Real Words

I’m the first to admit that Reality TV is probably not the best source for inspiration. However, it has its moments. For some, watching the development of characters on these shows can assist them in creating their own characters for novels and short stories. For me, recent inspiration came from one line in a show that made me literally laugh out loud.

The show was Hell’s Kitchen. Abrasive Chef Gordon Ramsay was all worked up about how slow one of the contestants on the show was being at his work. And what he said was something along the lines of “you’re moving like a tortoise … giving birth”.

I’d never heard anyone say that before and it caught me off guard. It took the usual metaphor that is tired and obvious and gave it this twist that struck me as ridiculously humorous. Not much on TV actually makes me laugh aloud so the show got points for that. But more importantly, it got me thinking about the fact that there is always a new way to the same old things if you’re willing to look for that way.

Yes, a lot of metaphors have already been made before. But we can take those metaphors and put our own spin on them to make them apply to different situations or say something slightly different than what they usually say. A good writer will edit out the cliches in her work and find a way to write a new turn of phrase.

Question of the Day: Can you think of any other twists-on-sayings that you’ve heard which stuck with you?

[Tags] inspiration, quote, hell’s kitchen, chef gordon ramsay [/Tags]

There are many times in a freelance writer’s life when it becomes necessary to track down new work. Here are eighteen ways that you can start bringing in more freelance jobs today:

1. Check the classifieds. Craigslist is the best of the sites out there for daily advertisements by people seeking to hire freelancers. Be sure to check for telecommute writing positions in multiple cities and not just the ones posted on the Craigslist site for where you live. Other good sites include Performancing and Online Writing Jobs.
2. Check sites that offer job links. There are several sites that will troll through Craigslist and other advertisements for you and provide you with links to the good opportunities for freelance writing. Freelance Writing Jobs, Freelance Hub and Freelancing for Blogs are good places to check. There are also job links here on Real Words on Saturdays and Sundays.
3. Check the job boards of sites that advertise open postions for their own sites. For example, Word Press has listings when bloggers are needed for any Word Press blogs. Likewise with the Creative Weblogging blog network.
4. Advertise on your own blog or website that you’re available for work. Let people know what you’re seeking to do and provide them with links to relevant samples. If you don’t have a blog / website that gets noticed, you’ll want to get it some attention. Run a contest asking other bloggers to mention your site.
5. Advertise on writing job sites that you are available. You’re able to post your resume or write an ad that you’re available on numerous sites including Online Writing Jobs (see link above) and Blogger Jobs. Take advantage of that.
6. Get active in social networking. Make contact with people on sites like LinkedIn and let them know that you’re looking for new writing work.
7. Identify online sites that you would like to work for. Put together a great cover letter as to why you would want to work for them along with a sample of your writing ability. Contact the people who head the site with this information. They may not be hiring immediately but they’ll surely think of you when they are.
8. Cold call local businesses. Nobody likes cold calling but it can be a really effective way to start getting new writing work. When you’re in the famine time of the feast-and-famine freelance world, you should consider trying this out.
9. Put together a media kit and/or brochures and send them out to local businesses to advertise your writing skills and availability. This can be just as effective as cold calling and can be a lot less intimidating for most people.
10. Send out an email to all of your contacts. This can go out in the form of a general update about what’s going on with you but may briefly mention that you’re seeking work. Someone might bite or may at least point you in the right direction of new freelance work.
11. Add announcements on all of your social bookmarking sites (such as Mixx or Digg) that you’re always on the lookout for new work. Describe what type of writing you do and encourage people to get in touch with you if they know of availabilities.
12. Teach a class. This is a great way to earn money by doing something relevant to your writing and possibly get new writing work as well. Think of an aspect of the writing business that you know well enough to speak on. Hold a class (you can advertise locally and through sites like Craigslist) and charge a small fee for your efforts. At the end of the class, pass on your contact information and encourage anyone in the class that is seeking writing help to get in touch with you to discuss your rates. You may end up doing writing, editing or consulting as a result of this work - and if not, at least you have something new to add to your resume!
13. Drop a hello to previous clients. A simple “hey, how’s it going” can remind previous clients that you’re still around for work and may get them interested in hiring you for a new project.
14. Work on submissions to magazines and anthologies. There’s no guarantee that you’ll get paid for this work but it pays well if it pays off. And it’s better than doing nothing at all when you don’t have work flowing.
15. Write content articles for sites like HubPages. You can earn revenue for the articles that you write. On your profile, you should state that you’re seeking writing work. Make sure that the content you create is representative of the kind of work that you would do for your clients.
16. Ask other writers if they know of work that’s available. You should try to put together a social group of writing friends. That group can be through an online forum or a community networking event. Either way, you’ll have a group of people who will send work your way. Sure, they’ll keep the jobs they want but they may suggest jobs to you that don’t appeal to them (for example, if you do music journalism and a writer friend doesn’t, she might send a client who wants that your way.)
17. Circulate a press release. Come up with something stellar that you’ve done related to writing and write a professional press release about it. If you do a good job on the release, you’ll be proving that you’ve got what it takes to be a good writer and someone will likely take notice.
18. Offer to write for free. It’s not typically recommended that you write for free because it takes away from your other writing time. However, it’s better than not writing at all. If you’re in a position where there’s not a lot of work flow, volunteer to do some writing for your favorite charity. You help them out, you get a tax break, and you may find that it leads to a paying writing job with the place that you’ve volunteered.

