Forever Freelance

So I want to get into freelance writing. I don't know if I can make a living doing it. But with perseverance and working on some other things I have going, I believe I can. I believe I'm destined to work from home. I'm not a morning person. I hate getting up when the alarm goes off. Sometimes I don't even hear it. When I do, I keep tapping the snooze button until it doesn't go off anymore! I can stay up all night, though. I'm a night owl.

So, back to this writing thing. I've been looking at the freelance sites and reading the writing blogs, and I looked at the freelancing blogs on Squidoo -thanks for the info! As far as my writing goes, I've done a ton of it. A lot of it had to do with business. I always wrote my own letters. I didn't have an admin person. I was an Executive Secretary a long time ago, and I did alot of my own writing there too. I wrote the company newsletter - just a little thing for the staff about various happenings. I have always edited papers and lettters for other employees, including management. Boy, it's amazing how many intelligent people can't write! Some people just dont' care. That bugs me!

It seems from what I've read that it's a good idea to focus on a specific area for your writing. A question asked when appplying for a position on the freelance sites is in what area of writing you specialize.

I hadn't thought about it - and I don't know how important it is; I'll need to do some more reading. Anyone feel free to let me know your thoughts on that.

As far as my internet writing goes, I've published several articles on the major article sites, I've written lots of blogs and websites, I've done some writing for autosponder series, and I've written a manual on cats. You can have a free copy! http://raisingkitty.com So here I go; I hope you check in every now and then to see how far I've gotten.

Helium is a great site for writers, especially if you are just getting started. They will publish anything non-offensive. Publishers use this
site to request articles on specific topics.

If a publisher chooses to publish your article you will receive payment from them.

The members of Helium judge your articles in comparison to others written about the same topic. I was so excited to see one of my articles hit number 2 out of 20 the day after I posted it. It gives you an idea if what you're writing is any good!

You also make money by sharing advertising earnings that Helium receives. It's not much, but at least you are having your articles published and there is always the chance that a publisher will use it.

Associated Content is another good site to submit your articles. For you creative types, you can submit videos, images and audio too. Again, pay isn't great, but you do get exposure and if you like to write just for fun, you may as well make a little money too!

This site also has lots of free information, contests, and bonuses based on your article's popularity.

5 Ways to Write for Money

by David Goldsmith

There are many ways to earn a good living as a writer. In my book "25 Ways to Write for Money" I cover twenty five different ways that you can turn your words into cash. In this article I want to show you five ways that you can get started on right now.

1. Write an E-book

Electronic books or "e-books" have had a major impact on the publishing world. Not too many years ago it was very difficult and time consuming to get a book published and distributed to thousands of readers. Now it is possible to write an e-book and have it published in a fraction of the time it takes for a traditional print book.

Because of this many authors are choosing to publish their own e-books online. By doing this they end up collecting as much as 90% from each copy sold rather than paying it to publishers and distributors.

2. Write Articles for Magazines

When many people think of freelance writing they automatically think of writing articles for magazines. And that's not surprising since magazines are one of the most popular types of publication that work with freelance writers.

Many magazines in North America pay freelance writers in the range of $0.15 to $0.35 per word. At the upper end are magazines that pay around $1.00 per word. These tend to be the large circulation publications such as magazines for women and travel, and some specialist magazines such as in-flight publications.

3. Write Fillers

A filler is a short item used to fill a space in a publication. Fillers include tips, hints, jokes, facts, light verse, recipes, puzzles, and anecdotes. At the longer end there are sidebars, columns, and short department pieces. Fillers are generally non-fiction.

Many publications publish more freelance fillers than freelance articles. Yet they receive many more articles and article queries from writers than they receive fillers. What does that tell you? There is far less competition for filler writers!

Many markets pay $10 to $25 for fillers. That might not seem like much until you recall that fillers have very few words and are quick to write.

If you consider the pay 'per word', or calculate an equivalent hourly rate for the time it takes to write them, fillers can sometimes pay better rates than articles.

4. Write a Column

If you enjoy freelance writing for newspapers or magazines then you might like to write a column.

At Society of Professional Journalists web site, Eugene Kane explains, "Columns are given out by editors, and editors usually reward reporters with a column for exceptional achievement or for a particularly stylish way with words and information."

A column usually shows the writer's by-line at the top next to the title. Columns tend to answer the why and how of a topic. They are usually written in a strong distinctive voice, in the first and second person and unlike other forms of journalism in a column it is acceptable to state an opinion.

An advantage of writing a column is that it is a regular work assignment. Compare that to regular freelance writing where you need to make a new sale for every piece you write.

5. Blogging

Blogs are a great way for writers to make money. They are easy to set up and their design is simplified due to the availability of good software and ready-made blogging templates.

There are several ways to earn money from a blog. These include selling advertising spots, showing Google AdSense ads and selling your own information products or e-books.

Blogs are also great for writers because they provide a place to showcase their best work, promote any books, and keep their readers informed about what they're working on next.

I have shown you five ways that you can start writing for money today. Now forget the starving writer stories you might have heard. Be proactive. Get moving. Start building your successful writing business today.

About the Author

David Goldsmith is a freelance writer and author of the popular e-book "25 Ways to Write for Money". Discover how you can earn a good living from your writing. Download your copy of his e-book today at http://nicklace.quickq.hop.clickbank.net

© Copyright 2007 David Goldsmith. All Rights Reserved.
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5 Types of Article You Can Write

by David Goldsmith

If you always write the same type of article then you are probably limiting your chances of getting published. Look at your favorite publications and you will see they print a variety of types of article. Here are five of the most popular types.

The 'How To' Article

This is a very popular type of article, in which you tell the reader how to do something. It could be how to build a garage, how to write a book, how to sell a house, or how to clean tar off a pair of trousers. These articles tend to be particularly popular because people love to find out how to do something.

