Published on February 14, 2007
I frequently receive emails from readers asking for advice on how we balance working at home with our home life. Here’s the latest letter I received:
I wanted to let you know what a great resource your weekly newsletter is to me and how eagerly I anticipate it in my e-mail inbox. Thank you for providing such a wonderful tool for anyone who will sign up to receive it. I am especially inspired by your personal stories from home, and I hoped you would share some tips on how you organize your day and get everything done. It seems amazing to me that you can manage a family (especially a young baby) and demanding (albeit rewarding) work and not be overwhelmed.
Thank you, Amy
Published on February 14, 2007
- Social Security Number vs. Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Simple Formula for determining writing fees anywhere in the country
- Traditional Publishing vs. Self-Publishing
Published on February 14, 2007
You don’t have to be a graduate of dear old Alma Mater U. to write articles for their alumni magazine. That’s good news for freelance writers because alumni magazines, particularly those of major universities, offer financially rewarding markets with the opportunity to write several different types of articles. There’s more good news; according to the National Directory of Magazines, in 2005 there were 971 U.S. and Canadian alumni magazines, an increase of 268 from 1995.
Published on February 14, 2007
Angela, this one has been bothering me for over three years. Now that I know more about how the writing game works, I am ready to confess my great shame.
A few summers back, I had an idea for an article. I had never written for anything but my own journal and close friends, but I wanted to try my hand at writing and I wrote the article. I then phoned the local community paper and asked if they would be interested in a piece on “wee gardeners” about children helping with the family garden. They liked the idea and told me to email it to the newspaper. Well, I did just that, and it appeared in the following issue. A few weeks later I wrote another article about “crafts for Kids”. I heard nothing back from them, yet that, too, appeared in the paper.
Published on February 14, 2007
I hate to say it, but I didn’t know what a blog was until two years ago when a friend asked me to read a post from someone’s online journal. At first, I couldn’t see the purpose in blogging. I thought it was “giving your work away” and I’d done too much of that as a naive, beginning writer to want to go there again. Then I thought to myself, “Blogging could actually be fun. I could keep up-to-date with long distant friends and write about whatever comes to mind.”
Published on February 7, 2007
It’s so cold here that the entire family is suffering from severe dry skin. From my nosebleeds to Max scratching his knees raw, it feels like we’re keeping the moisturizer industry in business these days.
Published on February 7, 2007
Last week, I wrote about the growing controversy over crappy writing jobs that pay only a buck or two per article. I also published an email I’d received that complained about a job I ran that paid $9/hour. I then wrote, “Is $9/hour low-ball pay or is that a home-based wage you would accept? What do you estimate you are you currently earning per hour on your writing jobs?”
Published on February 7, 2007
- Thanks For Letting Me Rant
Published on February 7, 2007
Many beginning freelance writers assume the path to wealth and success is found in the pages of glossy, popular magazines that line bookstore shelves or novels from New York City that reach the best-seller list.
Published on February 7, 2007
I’m so thankful for your website and newsletter. I’m a beginning writer and have just received my first contract to ghostwrite for a website from a job listed in your newsletter and I’m so excited. But I’m uncomfortable with their request for me to send a copy of my driver’s license and social security card.
