July 4th is most always associated with independence.  It’s an important day in American history and has been the subject of many novels and movies.  Since today is July 4th I hope that all are enjoying this national holiday with family and friends. My family is coming together for the annual cookout and just some plain old fun and relaxation. Since Fresh Fiction was so kind to allow me the opportunity to talk to you today, I decided that it was important to reflect on “Independence Day.”  As writers, most folks believe we have this incredible freedom to do as we please. Work when we please, write what we please, etc.  But that’s not entirely true.  Like any other job/career, we not only have immensely high standards to keep, we have schedules, deadlines, reader and market expectations just like any other retail/entertainment business.  The business of staying employed as a writer can get pretty darned stressful despite the seeming “independence” we have from the usual career routines of going to the office or annual job performance evaluations.  And, like numerous other aspects of business today, writers have not been immune to the less-than-optimal economy. I wanted to focus on one…