Weekly Roundup of Great Articles

I know that I have been slacking  (A LOT) lately on this blog and I am determined to change that— starting right now! My goal is to post at least three times a week, even if some of the posts are simply short blurbs about something interesting I have found that I think would be helpful for some of you.

Have had a crazy few months, but it is time to kick all that craziness to the curb and get back to business. So, here is a roundup of some good articles I have found this week that are helpful for writers.  Let me know what you think about them….what would you like to know more about? That will help guide me in the information I bring you.

4 Things That Could Guarantee Your Failure In Blogging

This post talks about what NOT to do if you want to make money with your blog….and consequently points out what you should be doing instead.

Tools for Freelance Writers

This article will introduce you to some writer’s tools that you might not know about.  In fact, even though I spend a lot of time every week writing, there are several in this article I was not aware of, and will be trying myself.

5 Lessons from a Failed Business 

Yes, you can learn something from a business that does not make it, and you must remember that failure is not permanent. It teaches you what does not work and guides you toward what will.

“Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”
― Winston Churchill

Kickstarting Your Self-Publishing Efforts: Setting Reward Tiers that Work

This Style Matters article delves into using the crowdfunding platform called Kickstarter to raise the funds for your self-publishing efforts. People pledge money for your project because they want to see it completed, and often the rewards that you set up for donors make the difference between success and failure of funding your project.

Tips for Success on Freelance Websites 

This is an article with some common sense tips about working on Freelance Websites like Freelancer and ODesk. They can be frustrating for beginning writers, but there are so many projects there– and you will meet some great people on these sites as well.

7 Secrets for Creating Content that Sells 

This is a good article about creating content that for affiliate marketing purposes. Affiliate marketing is writing a post to help a third party sell that product or service; in return they pay you when they make a sale due to your help. This is something that I really have not done to this point; it is on my “To Do” list for the rest of the year– I just need to find some services/products that I believe in so that I can sell them!  (Wonder if New Balance needs help selling their athletic shoes??!!)

Well, those are some of the interesting articles I have read this week about writing and making money. How about you? Have you seen an amazing article that I may have missed? If so, please do share so that we can all be more successful!

 

Getting Started as a Paid Writer: Step One

Write Now!

It is time for another article for beginners. If there is one question I get asked more than any other, it is “How do I get started as a writer?” The good news is that there is so much work out there it is often overwhelming, and that there does not seem to be any slowing in this area…you just need to be prepared, know where to look and how to approach people. Today I am going to talk about preparing to write professionally.

Step One: Preparation 

Almost every business manager or owner that you might talk to, whether in person, on the phone, or over the Internet– will want to see some samples of your writing work. Your number one priority if you want to “write and get paid” is to put together at least five writing pieces that you can use for marketing. Make them about different topics to appeal to a wider audience and show your versatility.

What to write about?

Business issues, marketing, social media, travel, autos, home, design, making money, starting a business are always popular topics. Look around a little bit on the Internet, do a few searches and see what people are interested in that you know a lot about— and write about it. If you have a blog, you already have lots of articles written; look it over and pull out your best pieces, polishing them up if needed.

Everyone has something to tell others— maybe you can teach somebody how to make graphic design logos, bake a cheesecake, make a bedroom look fabulous  or give them something interesting to think about. Whatever it is, make it interesting and something people want to read; we know from studies that readers decide in about a minute whether or not to finish reading something they started… so give them good reasons to do that!

Is your righting gud?

Make sure your writing is good, and error-free. It should flow from beginning to end, and have a purpose in mind from the outset.  I still remember our basic English classes from middle school– your articles should follow an easy pattern.  Introduction– tell your readers what you are going to tell them.  Body– tell them! Give them the information. Conclusion–Tell them what you told them, reinforce the important points.

