By Amber McNaught
No matter how many times I see my writing published, it never stops being the best adrenaline rush ever.
Yesterday one of my articles appeared in a national newspaper. No big deal, really: I mean, I am a freelance journalist, so you'd think I'd be used to seeing my name in print by now. Not so. Rather than waiting for a break in my workload and taking a leisurely stroll to the newsagents to collect said paper, I hot-footed in down there as soon as I was dressed, like a kid at Christmas.
I had located the page with my by-line before I even reached the checkout, and I really had to exercise enormous self-control not to thrust the newspaper under the check-out assistant's nose and say, "Look! That's me! That's my name! In the paper!"
I managed to restrain myself, and just did that to my fiancé instead, but the fact remains: for a freelance writer, there's no rush greater than publication.
So how do you do it?
Well, in my case, I do it mostly through contacts. I started out as a staff reporter on the local paper, and I've kept up with the people I met throughout my journalism career, whether they be fellow reporters, editors, or the woman who used to empty the rubbish bins at the end of the night.
In this business you have to do that. You have to keep in touch with people in the industry, you have to make sure your name remains fresh in their minds, you have to keep on plugging away at keeping that contact book up to date, adding to it, and maintaining friendships. This is a business that functions, to an extent, on "who you know" rather than "what you
know", and it doesn't hurt to keep that in mind.
I also do it by being persistent. You need a thick skin to be a freelance writer. You spend a lot of time being rejected, being snubbed, and even being ignored. (Actually, I prefer being ignored: it stings less!) You have to keep at it.
Remember that for every query you send to an editor, they probably received one hundred others. You're up against a lot of competition, but sometimes sheer persistence pays off. Remember, it was the tortoise that won the race: keep chipping away at it, keep on sending in those queries, know that it can only get easier.
Thirdly, I do it by being in the right place at the right time, and what I mean by that is that anytime an editor contacts me with a job, I jump at it, even it means staying up all night and missing the next episode of "Lost". A little-known fact for you: in newspaper journalism, excellent writing isn't the most important quality to have. That's what sub-editors are there for.
What many editors are looking for are writers who will respond instantly, file copy on time, get the facts right, and get the story. Being always-on call may not be the most relaxing way to live, but it's one way to make sure that the editor who just commissioned you for one story will come back for more.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Amber McNaught runs WritingWorld.org, a website specialising in matching freelance writers with freelance writing jobs. Visit the site at http://www.WritingWorld.org
24.12.09
Write For Environmental Publications As A Freelancer
By Gary McLaren
The earth matters. Our planet is in danger. Many of our world's species are under threat of extinction. As people are becoming more aware of the current threats to our environment, more publications are emerging to update and inform readers of the latest environmental news and trends.
There is plenty of opportunity for freelance writers to write for publications that focus on environmental and conservation material.
Here are some examples.
FOREST MAGAZINE
This publication is produced for people who care about our forests. It is published quarterly by the conservation group, Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics.
Guidelines: http://www.fseee.org/forestmag/submissions.shtml
ALTERNATIVES
This is a quarterly journal dedicated to in-depth analysis of environmental issues, including ecological, social and economic dimensions. They invite feature articles, shorter reports, notes, interviews, resource guides, visual images related to article themes, cultural commentary and humor.
Guidelines:http://www.alternativesjournal.ca/contributors-guidelines
CONSERVATIONIST MAGAZINE
This is a non-profit magazine published bi-monthly by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Typical topics include fishing, hunting, nature viewing, and outdoor recreation.
Guidelines: http://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/24061.html
BBC WILDLIFE MAGAZINE
This is a monthly magazine aimed at people with a keen interest in wildlife, conservation, and associated environmental issues. Seeks original ideas and in-depth, personal knowledge of the subject matter. Receives about 30 pitches a week, most of which are rejected. Read their guidelines on the web to improve your chances of success.
Guidelines: http://www.bbcwildlifemagazine.com/submittingideas.asp
In addition to publications like those above that focus on the environment and related topics, you will also find that many other publications publish environmental material, including regional magazines and women's publications.
Here are a couple of examples:
HAWAII MAGAZINE
A bimonthly regional travel publication. They use freelance writers on a wide variety of subjects, including travel stories, environmental sustainability, personality profiles, stories on history, culture, music, and food.
Guidelines: http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/freelance_guidelines
HERIZONS
This publication reflects a feminist philosophy that is diverse and relevant to women's daily lives. They seek to empower women; to inspire hope and foster a state of wellness that enriches women's lives. In-depth feature articles cover feminist debates, current social/ political/legal/environmental/culture emerging issues or personal stories with a broader social relevance.
Guidelines: http://www.herizons.ca/contribute
It is time to care for our planet. It is time to start conserving. As a freelance writer you can contribute to this movement and grow your freelance writing business at the same time.
About the author: Gary McLaren is the founder and editor of Worldwide Freelance Writer at http://www.worldwidefreelance.com
The earth matters. Our planet is in danger. Many of our world's species are under threat of extinction. As people are becoming more aware of the current threats to our environment, more publications are emerging to update and inform readers of the latest environmental news and trends.
There is plenty of opportunity for freelance writers to write for publications that focus on environmental and conservation material.
Here are some examples.
FOREST MAGAZINE
This publication is produced for people who care about our forests. It is published quarterly by the conservation group, Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics.
Guidelines: http://www.fseee.org/forestmag/submissions.shtml
ALTERNATIVES
This is a quarterly journal dedicated to in-depth analysis of environmental issues, including ecological, social and economic dimensions. They invite feature articles, shorter reports, notes, interviews, resource guides, visual images related to article themes, cultural commentary and humor.
Guidelines:http://www.alternativesjournal.ca/contributors-guidelines
CONSERVATIONIST MAGAZINE
This is a non-profit magazine published bi-monthly by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Typical topics include fishing, hunting, nature viewing, and outdoor recreation.
Guidelines: http://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/24061.html
BBC WILDLIFE MAGAZINE
This is a monthly magazine aimed at people with a keen interest in wildlife, conservation, and associated environmental issues. Seeks original ideas and in-depth, personal knowledge of the subject matter. Receives about 30 pitches a week, most of which are rejected. Read their guidelines on the web to improve your chances of success.
Guidelines: http://www.bbcwildlifemagazine.com/submittingideas.asp
In addition to publications like those above that focus on the environment and related topics, you will also find that many other publications publish environmental material, including regional magazines and women's publications.
Here are a couple of examples:
HAWAII MAGAZINE
A bimonthly regional travel publication. They use freelance writers on a wide variety of subjects, including travel stories, environmental sustainability, personality profiles, stories on history, culture, music, and food.
Guidelines: http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/freelance_guidelines
HERIZONS
This publication reflects a feminist philosophy that is diverse and relevant to women's daily lives. They seek to empower women; to inspire hope and foster a state of wellness that enriches women's lives. In-depth feature articles cover feminist debates, current social/ political/legal/environmental/culture emerging issues or personal stories with a broader social relevance.
Guidelines: http://www.herizons.ca/contribute
It is time to care for our planet. It is time to start conserving. As a freelance writer you can contribute to this movement and grow your freelance writing business at the same time.
About the author: Gary McLaren is the founder and editor of Worldwide Freelance Writer at http://www.worldwidefreelance.com
22.12.09
Are You A Six-Figure Writer?
How many times have you heard about poor, starving writers? Maybe it's time to face the truth. Well, the truth is that not all writers are struggling to put a loaf of bread on the table. As I will show you, some writers are earning a very nice income indeed.
Before we look at the incomes of writers, let's review how freelance writers earn their living. They write articles for magazines, newspapers and web sites. Some concentrate on copywriting or technical writing. And others specialize in writing resumes, short stories, poetry and greeting cards.
The pay that writers receive for their services varies quite widely, however, much more so than for other professions such as teaching or plumbing.
A recent survey conducted by the American Society of Journalists and Authors revealed some interested facts about the incomes of freelance journalists. The results took into account the responses of 473 freelance journalists who worked in United States and who considered freelancing to be their primary job.
Around 7% of these freelance journalists earned $100,000 or more. A further 24% earned between $50,000 and $100,000. And approximately 69% of these writers earned less than $50,000 a year.
The good news is that many of these writers are clearly not starving. And 7% of them reached the "six-figure writer" status. In fact, 3% of the freelance writers surveyed actually earned $150,000 or more!
The bad news is that many freelance writers are still earning less than $50,000 annually. If you are a writer reading this article and that also describes your situation, then here are some tips to increase your income towards that six-figure mark.
WHAT DO YOU WRITE?
By changing the type of writing you do, you may be able to earn better rates for your work. One of the more lucrative areas of writing is copywriting. I know of a survey of copywriters that revealed that 39% of respondents earned between $50,000 and $100,000 a year, certainly a higher percentage than the 24% of
writers above.
Other lucrative areas of writing include ghostwriting, working as a technical writer, and writing and selling your own ebooks and information products.
DISCIPLINE AND PERSEVERANCE
It takes hard work to build any business, and a writing business is no exception. Plan your targets well in advance. Calculate how many hours you will work and what amount you need to earn per hour in
order to achieve your targets. For example, in order to make $100,000 a year, you must earn an average of approximately $2,000 per week. If you are going to work 40 hour weeks, then you need to
earn at least $50 for each hour of work in order to reach your target of $100,000 for the year.
Many people dream about being a full-time writer but don't know they could make it a reality. Now you know it's possible to earn a good income from freelance writing. You just need to get into it with your eyes wide open. Do some due diligence up front. Check out which areas of writing are likely to be better for you. Now go for it. Write on!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: David Goldsmith works full-time as a writer and is the author of "25 Ways To Write For Money". Discover how YOU can earn a good living from freelance writing at http://www.WriterIncome.com
Before we look at the incomes of writers, let's review how freelance writers earn their living. They write articles for magazines, newspapers and web sites. Some concentrate on copywriting or technical writing. And others specialize in writing resumes, short stories, poetry and greeting cards.
The pay that writers receive for their services varies quite widely, however, much more so than for other professions such as teaching or plumbing.
A recent survey conducted by the American Society of Journalists and Authors revealed some interested facts about the incomes of freelance journalists. The results took into account the responses of 473 freelance journalists who worked in United States and who considered freelancing to be their primary job.
Around 7% of these freelance journalists earned $100,000 or more. A further 24% earned between $50,000 and $100,000. And approximately 69% of these writers earned less than $50,000 a year.
The good news is that many of these writers are clearly not starving. And 7% of them reached the "six-figure writer" status. In fact, 3% of the freelance writers surveyed actually earned $150,000 or more!
The bad news is that many freelance writers are still earning less than $50,000 annually. If you are a writer reading this article and that also describes your situation, then here are some tips to increase your income towards that six-figure mark.
WHAT DO YOU WRITE?
By changing the type of writing you do, you may be able to earn better rates for your work. One of the more lucrative areas of writing is copywriting. I know of a survey of copywriters that revealed that 39% of respondents earned between $50,000 and $100,000 a year, certainly a higher percentage than the 24% of
writers above.
Other lucrative areas of writing include ghostwriting, working as a technical writer, and writing and selling your own ebooks and information products.
DISCIPLINE AND PERSEVERANCE
It takes hard work to build any business, and a writing business is no exception. Plan your targets well in advance. Calculate how many hours you will work and what amount you need to earn per hour in
order to achieve your targets. For example, in order to make $100,000 a year, you must earn an average of approximately $2,000 per week. If you are going to work 40 hour weeks, then you need to
earn at least $50 for each hour of work in order to reach your target of $100,000 for the year.
Many people dream about being a full-time writer but don't know they could make it a reality. Now you know it's possible to earn a good income from freelance writing. You just need to get into it with your eyes wide open. Do some due diligence up front. Check out which areas of writing are likely to be better for you. Now go for it. Write on!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: David Goldsmith works full-time as a writer and is the author of "25 Ways To Write For Money". Discover how YOU can earn a good living from freelance writing at http://www.WriterIncome.com
18.12.09
Article Template: How To Write A 'Top Mistakes' Article
By Steve Shaw
When you’re writing free reprint articles to market your site, at some point you’ll probably say, “This would be so much easier if someone would just tell me what to write!”
If this is you, then you will love this article template. I’m about to tell you step-by-step how to go about creating your next article–a “Top Mistakes” article.
Most likely you’ve noticed mistakes that clients, customers or people interested in your niche make on a regular basis. When you notice these you probably think, “I wish I could tell this person the right way to do this–it would make their life so much easier!”
You have just bumped into a prime teaching opportunity–why not craft a helpful article that will alert your readers to common mistakes that they very well might be making, and then gently steer them back on the right path?
You’ve probably already created tons of “Top Tips” articles–it’s time to approach your next article from the opposite side and focus on some things your reader should avoid.
To make things easier, here’s a template for creating a “Top Mistakes” article:
1) What mistakes do you notice people making repeatedly in your niche?
These could be misconceptions in thinking or mistakes in behavior. As an expert in your niche it is your role to educate people–if you notice someone doing something wrong or making a faulty assumption over and over again, you really want to help and set the record straight.
Don’t think of this as focusing on the negative–many times people don’t realize they’re doing anything wrong until it’s pointed out to them!
If they can see your list of common mistakes, it will be a powerful learning experience. Think of a “Top Mistakes” article as being a preventative measure with positive results for your readers.
2) Write out each mistake and offer a solution. Focus on the instructive part–the mistake is really only an opportunity to teach the reader an important truth. So, briefly describe the mistake, and then quickly move into the solution.
It helps to be encouraging–assure the reader that many people are making this same mistake, and that it can be quickly remedied with a change of thinking or behavior.
3) Place a number in front of each of the mistakes so that the reader can easily keep track of your list (and this will also help in creating your title–more on that later).
4) Write an introductory paragraph that explains why these types of mistakes are common. Explain what the reader has to gain by avoiding them, and what they have to lose by doing them.
5) Write a concluding paragraph–this could just be a sentence or two. Reaffirm what the reader has to gain by avoiding these mistakes. Be positive!
