Whether you are starting out as a writer and building a clip file, or you're well established and looking to boost your monthly writing revenue, it's important to know where to look for legitimate freelance writing jobs that pay. Here are a few online job boards for writers (some sites mentioned in this article are quite well established, while others are less well known places to look for work).

This article is geared more towards the beginning freelancer looking to get a foot in the door, but should also be useful for writers who have established a freelance career. Hopefully, these web sites will make the difficult search for paying freelance writing jobs a little easier.

Freelance Writing Gigs

Deborah Ng's Freelance Writing Jobs is considered one of the most popular sites to find freelance writing jobs. Many freelance writers swear by this site and make it their number one place to look for paying writing jobs.

At this site, you'll find listings of quality freelance writing jobs that are updated regularly, as well as helpful articles about all aspects of a freelance writing career. The nice thing about Freelance Writing Jobs is that it is geared towards beginning freelancers as well as established writers. In fact, the site has many helpful articles about how to land that first paying writing gig; the article titled “Landing Your First Freelance Writing Job-Where to Begin?” should be required reading for those new to the freelance writing world.

At the Freelance Writing Jobs site, don't miss the article called “23 Places to Find Freelance Writing Jobs and Freelance Blogging Jobs” (there is a link to this popular article on the front page of freelancewritinggigs.com.) This article is a goldmine of other recommended sites to find freelance writing jobs that pay.

Accentuate Writers Forum

Accentuate Writers Forum is run by fellow Associated Content writer and freelancer Michelle L. Devon (also known as Michy). On the Paying Writing Jobs Forum, you will find a carefully compiled listing of quality freelance writing jobs. A lot of care is put into these postings, and there is a nice assortment of jobs for content providers as well as those who write for magazines.

In addition to offering a listing of freelance writing jobs, this site offers a place for writers to post and introduce themselves, and chat about a variety of topics. Accentuate Writers Forum has given many content providers, like those who write for Associated Content and Triond, a way to branch out and find paying freelance writing jobs for print publications.

Freelance Writing

Freelance Writing.com is a huge site with an abundance of resources for the aspiring freelance writer. There are tons of freelance writing jobs listed and the site also offers articles about freelance writing, writer's guidelines, discussion forums, writing contests and events.

Jobs range from high paying to extremely low paying; however, if you are looking to land that first paying freelance writing job, this could be the place to find it. This site truly has something for everybody; don't forget to check out the resources for writers and the newsletter sections.

Online Writing Jobs

Online Writing Jobs is a job bank listing opportunities for freelance writers that is compiled from other job boards like Craigslist. There are openings for magazine writers, bloggers, and content providers. The freelance writing jobs listed here range from low paying gigs to higher paying jobs, but this is also a good place for the newer writer to look for that first paying assignment.

Online Writing Jobs

OnlineWritingJobs.net is a blog by Robert, another fellow writer at Associated Content. This site is a real find for its detailed information about where to find paying freelance writing jobs for online writers. The author talks about his own experiences and earnings as a writer, and mentions a variety of freelance writing jobs like those at SharedReviews.com, TextBroker.com, DailyArticle.com, Brighthub.com and many more.

If you are currently writing for websites like Triond and Associated Content and wish to branch out and write for different websites, this site is an invaluable resource. This blog offers a nice balance of freelance writing jobs (geared towards the content provider) and insights from the author's own experience as a working freelance writer.

Honorable Mentions

Check out fellow Associated Content and Triond writer Melanie Marten's blog ArticleWriter101.com. This site is a primer on how to be a successful content provider for websites. Melanie lists writing opportunities, resources and tips for becoming a successful online writer.

Finally, there's always Craigslist.com for a seemingly unlimited listing of freelance writing jobs. A caveat about Craigslist: there are a lot of scammers out there who are looking to take advantage of the relatively new writer, so be careful and use common sense when responding to listings.

That being said, Craiglist can be a wonderful resource for freelance writing jobs. Manhattan Craigslist and the section “Writing Gigs” can be a good place to hunt for work; do a search for telecommuting jobs if you'd like to work from home.

Let this list be a great starting place as you get out there and look for freelance writing jobs that pay. Whatever your experience level, there's a freelance writing gig out there for you. Good luck in your search for freelance writing jobs!

They say that a good plan executed today is better than a perfect plan executed several years from now. This is true, and if you have a book inside of you then getting it out on paper won't hurt (much). With this in mind here are some tips to set you on the right track.

Regularity

Write regularly. Through habit and regularity you will condition yourself against writer's block and therefor make steady progress. If you write regularly it is also easier to convince relatives and friends not to disturb you when you are at work. Most importantly of all, it's all too easy to lose the knack of writing, and regularity guards against this.

