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Put Your Environmental Savvy to Work
If you enjoy writing about ecology and the environment--or simply reporting on various innovations that help make our world and our lives safer, healthier, and more sustainable--you might find Hippie Magazine a great venue for your work. This online magazine is currently seeking "individual eco-rockstars" to contribute posts to its website.
A Few Details
Hippie Magazine pays $5-50 per post (for all rights) based on quality and length of post. You'll also receive a byline and an author page with a link to your website. Each post must be original and (of course) previously unpublished and requires at least one image. While compensation from this particular market isn't substantial, the posts I've looked at don't appear to have required a great deal of time or research to write. (Of course, a certain amount of research would be involved in simply finding innovative green applications, products, or methods--unless you happen to come across one in the course of your other work and decide to do a quick write-up for this mag.)
Mainstay or Supplemental Market?
Whether you're interested in this type of writing as a mainstay or prefer using it to supplement your other writing projects, Hippie Magazine could just prove to be a viable market for your work. Take a look at some of the posts the site has published in the past to get a better idea of the sort of content the publisher is seeking. Categories listed on the site include Business, Energy, Gadgets, Lists, Opinion, Politics, Products, Reducing, and Tech. These should provide a wide variety of opportunities to find a topic you'd be interested in writing about--even if environmental issues aren't your main writing focus. (My thought has always been that the more versatile a writer is, the more writing opportunities he or she will find. So, even if you've never written a "green" article before, why not give it a try. Today is always a great time to branch out and try something new.)
Pertinent Links
Here's a link to the Hippie Magazine "Write for Us" page. To give credit where credit is due, I found this market via this GenuineJobs.com link.
Hope you'll find this market helpful!
Jeanne
Have you written about the environment before? What do you like/not like about tackling this topic? Know any other viable green markets your fellow writers can tap?
Call for Submissions
As I was perusing Craigslist this morning, I came across a call for submissions for a teen grief book and thought this would be a great writing opportunity to mention on my blog. While I've personally had more than my share of grief experiences, my losses didn't occur during my teens--though I know that for many others, they did. That's why I'd like to share this opportunity with my readers.
If you've lost a parent or other loved one during your teen years (whether you're still a teen or an adult who experienced grief while in your teens), this might be a good opportunity for you to share your story, experience some healing, and in the process possibly help someone else who is battling grief right now.
Grief Relief Book in Planning Stages
After I found the ad, I shot an e-mail off to the Craigslist mailbox, telling the advertiser that I'd be willing to post info about the opportunity to my blog if I had a direct contact e-mail address. To my surprise, I received an almost immediate reply (from the advertiser and not an automatic notification from Craigslist about a closed mailbox)--a very refreshing occurrence from Craigslist!
Fran Hall responded, telling me a little more about her project:
My friend and I both went through this as teens and now volunteer working with other kids who have experienced the death of a parent/parents. We especially would love to hear from teens themselves, as well as from people who are now adults who lost someone close when they were adolescents. Finding teens I think is going to be the most challenging part of doing this so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
In a later e-mail, Fran elaborated further on her project:
Also it's probably worth mentioning in the post that this is not intended to be a cliche, uplifting type of book even though I'm sure some stories will be which of course is great. However, some people may have had horrific experiences like being left with an abusive surviving parent for instance, or maybe their surviving parent neglected them. (Horrible I know, but it happens!) We want to hear the good, bad and the ugly because we need kids in every circumstance to know that they are not alone. That is the main goal.
The Original Ad
Just so you have all the info, here's the original Craigslist ad:
Did you experience the death of a parent or other close loved-one when you were a teenager or young adult? Do you remember the isolation and the feeling that you were different from everyone else you knew? We're editing a collection of non-fiction stories about death and grieving that will act as a support group for teens/young adults that feel that they have no one to relate to. The book will be geared for adolescents and we want to hear your stories.
We are looking for the following types of contributers:
1)adults who experienced a major death when they were teens/young adults
2)teens/young adults who experienced a major loss
We hope to create a resource that will help normalize the feelings that a grieving adolescent experiences. Stories can be uplifting, funny, devastating, or whatever... just as long as it's from a place of honesty. The goal is to help teens through their grieving process, in whatever that means to them, so we are not looking for contributors to give advice or share tired cliches like 'time heals all wounds' or ' I know they're in a better place'. We merely want honest and heartfelt stories that reflect personal experiences.
Contact Info
If you think you might be interested in contributing to this book project--as either a writer or an interviewee--contact Fran at the following e-mail address: griefreliefbook@yahoo.com.
Since the project is still in the planning stages, Fran is currently collecting info from all those who are interested in contributing and plans to contact and interview each one at a later date. Contributors will likely receive compensation for their stories, though the amount hasn't been determined yet, since it's so early in the process. If this sounds like a project you might be interested in, drop Fran a line.
Here's to getting your story out there!
Good luck!
Jeanne
September 29th 2009 20:02
I recently wrote a post about increasing your writing income by selling reprints. To help you get started doing that, I'd like to point you to a few of the many publications that accept previously published work. You'll find many more on such websites as Duotrope's Digest (which is where I found these).
Some Points to Consider Before Submitting Your Work
Compensation varies with each of these markets from "token" to "semi-pro" payments (to use Duotrope's payment categories). Most of these publishers provide sample issues that can be read online. I highly recommend that you study these to get an idea of the style and tone of each publication. That way, you won't waste your time—and theirs—sending work that doesn't fit the market.
Some of these publications follow specified themes for each issue, and others are open to various topics. Some have limits on how many stories, poems, etc., you may submit at one time. Most have specific formatting and/or submission requirements you'll need to follow when offering your work to them for publication. At least one refuses to open attachments, while another requires them. That's why it's so important to check each publication's submission guidelines carefully. Otherwise you might be out of the running before you even leave the starting gate.
