Real Words

“I always wrote with the idea that what I put out there is going to stay there. Once I publish something, it has been published. I’ve never deleted more than one or two posts from my site. I don’t think that there are takebacks.”  -Alison Headley

The quote is listed on The Quotations Page for writing quotes, a source that I always find inspiring. The things other people have said about writing often give me pause for thought and this one is no exception. It’s important to realize that what we’re writing is going to be seen by others. As we write, we should keep in mind that this could be something that we’re permanently associated with. By doing so, we maintain the integrity of our own writing and always challenge ourselves to do our best work.

It’s always tempting to think, “it’s just a blog post” and slack on the quality of the writing because you know it’s going to get buried in the archives in a few days. However, something that others have seen always has the potential to crop back up again. Try to do your best writing at all times so that anything that comes back will only be something that you want to nod in agreement with.

Question of the Day: Do you ever find yourself writing with lower standards because you’re “only” writing a blog post?

[Tags] writing, quote, alison headley, inspiration, blog, standards, quality [/Tags]

I recently got myself into an unfortunate situation with one of my previous writing gigs due to my own failure to read a freelance contract before I signed it. The end result didn’t turn out so bad but I felt foolish because I know better than to read anything without signing it. And I know better than to faily to review my freelance writing contracts; after all, I’ve been in the writing business in some form or another for almost ten years. Heck, I ran a freelance writing company for awhile that relied heavily on the proper use of multiple forms of  writing contracts.

So, what happened? I’d been working for a blog network for several months under a contract (which I did read before signing). Then two things happened. First, I began to find that the time the site was taking was much longer than I’d anticipated and I was getting less and less inclined to work for the site. Second, a bunch of changes were made in the way that the network was going to be operated. As a result of those changes, all of the bloggers were asked to sign new writing contracts.

When I received the electronic version of my contract, I skimmed it. My excuse is the typical excuse that I was busy with other things. Additionally, I thought that I knew what the major change to the contract was which was that we were going to start receiving payments in a different manner and time frame than in the past. I was comfortable with that change so I went ahead and signed the contract without further review. I then promptly forgot about it.

Over the course of the next couple of months, I found that it was too much of a drain to keep my writing commitment to that site and I resigned from the position. I still have a few payments coming in from the old work. To my surprise, the most recent payment was lower than I’d expected. Long story short, the contract had changed not only the terms of payment but also the amount. Moreover, it had changed the number of posts I was required to write. Since I hadn’t read it, I’d been almost twice the amount of work that I needed to do - and of course I didn’t get paid for the extra.

The situation was bad for a number of reasons. First of all, it’s disappointing to do work and not get paid for it (through no fault of the network; I have only myself to blame there). Second, I’m a little bummed because if I knew that the requirements for the site had changed, I probably could have kep my commitment and not quit the job. And third, I just feel ridiculous about the fact that I didn’t read that contract in full before I signed it. What an amateur error!

But it’s good because it serves as a reminder that we should always read every word of a writing contract and make sure that we know what it says. Additionally, I would encourage you to consider amending three standard parts of each new freelance writing contract that you sign:

• Late payment fee. Every freelance writing contract should specify not only the amount of compensation but when it is due (for example, the contract may say that payment is due within 30 days of the date on the freelancer’s invoice). Additionally, the contract should specify what the late fee is (such as ten percent) for failure to pay within that time frame. Most freelance writing contracts will not have this written in to them but you should negotiate a change with the client before signing the contract. This is a way to protect you from non-payment by clients (a problem which happens all too frequently in the freelance world); even if you don’t end up suing, the threat of the legal problem can suffice to motivate people to pay you in full and on time.
• Length of contract. Make sure that the contract specifies something about how long it lasts and/or how to make changes to it. This is so that you can properly negotiate raises to your pay over time. For example, the contract may state that it requires renewal after one year. At that time, you are in a position to negotiate a better rate. It also puts a time limit on other terms of the contract so that you have wiggle room if you find out after a period of time that there are certain terms you agreed to that you don’t like.
• Rights. Your contract will say somewhere in it who retains the rights to anything that you write for others. You should read this part carefully and try to retain as many rights as possible to your work. In many cases, this will mean amending the contract. Most clients are open to amending the contract within reason because they realize (or can be shown) that typical contracts in the world of publishing allow the author to retain certain reprint rights or to gain rights to the work after a certain amount of time passes. Read up on this area of copyright law so that you can protect yourself.