The main thing that you should get out of this is that jobs come along when you put yourself out there. There’s always writing that can be done in order to secure new jobs down the line. Don’t get lazy and don’t burn bridges and you can make a career out of this type of work.

Question of the Day: What are some other ways to find freelance work that I’ve forgotten to include on this list?

[Tags] freelance, writing, jobs [/Tags]

One of the things that regularly inspires me is the information and insight that I get from blogs. (You can check out forty of my favorite writing blogs here.) So I’m always inspired when someone leaves a comment here and it has a link associated with a blog that I haven’t heard of before. It’s a little bit like cracking up a new book that you just received as a gift; you’re already excited to enter that new blog even though you’re not quite sure what it holds inside. Often, what it holds is magical but even if it’s not, the act of getting excited about a new blog is often inspiring in and of itself.

I’ve had a chance to check out a few great new blogs in the last couple of weeks simply because people left their comments here with links to them. Here are a few examples:

• Poetry4Kids - What a fun idea to create a site with poetry for children and the holidays related to children. Unique idea and a great site.
• Blogsessive - Interesting blog posts such as blogging tips from Top 100 songs. Love it!
• Candleday - Beautiful artwork that I wouldn’t otherwise have discovered.
• John Baker’s Blog - “Reflections of a working writer and reader”, something that’s always enjoyable for writers to read.
• The Last Whale - Many people joke about “saving the whales”; this blog actually does it.
• Touched by Madness - Thoughts about life and living told in an original and entertaining way.

Blogging is all about writing within a community. Links from blog comments help to build that community. Feel free to leave more here anytime!

Question of the Day: What is the best blog that you’ve come across after seeing the link on your blog comments?

[Tags] blog, comments, writing, links, resources, inspiration [/Tags]

Green Writing is a weekly column here on Real Words which provides information about all aspects of being eco-friendly as a writer for the web. But how do you know what steps are right to take for your own green writing if you don’t know what kind of green writer you are?

Here’s a look at the 5 basic levels of green writing that people go through on their path to becoming an environmentally-kind green writer. You’ll also find tips on how to get to the next level so you can be a little greener tomorrow than you were today.

1. Writer With a Hint of Green. This is the person who is just starting out in writing and/or green activity; he or she may be more active in one than the other. As a rule, this individual is aware that there can be a link between writing and being green but hasn’t gotten active in the practice of greening their writing. This level is the easiest to move up from because there are so many places that you can go from here. For example, you can start recycling your inkjet cartridges instead of throwing them out. You can add green links to your website. Most importantly, you just need to start educating yourself about the specific things that you can do to be a green writer. Knowledge is power after all.
2. Getting Greener. This is the writer who has moved up from the basic level and begun implementing a few green habits in his or her work. He or she has a better grasp on what the basics of being a green writer entails. Not all of the changes have been put in place yet but some basic rituals - such as printing double-sided and single-spaced on paper that then gets recycled - are starting to become a reality of this writer’s working world.
3. Middle-of-the-Green Writer. This is the most common type of green writer that we’re going to see as the writing world begins to realize the importance of going green. This writer is either a part-time or full-time writer who makes a conscious effort to be green as often as possible without making significant lifestyle changes. For example, the writer may have a choice between taking two assignments and will choose the one with the greener company but wouldn’t turn down the non-green company if it was the only choice available. The key to moving on from this level is to make a list of the green goals that you have as a writer and start checking them off one by one.
4. Green Ribbon Writer. You know that you’ve moved on from being a middle-of-the-green writer when you start getting some recognition for your green writing work. Perhaps you start noticing that you’re getting a lot of links to your blog from green sources. Or maybe you are regularly successful on green social bookmarking sites. Or perhaps you notice that more than fifty percent of your clients are concerned about green things. In other words, you’re at this level of green writing when most of the writing you do could be called green and others are starting to notice that. To move on from this level, you’ll want to aim to make 100% of your work green in one way or another.
5. Green Writing Machine. This is the writer who goes above-and-beyond when it comes to making her writing green. She only writes for companies that practice green habits. He has a green blog or has been published in environmental magazines. She uses public transportation or a hybrid car to get to all of her writing-related appointments. In other words, this person is both an active (usually full-time) writer and someone who lives a green lifestyle through and through. Of course, there are always more changes that can be made so the key to moving on from here is just to stay on top of changes in green news and technology.

