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Contents Introduction ..............................................................................................6 Copywriting ..............................................................................................8 Ghostwriting...........................................................................................12 Technical Writing ...................................................................................16 Blogging.................................................................................................19 Write Articles Promoting Affiliate Products ............................................27 Write Ads for Affiliate Programs.............................................................31 Write Resumes ......................................................................................36 Write a Book - Nonfiction .......................................................................40 Write a Book - Fiction.............................................................................44 Write an Ebook ......................................................................................47 Write Articles for Magazines ..................................................................51 Write Fillers ............................................................................................55 Freelance Writing for Newspapers.........................................................59 Write a Column ......................................................................................62 Freelance Writing for Web Sites ............................................................64 Start Your Own Online Publication ........................................................66
Publish a Newsletter ..............................................................................69 Write for Anthologies..............................................................................72 Write Short Stories.................................................................................74 Write Poetry ...........................................................................................78 Write for Children ...................................................................................81 Writing Contests.....................................................................................85 Write Greeting Cards .............................................................................88 Grants for Writers...................................................................................91 Work as a Grant Application Writer........................................................94 Keep Writing ..........................................................................................95
Introduction Congratulations on your decision to grow your income from writing. In this book you will discover twenty five different ways to earn money from your writing. I have been working as a writer for many years. For most of those years I worked in a regular full-time job and wrote in my spare time. Then, several years ago I said goodbye to my office colleagues and I have been working full-time as a freelance writer ever since. My purpose in writing this book is to open your ideas to many of the different ways that you can make money from writing. Whole books could be written – and have been - on each of these techniques, but you can hardly be expected to buy a dozen specialized books simply to explore the different possibilities. The purpose of this book is to give you a quick overview of each method so that you can grasp the type of writing involved and evaluate which methods may be the best match for your expertise, your skills and your working preferences. I have no doubt you will want to explore some of these methods in more depth and so I have recommended a number of additional reading resources. Although I have provided links to Amazon for your convenience you may be borrow these books from a friend or even read them for free at your local library. Finally, I would like to express a special word of thanks to several people who have kindly allowed me to reprint some of their work: Gary McLaren,
editor of Worldwide Freelance Writer ; Scott Adams, author of Affiliate Adventure; and Mike Seddon, author of How to Build a Money Making Blog.
So do you really want to be a writer, and earn a good living from it? Great. Let’s get started. David Goldsmi th
Copywriting Copywriters write the words that sell. In addition to regular advertising copy they are also called upon to write brochures, catalogs, newsletters, press releases, and even radio commercials. Why Do Comp anies Use Copyw rit ers?
Copywriting can be very lucrative and here's why. Large companies spend a fortune on advertising including advertisements in newspapers and magazines, printing sales letters, brochures and catalogs, and sending out direct mail campaigns by post. Let’s take direct mail as an example of how much companies spend. It costs tens of thousands of dollars - sometimes even hundreds of thousands depending on the number of recipients - to send out a direct mailing campaign. A company will rent tens of thousands of names from a mailing list broker. The price for this varies but $100 per thousand names is not unusual. On top of acquiring the names there is the considerable cost of printing tens of thousands of brochures and mailing them out to customers. Direct mail is incredibly expensive as are other forms of marketing. That is why these companies are keen to hire professional writers. They want to ensure that their marketing message is as good as it can possibly be. As a copywriter, that’s your job. A good copywriter knows that he or she can make a significant improvement to the response rate from a big marketing campaign.
How Much Do Copywri ters Make?
An experienced, hard-working copywriter in North America can earn a sixfigure (annual) salary. A copywriter's income ultimately depends upon several factors, including not just their location but also the location of their clients, and how they charge their fees. Copywriters often charge by the hour or by the page. As a copywriter you can also get creative with your charges. Some copywriters charge their clients a smaller fee but then add in a percentage of the revenue that their sales letter generates. Do You Need Any Special Equip ment?
In addition to regular writing equipment such as a personal computer or laptop and internet access, you may need a fax machine for sending documents back and forth with clients. Although this can often be done through email using scanners, some clients may still prefer to mark up a document by hand and send it by fax. Gettin g Started as a Copyw rit er
Here are some tips to get started as a copywriter. 1. Look around you. Look at as many brochures, catalogues, sales letters and advertisements as you can. Ask yourself, which ones are effective? What works? What turns you off? What types would be fun to write? 2. Peter Bowerman’s “The Well-Fed Writer ” is an excellent resource to help you get started. It's one of the best guides I have read on starting and
building a copywriting business. Considering that good copywriting courses can cost as much as $1,000, Bowerman’s book is incredibly good value. 3. Work up some samples. It could be a sample for an imaginary business, or you could complete a free sample for one of your local businesses. And put together your own brochure for your copywriting business. All of these are samples that you can include in your portfolio. 4. Identify potential clients. Write down a list of local businesses. How about sports clubs? There may even be some charity groups willing to pay a small fee for copywriting services that will help them raise funds. 5. Send a direct mail letter to your potential clients informing them about your copywriting services. Follow up with a telephone call to discuss whether there is anything you can help them with. 6. If you are still struggling to get your first real assignment, consider developing something ‘on spec’. In effect this means that you agree with your client that you will go ahead and write it, and that the client only needs to pay for your services if they like it and decide to use it. Additi onal Reso urces Worldwide Freelance has some free copywriting tips at
www.worldwidefreelance.com/copywriting1.htm The Well-Fed Writer by Peter Bowerman Start & Run a Copywriting Business by Steve Slaunwhite
The Copywriter’s Handbook by Robert Bly
Ghostwriting The following information on ghostwriting is republished with permission from Gary McLaren, editor of WorldwideFreelance.com.
What is a Ghostwriter? Do you believe in ghosts? They are mostly unseen. Unnoticeable. And believe it or not they are moving behind the scenes in the publishing industry. If you’re lucky you might catch a fleeting glimpse. They are officially called ‘ghostwriters’. A ghostwriter is a writer who writes on an assigned topic under someone else's name, with their consent. They often write books completely from scratch but sometimes their work involves rewriting or polishing an existing work. Most books by famous personalities are actually written by ghostwriters. When you see an autobiography or memoir from a politician, businessperson, or celebrity, chances are that it has been written by a ghostwriter. Examples of Ghostwriting Here are a few examples of books that have been ghostwritten. The autobiography "Ronald Reagan: An American Life" was ghosted by Robert Lindsey. “Learning to Sing”, the autobiography of American Idol star Clay Aiken, was written with ghostwriter Allison Glock. The autobiographies of Doris Day and Sophie Loren were written by A.E. Hotchner. How Popular is Ghostwriti ng?
Statistics are hard to come by because many people don't want to reveal that their book was ghostwritten. Some industry estimates suggest that up
to fifty percent of all non-fiction books are ghostwritten. A client may decide to hire a ghostwriter because the client does not have any writing talent or because they are too busy. Ghostwriters, for their part, are usually wellestablished writers already, and are selected on that basis. What do Ghostw riters Write?
Ghostwriters are hired to write many types of documents, from autobiographies for famous personalities to ebooks for internet marketing gurus, and even letters for politicians. They also write fiction. Sometimes it is for a series of books written by several ghostwriters under one name, as with the stories of Nancy Drew or The Hardy Boys. Ghostwriters also continue to write novels under the name of popular authors who have died, as in the case of Robert Ludlum. Is Ghostwriti ng Ethical?
Although ghostwriting is a widely accepted practice within the publishing industry, some people outside of the industry complain that ghostwriting is deceptive. But that is not necessarily true. Consider for a moment the ghostwriting process. The client is the author of the work in that they are the person who is really behind the content. It is the client's ideas, the client’s stories and experiences. It is the client’s words recorded on hours of interview tapes. The ghostwriter is a professional consultant providing expertise in the area of bringing together all the information, organizing it, and writing it up in a way that will produce a marketable and readable masterpiece.
What Skill s Does a Ghostwri ter Need?
A ghostwriter must be a good writer. He or she should also have good interviewing skills, since they will spend many hours and days interviewing clients. They should have the ability to ask good questions that will draw out the best aspects of a story. Another skill - which may need to be developed - is the ability to maintain the client’s voice so that the book reads like the client, not the ghostwriter. How is a Ghost writ er Paid?
