Every Writer's Dream: Doing What You Love, Loving What You Do

It is every writer's dream to earn a living doing the work we truly love. Most of us know we want to be writing; the challenge is to figure out how to support ourselves doing it. If you really want to do what you love and love what you do, here are four ways to go about it:

1. Find a job writing in an environment that fosters autonomy and creativity.

If you want to be assured of a steady paycheck, this is certainly your best option. Other than putting up with all that goes with working for someone else, this approach provides a number of pluses: financial security, professional stability, people to talk to, feedback and creative input from others, and structure. 


That's the good news; the bad news is that such jobs are pretty hard to find. Landing a writing job is a challenge in itself, but it is nothing compared to finding one in an organization that allows you space and autonomy.

2. Find a good-paying, full-time job you enjoy, and freelance part time on the side.

If a dependable source of income is one of your non-negotiable criteria, and option #1 doesn't pan out, another approach is to keep your full-time vocation and write as your part-time avocation. As long as you can maintain enough psychic and physical energy to write, it is possible to carve out time to freelance. That may be all you need, but, if it isn't, consider the next possibility.

3. Begin now to build a freelance business that will become full
time, eventually.

Novice swimmers don't compete at the Olympic level without intense
preparation. They train, they practice, they build their form and
self-confidence over time, and they work their way up the
competitive ladder. Only when they are sure they're ready, do they
compete at the highest levels. Part-time writing is the best kind
of training because it gives you the same opportunity to practice --
to polish your skills, build your confidence, and learn the ropes --
before you go for the gold.

4. Build a financial safety net, do the groundwork, and take the plunge.

No matter which way you approach full-time, freelance writing, remember that it is a business. It takes a lot of planning to start of business, and one of the most important aspects of that planning is being sure you can support yourself for six months to a year, even if you don't earn a penny. Doing the groundwork means learning everything else you need to do, from printing business cards to keeping accurate financial records, from building a database of potential clients or editors to showing your portfolio, and from writing an informal contract to enforcing its terms when the work is completed.

There is an optimum moment to hang out your shingle, and you will know when you're ready to take that step. Just trust your instincts.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Bobbi Linkemer is a ghostwriter, editor, and the author of 12 books under her own name. She 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 write books in order to enhance their credibility and build their businesses. Visit her Website at: http://www.WriteANonfictionBook.com.

Five Reasons Why Every Writer Needs A Website

Every writer should have a website listing their publications. Here are five reasons why:

1.) Stay in touch with your readers. Whether your readers are people you know or not, a website opens the way for you to share your writing with more readers. Just the other day, a guy I'd never met before commented positively on my writing. I loved it!

The more opportunities I have to create support for my work, the better. And let's face it. We write in order to share our stories and/or articles. The more we do this, the better.

2.) The list of your publications gives great insight into what's important to you as a writer. When I was creating my website, I didn't include every bit of writing in my online portfolio. I cut a few stories out; I also didn't include my poetry.

I realized that these pieces didn't reflect me. This gave me insight as to what I wanted to present creatively to the world; it also showed me the direction where I wanted to go.

3.) Establish yourself as a professional. When I first created my website, I was announcing not only to the world, but to myself: I am a writer and I'm proud of my work. I knew I took my writing seriously. Plus, a website looks great on my resume.

Since I teach there's always an option that my future employer will check out my writing. They can see not only what kind of writing I do, but that I'm serious, committed, and talented.

4.) Avoid the annoying question at dinner parties: "So what do you write about?" This may sound funny, but I'm being serious. Haven't you been cornered by some stranger who's dying to know where you've been published, what you write, and what you write about?

A quick and easy solution-after your 30 second pitch on behalf of your wonderful writing-is simply to say, "Check out my website." In my experience, most of these information mongers never go to the site. But for that five percent who are truly sincere, they can discover for themselves where your work has been published, what you write, and what you write about. Definitely a win-win situation.

5.) Publicize those great magazines that published you. Why not? They've given you some great attention, it's fun to shine the light on them too. If, like me, you've been published in online journals, then a good magazine is just a click away for an interested reader. How easy is that?

Now, if you're thinking it's too expensive or time consuming to create a website, think again. I created a blogsite with the help of a professional for less than three hundred dollars. I update it myself. There are no monthly charges. The joy it brings me is tremendous. Believe me, creating a website for your writing is
well worth it. Now go for it!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jennifer Mills Kerr has been writing fiction and memoir for over 11 years. She aims to inspire, support, and connect with other writers online. Read her published work at her website jennifermillskerr.com