A Step in the Right Direction
If you want to get paid for your writing, there are many great places where you can do it. But, you do have to find them.
There are a lot of writers that get excited about writing, and then get involved with sites that don’t pay hardly anything for their writing. No matter how good of a writer you are, or how passionate you are about making writing your career, if you don’t make any money for your efforts, you will get frustrated and quit.
If you want to take some steps in the right direction, you can start working at a few sites that I know pay a decent price, and they pay on time as well.
One of them is www.paidforumposting.com If you go to this site, I can tell you two things right up front. One, you have to carefully read all instructions. They have to deal with a lot of people who skim the instructions and subsequently make mistakes, and there are few things more frustrating to them. Second, they have a lot of people trying to get on their team, so you need to post to impress. You will be required to make some posts before they will allow you to be a part of the team, and those posts had better look GOOD.
Once you get onto the team, you also have to be able to move quickly to pick up projects. They go fast with how many writers are there. But you will make about .20 a post. This isn’t great, but if you’re just looking for something fun to do in your spare time, it is a great option. Doing these blog posts gave me more confidence in my writing, and also made it possible for me to put it on my resume that I am familiar with doing blog posts.
Another good place to pick up some part time writing income is places such as Constant Content and Daily Article. On these sites you can write an article about whatever you want, and then put it up for sale. The biggest drawback with these sites is that they take 35% of your sale price. This is a lot, but you can sell articles and make some good money each month.
If you are interested in signing up at Constant Content, it would be great if you could use the link below. One nice thing about this site is that you get paid for sales that your referrals make. They don’t take it from your referral though, they take it from the site’s 35%. It isn’t a lot, but it helps make up for the large chunk they take from our pay.
Constant Content: http://www.constant-content.com/?aref=22833
I hope you find these sites useful, and that you can quickly start making a good part-time income with your writing from home.
Be Positive and Improve Your Writing
I recently wrote a Hub on Hubpages.com about being positive in order to improve your life. I have a friend who is just driving me crazy because every time I talk to her it’s “poor me.”
I hate that!!! Hate, hate, hate!!!
She talks about how hard life is, and how she has it so bad, and nobody thinks about her feelings . . . etc. It gets really boring after awhile. In fact, she’s starting to drive me away with all of it. I don’t want to not be friends with her, because we all need friends, but I don’t have time for that much stress in my life. I have writing to do, and my own stress tries to get in the way sometimes!
This just made me start thinking about writers and writing. So many writers talk about how hard writing is. You know what, they’re right! I’ll be the first person to say that writing isn’t easy! It’s when they start complaining that it’s hard that I usually flip.
Due to the rough economic times that we are in, I had to go get a job. My freelancing wasn’t going as well as I would have liked (which was mostly my fault) and my husband suddenly found himself in a bad spot because he works in the construction industry at the moment. So I went out and found myself a full-time job writing website content for a company. It’s a good job, a little boring (ok, a lot boring) but relatively easy and it pays ok.
But it isn’t what I want to do the rest of my life. So what do I do? I write, and then I work on my writing on lunch. Sandwich in one hand, other hand writing. After work, I go home and write some more. I’m posting articles for sale, I’m trying to find clients to work for. In short, I am holding down a full-time job, taking care of my house and husband, and still building my freelancing business.
Here’s the part that really kills some people . . .
I also still work on my fiction.
Needless to say, I don’t get enough sleep. : )
But I’m writing! It’s what I was born to do! It is what I am destined to do!
So when someone looks at me and tells me how hard it is to write, I laugh in their face. I tell them to look at the negativity they are spawning in themselves. Good job, you’re force-feeding yourself failure. How does it taste?
By being more positive in all areas of your life, you will make life easier. You will let stress fall away, you won’t freak over the little things, and you will be happier. Guess what? This leaves more room in your brain for better writing. The best writers I’ve heard of don’t let worries plague them.
Especially when you sit down to write, clear your head and then think positively. Look at ever writing session like it is going to be your best. Wonderful things will start to happen.
By saying, “writing is hard” you make it hard. By saying “I don’t have time” you’re wasting time. By saying “my family doesn’t support me” you are allowing your family to kill your dream.
No more excuses. No more pity-parties. Just be glad you can write! Not everybody enjoys that ability!
If you want to write, write. Stop talking and do it. If you aren’t going to write, stop talking and let the rest of us get back to our writing and other dreams.
Sorry, had to get that off my chest.
Here’s the link to the HubPage article if you were curious. http://hubpages.com/hub/Changing-Your-Life-by-Being-Positive
–Lindsey Rainwater
Some Words on Writer’s Block
Writer’s block . . . what is it? Basically it is when we can’t find words to get out onto the paper.
Guess what? It’s unacceptable. Can’t happen. Period. End of story.
In this business, we can’t afford writer’s block.