There is no right or wrong way to being a green writer. Every little step that you take to practice eco-friendly actions in your web writing is a step towards improving the earth. However, there are different levels of effort that writers put in to be green. Challenge yourself to rise to the next level in the green writing ladder.

Check out these green writers for inspiration: Crafty Green Poet, Root for Green, Victoria Everman

Question of the Day: What level of green writer are you and are you content staying at that level?

[Tags] green writing, green, writing, eco-friendly, environment, responsibility [/Tags]

“Authors who never give you something to disagree with never give you anything to think about.” -Michael LaRocca

I don’t particularly like confrontation. I don’t enjoy it when something that I write causes someone to get all upset and send me nasty messages or leave me unsettling comments. Frankly, I think that my opinion is just that - one opinion - and while I don’t expect everyone to agree with me, I kind of assume that we all know that everyone is entitled to their opinions. So it irks me, bothers me, frustrates me when someone gets upset by something I wrote.

But I write it anyway.

That’s the thing about being a writer - and especially one on the web where people can fire off responses to you without even a second thought - you can’t censor yourself if you want what you write to really reflect what you believe. I think it’s important that we all remember that for every person that disagrees with us, someone else will agree. For those who disagree, there is the potential we will change their minds or help them see another viewpoint. For those who agree, our articulation may serve to inspire them.

You can’t make everyone happy all of the time. And you shouldn’t have to. Put your thoughts and opinions out there for others to read. Don’t take yourself too seriously; your opinion is just one of many. But don’t shortchange yourself either. What you want to write should be said.

This quote was found on a terrific site that has a whole lot of quotes about writing. This post is part of the daily Inspired! column in which I share the many things that inspire me as a writer.

Question of the Day: Have you ever failed to write something because you were afraid of the response?

[Tags] writing, censorship, readers, fans, creativity, inspiration [/Tags]

Everyone who writes for the web knows that they should be reading the major blogs. People who love blogging have ProBlogger bookmarked. People who combine blogging with other web writing regularly look for job information and links at Freelance Writing Jobs. These and the other top writing blogs are great resources for writers to read on a regular basis. But there are also tons of terrific and inspiring blogs about writing that don’t always top the lists of everyone’s must-have RSS feed subscriptions.

Following you’ll find a list of 40 different blogs about writing or blogging that I read at least-semi-regularly to inspire my writing. Some of these are more well-known than others but most of them are great writing blogs that don’t always get the attention they deserve on the web. Happy reading!