The Reprint Markets
Note: Where a separate link to the market's guidelines has been provided below, I've done so because a Submissions link was not immediately apparent on the site's home page. All the remaining sites' Submissions links are prominently displayed on the pages linked to below. (At least they were at the time this post was published.)
The Houston Literary Review
This market accepts poetry, prose, and visual arts. It doesn't appear to offer payment, other than "an editor's choice award of $100 (which) will be paid to the poet whose published poem is selected as the best for that quarter." The site also states that "(a) similar award will be given to visual artists as well (pending quarterly budget requirements)."
Flashquake
This publication "focuses on works of flash fiction, flash nonfiction (memoirs, essays, creative nonfiction, humor) and short poetry."
Joyful! (Submissions page)
This is a market for "new AND experienced storytellers, poets, artists and photographers."
The Shine Journal
Described as "a home for some of the best, most exceptional flash fiction, non-fiction, poetry, art and photography in the world!"
THEMA Literary Journal
Accepts "short stories, essays, poems, and art."
GlassFire Magazine
This "non-genre literary e-magazine, is looking for fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry."
Ancient Paths (online and print magazine)
This publication seeks "poetry, prose, or art" with Christian or "universal religious" themes.
Fear and Trembling: Stories from the Shadowscape
This market is open to "Christian-friendly horror" fiction and poetry.
Crime and Suspense Magazine *
This publication is "interested in nearly any sort of crime and suspense fiction. Mystery, detective, noir, horror, action/adventure, and thrillers are all acceptable." They also "consider both short and feature-length films for online distribution."
Best of luck selling your reprints!
Jeanne
* Note: There's some question whether this market actually accepts reprints. At Duotrope's Digest, they have checked the "Reprints OK" box in their listing, but their submission guidelines seem to indicate a strong desire for first rights. Perhaps this is a new development, since their site has recently undergone reconstruction. You may either want to seek clarification from this publisher before submitting reprints or simply submit new material instead.
Know any other great reprint markets? We'd love it if you'd share them!
NOTE: Here's the information I promised in my last post. I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to get back into the swing of posting after my time away. Since losing Mom, life has been a challenge, to say the least.
I've decided that it's better to do my best to post a little something--even if it's short--than to wait until I can manage a longer, more meaty post. After all, a good resource is still a good resource--even if it isn't surrounded by a massive amount of brilliant prose.
So, without further ado, here's the freelancer's job resource info that I promised:
FreelanceJobOpenings.com
The latest addition to the freelance job cyberscape is FreelanceJobOpenings.com.
Freelance Job Openings provides free job leads for writers and other freelancers, including bloggers, web designers, artists, editors, researchers, and others. Job listings can be read in order by date (most recent listings first). They can also be displayed by category or searched by job title/keyword.
Peruse the site, bookmark it, and consider adding it to your list of job sites that you check on a regular basis for the latest job leads. It will add one more valuable weapon to your arsenal of job-search resources.
And, who knows, you just might end up finding your next paying gig there.
Happy hunting!
Jeanne
P.S. Don't forget to check out the related posts listed below. They provide links to other helpful freelance writing and blogging websites.
Familia Books Launches Book Project
Famila Books is seeking submissions of up to 3,000 words for its upcoming anthology, tentatively titled "Wisdom of Our Mothers," which is slated for publication in late January, 2009. Tentative submission deadline is November 30, 2008.
According to Familia.com's Introduction page,
This website's aim is to gather stories about what we have learned from our mothers, how we feel about it, and how it affects the way we live our lives.
Further details on precisely the kind of work they're looking for are also included in their Introduction, as well as on their Send Stories and FAQs pages.
Purpose of Project
The "Wisdom of Our Mothers" project not only offers decent compensation to writers (more on this below), but is also intended to benefit victims of domestic violence. The site's Intro page states the following:
50% of the book's profits will be donated to shelters for mothers and their children escaping from abusive relationships.
Compensation Options and Amounts
Authors will be paid a minimum of $100 per story accepted for publication in "Wisdom of Our Mothers," though, in lieu of payment, a writer may opt to donate his or her compensation in full to a domestic violence shelter. Other payment options include the following:
$200 payment, made one year after publication, or
Share of profits earned by the book during its first two years of publication, maximum $500, minimum $100 (details and payment schedule may be found on FAQs page)
Sample Stories
Sample Stories are available on the website, to give you a better idea of the kind of stories they're looking for. These stories provide the perfect opportunity for you to see firsthand what elements the pieces they favor contain. This will help you incorporate those same elements into your own work to give it a better chance of acceptance.
Table of Contents
You'll also find a link to the book's Table of Contents on the Sample Stories page. This will allow you to look over each chapter title and theme and may spark ideas on a specific focus for your story.
Best of luck on your submission!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? What are your thoughts on this project? Are you more likely to submit because of the benefit element of the project? Or would you submit a story anyway? What do you think of Familia's numerous payment options? Which sound good to you? Does this writing project seem to be one that would bring you a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment? How so? Do you think you'll submit?
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A Variety of Blogging Job Resources
Here's the list of blogging job sites I promised in my last post: Blogging Gigs: Are They For You? Some of these sites are job boards or forums which focus on blogging gigs, others are blog networks that offer varying amounts of compensation for posts and/or blogs, and one is actually a virtual agency that finds business blogging gigs for subscribers.
Blogging Job Boards
ProBlogger Job Board
BloggingJobs.Com
Performancing Blogger Job Board
BloggerJobs.Biz
Blogging Job Forums
Blogging Tips' Looking to Hire Room
AuthorityBlogger’s Want, Need, and Offer Forum
BlogHer (Women’s Blogging--and Writing--Opps)
Blog Networks
Today.Com
SPONSCORE
b5Media
Weblogs, Inc.
