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Write From Home
Kim Wilson P.O. Box 4145 Hamilton, NJ 08610 Tel: (609) 888-1683 E-mail: kim@writefromhome.com
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Off
the Page... Making the Most of E-Opportunities I would love to say I can write without interruption, that my work flows out and the checks flow in without any need to approach new markets or worry about the lights being shut off by the unpaid power company. Unfortunately, a writer's life is rarely without worries, and the work fluctuates as much as the stock market. This last month, life stepped in and required me to focus on family, not writing. Does this ever happen to you? Can you relate? Of course, you can. As parents who write, we have children and spouses, extended family members and who-know-what who all come with their own set of issues that we must deal with, putting our own lives on hold. When this happens, you don't need to wonder if your markets will still be there when you return. As a freelancer, you can make up for time lost, by keying in several resources that will help you recoup lost income and stay on track, even if you step off that track for a brief time period. First: Communicate. Clear, honest communication is the best policy when life steps in and takes you out of your normal loop. Second: Focus. Take the same energy you would apply to writing and point its intention on the problem or issue at hand. Resolution comes faster when you dedicate yourself to the task at hand. Third: Extend. With the list provided below, and other resources you have collected along the way, you can extend your writing opportunities and earned income potential by striking out in new directions. This last month, life stepped in, and frankly, I needed about 4 to 6 weeks to restore my world to its axis. Needless to say, my submissions slowed and my income dried up. So, I extended my circle. Spending less than fifteen minutes online, I was able to secure two freelance positions: one as a staff writer for a new glossy magazine in my area for $1,000/month + expenses for work that requires less than four hours a week. (If you're keeping track, that's a gig for over $60 an hour.) I also found a respectable Web zine that pays $300 per Web article, and they want fresh daily content. Sure, I'd love to be able to submit to them every day, but it's not feasible, not for the type of educated, considered content sought. However, I can realistically provide at least one good article a week. That's an extra $1,200 a month. 15+2=2200 What do you think? Are you willing to spend 15 minutes to increase your income? Below is a list to help you get started. Write on! Tama Westman writes the Off the Page column for Write From Home. An award-winning journalist, she teaches creative writing and poetry with the AHEAD program (Achieving Higher Education and Dreams) at Metropolitan State University, mentors high school journalism students, and speaks at writers conferences throughout the country. Married twenty-four years, and mother of two grown children, she lives in Minnesota. She loves to hear from other writers. Feel free to contact her at tama@tamawestman.com. For more, please visit http://www.tamawestman.com
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