Ghostwriters usually charge a flat fee for their work. Sometimes they will reduce their ghostwriting fee in return for a percentage (perhaps 25-50%) of the royalties, or in rare cases they may waive their fee in return for a percentage of royalties. The advantage of a flat fee is that a ghostwriter knows exactly how much he or she will be paid. The risk of relying on royalties is that even if the book is well-written, the ghostwriter has no control over the book's marketing and promotion. Does a Ghostw riter Receive Any Credit?
More often than not, the public never knows that a book was ghostwritten. Sometimes ghostwriters are even legally bound to not reveal that they have ghosted a particular book. Occasionally ghostwriters will receive some credit. The writer’s name may appear on the cover as a co-author or it might read "as told to Jenny Ghost.” Another way to thank the ghostwriter is
under the acknowledgements, for example “…and thanks to Joe Ghoul without whom this book would never have been completed”. Are You Th inki ng of B eco ming a Ghos tw riter?
It could be an excellent career move. You've probably heard it said that everyone has a book inside them. Well, the fact of the matter is that not everyone has the time or the skill to write it. As long as there is a story to be told, ghostwriters will continue to be in demand. Additi onal Reso urces
More Articles on Ghostwriting www.pegr.com/resources.html Ghostwriting - for Fun & Profit by Eva Shaw Ghostwriting by Andrew Crofts Ghostwriting: The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Bestseller by Joel
Hochman and Larry Leichman Goodbye Byline: Hello Big Bucks by Kelly James-Enger
Technical Writing The term "technical writing" can be a little misleading since it is used to describe a variety of writing - not just technical publications such as instruction manuals and computer application user guides. It is also used for the writing of documents such as Policy and Procedure manuals, business reports, and quick reference tools. The Most Important Question: Who Is The User?
Good technical writing always takes into account the question, “Who will be the end-user of this document?” This is the difference between good technical writing and documentation that no-one ever uses. An expert technical writer always asks, "Who is the user?" and then researches exactly what information the user needs to know, and when they need to know it. The information is then structured and presented so that it is quick to access and easy to understand. How much do Techn ical Writers Earn?
Some years ago the company I was working for provided technical writing services for an average billing rate of $1,500 per consultant per day. Keep in mind that most of that money went to the company. The company subcontracted freelance technical writers who did the work and earned several hundred dollars per day. If you become a full-time employee as a technical writer you will typically
earn less per day that if you are a consultant who contracts on a project by project basis. Do You Li ke Work ing Project by Project?
Technical writers typically work on projects that take several weeks or months to complete. Some projects might be as short as a week or two, and others could take six to eighteen months. This is great if you are the type of person who likes to work for six months and then take a couple of months off, for example to travel. Do You L ike Working With Peopl e?
Technical writing is great if you like networking and working with a variety of people. You could be working in a telecommunication company one month, a bank the next, and then an airline after that. Although a good amount of technical writing can be done “off site”, technical writers do need to spend a lot of time meeting with other team members, with clients, and especially with the end-users of the documentation they are working on. Additi onal Reso urces Technical Writing For Dummies by Sheryl Lindsell-Roberts The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Technical Writing by Krista Van Laan
Society for Technical Communication www.stc.org
Techwriter Certification www.techwriter-certification.com
Blogging Blogs are an excellent tool for writers. Writers can use a blog to showcase their best work, promote their books, and keep their readers informed of what they're working on next. However blogs can also be used as a way to make money by writing for the web, on any topic imaginable. Compared to other types of web sites blogs are very easy to set up. Their design is simplified due to the use of popular blogging software and creative templates. For writers this means you can put less time and effort into design and move quickly into creating good content. What is a Blog ?
‘Blog’ is a term used by people to refer to a weblog, also known as a web log. Here are a couple of comments on what a blog actually is. "Weblogs, typically, are personal Web sites operated by individuals who compile chronological lists of links to stuff that interests them, interspersed with information, editorializing and personal asides. A good weblog is updated often, in a kind of real-time improvisation, with pointers to interesting events, pages, stories and happenings elsewhere on the Web. New stuff piles on top of the page; older stuff sinks to the bottom."
~ Salon, 28 May 1999 “A weblog is kind of a continual tour, with a human guide who you get to know.”
~ Dave Winer of Weblogs.com In essence a blog usually: - Contains multiple posts of text, images and data - Is arranged chronologically with the most recent posts first - Includes comments from readers - Links to useful, related blogs and content Blogs can be Groundb reaking
Blogs have acquired a reputation for being at the leading edge of trends and even breaking stories. Internet bloggers often break the news with early or even obscure stories, which are picked up only later by mainstream media. Blogs were the initial launch pad of many major stories in recent years including the Monica Lewinsky scandal and the controversy over President Bush's duty in the National Guard. Blog gers can Earn Good Revenue
Some blogs are really “bringing in the bucks”. Several years ago one blogger, Jason Calacanis, revealed that his company, Weblogs Inc., was on track to earn a million dollars from AdSense on their network of blogs. Calacanis had 103 bloggers on the payroll and nine staff. You can make money with a single blog. The key to success is to build up a strong readership. If only 500 people read your blog, that is not really
much traffic in terms of revenue-generating ability. You need thousands of readers. Gettin g Started
Here are the critical stages of building a revenue-generating blog: 1. Setting it up. 2. Posting content. 3. Promoting Content via Social Networks 4. Implementing money-making measures. 5. Building a loyal readership. Let’s look at each of these in turn. Setting u p Your Blog
Your blog needs to be published on a server somewhere on the Internet. There are three main ways to publish your blog: Blogging Sites Blogging sites take care of all the technical details and provide an easy interface for you to blog. Examples of popular blogging sites include Blogger.com which is owned by Google and LiveJournal.com Blogging Networks
At blogging networks, bloggers are usually paid to write a blog for the network. Some networks pay fees based on the number of posts written by the blogger, other networks pay out a percentage of the blog's revenue. Most blogging networks are highly selective about the bloggers they employ, or blogs they acquire. You should also be aware that at some networks, the network owns the blog, not the blogger. Some examples of blogging networks include: B5media.com MetBlogs.com ShinyMedia.com Self-Managed Software The biggest advantage of a self-managed software solution is that you will completely own your blog. You can use your own domain name, your own hosting service and it's your name, your brand, your content. WordPress is one of the most popular blogging applications. It is free software that you can download and install on your own web site. I strongly recommend it because it has many design templates that you can select and change at the press of a button. WordPress comes pre-installed with many web hosting packages. Even if it is not pre-installed, it takes just a few minutes to install. For a list of web hosts offering web hosting packages with WordPress software pre-installed see: writerincome.com/go/wordpresshosting.htm
Posting Content
- Decide what you will blog about. - Aim for content that is thoughtful, insightful, and compelling. - Post regularly. - Provide easy navigation. - Highlight your best posts with links on the front page. Promoti ng Content via Social Networ ks
These days a common technique for bloggers is to write a post and then promote it via social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+. By having accounts on each of these networks and promoting your content in this way you will quickly drive visitors to new content and increase your following on each network as other members pass on the link to your content. Implement Money-Making Measures
Here are three of the main ways to make money with a blog. Display AdSense Ads on Your Blog Whenever a reader clicks on an ad, you will earn a few cents. As your readership grows, this can quickly add up. Get more information at www.google.com/adsense
Promote Affiliate Programs Here's how an affiliate program works: A company offers a product or service. As an affiliate you promote the company’s product and send a stream of visitors to the company’s web site. You do this using a customized link on your blog that allows the company to identify which affiliate referred the visitor. Whenever a visitor sent by you buys the company’s product, you earn a commission. You can find affiliate programs at affiliate networks such as ClickBank and Commission Junction.
Sell Your Own Product or Service Use your blog to promote your own products. For example you could write an ebook and sell it directly from your blog. Building a Loyal Readership
It takes time to build a loyal readership. Here are some tips: 1. Exchange links with other bloggers - your blog will probably have a small area for this called a 'blogroll'. 2. Interact with your readers regularly, and treat them with respect. 3. Avoid not posting for extended periods. 4. Invite guest bloggers - identify some bloggers in your niche and do a guest post to each other's blog. The effect will be to share your visitors with each other and grow both blogger's readership. Additi onal Reso urces Professional Blogging for Dummies by Susan Getgood ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income by
Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett WordPress www.wordpress.org Google AdSense www.google.com/adsense
MoneyForBlogging www.moneyforblogging.com
Write Articles Promoting Affiliate Products Writing articles that promote affiliate products can be a great way to earn additional income. Unlike other types of freelance writing where you get paid once for each article, this type of writing can lead to receiving affiliate commissions over and over again. What is Affil iate Marketing? Marketing?