And read those contracts. Every time. No matter what!

Question of the Day: What stories can you share about problems and successes related to signing your freelance writing contracts?

[Tags] freelance, writing, contract, rights, legal, blogging [/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]

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]

The average day in a writer’s life doesn’t feel very monumental. There’s a lot of sitting at the computer, working the words out on the page. There’s a lot of wandering around the home or office … a lot of “research” … a lot of avoidance. There are moments that may feel huge, when the writing is working and things are going as they should. But even those monumental moments are lost to the tedium on most days.

Despite this, the work that writers produce is important. The days may often feel dull but the results are magical. When a writer works, that writer is participating in efforts to change the world.

Here are just eight ways the results of a writer’s work make ripple-effect changes that are indeed monumental:

1. Education. At a basic level, writing is about disseminating information to others. It serves the purpose of educating readers in various topics and ways of thought. Education and awareness are fundamental to change in the world.
2. Inspiration. You never really know how your writing is going to impact someone else but if you make writing your living then you can rest assured that it will inspire someone somewhere.
3. Invention. Writers often dream up things, people, and situations that don’t really exist. They may also invent ways of resolving problems in the world around them. Whether in fiction or non-fiction these crative inventions can lead to real world change.
4. Support. When you write about a topic, you support it. The people who read about that topic and relate to it feel safer in the world because someone else is writing about the things that matter to them. That kind of support is what life-changing movements are made of.
5. Practicing free speech. Writers don’t always write things that others agree with. By writing - and later speaking - about things that are sometimes controversial, writers can take a stand for free speech.
6. Providing new perspectives. Sometimes the only way that someone can see things through another’s eyes is to read a straight-to-the-heart description of an opposing point of view. By sharing their writing, writers put their perspectives out into the world and may spark more open-mindedness around them as a result.
7. Through play. Sometimes what writers are really doing is playing with language. Poetry, poetic prose and even just the occasional turn of phrase can show off this sense of playfulness in writing. This encourages others to play … and play makes the world a better place.
8. Setting an example. Writers may not live lives that are filled with ideal days. Nevertheless, the majority of them love what they do. They show that you can pursue an artistic way of life, st your own schedule to some degree and still make a living in the world. That sets an example to others who only dream of doing the same.

Question of the Day: What do you think is the number one way that writers change the world?

[Tags] writing, world, change, writers, freelance, creative [/Tags]

Check out this week’s Just Write blog carnival. I know about it, of course, because one of my posts is featured there. However, I recommend it for the other great links that you’ll find there about writing. From dealing with artist rejection to coping with writer’s block to poetry about poems, there are some great little gems to be found there.

I’m also on the lookout for new blog carnivals for writers. I always enjoy reading about writing and think these are a great way to find writing articles I wouldn’t find anywhere else. So, if you know of any good ones, drop me a line!

I wrote a post earlier in the week describing the fact that I don’t think typos are that big of a deal. As a writer, I definitely make sure to proofread my work so that others don’t see typos because I think it’s the professional thing to do. But if it were up to me, people would be a lot less judgmental about the occasional typo because I really don’t think they matter much in the big scheme of a written piece.

In fact, I think that typos can be really inspiring when I see them in other people’s work. Here are some of the ways that you might think about being inspired the next time that you see a typo in someone’s work:

• Take time to wonder about why the typo happened. Imagine the author writing that piece of work and why he ended up with a typo. You just might find that this wondering leads to the development of a character in your next story. 
• Ask yourself what the author really meant. Assess whether the typo makes any difference to that intended meaning. If not, let yourself think about the reasons that we take typos so seriously when they don’t really matter much.
• Let your mind wander over the different meanings that are created when an amusing typo crops up.
• Look at the word that’s been misspelled and see how many other words - real and imagined - can be created out of changing around those same letters.
• Let each typo be a reminder to come back to the piece. Most of us read with half our attention while thinking about (or doing) other things. A typo catches our attention and refocuses us on the page. Let each one be a reminder to really pay attention to what you’re reading.
• Look at the typo and see if it’s a nonsense word. If it is, spend some time brainstorming what that word could mean if it was a real word. Sound it out. Ask yourself what it feels like. Be inspired by the mistake.

