April has come to bid us goodbye, and I can say the same for my sanity. I feel like April was just… tiring, but also vibrant and inspiring. You know how on one end, there’s a swirl of grays and blues and on the opposite end, there’s a spinning yarn dipped in lemon yellow, sky blue, teal, golden orange, and streaks of white. In short: There is no middle ground. It’s either that dark and dull swirl or that colorful, colorful yarn.
Okay, enough blathering. Let’s get to the heart of today’s post. Buckle up because I talked a lot more than usual.
“Goodbye Earth” kdrama: first two episodes impressions
I’ll be honest: When I first heard the title, I thought, “Is this a sci-fi drama about aliens bidding farewell to our planet?” Spoiler alert: It’s not, but oh boy, is it a wild ride!
“Goodbye Earth” is about how the citizens of Woongchun City were living 200 days before an asteroid was supposed to crash on Earth. We have Jin Se-kyung, a middle school teacher who unknowingly gets entangled with The Big Bad Guys™ when she gets into the wrong place at the wrong time. As if it isn’t already enough that the city is already in a restless state of panic, anxiety, and chaos.
There’s also Ha Yun-sang, a biotechnology researcher abroad who comes back to Woongchung. He appears happy to be back, but his flashbacks are anything but. What really happened in his last few days in the research lab abroad? I’m only four episodes in, and I’m dying to know as well.
There are other characters in “Goodbye Earth” kdrama, like the priest who loves to dance, the nun who’s hell-bent on opening a certain door, and the commander of the Joint Investigation Unit. There are also three youngsters from different families who stay close together, not just as classmates but also as friends who are trying to survive the trauma after the things they witnessed. Oh, and let’s not forget The Big Bad Guys™.
This kdrama has gorgeous cinematography: Moody and atmospheric. The first episode was wonderful, as it established the setting and characters. The more episodes I watched, the more I noticed how slow things were unfolding. This is not to say that “Goodbye Earth” eventually becomes boring. No, it doesn’t. Each episode reveals new sub-plots and the main plot progresses. It’s just that it was dragging at some parts.
“Goodbye Earth” only has 12 episodes, with an hour each. Perfect for binge-watching. It’s a thriller sci-fi, one weaved with drama and mystery. Doomed Earth and the human race scurrying around trying their best to live + save their loved ones. Did that catch your interest? Then this kdrama might be for you.
First impressions: “The Tortured Poets Department”, Taylor Swift
When I first heard the title, I couldn’t help but imagine a group of brooding writers huddled in a dimly lit room, scribbling their hearts out in between conversations, smoking their favorite cigarettes, and consuming copious amounts of coffee or alcohol (pick your poison, folks!). I romanticized the title alone and imagined what kinds of torturous, poignant songs would be released. Of course, there would be beautiful songs about how love can be wonderful and magical, too.
April 19th couldn’t come fast enough until it did. I listened to “The Tortured Poets Department” on Spotify and as I got to the fifth (fourth?) song, I – I was… I was just underwhelmed. I listened to the other songs, telling myself the whole album needed to be listened to before I jumped to my final (initial) conclusion. So listened to all 31 tracks and my feeling remained the same: Underwhelmed. It’s not that her album was a bad one. I still enjoyed some songs like “Fresh Out the Slammer”, “So Long, London”, and “loml.” It just wasn’t what I thought it would be, hence the feeling of being underwhelmed.
One of the things I love about Taylor Swift is the way she weaves words and the way she strings them together to conjure an image or evoke raw emotions. This is why I loved “Folklore” and “Evermore.” This recent album of hers is still great to listen to, though, and it’ll probably grow on me the more I listen to it.
Freelance tips: Some key takeaways after 5 years (and counting!)
When I started geeking out on creating my own website back in the mid-2000s, I didn’t know that I’d be taking freelance gigs out of that. I didn’t know that a hobby or purely personal passion of mine would land me extra jobs. Jobs that would help me pay the bills and more. Ah, the life of a millennial.