Smashing through Writer's Block

If you have writer's block, then it is important to write something - immediately. Use Freud's talking cure to help. The infamous (for his wacky ideas) psychologist Sigmund Freud would kick off a free association session with his patient using a keyword. They would have to respond to that word immediately without thinking about it. Whatever word popped into their mind they would say. A session might go like this; “Forbidden,” setting off the patient; “Chocolate, desire, cardinal, tornado, sigh, swing, bat, sky, song...” and so forth. Freud believed that at first the individual's inhibitions would censor inappropriate thoughts (hence words) but as they continued to repeat the chain of thought at such a high speed the self-censorship would subside leaving insight into the patient's subconscious. This stream of consciousness would reveal to him secrets the patient would not ordinarily reveal.

This is very useful for the writer as well. Writer's block is often caused by anxiety about one's writing. We want to write the best that we can, and worrying about it gets in the way. Is this story rubbish? Is it not as good as my usual work? We wonder to ourselves. Such anxiety is unjustified, there's no such thing as perfection anyway. Get a word processor open and then type everything that enters your head in a stream of consciousness style of story, and keep going with that. Do not worry about how good it is. Everything can be fixed later.

Soon you'll find that the block has lifted and that you're enjoying writing again. You can either keep the stream of consciousness section and edit it later, scrap it, or reuse it elsewhere. Most of the time it actually turns out, not only better than expected, but often among your favorite bits.

Let Your Own Stories Inspire You

Somewhere in the world is someone who would love your stories. Where would we be today if Homer, Dante, and H. G. Wells had all kept their writing to themselves? Write short stories and start sending them to publications. This is very difficult, competition is fierce, and rejection letters will seem to be the only mail you get. But it's worth it. Getting a short story published, having that there, being able to leaf through the pages and see your work beside the works of others changes the way you look at yourself and your writing. Being a published writer makes it harder to forget about your novel.

Musical Muse

Give your book a soundtrack. Create a playlist and play that when you are writing your story. Sound is a catalyst and will drift within your mind to spark thoughts and emotions that deepens world, the story and the characters.

Don't Endlessly Rewrite

The end of the first draft is the beginning of your novel. Only once you've got the whole thing out and into existence can you see it in all its messed up glory. Each draft provides an opportunity to see its flaws and chip away at the rough form before you, until you reveal the form that lies within, (much like a sculpture). Herein lies the problem. It is quite possible to write and rewrite endlessly, to go through a thousand versions of the novel, to seek out perfection. When does a painter for example know when the final stroke of his brush has been made and the painting is done? The art of knowing when to stop is as important as putting the work in. Once finished, only rewrite to editorial order.

Join a Writer's Group

A writer's group will help you immeasurably by providing people who are willing to read your work (in exchange for you reading theirs) and offer advice and suggestions as to how it could be improved. Although editors also sometimes offer suggestions, nothing can beat the in-depth advice provided by helpful colleagues in writer's groups. On top of that, fellow authors tend to point out useful websites, books and software. Even just the moral support makes it worth the effort.

Like all things there are good writer's groups and bad writer's groups, and no way to tell them apart except to try a few and make up your own mind.

Inspiration

Where do story ideas come from? Everywhere. Bang two ideas together and see if they spark. Suddenly you might find that spark lighting the flames of your passion. Some authors get their story ideas from reading a newspaper, while others just sit down at the computer and write, experimenting as they go along. Wherever you are in the world, keep an open mind and look around you as a thousand stories unfold. Often just being at the right time and the right place is enough, but don't hang around waiting for inspiration, write every day regardless.

Setting

You would be amazed how many stories are set in the main character's living room. While there is nothing wrong with this, be creative, set your scenes elsewhere. Back row of an abandoned theater, on a train, museums, grand plazas – ask yourself; Where do I go? And then ask yourself; Where would I like to go? In your book you have no time constraints nor budget constraints, use your novel to escape, send your characters places you can only dream of. They'll thank you for it. Conveying a sense of place is extremely important, from that comes everything else. Take care of the setting and the characters have a world to live in, places to see, a whole universe of cause and effect. Suddenly your characters will come alive.

Characterization

As we have already seen, take care of the world and the characters take care of themselves. Avoid clichés though. Does the professor have to be absent minded? All stepmothers surely aren't evil? Do rich girls always have to be shallow? More importantly your characters are people, and therefore they transcend boundaries and mess up easy categorization. Even if one of them is a professor, it doesn't necessarily mean he is absent minded – he could be sharp as a surgical laser or better yet he could be just an ordinary guy. Being a professor doesn't define him, only his actions do.

