Friday Speak Out!: Me? A Paid Writer?

by Mary Ann Sromoski

I never would have thought that my passion for writing and editing would lead to an actual career. I get paid for writing articles. The following is my story.

I am a 45-year-old with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Behavioral Science. I began working in the mental health field immediately following graduation. I spent 10 absolutely miserable years working at a thankless job with horrible pay. I was toast, so I quit. What was I to do now? I had several interests, but they all required going back to college. I wanted a job that wasn’t a chore. I wanted a job that I loved and looked forward to. I could’ve gone back to college, but seriously, that wasn’t happening. Ever. I’ll share a secret. I hated school with a passion.

I searched online for jobs allowing you to work from home. Have you ever done that? There are so many scams, and guess what? I was scammed time after time. I looked into paid surveys. Seriously? Half of the time, I didn’t even qualify. Each passing day, I became more disheartened.

I didn’t work for years and lived on my husband’s income. I still wasn’t happy. I had to seriously think about what I liked to do and somehow get paid for it. Well, I came up with zip. Zero. Nada. How frustrating. After all, I believed I was intelligent enough to do something.

One day, I came across a website online. Yes, I searched again on the internet. I watched a video about this woman who got paid for doing voice over work. Well, of course, you had to buy the “secret” in order to get my “dream job”. Yeah, right. But, she was compelling and sold me. Would you believe the only thing I took away from 5 different e-books that I downloaded was the name of a website. That is it! Thank goodness I was able to get a refund.

What I found was that many people will hire you to write certain articles. I was able to complete some projects and successfully get paid. At least it was something.

One day I was accepted for a project that needed to be completed in one hour. The content needed turned out to be about plumbing, air conditioning, heating, etc. Really? What have I gotten myself into? But, I was determined to complete it and complete it well. I jumped in, did my research and completed it on time. The next day I received $90 via PayPal. I had gotten paid for something I loved to do.

I continue to freelance write for different clients and projects. I started blog sites of my own and began to market my services. At least, I now have one foot in the door.

I was finally doing what I loved. If you take one thing away from this article, I hope it is this: Never think you cannot achieve something no matter what it involves. Sometimes you have to struggle through the hard times and disappointments, but when you least expect it, it will happen. You just have to start out small and take one step at a time.

* * *

Mary Ann Sromoski’s career did not begin with writing. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Behavioral Science with a major focus in Psychology. Immediately following graduation, Mary Ann began working in various specialties in the mental health field. However, ever since she can remember, she’s had a passion and affinity for reading and writing. As a result, she decided to pursue a career as a professional freelance writer, author, copywriter and blogger.

Mary Ann currently has four e-books for sale on Amazon and in print version on Lulu Publishing. She’s a member of a premier writing community and maintains several blog sites.


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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
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1 comment article writing, encouragement for writers, freelance work, Friday Speak Out, Mary Ann Sromoski, online jobs

Friday Speak Out!: Pitching That First Article

by Judith Docken

In launching my freelancing career, I found that the biggest hurdle I needed to get over was pitching an article to a publication. I have been spending a lot of time learning how to do this, but eventually I needed to take the chance and put that learning into practice.

I want to share how I finally took that chance and pitched my first article.

Through a search on a freelance writer’s job board, allindiewriters.com, I found a link to a publication that deals with environmental issues. It sparked my interest and I checked out their submission guidelines. It was totally within my capability, so I started researching ideas that would be a good fit for the publication.

Here is the exact process I followed:

1. Once I found the publication’s website, I looked through it and read over their submission guidelines. I also read some of the articles on the website to get a feel of their “tone” and focus.

2. Since this publication deals with the environment, I pulled up a search of current environmental issues. From this search, I jotted down some angles I could take on a few specific subjects relating to those key issues.

3. Out of these six ideas, I picked one, researched some facts, narrowed down my topic, and created a list of sources that I could draw on.

4. One thing I wanted to include in my proposed article was an interview or quote from an expert on the subject. I sent emails to the “Contact Us” link in a couple of my source websites, requesting an opportunity to conduct a short email interview.