Blogging Job Agency
Onward Search Blogging Jobs (Business Blogging Jobs)
Other Sources of Blogging Gigs
Blogging gigs are also regularly featured, along with other types of literary jobs, on the writing (and other) job boards linked to in my two recent posts: Job Listing Sites for Writers and Most Popular Writing Job Sites. If you know of other websites that focus on blogging gigs--or offer a considerable number of them--I hope you'll consider sharing the links with us in comments. I'm sure all your fellow bloggers will thank you!
Happy hunting!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Have any great blogging job resources to share? Any tips that have worked for you in landing--or keeping--blogging gigs? Any cautions that others seeking such gigs should be aware of? We'd be honored to receive the benefit of your experience!
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What's Your Pleasure: A Blogging Career or a Little Moonlighting?
Do you love blogging so much that you'd like to make a career of it? Perhaps you'd rather simply find a blogging gig or two that would allow you to express yourself in a more personal setting while picking up a few extra bucks to supplement your other freelance writing income. You might even hope to use your new-found blogging gig to underwrite or help promote your current AdSense-revenue-only blog. These are all great reasons for seeking work as a blogger.
Blogging Gigs: Regular--But Not Always Substantial--Income
One nice thing about blogging gigs is that they can provide a writer with regular income--a handy commodity in the uncertain, feast-or-famine world of freelance writing. But, though regular, often blogging income isn't very substantial. This is one of the realities of the Internet culture in which we ply our writing craft. Blogs are everywhere! Yet, there are companies that understand and want to capitalize on the booming popularity of blogs and are therefore willing to pay fairly decent to quite lucrative compensation amounts for regular blog posts on virtually unlimited topics--particularly from seasoned and/or popluar bloggers.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Paid Blogger?
If you enjoy blogging and have a fair amount of knowledge about one or more topics (or an area of personal interest, coupled with some great research skills), if you can express yourself clearly and explain your topic well, and if you have the ability to make your topic come alive via an engaging writing style, these elements can add up to opportunity for you. Every company requires a different level of expertise of its bloggers. In fact, some don't require anything more than the "gift of gab," a real interest in your topic, the ability to write about it in an engaging manner, and some proof that you have the ability to post consistently on your topic (i.e., a regularly-updated past or current blog).
Blogging Gigs: What Are You Looking For?
Every blogger is looking for something different in a blogging gig, and available opportunities vary widely. Some offer only a share of advertising revenues, some "pay" you by providing a forum whereby you can promote and link to your current website or blog, others pay token amounts, and still others offer reasonable to excellent compensation for your posts. You'll need to assess your own needs, wants, talents, experience, availability, temperament, and current financial situation and weigh these against the opportunities available if you hope to make professional blogging a realistic part of your writing business.
Caution: Blogging Gigs Can Raise Your Blood Pressure!
Before considering a blogging gig, be sure you're prepared to face the sometimes stressful requirement of providing fresh, new, interesting content on a recurring basis. Some companies require 3-5 posts a week, others, daily posting, and still others, multiple posts per day. Be sure you'll be up to the task and able to think clearly under the incessant pressure of daily or weekly blogging quotas and deadlines. If you have a tendency to experience a disproportionate amount of stress under deadline pressure or become excessively anxious over impending projects, paid blogging may not be the gig for you.
(Now and then, you'll actually find companies that require less-frequent posting--e.g., once per week. Periodically, you'll even run across ads seeking individual blog posts as contributions to already-existing blogs. This is a great way to take the pressure off and might prove the ideal answer for those who enjoy blogging yet prefer to avoid the stress of assuming the entire responsibility for administering a blog.)
Always Remember That a Blog Is a Community
Another factor to consider where blogging gigs are concerned is that, whereas most freelance writing simply requires writing an article or other type of copy and submitting/selling it to a publisher or website, a successful blog requires interaction with its readers. Be sure you're prepared to spend the time it takes to reply to comments and build a rapport with your readers before you accept a blogging gig. Figure in the time you'll inevitably spend in this activity when considering whether or not the compensation you'll receive will be sufficient for the time, energy, and effort expended.
Follow-Up Post: Blogging Job Sites
Stay tuned for my next post, in which I'll provide links to some websites that list blogging gigs. In the meantime, give a little thought to the question of whether these are the kinds of writing gigs you should focus on, whether you should simply consider them as an adjunct to other types of writing, or whether you should, perhaps, avoid them completely--except, possibly, for submitting an occasional post to an already active blog. Only you can answer that question--though it might take you a bit more time and experience to figure it out!
Happy blogging!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Have any insights on paid blogging to share? Have you ever seriously considered focusing exclusively on blogging gigs? Perhaps you already do. If the only blog you currently write is your own, how different do you think it would be to write a blog for someone else? Would you consider it? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
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Staple Sites Most Writers Visit for Job Leads
Earlier today, in my post, Job Listing Sites for Writers, I offered a few of the less-widely known websites that list writing jobs, assuming that most of you already know about the sites that are the mainstay of the freelance writing community. However, on considering it further, I realized that many writers--particularly those new to the craft (or new to the profession)--may not be aware of all these goldmines of paid writing opportunities. So I've decided to provide links to the sites most writers visit first when seeking writing jobs.
Four Favorite Freelance Job Sites
Freelance Writing Jobs at About Freelance Writing
Freelance Writing Jobs, Deb Ng
Writer’s Resource Center (Poewar) Writing Jobs
WritersWeekly Paying Markets and Jobs
A Super-Simple Job-Search Strategy
You can, in fact, check all four of the above sites with a minimum of hassle by visiting About Freelance Writing's job page first, since it provides links to all three of the other sites. This is the way I generally do it for the most convenient and productive job-search session. You can, of course, bookmark each of the above sites individually (along with those listed in my previous post)--which might be a good idea in case you should ever want to divide your job-hunting into more than one session. That way, you'd be able to go directly to the individual site you want to check at the time. About Freelance Writing has made it super-easy for you, though; so, in most cases, that's the only one of the four sites you'll need to visit via your bookmarks.