Read Voraciously

Nothing helps writing more than reading. It is through the words of others that we become inspired by stories and worlds, to look beyond the furthest horizon.

Most Importantly

Never give up. Writing a novel is a fun and rewarding pastime and nothing can beat the satisfaction that comes with getting one finished and out there among readers. With a bit of luck these tips will help. They are off course merely suggestions, take what you find to be valuable and discard the rest. In time you will find ways of working that suit you. So let that novel idea plant itself in your mind and grow through the pages until you have created a world, and spun a story; and someone somewhere will enjoy what you've written.

Creative Writers do not adhere themselves to the norms of their society and literary standards. They are more like day-dreamers who sketch their visualized castles on paper and are repeatedly accused of irrational themes, deconstructive thoughts and notions. Remarkable as it may seem, their work arises much curiosity, fame and prosperity as opposed to a traditional writers predictable context. They tend to break all rules and free themselves from daily constraints of reality. Their theories may seem neurotic in pattern and mystic in nature simply because they have merged visionary faith into their literature. Such an example is prevalent in William Shakespeare’s earliest comedies, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which chants creative imagination empowered with the supernatural world. Similarly my prose is not limited to the domains of current traditions and morals and I have resolutely fastened myself to an invigorating and innovation point of view. My advice to you therefore is to acknowledge and accept that human conditions existed, exist and will exist furthermore but to be able to do something about them is my fellow- Americans our true honor. We may state, ‘I am the poet of the body, and I am the poet of the soul.’ (Whitman)

Where to Begin

Read

Reading can invoke your inner most thoughts. You need to read as much as possible to identify and personalize your writing style. Initially you may read only non-fiction or mystery but exploring diverse genres of literature opens your minds to accept different styles of narration. Being raised in an urban family with no affordable tutors to aid my education, I began self- studying the works of Homer, Dante, Shakespeare and the Bible. My inspiration vastly came from these primary selections of books although meager. I soon started crafting ideas and penned my emotions. Little did I know that these very books would inspire my substantial quotes to later pioneer American Literature (Walt Whitman). You may feel the urge to rewrite a paragraph or verse.

In your own solace, you may want to pen down your thoughts upon finishing a certain chapter. Various ideas may flash through your mind as you summarize a chapter or pen down your reactions and when you finish, your inspiration will stare back at you in big bold font. Do not worry yourself with Ethics and Norms. As a free will writer you gradually learn the art of expressing your personal heart-felt, provocative and intrusive ideas and are never afraid to take on an opponent in your game of words. ‘O the joy of the strong-brawn'd fighter, towering in the arena in perfect condition, conscious of power, thirsting to meet his opponent.’ (Whitman Walt, Complete Poetry and Selected Prose) Rest assured your logic will one day be evaluated, preserved, and dignified.

Test Your Idea

‘To have great poets, there must be great audiences too.’ -Walt Whitman

People all around tend to evaluate your potential based on which you may excel as a writer. Expose your work to masses and consume their reaction. You may be bombarded with Criticism as critics can be looked upon as consumers of able authors and their calculated opinions are widely accepted in markets only to earn a fortune out of literate mishaps. They limit our speech and want to dictate leadership. If a writer accepts their judgment, he forever remains within their designed boundaries, never again able to inscribe advancements in his career. Likewise he may only listen to expected dignitaries and do no good for the human race. My critics believed that my prose drew me closer to the readers of the British Isles-- where I was first "appreciated and recognized as a major poet". They were indeed my inspiration as my literature knew no boundaries. Critics burn and sore your fingers for penning down themes much to their dislike and horror. Do not be disheartened as this is just the beginning of your Revolution.

I recall an incident, ‘When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he lectured with such applause in the lecture room, how soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick; Till rising and gliding out, I wandered off by myself, in the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, looked up in perfect silence at the stars.’

Get Involved

You need to contribute your efforts to the society you live in. Look around you and what do you see: Famine, Drought, Corruption, Immorality, Rapes and Abuses. I encourage all to tell the story of their own community in verse or writing.

Through my poetry, I have depicted the horrors of the society I had lived in. I started work at a young age and was forever on the move. My strong desire to help humanity led me to Manhattan and Brooklyn where I worked as a printer and journalist. I then became a contractor and delved in Real Estate. While in New Orleans, I witnessed the foul conditions of slavery. The experience brought along deep misery and discontent. Realizing their pain, I wrote down the emotions which intruded my conscious. The American democratic and Idealistic view did not support my content but I endeavored nevertheless to lessen their misery and depict inhumanity in my prose. I began to write about the horrors and neglect of that human condition. At the same time, the Mexican War intruded upon my conscience. Oppression, dishonor, and compassion for the poor and downtrodden were the backdrops which become the central themes of my poetry (Walt Whitman).