6) Create a title that uses a number–whatever number of mistakes you’re covering. So, your title could be “Top 5 Writing Mistakes” or “7 Common Writing Mistakes of Newbie Article Writers”.
“Top Mistakes” articles are some of the easiest to write because you have likely already noticed common mistakes that people make in your field. Your article can be a powerful teaching tool–sometimes the best way to learn is to see what not to do!
About the author: Steve Shaw is an article marketing expert, and founder of the popular article submission service, http://www.submityourarticle.com , used by thousands of business owners. Discover how to use the power of article marketing to reach tens of thousands of potential prospects for your website – download a powerful free report on successful article marketing from
http://www.submityourarticle.com/report
When you’re writing free reprint articles to market your site, at some point you’ll probably say, “This would be so much easier if someone would just tell me what to write!”
If this is you, then you will love this article template. I’m about to tell you step-by-step how to go about creating your next article–a “Top Mistakes” article.
Most likely you’ve noticed mistakes that clients, customers or people interested in your niche make on a regular basis. When you notice these you probably think, “I wish I could tell this person the right way to do this–it would make their life so much easier!”
You have just bumped into a prime teaching opportunity–why not craft a helpful article that will alert your readers to common mistakes that they very well might be making, and then gently steer them back on the right path?
You’ve probably already created tons of “Top Tips” articles–it’s time to approach your next article from the opposite side and focus on some things your reader should avoid.
To make things easier, here’s a template for creating a “Top Mistakes” article:
1) What mistakes do you notice people making repeatedly in your niche?
These could be misconceptions in thinking or mistakes in behavior. As an expert in your niche it is your role to educate people–if you notice someone doing something wrong or making a faulty assumption over and over again, you really want to help and set the record straight.
Don’t think of this as focusing on the negative–many times people don’t realize they’re doing anything wrong until it’s pointed out to them!
If they can see your list of common mistakes, it will be a powerful learning experience. Think of a “Top Mistakes” article as being a preventative measure with positive results for your readers.
2) Write out each mistake and offer a solution. Focus on the instructive part–the mistake is really only an opportunity to teach the reader an important truth. So, briefly describe the mistake, and then quickly move into the solution.
It helps to be encouraging–assure the reader that many people are making this same mistake, and that it can be quickly remedied with a change of thinking or behavior.
3) Place a number in front of each of the mistakes so that the reader can easily keep track of your list (and this will also help in creating your title–more on that later).
4) Write an introductory paragraph that explains why these types of mistakes are common. Explain what the reader has to gain by avoiding them, and what they have to lose by doing them.
5) Write a concluding paragraph–this could just be a sentence or two. Reaffirm what the reader has to gain by avoiding these mistakes. Be positive!
6) Create a title that uses a number–whatever number of mistakes you’re covering. So, your title could be “Top 5 Writing Mistakes” or “7 Common Writing Mistakes of Newbie Article Writers”.
“Top Mistakes” articles are some of the easiest to write because you have likely already noticed common mistakes that people make in your field. Your article can be a powerful teaching tool–sometimes the best way to learn is to see what not to do!
About the author: Steve Shaw is an article marketing expert, and founder of the popular article submission service, http://www.submityourarticle.com , used by thousands of business owners. Discover how to use the power of article marketing to reach tens of thousands of potential prospects for your website – download a powerful free report on successful article marketing from
http://www.submityourarticle.com/report
25.11.09
5 Ways To Shine As A Professional Writer
By Dana Blozis
With the growth of social media and marketing techniques like online article marketing, it seems that everyone is a writer of one sort or another. In fact, I've read a handful of articles that assure the reading public that anyone can write. While this may be technically true, those of us who write for a living know that it isn't as easy as it sounds.
There is much more to the craft than meets the eye.
With this new realm of competition at our doorstep, I've created a list of ways that can set you apart from those who are merely dabbling in writing or writing simply for marketing's sake.
1) Develop a website.
If you don't already have one, confirm your legitimacy as a writer or journalist by creating your own website. It can be as simple as one page which tells who you are, what types of writing you specialize in and how people can contact you.
At the other end of the spectrum, it can be a multi-page site that contains bio information, a professional profile or résumé and clips of your work. Regardless of your site's level of complexity, your site will confirm that you are a professional writer with a portfolio and published clips.
2) Create a professional profile.
Unless you graduated from j-school and have been a professional writer since your career began, I've found that a traditional resume doesn't cut it. Instead, I developed a two-page professional profile. It looks similar to my résumé, but it only briefly summarizes my irrelevant career prior to becoming a freelancer over four years ago. It contains sections like relevant skills (writing, editing, marketing); a sample of my client list; my relevant education; and a list of publications and websites for whom I've written.
I have this document posted on my website so, when replying to a freelance posting or ad, I can refer the editor or prospective client to my profile without sending an attachment (hint: unless they know you, they won't open an attachment anyway.).
3) Prepare an online portfolio.
Whether you include this information on your website or use one provided by an organization like Media Bistro, you'll need an online portfolio of your published work. It can be organized any number of ways, depending on what types of clips you have.
On my site, portfolio samples are broken down by type (articles, marketing materials, and web copy). You could also break them down by publication or media type (broadcast, print, web, newspaper, magazine, etc.) Clips can take virtually any format: you can post them directly to a web page, add a *.pdf or *.doc/*.docx attachment, link to a URL, etc. As long as your portfolio is well organized and the clips are relatively current, site visitors (a.k.a. prospective clients) will be able to find what they're looking for.
4) Proof and edit your own work.
Have you ever received an e-mail or letter from a colleague or prospective client riddled with mistakes? Did it make you cringe? This is a common pet peeve of professional writers and editors, including me. I always tell (read: nag) business professionals from all industries but particularly writers and editors to make sure they proof and edit their own work prior to submission to an editor or client.
Of course, the materials are likely to be proofread and copyedited by someone else, too, but if you want repeat business or additional assignments, your work must be top notch and error-free. Because so many "article marketers" are focused on selling their products and services and NOT on punctuation and spelling, your writing will be superior.
5) Hone your craft.
Whether you are a self-taught or college-educated writer, continue to expand your talent by investing in quality resources (a good dictionary and thesaurus; Chicago Manual of Style; Writer's Market; The Copyeditor's Handbook, etc.); taking continuing education classes; and trying out different genres (business writing, creative writing, fiction, horror, romance, etc.).
You'll not only fine-tune your skills, but you'll have a better sense of where your voice best fits in the writing world.
If you follow these five tips, you will stand out as a professional writer--not as a fly-by-night blogger, forum poster or article marketer--and you will gain confidence in your ability to market yourself and your writing and editing services. Happy writing
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dana Blozis of Virtually Yourz is a freelance writer, editor and marketing professional based in the Seattle area. In addition to writing for publication, she writes for small businesses and nonprofits. For more information, visit Virtually Yourz. http://www.virtuallyyourz.com
With the growth of social media and marketing techniques like online article marketing, it seems that everyone is a writer of one sort or another. In fact, I've read a handful of articles that assure the reading public that anyone can write. While this may be technically true, those of us who write for a living know that it isn't as easy as it sounds.
There is much more to the craft than meets the eye.
With this new realm of competition at our doorstep, I've created a list of ways that can set you apart from those who are merely dabbling in writing or writing simply for marketing's sake.
1) Develop a website.
If you don't already have one, confirm your legitimacy as a writer or journalist by creating your own website. It can be as simple as one page which tells who you are, what types of writing you specialize in and how people can contact you.
At the other end of the spectrum, it can be a multi-page site that contains bio information, a professional profile or résumé and clips of your work. Regardless of your site's level of complexity, your site will confirm that you are a professional writer with a portfolio and published clips.
2) Create a professional profile.
Unless you graduated from j-school and have been a professional writer since your career began, I've found that a traditional resume doesn't cut it. Instead, I developed a two-page professional profile. It looks similar to my résumé, but it only briefly summarizes my irrelevant career prior to becoming a freelancer over four years ago. It contains sections like relevant skills (writing, editing, marketing); a sample of my client list; my relevant education; and a list of publications and websites for whom I've written.
I have this document posted on my website so, when replying to a freelance posting or ad, I can refer the editor or prospective client to my profile without sending an attachment (hint: unless they know you, they won't open an attachment anyway.).
3) Prepare an online portfolio.
Whether you include this information on your website or use one provided by an organization like Media Bistro, you'll need an online portfolio of your published work. It can be organized any number of ways, depending on what types of clips you have.
On my site, portfolio samples are broken down by type (articles, marketing materials, and web copy). You could also break them down by publication or media type (broadcast, print, web, newspaper, magazine, etc.) Clips can take virtually any format: you can post them directly to a web page, add a *.pdf or *.doc/*.docx attachment, link to a URL, etc. As long as your portfolio is well organized and the clips are relatively current, site visitors (a.k.a. prospective clients) will be able to find what they're looking for.
4) Proof and edit your own work.
Have you ever received an e-mail or letter from a colleague or prospective client riddled with mistakes? Did it make you cringe? This is a common pet peeve of professional writers and editors, including me. I always tell (read: nag) business professionals from all industries but particularly writers and editors to make sure they proof and edit their own work prior to submission to an editor or client.
Of course, the materials are likely to be proofread and copyedited by someone else, too, but if you want repeat business or additional assignments, your work must be top notch and error-free. Because so many "article marketers" are focused on selling their products and services and NOT on punctuation and spelling, your writing will be superior.
5) Hone your craft.
Whether you are a self-taught or college-educated writer, continue to expand your talent by investing in quality resources (a good dictionary and thesaurus; Chicago Manual of Style; Writer's Market; The Copyeditor's Handbook, etc.); taking continuing education classes; and trying out different genres (business writing, creative writing, fiction, horror, romance, etc.).
You'll not only fine-tune your skills, but you'll have a better sense of where your voice best fits in the writing world.
If you follow these five tips, you will stand out as a professional writer--not as a fly-by-night blogger, forum poster or article marketer--and you will gain confidence in your ability to market yourself and your writing and editing services. Happy writing
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dana Blozis of Virtually Yourz is a freelance writer, editor and marketing professional based in the Seattle area. In addition to writing for publication, she writes for small businesses and nonprofits. For more information, visit Virtually Yourz. http://www.virtuallyyourz.com
18.11.09
Freelance Writing for Trade Magazines
The most visible magazines are mainstream magazines sold on newsstands and in bookstores to the public. Trade magazines, on the other hand, are more exclusive; they are not sold to the public at retail chains and they usually circulate to the magazine's elite
class of subscribers and members.
Just as there are countless mainstream magazines on sports, pets, travel, weddings, and
lifestyle, you can also find just as many trade magazines tha cover the same subjects.
Writing for trade magazines pays well (sometimes higher than mainstream magazines) and they regularly use freelance writers.
Breaking into trade magazines as a freelance writer can be tricky.
Many editors of trade magazines choose not to list their writer's guidelines. Editors of trade magazines are extremely busy and short-staffed. These editors avoid having an open call for
submissions to avoid a ceaseless cycle of reviewing, critiquing and rejecting unsolicited articles and query letters sent in by writers, non-writers and their moms.
You will not find their writer's guidelines in Writer's Marketplace and they may not post their guidelines online at their website. Many freelance writers break into trade magazines by pitching an idea to the editor or contacting the editor directly. These freelance writers pitch
brilliant article ideas, they've reviewed the magazine in advance, and they aggressively market themselves and their work with confidence.
Here are some frequently asked questions about freelance writing for trade magazines:
Question #1: What are some advantages of writing for trade magazines, as opposed to writing for mainstream (newsstand) magazines?
Answer: The first advantage is the smaller number of competitors (other freelance writers). Many writers, especially amateurs, don't routinely research trade magazines for potential writing assignments. However, this also means it's often up to you, the writer, to educate an editor on the advantage of using your work.
The second advantage is that trade magazines are usually understaffed. When an editor finds a good freelancer, they not only accept the initial story but also ask the writer to accept future assignments.
A third advantage is the reputation you develop when you write for trade magazines within that industry. As your reputation builds, you often experience unexpected opportunities, such as referrals and writing assignments from other editors.
Question #2: What's the best research method to uncover
hard-to-find trade magazines?
Answer: The best method is to find a Standard Rate & Data for business publications ( http://www.srds.com ). This directory contains almost every trade magazine published in the U.S.
Second, find out what your friends and neighbors read in their business. Do they have any copies you can borrow? What about the mechanic who just fixed your car? What trades are on his waiting room table? How about the barber? How about the manager of that gift store near your house? How about the restaurant manager? A real estate agent? A roofing contractor? A bricklayer? A computer programmer? Your tax accountant?
The third way is the Internet. Find trade magazines at Freebizmag.com, tradepub.com and freetradepubs.com.
Question #3: What's the best way to pitch an article to a trade magazine?
Answer: Call the editor, tell him what you have in mind, and get feedback. Otherwise, you can send an email query. Once you have some credits, the best approach is calling the editor. Even if the editor doesn't need the story you are pitching, he may have one he would like to see, but haven't found anyone to do it.
Question #4: What do you do if the trade magazine doesn't have writer's guidelines?
Answer: Less than 10 percent of trade magazines have writers' guidelines. If you don't have a copy of the magazine you want to pitch to, find a way to get one and then go through it to see how the headlines are put together and how long the articles run. Check the masthead for full-time staff and the number of contributors.
Are the contributors industry gurus or independent writers like yourself? How much of the magazine is staff written? If the trade magazine has one editor and he's written more than 60 percent of the magazine, then he probably needs a good freelance writer from time to time.
Question #5: What are some challenges freelance writers might face with trade magazines?
Answer: The first challenge is finding the people with the right information. Specialization is a good idea for a trade journalist just as it is for a mainstream journalist. You write based on "who" you know.
A second challenge is learning to leverage what you've developed. If you specialize in writing on construction, you can also tie this topic to other industries, such as restaurant management, small hospital management, manufacturing, hospitality, real estate, golf course management, etc.