Many of the jobs listed on the above sites will, of course, be duplicates, since nearly all are gleaned from the same major job boards, such as Craigslist. The only exception here is Writer's Resource Center. (More on this below.) Such duplicate postings are generally fairly easy to spot, though; and I do recommend checking all these sites, anyway, if you have the time, because you'll always find at least a few jobs that are "exclusive" to one site or the other.
Writer's Resource Center: A Great Place for Technical Writing Jobs
The jobs at Writer's Resource Center come from Indeed.com, which collects them from virtually everywhere. The technical writer, in particular, will find a wealth of job leads at WRC, though many other writing-related jobs are represented there, as well.
Other Popular Job-Listing Sites
In addition to those above, several other sites are widely used by freelancers and other writing professionals to find gigs. A few follow:
JournalismJobs.com
Online Writing Jobs
Media Bistro
Freelance Writing: A Comprehensive Job-Search Site
Another site--one which provides links to jobs from each of the major job boards/bidding sites separately--serves as a convenient hub for a wide variety of writing job sites:
Freelance Writing.
For those who prefer to check each listing service individually, this site would be the way to go. Most other sites combine jobs from all the major job boards into a single listing, whereas Freelance Writing divides these listings into separate sections, such as Craigslist, oDesk, Online Writing Jobs, etc. It also provides a helpful Magazine Guidelines Database.
Job-Search Sites Offer Multi-Talented Writers A Variety of Opportunities
The above website links, along with those provided in my previous post, should arm you well for the task of finding suitable writing jobs, regardless of your writing specialty. If you also happen to have editing, proofreading, or other similar experience, you'll find ample work on these sites, as well. For those who have additional, non-writing/publishing skills, such as art, graphic- or web-design, computer programming, sales, transcription, or virtual clerical skills, the above sites have numerous job leads to offer you, also (as do the sites mentioned in my Job Listing Sites for Writers post.)
So, what are you waiting for? Instead of pounding the pavement for job leads, as you may have had to in the past, you can now enjoy the unprecedented privilege of simply pounding your keyboard and opening a whole world of career possibilities. And the variety of available opportunities is "virtually" endless! So, why not take advantage of it?
Happy--and fruitful--job-hunting!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Have any job-search insights or resources to share? We'd love to hear your advice, experiences, ideas, or opinions!
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Websites that List Writing Gigs
In my internet travels, I've run across various writing job sites (or sites that also list writing jobs), other than the more commonly used ones, and thought I'd share them. You've likely heard of some (or most); but there may just be a few here that you haven't seen before. Hopefully, they'll help make it a little easier for you to find your next paid writing gig!
Less-Common Writing Job Sites
GenuineJobs.com
You'll need to register for this site, so I'll provide a direct link to the jobs page in case you'd like to check it out first. The site lists all kinds of jobs, but provides a search option to narrow your search.
VirtualVocations.com
This site lists all types of telecommute jobs. There's a one-time charge for joining--one which seems a bit steep to me for simply enjoying the privilege of perusing job ads--but it's definitely worth browsing their job listings, anyway, because often you'll find website or other contact info for clients in their ads.
PostJobFree.com
This site provides a "Search Jobs" capability. From what I can see, it doesn't appear to provide an option for browsing job listings without performing a search first.
JustTechJobs.com
This site offers listings for all types of tech jobs, so you'll need to search specifically for writing jobs, which will bring up a variety of technical writing opportunities. It is, however, also a fantastic site for those who have additional technological skills (beyond technical writing) and might be interested in moonlighting--or even specializing--in "hands-on" tech work.
Sunoasis Jobs
This site focuses on writing and writing-related jobs, such as editing, proofreading, etc.
Best of luck finding your next gig!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Have anything to add? Any questions? I'd certainly love to hear your thoughts--and maybe even your own job leads, if you wouldn't mind sharing them!
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Do You Have a HandPrints On My Heart Story?
Are you (or do you know) a female author with a story to tell about a special individual whose influence has been life-changing? If so, Marlene Moore Gordon would like to see your story and consider it for possible inclusion in her upcoming book, HandPrints On My Heart.
Marlene is seeking "personal real-life short stories written to acknowledge someone who has made a significant difference in the writer’s life," and her hope is that the "universal emotions" expressed in these stories "will touch the hearts of people worldwide who read, hear and see (them)."
My Own HandPrints Submission and Experience
A short time back, I contacted Marlene about her project, after discovering her call for submissions at LifeWriter's Market Watch. (You'll find other writing markets on this site, as well. Be aware that, as new projects are added, older ones move toward the bottom of the webpage. So, you may need to scroll down quite a bit to locate the HandPrints announcement.) I submitted an inspirational story I'd written about my paternal grandmother but had never published. She accepted my piece and we then went through a few rounds of editing to improve the piece and make it more suitable to the tone she had in mind for the stories. (I found her very pleasant to work with and quite receptive to my editorial input, which is always a plus for a writer whose work is undergoing the editing process.)
The HandPrints On My Heart Website and Guidelines
You'll find more information about this fascinating project at the HandPrints On My Heart website. Marlene's Submission Guidelines will give you all the information you'll need to submit your own story.
A Few HandPrints Business Details
While Marlene is still seeking a publisher for HandPrints On My Heart, she already has a literary agent. Monetary compensation for the project is still undetermined and will be presented to all accepted authors in writing for their approval once a publisher has been signed. Marlene expects compensation to be comparable to that offered by other similar anthologies, such as A Cup of Comfort and Chicken Soup for the Soul. Rights purchased will be non-exclusive, one-time rights.
Will You Help Spread the Word?
Marlene is interested in spreading the word about the HandPrints On My Heart book project. So, if you're a blogger whose niche is writing and/or publishing, you might want to consider writing a post about her project. Check out the details at her website and/or drop her a line -- and maybe a submission, too, while you're at it -- at the following e-mail address: MMG@handprintsonmyheart.com. (Even if you aren't a blogger, you can still spread the word to other writers you know -- and send in your own submission, as well.)