Affiliate marketing involves promoting affiliate products as part of an affiliate program. An affiliate program is a popular way for companies to promote their products and services on the Internet. Here’s how an affiliate program works. The Company, also known as a ‘Merchant’, offers a product or service through their affiliate program. That makes it an affiliate product. As an Affiliate I sign up to help in promoting the company’s product. My task as an affiliate is to send a stream of Visitors to the company’s web site. I do this using a customized link that
allows the company to identify which affiliate referred the visitor. Whenever a visitor sent by me buys the company’s product, I earn a commission. Commissions for sales typically range from $5 to $25, but are sometimes higher. For example, web hosting packages and satellite TV systems sometimes pay commissions of $100. Write Affiliate Articles
A great way to promote a product as an affiliate is to write an article about the product and include your affiliate link in the author’s “Resource Box” at the end of the article. Submitting these articles to free article directories
allows other web site owners and editors to post your article on their web sites and blogs. The secret is to write high-quality articles that people will want to republish. Success will follow if editors love the quality of your articles and they are continually selecting your work from the article directories to publish to their readers. You could write a product review, or you could write any article on a related topic. Don’t be too concerned about receiving a fee for the article. Your strategy with this technique is to earn income from affiliate commissions when people click through from your article and go on to buy the product. If you decide to write reviews it is important that you read about disclosures below. Disclosure of Affiliate Relationship
The US Federal Trade Commission now Commission now enforces a number of requirements regarding testimonials and endorsements of products, including affiliate products. You should familiarize yourself with the requirements of the FTC. In particular when endorsing a product you need to disclose if you have an affiliate relationship and might earn a commission for recommending it. Where Where to Publish Your Articles
The key to success with marketing affiliate products articles is to get as many unique articles onto as many different web sites as possible. Keep
adding articles and over time you will build a stream of traffic to the merchants' web sites which keeps on growing. You should publish your articles: - at your own web site, if you have one, - on your blog, and - at free article directories such as: ArticleCity.com ArticleDashboard.com EzineArticles.com GoArticles.com IdeaMarketers.com iSnare.com Addit ional Ti ps
1. Many article directories do not allow you to include affiliate links in your article or in the resource box below your article. Either use a different article directory or use a link to a landing page instead. A landing page is a web page designed by you to provide further information about the product and includes your affiliate link on the web page instead of in the article itself.
2. There are hundreds of free article directories so don’t stop with those listed above. There is a list of the 50 Top Article Directories at www.vretoolbar.com/articles/directories.php 3. Sometimes it is a good idea to use a web link that doesn’t look like an affiliate link. You can convert any affiliate link to a shorter, concise link using TinyUrl.com or Bitly.com
Write Ads for Affiliate Programs Another way to earn income as a writer is to advertise affiliate products through Pay-Per-Click advertising. This involves crafting small advertisements carefully using your word power. Scott Adams was making an average of $300 profit every day with this technique when he wrote his book, Affiliate Adventure in 2005. In recent years it has become much more difficult to get this technique to "work" as there are now more people doing it and "bidding" against each other for advertising. However it can still work if you can identify a good product. What You Need
You will require: - Access to a computer connected to the Internet - A credit card to pay for your pay-per-click advertising costs - A working email address - A budget for advertising (the amount is up to you). Aff iliate Mar keti ng
Affiliate programs are one of the best ways for companies to promote their products and services on the Web. In case you didn’t read this in an earlier chapter, let’s look again at affiliate programs. The Company, also known as a ‘Merchant’, offers a product or service. As an Affiliate you sign up to help
in promoting the company’s product. Your task as an affiliate is to send a stream of visitors to the company’s web site. You do this using a customized link that allows the company to identify which affiliate referred the visitor. Whenever a visitor sent by you buys the company’s product, you earn a commission. Commissions for sales typically range from $5 to $25, but are sometimes higher. For example, web hosting packages and satellite TV systems sometimes pay commissions of $100. Pay-Per-Click Adverti sing
When you use a search engine such as Google or Yahoo, you have probably noticed that they show paid listings from advertisers alongside results generated by their search algorithm. These paid listings are usually called something like ‘sponsored listings’. The most common method for charging advertisers for sponsored listings is ‘Pay-Per-Click’ (PPC). Those sponsored ads can be your ads. As the advertiser you can choose how many cents you are willing to pay each time someone clicks on your ad and visits the site you specify. The most well-known PPC search engine is Google, where advertisers can place advertising through the Adwords program. Combini ng A ffil iate Prog rams and Pay-Per-Click
Now let’s look at what happens when you combine affiliate programs and PPC advertising. Affiliate Programs + Pay Per Click = Profits
When you take a good affiliate program and promote it with a PPC advertising campaign, you can - potentially - make some good money. You can also lose your shirt if you are not careful! Scott Adams gives this example: Let’s say you have identified a potential affiliate program. The product is an ebook from ClickBank that sells for $29.95. Every time you refer someone who buys the product, you will earn a commission of $18.95. You now go to a PPC search engine such as Google Adwords and set up an advertising campaign, agreeing to pay $0.10 for every visitor who clicks through your ad. At the end of Day 1, 300 visitors have clicked through your ad, and 2 of them bought the ebook. You’ve earned $37.90. Your total cost was $30.00 so you’ve made a profit of $7.90. Even if you make no improvements, and leave this ad campaign running, (and assuming it continues to perform like this) you’ve just found a way to make an extra $240 a month. Don't Los e Your Shir t: The Importance of Testing
Testing potential affiliate products is a critical part of getting this system to work. For every 20-30 affiliate products you try, you might find only one that ‘works’, i.e. that has a reasonable conversion ratio from visitors to sales that makes it profitable through pay-per-click advertising. Scott recommends testing each product with around 300 clicks. If you are paying $0.07 to $0.12 per click that means you're spending $21 to $36 to test it. If you receive a commission or two, you may have found a good product. If you don't receive any commissions, move on to test another product.
I think you can see the risk. If you don't get your first successful product until, say, the 15th product that you test, you'll have spent $300. Scary huh! But if you hit a successful product or two and find yourself making $30 profit every day, your $900 a month will help you to quickly forget the money you spent testing. My advice to you is to proceed very cautiously it you decide to try this technique. Additi onal Reso urces
Pay Per Click Networks Here are several of the major PPC advertising networks: Google Adwords adwords.google.com Yahoo Search Marketing searchmarketing.yahoo.com Microsoft Adcenter adcenter.microsoft.com Facebook Advertising facebook.com/advertising PlentyofFish Advertising ads.pof.com Affiliate Programs & Networks
AssociatePrograms associateprograms.com ClickBank clickbank.com Commission Junction www.cj.com LinkShare linkshare.com MyHelpHub www.myhelphub.com
Write Resumes A resume (referred to in some countries as a Curriculum Vitae or CV) is a brief summary of someone's abilities, education, experience, and skills. Its main purpose is to convince prospective employers to interview the candidate for a vacant job opportunity. An effective, professionally written resume lands more interviews, shortens the time it takes to get a good job, and often attracts a higher salary. It gives your client an edge in an increasingly competitive job market. Some job-seekers are not happy with their resume when they write it themselves. They might have strong skills and career experience in many areas, but perhaps writing resumes is not one of those skills! People who decide to hire a writer to professionally write their resume know that it will pay dividends in advancing their career prospects. Resumes must get the key information across quickly. Employers receive hundreds of applications for each opportunity. Sometimes they spend only a few seconds reviewing each resume as they decide whether to keep it in the running or reject it. How Much Can You Earn
Resume writing firms typically charge $200 to $1000 to prepare a resume. A typical resume is prepared over a week or so. It doesn’t take a whole 40hour week to write it, but it is often written over a week because there is downtime while bouncing questions and answers back and forth with the
candidate. According to Terry Vaught of AWAI's resume business course, resume writers can make $150 per hour. Where Do You Find Clients?
You can find clients for resume writing by: - placing an advertisement for your resume writing service in local newspapers or magazines. - identifying candidates at online job sites who need a better resume. The Proc ess of Writing a Resume
To write a resume you will need to: 1. Collect all the relevant information: that includes details about the candidate’s education, job experience, skills, and sometimes extracurricular activities and hobbies. 2. Match the experience and skills with prospective employers' requirements. 3. Highlight details that demonstrate the candidate's capabilities, i.e. what will he/she do for the company? Why does the company need this candidate? 4. Organize the resume using the format that is most effective.