Another challenge is to learn discretion. Businesses have secrets they don't want their competitors to know about; they do have techniques or practices or processes that give them an edge. To maintain your contacts' trust, you must develop good judgment about
just how much information you can pass along in your article and how much you can't.
Never cheat your contacts. Be fair with them and they will be fair with you. They may get mad occasionally when they get called on a mistake, but as long as it's a fair call, then you'll keep them.
Question #6: What other types of articles do trade magazines find popular?
Answer: The most popular type of article in trade magazines is: "Who did what, and why?" Readers love to get ideas by seeing what others in their industry are doing. They also want to see who's doing what so they can decide if the article subject might be a
potential customer.
"List" articles are another favorite. Trade magazines are where people go to talk shop and to see who's who, who's new, and what's new.
About the author: Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com - a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer's guidelines to paying
magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers => http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com
class of subscribers and members.
Just as there are countless mainstream magazines on sports, pets, travel, weddings, and
lifestyle, you can also find just as many trade magazines tha cover the same subjects.
Writing for trade magazines pays well (sometimes higher than mainstream magazines) and they regularly use freelance writers.
Breaking into trade magazines as a freelance writer can be tricky.
Many editors of trade magazines choose not to list their writer's guidelines. Editors of trade magazines are extremely busy and short-staffed. These editors avoid having an open call for
submissions to avoid a ceaseless cycle of reviewing, critiquing and rejecting unsolicited articles and query letters sent in by writers, non-writers and their moms.
You will not find their writer's guidelines in Writer's Marketplace and they may not post their guidelines online at their website. Many freelance writers break into trade magazines by pitching an idea to the editor or contacting the editor directly. These freelance writers pitch
brilliant article ideas, they've reviewed the magazine in advance, and they aggressively market themselves and their work with confidence.
Here are some frequently asked questions about freelance writing for trade magazines:
Question #1: What are some advantages of writing for trade magazines, as opposed to writing for mainstream (newsstand) magazines?
Answer: The first advantage is the smaller number of competitors (other freelance writers). Many writers, especially amateurs, don't routinely research trade magazines for potential writing assignments. However, this also means it's often up to you, the writer, to educate an editor on the advantage of using your work.
The second advantage is that trade magazines are usually understaffed. When an editor finds a good freelancer, they not only accept the initial story but also ask the writer to accept future assignments.
A third advantage is the reputation you develop when you write for trade magazines within that industry. As your reputation builds, you often experience unexpected opportunities, such as referrals and writing assignments from other editors.
Question #2: What's the best research method to uncover
hard-to-find trade magazines?
Answer: The best method is to find a Standard Rate & Data for business publications ( http://www.srds.com ). This directory contains almost every trade magazine published in the U.S.
Second, find out what your friends and neighbors read in their business. Do they have any copies you can borrow? What about the mechanic who just fixed your car? What trades are on his waiting room table? How about the barber? How about the manager of that gift store near your house? How about the restaurant manager? A real estate agent? A roofing contractor? A bricklayer? A computer programmer? Your tax accountant?
The third way is the Internet. Find trade magazines at Freebizmag.com, tradepub.com and freetradepubs.com.
Question #3: What's the best way to pitch an article to a trade magazine?
Answer: Call the editor, tell him what you have in mind, and get feedback. Otherwise, you can send an email query. Once you have some credits, the best approach is calling the editor. Even if the editor doesn't need the story you are pitching, he may have one he would like to see, but haven't found anyone to do it.
Question #4: What do you do if the trade magazine doesn't have writer's guidelines?
Answer: Less than 10 percent of trade magazines have writers' guidelines. If you don't have a copy of the magazine you want to pitch to, find a way to get one and then go through it to see how the headlines are put together and how long the articles run. Check the masthead for full-time staff and the number of contributors.
Are the contributors industry gurus or independent writers like yourself? How much of the magazine is staff written? If the trade magazine has one editor and he's written more than 60 percent of the magazine, then he probably needs a good freelance writer from time to time.
Question #5: What are some challenges freelance writers might face with trade magazines?
Answer: The first challenge is finding the people with the right information. Specialization is a good idea for a trade journalist just as it is for a mainstream journalist. You write based on "who" you know.
A second challenge is learning to leverage what you've developed. If you specialize in writing on construction, you can also tie this topic to other industries, such as restaurant management, small hospital management, manufacturing, hospitality, real estate, golf course management, etc.
Another challenge is to learn discretion. Businesses have secrets they don't want their competitors to know about; they do have techniques or practices or processes that give them an edge. To maintain your contacts' trust, you must develop good judgment about
just how much information you can pass along in your article and how much you can't.
Never cheat your contacts. Be fair with them and they will be fair with you. They may get mad occasionally when they get called on a mistake, but as long as it's a fair call, then you'll keep them.
Question #6: What other types of articles do trade magazines find popular?
Answer: The most popular type of article in trade magazines is: "Who did what, and why?" Readers love to get ideas by seeing what others in their industry are doing. They also want to see who's doing what so they can decide if the article subject might be a
potential customer.
"List" articles are another favorite. Trade magazines are where people go to talk shop and to see who's who, who's new, and what's new.
About the author: Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com - a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer's guidelines to paying
magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers => http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com
2.11.09
Ten Reasons to Use a Blog to Publish Your Ezine
Blogs are the hottest thing going these days when it comes to marketing on the Internet. A blog is a delivery medium. Here are 10 reasons why you should deliver your ezine articles via a blog.
1. A blog is web based so you can update and post new articles anywhere, anytime. It's a dynamic medium that can be updated on a moment's notice.
2. Subscribers can subscribe to your RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed and have your content delivered straight to their desktop. This delivery system bypasses spam filters and readers get exactly the content they want.
3. No web site to mess with. It's very inexpensive way to set up a web presence for your ezine. There are several sites where you can set up a free blog and others are very reasonably priced for the massive exposure you can get.
4. You can set up links for ads and your affiliate programs in side columns so you don't have to include them in your ezine format.
5. You can set up a subscription form and send emails to your subscribers when new content is added.
6. Blogs link to other blogs which helps you create a viral marketing system and increases your exposure in search engines. Search engines LOVE text based, fresh content that is highly focused (key word rich).
7. You can use your ezine blog to become a trusted expert for your subscribers, by filtering content for them so they don't have to visit hundreds of web sites.
8. You have an instant archive of all your articles. When you post an article, a new page and permalink is created. People can share that link with others and be sent directly to the article being referenced.
9. Readers can comment on your articles, which creates rapport and trust between you and your subscriber. Comments also add rich content to your site and again, helps your ranking in the search engines.
10. The bottom line is this: using a blog can help you attract more visitors who become subscribers and then eventually become clients.
For an ezine publisher, a blog compliments and can significantly ease the delivery of your ezine content. Essentially, like any web site, you have to promote it and encourage people to add your site to their RSS feed (that's another subject) or subscribe for updates through a subscription form.
That's why I put a subscribe form on my site – subscribers and get updates in anyway they want. You still need to submit to search engines and directories to drive traffic. If you already have an ezine subscriber database, my advice would be to post everything on the blog and then send a weekly email, or whatever your normal publishing schedule is, informing your subscribers when new content is posted.
Marketing is done in a conversational way and via the links on your blog. Announcements can be posted on the blog and to one's list. I see the blog and ezine database as complimentary...working together to increase your exposure and make it easier for people to get your information and build relationships.
About The Author: Denise Wakeman is Chief Implementor of Next Level Partnership, a company dedicated to partnering with you to take your business to the next level. Denise has nearly 20 years experience in small business administration and management. She has specific experience in leveraging Internet marketing systems to create awareness, build customer loyalty and increase the bottom line. Visit Denise's blog at http://www.biztipsblog.com to get tips and tactics for taking your business to the next level.
1. A blog is web based so you can update and post new articles anywhere, anytime. It's a dynamic medium that can be updated on a moment's notice.
2. Subscribers can subscribe to your RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed and have your content delivered straight to their desktop. This delivery system bypasses spam filters and readers get exactly the content they want.
3. No web site to mess with. It's very inexpensive way to set up a web presence for your ezine. There are several sites where you can set up a free blog and others are very reasonably priced for the massive exposure you can get.
4. You can set up links for ads and your affiliate programs in side columns so you don't have to include them in your ezine format.
5. You can set up a subscription form and send emails to your subscribers when new content is added.
6. Blogs link to other blogs which helps you create a viral marketing system and increases your exposure in search engines. Search engines LOVE text based, fresh content that is highly focused (key word rich).
7. You can use your ezine blog to become a trusted expert for your subscribers, by filtering content for them so they don't have to visit hundreds of web sites.
8. You have an instant archive of all your articles. When you post an article, a new page and permalink is created. People can share that link with others and be sent directly to the article being referenced.
9. Readers can comment on your articles, which creates rapport and trust between you and your subscriber. Comments also add rich content to your site and again, helps your ranking in the search engines.
10. The bottom line is this: using a blog can help you attract more visitors who become subscribers and then eventually become clients.
For an ezine publisher, a blog compliments and can significantly ease the delivery of your ezine content. Essentially, like any web site, you have to promote it and encourage people to add your site to their RSS feed (that's another subject) or subscribe for updates through a subscription form.
That's why I put a subscribe form on my site – subscribers and get updates in anyway they want. You still need to submit to search engines and directories to drive traffic. If you already have an ezine subscriber database, my advice would be to post everything on the blog and then send a weekly email, or whatever your normal publishing schedule is, informing your subscribers when new content is posted.
Marketing is done in a conversational way and via the links on your blog. Announcements can be posted on the blog and to one's list. I see the blog and ezine database as complimentary...working together to increase your exposure and make it easier for people to get your information and build relationships.
About The Author: Denise Wakeman is Chief Implementor of Next Level Partnership, a company dedicated to partnering with you to take your business to the next level. Denise has nearly 20 years experience in small business administration and management. She has specific experience in leveraging Internet marketing systems to create awareness, build customer loyalty and increase the bottom line. Visit Denise's blog at http://www.biztipsblog.com to get tips and tactics for taking your business to the next level.
Blogged with the Flock Browser
24.8.09
Freelance Writing: Set Yourself Tougher Personal Deadlines
By Nick Usborne
As freelancers we all work to deadlines. But often we work to deadlines set by our clients. This is fine, of course. Ultimately we need to meet the times and dates our clients set us.
But if you want to be more productive and efficient in how you work, you should also be setting some deadlines of your own.
Let me give you an example of how a client deadline alone can lead to lower productivity.
Let's say it's the beginning of the day and you have until tomorrow lunchtime to complete and deliver a particular job.
If you work based on that deadline alone, you are likely to spend a day and a half on the job. That's how we are sometimes. We expand our work to fit the available time.
This is where adding your own deadlines comes in.
Instead of using all that time to complete that one task, be tough on yourself and add some other tasks that need to be done within that same period.
Put aside two hours to do some new client acquisition work. Allocate an hour to updating your filing. Create a time slot for catching up on your invoicing or bookkeeping.
In other words, give yourself more work than your clients are giving you.
There are a number of benefits to being tough on yourself in this way.
First, obviously, you'll get a lot more done between now and tomorrow lunchtime.
Second, you'll probably do a better job for your client, simply because a tighter deadline forces us to focus with greater concentration and clarity.
Third, you'll feel better.
You'll feel better about getting more done.
And you'll feel a greater sense of accomplishment after meeting not only your client's deadline, but also those you set for yourself.
About the author: For more information on how to increase your productivity, find out about the Writing Rituals method
As freelancers we all work to deadlines. But often we work to deadlines set by our clients. This is fine, of course. Ultimately we need to meet the times and dates our clients set us.
But if you want to be more productive and efficient in how you work, you should also be setting some deadlines of your own.
Let me give you an example of how a client deadline alone can lead to lower productivity.
Let's say it's the beginning of the day and you have until tomorrow lunchtime to complete and deliver a particular job.
If you work based on that deadline alone, you are likely to spend a day and a half on the job. That's how we are sometimes. We expand our work to fit the available time.
This is where adding your own deadlines comes in.
Instead of using all that time to complete that one task, be tough on yourself and add some other tasks that need to be done within that same period.
Put aside two hours to do some new client acquisition work. Allocate an hour to updating your filing. Create a time slot for catching up on your invoicing or bookkeeping.
In other words, give yourself more work than your clients are giving you.
There are a number of benefits to being tough on yourself in this way.
First, obviously, you'll get a lot more done between now and tomorrow lunchtime.
Second, you'll probably do a better job for your client, simply because a tighter deadline forces us to focus with greater concentration and clarity.
Third, you'll feel better.
You'll feel better about getting more done.
And you'll feel a greater sense of accomplishment after meeting not only your client's deadline, but also those you set for yourself.
About the author: For more information on how to increase your productivity, find out about the Writing Rituals method
7.8.09
Online Freelance Writing Jobs - 3 Ways to Make $50-$100 Per Day With No Experience
By Yuwanda Black
Online freelance writing jobs are plentiful. And, there are only going to be more of them as online marketing experts estimate that 100,000 new websites go live every day. This means the need for fresh content on a continual basis. That's why freelance writing jobs are one of the fastest growing niches in work-from-home sector.
It's fast, easy and practically free to get stated. If you have a computer, you can easily start to make money as a web writer. Fifty to $100 per day is pretty easy.
Now, you're going to have to put in 5, 6 or 7 hours a day. But, if you're desperate to work from home and you're willing to put in the elbow grease, following are three ways you can start making money online as a content provider (aka web writer, online writer), right away.
Online Freelance Writing Jobs: Legitimate Write-for-Pay Sites
Over the last few years, quite a few legitimate, write-for-pay sites have cropped up. One of the most popular is AssociatedContent. Others are Helium, BrightHub and eHow. These sites pay anywhere from a low of $3 on up to a few hundred dollars for commissioned articles.
A standard rate is between $5-$20. And the best part about these sites is that you write what you know in most cases. If you're new to writing for the web, check out these sites first. $50/day is pretty easy to reach. Once you get the hang of what each site requires, your writing will go faster and you can pump it up to putting out more content to reach the $100/day mark.