When writing how to do something, and if the sequence is important, then it is a good idea to number each step. Remember to keep your instructions simple, yet specific. And you could even use a picture or illustration if the publication allows it.

The 'List' Article

The list article is an article that lists several related pieces of information, and is one of the easiest types of article to write. It could be "10 Ways to Save Money", "5 Flowers to Plant In April", or "The Best 12 Places to Live in Canada". A list article should have:

- An introduction.
- The list; each item may be a paragraph or two.
- A conclusion.

The 'Roundup' Article

In the roundup article, you provide a roundup of information, statements, or opinions from a variety of sources. You might interview a number of experts, for example, and ask them the same list of questions. In your article you then write a roundup of the answers, e.g.

"Bill Jones, CEO of SHJ Limited, is confident that the market will turn around soon. "Within the next six weeks at most", he predicted. But Tom Sloane, at Pickwick Associates, disagrees. He explains why...b"

The 'Inspirational' Article

Inspiration articles include inspirational narrative, essays, articles on faith and religion, and self-help articles.

Do you know of an issue or concern that affects many people? Think of your own every day experiences. Write about the issue and help the readers to deal with life and to improve themselves in some way.

The 'As Told To' Article

Because many of the people who have outstanding experiences are not writers, there is a market for writing those people's stories. This is quite similar to ghostwriting, except that in this case the audience knows that you are the writer. In the credits, you would show "By Peter Wallace [subject], as told to Jim Davies" [writer].

Instead of writing a third-person narrative of the event, the 'As Told To' article makes the tale more real and personal by using the first-person.

So next time you are about to write an article, pause and ask which type of article would best suit your situation and topic. By varying the types of articles you write your writing will also develop a new depth and your articles will be picked up by a much wider variety of publications.

About the Author

David Goldsmith is a freelance writer and author of the popular e-book "25 Ways to Write for Money". Discover how you can earn a good living from your writing. Download your copy of his e-book today at http://yourid.quickq.hop.clickbank.net

Freelancers - writers, authors, and screenwriters - sign up for the Smart Writers Newsletter written by Trent Steele and you can download $3,780 in ebooks!

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Novel writing software, an e-book compiler, and lots more.

http://www.writersgiveaway.com/treasure/

Worldwidefreelance is a site full of information on what else? Freelance writing. It includes information on writing, writing markets, writing software; plus lots of other resources. Sign up for the newsletter and receive a free report titled, "25 Writing Markets that pay 20 cents per word."

The ebook lists 25 online publications with a brief description of each, the publisher's required guidelines, and a link to the site.

The author chose a wide variety of sites, so you can probably find at least one that will be of interest.

Here's another good place to submit your original work and earn some extra cash.

Guidelines:

* You must be committed to publishing a minimum of 10 articles every 3 months granting exclusive electronic rights for 1 year, shared rights thereafter.

* Entry level: start as a Contributing Writer and build your skills, SEO, and reputation by publishing articles on 400 topics.

* Advanced: represent one topic as a Feature Writer (columnist), earn up to 30% more on all content and enjoy higher visibility while also publishing a blog.

Become a freelance writer!

Latest Writer's Markets

Lots of Freelance opportunities here..

* Freelance Writing Job
* Writer
* Freelance Writing
* Freelance Web Designer
* Freelance

* Freelance Photographer
* Freelance Writer
* Freelance Jobs
* Freelance Graphic Design
* Freelance Writing Jobs

* Freelance Graphic Designer
* Freelance Work
* Freelance Photography
* Freelance Photography Jobs
* Freelance Programmer

I've recently come across several freelance sites that are not just for writers. Sellers post jobs for people with expertise in programming, web design, data entry, telemarketing, and numerous other areas. Their projects are up for bid, and it's not just the person who comes in with the lowest bid that earns the project. After all,sellers are looking for people to help them develop their businesses and they want their projects completed in a professional manner.

Now some of the sellers seem like they want you to do their work for free, but if you're just getting started, it's a good place to get some experience. The sellers rate your work so it's also a way to build your reputation. Some even welcome newcomers specifically.

Serebra Connect - this site has training, and you can even take tests on specific skills. This enables the sellers to know that you actually have the skills they need.

https://www.serebraconnect.com/

Both Get a Freelancer and Project4Hire have a large variety of jobs posted, and here again, you are bidding on projects of your choosing that suit your skills.

Get a Freelancer
http://www.getafreelancer.com/affiliates/sandif/

Project4Hire
http://www.project4hire.com/

Another writing site where you can make money! It's called GZYN and according to them they are "the highest paying opportunity in the market." I'm not sure what proof they have of this...but anyway, it's one more place to earn money writing.

Once you write an article - on any topic - you'll receive 90% of the ad revenue that your article generates through Google's AdSense program. So go ahead and sign up, write, give them your AdSense account number, and start making money!

Write for Gaia, win big bucks and get published!

Sign up below for a chance to win with your great writing or photography.

http://www.redbubble.com/publication/competition/writing

There are five main categories:

1. Poetry: Poems of under 500 words.
2. (very) Short Stories: Short stories of under 500 words
3. Photography
4. Non-photographic digital images: includes digital art and graphic design
5. Originals: scanned paintings and illustrations

This is an aesthetically pleasing website so take a look even if you don't care to enter the contest. I always like finding new, original-looking sites.

Check out oDesk, the only online marketplace for verified remote work.

It lets buyers:

* Hire the best from around the world.
* Manage them as if they were in the same office.
* Pay only for work performed.

Plus they pay you to refer others. Earn $50 when

- a referred user earns his or her first $1,000 as an oDesk Provider, or
- a referred user spends his or her first $1,000 as an oDesk Buyer.

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