1. The Writer’s Journey - This is one of those great writer’s blogs that combines a sort of personal blog attitude with useful information and tips on the writing life. 
2. Content for Reprint Writing Articles - This isn’t a blog per se. It’s a site where articles are archived. However, there ae some awesome blog posts and articles on writing that can be found here. Several links to stuff about writing are posted daily so you never know what you’re going to find!
3. American Pai - This is a blog for writers that are interested in making use of social networking and Web 2.0 technologies. It’s not about writing per se but the information is useful for the web writer; writing software and toolkits occasionally get emphasized in posts.
4. Damian Daily - Thoughts on creativity, information about fiction contests, and interviews with author’s can all be found on this terrific blog.
5. Lela Davidson’s Blogs - This writer has two blogs. After the Bubbly has daily posts about life in general which I think are fun to read because it’s nice to know what other writer’s are doing with the rest of their lives. Write Your Way has a few posts a month that are more specific to writing itself.
6. Daily Writing Tips - Get back to the basics by remembering how different words are used and learning other things that belong in a writing class but work on the web.
7. Blogging about Writing - This is a fairly new blog that seems to have only sporadic posts but there have been some great ones so far. I’m interested to see what happens with it as time goes on.
8. Andrea Goulet - I love this blog because sometimes it’s got great writing tips and other times it’s got terrific marketing information. The writer who wants to pay the bills needs to know both!
9. Men with Pens - This is one of my favorite writing websites because of the diversity and quality of the posts that can be found here. Most of us don’t only write blogs or only do creative work; we have a combination of different types of freelance gigs through which we secure our income. Men with Pens provides practical advice for these different areas so that your blogging, fiction writing and general freelance business sense can get better.
10. The Writing Bug: For Peoplele Who Have Caught It - That cute explanatory title is all you need to know to be drawn to what this blog is about.
11. Pureblogging - I’m biased because I’m an author for this site but it’s a multi-blogger blog that always has tons of great content on it. It’s all about blogging and since there are different authors, there are different types of posts. It’s got all your bases covered.
12. Good Karma - The author of this book writes children’s books for a living so if you’re interested in some insight into that process and area of the industry, this is a great fun place to start.
13. Copywriting Maven - This is a fun blog with short, informative posts about things going on in the copywriting business and around the web.
14. Writing Desk - For grammar tips and other information about the technicalities of writing, there aren’t too many better blog resources than this one.
15. Freelance Hub - Every day they have links to great writing articles and job links. However, the site is inspiring because of its daily freelance tips.
16. ChrisG.com - This new media and blogging website has grown increasingly popular in recent months and is only like to see additional growth since the author has released a new book on blogging which was co-authored by ProBlogger Darren Rowse.
17. Blogging Tips - This blog is great for those people who are seeking information on the practical / technical aspects of blogging.
18. Grateful Writer - The author of this blog does something that I think is truly inspiring - uses the blog platform to educate others about social causes in an informative, non-preachy way. I read this blog in part to get inspiration for my daily column Inspired!
19. Kevin Eikenberry’s Blog - These are generally inspirational posts that can better your approach to business. I like them primarily because you can tell from the writing that they are truly thought-through and not just dashed out and posted.
20. Rhythm of Write - From inspiration writing quotes to practical tips on writing business taxes, this first person blog provides the info writers need.
21. How to Start a Successful Freelance Writing Career - Really, the name of this blog says it all.
22. Writing Practice Prescription - This is a really unique blog in that it combines writing / reading information with information about medical issues. It’s a case of different is good with this blog.
23. Writing World - The posts here have a lot of different types of content but they all relate to living in the world of writing.
24. Confident Writing - I could say a number of great things about this blog but the blog’s slogan sums up what it’s all about: “because our words counts”. They sure do.
25. Peggy Payne’s Boldness Blog - It takes boldness to commit to the creative life and this writing / creativity blog makes no bones about discussing that!
26. The Renegade Writer Blog - The Renegade Writer is a book which says that a bunch of the freelancing “rules” that people follow are myths. The blog provides additional resources to assist freelancers.
27. WOW! Women on Writing Blog - What I really love about this site is their monthly writing newsletter but I also keep up with their daily blog on the writing business.
28. Writers on the Rise - This is a zine for writers interested in committing to the business of writing. The blog posts are varied in topic but the word that describes them all has got to be “smart”.
29. Catalyst Blogger - First person posts and practical writing advice for the person who makes their living writing for the web.
30. Get Paid to Write Online - This is another of my favorite blogs about writing and the business of the writer’s life. My favorite part is that the tone and train of thought on this blog is always consistent and yet the posts are always original.
31. Freelance Parent - I’m not a mom but I raised kids in the foster care system while going to school double-time and know it’s tough to parent and also live life. I’m always interested in how working writers get everything done and this writer shares that freely.
32. Quiet Rebel Writer - I always find something unique and fun when I head over to this writing site. I’m guessing that you might be able to find something great there as well. Check out Word Porn for a good start.
33. Small Fish, Big Money - This combines the world of what writers do (writing and blogging) with what they should be doing (entrepreneurship and business) to provide a great selection of useful information for the active writer.
34. Copywriter Underground - Many people who write for the web do copywriting to assist businesses in various industries. The tips at this site are good for people working in that part of the business.
35. The Urban Muse - As the blog’s own motto will tell you this is all about ”adventures in reading, writing and living the creative life”.
36. The Writing Journey - Here’s another one with a slogan that says it better than I can; it’s a blog “helping Internet writers to achieve their dreams”. I highly recommend checking it out.
37. Incurable Disease of Writing - This blog hosts a blog carnival with great links to other writing resources. However, the blog itself is a good one that has a little bit of poetry, a little bit of practicality and a good chunk of inspiration.
38. Two Writing Teachers - This is a great blog put together by two teachers in different parts of the nation who share their thoughts, ideas, links and stories about writing and kids.
39. Marketer Review - If you want to get seen on the web, you need to understand Internet marketing. This blog helps.
40. 3 Questions and Answers - This is a writing blog for people interested in interviews with writers, information on writing retreats and other stuff about the writing world.