Resume Formats
Resume formats tend to fall into two main styles: Chronological Resumes and Functional Resumes. Chronological Resumes: list job experience beginning with the most recent position. This format is ideal for candidates with strong, relevant job experience. Functional Resumes: categorize experience under headings that highlight skills: e.g. leadership, sales, computers, languages, etc. This format is ideal when a candidate does not have much job experience. Resume Writin g Tips
1. Replace weak titles with strong, skill-related phrases. 2. Check Spelling & Grammar: With freelance article writing an editor may reject a query because of a spelling mistake. With resume writing your client could lose the interview because of one. 3. Keep a variety of resume templates ready to use. Resume Mistakes
Here are a couple of common mistakes people make when writing a resume. - Focusing on duties and responsibilities instead of achievements and successes.
- Writing too much. Resumes should ideally be just one to two pages. Keep in mind that this might differ from country to country. This may also vary for candidates with extensive or senior experience. Additi onal Reso urces
University of Minnesota's Resume Tutor: Tutorial on Writing a Resume: www1.umn.edu/ohr/careerdev/resources/resume/ Asher's Bible of Executive Resumes and How to Write Them by Donald
Asher Resume Magic by Susan Britton Whitcomb
Write a Book - Nonfiction Most writers would love to able to say that they have written a book. They are not alone. Surveys reveal that a large percentage of the general public would like to write a book one day. However most people never "get around to it”. A large number of people start on a manuscript but never finish it. If you want to write a book, then a non-fiction book is a good place to start. Why Write Nonfictio n?
Here are several reasons why it’s a good idea to write a non-fiction book first: 1. The market for non-fiction books is much larger than for fiction. There are more nonfiction books than fiction published every year. 2. It is easier to break into the publishing world with a non-fiction book than with a novel. 3. Non-fiction writers starting out tend to earn more than new fiction writers. How to Write a Non-Fiction Boo k, the Easy Way
I am now going to give you an easy way to write a non-fiction book. If you follow these steps or ‘phases’ then writing your first non-fiction book will be easy.
Phase 1. The Subj ect
You need a subject for your non-fiction book. What will you write about? Are you an expert in some subject that many people are interested in? Do you have first-hand experience or any knowledge that could benefit or inspire others? Phase 2. The Struc tur e
Once you have decided the subject of your book, the next step is to plan the structure. Write down all the main topics that you need to cover. Now organize and arrange these topics into a chapter outline. There is no hard and fast rule on how many chapters you must have, but it is common to have around 12 to 15. If you have too many chapters, you may need to combine a few topics, or delete some that are not essential. If you do not have enough you need to re-examine the subject to see if there is some additional material that your readers should know about. Now, in preparation for Phase 3, take some blank sheets of paper, one for each chapter. Write a chapter title at the top of each sheet. Consider each chapter as an article that needs to be written. Phase 3. The Chapter Outl ines
Now it’s time to start drilling down deeper. Pick up the first blank chapter page, read the chapter title, then at intervals down the page write 4 to 6 sub-headings that represent what you need to cover in that chapter. Leave space between each sub-heading so you have room to write your content
later. If you have ever written articles for magazines or newspapers then this should not be too difficult for you. It’s up to you what to do with the subheadings later. You could use them as prompts and delete them later, or use them as actual sub-headings in your book. Work your way through, doing this for every chapter. Use the back side of each sheet of paper if you need more space. Phase 4. Write the Paragraph s
Now comes the fun part. If you carefully planned the outline of your chapters and wrote good subheadings for each chapter, then the rest should flow easily. You already have an “article outline” for each chapter. You now need to write a paragraph or two for each sub-heading. Phase 5. Editing
Once you have written all the content, it’s time to start going through editing your manuscript. This is not a book about editing, so I won’t get into all that it requires here. But you will probably need to go through it several times, cutting, reshaping, and polishing until you are satisfied with it. Finding a Publisher
Once your book is finished you need to decide how to have it published. To find a publisher you could:
- Consult a directory of publishers and start submitting your book proposal or manuscript to them. - Get an agent to represent you. - Self publish your book using a service like CreateSpace, Lulu or Lightning Source. Also check out the information on self-publishing in my chapter on ebooks. Additi onal Reso urces
Write Any Book in Less than 28 Days, by Nick Daws
Write a Book - Fiction As a fiction writer you could write anything from a short story to a bestselling novel. Fiction writing is often categorized as literary fiction or genre fiction - although some argue that literary fiction is a genre in itself. Literary fiction is a term generally used to describe more 'serious' fiction that may be claimed to have literary merit. It focuses more on style, psychological depth, and character, in contrast to a lot of commercial fiction that focuses more on narrative and plot. Genre fiction is fiction written with the intent of fitting into a specific literary genre. Popular genres include Action-adventure, Crime, Detective, Erotica, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Science fiction, Thriller, Western. Many writers dream of being a best-selling novelist. Breaking into the big publishing houses, however, can be extremely difficult. That is why, in the past few years especially, many fiction authors have been turning to selfpublishing and ebook publishing. Getting Your Fiction Published
You can find markets to publish fiction at the following web sites: Bookmarket has a free list of 400 book publishers and book editors for first fiction and first-time novelists. www.bookmarket.com/newnovels.htm The Market List includes thousands of genre fiction markets at www.marketlist.com
Worldwide Freelance Writer has a writing markets database at www.worldwidefreelance.com Writer's Market Online has over 5,000 market listings at www.writersmarket.com Self Self Publishing
An alternative to going down the traditional publishing route is to selfpublish your novel. The popular Australian novelist Matthew Reilly started out this way. When he finished writing his first novel, Contest, he was just 19 years of age. After all the major publishing houses in Sydney rejected his manuscript, Reilly decided to publish the book himself. He made 1000 copies at $8.00 each and then went out and sold it to bookstores in Sydney by hand – store by store. Soon afterwards, an editor for Pan Macmillan found his book at one of the shops, and enjoyed it so much she signed Matthew up on a two-book deal. Matthew Reilly is not alone in self-publishing. James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, Tom Clancy and many other famous authors have at some point selfpublished their work. If you want to self-publish your books you may want to consider Print on Demand services like those offered by CreateSpace CreateSpace,, Lulu Lulu or or Lightning Source.. Source Also check out the information on self-publishing in my chapter on ebooks. "Usually, when people get to the end of a chapter, they close the book and go to sleep. I deliberately write a book so when the reader gets to the end
of the chapter, he or she must turn one more page. When people tell me I've kept them up all night, I feel like I've succeeded." ~ Sidney Sheldon Ad A d d i ti o n al Reso u r ces ce s
yWriter5: Free novel writing software. www.spacejock.com/yWriter5.html How to Write a Damn Good Novel by James Frey Immediate Fiction: A Complete Writing Course by Jerry Cleaver On Writing - A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Write an Ebook Electronic books or “ebooks” have had a major impact on the publishing world. Not too many years ago it was very difficult and extremely time consuming to get a book published and distributed to thousands of readers. Now it is possible to write an ebook and get it published in a fraction of the time it takes for a traditional print book. What is an Eboo Eboo k?
An ebook typically contains the same content as a regular book; however it is delivered as a digital file designed for reading on a computer screen or on a portable ebook reader. After Amazon introduced the first Kindle ebook reader in 2007 ebooks became more popular than ever. Since then a number of manufacturers have launched similar ebook reading devices including the Nook and the Kobo Reader. In 2011 sales of ebooks overtook sales of paperbacks for the first time. There are Some Some Very Very Successfu l Ebook Auth ors
If you would like to see some example of authors earning incredible revenues with ebooks, take a look at the authors in Amazon's Kindle Million Club.. They have each sold over a million ebooks in the Kindle Store. Club Also take a look at Clickbank’s marketplace. marketplace. There are over 10,000 products for sale in that marketplace, and many of them are ebooks priced between $20 and $50.
