I’m Having a Crisis of Style

No, seriously.

I realize that my current style is probably “older than I think I am.”  But I’ve been thinking a lot about the clothes I wear to work, to casual events, etc. 

After all the years I spent in politics and a decade in D.C., I know the corporate/political uniform.  In my early days as campaign staff I once showed up to an event where multiple pre-primary candidates were speaking.  I stood in the back with the other advance guys.  As I looked around I realized that all five of us were wearing a grey pin-stripe suit, white shirt and red tie.  Our mommies couldn’t have planned it better.

But see, I’ve got this artsy side to me.  So when we lived in D.C., I shopped a Nordstrom far more often than I should have.  But it was the 80s and I was stylish. At least I thought I was. I had the requisite dark suits.  But for summer I had the seersucker and bowties.  And in those days I could still tie a bowtie.  Now, the only bowtie I have is for my tux and more often than not I get frustrated and just go back to the clip on.

Moving to Richmond where I got older and wider (that’s not a typo), I started out in the political job with the suit. But now that I’ve settled in as a state employee by day and an internet vigilante by night my wardrobe has become more casual.

I no longer have to wear a tie every day.  That’s a good thing because I no longer have a closet full of suits and shirts.  I can dress up on the occasion that I need to.  Weddings, funerals and important meetings.  But it’s not an everyday thing.

I know that the old adage is to “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.”

Thing is, I want to be a freelance writer working from home.  I see my days as going for a swim, heading to a coffee shop to catch up on email and reading, then heading home to write through the afternoon.  Not many suits required there.

Still, in building this writing career, I have the occasional meeting with clients.  I’ve got one coming up with a fairly conservative group.  Here I am with the spikey hair I’m too old for and wearing more jewelry than most business men would wear.

Do I go for the artsy writer in khakis and a blazer?  Or do I unbedazzle myself and put on the suit and tie?

For the most part, I’ve had no problem dressing for the occasion, and I suspect I will for this meeting.  But is that not being true to who I really am?  I don’t want to lose a client because I’m not willing to comb my hair.

Reality is that I’m not like Steve Jobs.  I don’t have a closet full of black turtlenecks and I couldn’t carry it off if I did.  And I’m not going to be the hip, young social media guru.

What I want to be is a respected, well published writer.  I think I can be that.

And to get there, I’m willing to comb my hair.

These Are Great Resources for Nanowrimo, but…

I have a word count to worry about. I should’ve read these yesterday.

Make Your NaNoWriMo Experience Count (4 Excellent Posts)
Writers Digest
Here are a few excellent posts that will help you prepare for the NaNoWriMo challenge in a meaningful way.

Why You Hate Writing, And How to Lust After the Blank Page Again
Copyblogger
You’ll fail more than you succeed, but like anything worth doing, you get up, continue, and seek your reward — which is in the practice of the craft.

How to Start Writing a Novel
Nathan Bransford
Don’t worry about polish, don’t fret if the first chapter comes out horribly. Get words on page. Keep going. It may come to you instantly, it may take fifty pages, it may take a hundred and fifty pages. Just keep at it.