Writer Friendly

Bananagrams is a game that can help you expand your vocabulary skills and make you proficient at thinking of better words. This game is great for traveling or playing with the family. Rena Nathanson developed it, and its name is appropriate because it can drive you bananas. Small tiles, similar to the ones used in Scrabble, come in a pack shaped like a banana. The object of the game is to use all of the tiles before your opponent to make words. The tiles must stay connected, and when you use all of your letters, you yell out “peel.” This game is a fun way to test your vocabulary skills.

Many of the writing jobs I see on the job boards pay per article. Depending on what type of article you are writing, this could be good or bad. If the article takes you 15 to 30 minutes to write and you get paid $15, that’s a pretty good income. However, if you are being paid the same amount and you spend three to five hours writing the article, that’s not a very good pay rate. It’s difficult to keep these jobs when they don’t pay enough, but it’s hard to let them go when you enjoy them. If you want a side job to help you pay the rent, look into editing positions that you can do from home. These usually pay per hour, and you can sometimes decide how many hours and what days you want to edit. This can significantly help you supplement your income if you are paid $15 an hour and work 10 hours a week.

I have always loved to read, but during my years in college, I only read what I had to for my classes. The fun of reading dissipated, but I think I have made it fun again. If you want to start reading but feel discouraged and put off by it, it’s important that you choose a book that interests you. Don’t pick a book that you think you should read, pick a book that you want to read. Because I’m such a night owl, the perfect time for me to read is at night before I go to bed. It helps me fall asleep, and I get in at least an hour of reading. Starting a reading routine is easier when you start reading books like appeal to your interests.

All I have to say is learn from the professionals. The new vampire series, which starts with Twilight, has become a popular book for adults and young adults. It also helps that the author signed a movie contract, which is only helping to increase the sales of the book.  Currently, I’m reading Wicked so once I get finished with that book I would like to start reading Twilight. Books like this can be great learning tools, and when you’re reading them, you should keep notes of what the author did well. While the plot and conflict is appealing to a large audience, it had to be well written enough to inspire a movie director.

Another way to get exposure is to comment on other writers’ works. As a writer, it’s important for you to practice formulating your opinions and writing reviews. An easy way to get this practice is to become a member of a large writing database like eHow.com or something else that interests you. At eHow.com, you can write articles and receive revenue sharing too. By commenting on other people’s articles, you make yourself a more prominent figure in the online community and you are also promoting your work. You could even send members emails to let them know that you have commented on their work and that you would appreciate them returning the favor.

If you are beginning your writing career, it can be difficult to land jobs, especially when you don’t have any experience. Regardless of whether you have a degree in Journalism or English, you will probably still have trouble impressing potential employers. Clips (published works) are important to potential employers, and if you don’t have them, you need to work on getting them. A place where you can start is Suite 101. You don’t get paid per article, but you can write as many as you like on the topic matter that interests you the most. They do participate in revenue sharing, so you will receive money for page views and clicks. It will take some time to get recognized, but once you have a good amount of articles, you will start seeing some income.

I surf the job boards on a daily basis, and some of the jobs leave a lot to the imagination. It’s important to protect yourself as a writer so that you don’t end up doing the work for nothing. When you see those vague job ads, send an email requesting more information. However, if your gut is telling you that it’s not a good idea, you should probably listen…better safe than sorry. When you are looking to work for someone new, you also have the right to be the interviewer. Yes, the potential employer will interview you, but you need to gather your information too. If you think the job is right for you, but you are still not sure about the employer, politely request references. If the employer thinks that you are the best fit, they will take a moment to make you feel secure. It also helps if there is a contract to sign, because then you have evidence of what the job is and how much you are paid. 

Since it’s the holiday, there are more opportunities to work extra jobs. Even if you live in an economically depressed area, there is still hope that you can find something. The great part about these jobs is that they are temporary, so you can save up some cash to get you through the next couple months while you write. If you want a freelance writing career, you have to learn how to accommodate this lifestyle and prepare for the worst. Sometimes you have a steady job, sometimes you don’t. With the economy, it has become a gamble, because you never know how long that steady job will last. So look into working for bookstores, libraries, printing shops, etc. While you might not be writing at these jobs, they are at least related to the publishing world.

One thing I have realized is that if you write a lot, your back probably hurts. Sitting down all day at a desk can cause back problems, which is why it’s important to get up and walk around a few times during the day. Unfortunately, I don’t like sitting at my desk, so I find myself on the couch or in the reclining chair. I know it’s not good for my back, because I end up having pain after sitting for hour. If you know some yoga moves or back stretches, it’s beneficial to do them before and after your work day. 

Even though you might not be a poor writer, you still might need to cut back on expenses this year. With the holiday season fast approaching, it can become stressful knowing you have to start your Christmas shopping. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on gifts that people might not use or need, create a more personal gift with your writing. Let people know how much you appreciate them by writing them a story or poem. If you want to be more creative, design a calendar for them with photographs and write messages to them each month. Gifts are more special when they are hand made and come from the heart. Plus, it saves you money!