Gettin g Started
The process of writing an ebook is similar to writing any other book (see my earlier chapters). You must plan, structure, organize and write. The key difference is that the finished product will be an electronic file and as such it may contain additional elements such as graphics, hyperlinks and even security features. Ebook Formats
There are four principle formats for ebooks: PDF format, Kindle format, ePub format and Mobi format. Amazon's Kindle store is the biggest by turnover and sells ebooks in the Kindle format. The other major ebook stores including Barnes & Noble, Apple's iBookstore, Kobo, and Sony sell ebooks in the ePub format. For more on getting your ebooks into these formats see www.PublishYourOwnEbooks.com Ebooks Need Good Covers
As writers we would sometimes like to think that our words are enough to drive book sales, but the truth is that good covers directly influence ebook sales, just as they do for traditional books. Some ebook cover designers claim that you can increase sales of your ebook by 300% with a good cover. Although we call it a “cover” what we are really referring to is your ebook’s cover art. This is the graphic that appears on web sites and in advertisements for your ebook, and in fact it may appear as the first page of your ebook. There are two main ebook cover options available to you:
1. Pay a Designer to design a cover for you. This will typically cost anywhere from $30 to $100. 2. Design Your Own Cover. It is quite easy to design your own cover if you have some image editing software. You can use the free Gimp software, or create "3D" ebook covers with BoxShot3D or EcoverCreator3D. Go Above & Beyond
Don’t just turn a bunch of pages of text into an ebook. Go above and beyond by using the features of ebook technology to your advantage. Navigation: be sure to use bookmarks, a clickable table of contents, and links between pages of your ebook in order to make it easier for your readers to navigate. Graphics: you might insert backgrounds, charts, diagrams and pictures that are appropriate to your text. Web Links: include live hyperlinks to resources on the Internet, such as your author web site. Remember that many of your readers will be reading the ebook from a device with Internet access, so it will be convenient for them to be able to click through to a web site that you are recommending for additional, relevant information. Publishing Your Ebooks
While some authors still choose to publish their ebooks through traditional publishers it is becoming easier to publish your own ebooks. The two major
ebook stores, Amazon and Barnes and Noble make it very easy for independent authors to self-publish their ebooks. Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing kdp.amazon.com Barnes & Noble's PubIt! pubit.barnesandnoble.com Also ebook aggregators like Smashwords make it easy to publish your ebook into multiple ebook stores through one interface.
Additi onal Reso urces
Publish Your Own Ebooks www.publishyourownebooks.com Write and Publish Your Own Ebook in 7 Days by Jim Edwards & Joe Vitale
Write Articles for Magazines When many people think of freelance writing they automatically think of writing for magazines. That's not too surprising since writing for magazines is where many freelance writers get started with their writing business. What is a Magazine?
The term 'magazine' usually refers to a printed periodical of a general, nonspecialist nature. Magazines are published on almost every topic imaginable. We pick up magazines to read in the cafeteria or in the waiting room for the dentist. We take out subscriptions to our favorite magazines, from Better Homes & Gardens to PC Magazine and Women's Day. Many of us have a variety of magazines lying around our homes. During your next visit to your local bookstore take a careful look at all of the popular magazines. They represent a tremendous amount of work for freelance writers. How Much d o Writers Earn?
Many magazines in North America pay freelance writers in the range of $0.15 to $0.35 per word. There are plenty of magazines that pay less than that, and quite a few that pay more. At the upper end are magazines that pay around $1.00 per word. These tend to be the publications with very high circulation numbers, including magazines for women and travel.
Gettin g Started
It is quite common for magazines in North America to publish Writer's Guidelines which are available either on the magazine’s web site or by requesting a copy by email from the editor. Writer's Guidelines are a brief outline of what a particular magazine is looking for from freelance writers. The guidelines usually specify the magazine’s preferred topics, length and style. They also specify how you should approach the magazine and often provide the name of the appropriate contact person. Study a magazine’s writer’s guidelines carefully in order to determine: - what kind of writing to offer, - who is the correct person to contact, - whether to query first or submit a completed article 'on speculation', - whether to submit by mail or e-mail, and - what information to include with your submission, for example, published clips, a brief ‘bio’ or a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE). When starting out writing for magazines it is a good idea to specialize in one particular “niche” or topic area. This will help you to stay focused. Eventually you'll build up a few published clips in your niche area and that will lead to more assignments on that topic. It should become easier to win more assignments with every piece that is published. It is also quite likely that you will begin to be recognized as an authority of sorts. Before long editors may actually be approaching you to see ask whether you can accept another assignment.
Some common niches for writers to start working in are family, parenting, health, relationships, and travel. After you have established yourself in one niche, you will find it easier to go on to build up a new niche. Dealing with Editors
Editors are busy people… just like you and me. When dealing with editors, it is a good idea to keep in mind that sometimes they receive hundreds and even thousands of queries and submissions every week. Many submissions come from writers who have never taken the time to read the publication and their writer’s guidelines. You will give yourself a great ‘head start’ if you study the magazine first and follow the magazine’s guidelines for writers carefully. Finding Markets
There are some excellent freelance writing market databases available online. They list thousands of magazine markets. Here are a couple of my favorites: The Writer - has a Market Directory of 3000 markets. www.writermag.com Worldwide Freelance Writer www.worldwidefreelance.com
Additi onal Reso urces
For additional advice on writing for magazines I recommend the following web sites. Writing World www.writing-world.com Writers Weekly www.writersweekly.com Writing for Dollars www.writingfordollars.com
Write Fillers What is a Filler?
A filler is a short item used to fill a space in a publication and is usually non-fiction. Fillers include tips, hints, jokes, facts, light verse, recipes, puzzles, and anecdotes. Some slightly longer fillers include sidebars, columns, and short department pieces. Hope Clark is the author of Short & Sweet: Markets for Fillers . She says this about fillers: “A filler is a small piece of work that is normally published in a magazine, newspaper, or online ezine. It’s usually smaller than the standard columns, features and departments and does just what its name implies – it fills in space left void between sections and often accents a series or article with snippets of additional information. As you can see, a filler can be about anything and in any form. On rare occasions, poetry can be a filler.” Why Write Fillers?
Why are fillers a great opportunity for freelance writers? Here is why. 1. Fillers are often easier to sell because they are based on facts and information. As long as the information in the filler is good, you don't really need to sell yourself as a writer. Compare that to querying an editor on a yet-to-be-written feature article.
2. Good for new writers. If you are new to freelance writing and you don't yet have any published clips, then writing fillers is a great place to start. Why couldn’t you start with features? Well, you can, but remember, features are longer and therefore even harder to write well; they pay more but are more competitive; and editors often prefer to assign feature articles to writers who have already established a good working relationship. But fillers? Quicker to write. And less scrutiny of your writing experience. What more could a beginning writer ask for? It's a great way to break into a publication. 3. Less competition. Many publications publish more freelance fillers than freelance articles. Yet they receive many more articles and article queries than they receive fillers. What does that tell you? There is far less competition for filler writers! Start an Idea File
Start a special file with your ideas for fillers. Brainstorm all the possible fillers you could write. A good way is to think of lists, for example: - Ten Exotic Honeymoon Destinations - Six Ways to Stop Your Puppy Barking - New York’s Top Ten Restaurants Fillers are Submitt ed On Spec
Editors are more likely to want to receive manuscripts 'on spec' for fillers rather than to read a query. On spec or on speculation means that you
submit the entire piece for consideration, and not just a query. That's because fillers are so short, and it would take just as long for the editor to read a query as your finished filler. How Much do Fillers Pay?
The pay for fillers is less than for articles. Many filler markets pay $10 to $25. But that’s not surprising since they have fewer words. If you consider the pay ‘per word’, or calculate an equivalent hourly rate for the time it takes to write them, fillers can pay better rates some articles. Filler Markets
Here are a few examples of filler markets: Funny Times - pays $25 to $40 for cartoons and $60 for funny stories.
www.funnytimes.com/submissions.php I Love Cats - pays $25 for fillers.
www.iluvcats.com/writguidfori.html German Life - Pays up to $80 for fillers.
www.germanlife.com/submissions/ To find more, search at Google or your favourite search engine for 'freelance guidelines fillers we pay' - without the quotes.
Further Reading
Writing Fillers for the UK (and US) Markets www.writing-world.com/international/fillers.shtml
Freelance Writing for Newspapers Newspapers are another popular type of writing market for freelance writers. With deadline after deadline, newspapers need plenty of writers who can produce great copy on short notice. In 2000 according to Editor & Publisher , the trade journal of American newspapers, there were 1,480
daily newspapers in USA and according to Wikipedia there were around 6,580 newspapers worldwide as of 2007. How Much do Newspapers Pay?