And you don't have to deal with clients, you write when you want and the money is deposited right into your PayPal account. Sweet!
Online Freelance Writing Jobs: Turn Your Passion for Facebook into Dollars
Do you spend a lot of time on Facebook? Do you know how to set up a profile and get friends? Many website owners will pay you to set up and monitor their Facebook accounts because they either don't know how, or don't have the time to do it.
Online Freelance Writing Jobs: Provide SEO Content to Website Owners
SEO copywriting is a hot, well-paying niche in freelance writing. Don't know what it is? It is simply providing search engine optimized (SEO), niche-specific content to web masters.
For example, if a website owner had a gardening site and gardening was your hobby, you could offer to write articles for the site.
They will say something to the effect of, "We want an article on gardening. 400 words. The keyword phrase is "spring flowers." You would simply write an article with at least four hundred words that used the phrase "spring flowers" in it at least 5-10 times. It's that easy. These types of jobs pay between a low of $15 on up to $100 or more. Most are in the $25-$35/article range. Churn out 4 of these a day and you've made your hundred bucks.
Learn more about how to start an SEO copywriting career.
Online freelance writing jobs are growing more plentiful every day. And, you don't have to have any experience to start. Just a computer, a willingness to work and the ability to adhere to deadlines. So, what are you waiting for? Start your freelance writing career today!
About the Author: Yuwanda Black is a freelance SEO writer - the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com, the authority site on how to start a freelance writing career; and the author of How to Make $250+/Day Writing Simple, 500-Word Articles. Ms. Black says, "You can work from home as a freelance writer in your PJs, getting assignments via the internet. I do it every day."
Online freelance writing jobs are plentiful. And, there are only going to be more of them as online marketing experts estimate that 100,000 new websites go live every day. This means the need for fresh content on a continual basis. That's why freelance writing jobs are one of the fastest growing niches in work-from-home sector.
It's fast, easy and practically free to get stated. If you have a computer, you can easily start to make money as a web writer. Fifty to $100 per day is pretty easy.
Now, you're going to have to put in 5, 6 or 7 hours a day. But, if you're desperate to work from home and you're willing to put in the elbow grease, following are three ways you can start making money online as a content provider (aka web writer, online writer), right away.
Online Freelance Writing Jobs: Legitimate Write-for-Pay Sites
Over the last few years, quite a few legitimate, write-for-pay sites have cropped up. One of the most popular is AssociatedContent. Others are Helium, BrightHub and eHow. These sites pay anywhere from a low of $3 on up to a few hundred dollars for commissioned articles.
A standard rate is between $5-$20. And the best part about these sites is that you write what you know in most cases. If you're new to writing for the web, check out these sites first. $50/day is pretty easy to reach. Once you get the hang of what each site requires, your writing will go faster and you can pump it up to putting out more content to reach the $100/day mark.
And you don't have to deal with clients, you write when you want and the money is deposited right into your PayPal account. Sweet!
Online Freelance Writing Jobs: Turn Your Passion for Facebook into Dollars
Do you spend a lot of time on Facebook? Do you know how to set up a profile and get friends? Many website owners will pay you to set up and monitor their Facebook accounts because they either don't know how, or don't have the time to do it.
Online Freelance Writing Jobs: Provide SEO Content to Website Owners
SEO copywriting is a hot, well-paying niche in freelance writing. Don't know what it is? It is simply providing search engine optimized (SEO), niche-specific content to web masters.
For example, if a website owner had a gardening site and gardening was your hobby, you could offer to write articles for the site.
They will say something to the effect of, "We want an article on gardening. 400 words. The keyword phrase is "spring flowers." You would simply write an article with at least four hundred words that used the phrase "spring flowers" in it at least 5-10 times. It's that easy. These types of jobs pay between a low of $15 on up to $100 or more. Most are in the $25-$35/article range. Churn out 4 of these a day and you've made your hundred bucks.
Learn more about how to start an SEO copywriting career.
Online freelance writing jobs are growing more plentiful every day. And, you don't have to have any experience to start. Just a computer, a willingness to work and the ability to adhere to deadlines. So, what are you waiting for? Start your freelance writing career today!
About the Author: Yuwanda Black is a freelance SEO writer - the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com, the authority site on how to start a freelance writing career; and the author of How to Make $250+/Day Writing Simple, 500-Word Articles. Ms. Black says, "You can work from home as a freelance writer in your PJs, getting assignments via the internet. I do it every day."
31.7.09
Freelance Writing: Are You Sure Your Query Is Ready?
By Gary McLaren
One magazine. Hundreds of writers. Thousands of queries.
One editor. One desktop ... and a trashcan that appears to be incredibly, almost unimaginably deep. Where exactly will your submission go?
It has all the makings of an editor's nightmare. Stacks and stacks of submissions, and some of them are dreadfully inappropriate and unprofessional. It's enough to give our poor editor a splitting headache at the very least. No wonder that some of these submissions have only a brief existence before being filed in the circular bin.
How will you ever get through to an editor who is wading through scores of submissions being sent by your competitors? That's right, your competitors. It's important to think of those other writers with that understanding. And it wouldn't hurt to keep in mind that some of them may be reading this newsletter. Face the facts. Space in most publications is limited. Very limited. Not at all like your editor's trash. That trashcan really does appear to be as dark and bottomless as a cup of Aunt Annie's coffee.
Do you want to be successful in the business of selling your writing? If so, then having recognized your competitors for who they really are, look at the challenge from a business point of
view.
Your client has a project. The project is to provide the client with writing services and writing material for publication. Your client has tendered their requirements to you and to your competitors. The project and the space in their publication are up for grabs, and work will be awarded to the most appropriate tenderer. Keep in mind that the lowest or cheapest proposal is not always accepted. In fact in this business it probably will not be!
It is very common to receive Requests For Proposals (RFPs) in the business world. Serious tenderers would not even consider submitting a sloppy, hastily drafted proposal. For a submission to
be short-listed, the entire proposal has to be thoroughly researched, well written, and carefully packaged. To successfully submit a writing query or manuscript, you should be just as thorough and just as professional. Naturally your submission will be much shorter and more concise than tender documents in many
other businesses.
So how can you make the shortlist with your editor? Firstly, you need a great topic or idea but this article is not designed to help you with that. Secondly, your idea or article must be professionally presented. Here is a ten-point checklist to help you ensure your submission is ready to send. Do some of the items on
the list sound elementary? Please check them again. You'd be surprised how many queries are sent every day by writers who fail to perform some of these fundamental checks.
1. Have I read the publication?
Elementary? Indeed! Come on, be honest. Have you ever read a publication's writer's guidelines at a web site or in a newsletter, had a superb idea for an article and queried - or even written the article - all without going to look at the publication? Don't, don't, don't ever do this! You may as well play the poker machines,
if you intend to leave your writing career to blind luck.
Especially since most publications have a web site, there is no excuse for not studying a publication before querying the editor or submitting an article. Take a look at other pieces they have been publishing recently. What types of topics are they running? What style of writing was used?
2. Have I checked the publication's writer's guidelines?
If they have any guidelines, that is. This is more common for publications in North America than in other continents, and the type and amount of information contained in the guidelines varies widely. First check a publication's web site to see if there is a link to 'Writer's Guidelines' or 'Submission Guidelines' or
occasionally 'Contributions'. Sometimes you will need to go first to the 'About' or 'Contact' page before you find this link to their guidelines. If you can't find any link, you might drop the editor a polite, brief email asking if they have any writer guidelines.
Do you consider obtaining and reading writer's guidelines to be a waste of time? No way. In the last few months my newsletter for freelance writers has received queries on a wild variety of topics from archaeology to gardening to European history. If there are guidelines, please read them. Ensure your manuscript meets the
requirements of style, length etc.
3. Is my submission method correct?
A publication's writer's guidelines will often tell you how the editor likes to receive submissions. Do they prefer to receive a query or a finished article? Do they want submissions sent through the post or electronically by email? If sending an article by email, does the editor prefer attachments such as Microsoft Word or do they request the article to be sent as regular text within the body of your email? With the proliferation of computer viruses, many editors now refuse to open attachments that may be carrying
dangerous macros or code. If you really want your proposal to execute a rapid depth test on the editor's trashcan, simply ignore this checklist item.
4. Does my opening catch the reader's attention?
If the editor only reads the first two or three sentences of your query, will you have captured their interest? The first paragraph must be a winner. Intriguing. Enticing. Like a fat, juicy worm wiggling on the end of a fishing line. Read your opening again. Can you improve it?
5. Can I cut any unnecessary or redundant words?
Many of us include unnecessary or redundant words when we first draft a piece. The makers of some editing software I know of claim that their software typically removes 25 to 30 percent of unnecessary and redundant words from users' documents. That's significant. Cast a critical eye over your work again. If the words add value to the piece, leave them. If you have waffled it may be worthwhile to take a black marker pen and start striking out any unnecessary phrases. Think crisp, think concise.
6. Have I checked my grammar?
It can be frustrating for an editor to read what would otherwise be a good article but for the fact it is riddled with bad grammar. Some writers wonder why editors haven't taken them seriously, but they haven't even taken the time to proofread their own manuscript before submitting it! Some good word processing software programs will even check your grammar for you.
7. Have I checked the spelling?
Again your software can probably do this for you. If you are writing for a publication in another country have you also taken into account any different spelling for that location, e.g. British vs. American English? Also try to spot any words that may be different from country to country, for example footpaths and sidewalks, diapers and nappies.
8. Have I included some details about my background?
This may not be necessary if the editor already knows you. Otherwise be sure to include a brief biography and list any relevant credentials, clips, or links to your articles online.
9. Have I included the article's publishing history?
Remember the last time you had to clear customs at the airport?
This is just like that. 'Do you have anything to declare?' If the
article has been published elsewhere, you do.
10.Have I included my contact details?
If you want a reply from the editor, and hopefully one day to receive a check in the post, be certain to provide your full contact details. Many writers making submissions by email forget to include any other contact details.
It's been a long day. The editor, red-eyed and wired on caffeine, is ready to go home. Incredibly, the trashcan is nearly full now. A few crumpled manuscripts lie scattered nearby where they didn't
quite hit the mark. 'One more', the editor thinks, 'then I'll hit the road.' Finally your submission is opened, and the editor, for what seems like the hundredth time today, wonders what this new writer has to offer.
Where will your submission end up? Have you helped yourself by sending in a well-prepared submission? If you have followed the advice given here, you're well on your way. Now let's hope your idea was a good one.
Happy Writing!
One magazine. Hundreds of writers. Thousands of queries.
One editor. One desktop ... and a trashcan that appears to be incredibly, almost unimaginably deep. Where exactly will your submission go?
It has all the makings of an editor's nightmare. Stacks and stacks of submissions, and some of them are dreadfully inappropriate and unprofessional. It's enough to give our poor editor a splitting headache at the very least. No wonder that some of these submissions have only a brief existence before being filed in the circular bin.
How will you ever get through to an editor who is wading through scores of submissions being sent by your competitors? That's right, your competitors. It's important to think of those other writers with that understanding. And it wouldn't hurt to keep in mind that some of them may be reading this newsletter. Face the facts. Space in most publications is limited. Very limited. Not at all like your editor's trash. That trashcan really does appear to be as dark and bottomless as a cup of Aunt Annie's coffee.
Do you want to be successful in the business of selling your writing? If so, then having recognized your competitors for who they really are, look at the challenge from a business point of
view.
Your client has a project. The project is to provide the client with writing services and writing material for publication. Your client has tendered their requirements to you and to your competitors. The project and the space in their publication are up for grabs, and work will be awarded to the most appropriate tenderer. Keep in mind that the lowest or cheapest proposal is not always accepted. In fact in this business it probably will not be!
It is very common to receive Requests For Proposals (RFPs) in the business world. Serious tenderers would not even consider submitting a sloppy, hastily drafted proposal. For a submission to
be short-listed, the entire proposal has to be thoroughly researched, well written, and carefully packaged. To successfully submit a writing query or manuscript, you should be just as thorough and just as professional. Naturally your submission will be much shorter and more concise than tender documents in many
other businesses.
So how can you make the shortlist with your editor? Firstly, you need a great topic or idea but this article is not designed to help you with that. Secondly, your idea or article must be professionally presented. Here is a ten-point checklist to help you ensure your submission is ready to send. Do some of the items on
the list sound elementary? Please check them again. You'd be surprised how many queries are sent every day by writers who fail to perform some of these fundamental checks.
1. Have I read the publication?
Elementary? Indeed! Come on, be honest. Have you ever read a publication's writer's guidelines at a web site or in a newsletter, had a superb idea for an article and queried - or even written the article - all without going to look at the publication? Don't, don't, don't ever do this! You may as well play the poker machines,
if you intend to leave your writing career to blind luck.
Especially since most publications have a web site, there is no excuse for not studying a publication before querying the editor or submitting an article. Take a look at other pieces they have been publishing recently. What types of topics are they running? What style of writing was used?
2. Have I checked the publication's writer's guidelines?
If they have any guidelines, that is. This is more common for publications in North America than in other continents, and the type and amount of information contained in the guidelines varies widely. First check a publication's web site to see if there is a link to 'Writer's Guidelines' or 'Submission Guidelines' or
occasionally 'Contributions'. Sometimes you will need to go first to the 'About' or 'Contact' page before you find this link to their guidelines. If you can't find any link, you might drop the editor a polite, brief email asking if they have any writer guidelines.
Do you consider obtaining and reading writer's guidelines to be a waste of time? No way. In the last few months my newsletter for freelance writers has received queries on a wild variety of topics from archaeology to gardening to European history. If there are guidelines, please read them. Ensure your manuscript meets the
requirements of style, length etc.
3. Is my submission method correct?
A publication's writer's guidelines will often tell you how the editor likes to receive submissions. Do they prefer to receive a query or a finished article? Do they want submissions sent through the post or electronically by email? If sending an article by email, does the editor prefer attachments such as Microsoft Word or do they request the article to be sent as regular text within the body of your email? With the proliferation of computer viruses, many editors now refuse to open attachments that may be carrying
dangerous macros or code. If you really want your proposal to execute a rapid depth test on the editor's trashcan, simply ignore this checklist item.