I know that I’m one of very few people - and certainly very few professional writers - who don’t believe that typos are a big deal. But it’s true, I don’t. And I think they can be inspiring if we look for the inspiration in them. Let’s have more fun with our words, especially when they don’t come out the way that we intended.

Question of the Day: Can you imagine that typos are a source of inspiration?

[Tags] typo, edit, freelance, writing, copyediting, inspiration, creativity [/Tags]

I know that I’m not supposed to say this as a writer but I really don’t think typos are that big of a deal. This isn’t to say that I don’t proofread my work or try to weed out all typos in my own writing. Because I write primarily for clients, I think it’s important to maintain the standard of typo-free work. But as a reader, I really don’t mind typos at all and don’t think that they indicate all of the horrible things about the writer that we are taught to assume they mean.

Most people see a typo and think a few basic things about the author. They think that he didn’t care enough about his work to read through it again for typos. They think that she’s a sloppy writer. They think that he doesn’t really know how to spell or how to be grammatically correct. They think that she’s a bad writer. We assume all of these negative things about the writing and the writer based on the typos that we find.

The reality is that most typos probably don’t reflect any of these things. I assume some basic things to be true about most typos, especially if they’re in online writing. I assume that her thoughts were flying faster than her fingers and she was having trouble keeping up. I assume that his job demands quantity and that he had the time to research and write a quality piece but not the additional time to comb through it for typos. I assume that she did read through it, maybe several times, but that she was so familiar with her own work that she didn’t spot the typos that were there; (she read the writing the way she intended it to be written and not the way it was on the page).

In addition to believing that are assumptions about typos are incorrect, I really don’t believe that typos are a bad thing. As a reader, they don’t bother me a bit. And in fact, I think that they can be kind of fun. I love when I’m reading through a book and catch a typo that the author and editor missed. It makes me feel like I’m in on the secret, like I’m there with the work as it’s being written. It reminds me that a creative work is never ever finished even if it’s been published and put aside. In rare instances, the very nature of the typo causes me to laugh out loud. Or it inspires a whole train of thought about what the author really meant to say, what she was thinking as she mis-wrote, what her life was like as she was completing the work.

So, I happen to like typos. I think they bring humanity to the work that we are writing. I think that they can be inspiring as a reader. And even if you don’t like them, I really don’t think that they typically detract from the piece of writing. In almost all cases, you can easily guess what the writer meant to say and move on with the piece. If the typo doesn’t impact your understanding of the writing, does it really matter that it was there?

Of course, I don’t recommend that writers fail to proofread their work. The reality of the world is that people are going to judge you based on your typos. You aren’t going to get the freelance job you want if you fail to proofread your cover letter for typos. You are probably going to lose some readers if your blog regularly has writing flaws. Making sure that you have taken the typos out of your work is going to make you look like a more polished and professional writer and will show the world that you take your work seriously.

But as a reader, I encourage you to think of typos as a fun place for connecting with the writer and letting your own imagination drift off into their world for a little while. Let’s judge less and have fun more!

Question of the Day: So what do you think, do typos matter?

Link for fun: Typo Generator

[Tags] freelance, typo, copywriting, proofreading, editing, writing, blogging [/Tags]

It is easy to get lost along the way during the course of being a writer. This fact is true whether you write novels or write for the web, whether you write for fun or you write to put food on the table. Writer’s block will throw itself in your path. Self-doubt will creep into your writing world. And every day you will need to make the choice to continue writing despite the difficulty of it.

Here are 25 simple mantras that you can keep in mind to keep you writing when the writing gets tough to do:

1. I can write.
2. I will know more tonight than I did when I woke up this morning.
3. My own writing voice is good enough.
4. The right words are just around the corner.
5. Reading is research.
6. It’s okay if the draft isn’t terrific.
7. My opinion matters more than my critics’ opinion.
8. I can write something else tomorrow.
9. It’s okay to be friends with other writers.
10. I only need to sit and write – the rest will work itself out.
11. My writing is good enough to serve fair pay.
12. My perspective is unique; sharing it adds to the world.
13. I write because I enjoy writing.
14. Writing is the way that I understand the world around me.
15. Inspiration is a jewel to be treasured and carried within me each day.
16. It’s okay to feel like a mess.
17. The most well-known writers have felt bad about their work.
18. There is a way to do this writing thing that will work for me.
19. Creativity is a worthy use of my time.
20. I can say “no” if I don’t want to waste my time writing something.
21. My writing will change with time.
22. Putting my writing out into the world may affect others in ways I’ll never know.
23. It’s important to listen to my instincts about writing.
24. I deserve to take time out each day to write.
25. I will write.

