Expand full comment
Camilo Moreno-Salamanca's avatar

Haha, I love how shocked people are by the dolphin situation. It was actually Teo who told me this years back, and not going to lie...I had to fact-check and yep--they are assholes.

Expand full comment
Michelle Elisabeth Varghese's avatar

Ironically this is an informative look at freelancing delightfully written. I feel your struggle. I feel like I've lost the end goal too. I don't know if there should be an end goal. Your footnotes always rock. Great metaphor, all the claps!

Expand full comment
Camilo Moreno-Salamanca's avatar

haha thank you, Michelle. Yes, it's definitely a weird time. But we'll keep working through it!

Expand full comment
Suad Fakih's avatar

I think you can be anything you want to be!

Expand full comment
Camilo Moreno-Salamanca's avatar

Thank you my friend! Your optimism and persistence are a constant inspiration.

Expand full comment
Alex Michael's avatar

Really enjoyed this frank (and funny) account of your journey, and immensely proud of/in admiration of you for continuing to swim!

Expand full comment
Jen Vermet's avatar

Damn Camilo. I loved this playful metaphor of comparing sea creatures, especially because I identify as a mermaid. I so apprecatie you sharing this. I have deep resonance as I explore where I can plug into the freelance writing world, and I totally hear you on the teeter-totter of how business writing takes away from the main drive for personal writing. I'm feeling a similar pull to be able to pay rent by swimming in a different sea and seeing how this is a reason to diversify my skills more to feel less risky.

Thank yoy for writing and sharing this, friend.

(Also not that you need any feedback from me, but I really appreciate how much you made this POP! Truly personal, observational and playful. You are a dime. )

Expand full comment
Ved Shankar's avatar

I resonated when I saw your note about the freelance writer story (totally never taken on a gig where I find out later I'm not aligned with the principal)

"Still, while I’m capable of obedience" I really like this phrase for some reason. It's like saying obedience is a choice you can exercise but not necessarily follow like a blind animal

Personally, I didn't have journalism training but I love the reading/research phase for an idea. It's the fun part of writing something new. I'd like to do it more but it feels like a full time job (it is) to research and publish weekly.

Expand full comment