4. Does my opening catch the reader's attention?
If the editor only reads the first two or three sentences of your query, will you have captured their interest? The first paragraph must be a winner. Intriguing. Enticing. Like a fat, juicy worm wiggling on the end of a fishing line. Read your opening again. Can you improve it?
5. Can I cut any unnecessary or redundant words?
Many of us include unnecessary or redundant words when we first draft a piece. The makers of some editing software I know of claim that their software typically removes 25 to 30 percent of unnecessary and redundant words from users' documents. That's significant. Cast a critical eye over your work again. If the words add value to the piece, leave them. If you have waffled it may be worthwhile to take a black marker pen and start striking out any unnecessary phrases. Think crisp, think concise.
6. Have I checked my grammar?
It can be frustrating for an editor to read what would otherwise be a good article but for the fact it is riddled with bad grammar. Some writers wonder why editors haven't taken them seriously, but they haven't even taken the time to proofread their own manuscript before submitting it! Some good word processing software programs will even check your grammar for you.
7. Have I checked the spelling?
Again your software can probably do this for you. If you are writing for a publication in another country have you also taken into account any different spelling for that location, e.g. British vs. American English? Also try to spot any words that may be different from country to country, for example footpaths and sidewalks, diapers and nappies.
8. Have I included some details about my background?
This may not be necessary if the editor already knows you. Otherwise be sure to include a brief biography and list any relevant credentials, clips, or links to your articles online.
9. Have I included the article's publishing history?
Remember the last time you had to clear customs at the airport?
This is just like that. 'Do you have anything to declare?' If the
article has been published elsewhere, you do.
10.Have I included my contact details?
If you want a reply from the editor, and hopefully one day to receive a check in the post, be certain to provide your full contact details. Many writers making submissions by email forget to include any other contact details.
It's been a long day. The editor, red-eyed and wired on caffeine, is ready to go home. Incredibly, the trashcan is nearly full now. A few crumpled manuscripts lie scattered nearby where they didn't
quite hit the mark. 'One more', the editor thinks, 'then I'll hit the road.' Finally your submission is opened, and the editor, for what seems like the hundredth time today, wonders what this new writer has to offer.
Where will your submission end up? Have you helped yourself by sending in a well-prepared submission? If you have followed the advice given here, you're well on your way. Now let's hope your idea was a good one.
Happy Writing!
20.6.09
Freelance Writing Fees - Charge What You're Worth!
Ah yes ... we work for money, don't we?
And we should. After all, you wouldn't choose to spend your afternoon writing a press release announcing ACME Balloon Rental's new vice president of inflation instead of working on your novel, would you? Nor would you pop out of bed in the morning thinking, "Finally, today I get to write a brochure about widgets instead of finishing my screenplay!"
The fact is, as freelance writers, we work to eat, and to eat, we must charge for our work. But there's the rub: What should we charge?
Let's cut to the chase. I currently base my fees on $75 per hour for anything clients ask me to do, whether it's writing, ghostwriting or editing. It doesn't matter whether it's for a brochure, Web site, book, press release or what. It's $75 per hour. (That rate is higher than some writers charge and less than others charge. The geographical market has a lot to do with it.)
My fees are almost never discussed when I work with repeat clients. They know what to expect and seem to be okay with it. If it looks like a project is going to cost more than the client is used to, I bring this up for approval. The last thing I want is to give a good client an unpleasant surprise when he or she opens my bill.
My fees are always discussed with new clients. I usually don't tell them what I charge per hour. That really tells them little, because it's only half of the equation. One writer might take five hours to do the project while another would take 10 hours. So simply saying "I charge $75 per hour" means nothing. That's why with new clients I estimate what I would charge for a project, based on all the information I have been given. I also let the client know to expect changes in the estimate if the project's parameters change midstream. An up-front estimate eliminates sticker shock when the client receives the invoice. (By the way, you could call it a "bid," but I like "estimate" because it seems a bit more pliable.)
Ultimately, of course, you can only charge what the market will bear, but the fee structure I've just described has worked for me for years. I have, of course, periodically raised my rate.
Don't be afraid to turn down clients who aren't willing to pay you what you're worth. If you keep saying yes to these people, you will get locked into a low-level of clientele and will always be underpaid. Believe me, there are companies and individuals out there who are willing to pay the price for a good writer. If you are a good writer, you just have to find them. But you won't find them if you're swamped with jobs that keep you perpetually unpaid and overworked.
I have a pet peeve: writers who low-ball their rates just to get work. They make life difficult for other hardworking, professional freelancers, and ultimately they cut their own throats. I recently went online to check out what writers were charging and being offered for online articles and content. I was appalled and frankly infuriated to read that some online publishers were offering 1/10th of one cent per word! Once cent per word was fairly standard. That sort of compensation is a slap in the face to serious writers, and any writer who accepts it is doing real damage to the profession as a whole.
Let's put things in perspective: Yesterday a garage door repairman charged me $89 to fix one of our garage door openers. He spent - I'm not exaggerating - less than five minutes! The day before, my sister paid a plumber $180 to fix a leaking connection. He spend just over 30 minutes on the job. And they're asking writers to work for maybe $2 per hour? And some writers will do it? I can't think about this without wanting to break something.
One last thought. Some writers wonder whether to charge on a per-word basis. This may work for magazine articles and the like, but is lunacy for most types of projects. It doesn't take into account the time you might spend on research and in meetings, or the approval process and other variables.
I once spent three days in meetings and creative time to come up with a small college's three-word billboard headline. Had I charged per word, I would have had to charge over $400 per word. Had I told the client that I would charge $400 per word, I wouldn't have landed the job. But telling them that I would charge about $1200 for three days of work seemed reasonable to them. And it was. In fact, it was a steal. They used the headline for years in all their marketing materials.
In my dreams, I regularly get $400 per word for 2,000-word travel articles ... in my dreams
About the author: Steve Osborne is author of "Writing Tips for the Real World," a blog at http://www.thewritersbag.com . He is an award-winning freelance writer and writing instructor. His blog teaches writing tips, techniques and strategies designed to help people from all walks of life turn the written word into a powerful success tool in their careers and personal lives.
And we should. After all, you wouldn't choose to spend your afternoon writing a press release announcing ACME Balloon Rental's new vice president of inflation instead of working on your novel, would you? Nor would you pop out of bed in the morning thinking, "Finally, today I get to write a brochure about widgets instead of finishing my screenplay!"
The fact is, as freelance writers, we work to eat, and to eat, we must charge for our work. But there's the rub: What should we charge?
Let's cut to the chase. I currently base my fees on $75 per hour for anything clients ask me to do, whether it's writing, ghostwriting or editing. It doesn't matter whether it's for a brochure, Web site, book, press release or what. It's $75 per hour. (That rate is higher than some writers charge and less than others charge. The geographical market has a lot to do with it.)
My fees are almost never discussed when I work with repeat clients. They know what to expect and seem to be okay with it. If it looks like a project is going to cost more than the client is used to, I bring this up for approval. The last thing I want is to give a good client an unpleasant surprise when he or she opens my bill.
My fees are always discussed with new clients. I usually don't tell them what I charge per hour. That really tells them little, because it's only half of the equation. One writer might take five hours to do the project while another would take 10 hours. So simply saying "I charge $75 per hour" means nothing. That's why with new clients I estimate what I would charge for a project, based on all the information I have been given. I also let the client know to expect changes in the estimate if the project's parameters change midstream. An up-front estimate eliminates sticker shock when the client receives the invoice. (By the way, you could call it a "bid," but I like "estimate" because it seems a bit more pliable.)
Ultimately, of course, you can only charge what the market will bear, but the fee structure I've just described has worked for me for years. I have, of course, periodically raised my rate.
Don't be afraid to turn down clients who aren't willing to pay you what you're worth. If you keep saying yes to these people, you will get locked into a low-level of clientele and will always be underpaid. Believe me, there are companies and individuals out there who are willing to pay the price for a good writer. If you are a good writer, you just have to find them. But you won't find them if you're swamped with jobs that keep you perpetually unpaid and overworked.
I have a pet peeve: writers who low-ball their rates just to get work. They make life difficult for other hardworking, professional freelancers, and ultimately they cut their own throats. I recently went online to check out what writers were charging and being offered for online articles and content. I was appalled and frankly infuriated to read that some online publishers were offering 1/10th of one cent per word! Once cent per word was fairly standard. That sort of compensation is a slap in the face to serious writers, and any writer who accepts it is doing real damage to the profession as a whole.
Let's put things in perspective: Yesterday a garage door repairman charged me $89 to fix one of our garage door openers. He spent - I'm not exaggerating - less than five minutes! The day before, my sister paid a plumber $180 to fix a leaking connection. He spend just over 30 minutes on the job. And they're asking writers to work for maybe $2 per hour? And some writers will do it? I can't think about this without wanting to break something.
One last thought. Some writers wonder whether to charge on a per-word basis. This may work for magazine articles and the like, but is lunacy for most types of projects. It doesn't take into account the time you might spend on research and in meetings, or the approval process and other variables.
I once spent three days in meetings and creative time to come up with a small college's three-word billboard headline. Had I charged per word, I would have had to charge over $400 per word. Had I told the client that I would charge $400 per word, I wouldn't have landed the job. But telling them that I would charge about $1200 for three days of work seemed reasonable to them. And it was. In fact, it was a steal. They used the headline for years in all their marketing materials.
In my dreams, I regularly get $400 per word for 2,000-word travel articles ... in my dreams
About the author: Steve Osborne is author of "Writing Tips for the Real World," a blog at http://www.thewritersbag.com . He is an award-winning freelance writer and writing instructor. His blog teaches writing tips, techniques and strategies designed to help people from all walks of life turn the written word into a powerful success tool in their careers and personal lives.
7.6.09
Typography: Italics - When You Should Use Them
Art of Typography. The purpose of italic typefaces is to aid comprehension by separating off certain words and phrases from their surrounding text. But when exactly should you use italics?
The basic purpose in typesetting a story or article for a book, newspaper or periodical, for print or online, is to enhance understanding of the text and thereby make the reading an easy, pleasant experience.
Roman type is the straightforward, upright type we read everyday in our newspapers, magazines and books, and on our monitors.
Italic is the 'handwriting' equivalent of whatever roman font we are reading. It has a sloping cursive quality that reminds us of the manual writing we learned in primary school.
Bold type is roman or italic font that has been emphasized by thickening and making it darker than the surrounding text.
The question is: when should we use which version of a particular typeface - roman, italic, or bold? The answer must focus on the reader's needs and the reading experience.
It is obvious that for most copy the roman version of the chosen font should be used. This is because, having an upright face, it is the easiest to read and it is what readers expect.
Because the bold version of a font makes text stand out strongly, it is used for highlighting important words, phrases and sections. Thus headlines, decks and subheads set in bold will, along with pull-quotes and other tricks of the typesetter's art, provide the casual scanner with clues as to what your article or story is all about. The judicious use of bold in this way will induce him or her to read the main story.
Bold however is too strong to be used, except very occasionally, within body text. To set off words from surrounding text is the main function of italics.
So when should you use italics exactly? Here's a sort of check-list, a mixture of accepted practice and my personal opinion.
Credit: sandbaum
Most of these when-to-use-italics rules apply equally to words in body copy, head-lines and captions, and whether you are typesetting books, articles, stories or web-pages.
[1] The names of ships and aircraft; eg: The Caribbean Cruiser sank yesterday. This is the oldest when-to-use-italics rule. It allows the reader to quickly grasp what is being referred to in the message.
[2] The titles of poems; eg: As You Go Dancing by James Stewart is famous among the literati of the Arabian Gulf. This is another very traditional use of italics that enables quick reader-uptake.
[3] Foreign words; eg: We turned left and found ourselves in a cul de sac. Another very traditional use of italics that makes for quicker reading.
[4] The titles of books, newspapers, articles and stories occurring within a sentence without further explanation; eg: The Saturday edition of the Limerick Leader was always on the streets by Friday afternoon.
However titles that appear within larger works are not italicized but are set off in quotation marks; eg: 'An Irishman's Diary' in the Irish Times is sometimes interesting.
[5] Latin phrases used to classify living things; eg: Many people wonder why mankind is referred to as homo sapiens. Another use of italics that has been around ab aeterno.
[6] Where a word is used as an example rather than for its meaning; eg: The word Kennedy is a proper noun. This is neater than setting the noun within single quotes as in: The word 'Kennedy' is a proper noun.
[7] For introducing new terms; eg: In Freudian psychology reference is made to the ego, the super-ego, and the id. This is a neat solution to highlighting words that will probably be explained later.
[8] For the subjects of definitions; eg: An odd number is any number that cannot be divided by two. This is useful for the reader as, should he or she wish to refer back to the definition later, a word in italics among a sea of roman letters is easy to find.
[9] For mathematical symbols: eg: The standard acceleration of gravity g is 9.81183 metres per second per second. The symbol does not need to be surrounded by commas or single quotes which would be required if it were set in roman type.
[10] For emphasis; eg: Janice wasn't the only girl at the party. The use of italics for emphasis is less intrusive than bold and more subtly suggestive.
[11] To indicate a character's internal reflections in stories; eg: This just does not seem right, Janice thought. However many writers prefer other ways of expressing inner thoughts.
[12] Using a letter or number as a noun; eg: He was vexed because they had left out the d in his name. However many writers would prefer to put a letter or number used in this way between quotes: eg; He was vexed because they had left out the 'd' in his name.
That's about it for the when-to-use italics rules. Except, what should you do if you need to use italics within italics?
If some word or phrase that should be italicised is already within a run of italics, the trick is to switch back to roman type for that word or phrase; eg: I'm in a really weird situation, Janice thought.
This italics-within-italics solution works best when italics are used to highlight internal reflections; eg: Why can't we just look up Wikipedia for the answer? he wondered to himself.
