Two interesting experiences as a freelance content-writer

ME AND MY BIG MOUTH. SERVES ME RIGHT!

I admit I am one of the biggest hypocrites. Only consolation is that having honestly admitted this fact makes me that much less a hypocrite.

Having said that, let me tell you that I like to show attitude but sadly have no talent, money, influence, power or the looks to match my desire to do so.

The first opportunity I get, I am already putting on an air of superiority.

I exaggerate my achievements and understate or suppress my failures.

It so happened once that a leading courier company, on being appointed as the official courier to the Miss World Pageant, approached me for content to further its brand in relation to a beauty contest.

Incidentally, I am a freelancer having done content-writing for majors like Amazon, Walmart, Volvo, Siemens, Crompton Greaves, Vijaya Bank, Karnataka Tourism, Autodesk, MICO, etc. and for more than 100 real-estate-developers including two resorts.

Missed opportunities include Boeing, Colgate, Jet Airways and JK Tyres among others. It is because, I, being a self-employed one-man-army, with no support-system, couldn’t afford to take the risk of biting off more than I could chew.

There I go again showing off. Can’t help it. It is my second nature.

I wrote a piece that was honestly appreciated by the management of the company.

During an informal gathering, one of the staff members broached up the subject of grammar. She said, “This (English language) is very funny. Irrational spellings, one word having many meanings, many words having similar meaning…..”

Before she could complete her sentence, I seized the opportunity and with an assumed scholarship in the language, said,

“You see, English, as you rightly said, is a funny language.

Take for instance the word ‘broad’.

As an adjective, it means ‘wide’. It is a broad road. It is a wide road.

As an adjective again, it means ‘clear’. The robbery took place in broad daylight. The robbery took place in clear daylight.

As an adverb, it means ‘generally’. Broadly speaking or generally speaking……

As a slang, it means a woman of easy virtue. To put it bluntly, it means ‘a prostitute’….”

Now it was her turn. Before I could even enjoy the expected appreciation and applause, from the gathering, for my ‘expertise’ in English grammar, she interrupted in a mischievous tone, “You are a broadminded person.”

What started as a suppressed giggle ended up in a hearty laughter among those gathered, much to my embarrassment.

That was the last I used ‘broadminded’. Now I use only ‘open-minded’ or ‘liberal-minded’.

Me and my big mouth. Serves me right.

VENI VIDI VICI

During a walk-in-interview, I was one of the many candidates waiting to be interviewed for the post of a freelance writer.

Every now and then, the secretary used to come and announce that the boss (who was supposed to interview) had got slightly delayed and was expected in ten minutes, within half-an-hour, any moment, was on the way and so on.

The wait extended beyond lunch break. Many of the candidates left without the interview. Some were cursing, some, fuming, some, swearing never to come back, etc.

It was already evening, but the boss didn’t turn up. Remaining candidates too left.

Before leaving, I scribbled a note, folded the paper and handed it over to the secretary and requested her to give it (the notes) to her boss as soon as he came.

Next day, I received a call from the boss.

He asked me whether I could start on a project. Surprised, I asked him whether he would not interview me. He replied, “Your note has said it all. No need for any interview. I like your attitude.”

Wondering what I had written in the slip?

I had scribbled,

I came, I saw, I conquered – Julius Caesar

I came, I waited, I am going back – Hari Prakash

What I want to emphasise is that humour is one of the many methods I use to get assignments.

Had I fumed, fretted, swore like others, I would have been a loser.

Just for information

I have written an e-book titled

WRITING FOR GLOBAL BRANDS (Simple Secrets Behind How I Manage To Get Assignments) AND OTHER WRITINGS

Those in the field of accounts, finance, business, teaching, etc. may like my free downloads at

https://marketplace.corporatefinanceinstitute.com/vendor/a-hari-prakash/

ISOLATE now lest you might have to regret why I-SO-LATE?

Stay safe

Regards