Check your Work

Edited Page

Have someone with good spelling and grammar knowledge that you trust look it over and suggest improvements if you are not sure of yourself.  Use your software’s spell check tool and take note of any issues that it points out.   You could also check it with a  tool like  Grammarly  that will point out grammar or spelling issues you and the processor  may have missed. Of course, nothing beats having someone read over your work. Have your work proofread by another writer; I do a lot of proofreading and editing and charge a nominal fee per page. ($5 per page, or each 500 words.) If you want my help and more personal feedback, you can email me at denise.gabbard@gmail.com.

Improve your Skills

There are lots of great websites on the Internet that can help with your writing. Grammar Girl  is one of my favorites as they go over a lot of the common problems that we all have.  If you have issues with spelling, try this quick quiz: Spelling Quiz . To enhance your vocabulary, check out a great site called Free Rice. The site tests your vocabulary in a fun way, while also contributing to world hunger the more you use it. Win-win!

If English is not your native language, you might have some additional challenges with your grammar. See this post I wrote for help:  15 Tips for Improvement for ESL Writers.

You can also review some of the articles here on the blog about improving your writing skills and getting started writing.  Try to put together at least one or two full-page articles in the next day or so. Do not agonize over what to write about at this point— just find something interesting and get it down on paper.

Writer resources

There you have it– the first step to beginning to make money as a writer is to write! Put together some articles, check with software, have someone read them over and critique them, and polish them up. Improve your skills, and polish them some more till they are perfect. This might seem pretty simplistic, but the writing I am discussing here and that you will find most abundant is informational writing for businesses. This type of writing doesn’t need a plot, or character development…just the facts, Ma’am!

Tomorrow, I will post the next step– Marketing, or finding outlets for your writing skills that will pay you:)  We will be using those polished gems that you put together to show people just what you can do!

http://writeandgetpaid.wordpress.com/2012/11/26/guest-post-4-time-tested-ways-to-improve-your-writing

15 Grammar Goofs that make you look silly

http://www.blogdash.com/full_profile/?claim_code=7ec9aae1fe0c3f30c5b69b8293046cb1

 

Guest Post: 4 Time Tested Ways to Improve Your Writing

I recently opened up my email to find this message: “Can I get published as a children’s book author if I’m not a good writer?” I was taken aback at first, but the more I thought about it, the more I appreciated the question. The sender is aware of her limitations, but dreams of getting published anyway. She’s not suffering under the delusion that she’s the next J.K. Rowling, and I admire that. She’s going to look at her work with a critical eye, and search for ways to make it better. This is assuming that it’s possible to learn to write well. I believe that it is.

Very few writers have the natural ability to create vibrant, relevant, compelling stories right out of the gate. Most have to work at it. And those who see writing as a skill that is never quite mastered, requiring a lifelong devotion to the learning process, will be most successful. Where this gets tricky is that unlike other skills – such as making a pie – there is no foolproof way to learn how to write. So while I can’t give you a one-size-fits-all method, I can offer up some ideas on how you can find the path that works best for you.

Read, read, read. Why are editors always telling aspiring authors to read piles of children’s books? Because they give you a concrete representation of what works. Be sure you read good books (check reviews or ask a librarian or teacher for recommendations). By simply reading, you’ll grasp the ebb and flow of a story, how a character is introduced and developed, the types of conflicts appropriate for each age group, how to build tension in scenes and chapters, the relation of sub-plots to the main storyline, how dialogue moves the plot along, and much more. You’ll experience firsthand how a skilled author uses sensory images to immerse the reader completely in the story. By comparing several authors writing for the same age group, you’ll discover different literary voices.

I suggest reading books similar to those you wish to write, as well as books one level younger and one level older. So, if your plan is to write a middle grade mystery for ages 8-12, also read mysteries for ages 7-10 and 10-14. In this way, you’ll become educated about exactly what makes up a middle grade novel and how it’s different from fiction for older and younger readers. You might even learn that your story isn’t really for middle grades after all.