Of course, you don't have to follow these when-to-use-italics rules. However most of them are in current use because they do aid reader comprehension.
Indeed, most of us have an instinct as to when the use of italics is appropriate. Perhaps you can devise better rules of your own. If so, let me know.
About the Author: Paul D Kennedy (paulkpg@yahoo.ie) is a freelance writer of articles and stories. He offers a complete service - research, writing, editing and proofing - for corporate newsletters and commercial magazines on http://www.writingservices.eu .
The basic purpose in typesetting a story or article for a book, newspaper or periodical, for print or online, is to enhance understanding of the text and thereby make the reading an easy, pleasant experience.
Roman type is the straightforward, upright type we read everyday in our newspapers, magazines and books, and on our monitors.
Italic is the 'handwriting' equivalent of whatever roman font we are reading. It has a sloping cursive quality that reminds us of the manual writing we learned in primary school.
Bold type is roman or italic font that has been emphasized by thickening and making it darker than the surrounding text.
The question is: when should we use which version of a particular typeface - roman, italic, or bold? The answer must focus on the reader's needs and the reading experience.
It is obvious that for most copy the roman version of the chosen font should be used. This is because, having an upright face, it is the easiest to read and it is what readers expect.
Because the bold version of a font makes text stand out strongly, it is used for highlighting important words, phrases and sections. Thus headlines, decks and subheads set in bold will, along with pull-quotes and other tricks of the typesetter's art, provide the casual scanner with clues as to what your article or story is all about. The judicious use of bold in this way will induce him or her to read the main story.
Bold however is too strong to be used, except very occasionally, within body text. To set off words from surrounding text is the main function of italics.
So when should you use italics exactly? Here's a sort of check-list, a mixture of accepted practice and my personal opinion.
Most of these when-to-use-italics rules apply equally to words in body copy, head-lines and captions, and whether you are typesetting books, articles, stories or web-pages.
[1] The names of ships and aircraft; eg: The Caribbean Cruiser sank yesterday. This is the oldest when-to-use-italics rule. It allows the reader to quickly grasp what is being referred to in the message.
[2] The titles of poems; eg: As You Go Dancing by James Stewart is famous among the literati of the Arabian Gulf. This is another very traditional use of italics that enables quick reader-uptake.
[3] Foreign words; eg: We turned left and found ourselves in a cul de sac. Another very traditional use of italics that makes for quicker reading.
[4] The titles of books, newspapers, articles and stories occurring within a sentence without further explanation; eg: The Saturday edition of the Limerick Leader was always on the streets by Friday afternoon.
However titles that appear within larger works are not italicized but are set off in quotation marks; eg: 'An Irishman's Diary' in the Irish Times is sometimes interesting.
[5] Latin phrases used to classify living things; eg: Many people wonder why mankind is referred to as homo sapiens. Another use of italics that has been around ab aeterno.
[6] Where a word is used as an example rather than for its meaning; eg: The word Kennedy is a proper noun. This is neater than setting the noun within single quotes as in: The word 'Kennedy' is a proper noun.
[7] For introducing new terms; eg: In Freudian psychology reference is made to the ego, the super-ego, and the id. This is a neat solution to highlighting words that will probably be explained later.
[8] For the subjects of definitions; eg: An odd number is any number that cannot be divided by two. This is useful for the reader as, should he or she wish to refer back to the definition later, a word in italics among a sea of roman letters is easy to find.
[9] For mathematical symbols: eg: The standard acceleration of gravity g is 9.81183 metres per second per second. The symbol does not need to be surrounded by commas or single quotes which would be required if it were set in roman type.
[10] For emphasis; eg: Janice wasn't the only girl at the party. The use of italics for emphasis is less intrusive than bold and more subtly suggestive.
[11] To indicate a character's internal reflections in stories; eg: This just does not seem right, Janice thought. However many writers prefer other ways of expressing inner thoughts.
[12] Using a letter or number as a noun; eg: He was vexed because they had left out the d in his name. However many writers would prefer to put a letter or number used in this way between quotes: eg; He was vexed because they had left out the 'd' in his name.
That's about it for the when-to-use italics rules. Except, what should you do if you need to use italics within italics?
If some word or phrase that should be italicised is already within a run of italics, the trick is to switch back to roman type for that word or phrase; eg: I'm in a really weird situation, Janice thought.
This italics-within-italics solution works best when italics are used to highlight internal reflections; eg: Why can't we just look up Wikipedia for the answer? he wondered to himself.
Of course, you don't have to follow these when-to-use-italics rules. However most of them are in current use because they do aid reader comprehension.
Indeed, most of us have an instinct as to when the use of italics is appropriate. Perhaps you can devise better rules of your own. If so, let me know.
About the Author: Paul D Kennedy (paulkpg@yahoo.ie) is a freelance writer of articles and stories. He offers a complete service - research, writing, editing and proofing - for corporate newsletters and commercial magazines on http://www.writingservices.eu .
9.5.09
Earn Money at Home - Be A Niche Blogger
Home Entrepreneur Ever wondered how you can earn money at home in your past-time? Or perhaps you have decided to start your own Soho business after sacking your boss! In fact, during these economic hard times where thousands of workers are being laid off, many would be contemplating a way to earn money at home...and that's where the Internet and blogging come to mind.
This isn't something I'm saying just because I am a blogger myself, but because many people have had success using this Internet marketing opportunity to start making money online. There are many opportunities for you to venture into such as joining affiliate programs, running niche blogs, writing or designing as a freelancer and many more.
The reasons for this are very simple -- more people are reading blogs than ever before. The exponential growth of bloggers on the Web is nothing short of a phenomenon. There will always be visitors to your blog once you have gone through the learning curve involving search engine optimization, social networking, and other promotional efforts on the Net.
In fact, people are far more likely to bookmark, return to a blog, and pass the link on to their friends. That's because blogs contain dynamic content that people are interested in.
So now you can see that blogs can be like a magnet that draws people to them. If you have what it takes, there's no telling how far you can go and become a success earning a good income as an online entrepreneur.
Discovering how you can put this to work for you is very important if you want to earn passive income from home. Your goal is to find a niche that people are interested in and are passionate or desperate about.
Some examples of niches you could focus on include: Dating, Weight loss, Pets, Health concerns, Photography, Travel, Handicraft, etc.
These are very broad topics, and to find a niche you would break one into a smaller topic.
For example, if you choose weight loss you might consider a specific diet or method of weight loss to focus on.
The next step would be to find key terms that are easy to rank for the search engines (these are called longtail keywords). You might choose one longtail keyword to blog about per post so you can easily rank for that post in the search engines.
Always make sure your content is high-quality at the same time that it focuses on the key words.
That way people will be compelled to read your content, and possibly click your Adsense on or purchase something through the ads you place on your site. The ad placement is another very important aspect; and something you need to study before you get started.
Of course, you don't want to take any chances when you're getting started with blogging when you want to earn money at home.
There's one site that can help you get up and running fast as a home-based entrepreneur - enrol as a member with The Niche Blogger. You'll learn everything from how to set up the blog to how to earn the most money from it.
There are so many people who want to be bloggers these days that you need to "learn how to earn" from a professional blogger.
Beyond that, there is a whole network of support from fellow bloggers at The Niche Blogger that will help to guide you whenever you have questions. It's the best way that I have found to earn money at home!
This isn't something I'm saying just because I am a blogger myself, but because many people have had success using this Internet marketing opportunity to start making money online. There are many opportunities for you to venture into such as joining affiliate programs, running niche blogs, writing or designing as a freelancer and many more.
The reasons for this are very simple -- more people are reading blogs than ever before. The exponential growth of bloggers on the Web is nothing short of a phenomenon. There will always be visitors to your blog once you have gone through the learning curve involving search engine optimization, social networking, and other promotional efforts on the Net.
In fact, people are far more likely to bookmark, return to a blog, and pass the link on to their friends. That's because blogs contain dynamic content that people are interested in.
So now you can see that blogs can be like a magnet that draws people to them. If you have what it takes, there's no telling how far you can go and become a success earning a good income as an online entrepreneur.
Discovering how you can put this to work for you is very important if you want to earn passive income from home. Your goal is to find a niche that people are interested in and are passionate or desperate about.
Some examples of niches you could focus on include: Dating, Weight loss, Pets, Health concerns, Photography, Travel, Handicraft, etc.
These are very broad topics, and to find a niche you would break one into a smaller topic.
For example, if you choose weight loss you might consider a specific diet or method of weight loss to focus on.
The next step would be to find key terms that are easy to rank for the search engines (these are called longtail keywords). You might choose one longtail keyword to blog about per post so you can easily rank for that post in the search engines.
Always make sure your content is high-quality at the same time that it focuses on the key words.
That way people will be compelled to read your content, and possibly click your Adsense on or purchase something through the ads you place on your site. The ad placement is another very important aspect; and something you need to study before you get started.
Of course, you don't want to take any chances when you're getting started with blogging when you want to earn money at home.
There's one site that can help you get up and running fast as a home-based entrepreneur - enrol as a member with The Niche Blogger. You'll learn everything from how to set up the blog to how to earn the most money from it.
There are so many people who want to be bloggers these days that you need to "learn how to earn" from a professional blogger.
Beyond that, there is a whole network of support from fellow bloggers at The Niche Blogger that will help to guide you whenever you have questions. It's the best way that I have found to earn money at home!
28.4.09
Freelance Writers - Versatile Vs Niche Expert
By Shane Dayton
Freelance Writing One of the major questions that comes up immediately when you begin freelance writing, or even before you make that jump, is what strategy should you take in what type of writing you do? Should you go for a versatile, "jack-of-all-trades" mentality where you're willing to adjust and learn new styles, or should you become a niche expert, someone who takes the time to build an absolute "expert" status so your name becomes synonymous with a certain type of writing?
This is a difficult question, and it's one where there's not necessarily a right or wrong answer. There are also many individual factors that can affect your decision on this. How good are you at multi-tasking? Do you already have a specialty? Are you capable of all writing styles (example: great copywriting is highly profitable, but only a select few excel at this style of writing)? All these should be taken into consideration.
The good news is that both directions can be correct. I did very well as a "jack of all trades" before landing a full time writing job (courtesy of some freelance gigs that led to this job), and others have done far better than me going that route. Meanwhile, other writers absolutely thrive off being known for one topic or one type of writing.
While I pride myself on being a jack of all trades type of writer, early on I did have an advantage because I was also an amateur poker player. The poker craze hit full force around 2003-2004, and so my position as a professional writer and poker player definitely gave me an edge in landing a lot of poker writing jobs, and having an "expert" status did allow me to generally charge more per article than with other assignments.
Another consideration can be your background. Did you do business writing while you were in the corporate world? This could give you a natural lead in to the type of freelance writing that could be profitable. Press releases earn a good amount of money per release, and as the Internet continues to grow, there is always demand for more content on about everything you can imagine.
In the end, you're the only one who can make a decision about going the expert route, the jack of all trades route, or somewhere in the middle. Both can lead to very profitable, and more importantly, very fulfilling, writing careers. Figure out which direction suits you the best, and go for it!
About the author: If you liked this article and would like more free tips, advice, and resources to help skip the early lumps and really get your freelance writing career going please visit my website at http://www.squidoo.com/howtobeafreelancewriter
Freelance Writing One of the major questions that comes up immediately when you begin freelance writing, or even before you make that jump, is what strategy should you take in what type of writing you do? Should you go for a versatile, "jack-of-all-trades" mentality where you're willing to adjust and learn new styles, or should you become a niche expert, someone who takes the time to build an absolute "expert" status so your name becomes synonymous with a certain type of writing?
This is a difficult question, and it's one where there's not necessarily a right or wrong answer. There are also many individual factors that can affect your decision on this. How good are you at multi-tasking? Do you already have a specialty? Are you capable of all writing styles (example: great copywriting is highly profitable, but only a select few excel at this style of writing)? All these should be taken into consideration.
The good news is that both directions can be correct. I did very well as a "jack of all trades" before landing a full time writing job (courtesy of some freelance gigs that led to this job), and others have done far better than me going that route. Meanwhile, other writers absolutely thrive off being known for one topic or one type of writing.
While I pride myself on being a jack of all trades type of writer, early on I did have an advantage because I was also an amateur poker player. The poker craze hit full force around 2003-2004, and so my position as a professional writer and poker player definitely gave me an edge in landing a lot of poker writing jobs, and having an "expert" status did allow me to generally charge more per article than with other assignments.
Another consideration can be your background. Did you do business writing while you were in the corporate world? This could give you a natural lead in to the type of freelance writing that could be profitable. Press releases earn a good amount of money per release, and as the Internet continues to grow, there is always demand for more content on about everything you can imagine.
In the end, you're the only one who can make a decision about going the expert route, the jack of all trades route, or somewhere in the middle. Both can lead to very profitable, and more importantly, very fulfilling, writing careers. Figure out which direction suits you the best, and go for it!
About the author: If you liked this article and would like more free tips, advice, and resources to help skip the early lumps and really get your freelance writing career going please visit my website at http://www.squidoo.com/howtobeafreelancewriter
8.4.09
Aim for the Sky: Write for In-flight Publications
By Gary McLaren Are you looking to set yourself a challenging goal for your writing career this year? Why not aim for the sky? Set yourself the goal of being published in an in-flight magazine, one of the publications provided by airlines in the seat pockets in front of passengers.
Many freelance writers dream of being published in an in-flight magazine. Imagine your story being read by travelers as they fly all over the globe. Many of those magazines will eventually find new homes - from coffee tables to taxis to dentists' waiting rooms - after passengers carry them away at the end of their flights.
Why Write for In-flight Magazines?
There are several reasons why being published in an in-flight magazine is a worthy goal for your freelance writing career. Firstly, there's the exposure. Secondly, you will have an excellent publishing credit to add to your writing portfolio. Winning other high-paying assignments will become just that little bit easier. Thirdly, you'll be paid well. Most in-flight publications pay very well, with many paying in the vicinity of one dollar per word.