Know Any Celebrities Who Can Endorse the Project?
And, if you happen to know any celebrities who might be willing to contribute a story, along with an endorsement of the book, by all means, let them know about the project (and let Marlene know about them.) It's simply a fact of life that more publishers will sit up and take notice of a manuscript that has a celebrity's name attached.
Hope to see your story in HandPrints!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Have anything to add? Thinking of writing a story for HandPrints? Have one already written? I'd love to hear about it!
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An Invaluable Resource Clearinghouse for Writers
If you're a writer and you haven't yet visited John Hewitt's Writer's Resource Center, you don't know what you're missing! And if you've been there before but haven't stopped by lately, it's high time you made a return visit! John's blog is a veritable treasure trove of information helpful to writers--both in improving their craft and promoting/marketing their work.
John Does Your Research for You
By scouring the internet for valuable resources--and thereby saving the busy writer an incredible amount of time--John is able to provide writers with links to writing jobs and a plethora of websites and blog posts that offer tools, wisdom, insight, and practical advice on every conceivable aspect of writing and/or blogging.
One example of the huge amount of writing info John gathers into one place for the writer's convenience is his 3/2/08 Sunday Link Love post. Why not stop by, check out the fantastic information he's offered in this post, and then give it a Stumble. (If you're reading this much later than that date, visit John's blog anyway via the main link above to find his most recent resource lists--and don't forget to give them a Stumble to show John how much you appreciate all his hard work!)
A Great Place to Find Writing Jobs
Here's another example of just how much John has to offer his readers: This Week's Writing Jobs. You'll also love the Writer's Resource Center - Job Roll feature, which provides web-based search results for writing jobs, broken down into categories, and accessed via convenient links in John's sidebar. Here's a sample of what you'll find when you click his Freelance Writing link: freelance writer jobs. Other categories include General Writing, Copywriting, Editing, Online/Web, and Proofreading. John also offers writing job lists broken down by state. (To access the links to these and other writing job categories, visit John's main website, linked to in the first paragraph of this post, and click the appropriate link in his sidebar.)
A Site Worth Bookmarking
Whether or not you've ever been to Writer's Resource Center before, do yourself a big favor and take a few minutes to drop by. And why not bookmark the site while you're at it. I'm sure it's a link you'll be using again and again.
Happy resource-gathering!
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Find it helpful? Have any particularly helpful writing resource sites or ideas to share with your fellow writers? We'd love to hear them!
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A Wealth of Writing Resources
Do you enjoy reading—or writing—about writing? If so, there are a number of writer’s e-zines and newsletters that offer helpful writing advice and themselves provide a handy market for your writing-related work. Many of these e-publications also list other markets for various styles and genres of writing, with some even conveniently linking to the submission guidelines for those markets. Others provide info on current or upcoming writing contests.
While each publication differs slightly in the exact resources it offers, all have one thing in common: they all contain helpful articles on the craft and business of writing. So, dig in, get your literary hands dirty, and reap the benefits of the collective experience of a wide variety of writers from many different disciplines and genres. And don't forget to check—and bookmark—each publication's own submission guidelines while you're there.
E-zines and Newsletters by Writers for Writers
Here’s the list, in no particular order:
Coffee Break for Writers E-zine
Write from Home E-zine *
Absolute Write Newsletter
Writing for Dollars Newsletter
The Writer Within Newsletter
Writer2Writer.com E-zine
WritersWeekly E-zine
Writing World Newsletter
FundsforWriters Newsletter
Women on Writing E-zine
T-zero Expandizine, The Writer’s E-Zine
Hopefully, these e-zines and newsletters for writers will help advance your writing career both creatively and financially!
Best wishes,
Jeanne
*UPDATE: Amy Derby has decided to make certain changes at Write-from-home for 2008, which include merging the main Write-from-home.com website with the Write from Home Blog. This effectively means that no new e-zine articles will be posted, though the article archives will continue to be available. Read about Amy's changes in this post: Write-from-home.com 2008.
This is not a sponsored post.
Did you enjoy this post? Know of any other e-zines or newsletters for writers? Please feel free to share them with us in comments!
Monster.ca: A Resource for Writing & Other Jobs
Quite a few different websites focus specifically on helping writers find gigs. These can prove invaluable by helping us to find as many different markets for our work as possible. Yet, often, we tend to overlook the more mainstream job sites, simply because they aren't focused primarily on writing jobs. This could be a mistake, since many sites such as Monster.ca, contain an Arts, Entertainment, and Media category, which often lists jobs for writers, as well as other creative individuals. And if you're looking for a day job, to help supplement your writing income--because, let's face it, we often find it necessary to do that--Monster.ca or one of its affiliated job sites also offers a large variety of other job opportunities in many other categories.
The Monster Global Job Network
While Monster.ca focuses on Canadian jobs, it also contains links to the Monster Global Network, which lists jobs worldwide, making it a convenient resource for those seeking employment in other parts of the world, as well.
A Versatile Site for Job Seekers & Employers
At Monster.ca, both conventional job seekers and independent contractors will find a convenient place to search for employment opportunities, as well as one-time gigs. Similarly, both traditional employers and those interested in hiring temporary help for specific projects or sporadic assistance with regularly recurring, though periodic, assignments will find everything they need to advertise their opportunities to a wide variety of potential talent.
For Job Seekers
With such helpful resources as Employer Profiles, Featured Employers, and sections on self-evaluation, success coaching, resume, interview, and salary info, self-assessment, career change, networking, and employment law, Monster.ca can help job seekers get the most from its job listing service. And for the writer who functions as an independent contractor and the conventional employee alike, many if not all of these informative sections will no doubt prove helpful.