Another reason for reading a lot of quality books is that you need a yardstick against which to judge your own work. You’ll learn which “rules” can’t be broken and those that have more wiggle room. For example, you’ll be hard pressed to find a 60-page picture book in the stores, even by a well known author. If your picture book’s that long, you’ll have no choice but to rework the story and fit it into 32 pages. However, you can experiment with unconventional characters and unexpected viewpoints. And the older the reader, the fewer rules apply. But no matter what you do with your plot, characters or writing style, make sure you know why you’re doing it. Don’t write the story in present tense unless it needs to unfold in real time for the reader. Don’t incorporate flashbacks unless they’re vital for understanding what’s going on in the story now.

Find a system that works for you. The first step toward learning to write is figuring out the best way for you to learn. Some authors I know are very left-brained; they enjoy charts and graphs and lists. They thrive on tracking their scenes and plotting out their book on every level before they start to write. Those left-brainers will study published books and count the words per page, note which scene contains the plot’s catalyst, graph out where the tension rises and falls in each chapter. Others prefer to learn more intuitively. They read books, absorb the different writing styles, and maybe jot down a few notes with overall impressions or key points they want to remember. They have a general idea of where their own story is going, and aren’t afraid to experiment and take detours along the way.

If you don’t know where you fall on the spectrum, try different approaches and see what feels right. Remember that there is no one way of doing this, and each method has its pros and cons. Plotting out your story beforehand can prevent you from wandering off track, but the lists can become an evasive technique to keep you from actually writing the book. Letting the words spill onto the page with no grand plan feels very creative, but usually results in huge first drafts that have to be significantly trimmed and shaped. If you write long enough you’ll discover your weaknesses and devise ways to work around them. Maybe you outline first, then put it away while you write your first draft. Maybe you lay out your scenes on a plotline after each chapter, then revise as needed before moving on to the next chapter. If your dialogue tends to wander in circles before coming to the point, you’ll learn to get it on paper and then tighten it in the second draft.

Know your strengths. Some authors are brilliant nonfiction writers but can’t sell a fiction story. Others write wonderful picture books but can’t deal with the layers to a novel. Instead of trying to force a style that isn’t you, start with what you’re naturally good at. You don’t have to publish fiction to be a successful author. You may dream of writing picture books, but if you have a knack for relating to teenagers, maybe young adult novels are your future.

Discovering your strengths involves experimenting with several writing styles and age groups. If you’re not certain where to start, think about the kinds of children’s books you most like to read. Then fiddle around with writing dialogue or scenes for the same age group. If you’re naturally drawn to nonfiction, make a list of topics that excite you. Begin by writing about one of the subjects in the style of some of your favorite children’s magazines.

Practive, Practice, Practice. Over the years I’ve worked with writers who have gotten published through sheer force of will. They’ve gone over manuscripts again and again, taking them from mediocre to polished. They’ve set aside ideas that simply didn’t work and turned to something new. And they never submitted the first or second draft to an editor, because those manuscripts could always be improved. They weren’t very good writers when they began, but they learned. And you can too.

About the author:About the author:Laura Backes publishes Children’s Book Insider, the Newsletter for Children’s Writers. For info about writing children’s books, free articles, market tips, insider secrets & more, visit http://Write4kids.com.  

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Make Money with Writing Contests

This is a guest post about Writing Contests. Though this is something that I have not addressed here on the blog before, and actually something I have not done much of myself, there are literally thousands of writing contests going on all the time. The prizes are often pretty good, so I need to stop ignoring them… for the same amount of effort, I could walk away with a much bigger reward than writing a blog post or online articles. I guess I have to this point taken the “for sure” money, and not attempted to grasp the bigger bucks….Time to change all that! A great source of income if you are a good writer and follow all the rules; this is actually now on my goal list for the remainder of this year (this last three months) I am going to enter two contests a month….who wants to join me and see what we can do? I will post about my contest entries and my progress here, and I will try to keep adding new contests that I find here and on Facebook. 