It’s the simple things that matter each day. We need to walk into our experiences with the mindset that it’s perfectly okay to do what we are doing and that how we are doing it is good enough for today. The world is tough enough; don’t make it harder by being unkind to yourself or your writing. Remember that when you are sitting down at the desk to write something that’s not working for you. And then just sit and write.

Question of the Day: What mantra gets you to the next step in writing?

[Tags] writing, affirmations, mantra, motto, sayings, inspiration [/Tags]

Every once in awhile I come across an article or blog post listing the “Top 100″ of something for writers or bloggers. Every time that happens, I’m a little bit impressed. After all, it is common to see “Top 10″ lists but it takes a lot more effort to compile a list that includes 100 things. However, it makes more sense to be thinking in terms of hundreds and not tens when it comes to freelance writing.

With thousands of new blogs launching every single day, there is a lot of material online for people to be reading. There’s certainly far more than ten authority sources on any particular topic. So, in an effort to be ambitious as well as to provide others with information about the best writing tips and sites out there, here is my Top 100 collection of “Top 100″ lists that others have put together. That means that you’ve got 10,000 tips/articles/ideas to read here. There are lists about books, lists about blog tools and lists about everything in between. That should keep you busy during your downtime!

1. Writers Digest Top 100 Listings
2. The Top 100 Freelancer Blogs @ Bootstrapper
3. 101 Ways to Monetize Your Website or Blog @ Vandelay
4. Top 100 Blogs @ Make Money Online
5. Top 100 Articles on Writing @ Writing Information
6. 100 Tools Freelancers Can’t Live Without @ Bootstrapper
7. 100 Writing Tips @ How to Write for the Web
8. 100 Ways to Get More Traffic to Your Blog @ InternetBabel
9. 101 Best Sites for Writers @ Writers Digest
10. Make Money Online: 100+ Tools and Resources @ Mashable
11. 101 Ways to Create A Powerful Web Presence @ Hello, My Name is Blog
12. 100s of Resources for Finding Blog Content @ Lorelle on WordPress
13. 101 Reasons Freelancers Do It Better @ HR World
14. Top 100 Books of the Last 25 Years @ UK Telegraph
15. 101 Ways to Monetize Your Blog without Irritating your Readers @ Inside CRM
16. 114 Ways to Build Links @ SubHub
17. 100 Niche Job Boards for Web Workers @ Bootstrapper
18. 100+ Untapped LinkBuilding Strategies @ ZanyPixel
19. Top 100 Essay Sites for Students
20. 100 Ways to be Better Entrepreneur @ Entrepreneur.com
21. Top 100 Social Bookmarking and Social Networking Blogs @ Virtual Hosting
22. 100 Web Apps for Freelancers @ Codswallop
23. 131 Legitimate Link Building Strategies @ SearchEngineWatch
24. Over 100 Best Firefox Extensions @ LifeHack (many of which are great for improving writing productivity)
25. 120+ RSS Resources @ Mashable
26. Top 100 Highest Paying Adsense Keywords (post dated May 2007 but still relevant)
27. 101 Great Posting Ideas To Make Your Blog Sizzle @ I Help You Blog
28. Top 100 Action Verbs for Resume Writing @ ESL Teachers Board
29. 100 Best Green Bloggers @ Daily Maybe (because green writing matters)
30. 101 Blog Posting Ideas @ SEO 2.0
31. 100 Web Design Tips @ Web Watch
32. 104 Ways to Get Backlinks @ SEONoobs
33. 100 Ways to Make Money Online @ Jawaan.com
34. 100 Ways to Make Your Blog Famous @ Bloggletype
35. 100 Tips to Improve Your Web Presence @ Business Zone
36. 101 Ways to Improve your Blog @ Connor Wilson
37. 101 Essential Blogging Skills @ Skelliewag