Diverse Passengers, Diverse Topics
Don't limit your article ideas to traditional travel writing. Although many airline passengers are on vacation others travel for business or other reasons. Since passengers come from all walks of life in-flight magazines publish articles on quite a wide variety of topics. Their content includes articles on travel and adventure,
food and entertainment, business, nature and the environment, and many more topics.
Always remember when pitching ideas to an in-flight publication that destinations are critical. Every article must have a connection to the destinations and routes of the airline.
Did I Mention Competition?
There must be a catch, right? Well, getting your work published in an in-flight magazine is not going to be a walk in the park. You will not be the only freelance writer pitching your ideas to these editors. To say it will be highly competitive is probably an understatement.
Editors of in-flight publications demand a high quality of work,and they prefer to work with freelancers who have proven experience and professionalism.
It's Not For Beginners
What should you do if you have just starting out in freelance writing? Start elsewhere. Try targeting some local publications. After you have a few pieces published begin working your way up to regional magazines. As you build up your portfolio of published credits you will eventually be ready to target in-flight magazines and other leading publications.
Some Examples of In-flight Publications
The following are just a few examples of in-flight publications that you could write for:
Alaska Airlines Magazine
The in-flight magazine for Alaska Airlines, reaching more than a million travelers every month in Alaska, California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada, Western Canada and Mexico. 80% freelance.
Columns include Journal (arts and culture), Business, On Location, Profiles, Sports, Technology and Travel. Rates begin at $50 to $100 for shorts through to $300 for columns and $500 for features.
Guidelines: http://www.alaskaairlinesmagazine.com/contributor/
Enroute
Air Canada's award-winning bilingual (English/French) in-flight magazine. This is an upscale travel lifestyle magazine interested in everything from wine to design, popular science to pop music. "As many travellers' first introduction to Canada, we are proudly Canadian but never parochial about Canadian content." Pay: base
rate is CDN$1 per word.
Guidelines: http://enroute.aircanada.com/en/articles/writers-guidelines/
Spirit
Southwest Airlines' in-flight magazine. A general interest magazine that appeals to the upscale consumer. Explores a diverse array of subjects, including pop culture, business, personal technology, sports, health, food and drink.
Guidelines: http://www.spiritmag.com/pdf/writersguidelines.pdf
US Airways Magazine
Looking for writers who can deliver smart, pithy copy. "We like breezy. We like humor. We like a light tone. And we like writers who can deliver short pieces as well as longer stories." Pays $1 per word and up.
Guidelines: http://www.usairwaysmag.com/pdfs/USAWwriterguide.pdf
Many freelance writers dream of being published in an in-flight magazine. Imagine your story being read by travelers as they fly all over the globe. Many of those magazines will eventually find new homes - from coffee tables to taxis to dentists' waiting rooms - after passengers carry them away at the end of their flights.
Why Write for In-flight Magazines?
There are several reasons why being published in an in-flight magazine is a worthy goal for your freelance writing career. Firstly, there's the exposure. Secondly, you will have an excellent publishing credit to add to your writing portfolio. Winning other high-paying assignments will become just that little bit easier. Thirdly, you'll be paid well. Most in-flight publications pay very well, with many paying in the vicinity of one dollar per word.
Diverse Passengers, Diverse Topics
Don't limit your article ideas to traditional travel writing. Although many airline passengers are on vacation others travel for business or other reasons. Since passengers come from all walks of life in-flight magazines publish articles on quite a wide variety of topics. Their content includes articles on travel and adventure,
food and entertainment, business, nature and the environment, and many more topics.
Always remember when pitching ideas to an in-flight publication that destinations are critical. Every article must have a connection to the destinations and routes of the airline.
Did I Mention Competition?
There must be a catch, right? Well, getting your work published in an in-flight magazine is not going to be a walk in the park. You will not be the only freelance writer pitching your ideas to these editors. To say it will be highly competitive is probably an understatement.
Editors of in-flight publications demand a high quality of work,and they prefer to work with freelancers who have proven experience and professionalism.
It's Not For Beginners
What should you do if you have just starting out in freelance writing? Start elsewhere. Try targeting some local publications. After you have a few pieces published begin working your way up to regional magazines. As you build up your portfolio of published credits you will eventually be ready to target in-flight magazines and other leading publications.
Some Examples of In-flight Publications
The following are just a few examples of in-flight publications that you could write for:
Alaska Airlines Magazine
The in-flight magazine for Alaska Airlines, reaching more than a million travelers every month in Alaska, California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada, Western Canada and Mexico. 80% freelance.
Columns include Journal (arts and culture), Business, On Location, Profiles, Sports, Technology and Travel. Rates begin at $50 to $100 for shorts through to $300 for columns and $500 for features.
Guidelines: http://www.alaskaairlinesmagazine.com/contributor/
Enroute
Air Canada's award-winning bilingual (English/French) in-flight magazine. This is an upscale travel lifestyle magazine interested in everything from wine to design, popular science to pop music. "As many travellers' first introduction to Canada, we are proudly Canadian but never parochial about Canadian content." Pay: base
rate is CDN$1 per word.
Guidelines: http://enroute.aircanada.com/en/articles/writers-guidelines/
Spirit
Southwest Airlines' in-flight magazine. A general interest magazine that appeals to the upscale consumer. Explores a diverse array of subjects, including pop culture, business, personal technology, sports, health, food and drink.
Guidelines: http://www.spiritmag.com/pdf/writersguidelines.pdf
US Airways Magazine
Looking for writers who can deliver smart, pithy copy. "We like breezy. We like humor. We like a light tone. And we like writers who can deliver short pieces as well as longer stories." Pays $1 per word and up.
Guidelines: http://www.usairwaysmag.com/pdfs/USAWwriterguide.pdf
25.3.09
An Introduction to Freelance Copywriting
By Ray Edwards Copywriters are pursuing freelance copywriting more and more these days because of the great opportunities it offers. If you're interested in freelancing, then here are some basic pointers to
help you get an idea of what is involved.
1. Know when and how to say "no." Freelance copywriters have to know when to say "no." Sometimes your schedule is overloaded and you can't take on any new projects. Other times your clients have terrible ideas on how to market their product, so you have to correct them, gently of course. Remember that you're the
professional and they are not, that is why they are hiring you, so don't be afraid to voice your ideas.
Sometimes though, clients won't budge and either you have to compromise without surrendering or get out of the project. Managing persistent clients will help ease your work experience, but sometimes you just have to get out of a situation. Otherwise your job will be very unpleasant. Some clients just aren't worth the
time or trouble.
2. Be polite, persistent, and positive. Always be polite with your client and listen to their desires intently. You need to be persistent on two accounts: Looking for work, and sticking by your ideas. This will help your success greatly.
3. Make sure that you are constantly increasing your skill and expertise. Learning is a never-ending process and the most successful copywriters out there see themselves as lifelong students. As a freelance copywriter, you must constantly learn new ways to write better copy. This will keep you sharp and competitive. There is a lot of material out there, so go ahead and dive headlong into improving the quality of your product.
4. Take time to relax. Getting away from a stressful work environment is one of the main reasons copywriters switch to freelancing. So make sure not to make your new work environment equally as stressful! Set aside time to relax, write it into your schedule and stick to it. Not only will this help you lead a happier life, but consistent relaxation will also help you write better. So in the end, you'll be more productive, happier and
writing better copy if you take time to rest.
5. Learn to keep a positive attitude. In order to be successful, you have to love your job, even in the hard times. If you let the stress of your work consume you, then you will come to hate your job and miss out on all the great opportunities that freelancing has to offer. So learn to keep a positive attitude now.
6. Actively nurture your personal life. Your life should be well rounded. You need to take care of your personal health and spend time with your friends and family. Even though you're working to become more successful, what will it profit you to gain the whole world but spend your life alone? Your work is an important part of your life, but not the most important.
7. Practice good work ethics. It is really important to be a person of honesty and integrity. Only make promises you know you can keep and don't cheat your clients. Let them know if you're falling behind and won't be able to make good on your end of the agreement. And never compromise on your morals in order to secure financial
gain.
8. Learn to manage your business well. Freelance copywriters are their own bosses and run their own businesses. Make sure to read up on how to run a small business and manage your accounts well. Keep up on the most recent ethical standards, laws, and tax reforms. Make sure you're also up to date on all the current pricing models and searching for new ways to organize your business
more effectively.
9. Do not take rejections personally. Your personal worth and intrinsic value is not determined by what you do or how much money you make. Therefore try to keep a professional composure when clients reject you and do not take it personally. There are plenty of reasons that a client can reject your bid that has nothing to do with your ability to write good copy.
10. Do not miss deadlines. Missing deadlines will severely hurt your chances at success, so you must make every effort to manage your time well and get your projects completed on schedule. Hopefully this article helped you better understand the word of freelance copywriting. There is plenty of information out there if
you're interested in learning more about freelance copywriting.
About the author: For an inside look at the techniques of a top direct response copywriter, visit the site of Copywriter Ray Edwards http://rayedwards.com .There you'll find a daily podcast, video
tutorials and free copywriting advice.
help you get an idea of what is involved.
1. Know when and how to say "no." Freelance copywriters have to know when to say "no." Sometimes your schedule is overloaded and you can't take on any new projects. Other times your clients have terrible ideas on how to market their product, so you have to correct them, gently of course. Remember that you're the
professional and they are not, that is why they are hiring you, so don't be afraid to voice your ideas.
Sometimes though, clients won't budge and either you have to compromise without surrendering or get out of the project. Managing persistent clients will help ease your work experience, but sometimes you just have to get out of a situation. Otherwise your job will be very unpleasant. Some clients just aren't worth the
time or trouble.
2. Be polite, persistent, and positive. Always be polite with your client and listen to their desires intently. You need to be persistent on two accounts: Looking for work, and sticking by your ideas. This will help your success greatly.
3. Make sure that you are constantly increasing your skill and expertise. Learning is a never-ending process and the most successful copywriters out there see themselves as lifelong students. As a freelance copywriter, you must constantly learn new ways to write better copy. This will keep you sharp and competitive. There is a lot of material out there, so go ahead and dive headlong into improving the quality of your product.
4. Take time to relax. Getting away from a stressful work environment is one of the main reasons copywriters switch to freelancing. So make sure not to make your new work environment equally as stressful! Set aside time to relax, write it into your schedule and stick to it. Not only will this help you lead a happier life, but consistent relaxation will also help you write better. So in the end, you'll be more productive, happier and
writing better copy if you take time to rest.
5. Learn to keep a positive attitude. In order to be successful, you have to love your job, even in the hard times. If you let the stress of your work consume you, then you will come to hate your job and miss out on all the great opportunities that freelancing has to offer. So learn to keep a positive attitude now.
6. Actively nurture your personal life. Your life should be well rounded. You need to take care of your personal health and spend time with your friends and family. Even though you're working to become more successful, what will it profit you to gain the whole world but spend your life alone? Your work is an important part of your life, but not the most important.
7. Practice good work ethics. It is really important to be a person of honesty and integrity. Only make promises you know you can keep and don't cheat your clients. Let them know if you're falling behind and won't be able to make good on your end of the agreement. And never compromise on your morals in order to secure financial
gain.
8. Learn to manage your business well. Freelance copywriters are their own bosses and run their own businesses. Make sure to read up on how to run a small business and manage your accounts well. Keep up on the most recent ethical standards, laws, and tax reforms. Make sure you're also up to date on all the current pricing models and searching for new ways to organize your business
more effectively.
9. Do not take rejections personally. Your personal worth and intrinsic value is not determined by what you do or how much money you make. Therefore try to keep a professional composure when clients reject you and do not take it personally. There are plenty of reasons that a client can reject your bid that has nothing to do with your ability to write good copy.
10. Do not miss deadlines. Missing deadlines will severely hurt your chances at success, so you must make every effort to manage your time well and get your projects completed on schedule. Hopefully this article helped you better understand the word of freelance copywriting. There is plenty of information out there if
you're interested in learning more about freelance copywriting.
About the author: For an inside look at the techniques of a top direct response copywriter, visit the site of Copywriter Ray Edwards http://rayedwards.com .There you'll find a daily podcast, video
tutorials and free copywriting advice.
18.3.09
Creative Commons: Why is this Important to Article Writers?
Licensed To Share Yahoo! has recently launched Creative Commons Search in Beta. This Yahoo! search service finds content across the web that has a Creative Commons license. While almost anything you find on the internet has a full copyright, the Creative Commons license allows an author to share their content with others, under certain conditions. This type of license is very beneficial to the article marketer.
The Creative Commons license has gained wide acceptance across the Internet. Yahoo and Google have now both incorporated Creative Commons search into their engines. The main Creative Commons search engine is located at http://www.creativecommons.org. A Creative Commons search has even been adopted into the Firefox browser.
Expanding your visibility
Every smart article writer concentrates on wide exposure. You want your articles to be on as many web sites as possible. By putting a Creative Commons License on your articles, you are allowing other web sites, e-zines, online publications and print publication to publish your article, therefore expanding your visibility.
Now, with a powerhouse like Yahoo! coming in with their new Creative Commons Search, you can have hundreds of your articles to be placed in a select search on Yahoo!.
To get your articles into Yahoo's Creative Commons Search, you must follow 3 simple steps.
1. Select the license that suits your preferences at http://www.creativecommons.org/license/ .
2. You will then be prompted to choose whether or not you want to allow commercial use of your work and whether or not you will allow modifications of your work. After you have set your preferences, hit Select License.
3. You will now be taken to the page that will let you cut and copy a piece of text to paste into your webpage. This text will indicate that your articles have a Creative Commons license.
You should choose the license that meets your preferences. However, if you are going to be using the license for article marketing, there are some preferences that would be more beneficial for you. It is best not to allow any modification of your articles because this could dilute their value.
You want to brand yourself as a trusted resource in your area of expertise. If someone is allowed to modify your content, this could lead to negative branding for you and your web site. With than in mind, do make sure that you put a lot of thought into the type of creative commons license you choose. Creative commons licenses are non-revocable.