We all have something to tell the world. We are all unique and each of us has their own purpose. Yet, the purpose many consider theirs is not a true one. In most cases, it is a template of a purpose that gets adopted from the masses. Consider a template that’s very popular today – to become rich and buy everything. It is the virtue of time we live in that restricts many of us from understanding the multidimensionality and the endless capabilities of each and everyone.

Same as we are highly original individuals, we all have our own means of expressing ourselves. Some do it through making music, some – through drawing, some – through philosophy, and some – through writing. In fact, every person’s take on a certain mean is unique, as there is no limit to the number of ways each mean of expression can be approached from. What’s common in all the forms of self-expression? They are all a form of art, which is something that speaks. It is something which message goes far beyond its material texture. This far-reaching essence is what transcends the endlessness of the material world we are so used to living in. It is through art, in whatever form it may be, that one achieves immortality.

Regardless of whether you are finding expression of your creativity in something fundamentally vague like day-to-day behavior (which is also possible) or in some defined form of art, we would like to present you with some of the best writing opportunities there are. These opportunities will hopefully help you earn recognition and further your art of self-expression in a new way, if you are not a professional writer already.

Writers of The Future Competition (quarterly)

ENTRY FEE: Free of charge

DEADLINE: N/A
PRIZES: $1,000.00 for the first, $750.00 for the second, and $500.00 for the third places; publication in one of the Writers of The Future publications

COMMENT: This is a perfect opportunity for writers with no experience who feel that they are good at writing short fiction stories. Only prose is accepted. The style of the submission should be horror, science-fiction, fantasy or dark fantasy. The submission should not exceed 17,000 words. If you are lucky (or skillful) enough to get published in one of the issues of the Writers of The Future, you can be sure that your piece is going to become no less than 5,000 copies. If you do get published in one of the issues, you will maintain all the rights for the work. The prizes are awarded every three months. There is also an annual prize of $5,000.00.

Open City Magazine Short Story Contest (annual)

ENTRY FEE: Free of charge

DEADLINE: 12-31-2012
PRIZES: $500.00 cash prize and publication on anderbo.com
COMMENT: There is a limit of one submission per author. There are also strict guidelines on the format of the text body and the submission method. If you have been previously published by the Open City Magazine or on Anderbo, you can’t join the competition, as it was designed to find new talents.

http://contest.writerbay.com/

ENTRY FEE: Free of charge

DEADLINE: 11-01-2012
PRIZES: $1 000.00 cash prize
COMMENT: We are happy to announce the first writing competition organized by Writerbay.com. We are looking for experienced writers, as well as people who are looking to get started as a writer. If you want to show your talent to the world and start making money with your writing skills, our contest is the one you have been waiting for.

The Consequence Magazine Prize in Poetry (annual)

ENTRY FEE: Free of charge

DEADLINE: 10-01-2012
PRIZES: $200.00 cash prize and publication
COMMENT: The submission must address or in some way touch on the consequences of war. No more than three pieces of work can be submitted at the same time. Any length is acceptable. A cover letter should be included.The winner and the three to make it to the final will have their works published in the Spring issue of the Magazine.

Web of Life Essay Competition (annual)

ENTRY FEE: Free of charge

DEADLINE: 09-30-2012
PRIZES: $1,500.00 for the first and $500.00 for the second places
COMMENT: The Web of Life Foundation is now taking essays for its annual competition. The prize money amounts $2,000.00. The winner receives a cash-prize of $1,500.00. The person to take the second place will receive $500.00, also cash. If you can’t make it this year, make sure you put this opportunity on your list.

Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute Fellowship Program (annual)  

ENTRY FEE: Free of charge

DEADLINE: 12-31-2012
PRIZES: $500.00 cash prize and publication on anderbo.com
COMMENT: If you are an established writer, this is for you. The fellowship is given on an annual basis to creative nonfiction writers, poets and fiction writers. If you receive the fellowship, you get a personal office space at Radcliffe Institute, access to Harvard University libraries and, of course, the $70,000.00 fellowship itself. There are strict entry requirements for those applying.