Freelance rates for newspapers are comparable to magazines. Keep in mind though that the rate of pay will be affected by the circulation of the newspaper and whether it is local, regional, or national. Even if your regional newspaper pays less than a popular magazine, remember that newspaper clips are great for your writing resume. Gettin g Started
The process for approaching an editor and submitting your work is similar to that for magazines. With newspapers it is a good idea to work your way up. You should start with your local or regional newspapers before making a pitch to national newspapers. With local newspapers you should already have a head start due to your local knowledge. By working your way up, you will be able to gradually build a resume of published writing clips before approaching national daily newspapers.
Writer’s Guidelin es for Newspapers
Most newspapers do not post guidelines for writers on their web site, so in this respect they are different to magazines. It is a good idea to identify the newspapers that you would like to write for and then request freelance writer guidelines from the editor (or section/feature editors). If you plan to write for newspapers on a regular basis I advise you to get your hands on a copy of Writer's Market (North America) or Writers & Artists Yearbook (UK). For Australia and New Zealand should check The Australian Writer's Marketplace. If you cannot afford to buy your own copy of these books you may still be able to find them in your local library. Are Deadlines f or News papers A lways Tig ht?
Just because you are writing for a daily newspaper doesn't mean all your pieces must go out tomorrow. Sometimes there might be tight deadlines but that’s not always the case. Many feature articles for newspapers are actually written over several days or even weeks. Working with Newspaper Editors
Be Sensitive to the Editor’s Deadlines When contacting newspaper editors you should be particularly aware of their regular deadlines. Unlike magazine editors, newspapers editors have daily or weekly deadlines so you are much more likely to catch them at a bad time. Try to identify when your editor is busiest during their day or week, and be sure to avoid calling at those times.
Know Who's Who Newspapers employ many editorial staff so be sure to contact the right person. With tight schedules and short deadlines you don't want to slow things down by sending communication to the wrong person. If you need to check, you should contact the Section Editor or the Human Resources department to ensure that you have the appropriate contacts. Ideas for Newspaper Writi ng
Here are a few prompts to come up with story ideas for newspapers: - What events are coming up in your community? - Take a national story and localize it. - Take a national trend and localize it. - Follow up previous stories with updates: one year on etc. - Use a historical calendar to find upcoming anniversaries. Additi onal Reso urces
Freelancing for Newspapers: Writing for an Overlooked Market by Sue
Fagalde Lick
Write a Column If you enjoy freelance writing for periodical publications such as newspapers and magazines, you might like to write a column. What is a Column?
Columns tend to answer the why and how of a particular topic. They should be written in a strong distinctive voice. They are often personal, written in the first and second person, and unlike some other forms of journalism, in a column it is acceptable and normal to state an opinion. 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. Why Write a Column?
The immediate 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. As a column writer you know that you will have a regular income from the pieces you write for your column. With column writing you are able to grow your reputation as an expert in the topic of the column. This often leads to additional freelance assignments in the same subject area.
How Often do Column s Appear?
For magazines a column may appear in every issue. For newspapers a column might be daily, weekly, or even monthly. What Skill s do You Require?
For column writing you must: - have excellent writing skills and a solid understanding of the topic to be covered by the column. - be able to meet deadlines. - be able to make a long-term commitment. It’s not like writing an article where you simply write it then move on to the next assignment. You need dedication to stick with a column. Further Reading You Can Write a Column by Monica McCabe-Cardoza You Can Be a Columnist: Writing and Selling Your Way to Prestige by
Charlotte Digregorio
Freelance Writing for Web Sites In much the same way that you can write freelance articles for magazines and newspapers, you can also sell articles to web sites. I am referring to writing regular features and topical content in this chapter, not writing sales copy for web sites (see Copywriting chapter), or article marketing where you write articles without payment (see Article Marketing chapter). How Much do Web Sites Pay?
Web sites have different revenue models to magazines and newspapers and they tend to pay less for articles. Also they receive money from online advertising their revenue is often less than newspapers and magazines that charge subscription fees. Many online-only publications pay $10 to $25 for articles. There are however some online publications that are high-paying markets. Gettin g Started
To find and win freelance writing assignments for web sites you can follow many of the same procedures I outlined in the chapter on Writing Articles for Magazines. Study the publication, study the writer’s guidelines and contact the editor accordingly. One advantage with online markets is that communication tends to be through email, so it is usually faster to receive a response. As with magazines, when starting out it is a good idea to specialize in a particular niche. This will help you to stay focused and also enable you to build up some credits in that niche.
How is Writin g for Web Sites Different?
Studies show that people read differently online than on paper and articles on the web are usually displayed a little differently. When writing for the web you should: - be succinct. Generally, articles for the web should be more concise. Articles written for the web are usually shorter than articles for regular magazines, with many articles in the range of 400 to 700 words. Longer articles of 700 to 1,000 words are typically split over several pages to improve visibility. - write for scan-ability. Include paragraph breaks for "white space". Don't make your readers work through long continuous blocks of text. Where to Find Web Markets?
Do a search at the major freelance writing market databases for your preferred niche and you will discover a bunch of related web sites that pay freelance writers for their content. Worldwide Freelance Writer www.worldwidefreelance.com Writers Weekly www.writersweekly.com Writing for Dollars www.writingfordollars.com
Start Your Own Online Publication If you enjoy writing for the web you might like to start your own publication online? A web site combined with a newsletter (see separate chapter) is a powerful combination. How Much Will i t Cost?
It costs very little to start up your own web site. All you really need is a domain name and a web host. A good web hosting package including the registration of a domain name can be purchased for as low as $5 per month. You should also start a mailing list for a newsletter (see Newsletter chapter) to complement your web site. The good thing about a regular newsletter is that it keeps your name in front of your readers and keeps them coming back to your web site. A good list management service such as that offered by Aweber will cost around $10 per month. So for $15 to $20 a month you can be up and running with your own online publication and a regular newsletter. Where does Revenue co me from ?
There are several ways that you can earn revenue from an online publication: 1. Selling advertising spots on the site. 2. Contextual Advertising, e.g. Google AdSense. With Google AdSense , you include a small piece of code provided by Google on each page. Your
web page is then automatically populated with small ads that relate closely to your content. Whenever a visitor clicks on one the ads, you earn a few cents. As your traffic builds, this can really add up. 3. Promoting 3rd-party products for a commission (see Affiliate chapters for a detailed definition of affiliate products). You can include the links within the content of your site, write product reviews, or write your own small ads to promote the affiliate product. 4. Selling your own information products or subscriptions. If your site is on herbs, write an ebook on growing herbs and sell it directly from your web site. 5. Selling other author’s ebooks. When I identify ebooks I want to sell, I contact the author with my offer to sell the ebook directly and send a percentage of all sales revenue to the author. Writing f or th e Web
When publishing online remember that information should be presented differently for the screen than for paper. That’s because people read differently from a computer screen. I wrote more on this in my chapter on Writing for Web Sites. Additi onal Reso urces
Web Hosting and Domain Name Packages BlueHost www.bluehost.com
Hostgator www.hostgator.com Mailing List and Newsletter Management Aweber www.aweber.com ConstantContact www.constantcontact.com
Publish a Newsletter Have you ever thought of publishing your own publication in the form of an email newsletter? This involves writing and editing a newsletter that provides useful information to subscribers on a particular topic. Gettin g Started
The main thing you will need is a mailing list and newsletter management solution. This will allow you to: - Receive new opt-in subscriptions - Verify subscriptions with a confirmation process - Allow customers to update their own records - Handle unsubscribe requests - Set up any auto-responders - Broadcast mailings to all your subscribers It is simply not practical to try and do all the above manually. As soon as your list reaches hundreds of subscribers, it will be too time consuming. I recommend Aweber and ConstantContact. The fee to get started with Aweber is around $10 per month. Also, if you have North American subscribers you will need to ensure that you comply at all times with CANSPAM legislation. A professional list management solution makes it easier to ‘stay legal’.