5. Then I wrote my query, pulling all these pieces together.

a). I opened the query with an attention-grabbing key fact about my subject.

b). I followed with a paragraph addressing my subject.

c). I listed a few detailed facts relating to my subject.

d). Next I stated what my proposed article would be about, the proposed title of my article and how many words it would be.

e). Then I referenced another article on the website that was similar, but stated clearly what the angle of my article would be and why it would be a good fit for the publication.

f). I then added a “call to action”, by letting them know when I could get the article draft to them.

g). Next, I told them a bit about myself and added a link to my website.

h). I also added a bulleted list of other article ideas I want to pitch to the publication.

i). Finally, I added links to two other articles I have published, as samples of my work.

j). I thanked them for their time and signed off, again adding links to my email and website.

Having a template takes the guess-work out of pitching an article, and helps me craft my pitch specifically for a publication.

Hopefully this template can help you, too.

* * *

Judith Docken is a freelance writer, author and blogger. She has published gardening articles in SF Gate and Modern Mom online magazines and was published in an anthology of Canadian short stories called That Golden Summer by Polar Expressions Publishing. She is also a contributing writer and photographer for her community newsletter, The Bowest’ner. Her debut novel, Ghosted: A Novel of Life, Love and Moving On is set in her home town of Calgary, Alberta, in Canada, where she lives with two of her three sons, two black cats and many plants.
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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
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3 comments article writing, freelance advice, Friday Speak Out, Judith Docken, pitching editors, querying, steps to publication, tips for writers

Just How Fast Can You Write an Article? (7 tips on how to speed up your blogging time)

by Karen Cioffi

I don't know about you, but I can take a while to write an article, usually an hour and then some. Even if I have an idea, I still try to add extra value into the article by doing a bit of research and getting 'social proof' to back up what I'm saying.

A number of bloggers / marketers say they can write an article in 20 minutes. I’ve heard this said a number of times. Supposedly, 20-30 minutes is average for them.

Mulling it over, I came up with 7 tips to speed up your blog writing, while still keeping it optimized.

Tip #1 Keep a list of ideas (and information)

I’ve been keeping lists for years. And, with information permeating every nook and cranny of the internet, there’s never a lack of new ideas.

For quick research, keep files with links to articles on specific topics that you come across.

Tip #2 Use keywords

While you need to use keywords, don’t go crazy researching them. If you’re in a rush, just think of what you’d use to search for the topic you’re writing on.

Tip #3 Use bullet and numbered points

People love list articles. They’re easy to read and quick to scan.

In regard to writing time, using numbered points helps you organize your thoughts and content. This makes for quicker writing.

Tip #4 – Add graphics

Yes, you need graphics. As with Tip #1, keep a file of graphics you can use as the occasion arises. I have separate folders with images, targeted video codes, and so on.

Adding graphics may add some time to your article, but it’s time well spent.

Tip #5 Editing time

This writing task is a must. Your writing is a reflection of you and your skills – make them shine.

Tip #6 The article length

Word count is a conflicting theory. There are many bloggers who say to give the reader more value with longer pieces of 1000 words or more. Others say to keep it around 400 or 500 words.

I’m in the middle. I say write the article as it comes out for your own blog.

If you’re trying to cut down on writing time, keep it shorter.

Tip #7 End it when it’s ended

Once you write and edit the piece, end it. Don’t keep going over it. This is one of my trouble spots. I’ll keep adding to it or tweaking it one way or another. This is just a waste of time. Don’t do it.

What strategies do you use to speed up your writing time?

***

Karen Cioffi is a former accountant who is now a multi-award-winning author, ghostwriter, freelance writer, editor, and author-writer online platform marketing instructor. She founded and manages Writers on the Move (a marketing group), and presents online writing and marketing workshops and webinars.

Karen has published 12 writing and marketing eBooks, the most recent, Article Marketing: Increase Website Traffic with Properly Formatted and Search Engine Optimized Content.

In addition to this, Karen’s website, Karen Cioffi Writing and Marketing, was named Writer’s Digest Website of the Week, June 25, 2012.

Join Karen Cioffi's upcoming online class, Become an SEO Writer in Just 4 Weeks. Visit our classroom page for details and enrollment.

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6 comments article ideas, article writing, blog topics, faster writing, Karen Cioffi, online class, optimizing your writing website or blog, WOW class, WOW instructor, writing time

Judging Your Writing

In the past two months, I have been asked to judge two contests: one for the Press Association of a neighboring state; the other, for a high school journalism contest. It's been an interesting process. I've had the opportunity to read several great articles and review design elements.

It doesn't matter if the content is generated by a 50-something editor or a novice high school journalist - good writing is good writing. Period.