Written by an author from <a href=”http://www.buyanessay.com/ ”>Buy essay</a> Co

Here are some others I like: 

Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Scholarship Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Scholarship An award of approximately $52,000 is given annually to a U.S. poet for a year of travel and study abroad. Publication is not required, but recent winners have been published poets. Submit two copies of…

$0

Poetry

$52,000

10/15/12

Definitely entering this one! Did somebody say travel?

Amazon  Deadline:  February 5 Web site: www.createspace.com/abnaThe Breakthrough Novel Award is offered annually for general fiction and young adult fiction. Each winner receives a publishing deal from Penguin with a $15,000 advance. Amazon Encore will publish close to a dozen other entrants.

Pretty cool–I have a novel bubbling, but not sure if I’ll make the Feb. deadline.

Writer’s Digest Romance Competition

We are now accepting entries in the Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards Romance Category. Winners will be listed in the May/June 2013 issue of Writer’s Digest.

Deadline:  September 14

Extended Deadline:  October 31

Learn more about the Romance competition

Wondering what’s in it for you?

• A chance to win the Popular Fiction Awards Grand Prize including $2,500 and a trip to the 2013 Writer’s Digest Conference in New York City.
• A chance to win the $500 Category First Prize
• Get your romance story promoted in Writer’s Digest and on WritersDigest.com
• Win $100 off a purchase at www.writersdigestshop.com
• Receive a copy of the 2013 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market

Hmmm….maybe a mushy short story under my pen name so Mark does not die of embarrassment. 

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How to Improve Your Writing Skills

 

If you want to be a writer, but realize that you have issues with grammar, spelling, punctuation, or  sentence structure– read this guest post by nanny/writer Nancy Parker for some tips on how to make improvements and gain the confidence you need to get started. 

Writing as a profession is a bit different from other professions because many writers write on their own and don’t have a direct boss to report to or teach them the ropes. It’s largely up to the writer to stay on top of any changes in writing styles and acceptable practices and to educate themselves on how to improve as a writer. Every writer will always have room for improvement. Here are five tips to help you continually evolve and improve your writing skills:

1.     Write every day. Whether it’s just a short blurb in a journal, a lengthy blog post, or a chapter in a book, the only way that you will improve the way you write is to write each and every day. This will help you develop a writing style you’re comfortable with and will make writing flow more easily. You’ll start to identify where your weak points are and where your strong suits are, and you can hone in on those and improve on them.
2.     Read authors with different writing styles. Writers get many of their writing ideas from other written works, and many writers try to emulate the styles of their favorite authors. To constantly find new voices and ways to write you should immerse yourself in the written word and read a variety of different authors and writing styles. Don’t limit yourself to one style of writing.
3.     Have someone else read your stuff. It’s easy for writers to skim over their own mistakes in something they’ve written – after all, they wrote it! Have a trusted peer or editor look over your stuff from time to time to help find any errors that you may have missed otherwise and to give constructive criticism. It helps to get several different viewpoints on where you can improve.
4.     Compile a go-to list of websites with writing tips. There are many websites out there that are dedicated to helping writers improve in their profession. Grammar Girl, Dr. Grammar’s Frequently Asked Questions, Online Writing Courses, and A Guide to Writing Well are just a few of the many websites and articles available online that writers can frequent to help develop their writing skills.
 5.     Don’t be afraid to put something down and come back later. Some writers get into the flawed mindset that they have to write everything at once, however it’s OK to take a break from writing and come back later on if you’re having trouble finding the right words. Sometimes rereading something later on will spark new ideas and take something in a completely different, and better, direction.

You can never reach a level of perfection in writing, and there are always improvements to be made, whether you’re the worst writer in the world or the best. By immersing yourself in the world of writing and continually striving to do better you’ll improve your skills and hone in on your talents, taking you one step further in your career.

Author Bio

Nancy Parker was a professional nanny background check and she loves to write about wide range of subjects like health, Parenting, Child Care, Babysitting, nanny background check tips etc. You can reach her @ nancy.parker015 @ gmail.com

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