Now I know that everyone has sticky moments. There will be times that you have a hard time finding something to put down on the page, but find something you will, because find something you must. Writer’s block is progressive in a way. If you allow it to get you one day, to where you throw your hands up in defeat and walk away from your writing, it will have an even easier time getting you the next time. And the next time. And the next. Trust me, there will be lots of next times. Every time it beats you, it gets stronger. Some people lose the muse forever because of writer’s block.
For many people, writer’s block is just a form of procrastination. Maybe they don’t want to work on that particular project. Maybe they’re afraid of failure, or success. So their mind manufactures a roadblock. These roadblocks are horrible because even though there are holes in them, and ways around them, they seem to hold their victims fixated. Some people never get past it. They turn around and walk away, giving up their dream of being a writer. For what?
So what do you do?
The best way to beat writer’s block is to not get it in the first place.
Some of you are sitting there right now, saying, “Yeah, whatever. That’s impossible.” Uh huh. Yeah. I wish you luck on your writing career. You will need it.
For those of you who accept that writer’s block is a horrible cancerous thing that cannot be allowed to get its foot in the door, here is some advice:
First, write every single day. I’m not saying you have to WORK every day. I don’t! But you need to write something each day. I work during the week and throw some other little writing things in here and there. On the weekends, I write fiction, or work on poetry for greeting cards if I’m in the mood. Most of all, I journal. Journaling is very therapeutic, and I don’t have the average (Date, Dear Diary, Blahblahblah . . .) type of journal. My journal is actually a blank spiral bound book. It has a fuzzy, tiger striped cover, no lines, and a sturdy spine. In it I write entries, doodle pictures, and make random notes. Dates? Sometimes. It doesn’t matter what goes into it, as long as it is making you think, and WRITE! This journal goes everywhere with me. I carry a bookbag instead of a purse so I can carry it (and usually a book to read), and when I’m on my Harley, the journal rides in the saddlebag. You never know when you’re going to see or hear something that inspires you, and you always want something to write it down in.
Another trick I use are those little word magnets that you can buy and stick all over your fridge. If I’m having a sticky moment, I go play with those for a few minutes. Sometimes moving those around while I’m drinking my morning coffee or tea gets the wheels rolling. Let other people mess around with them too. I get some of my funniest ideas when my husband moves the magnets around. Writing your take on what someone else thinks up can be very interesting stuff.
If you want something you can refer back to on a regular basis, I would suggest getting “Page After Page” by Heather Sellers. I’ve been reading through this book lately, and it has some wonderful insights. It just reinforces many things I’ve already been doing, but it has also taught me some new things and tricks for writing. It has made me understand a little better why I think the way I do. I would definitely recommend reading it. The journal I was talking about was actually inspired by this book. I’ve always had a journal, but not one that was attached to me at the hip!
There are many ways to get past the sticky spots. Sometimes a cup of tea, a hot bath, or an hour reading a book will get your wheels turning. The ways of beating the sticky spots are as varied as the people who get them. Only you can find your way, but you have to find it. We cannot afford to let writer’s block in.
I hope some of this was helpful. I would love to hear your take on this, and what your methods are for getting out of the sticky spots. : )
–Lindsey Rainwater
Here’s to Writing . . .
So, I really hope I didn’t scare anybody off the idea of being a freelance writer. It is a great occupation; I just wanted to make it clear that it isn’t for everybody.
Being a writer can be a little tricky at first. There are a great many things to learn and know before you can be a successful writer. Thankfully, most of these things are easy to find out and learn. Having an idea of where to start is really the first step in the entire process.
One of the first things I will put forth is: Don’t join up with a site like Elance.com or Guru.com! I’ve been on those sites, and in my opinion, they are not for beginners! I know some professional writers make good money off sites like those, and for some people they can be a great place to find work. These sites are especially nice for those who have a specific talent or specialty.
But for the basic beginner, these ‘bidding’ sites are too full of other people who are willing to work for ridiculously low rates just to get the job. You will most likely either be undercut by someone, or the client will decide you don’t have the required experience. You don’t want to be the lowest bidder either. If you work for low pay, you may just be happy to have the work at first, but it will soon sink in that your time is not worth the effort you are putting out. These sites can quickly lead to frustration, which is not where you want to put yourself in your career!
A good thing to do is find a couple writers who are making money with their career. There is no substitute for getting experienced advice. Trust me, I know! The only reason I’m making any decent money writing is because I found a mentor and asked for some advice.
If you have some experience writing, this is good. Even if it was just the high school paper, it is better than nothing. If you don’t have any, poke around and find a way to get some.
I realize I said not to work for low pay, and there is a thin line you may have to walk here early in your freelance writing career. There are many websites that will try to scam writers into writing articles for less than a dollar each. This is sickening! Nobody should work for that little.
But a site that pays somewhere around a penny a word is often a good starting point. If you find a writing gig you really like, but it doesn’t pay great, consider taking it for the sake of gaining experience, but not at the expense of taking better paying jobs.