Even though I received a list of criteria to look for in each instance, I also comprised a list of elements that make an article "pop." I put that list to the test. Consider it a checklist of basic principles that even seasoned writers sometimes overlook.

Here's what the list looks like:

• Leads are dynamic and concise
• Quotes are anecdotal
• Paragraphs are short to enhance readability
• Coverage "shows," not "tells"
• Stories answer the 5 Ws and H (who, what, when, where, why, how), in addition to answering "So what?"
• Unique angles are utilized for evergreen topics
• Source attribution follows "source said" format and placement is varied throughout the article
• Logical transitions are implemented

Do you always include these elements when penning an article? Sometimes, we writers are in a hurry to impress an editor and we forget the basics. I catch myself falling into this predicament every now and then. I become so engaged in the subject matter that I assume the reader knows what I am talking about.

No worries, now. By utilizing this cheat sheet, I know I have my bases covered...and an article my editor will love.

By LuAnn Schindler

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1 comment article writing, article writing do's and don'ts, LuAnn Schindler, using a checklist

Content Marketing – Three Steps to Properly Formatted Articles

by Karen Cioffi

Creating article content is an essential marketing strategy. It establishes you as an authority in your niche or on a particular topic, increases your visibility and readership, and brings traffic to your site. It also broadens your marketing reach, which helps bring more traffic to your site.

Bringing traffic to your site to sign up for your mailing list is the primary goal to any marketing strategy, even more so than selling a product. The reason for this is that a person on your mailing list gives you the opportunity to build a relationship and promote various products and services – it provides the basis for multiple sales

In fact, Jeff Herring (Article Marketing Guy) says, “Article Marketing, when done correctly, is one of the most powerful forces online.”

If you notice, Herring says, “when done correctly.” Part of doing it ‘correctly’ is to have your article content properly formatted.

If you’re taking the time to use article marketing, whether posting to your blog, guest blogging, or submitting to article directories, you should create quality content, use proper grammar and punctuation, and have it formatted properly. Any content you publish or share is a reflection of your writing skills – make those skills shine.

Three Steps to Properly Format Your Article Content

1. Article Titles and Subtitles

According to EzineArticles.com, “Better Titles = Additional Article Views = More Resource Box Clicks = Higher Website Traffic.”

Your title should be reflective of the article content and the first letter of each word should be capitalized.

Not Effective or Correct: Article marketing: formatting your content

Effective and Correct: Article Marketing With Properly Formatted Content

If at all possible leave out punctuation that can break-up the article’s url. Notice above that the ‘effective title’ eliminated the ‘colon.’

Titles should also be keyword effective. Try to include the keyword at the beginning of the title, not at the end.

The same rules hold true for your subtitle.

2. Include Keywords in the Body of Your Article

Unless you don’t care if the search engines pick up your article, or if it gets more distribution in the article directories, you need to include keywords throughout your article. But, don’t overdo it.

3. Spacing Your Article Content

Every paragraph in your article should have an extra line between it and the next one. If the formatting calls for it, the beginning of each paragraph should be indented.

You should also keep your paragraphs relatively short. Readers like plenty of ‘white space.” This ‘white space’ allows for easier and quicker reading.

Notice my formatting in this article.

There you have it, three formatting tips to help you create great article content.

***

Writers, start off the New Year strong! Join Karen Cioffi's online class, CREATE AND BUILD YOUR AUTHOR-WRITER ONLINE PLATFORM: Website Creation to Beyond Book/Product Sales, which starts on Monday, January 6, 2014.

For information and enrollment, visit our classroom page.

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3 comments article content, article writing, author marketing, Karen Cioffi, online class, WOW online classes

The November Push: Time to Pick a Project!

I’m a little stunned, sitting here writing about November goals. November? Already?

But we don’t have time for wondering where the time went. November is a crucial time-management month, if you’re a writer. And it’s no good, you looking at me with that innocent gleam in your writer’s eye. You know perfectly well that come December, we’ll thank our lucky stars if we finish a grocery list.

So November is the month for a put-your-shoulders-into-it push. And then when January rolls around, you’ll be sitting smug, ready to start on those projects. But first, you’re going to need a project:

National Novel Writing Month

Have you always dreamed of completing a novel? Would you like a little help and support along the way? For free? Then National Novel Writing Month is for you. It’s easy to sign up (and yes, it’s okay to sign up on November 2nd). NaNoWriMo is a wonderful incentive for wannabe novelists; it’s the ultimate November push tool. And you can make this tool work for whatever you need.