The irony is not lost on me, and I was and still am (and will forever be) thankful that doing something I love actually helps me earn money. I didn’t start as a freelance web designer, though. My first freelance gig was actually writing. It was back in 2007 when a friend told me that there was a Facebook group that was hiring writers. While I have heard of freelance writers, I never tried it. I was scared and worried that I’d be rejected, and then I’d know that I was never good enough for any client.
My mid-20s self had to collect and gather what courage I had stored for trying something new. And when they congratulated me for being part of their group of freelance writers, I felt validated. I guess I wasn’t as bad as I thought I was. Whew!
The pay I received back in 2007 was not exactly what you’d call lucrative, but I was just starting and I thought it was better to earn something than nothing on the side. For 100 articles (500 words with different keywords each), I was paid roughly around 65 USD.
blog post, “TODAY’S FLAVORS: THE BITTER SIDE OF FREELANCING, LEMON PEPPER PASTA, AND A DELICIOUSLY QUIET KEYBOARD“
It started from there. I would take writing projects from time to time, either by applying to a group or by referral. Then around 2010, I started branching out. Read: I tried taking web design projects. Sometimes, I even created PowerPoint presentations for a regular client. Those freelance gigs paid better than my writing ones. The difference in pay rates between the two was hard to miss.
I’ve learned tough lessons along the way, learning what works and what doesn’t. I had to adjust my free time to accommodate freelance projects. There were even days when I had little sleep, but that was rare! After navigating the freelance waters for a while now, here are some key takeaways that I’d like to share with you:
- Time management is key. This is very important, especially when you have a regular job. While having the flexibility of time when it comes to freelance projects, it doesn’t mean you can put things off for later. Learn to prioritize tasks and stick with a schedule. That way, you won’t end up burning out yourself by powering through one project in one sitting, losing sleep, and even skipping meals. Not when that project could have been done in chunks of time for a couple of days.
- Contracts are your best friends. I mentioned this in my previous post, when some clients didn’t pay me for the work I’ve done. I’ve trusted them blindly, partly because I was worried about what they’d think of me giving them a contract and partly because I didn’t do proper research. So yeah, make sure you draw up a contract with as many details as possible. Your client and your future self will thank you later.
- Know your worth. So much yes to this! I know I used to agree to low-paying projects because I was just starting out in the field of freelancing, even though I’ve been writing and creating websites for years. To you who are reading this: Don’t be like me. Even if you’re just starting, if your portfolio backs up your creative skills, you can ask for at least the minimum rate.
- Build a portfolio. This is useful and a must. When prospective clients see firsthand what you can do and how well you do them, this can set you apart from the other freelancers they’re considering. So go ahead and create that kick-ass portfolio. Currently, I’m using Polywork as a site where I direct my clients. *Note: The link gives me a discount on their premium membership if you sign up for a Premium account. You can always sign up and use the free one forever, of course. 🙂
- Backup everything. I cannot stress this enough: Backup everything. For writing, I prefer creating them in Google Docs. It puts my mind at ease that it won’t get deleted in case something goes wrong with my device. For design projects, I use Figma and Canva. I can sleep like a baby knowing that my designs are safe and sound.
- Hustle with humor. Freelancing, like everything else, has its ups and downs. It’s okay to feel defeated at times. We are allowed to wallow and feel terrible, even angry. But let’s not stay in that zone for too long. The only way to survive is by laughing at some of its absurdities. I mean, crying on your keyboard is an option, too, but I heard keyboards don’t appreciate tears.
- Celebrate the wins, both big and small. From landing a dream client to receiving payments, each victory matters. You owe it to yourself to acknowledge a great job done, a task completed. So pat yourself on the back and go get that pizza! Or glass of wine. Whatever floats your boat, really.
So there you have it, folks. My first impressions on “Goodbye Earth” kdrama and “The Tortured Poets Department” album, both recently released. I also threw in how I turn midnights and late-night snacks (meals even, sometimes) into landing pages and articles while I juggle freelancing and a full-time job. 🙃
I hope this peek into my tiny corner of the world sparked a sense of curiosity and inspiration in yours. Until next time, keep exploring, creating, and embracing all the magic and creativity life has to offer!
This week in photo:
2 thoughts on “End of month missive: “Goodbye Earth” kdrama, Taylor Swift’s new TTPD album, and my freelance journey story continued!”