When I was young, I used to read Tiger Beat and Right On! magazines with envy of those who got to interview celebrities and sometimes travel to different parts of the world with them. Dreams of writing for a magazine full-time were squashed when my mother said these few words - "They don't make any money anyway." I didn't want to disappoint but deep down inside I did not care!
Like many who have had a deep love for their craft but had to make a living, I have had my share of jobs that felt more like the following -
A pool filled with crabs who are quick to snap but never really say anything.
Duller than a box of rocks.
Marriage to a person who is a lying, sloppy, deceitful dog that expects everything for nothing.
In trying to find that balance, I went through rough stages such as constantly changing jobs, being discouraged by friends and family who just wanted for me to punch a clock and not think about it. I would even go through stages of mild depression and would get upset at any reminder (regardless of how vague) that I was not living my dreams.
Getting There
Getting past the naysayers was the easy part but motivation was another issue. I took Deborah Gregory's (author of the "Cheetah Girls series and freelance writer) advice and just wrote - no structure, misspellings, bad grammar and all. When I began to get jobs where my business writing was complimented, my esteem grew and I was convinced that I could make a living from this - even if it was supplemental income. So in early 2006, I enrolled in two online writing courses. Surprisingly between the classes, I learned more about structure and maintaining the reader"s attention in Technical Writing Fundamentals than Write for Magazines. As I had a working knowledge in layout design as well as writing business reports, keeping a momentum in visuals was priority in all my efforts.
What the Heck to Write About Anyway?
Both of my classes stressed the 5 W's (who, what, where, when and why) and how but I also learned the importance of research and getting a good mental outline. I will admit, I have crossed the line in my subjects by not getting enough information to hold the readers interest or see something months later I could have done differently. My first article published online was a personal account of being told by my doctor that the only cure for my menorrhagia would be to undergo a full hysterectomy. Though it was a very tough period in my life, I saw no reason to make this article melodramatic nor downplay the overall discomfort that could be placed on a woman. I gave an honest, detailed account that was slightly quirky - and it sold! Some people have interesting lives to write about, some have strong, educated opinions that should be expressed to the world and others like to tell a story that can put any reader into a land called escapism from their lives as they know it. Sometimes just finding your writing niche (s) can be a job in itself but like a potato, your words can be used in many ways without being repetitious or stale.
Online Markets
As a relatively new player in the writing game, the waters are still being tested by emerging and experienced writers. The main complaints being there is no monetary compensation, author rights are not retained and if there is payment involved - it is low and slow! The key is to get acquainted with as many online markets as possible. Make time and research by Internet deep-linking (I would start with Google, using the terms "online or content writing" in the search engine) then you should find at least 10 compatible markets in one weekend. It would also beneficial to check out Yahoo! Groups for a writing group that is either local or has focus on the same genre. If you don't have any friends or acquaintances who write professionally or committing to a writer's group is not your style, Yahoo Answers is a good way to get feedback from those in a particular industry or interests. I've also had a good run with the following -
Oh yes, and if a company or individual implies immediate prosperity from writing, don't even inquire or give them your email address. It is a scam or they are selling their own product. The only secret to good writing is tenacity.
Riding the Craigslist Wave
One day while web surfing, I ran across something called Craigslist and suddenly became internally ecstatic over discovering so much information on one page - and for free! As the days passed, I learned that it was free to post ads as well as get an account, using your actual email address is a choice when posting ads and is updated throughout the day. While I was fortunate enough to find companies like Associated Content as well as establish a client base for my business, I also have a mild horror story.