Once you put up the license on your web pages, it shouldn't take more than a couple of weeks for Yahoo! Creative Commons Search to find your pages as long as you have some well-placed back-links.
This strategy can create hundreds of very targeted links pointing to your site through the Creative Commons search engines. These are indexed pages in the Yahoo and Google specialized engines.
The last time I checked at http://search.yahoo/cc, boingboing.net had over 39,000 of their pages indexed in the Creative Commons. ProBlogger.net had over 500. You can do the same simply by applying the Creative Commons License to your site and letting Yahoo discover you.
The Creative Commons license allows you to declare a certain amount of rights to your article, while still encouraging its duplication across the internet and ensuring that you are credited as the author.
However, while the Creative Commons licenses hold much value, there are still relatively few people who are taking advantage of it to gain more visibility for their articles and their website. Therefore, now is the perfect time to move into this lucrative market. With Yahoo Creative Commons Search leading the way, you know there is sure to be significant growth to come.
About the Author: This article was published by Hans Hasselfors from http://www.SubmitYourNewArticle.com
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
The Creative Commons license has gained wide acceptance across the Internet. Yahoo and Google have now both incorporated Creative Commons search into their engines. The main Creative Commons search engine is located at http://www.creativecommons.org. A Creative Commons search has even been adopted into the Firefox browser.
Expanding your visibility
Every smart article writer concentrates on wide exposure. You want your articles to be on as many web sites as possible. By putting a Creative Commons License on your articles, you are allowing other web sites, e-zines, online publications and print publication to publish your article, therefore expanding your visibility.
Now, with a powerhouse like Yahoo! coming in with their new Creative Commons Search, you can have hundreds of your articles to be placed in a select search on Yahoo!.
To get your articles into Yahoo's Creative Commons Search, you must follow 3 simple steps.
1. Select the license that suits your preferences at http://www.creativecommons.org/license/ .
2. You will then be prompted to choose whether or not you want to allow commercial use of your work and whether or not you will allow modifications of your work. After you have set your preferences, hit Select License.
3. You will now be taken to the page that will let you cut and copy a piece of text to paste into your webpage. This text will indicate that your articles have a Creative Commons license.
You should choose the license that meets your preferences. However, if you are going to be using the license for article marketing, there are some preferences that would be more beneficial for you. It is best not to allow any modification of your articles because this could dilute their value.
You want to brand yourself as a trusted resource in your area of expertise. If someone is allowed to modify your content, this could lead to negative branding for you and your web site. With than in mind, do make sure that you put a lot of thought into the type of creative commons license you choose. Creative commons licenses are non-revocable.
Once you put up the license on your web pages, it shouldn't take more than a couple of weeks for Yahoo! Creative Commons Search to find your pages as long as you have some well-placed back-links.
This strategy can create hundreds of very targeted links pointing to your site through the Creative Commons search engines. These are indexed pages in the Yahoo and Google specialized engines.
The last time I checked at http://search.yahoo/cc, boingboing.net had over 39,000 of their pages indexed in the Creative Commons. ProBlogger.net had over 500. You can do the same simply by applying the Creative Commons License to your site and letting Yahoo discover you.
The Creative Commons license allows you to declare a certain amount of rights to your article, while still encouraging its duplication across the internet and ensuring that you are credited as the author.
However, while the Creative Commons licenses hold much value, there are still relatively few people who are taking advantage of it to gain more visibility for their articles and their website. Therefore, now is the perfect time to move into this lucrative market. With Yahoo Creative Commons Search leading the way, you know there is sure to be significant growth to come.
About the Author: This article was published by Hans Hasselfors from http://www.SubmitYourNewArticle.com
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
21.2.09
Things To Do When You're Experiencing Writer's Burnout
By Bobbi Linkemer The word burnout was not even in my vocabulary when I first started writing. I knew I would never tire of it, never want to do anything else, never stop. I wrote at every opportunity. Looking back, I don't know how I did it, except that I was young and obsessed. I ran on adrenaline and addiction to writing, I suppose. All I wanted in life was to write full time.
Strangely, that addiction has never wavered. I have been writing for 40 years and can't think of anything I would rather do. Yet, having said that, I must admit that I have been worn out, exhausted, and blocked more than a few times over the years. Being a full-time writer means you write all the time. That's pretty much all you do, except for gathering the information you will write about.
For the first 20 years, I had a series of great writing jobs, ranging from managing a city magazine to managing a marketing communications department. If I was burned out at that point, it was more with the vicissitudes of corporate life than with writing.
But, to be sure, I was burned out.
For the second half of my work life, I have been a business owner - a one-woman band who, in addition to writing, does everything else.
When frustration has reared its head, it has been caused by the need to create some sort of balance among work, life, and the unbelievable number of administrative and financial tasks that come with the job.
The writing has been challenging, comprising virtually every industry, every subject, and every genre. The variety has stretched me, educated me, and stimulated me. What has driven me crazy is the uncertainty of finding work when there is too little, doing the work when there is too much, holding on to the work in the midst of a chaotic business environment, and continuing to love the work, no matter what it entails. Keeping all of those balls in the air all the time sometimes seems impossible. It is certainly a recipe for burning out.
Here is what I have learned that may be of help to you when you see BURNOUT in neon on your computer screen:
1. Never say never. This advice applies to everything in life. It is the one word that is guaranteed to trip you up because we never (whoops) know what life is going to throw at us or how we will feel when we must deal with the unexpected.
2. Admit it. You're tired. You're sick of what you're doing. You hate your boss/editor/client. You're uninspired. You have writer's block. You wish you were a carpenter. You want to scream. The point is, don't deny it and fight your way through it. Stop, and be aware of what's going on inside of you. The body never lies, and, if it's turning you into pretzel knots, there is a reason.
3. Don't panic. When you feel yourself burning out, getting tired, writing mechanically, or feeling too blocked to write at all - and you will - take a break. (Oh, but I can't; I have a deadline!) Yes, I know, but whatever you're doing or not doing isn't working. So, stop and take a walk, a nap, a movie, a meal, or a vacation. Read a book, veg out in front of the TV, put on your favorite CD, wash the floor, fix your car, do yoga or tai chi or karate. Do anything but write.
4. Know that it will pass. You are still a writer, a good writer in fact. You haven't lost your skill or your love of the craft. It's probably premature to throw up you hands in defeat and job hunt. Be a Taoist: go with the flow. You don't beat yourself to death when you have the flu; why do it when you are suffering from temporary malaise? Chalk it up to a passing phase, and get on with your life.
5. Think it through. If it's serious, if it's continuous, if it's painful, and it won't go away, you may have to do more than go to a movie or roller-blading. You may have to examine what is going on and whether it is indeed time to move on to something else. My guess is, that given time, you'll find some way to refresh your mind and your creativity. But if that doesn't happen, you have a right to switch gears and find another outlet for your talents. You did not sign a life-long contract to be a writer. If it's time to do something else, go for it.
Burnout is stress on overdrive. It affects your health, your psyche, and your work. When you are a writer, burnout can stop you in your tracks, rendering you incapable of doing the one thing you can and want to do. Recognize it and respect it.
About the author: Bobbi Linkemer is a ghostwriter, writing coach, and editor. She is also the author of 14 books. Bobbi has been a professional writer for 40 years, a magazine editor and journalist, and a book-writing teacher. Her clients range from Fortune 100 companies to entrepreneurs who want to enhance their credibility and build their businesses. Her articles on writing regularly appear on EzineArticles.com and other top online article sites. Visit her Website at: http://www.WriteANonfictionBook.com
14.1.09
The World of Online Copywriting
Be a Web Copywriter Online copywriting has become a multi-billion dollar resource for companies that utilize the Internet. There are ads, publications, banners, websites and articles that are written by freelance copywriters through the Internet.
Copywriting persuades or draws attention to whatever is being promoted. Good online copywriting invites a person to actually read the ad whereas bad copywriting can quickly be navigated away from.
The Internet has turned into a billion dollar revenue source for thousands and thousands of companies throughout the world. Online copywriting is more often associated with a form of article called a Search Engine Optimized (SEO) article. The SEO copywriter writes articles, varying in lengths, to fit a series of keywords or phrases that will turn up prominently in an internet search through such search engines as Google or Yahoo.
The web copywriter must be internet savvy. Often links are used within the article that will direct the reader to an additional webpage. Online copywriting is a valuable tool used by companies who want to reach a wider demographic audience.
Many website articles are tailored to meet the demands the customers are expecting and as a way to draw potential visitors in, the web copywriter must have online copywriting articles that are suited to that audience.
Words have power. We see that day in and day out through the commercials and ads we see each day. But one form of online copywriting we do not often take into consideration when thinking about copywriting in general is that essays or reviews against a particular subject are considered a form of marketing.
Take for example, the government and organization ads against smoking. The articles and commercials are very much against use of any form of tobacco. Their use of health statistics show the detrimental effects that smoking has on our bodies, not only as a tobacco user, but through second hand smoke as well.
As more people turn to the internet for personal enjoyment, shopping and to stay informed, online copywriting will continue to be a formidable force to be reckoned with. Jobs will be created and the opportunities to advance in this career field will continue to rise. If you find yourself intrigued by the idea of being a copywriter, it is definitely worth checking into.
About the Author: Learn Copywriting Information at http://copywriting.answersaboutwriting.com/
5.1.09
Be An Info Broker and Make Money
Information for sale Information brokers are researchers who sell information. The spread of computers into every facet of life has made information brokering a viable small business. Before the computer revolution, a small scale research service would not have been able to retrieve, catalogue, store and sell information to clients in a cost-effective way.
The explosion of information - thanks to the Internet - allows businesses to gain access to new data on general and specific subjects that affect them. To keep a competitive edge, businesses must keep abreast of the latest developments in their fields and conduct various forms of market research.
However, many businesses lack either the time or the money to hire others on a full-time basis to sort through the mountains of publications that might contain the data they are seeking - even on the Internet.
This is where the information broker steps in. Normally hired on a per-project basis, the broker finds information in published and/or electronic sources, organizes it in a form that best suits the client's needs, and sells it based on the time expended and the expertise involved.
In some ways, an information broker resembles a clipping service of the old days; both the information broker and clipping service professional gather data on a specific topic from a variety of sources, i.e. newspapers, magazines, etc.
But this is where the similarity ends. Clipping services search publications for articles containing key words and submit the clips in the bulk to the client. These articles are neither read nor analyzed by the clipping service. The client is left to sort through the data to see if they are useful.
The information broker, however, not only obtains information from public libraries or at wholesale prices from electronic databases but also analyzes the material to ensure its usefulness to the client.
Depending on the agreement between broker and client, the broker may even be expected to present an in-depth analysis of the information.
Brokers who produce reports based on their information, rather than just finding the information, are the ones who tend to make more money. It is better to specialize in one or two fields of information rather than becoming a general information broker.
A new info broker who approaches a big corporation and claims to be able to do database searches on any subject will not meet with much success. Our increasingly specialized society demands experts in every discipline, even information retrieval.
Specialization is the key to success as an information broker.
Why would a company hire an individual entrepreneur instead of a large brokering firm to retrieve general data? One reason: companies often complain that the large brokers don't offer as much.
About the author: Freelance writer, copywriter, publication design consultant and blogger Mark Kho administrates several niche blogs and some websites. Mark blogs at www.thenextpost.com with insightful articles and tips on blogging and everything in between.
1.1.09
Nostalgia: Back to the Spirit of the Onion
We are presently riding on the back of blogspot.com, a Blogger free site for bloggers like us. In fact, The Onion Spirit was a happy, web-hosted Wordpress blog until some 'bloodthirsty' hijackers wrenched the domain name from us because we failed to renew it.We admit we screwed up because we were sleepy-eyed onion aficionados allowing our onionspirit.com to be spirited away right under our nose in the middle of the night.
We lost everything and had to restart again with this Blogger site. We love the Onion Spirit title so much that we have to carry on with the title no matter what. So shall we say this here blog is like fresh onions - and not the ones lying in the box in that corner where they're all wrinkled and dried.
We have checked on the stolen onionspirit.com and found it has become a nonsensical directory of some kind. What a shame. But we will plod on with a renewed spirit on our new Blogger platform.
We'd think we have a great header showing two silly onions with bouncy spirit. Each time we look at the red onions on our header and immediately we get tears in our eyes!
We'll be around this part for a while until we've decided on who will be our new website host farther down the road. We certainly would like to see a traffic build-up before we jump ship! Or maybe we stick with this one, being free and all that. - RedOnion.
Choosing a Web HostMeanwhile, we've been browsing around for some tips on how to make a smooth switch to another host. We'd like to share with you some of the things we've learned about choosing a web host:
1. Support - always check on this to see the response from the host. One of the best ways is to test them by calling in their support desk.
2. Beware of scam - be wary when a host claims to have unlimited space or bandwidth. The average web site only uses about 50MB space and less than one gig bandwidth a month. If the host offers big numbers and small bucks, it's time you start to smell something - not the onions though.
3. Yearly payment? - A hosting company should not insist you have to make a yearly payment. If you're gonna be happy with the host, you'll be sticking around for a long time. Does it matter whether it's a monthly or yearly payment? But, of course, the choice is yours.
4. Domain name - Only buy your domain name from a hosting provider if you know very well that they will place the information in the WHOIS. They could blackmail you if your domain info is not in the WHOIS.
[ For all technical purposes whoever has their information in the WHOIS is the owner. A domain owner doesn't go by who paid for it; it goes by whose information is on the WHOIS. To check a WHOIS on the domain, go there and type "domainname.com" and click submit. You're the domain owner if your address, email, and phone number show up.]
5. Web Hosting Reviews - You're advised not to believe anything you read on these hosting review directories. Search Google to find real reviews by individuals who have used their hosting.
6. Uptime claim - There's no 100% uptime. If they say so, then they are lying. It's all about server maintenance, security and software updates.
So there you are, some food for thought before you pick the right web host. - RedOnion
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