Originally hailing from Long Island, my father was actively involved in the Political circle. He likewise invoked a patriotic pride in me (Walt Whitman). ‘I hear America singing, the ’ (Leaves varied carols I hear, those of mechanics—each one singing his, as it should be, blithe and strong, The carpenter singing his, as he measures his plank or beam, The mason singing his, as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work, The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck, The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands; The wood-cutter’s song, the ploughboy’s, on his way in the morning, or at the noon intermission, or at sundown; The delicious singing of the mother—or of the young wife at work—or of the girl sewing or washing, Each singing what belongs to her and to none else; (Leaves of Grass)

Conclusion

To masses of people, students, poets, democrats and writers of the past and present era.

‘Loafe with me on the grass- loose the stop from your throat: Not words, not music or rhyme I want- not custom or lecture, not even the best; only the lull I like, the hum your valved voice.’’ (Leaves of Grass)

Recommended Reading

These poems emphasize the past democracy in America and hold the key of motivation and inspiration for young authors and followers:

"Leaves of Grass"

"Children of Adam"

"Calamus": (In association with the calamus PLANT and Kalamos, a God in antique mythology who was transformed with grief by the death of his lover, the male youth Karpos. In addition, the calamus plant's central characteristic is a prominent central vein that is phallic in appearance.

"We Two Boys Together Clinging"

"When I Read the Book" & ‘’Song of Myself’’ (Personal appraisals)

"When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer." (Learning while in a Classroom)

"The Wound Dresser" (Later set to music by John Adams)

"Come Up from the Fields Father" (The effects of war)

"Dalliance of the Eagles,"(A Colorful explications of sex- in mid-Victorian era)

‘’Death Bed’’ (After a stroke- nearing Death)

Free-will opposing Norms and Principles

As educated individuals, it remains our primary obligation to pay tribute to our nation by being objective and by utilizing our writing skills to address features and stories most important to our country. Creative Writers do not adhere themselves to the norms of their society and literary standards. They are more like day-dreamers who sketch their visualized castles on paper and are repeatedly accused of irrational themes, deconstructive thoughts and notions. Remarkable as it may seem, their work arises much curiosity, fame and prosperity as opposed to a traditional writers predictable context. They tend to break all rules and free themselves from daily constraints of reality. Their theories may seem neurotic in pattern and mystic in nature simply because they have merged visionary faith into their literature. Such an example is prevalent in William Shakespeare’s earliest comedies, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which chants creative imagination empowered with the supernatural world.

Reading widely

Writing can be developed as a craft through perseverance and eagerness. Reading can invoke your inner most thoughts. You need to read as much as possible to identify and personalize your writing style. Initially you may read only non-fiction or mystery but exploring diverse genres of literature opens your minds to accept different styles of narration. People all around tend to evaluate your potential based on which you may excel as a writer. Expose your work to masses and consume their reaction. Be sensitive to other readers and soon you will win yourself a dedicated crowd of readers.

Reaching out

If you work for a local newspaper, you need to reach out to the people all around you by stimulating them to react and response to your writing. Don’t limit your writing to concerts, latest fashion or upcoming events or movie reviews but explore audience reactions and what your readers are looking forward while trying all the while to answer the following similar questions. What Event, Why is it happening in your state, why so late or why it is delayed/ rescheduled, When is the event, who is free to attend, is the event on a weekend or does it coincide with another gig? Where is the event and why it is staged there, how do you expect the crowd to be? These questions surely get your audience involved- While you wait for your article to get published, they search your article to catch a glimpse of their remark. You need to contribute your efforts to the society you live in. Look around you and what do you see: Famine, Drought, Corruption, Immorality, Rapes and Abuses. Through your Poetry or articles, you can depict the horrors your society confronts or detail the excellent infrastructure of your city.

Rewriting and Recreating

At times you may feel a strong urge to rewrite a paragraph or verse in a poem or story. In your own solace, you may want to pen down your thoughts upon finishing a certain chapter. Various ideas may flash through your mind as you summarize a chapter or note down your reactions. When you finish, your inspiration will stare back at you in big bold font. Don’t worry yourself with Ethics and Norms. As a free will writer you gradually learn the art of expressing your personal heart-felt, provocative and intrusive ideas and are never afraid to take on an opponent in your game of words. Rest assured your logic will one day be evaluated, preserved, and dignified.

Keep a Journal

Many ideas come when you're least expecting them. Keep a journal or recorder with you at all times so when creativity strikes you are armed and ready. Later when you are at your writing place, go back to what you have recorded and see what ideas come from them.

