Writer Friendly

This is a quote from John Mayer’s blog, which I keep on my corkboard:

“I can’t really explain what happens when, as an artist, you get that message from the inside that says, ‘time to make another one.’ One day you’re sitting around, living off the fat of the land, and then as if from out of nowhere, it taps you on the shoulder. The slate goes shiny and clean. Those colors come back - it all starts as colors - then moods, then settings, then sounds, then words. And churning beneath that the entire time is the doubt; doubt that you’ll find the rhyme, doubt that you’ll ever connect that verse with that chorus, doubt that you have anything left to say that matters.

I live for that streetfight, though. The knock-down drag-out anything-goes battle between what you have in your hands and what you ‘think’ you might possibly have in your mind but you have no proof of. But when you win, man…look out. There’s nothing better. Why go back at it so soon? Because I suck at everything else and I have being reminded of it.

If you think we writers do what we do for anything else than patching up voids, you’re mistaken. It’s all void putty. Take away the guitars and the songs, and my life story becomes completely unremarkable. I’m not getting down on myself, I’m getting up on the gift…I’m not much without it, and I’m blessed to have it.”

This is an excellent site that provides you with 50 ways to get published online. Check out the opportunities that are available for writers: EduChoices.

When you’re editing your own work, it can be challenging to find those wordy phrases. So choose one word over a collection of words, which means the same thing. Also, make your sentences more interesting by avoiding duplicate words. Use an online thesaurus to find variations of the word, so your readers don’t have to keep reading the same word.

From my experience, I’ve learned that it’s essential to look and apply for jobs on a daily basis in this economy. Employers have a plethora of potential employees to consider, so it could take them forever to get back to you or they might find someone more qualified for the position. When you’re a freelance writer, it’s important to have a degree and experience so rack up as many writing clips as you can. Eventually one of those applications you send will peak someone’s interest, but you have to be diligent about it. It’s a numbers game so think about it this way-the more applications you send out, the more chances you have at getting a job.

Writing at a desk all day long isn’t comfortable for your lower back. I tend to get shoulder pain from hunching over my computer every day, but I’ve been taking yoga classes and I learned some ways to reduce this pain. So if you want to continue writing without the back pain, check out my article to learn about simple yoga poses you can do to get some relief: Release Lower Back Pain with Yoga Poses.

Here are some websites to check out if you’re looking for journalistic positions:

• Media Bistro
• Journalism Jobs

“A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best; but what he has said or done otherwise shall give him no peace.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ever since I was a child, my mom always told me that she would be proud of me as long as I did my best. Even now I still strive for more than the best, but it’s true that I feel most at peace when I know that I have given something my all. Whether its with your writing or maintaining your writing business, it’s important to give it all you have, especially if you want to reach your dreams.  

If you enjoy writing magazine articles or book proposals, you need to check out Freelance Writing Jobs’ Monday Markets. Instead of paying $30-40 for Writer’s Market, it’s cheaper to check out opportunities online. This is also an excellent route to take if you’re looking to write in a niche. Although don’t be quick to discount other areas such as religion, horror, nonfiction, etc.

When you’re trying to market yourself as a writer, it’s a challenging task. Some days you may feel insecure, while other days you may be ready to take on the world. Unlike other businesses that sell products, YOU are the product, and there is nothing to hide behind. You definitely have to be willing to put yourself out there, and if you’re not ready to do it in person, you can at least start advertising yourself on the web. This is a great way to reach people who need web content written, and you might even find more telecommuting writing positions this way. Check out Today.com’s advertising opportunities and try out one month to see how many page views and clicks you get.

When it comes to the work I do for others, I automatically proofread my writing. However, I’ve noticed that when I’m busy I tend to write blog posts for my personal blogs and rush off and publish them without taking a second look. I guess that is just one of my faults I need to work on as a writer. What are some things you need to work on?