38. The WAHM’s Toolbox: 100 Links & Resources @ Bootstrapper
39. 101 Free Ways to Increase Blog Traffic @ Can I Make Big Money Online?
40. 101 Resources on the Web for Writers and Bloggers @ JenWriter
41. 101 Ways to Write and Finish your Screenplay @ SearchWarp
42. 100 Ways to Get More Traffic @ Programming Talk
43. 101 Steps to Becoming a Better Blogger @ LifeHack
44. 100 Writing Topics @ Red Ravine (writing prompts)
45. Top 100 List of Make Money at Home Blogs @ Freelance Folder
46. 101 Tips I Learned from Blogging @ Etienne
47. 101 Resources for Self Published Writers @ Self Publishing
48. 100 Best Works by Women Writers @ Madison Public Library
49. 101 Ways to Monetize your Website or Blog @ Lets Blog
50. 100 Portable Apps for your USB Stick @ MakeUseOf
51. 101 Best WordPress Plugins @ One Man’s Goal
52. 101 Essential Freelancing Resources @ Freelance Switch
53. 120+ Resources for Bloggers @ Mashable
54. Blog 100 @ CNET
55. Top 100 High PageRank Free directories @ Blogging Tips-n-Tricks
56. 100 Ways to Increase Web Traffic @ Web Pal
57. 100 Most Misspelled Words in English @ YourDictionary.com
58. 101 Essential Blogging Resources @ Blogtrepreneur
59. 100 Excellent Free WordPress Themes @ Smashing Magazine
60. 101 Ways to Better your Blog @ SEO 2.0
61. 100+ WordPress PlugIns @ Geek Glue
62. 100 Tips to Speed Up Your Software @ CNET
63. 150+ Online Video Tools @ Mashable
64. 100+ Writing Prompts @ ScribeTime
65. Top 100 Blogs on Technorati
66. 100 Resources or Entrepreneur-Writers @ Bootstrapper
67. 101 Tips and Ideas for Writing on the Run @ Writing on the Run
68. 120 Self-promotion Ideas for Freelancers @ Design News
69. Top 100 Social Networking Sites @ DulceNegosyante
70. The Top 100 Business Blogs @ The Kiss Business 2
71. 100 Ways To Ruin a Corporate Blog @ Business Blogwire
72. 101 Links to Better Blogging Articles @ DeWitt’s Media
73. 101 Tips for Writers @ Young Writers Society
74. 101 Blog Tips @ DailyBlogTips
75. Squidoo’s Top 100 on SEO
76. Top 100 Speeches @ American Rhetoric
77. 101 Ideas to Generate More Freelance Work @ Freelance Switch
78. 101 Ways to Jumpstart Your Traffic @ David Macor
79. Top 100 Classic Websites @ PCMag (many of which are on writing, business and social networking)
80. Over 100 Great Productivity Tips @ Instigator Blog
81. 100 Basic Writing Prompts @ CanTeach
82. The Top 100 Alternative Search Engines @ ReadWriteWeb
83. 100 Best Last Lines from Novels @ American Review
84. 100 Web Development Cheat Sheets @ Virtual Hosting
85. 101 Ideas to Write About in Your Money Making Blog @ Malima
86. 100+ Tools for Flickr Addicts @ Mashable
87. Top 100 Web 2.0 Sites @ Web 2.0 magazine
88. 100 Tips to Defeat Content Thieves @ Virtual Hosting
89. 100 Google Adsense Tips (Links is to part 1 of 5)
90. 100 Legal Sources for Free Stock Images @ Virtual Hosting
91. 101 Ways to Brew Up a Great Idea @ Marketing Profs
92. 100 Web Development Tips and Tricks @ DotSauce
93. Top 100 Blogs @ BlogBridge
94. 100 Tools and Tips to Tap the Facebook Market @ Inside CRM
95. 101 Ways to Market Your Small Business @ Andrea Goulet
96. 101 Ways to Get More Traffic @ Dart Creations
97. 100+ Markets for Writers @ Bella Online
98. 100 Ways to Create, Package and Sell Ebooks @ Software Blog
99. 101 Ways to Improve your News Site @ CyberJournalist.com
100. Top 100 Motivational Blog Posts of All Time @ Bootstrapper

Looks like Bootstrapper, Virtual Hosting and Mashable win the prizes for putting out the most Top 100 lists! Thanks guys!

Question of the Day: Did I manage to miss any other great “100″ lists for writers?

[Tags] top 100, writing, freelance, lists, resources, links [/Tags]