People Watch

When you are sitting at an airport, restaurant or any place where there are plenty of people, sit and observe what they are doing. What are they saying to each other? What are they wearing? Where are they going? Make up your own stories and lives for the people passing you by. Why does the man who just walked in front of you look as if he's in a hurry? Is he late for something? Keep asking questions, which brings me to...

Why? How? When? Where?

If an idea strikes you, ask questions about everything that has to do with that idea. Even if you don't actually use the answers to some of these questions it's okay because it gets you started and it leads you to what may be more important for your story.

Write What You Know

What do you know about more than anything else? What do you want to inform people of? Did something amazing happen to you sometime in your life? Draw from experience, memory, maybe a book you read or a movie you saw. You can use these experiences as idea starters.

Read, Read, and Read Some More

When you read all sorts of different genres you get ideas from them that you can use towards your proposed genre. You see examples of great writing used in many different forms. Do you like the way one author describes scenes? How can you use that technique for the scene you are working on?

Many or all of these ideas may work for you, the idea is to keep writing. Even if you feel you have nothing worth writing one day take out a journal and start writing about your day, thoughts you had, how events made you feel. Sooner or later one of these remarks will spark an idea for your next piece.

When I think of a “writer” I picture someone with some degree of artistic creativity and taste. A writer is someone who can fashion words in such a way that most people read them with ease and enjoyment, and those readers then have a desire to read more from that author. But more importantly this writer should be creating an original piece of work, one that speaks to truth, in any scope of truth. The problem with the writers most of us read is the content they are covering. They make pick and choose among topics they feel a little passionate about, but are always careful enough to choose things that the cattle of management/publishment will enjoy.

Can one be any more hypocritical? In the effort to remain under good graces from above, the writers cover their works with a certain ooze of political correctness and the work reeks of ass-kissing goodness. Thus the vicious cycle begins. The publisher reads such things and is pleased, because the writer wrote exactly to the tune of the publisher's personal preferences. The publisher publishes the writer. The writer recognizes that his work is seen as some form of a success. The writer writes more similar things that will further please the publisher. Over some course of time, the writer is not even creating his own work, but is simply a puppet whose strings are being pulled by a bureaucratic swine from above.

The great irony with my writing of these words is that I have thrown myself into the circle of despair that is slowly tugging this country under. Free-thinking and basic liberties are being squashed on a daily bases. These ground-floor building blocks to a once great country are being kicked into the garbage by people in power, and the few who still value this idea of free thinking and speech are now seen as foolish eccentrics. So I capitalize on this viewpoint of me (the one that sees me as a fool) by stating the obvious that writers are spineless and publishers are simply whipping cattle whilst declaring they value free speech simply because their feigned job titles.

So here I sit, I've made myself a writer by writing these words that stated that writers are bovine. Few grander ironies could be found.

#1- Most editors, even those who are looking for a bargain, want someone with published credits to his name. #2- And even more dismaying, many publications tell you up front that byline credit and/or a free publication copy is considered payment. While #2 doesn't help pay the rent, it does help you build those credits to satisfy #1.

If you have never been published before, here are a few things you can do to start building your publishing credits:

Check out your local publications, particularly the ones dealing with your specific community; do they have columns about community clubs, personal achievements, local schools, history and folklore? See if you can suggest a new and exciting feature or even regular column. Remember, you should be familiar with the writing style and the types of articles they regularly feature. Use the masthead to learn the managing editor's name - if you have to call the main office number and ask. Be sure you have the right spelling. Either snail mail or email (if the email address is provided, note that some publications state they don't want emailed inquiries) the editor with a professional looking query. Remember, you are trying to sell yourself as a writer and the query letter is your first writing sample the editor will see.

Blogging is a wonderful opportunity thanks to current technology. Find a suitable site for the type of writing you want to do (many sites are free), blog regularly, keep it themed and keep it professional. Familiarize yourself with popular blogs at that site to see what gets the most response and how to get your blog and your name recognized. Include the link to your blog(s) in your custom signature at the end of emails or forum submissions to help advertise it. By all means, use that blog in your list of writing credits, it is an easy way for an editor to see what you are capable of.

Read the classifieds regularly. It is rare to see an advertisement for a freelance writer, however be sure to read through all of the writing and editing listings. If you see an ad for an editor who “works with freelance writers” then bingo, you have just found a local freelance market. Browse through the publication if possible, again familiarize yourself with the market, and draft a query letter to the editor (by name). Don't get discouraged if you get a negative response or even no response at all, sometimes your info will be kept in someone's rolodex and called up as the need arises. Do not, under any circumstances, respond negatively to a decision - you will not only burn yourself with that publication but in the small world of publishing, you are liable to ruin your chances in a much larger market.