The site also includes a Targeted Jobs and Advice section, which contains helpful information on many aspects of job-hunting and various employment fields. Many of these sections will prove beneficial to employers, as well. Other features of the site that both job-seekers and employers will find useful are the Monster Employment Index and the Latest Career Headlines.
Appropriate sections also enable job seekers to post resumes and cover letters to the site, search for jobs, manage their accounts, and learn exactly what's involved in owning a franchise. Another helpful feature for job seekers is the ability to search by job category, job location, or both, which enables job-seekers from nearly every country to find opportunities in their own local areas.
For Employers
Monster.ca also offers a comprehensive Employer Site, which includes sections that aid employers in all important aspects of hiring, recruiting, and staffing, including posting and managing jobs, finding and managing candidates, and managing their employer accounts. The employers' site also includes the ability to search resumes for suitable job candidates, advice and training in effective hiring, best employer practices, and area-specific labor market information.
A Comprehensive Employment Marketplace
All in all, Monster.ca appears to be a comprehensive marketplace of job opportunities and employer/employee resources with the potential to greatly benefit job-seekers and job-listers alike. So, why not give it a try the next time you're checking the usual freelance writing sites. You never know what you might find.
Good luck!
Jeanne
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A Long-Awaited Day!
Writer's Notes finally achieved Google Page Rank today! After nine months, Google has assigned my blog a PR of 3. While I'm a trifle disappointed that my initial PR isn't higher (since my page rank at the next Google update had been predicted to be around 5 based on the number of backlinks to my blog), I'm very pleased to have Google Page Rank at all--and, putting things in the proper perspective, an initial Google PR of 3 really isn't bad at all.
I'd been avidly checking my Google PR widget on my blog for the past few days, after hearing from other bloggers whose PRs were increased that Google was indeed in the middle of its long-awaited update. But, the ironic thing is that it wasn't until I visited the PayPerPost website to check on an opportunity that had been e-mailed to me--and that I at first thought I wouldn't qualify for because it required a PR of 1-2--that I learned that my PR was actually 3! (Thanks, PayPerPost for making me aware of that happy fact!)
Higher Page Rank = Better Paid Posting Opps
Aside from all the other benefits of Google Page Rank, I'm very pleased to know that I will now qualify for more--and better--posting opps at PayPerPost, as well as at the other paid-to-post sites for which I write (Smorty, ReviewMe, and Sponsored Reviews). So, if you're a blogger or a writer who has a website, check to see whether your own Google Page Rank has been updated yet; and if you write for any of the paid-to-post sites, you may just find that you qualify for higher-paying opps than you did previously!
If you don't yet write for any of these sites, but would like to do so now that your PR has increased, why not apply? It can be a way to pick up a few extra dollars to supplement your other writing income. Some writers actually make very good money writing sponsored posts.
PayPerPost Blogger Signup Form
Here's a link to the PayPerPost Blogger Signup Form which I have posted here at Writer's Notes. (Yes, I will receive a referral fee 30 days after your first approved post has been written; but I hope you'll have no objection to this, since you, too, will be able to earn referral fees through helping other bloggers make money writing sponsored posts for PPP once you've joined!)
Links to Other Paid-to-Post Websites
Here are links to the other sites where you can be paid to post product, service, and/or website reviews to your blog:
-Smorty*
-ReviewMe
-Sponsored Reviews
Check them out, if you think you might be interested in this opportunity to earn extra income via your blog now that your Google Page Rank has increased--or even if it hasn't. Your blog will, of course need to be OK'd by these sites prior to your becoming one of their official paid-to-post bloggers; but that shouldn't be too difficult. Just follow any criteria you know they require in order for you to qualify and you should be OK.
Blog Page Rank vs. Individual Post Page Rank
I just discovered today that there is a difference between the overall PR of your blog and the PR of your individual posts. (No doubt many other bloggers have known this fact for ages, but I'm still learning!) While my overall PR is 3, I've found numerous posts on my blog that rank 1 or 2 and quite a significant number that rank 0--which I found quite interesting. In fact, some of those that I was sure would rank higher not only didn't but actually didn't rank at all, and some that I thought wouldn't rank did. Google Page Rank is a fascinating topic!
Congrats to All Who Have Either Achieved or Increased their Google Page Rank!
If you've just achieved Google Page Rank for the very first time, Congratulations! That's very exciting and should open new doors of opportunity for you! If you've increased your PR since the last Google update, Congratulations go out to you, as well! All your hard work has paid off! Keep up the excellent work and who knows how far you'll go from here! If you're still waiting to hear how the results of the latest update affect your blog, I wish you the best and hope you'll have page rank or higher page rank very soon!
Best wishes to bloggers everywhere!
Jeanne
*Note: If you're so inclined, you may use my Smorty referral ad, which I've placed in my sidebar, when signing up to blog at Smorty. (I'll receive a referral fee here, as well--a small percentage of the money you earn for your approved posts. And, here again, you'll also be able to refer others once you've joined, earning referral fees of your own.)
This is not a sponsored post.
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Share Your Writing Savvy With Other Writers
Since Absolute Write will be publishing one of my own articles (a reprint) in the November 5th edition of their newsletter, this seems a perfect time to bring this writing market to the attention of Writer's Notes' readers.
If you enjoy writing about the craft or business of writing and believe you have some valuable tips or techniques to share with other writers, you, too, might want to try submitting your work to Absolute Write.
Write How-to Articles on Writing or Submit Your Writing-Related Reprints
Absolute Write accepts submissions of both original and reprint articles and interviews "related to the craft and/or marketing of writing"--as their Submissions page states. This is the only type of writing they publish. They are interested in how-to articles about a number of different branches of writing, a list of which may be found in their guidelines.
They also accept pieces for their Debate Desk, First Person, and Just for Fun Departments, which are, like all the other articles they purchase, related to writing. Details, as well as payment information are included on their Submissions page.