A Web Sit e Com plements Your News letter
You should also have a web site (see earlier chapter). While it is possible to publish an email newsletter without a web site, I’m not sure why you would want to! A web site and a newsletter work very well together. And with a web site it is very easy to set up a page promoting your newsletter and containing a form for readers to subscribe. How to Make Money with a Newsletter
You can earn revenue with a newsletter by: - selling paid advertising spots. - selling your own information products (e.g. ebooks). - promoting affiliate products (e.g. from Clickbank or Commission Junction). - charging a subscription fee (although most email newsletters are free). Where to Obtain Newsletter Content
You have several options for sourcing your newsletter’s content: 1. As a writer you can write your own content. 2. You can outsource it to other freelance writers. 3. You can source free content from free article directories such as IdeaMarketers.com and EzineArticles.com
How to Increase Subscri bers
Some of the best ways to get new subscribers to sign up for your newsletter include: - building a web site to go with your newsletter, with an invitation on every page to subscribe. - writing articles for article directories with bylines that include instructions to subscribe, or a link to your site. - advertising swaps with newsletters on similar or related topics. - purchase advertising in similar or related publications. - purchase Pay-Per-Click advertising with search engines such as Google's Adwords. Additi onal Reso urces
CANSPAM Legislation www.worldlawdirect.com/article/1557/The_CANSPAM_Act.html
Write for Anthologies An anthology is a collection of short stories, poems, or essays gathered together with a particular theme. Usually when writing for anthologies you do not need to query first. The publisher will announce the theme and deadline for an upcoming anthology, and writers can then submit relevant, completed manuscripts. The editor then selects the best of the submissions for publication. Sometimes an anthology will be a one-off book. Other times it will be a part of a series such as Chicken Soup for the Soul or Cup of Comfort. Writin g for An tho logi es Takes Patience
You need to be patient when writing for anthologies as there is often a long wait from the submission deadline until you the anthology is published. Also if your submission is accepted for the anthology you may not be permitted to sell the same piece elsewhere until after the anthology is published. Check the submission guidelines carefully. How Much Will You B e Paid?
The pay for writing for anthologies varies widely. Although a few anthologies pay very little or even nothing, there are plenty of reasonable paying opportunities too. For example, Chicken Soup for the Soul pays $200 for stories of 300 to 1,200 words plus ten copies of the book. Cup of Comfort which is now being retired paid $100 for stories of 1,000 to 2,000
words and a Grand Prize of $500 to one story per volume. God Allows UTurns was paying $30 honorarium per story.
When your work is published in an anthology you will usually receive at least one copy of the anthology in addition to payment. Beware of Anthology Scams
Watch out because there are some publishing scams related to anthologies. Some so-called publishing companies will ask you to pay for the privilege of being published in their anthology. You pay fees, and then customers pay for the books. So they get paid twice and you’re out of pocket. Don't fall for it. Check out some publishing warnings at: Writers Weekly Warnings www.writersweekly.com/warnings/warnings.html Anthology Bewares at SFWA www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/ Anth olo gy Mar ket s
For many anthology markets check out Anthologies Online: www.anthologiesonline.com
Write Short Stories What is a short story? A short story is a story that is short enough to be read in one sitting. Short stories are usually fictional. Usually, the beginning introduces the characters, establishes the setting and introduces a problem or conflict. The middle builds on the story with increasing tension. The end is the resolution where the problem is resolved, for better or for worse! Short stories can be anywhere from 500 to 2,500 words. Some writing contests allow a length of up to 5,000 words. 850 to 1,000 words is an ideal length when writing short stories for popular magazines. For a good short story you must make sure that every word counts. Key Comp onents of a Shor t Story
The goal of this book is not to teach you how to write so I do not intend to teach short story writing here. However there will be many writers reading this who are more familiar with non-fiction so I think it will be worthwhile to summarize the key components of a short story. The Idea or Theme: You need to get an idea for your story. Whatever your idea, it should excite you to write it and it should keep your reader captivated. Consider what you are trying to say in your story. Many short stories reveal something about human relationships. Narrative Point of View: A short story can be written in First Person (written as if you were one of the characters), Third Person Limited (written as a
narrator who presents one character's thoughts and observations) or ThirdPerson Omniscient (written as a narrator who presents the thoughts and observations of multiple characters). The Tense: Short stories are usually written in past tense (written as if it has already happened) or present tense (written as if it is happening now). The Time Span: a short story usually takes place over a very short period of time. The Characters: your story needs a protagonist. A short story revolves around this central character. Keep the number of other characters to a minimum, because you have very little space to introduce them. It is normal to have just 1 to 3 characters in a short story. The Background: You need to create a realistic setting for your story and create it in as few words as possible. You can use lighting, sound and movement to bring the story’s setting to life: the shadow of the old clock tower; the distant ringing of a church bell; the branches swaying gently in the breeze. The Beginning: Your introduction needs to set the scene, introduce your characters, and hook the reader so they will keep reading. Here are a couple of famous short story beginnings. "It began with the voices, the sound of muttering that pressed up against the back of her neck, as though the voices were hands that grasped and stroked her, raising gooseflesh. After a little, the voices ceased quarrelling and sank away to a whisper, to be replaced by an unnerving solo, a thin,
high, wavering humming that went on and on, until Clothilde sat up in the darkness and cried out and the unearthly humming stopped."
A Story for Hallowe'en by Michèle Roberts "It was late and every one had left the café except an old man who sat in the shadow the leaves of the tree made against the electric light. In the day time the street was dusty, but at night the dew settled the dust and the old man liked to sit late because he was deaf and now at night it was quiet and he felt the difference. The two waiters inside the café knew that the old man was a little drunk, and while he was a good client they knew that if he became too drunk he would leave without paying, so they kept watch on him."
A Clean, Well-Lighted Place by Ernest Hemingway Be sure to give your protagonist a problem or source of conflict. This conflict should intensify as the story progresses and should reach a climax towards the end of the story. The Ending: Wrap up your story in the final paragraphs. It might wrap up with an unexpected turn or twist. The conflict may be resolved for better or for worse. However you wrap it up, your reader must know that the story has concluded. Where to be Publis hed?
There are many markets for short stories. Here are some examples:
The Georgia Review, USA. A quarterly literary journal. Pays $50 per
printed page. www.uga.edu/garev/guidelines.html Tin House, USA. A quarterly literary magazine.
www.tinhouse.com/about-us/faqs.html The Stinging Fly, Ireland Dublin's literary magazine. stingingfly.org/about-us/submission-guidelines Downstate Story, USA. Published every fall. Pays $50.
www.wiu.edu/users/mfgeh/dss/guidelines.html For more markets see: Worldwide Freelance Literary Publications Category at http://www.worldwidefreelance.com/freedb-52?catid=52 Jacqui Bennett Writers Bureau Short Story Markets www.jbwb.co.uk/markets.html Don't forget you can submit short stories to writing competitions (see Contests chapter). Additi onal Reso urces Creating Short Fiction: The Classic Guide to Writing Short Fiction by
Damon Knight Shaping the Story: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Short Fiction by Mark
Baechtel
Write Poetry The marketplace for poetry is not as lucrative as for other types of writing. In fact, many publications pay only in copies of the publication, and not with money. Fortunately there are a number of magazines and literary journals that do pay - you just need to know how to locate them, and I have included some resources later in this chapter so you can find good poetry markets that pay. What is Poetry? “Traditional poetry is language arranged in lines, with a regular rhythm and often a definite rhyme scheme. Non-traditional poetry does away with regular rhythm and rhyme, although is usually is set up in lines. The richness of its suggestions, the sounds of its words, and the strong feelings evoked by its line are often said to be what distinguish poetry from other forms of literature. Poetry is difficult to define, but most people know when they read it.”
~ Everything English Learning to Write Poetry
If you need help learning to write poetry, check out Poetry Magic – it’s a great resource for the theory and craft of writing poetry. They examine what is poetry and how does it differ from prose? Why is it sometimes so difficult
to write? They offer a vast array of material to make your own poetry writing more compelling, authentic and relevant. See www.poetrymagic.co.uk Learn From t he Masters
One way to improve your own poem writing is to read a lot of good poetry. If you would like to read the poetry of famous poets such as Chaucer, Waldo, Frost, Poe, Butler, and many more, check out: www.poetry-online.org Where to Sell Your Poetry
You can earn sell poetry to: - Magazines - Literary Journals - Poetry Publishing Companies - Poetry Anthologies - Web sites (online only publications) - Greeting Card Companies – sometimes the best ‘per word’ pay rates for poetry You can also: - Win Cash by entering Poetry Contests - Self-publish your book of poetry or sell it as an ebook
Poetry Markets
Worldwide Freelance Writer's Free Markets Database, Poetry Category www.worldwidefreelance.com/freedb-56?catid=56 Addit io nal Res ources Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Poetry by Nikki Moustaki Poetry For Dummies by The Poetry Center and John Timpane
Write for Children Many people immediately associate children's writing with fictional 'fairy tales' but children also love to read non-fiction and poetry. To be a good children's writer you need to be able to see the world through a child’s eyes... a world of fun, of opportunity, of innocence, of mystery, of magic. Sound easy? Maybe not. Many children's authors argue that writing for children is harder than writing for adults. And I think they are probably right. There is tough competition. Shorter manuscript lengths. And you need to capture and keep a child's attention. One good way to get started is to try writing a short story for children. Another worthwhile exercise is to read books aloud to children to learn how they react. You could do this with your own kids and even at your local school or library. Who is Your Au dience?