When you send your query letters, pay attention to spelling (ESPECIALLY the name of the person you are addressing) and punctuation. Often magazines and newspapers will include detailed instructions how to make queries, who to address, and how to submit. Follow the directions exactly or your query will only wind up in a wastebasket. Make your story/idea pitch in the opening paragraph, if your letter doesn't grab the editor, he won't read far enough into it to give your idea any consideration. Tell the editor why you are suited to write that article - do you have relevant experience, a chance to interview an interesting personality, are you good at research, etc? Don't make any great boastful claims, no editor wants to be told that you are the “best writer since”; if that is the truth, let them discover it for themselves.

However there does come a time when the non-paying and low-paying gigs are no longer the path of choice for you unless you have a personal passion about a particular project. The first time you are asked for your rates, be realistic, but do not underestimate yourself. Again, being familiar with the market will help when you quote your fee. If the specific periodical doesn't post their rates, search “freelance pay rates” online and you will come up with several handy guides. Depending on your LOCAL market, the publication you are querying, and the type of project you are contracting for, advertorial rates can vary between 40-cents and 2-dollars per word; reviews can be as low as 10-cents a word; and magazine features can start at 14-cents per word. (*recent Writer's Market quotes)

So I read some more books and had the idea to take a writing workshop online. In this travel writing class, we researched and wrote a complete article from start to finish. Then we practiced composing query letters to print publications and researched possible markets for our stories. This process took about six weeks of working on one article and then figuring out how to market the piece.

When I left this workshop, I had a much firmer grasp on how to write an article. But the workshop was clearly devoted to writing and marketing articles for newspapers and magazines. I tried to market my article but I felt confused about where to begin. The process felt a bit overwhelming. Also, I had no other published pieces so I couldn't “query with published clips.”

I've long been an admirer of BootsnAll, a travel website that has launched the careers of several respected travel writers. I felt it would be very meaningful to me to have an article published on that site. Bootsnall works with beginners and professional writers, so I knew they would be open to my article. If the work was good, it wouldn't matter if I didn't have a handful of clips of my published articles.

I submitted my travel article (with photos) to BootsnAll and it was published in a few weeks. I felt so proud that day to see my work published alongside travel writers I really admire. That really got me hooked on writing content for websites. My next move was to start publishing a library of work on Associated Content, and very soon, I'll have one hundred articles published on that website.

Advantages of Being an Online Writer

I have really loved my one year of being an online writer. I find it offers several distinct advantages compared to writing for print. Writing for sites like Triond, BootsnAll, and Associated Content, I feel part of a creative community of writers and readers. Writing online, I get to know and communicate with fellow writers, meet some of my readers, and get some useful feedback about my articles. Not only is that a nice morale booster, it's good for my work. Constructive feedback is very important to growth as a writer, and the interaction with writers and readers helps overcome some of the isolation that comes with hour after hour of being at home writing articles.

If I wrote these articles for a newspaper or magazines, there might be some feedback or letters to the editor, but it wouldn't be as immediate or personal, in my opinion. Newspapers and magazines get tossed aside and discarded, but my library of articles will hopefully be live online for years to come. I feel that writing articles online is like becoming part of a tribe of people really passionate about reading stories and creating new content, and I've loved being part of that community.

Another plus of being an online writer is the immediate, regular payments for articles, whether it's an upfront cash payment or a share of ad revenues generated by a story. Browsing through my Writer's Market, I notice lots of magazines that say they “pay on publication” and some of them take months or longer to publish an article!

Print publications also tend to spring up and shut down with some regularity. There is always the possibility of toiling away on a great article idea, only to have the magazine fold without warning, leaving the writer hanging without payment. While there are plenty of reputable print publications, sometimes in this economy it's hard to predict what market will shut down next.

I like that review times and payments for online writing at reputable websites are usually swift, and I also appreciate receiving revenue based on performance of my articles. This money that rolls in as a share of ad revenues from my articles is like a passive income stream. I do the work once by writing an article, and years later I could still be receiving payments for my work.

Ease of entry is another thing I really appreciate about online writing. Because the internet is so vast with so many websites, there is always a market for an article. The web needs content and online writers. The bar may seem impossibly high at some print publications, if you don't have a doctorate, a masters, a degree in journalism or a stack of clips from prestigious magazines or newspapers. But there is something very democratic about the web--if your work is good, some website will publish you even if you don't have a journalism background or lots of previously published articles.

The Downside of Being a Content Provider

Lately, I call myself a content provider when I tell people what I do. I get a lot of blank stares, or I get questioned as to what that really means, or sometimes the reaction is silence.