Be Sure to Check Out the Absolute Style Guide Before Submitting
Absolute Write expects work submitted to their site to conform to certain specific formatting requirements; so be sure to read their style guide before submitting your work to increase your chances of making the sale. You wouldn't want to have your article rejected unnecessarily, simply because you didn't follow their particular punctuation and formatting rules. Even in the case of a reprint, you'll want to go through and modify the piece before submitting, to be sure it conforms to their preferred format.
A Market Well Worth Considering for Widespread Exposure
Absolute Write is a market that can provide excellent exposure for your work, since their newsletter has 75,000 subscribers. And the widespread publicity your submission will receive will only be enhanced by their willingness to publish your photo, bio, links, and ordering info for any books you've had published.
If you enjoy writing about the business or craft of writing and feel you have some expertise or experience to share that other writers need to hear, check out Absolute Write. It's a great way to get your name and your work out there before a sizeable audience and make a few bucks in the process.
Happy writing!
Jeanne
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September 29th 2007 21:20
Sugar & Spice Anthology Needs More Conventional Online Poetry Written By Women
Gerald Bosacker of Bosacker Books, is putting together a poetry anthology, to be entitled Sugar & Spice. This compilation of the works of various female poets which have already appeared online in one internet venue or other will be comprised of conventional, mostly rhymed and metered poetry.
A number of my own poems will be included in the anthology, and I wanted to share this opportunity with my female readers who have written poetry of this type and had it published--or may yet have it published--online. Remuneration will likely be small; however, your inclusion in the anthology would give you one more--or perhaps your first?--published clip. And since it will be in a print publication, it will likely carry a bit more weight among future potential publishers than an online publishing credit, as it's generally so much easier to be published online.
The Opportunity, In Mr. Bosacker's Own Words
Here's what Mr. Bosacker had to say to me in an e-mail written in response to my submissions back in July:
If your intent is monetary compensation, refuse permission as the financial yield will not be great. I sell poetry, and receive but a small fee, even from large magazines. I do take pleasure in the paid recognition, no matter how small. SUGAR & SPICE does not auger huge sales, but all of the royalties will be divided amongst the authors, in proportion to their share of print. I will not contribute, nor share royalties. I have no idea how well the anthology will sell, but it is not a scam, nor profit making venture.
Let me know if you wish to be included...
Anthology Release Delayed Due to "Scarcity of Good, Conventional Poetry, Written By Women and Posted on the Internet"
Mr. Bosacker had hoped to release Sugar & Spice by October 1st, but has had trouble amassing enough good conventional poetry written by women which has been published on the internet. His latest correspondence of a few weeks ago informs me that, at this point, he only has about one-third of the poetry he needs to fill the 200-page book. At that rate, it could be a while before the book goes to print--unless the internet poetesses among us will begin submitting our best work ASAP.
Visit BosackerBooks.Com for Submission Information
Feel free to visit the Bosacker Books website for more information about the planned anthology and/or to find out how to submit your work. The book's cover may be viewed at the following link: Sugar & Spice Poetry Anthology.
While Sugar & Spice will likely not be a high-profit venture for those of us whose work is included, there is always the possibility that it will sell better than Mr. Bosacker expects. Whether or not it does will no doubt--in part, at least--be dependent upon how much buzz we ourselves are able to create for the book via our websites, blogs, word-of-mouth, and possibly even through asking our fellow writers and bloggers for their help in spreading the word.
Are You a Conventional Female Poet Who Has or Will Soon Put Your Work Online?
If you are a female poet and you have some well-crafted conventional poetry sitting in the bottom drawer of your desk, the back of your closet, or even the darkest corners of your garage or attic, you might just want to consider digging it out, reassessing its quality and appropriateness for this market, touching it up if needed, posting it on one of the online poetry websites* first, and then submitting it to Mr. Bosacker for the Sugar & Spice Poetry Anthology.
If your work is already posted online, so much the better! You will be able to submit it to the anthology with a minimum of hassle. So, scour the sites you've posted your work to, find your best poetic masterpieces, and consider submitting them if you'd like to be a part of this book project.
If you don't already have some conventional poetry hidden away somewhere--either online or off--but have the heart of a poet(ess), why not write a few poems, submit them to the poetry site(s), and then forward them to Mr. Bosacker. Send your best work, though, because Mr. B is looking for very well-executed conventional verse. Let's show him that good conventional poetry written by women and published on the internet isn't really as scarce as he thinks it is!
Best of luck to you!
Jeanne
*A few of the better websites that accept poetry are Creative-Poems.Com and MoonTownCafe.Com. To learn more about submitting your work to these sites, please see my earlier posts, Calling All Poets! More Info About Creative-Poems.Com and Calling All Poets 2: More Info About MoonTownCafe.Com. Other possible websites for posting your poetry--though they are not exclusively poetry sites--are Helium.Com and Associated Content.
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September 26th 2007 08:36
The Writer Within Wants Your Articles on Writing
The Writer Within Newsletter publishes writing-related articles ranging in length from 400-700 words. Original and previously published pieces are acceptable. While this is a somewhat low-paying market, at $10 per article (paid on publication via PayPal), you're free to send along a bio, links, or promotional ads with your submission.
Don't Have an Article to Publish? Still Get Free Publicity!
You may also get free publicity, without submitting your work, by sending "a short brag or success story" to The Writer Within "Strut Your Stuff Section." Bios and links will be included here, as well. It's a good opportunity to let the cyber-world know about you and your accomplishments, your website, or your blog.
Further Information
For further information, follow this link to The Writer Within Submission Guidelines. Then start writing!