One place for basic experience is paid forum posting. Again, be careful. There are some sites that do not pay their writers. But sites like paidforumposting.com pay a decent rate (usually around 20 cents a post) and pay ON TIME! I am a member of this site, and it is a great place for a few extra dollars. Paid forum posting is also great if you just want to work as a writer part time. It is a way to feel out the lifestyle without devoting your life to it.
Another place to look for work is a place like onlinewritingjobs.com This site shows many freelancing jobs from all over the country. Freelancejobopenings.com is a great place to find work if you have some experience. These job applications require a resume, but don’t be scared to look into them.
Only you can figure out what the optimum writing job is for you. Don’t be afraid to take some time and look around. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions! Asking questions is the only reason I’ve gotten to the point I’m at!
–Lindsey Rainwater
Let’s Get A Few Things Straight . . .
Ok, I’m going to have a little rant and educate time now. I have seen so many pathetic attempts at writing lately that it makes me want to scream. On top of that, I am getting far too many people who seem to think I’m joking when I say I’m a freelance writer. Or they seem to think I’m trying to get out of having a ‘real’ job. So, I’m going to cover a few points on what it does and does not mean to be a writer, and a few things everyone who wants to be a writer should keep in mind. Ready?
Firstly, if you want to be a writer, brace yourself. I’m not going to tell you that you have to brace yourself for anything in particular, just brace yourself. I am working through my own issues being a freelance writer, and I know that no two people are going to go through the same transition stage.
I don’t care what people say. Writers do not lead stress-free lives. You might be surprised how many people I have talked to that find out I am a writer and say, “Oh, I wish I had a stress-free job like that.”
WHAT???!!!
No, no, NO! Do not even get that idea in your head. Look, writing is great! I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t think so. But you WILL get stressed out. Me, I’m ADD. I have to battle that on a daily basis. Granted, I do better at home than I did at a regular job, because I’m not having to keep a lid on my temper, but I still get distracted easily! If I take on an assignment that isn’t fascinating, and most of them aren’t, I have serious trouble keeping my mind upon the task at hand.
So this brings me to my first point: If you do not have the ability or desire to make yourself sit down and work, don’t get into this business. If you have to have the shadow of a supervisor looming over you to keep working, you aren’t cut out for this. You also don’t have a guaranteed paycheck in your hand. If you slack off, so does your money. If all the writing jobs are taken this week, you just might be S.O.L. It’s something you need to think very hard about, especially before you quit your job.
The other side of that is that if you have something like ADD or ADHD, or anything else that may hinder your work habits or relationships with people, you CAN work at home if that is your dream. I’m proof of it. My biggest issue is that I’m still ‘getting into the groove,’ which takes time.
Also, if you think this gig is going to bring you instant glamour because you are a writer, think again. Yes, being a writer can be glamorous, in both fiction, and non-fiction. But it isn’t going to happen overnight. Keep in mind that if you are successful at being a writer, it may actually lose you a few ‘friends.’ Seriously, some people cannot stand the idea of someone else being more successful and happy. It’s vicious, but there is a good chance you will have to look at the face of someone you thought was a friend and see that they now despise you because they are jealous. It’s even worse when it is family. Trust me, I know.
Don’t let anything stand in the way of your dreams. Just be prepared for the responsibility and issues those dreams may bring with them. : )
Now, if you want to be a writer, there are a few things you need. You do have to have some skill at writing to be a writer. It is a very simple concept that many, many people seem to miss completely. Make sure you can write at least decent English before you attempt to break into the writing scene. If you can’t, you are going to waste everyone’s time.
That said, don’t be worried that you can’t write because you only got a C in English. If you can write legible sentences that people can follow, you have a shot at this. Also keep in mind that you will get better the more you write. Writing on a daily basis hones your skills, so each day you write, you become a more valuable asset! If you are having trouble finding writing work, just do a little writing each day to keep yourself sharp. A journal or blog may be all you need.
Above all, keep writing. Focus on your goals and dreams, and go for them. I did, and here I am, getting paid to stay home and write! I’m not making as much money as I would like, but that will come in time and with experience. I have a great friend in Australia who is mentoring me through the process, and she has been invaluable to me and my pursuit!
Writing is a great career. I just don’t want to see people jump in, only to get burned because they didn’t really know what they were jumping into. Leave me a post, and I’ll be happy to answer any questions that I can.
I’ll be back soon, and I’ll think up some more pointers for all you potential writers out there! : D
–Lindsey Rainwater
Greetings!
Hi there! In this blog I hope to assist those who have a real passion for writing. I am fairly new to the freelance writing field, but through careful steps and having a mentor, I have learned a lot in a very short period of time.
I will post on what I know and what I learn, and hopefully I can save you from some of the delusions and hardships that other novice writers suffer.
So, if you will bear with me, I will be as helpful as I can, as often as I can.
Thank you for reading, and please check back often! : )
–Lindsey Rainwater