Your audience could include any of the following: - Pre-readers: Publications that target preschoolers are designed to be read aloud to a child, e.g. by a parent. - Emergent readers: Publications for children aged around 5-6 are also designed to be read aloud, but the child is now starting to recognize words and to be more involved.
- Fluent readers: From around age 7-8, children begin to read on their own. Consequently you will find many publications targeting a range of children from 7-12. Writing Fiction for Children
- As with adult fiction your children's story needs to have a Theme, Setting, Plot, Characters, Conflict, etc. - Write simply and directly: short words, short sentences, short paragraphs. - Use a good percentage of dialogue. - For young children use poetic devices: rhythm, repetition, alliteration. Writing Non-fiction for Children
There is a growing market for nonfiction writing for children. Besides traditional magazine and book publishers, there are many now many educational web sites for children. Writing nonfiction for children can be a lot of fun. You get to write about lots of interesting things, such as how plants grow, where rain comes from, and even how our bodies function. Children love learning, and as you write nonfiction for children you will probably find yourself learning some exciting facts along the way. Markets for Child ren's Writers
Here are some examples of markets for children:
Boys Quest
funforkidzmagazines.com Connect For Kids
www.connectforkids.org Cricket
www.cricketmag.com Highlights for Children
www.highlights.com LadyBug
www.cobblestonepub.com/magazine/LYB/ Pockets
www.upperroom.org/pockets/ You can find more markets for your writing for children at: Worldwide Freelance Markets – Children Category " www.worldwidefreelance.com/freedb-26?catid=26 Additi onal Reso urces
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators www.scbwi.org Write4kids.com www.write4kids.com
FAQ on writing for children at The Word Pool www.wordpool.co.uk/wfc/art/beginnersFAQ.htm Articles at Writing World www.writing-world.com/children/
Writing Contests Writers enter competitions for many reasons. Some do it for the prize money, some for the honor of winning. And many do it because it gives them a reason to continually improve their writing in order to be the best. "So many writers ignore contests. Winning such honors equate to writing clips and help support a portfolio. Some contests represent quite the honor and equal several magazine clips in merit and credibility." ~ C. Hope Clark,
Funds For Writers There are contests for fiction and nonfiction, for poetry and essays. Some contests are for certain groups of writers such as young writers or women or writers from certain backgrounds. What are the Prizes?
Writing contests and awards can vary from competitions that pay a few dollars to major writing awards like the Nobel Prize for Literature that could be worth $1 million or more. What about Cont est Fees?
Many writing contests and competitions are free to enter. Others charge entry fees. There is nothing unusual or wrong with a contest charging a fee, because the fees usually provide the pool of funds for the prize money.
Watch Out for Scams
How can you know whether or not a writing contest is legitimate? SWFA provides some excellent advice on how to evaluate a writing contest. Their advice includes asking the following questions: - Who's conducting the contest? - Is there an entry fee? $5 to $15 is regular and anything over $25 should be ringing warning bells. - How frequent are their contests? Every month and the warning bells should be ringing again. - Who are the judges? Are they credible? - What's the prize? - What rights are you giving up? Read the fine print - are you giving up your rights to the piece, even if you don't win? Further Reading
Writer Beware at Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America www.sfwa.org/beware/contests.html 10 Tips for Winning Writing Contests writers-editors.com/Writers/Contests/Contest_Tip_Sheet/contest_tip_sheet.htm
Additi onal Reso urces
Author Network (mainly UK competitions) www.author-network.com/competition.html Filmmakers Screenwriting Contests Database www.filmmakers.com/contests/directory.htm Manuscript Editing Creative Writing Contests www.manuscriptediting.com/contests.htm Proof Positive Database of Writing Contests www.proofpositive.com/contests/writecontests.php Writer's Digest Contests www.writersdigest.com/contests/
Write Greeting Cards According to The Greeting Card Association U.S. consumers purchase approximately 7 billion greeting cards each year. More than 90 percent of all U.S. households buy greeting cards with the average household purchasing 30 individual cards in a year. The average person receives more than 20 greeting cards per year, about one-third of which are birthday cards. It is estimated that there are 3,000 greeting card publishers in the United States. These range from smaller family businesses through to major corporations. What Income Can You Expect?
If you write a greeting card you can expect to be paid in the range of $35 to $200. According to The Greeting Card Association payment typically falls into one of two tiers, either $35 to $50 or $75 to $125. Humor tends to pay more than contemporary prose and traditional poetry. If you are also an artist you may be interested to know that Greeting Card publishers usually pay their artists more than their writers. Types of Greeting Cards
There are two main categories of greeting card - Seasonal cards and Everyday cards. Card sales are split approximately 50/50 between these two categories.
“The most popular Everyday cards are Birthday (60%), Anniversary (8%), Get Well (7%), Friendship (6%), and Sympathy cards (6%). The most popular Seasonal cards are Christmas (60%), Valentine's Day (25%), Mother's Day (4%), Easter (3%), and Father's Day (3%) cards.” (TGCA) Greeting cards can be further categorized according to whether they are: Traditional: this verse is usually rhymed. Contemporary Prose: incorporates soft, realistic writing that is conversational in tone. Studio or Humorous: joke and gag cards. Alternate: those carrying alternate themes. Alternative cards use both contemporary prose and humor to get their message across. Notes for Greeting Card Writers
- Greeting Card Publishers love to receive humorous material, in both prose and verse. - You don’t need to be an artist as well. If you are an artist that's but you don't need to be one since many publishers purchase the artwork for the cards separately. - Submissions from new writers are usually welcome.
Where to Get Published?
The Greeting Card Association’s members can be found at goo.gl/Da9YX
Ralan's Webstravaganza lists some greeting card markets at www.ralan.com Greeting Card Markets www.greetingcardmarkets.com Additi onal Reso urces
www.greetingcardassociation.org.uk www.greetingcard.org www.greetingcardwriting.com www.howtoadvice.com/GreetingCards Magazines
Greetings etc. is the trade magazine covering the greeting card market in North America. www.greetingsmagazine.com Progressive Greetings Worldwide is the magazine for the greeting card industry in the UK. www.greetingcardassociation.org.uk/prog-greetings/themagazine
Grants for Writers Have you considered applying for a writing grant? Grant money comes from many sources: taxes, government agencies, foundations and private donations. It is granted to use for research, writing books, residencies, and even writer's conferences. Sometimes a writer wants to work on a major writing project. The project might take months or even a year to complete, and during that time the writer might not have any incoming revenue. This would be an ideal situation to apply for assistance in the form of a writing grant. It is important to realize that grants are not for the purpose of helping a person quit their job and start out as a writer. You will need to be an established writer before you can successfully apply for a writing grant. Applyi ng for a Grant
Applications are sometimes made in the form of a letter, and other times with an application form. Be sure to get to know the organization offering the grant before applying. What is their mission and what are their values? Your understanding of the organization will help you to submit a suitable application. You may find the article at the following link helpful. It will take you to a page at Worldwide Freelance which lists multiple resources: http://goo.gl/J3n8s
Finding Grants USA
www.nea.gov/partner/state/SAA_RAO_list.html www.grants.gov/ Canada
www.canadacouncil.ca/writing/ UK
www.artscouncil.org.uk/artforms/literature/
Work as a Grant Application Writer In the previous chapter I discussed applying for a writing grant for your own needs. However you can also consider working as a grant application writer. There are many grants available outside the writing field and many of the individuals and organizations applying for those grants need assistance preparing their grant applications. Grant writers serve as an important link between those who provide grants and those who need them. Finding Clients
To identify potential clients, start by looking at the various grants available in your region. For USA check out Grants Gov (www.grants.gov) or an equivalent site if you are in another country. Next, consider who would benefit from receiving those grants. Remember that the organizations or individuals who might benefit most might not even know that the grants are available or that they are eligible to apply. Additi onal Reso urces The Only Grant-Writing Book You'll Ever Need: Top Grant Writers and Grant Givers Share Their Secrets, by Ellen Karsh and Arlen Sue Fox Start Your Own Grant Writing Business Grant Writing for Dummies by Beverly A. Browning
