Read the real life stories and experiences of freelance writer Mike Gagnon.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Posted by: lightning at 16:42 | link | comments
greeting

Check out mikegagnon.ca!

Hey all I should make it known that although I'm still writing here, the best place to find news and updates about my professional career and work is at www.mikegagnon.ca. I encourage eveyone one to check it out. It has become the new portal for all my work, samples, professional info and all other things Mike, which includes several blogs, including this one.

You'll still be able to read about my personal life here, but if you want the full skinny plus comic, art, and writing samples head to www.mikegagnon.ca

Posted by: lightning at 11:00 | link | comments
work, business, links, writing, random stuff

Double front page!

The last few days have been crazy!

I found out Friday night that my article about the Port Elgin Wal-Mart would be published as a front page story on the Owen Sound Sun Times that came out on Saturday.

Today the new edition of the Wesy Grey Times has another article i wrote on its front page!

Wow, I better keep this down or people will start to think I'm successful or something.

Posted by: lightning at 16:48 | link | comments
writing, random stuff, life updates, surprises

Front page of the Sun Times!

After weeks of thinking they were not interested, and worrying that something may have been sub-par in my writing, I was happy to get in touch with the editor of the Sun Times. It turns out that the editor was away reporting in Afghanistan, so the delay in getting back to me was quite reasonable to say the least.

Anyway after some minor rewrites and revisions they decided to run with my story on the proposed Wal-Mart debate in Port Elgin. I was happy with that, but then I found out not only would they run it, but it was on the front page! I'm quite happy about that. And surprised. The editor at the paper was a great help and has already taught me a lot about news format writing, which differs greatly from the magazine style I'm used to.

I already have another article in the final draft stages with them. Truly awesome. Plus, The Cargill Area News newspaper is also going to start reprinting some of my other articles.

So, if you're in the Grey/Bruce area, pick up a copy of yesterday's (Saturday, Oct. 20th) Sun Times newspaper and check out the front page!

Posted by: lightning at 09:58 | link | comments
work, rambles, random stuff, life updates, surprises

Sketches to cure cancer

Hey all, I have already requested to take part in the event listed below, I encourage anyone out there interested to take part if they can. Although I doubt I’d be able to attend in person, I will be doing a number of Sketch cards.

 In all seriousness it’s not often enough that we get a chance to help out in our own way. Even if you can’t make time in your busy schedule to take part, I encourage you to pass this on to any friends or associates who may.

 Thanks,

 Mike Gagnon

Blue Line is sponsoring a Sketch Card Gallery Exhibit on March 8, 2008 at Comics2Games in Florence, Kentucky. This show is open to all artists. Blue Line will send sketch cards for the artist to do their illustrations and Comics2Games will set up the display for the event. The Exhibit will be up all day with a get-together with some of the artists from 5 to 8pm that evening. Then, after the show, the cards will be auctioned on eBay with the proceeds donated to the American Cancer Society.

Cancer has touched the lives and families of so many artists and writers, faced with fighting this terrible disease. So, consider taking the time to illustrate a few cards for a good cause. Blue Line is supplying the sketch cards for the show and will mail blank cards to artists upon request to illustrate for this event.

The cards can feature most any characters (including your own) with some exceptions on licensed properties such as Star Wars.

For more information to contact Comics2Games at (859) 647-7568 you can contact Jeremy Bell at jeremyb@comics2cars.com on how you or an artist you know can participate in the event for this worthy cause!

Pass the word along to all the message boards, groups, bulletin boards and other outlets you know. Help the fight against cancer and participate in this sketch card event!

Posted by: lightning at 13:49 | link | comments
comics, links, random stuff, life updates

Stephen Colbert for President!

As a Canadian citizen who has no voting rights in the U.S., no vested interests in the outcome of the '08 Presedential Election, and will have very little concerns to deal with over the results of said election, I fully endorse the newly announced campaign of Colbert Report anchor Stephen Colbert. I encourage all U.S. citizens to vote Colbert! For more info go to www.colbertnation.com

If for some insane reason you can't vote for Colbert, like if your hands have been severed, or you are in fact a very intelligent and vote conscious grizzly bear, then at least consider voting for Hilary. After nearly a decade of George W. Bush I do indeed miss the entertaining antics of one Bill Clinton.

Posted by: lightning at 10:12 | link | comments
ranting, rambles, tv , random stuff

Holy full circle Batman!

Well, it's been awhile I know, but my life over the last 9 months has been a whirlwind.

I spent a good portion of that time as manager of a pizzeria. The job was OK, the pay was too. It took 45 minutes to get to work, which was an issue. There were other factors against staying in the job long term that don't need to be mentioned here.

The job itself made me fat...well fatter anyways.

It kept me so busy I had minimal time to work on my professional career, or my personal life for that matter. I had very little time to do my paying writing gigs, and none at all for personal blogging.

Aside from that, the job was okay, but it just wasn't what I wanted to do. Plus I was still working at the convenience store down the street too.

In the little free time I had I pursued small paying gigs in freelance writing.

After a few months of doing both day jobs I dropped the convenience store and went exclusively with the pizzeria.

With the free time I got from getting rid of the second job I was able to put more effort into my writing career. After a couple months opportunities began to develop, and I even got full time job offers that would have necessitated moving if I had pursued them. At one point I was almost set to take on a new career as a voice actor and radio host...but that is another longer story.

I came to a point where I knew that I didn't want to stay at the pizzeria, and I had to take one of several job offers because they offered the start of not only a dream job, but a career, a dream career. There were a lot of factors in my personal life though, and I couldn't pick up and leave over night.

In the process of trying to make my final decision I got a call from a publishing company that I had sent a letter to. A local company. A local company that needed writers for several magazines, and also paid well. It was like a last minute miracle. It was also freelance, so my schedule would be as free or as busy as I pleased.

I took the chance, and after doing it for a couple weeks I was able to drop the pizzeria.

With the mountian of free time I got when I cut loose of the pizzeria I was able to create more content for my new publisher, plus pursue additional freelance work from other publishers. I've now built up a small but good list of clients and I'm also doing design work. I'm operating as a full service content provider, and I'm happy as hell to be doing what I love.

It sounds funny, being a former publisher and all, but for the first time in my life I'm actually doing something that I can call my career, and not just a job. My career is now one of the most important things to me and I intend to pursue it to the fullest extent and take it as far as it will go.

I've got all kinds of material out now, and projects, and web design clients, you can find all kinds of info about that on my new website at www.mikegagnon.ca

Sometimes I get insecure, or downright miserable when I'm stuck on a project, but overall, evey time I take a look back at what has come before and where I am now, when it comes to my work life, my career, I'm happy.

Posted by: lightning at 13:32 | link | comments
business, writing, web design, writing industry, life updates