When I mention I'm a freelance writer, I've had people respond “Oh, you write for local newspapers and magazines?” I answer that I'm published on several websites, and sometimes I see them deflate. Like being a content provider for websites is somehow less valid than being a writer for print publications.

I feel there is sometimes a stigma attached to being an online writer. The general public often doesn't realize the expertise that goes into writing for websites. Being a content provider entails different things than filing a print story with an editor. For example, I have to consider keyword density, subheads, discoverable titles for my stories, links, and how to edit photos to be published online with my work.

I've come to realize that being an online writer is really an art form and skill like any other. “Content is king” on the web, so it is the articles and information written by content providers that determine the potential success or failure of a site.

Keeping all this in mind, I can't help but cave into the pressure sometimes to get my first piece published in print. I've been a bit conditioned to feel like that one small article I might publish in my local weekly paper will somehow be more important and valid than my over one hundred (and counting) articles published online. It often bothers me that many people think it's no work at all to be an online writer and that content providers can sometimes get no respect (except from other content writers!)

So I'm looking into getting that first precious clip from a newspaper or magazine, but content writing will always be my joy. I truly enjoy being an online writer and I'm very grateful for the benefits I've received from publishing my work on websites. Online writing gave me my start, so no matter how many print articles I get published someday, I'll always be proud to be a content writer.

Sadly these two options are ones often taken, as writers may be over committed to t heir work and too proud to correct errors or realize that maybe the reading public is correct, and their piece is wrong.

So the best option is to swallow your pride, admit a mistake was made, and take actions to try to correct it.

I recount two recent stories, one that happened to myself, and one that I witnessed.

First, the one I saw. A person had made a few simple bad grammar mistakes and spelling errors. People were posting all kinds of comments, calling the person names, making fun of their "English" and so on. The author, however, did not handle the situation correctly. They had been corrected for using the wrong "too" and for spelling "know" like "no". To which I witnessed the writer of the piece get defensive, even saying that "know" is spelled "no" in their country. It would have been much simpler for them just to fix the spelling errors and be done with it.

Next account was my own.

I wrote a long list of songs which I felt had really interesting lyrics. I am a person who likes songs with good lyrics, profound messages, stuff like that. I compiled a list of songs which I felt had deep lyrics, of course anyone who feels the same way as myself will know that Sting and Bono are both noted as brilliant lyricists, talented writers who often have deep messages in their songs, along with good music. As such I listed songs by them more than once on the list.

Additionally at one point I wanted to get suggestions from other people, so made a poll, and a large number of people requested a song by the band, Nickelback. As such I included this song, and all went well for a period of time.

Then the link hit the social network known as StumbleUpon and all kinds of chaos began. It took me a few days to notice that I was receiving many negative comments, and at first I was stunned and didn't know how to react. The list was NOT called "The Best Songs of all Time", which was what it seemed people where thinking.

Some comments were clearly misplaced, saying that ALL the songs were mainstream, which I knew was not true. Some were wrong, saying that ALL the songs were older, which again was incorrect, while many were older, I suspect the people simply did not recognize the newer songs. One common complaint was against the Nickelback song. Another complaint was against the omission of "Stairway to Heaven".

So I thought about what to do, I myself responded in the comments area of my article. I tried to explain myself, and I admit I was slow to finally realize that I needed to correct the problem. It took me a few days before I actually fixed the problem. As such I removed the Nickelback song, which indeed I should not have included. A few days, and more comments later, I made a point as to why I had not included the other song, Stairway to Heaven.

However it was too late, much damage had been done. Some of the very offensive comments I removed, as many offered no actual facts, and some were just people typing random letters. I wish I had responded earlier, fixed the problems immediately, before other people saw the problems and gave the link a Stumbleupon "thumbs down" vote.
I certainly know it is impossible to please everyone, and have no intention of doing such, however when we have a problem in an article we need to fix it if we can. If we see a problem in an article we need to point it out in ways that are helpful rather than offensive to the author.

So, if you have an article that is not going well, and you are receiving legitimate complaints, act on them, ignore the other complaints, as they have no real value. Fix problems that can be fixed, and fix them quickly. Do not get defensive, recognize that some errors are bound to happen, and correct them.

If you wish to see my article which went bad, but has been fixed, you can find it here.

When I published my first article on Triond, it literally made pennies. That was very disappointing, so I didn't log into Triond for a while, and focused my efforts on writing for other sites. Eventually I checked my Triond account, and I saw that my one article had actually made a few dollars! I realized that the power of page views really do add up, and over time, a writer can make some nice cash on Triond.

Now, as I've started to become involved in the Triond community and I've added more articles, I see a slow but steady increase in my payments. Pennies earned turned into dollars, which seem to steadily increase the longer I write for Triond. My goal is to make a part-time monthly income on Triond, and I believe that it is possible. In my experience, the more you put into Triond as a writer, the more you'll get out of the site.

