Well I’m pleased to say I’ve managed to keep up with recording my new daily podcast for the Sustainably Creative One Thing a Day in May challenge so far (the rules stipulate 5 days per week).
I did however have to drop the daily blog updates as it was taking too much time.
So for those of you who haven’t spotted these on my various social media accounts (take your pick from SoundCloud, Twitter, Facebook & Tumblr) or if you simply missed one or two or more of these, here’s a handy round up of the week’s recordings.
A Tricky Balance
It’s been a funny old week in many ways – I’ve been keen to see more of my friends but that ended up involving a little bit too much booze, and that hasn’t been too great health-wise.
I’ve taken the opportunity to share a couple of my past creative efforts but hopefully these haven’t ended up being too self-indulgent as I also share quite a few insights into the creative process.
A big thank you to everyone who has shared, commented or emailed me with kind words so far – it’s much appreciated (I’m a bit behind on my emails but if you did get in touch I will try to reply soon).
Episode 7 – Too Many Artists/Bloggers/Podcasters/Guitarists?
Maybe there are too many artists, or too many bloggers, or podcasters or guitarists. What’s the point?
With reference to Julia Cameron and Julian Summerhayes.
www.facebook.com/juliacameronlive…/730369580332332
Julian-summerhayes – The-continued-importance-of
Episode 8 – Taking a Break and Making Time for Friends
As a solo freelancer working from home it can be easy to become isolated. Today I talk a little bit about how making time for friends is essential even if you’re overloaded with work, and try to explain the Eurovision Song Contest.
Episode 9 – There’s No “Right” Way
I talk about how tricky I’ve found it to get back into the fiction-writing mindset, and share some writing tips from a recent interview I did with Glaswegian author Anne Donovan:
www.wow247.co.uk/blog/2014/05/08/…eems-mysterious/
The main message I took from her was that there’s no wrong or right way to go about your creative work so that’s the theme of today’s podcast.
Episode 10 – The Genius that is Columbo, and Sharing Ideas
The podcast reaches double figures, and I celebrate another significant date with my first guest, Mr Douglas Anderson. We talk about the song we created together which is all about the famous TV detective Columbo and why his encouragement was needed for it to happen, plus his new audiobook.
Columbo & Coffee: Milomclaughlin – Columbo-and-coffee-by-douglas-anderson-and-friends
Dougie’s audiobook, What to Talk About When There’s Nothing to Talk About: Mr-douglas-anderson – What-to-talk-about-when-theres
An excellent article on the blog Shatner’s Toupee on why 70’s Columbo outshines the 80’s version: shatnerstoupee.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/co…-grey.html
Dougie’s interview on Clear-Minded Creative: www.clearmindedcreative.com/clearminded…s-anderson/
Episode 11 – On Unhealthy Habits
Dammit, I’ve got a cold, making today’s podcast a reluctant recording session.
Through a stuffed-up nose I talk about the negative effects of boozing with pals and how hard it can be to change the socialising habits of a lifetime.
Episode 12 – Still ill
Okay, it may just be a mild man-flu, but having a cold and having to work anyway is another reminder of how being a freelancer means less separation between work life and home life.
In the 2nd #blastfromthepast this week can hear another of my old songs, which is rather relevant to how I’m feeling today: Milomclaughlin – The-sickie-song
Clear-Minded Creative 
10 replies on “Clear-Minded Chronicles Week 2 – Balancing Work, Play and Health”
Milo
I’ve really enjoyed your micro-podcasts, even the ones where you’re working through a hazy, man flu day! Like you, I’m still finding my way with the medium but I think it has so much to offer. In time, I would like to see others share their stories. For me, even the most ordinary has great power.
Thank you for the link to Julia Cameron.
Here’s to next week.
Peace.
Julian
_/\_
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Thanks Julian! Glad you see you posting daily too, keep up the good work! Also enjoyed your guest podcast for Michael today.
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Hope you’re feeling better, mate. I was really hoping, while listening to episode 11, that you’d find the energy to go on to talk a little bit more about the implications of freelancing and sickness – I think it brings home why I won’t be ditching the day job yet…
Anyway, this was a great selection of episodes tied – whether intentionally or not – to a really interesting theme. Keep up the good work!
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Thanks Lis yes on the mend now cheers! I’d be happy to talk about it more, is there anything specific you want me to cover? Really appreciate the feedback/kind words it helps a lot 🙂
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Milo, enjoying the podcasts. Suggestion for a podcast idea – could you talk about your experiences of life coaching. Did it help? What was good/bad about it? I think it would make for an interesting podcast. Get well soon!
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Hi Tony – sure I will give it some thought and cover it soon!
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@last year’s girl. Yes, when you freelance you don’t get paid if you have a day off sick. *But* – contract/freelance rates are usually *much* higher in compensation. This means that when you work you get paid a lot – you can put some by for a rainy day. In my first year freelancing as a writer I made more than double what I’d been making in salary – and I only worked 9 months that first year. You do need to make sure the rate you can get is high enough to warrant ditching your day job – it’s not something to be taken lightly. If you are looking around and the contract/freelance rates you can get aren’t high enough then you need to think again. I think what I am trying to say is the market rate that is achievable for doing the work that you do is a far more important issue than whether you get paid when you are off sick.
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Great response thanks Tony. I wish I could say I’d been able to get significantly higher rates but my experience is somewhat different to yours. I’ve talked about it a bit on this podcast: https://soundcloud.com/milomclaughlin/freelancing-and-being-off-sick
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Milo, thanks for a great response via the podcast. To clarify I’m a technical writer. In order to get a much higher rate I taught myself programming, this allows me to mine a lucrative niche where the rates are higher. It is about figuring out your USP, finding a market, and then throwing everything you’ve got at it. All the best, Tony
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Thanks for clarifying Tony – very good advice indeed. I’m always thinking of how I can improve or add to my skills.
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