And of course you should also be reading Real Words where I provide information about freelancing, green writing, creativity, tips for blogging and social media and snippets of what inspires me as a writer.

[Tags] writing, links, resources, blogs, tips [/Tags]

There are many different things that inspire my writing. The books I read, the photographs I see, the places that I go … they all influence my way of thinking and often lead specifically to articles or creative works. However, the thing that probably inspires me the most is the random conversations that I have with people.

Be it a long talk with a best friend or a chance comment exchanged with a guy on the bus, it is frequently the words of others that draw our attention to things that we wouldn’t have otherwise noticed. They point us in the right direction in order to catch a new train of thought. They inform us about things we hadn’t previously realized. They offer new insight into a way of seeing things that we hadn’t considered.

It is usually not the conversations we plan that happen this way. You can’t force inspiration (although keeping an eye out certainly helps you to see it!) But rather, it is the word here or there … the talk you didn’t think you’d have today … that can make a difference in what you write tomorrow.

Question of the Day: Do you get more inspired by conversations with strangers or those with loved ones?

[Tags] inspiration, writing, conversations, ideas [/Tags]

If you’re interested in knowing what I’ve been researching lately, you can find out by checking out the following articles which I penned this week for various places around the web:

On writing, blogging and the web:

• 10 Great Free Web Hosting Services
• Creative Reading: Books that Inspire Your Soul
• The Stressful Art of Blogging
• ProBloggers Announce Book Launch
• Green Social Bookmarking
• Tips for Reducing Blogging Stress

On wireless technology:

• iPhone vs. Voyager
• 10 Sites for Free Mobile VoIP
• Lazy Man’s Guide to Going Green with your Mobile

On travel:

• Best Places to Shop in Palm Beach
• Visiting the U.S. Virgin Islands
• Historic Landmarks in New York
• Magic Kingdom Disney World
• Top Landmarks in London

On business and finance:

• Don’t Forget These Important Tax Deductions
• How to Keep Yourself Safe when Getting a Reverse Mortgage Loan
• The Longer you Have a Reverse Mortgage, the More you’ll Owe
• Housing Slump Causes Botox Decline

On celebrities:

• Why There Shouldn’t be a Celebrity Tattoo Removal Reality Show
• Celebrity Tattoo Removal (Who’s done it? Who should?)
• Celebrities Who Survived Infertility

On Misc:

• How to Stay Awake while Driving
• The Best Snakes to Have as a Pet
• Find Recipes from your Favorite Restaurants
• Tips for Showing off your New Red Shoes
• Plastic Surgery and The Golden Ratio

Those people who are regular readers of the site may have noticed that I failed to post job links for today, something that I usually do each Saturday and Sunday to fill the gap in daily blog posts that is left when bigger resources (such as Freelance Writing Jobs and Problogger) go away for the weekend. There’s a good reason for that. Or maybe it’s not a good reason but there is a reason.

There weren’t a whole lot of jobs when I first trolled through the web this morning. I planned to go back but then some friends surprised me with breakfast to honor a special holiday that we’re celebrating this month. One thing lead to another and I had to get back to my other work before I knew it.

So, I was celebrating. But it’s a celebration that only comes once a year so I think that’s okay. All of the normal column posts including weekend job links, daily “inspiration” posts, green writing information on Tuesdays and the usual will be back again starting tomorrow. Real Words is done with its mini-vacation.

Job links from employers around the web 

Blog Jobs:

• Business mergers and acquisitions blogger, rate not stated
• 10 short blog posts per day, $20-$35 per hour
• Business and marketing blogger, rate not stated
• International real estate blogger, rate not stated
• Health bloggers, $75 per week, amount of work not stated
• Multiple blogging jobs, varied pay
• Reality TV recap blogger, 1 post per day, $100 per week
• Adult content blogger, $5 per 100+ word post
• Electronic music blogger, “small stipend”
• Attention-getting blog posts, $20 (details vague)

Ongoing writing jobs:

• Various articles, 500-1000 words, state your rate
• International travel writers, $40K+ per year and travel expenses
• Online researcher / writer; 10-20 hrs. per week, state your rate
• Web 2.0 copywriter, $500 signing bonus if you get the job
• Healthcare technology copywriting, rate not stated

One-shot writing jobs:

• Athletic articles, 350-500 words, $20 per article
• Website press release, $100
• Men’s wedding planning articles, 800-1000 words, state your rate

Editing jobs:

• Crafts Magazine Editor
• Organize Existing Blog Content

Misc:

• Professional translators, all languages

[Tags] freelance, writing, jobs, gigs, resources, employment, links, freelance writing jobs [/Tags]