Till next time,
Jeanne
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September 19th 2007 01:00
Short Stories Sought for Two Unusual Anthologies
Hadley Rille Books is seeking short stories for two of its upcoming anthologies: Desolate Places and Ruins Metropolis. If you happen to be an author of tightly written Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, or Mainstream Fiction, with a knack for expressing the "eeriness and wonder of a desolate place"--which can be either on earth or anywhere else in the universe--or a talent for creating captivating tales about ruins (in particular, a tale based on the third issue's cover art), Hadley Rille would like to hear from you.
Desolate Places: An Anthology Exploring "Magnificent Desolation"
For this volume, Hadley Rille seeks Science Fiction stories set in--you guessed it--desolate places. The folks at HR believe that "desolation stirs the imagination." For these tales, they prefer physically desolate settings, as opposed to more abstract desolation. A few of the questions they'd like your story to answer are the following: "Why are your character(s) there and how do they react to such a place? What do they expect to find?"
Ruins Metropolis: A Volume of Mysterious Dimensions
For this particular volume, as its title indicates, the company seeks stories dealing with ruins--specifically, the ruins depicted on the anthology's cover--with the story revolving around a particularly mysterious woman--also on the cover--who should be the story's protagonist. For this anthology, the third in the company's Ruins series, stories may represent a number of different genres--including Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, or Mainstream--as long as they feature the "ruins" theme.
Deadline, Story Length, and Payment Info
Deadline for submissions for both anthologies is October 31st, 2007. Ideal story length for both would be 2,000-6,000 words, though stories ranging from 1,000 to 7,000 words will be considered. While up-front payment for stories is relatively low ($25-$30 each), authors also receive royalties and one copy of the book. In addition, the opportunity for getting your fictional creations into print, demonstrating your prowess in crafting Fiction, and gaining exposure for your work within the above genres should provide another great motivation for you to consider this market.
Submission Guidelines for Both Anthologies
You may follow this link to read the info and guidelines for submitting stories to the Desolate Places Anthology. And here's the link for info and guidelines--as well as the cover art for which a story is sought--for the Ruins Metropolis Anthology.
Try Your Hand at Creating Desolation and Ruin
If you enjoy writing Fiction of the type described above--in any of the genres mentioned--take a look at Hadley Rille's guidelines for these two anthologies. You just might be able to make a few bucks writing the kind of stories you love. And, if you've already got a story or two lying around that you believe would fit one or both of these categories, by all means, consider sending it along. But, be sure to follow the guidelines; and, if you have any doubt that your story or story idea in fact fits what the company is looking for, be sure to query. Hadley Rille would be more than happy to answer your questions about exactly what they're looking for for these two anthologies.
Best of luck writing about desolation and ruins! And may your writing career be just the opposite!
Happy writing!
Jeanne
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A Write-from-Home Reminder
Write-from-home.com is a website that I've written about before. In my May 11th, 2007 post, Write-from-Home.Com: A New Site for Freelance Writers, I introduced this site to my readers, as the excellent resource that it is for writers.
Recently, Amy Derby, who runs the site, purchased a reprint of one of my articles, which appeared on my blog back in June and which she has just published in her September online e-zine. And, although this isn't really the reason I'm bringing her site up again (since my blog's readers have likely already read the post in question), it's as good a reason as any to remind everyone of a great site where writers will find helpful writing-related articles, writing markets and contest listings, and even a blog with some really great content.
The Write-from-Home Blog
With all the other helpful info on the site, it would be easy to overlook the Write-from-Home blog--but don't, because it's loaded with helpful tips, information, advice, and resources that can help you succeed. One post even contains a warning about a possible scam currently being advertised on Craigslist. So, check it out. I know you'll get a great deal out of this blog, as well as the rest of the site.
Some topics covered on the blog, in addition to the possible Craigslist scam, are these: dealing with stress as a freelance writer, the freelance workload "rollercoaster," setting up a home office on a budget, getting published as a new freelance writer, and freelance writing terms explained (quite a long list of them, too).
The Write-from-Home Market
So, if you've never been to Write-from-Home.Com--or haven't been there lately--drop by for a visit. You'll find a great deal of helpful information there.
And, if your forte just happens to be writing about selling your writing, you might just be able to sell some of your writing right there--since Amy buys both original articles and reprints for her Write-from-Home e-zine. (She pays $75 for unpublished articles and $30 for reprints.) Check out her Guidelines to find out what she's looking for.
Stop by Write-from-Home.Com--and give your freelance writing career a boost!
Happy reading!
Jeanne
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Heading for the Holidays
With the holidays on the horizon, this is a good time for us to briefly turn our attention away from our latest writing project--since we're long overdue for a break, anyway--and check out a site that can take the hassle out of our holiday gift-giving this year. It can save us both money and time, giving us more of the first precious commodity to spend on the people we care about and more of the second to spend working on our favorite creative pursuit: writing.
One-Stop Gift Shopping
The people at CouponChief.com work hard to provide a one-stop coupon deal and discount resource for their website visitors. In fact, Coupon Chief offers literally hundreds of holiday--and everyday--coupons to help stretch your writing dollar and help you get more for your money.
A Few Retailers with Deals to Appeal to Writers
Coupons from online stores such as the ones mentioned below can help you get the best deals on books, stationery, computer and other writing-related materials and products, and a variety of gifts for your family members and friends.
For example, you'll find Barnes & Noble coupon deals that will help you fill your bookshelves with the titles that interest you most. You'll also discover Dell coupons for a wide variety of different products, from computers, software, and accessories, to office furniture and digital cameras. And the Staples coupon codes you'll find on the site will help you upgrade your office--and replenish your writing supplies while you're at it--for the best possible prices.
The Best Deals from a Wide Variety of Stores
Aside from the stores mentioned above, a long and varied list of other retailers offering special coupon deals will make your holiday shopping task a simpler one. You'll be able to take a few minutes out from your writing whenever the mood strikes and find some great deals for yourself and everyone on your holiday shopping list, without even removing your hands from the keyboard. And, for a writer, it doesn't get much better than that.
Happy writing!
Jeanne
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