Stop working and go play

Sometimes a vacation is just what you need to land a stellar assignment.

On the one hand, I'm kidding. Total rest and relaxation are hardly going to make you a success in this business.

On the other hand, I'm serious. We need to give ourselves a break, slow down and appreciate other things in life, and trust that if we work hard most of the time, the assignments will still come if we take an occasional break.

While I was on vacation last week I learned that a story I submitted to "Chicken Soup for the Wine Lover's Soul" was accepted for publication in the anthology (due out November 2007) and I received an assignment from SELF magazine.

So if you haven't stopped working yet this summer ... go out and play. One week off, or at the very least, one day off, most likely won't make a difference in your acceptance ratio but will probably make a difference in your enjoyment ratio.