Here are some tips I wish I'd known when I first started writing for Triond.

Read articles by Triond's Hot Users

 

When you log into your Triond account, notice the section of your dashboard that shows hot users. These are the leading writers on Triond. It is very helpful to get a feel for what is popular on Triond, by reading the content of some of its hottest users. I believe that reading great writers helps improve my own writing. I have some of the most popular Triond users on my friends list, so I can keep up with their work. I also take a look at the hottest Triond articles of the day to see what people want to read.

I also spend time at Triond's site Writinghood.com, reading articles about online writing and the business of writing. I find that Writinghood has a lot of great tips about writing for Triond.

Join the Triond Community

Triond has a great help section with lots of useful tips, but they don't really explain in depth about the Triond community. Becoming part of the Triond community is really vital to success on the site, so it's important to build your friend list in an intelligent and really authentic way.

What do I mean by this? Don't just start adding Triond users as friends if you haven't even read their work. It can be tempting to just add people to try and build up a friends list, but don't do it. Build your Triond friends list slowly and only add writers whose work you enjoy and would like to keep reading.

When I first joined Triond, I didn't understand the difference between friends and fans, and there's no information about that listed in the help section. I did notice that anyone I added as a friend would show up on my Triond dashboard with their newest articles listed under friends news. One day, I went to my community section on Triond and clicked on my fans. I saw I had one person listed as my fan, but I wasn't sure at first what that meant. Then I realized that that person had added me as a friend, and I would now show up on their dashboard whenever I added a new article.

I began to understand the power of adding friends on Triond in an intelligent manner. Whenever someone adds me as a Triond fan, I always also add them as a friend. This way we both show up under each other's friend news, and can read each other's articles. I also add other people as Triond friends when I find a writer I like and want to keep up with their articles. I find that lots of writers will return the favor and add you to their friend's list on Triond.

This is the power of the Triond community. The more people on your fans list on Triond, the more possibilities that someone will find and read your articles, and your page views (and your potential revenue) will grow.

Use Keywords and Tags

When writing content for Triond, keep keywords in mind. For example, I sometimes write about the CBS daytime soap As The World Turns. So that readers who like the show can find my articles, I make sure that the keywords As The World Turns are frequently used in my article. Other keywords I might also use could be CBS, soap, soaps, or soap opera. Use a keyword density tool to ensure that your keywords are used enough in your Triond article; aim for keyword density of about 3 to 5 percent.

Tags are also vital to getting page views on Triond. Consider your subject matter and its intended website when choosing tags for your Triond article. For example, when choosing tags for a recent travel article intended for Trifter, I went to Trifter.com and checked out the hot tags on the site. I saw tags like travel, vacation, so those are the tags I ended up using for my article (and it's been getting some decent page views!)

Find Your Niche and Develop a Following on Triond

I've noticed that certain articles fare better than others on Triond. The most popular Triond articles usually contain very catchy, attention getting titles. Lists are hot on Triond, such as Top Ten or Ten Best. Triond articles that do well can be silly, sensational, bizarre, intriguing or in some way quite unique and interesting, and these stories hook the attention of a large group of readers.

Don't give up on Triond if these kinds of articles just aren't your forte. If you have a specialty, you can still develop a following on Triond just by writing what you know. If your writing is good, you use keywords and tags effectively, and you have a passion for your subject matter, readers will find you on Triond. For example, I noticed that there aren't tons of articles on Trifter about New York, or travel in the Hudson Valley (one of my writing specialties.) By writing on this topic, those who really want to read about travel in New York State will find my Triond articles on Trifter, and I could possibly become the go-to writer for this niche (building popularity and page views.)

Be Patient and Keep Adding Content to Triond

One of the most important keys to success on Triond is a slow and steady approach. Be patient if you don't make a lot of money at first on Triond. The power of writing for Triond is the slow accumulation of page views as days on the site turn into months, then years. Keep regularly adding content to Triond, and try to set goals for how many articles you'd like to write per month and how much you'd like to earn.

Don't sacrifice quality for quantity when writing for Triond. Make sure you are pleased with everything you publish on Triond, and always do your best. Remember to proofread and check your Triond articles for errors, so your Triond library of published work is of the highest quality.

I believe that the rewards of being a Triond writer are great and are not just measured in financial gain. Writing for Triond means being part of a lovely supportive creative community while you continue to build a reputation and a portfolio as a writer. I believe that by following a few simple tips, it is possible to achieve success as a Triond writer, and have a great time doing it. Good luck writing for Triond!