To my faithful readers,
For those who haven’t read my Proclamation (please view the image to the right), I need to fill you in. It’s not without a bit of sadness that I announce to you that charliewrites.com will be closing temporarily. I’m on the search for a new job, while also maintaining my freelance career, and the demands are round-the-clock. In this struggling economy (how many articles, lead-ins, or conversations have begun exactly this way in recent months?), it has become imperative that I find gainful employment.
I’ll be focusing on www.charliepratt.com and getting the word out to employers and businesses.
My plan is to return to my writing, and my participation in this website, when the job search comes to a close, whenever that might be. I look forward to interacting with you all again very soon.
Thank you!
Charlie
To potential employers: Please contact me here, or directly at charlesrpratt [at] gmail [dot] com. My resume can be viewed and downloaded here.
June 17th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Charlie, you are going thru a phase. If you only knew how many times I thought of doing this very thing with my blog – just hangin’ it up. Don’t do it. I am looking for work too, and so is Bob. He’s been out of work since last September and we are a family of 6. I know these are very tough times, but as you know, writing is your catharsis and it restores and refreshes your spirit.
If you stop now, you will lose your readership and have to start all over again and you’ve worked very hard to build your readership and your following. We love you, Charlie!
I have a suggestion. One that I put to work for me when I was feeling down about our economic situation – I decided that shutting down my blog or stepping away from it was the wrong answer. I knew that I would miss it. So, instead, I decided to take my calendar and structure my time. I would spend so many hours a day looking for work and so many hours a day working on my blog. I would spend certain days painting, and other days sewing. By structuring my time, I found that I got a lot more done and felt better too.
Please reconsider your decision about Charlie Writes. You know most of all how passionate you are about your writing. You have many stories to tell. Don’t stop now.
Susan
Over at “RaisinToast”
Susan’s last blog post..A Quiet Morning Walk
June 17th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
I wish you the very best in your search for gainful employment, but OH! How sad it is to lose our Charlie’s Speedy Home Delivery Service! :-( Your stories and thoughts are something that I will truly miss, as they are generally quite the “day brightener.” Yeah, that’s right, I made up my own term, and you’d jus’ better like it. If there is any way you might consider what Susan has just suggested… Um, you’d make a lot of your faithful readers very happy, and I think it might keep your spirits up as well.
Whatever you choose to do, I wish you lots of good things, and you will stay in my prayers.
Much love, the nerdiest of your devoted friends and readers, Laura
June 17th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Awww Charlie, we’ll miss you and your wordsmithery :) Happy job hunting and here’s to hoping you return to us soon! Be well Charlie!
June 17th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
Charlie- I was just thinking how much I missed your writing. Alas, it is not to be. I would not dream of telling you what to do, but do want to say that I will wish you all the best in whatever you do. I for one will keep you in my blog reader in case there is a pulse that gets detected in the future. You are always so thought-provoking and witty. But I know that you have what it takes to weather this storm and to come out on the other side ready to go. So best wishes to you, dear Charlie. Don’t abandon that which is most important to you. Wishing you well…
Enjoy the day.
Erin
June 17th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
@Susan – Well said. I’m hoping, just like you said, that this is just a phase.
@Laura – Fear not – I’ll be back.
@Vicky – Too sweet. Thank you. I’ll be back stronger than before.
@Erin – I plan to enjoying the day, just like you always tell me. :)
Thanks to all who have left encouragement. I look forward to sharing more with you as things develop. Keep reading & writing! Letters, anything handwritten, something personal. Do it old school! It’s crucial!
July 27th, 2009 at 6:53 am
Just as I was really getting into a blog it closes! Where did you get the theme for your charliepratt.com blog?