I need to get about 27,000 words rewritten—and even though I won’t get that cool winner’s badge, or cute halo over my head, I will get that manuscript finished and I’ll be thrilled. Maybe you’ll be thrilled with a good, strong start to your novel, and 10,000 words is exactly what you need to get it done. Or maybe you love the thrill of that 50,000-word achievement. A big boost of confidence often goes along with that sparkly blog badge.


PiBoIdMo

If you’re a children’s writer, you may have heard of Picture Book Idea Month. Picture book author, Tara Lazar, manages this great push tool over at her blog, rounding up a ton of picture book authors who encourage and share great ideas all month long. And yes, you can still sign up and be eligible for terrific prizes.

I love PiBoIdMo because come on, I only have to come up with a daily idea. (Book about a hedgehog. Done!) But I love it more for the push it gives my creativity. Suddenly, I’m finding ideas everywhere! I look out my window and hear a woodpecker—and come up with a story idea about critters sending code. And when the New Year rolls around, I have thirty ideas for picture books, children’s stories or poems. (Submissions all year long. Done!)

Pitch Push

For the writer who’s working on pitching articles, why not use November to amp up your queries? It’s absolutely necessary to keep queries in circulation; it’s a numbers game, and the more ideas you pitch, the better chance you have of getting a hit. So while all of your story-writing buddies are furiously pounding out ideas and/or novels, you can set a goal along with them. Stretch yourself to a query-a-day and send them out. Come January, the odds are good that one of your queries will pay off. And then you can pay off your holiday debt.

Okay, got your writing project? Then off you go—‘cause it’s November, people!

~Cathy C. Hall

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3 comments article writing, Cathy C. Hall, NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, November writing goals, PiBoIdMo, Picture Book Idea Month, query-a-month, Tara Lazar

Write In Season

Winter. Spring. Summer. Fall. Story ideas are fresh 'in season.'

You've probably read the advice that most writers live by: pitch an article at least six months ahead of time. And for the most part, that's good advice to live by.

But it also got me thinking.

Why do I need to think about Christmas in July when I can be thinking about Fourth of July or BBQ and picnics or my birthday (wait, it isn't a national holiday) in July?

And now that August is here, why can't I be thinking about back-to-school ideas and football games and...

You get the point.

If you don't, here it is: why not be gathering ideas when an event or holiday is 'in season'? The idea is fresh in your mind, waiting to be fleshed out. If you're organized, you've been snapping pictures and gathering additional research for the idea. It makes perfect sense if you think about it. Here's an example.

Where I live - and most likely, it's the same where you reside - summertime means small-town festivals and community celebrations. One major trend I've noticed at all of these events is food. Some offer local, home-grown fare. A lot incorporate a cooking contest - rib-fests seem to be extremely popular here in the Beef State - and they draw a lot of people from outside the community.

I've been accumulating a list of the best food contests and have marketable piece, along with photos, ready to submit to local and regional publications when it's time to submit summer story pitches.

Okay, need another example? We take a lot of family pictures during the holidays. I mean A LOT. Last January, I was working on an article procrastinating and flipping through the digital photo album of 100+ images. Inspiration struck! We have a large family; 57 if everyone is at the gathering, ranging in age from 2 to 80-something. Organizing the family photo session isn't easy! So, I assembled a list of 5 tips for organizing holiday family photos, including ideas for pictures that show more than rows of people in ugly Christmas sweaters.

Catching on? All right. One more idea. Back to school isn't a holiday, but it is an economic impact no matter where you live. In fact, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that in 2011 (last year data is available), $7.7 million was spent at family clothing stores during August, the back-to-school boon. And that's just clothing! Don't forget about shoes and school supplies and computers.

While fashion may change, basic school supplies don't. Why not plan a back-to-school shopping trip and turn it into an article? I did! My pitch is different though. It's the b-2-s bonanza for teachers. That sets my article apart from others that may be pitched.

While it's generally true that a writer needs to pitch a story proposal in advance, it's never too early to generate story ideas.

Especially when a story is in season.

by LuAnn Schindler. To read more of LuAnn's work, visit her website. She'd like to thank her grandsons for always providing photo  and story material, as seen above. 

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4 comments article ideas, article writing, develop ideas, generating new ideas, LuAnn Schindler, seasonal writing, write in season, write stories in season

The Basics For Novice Writers: The DON'TS In Article Querying

Happy Saturday, everyone! I really wanted to do a post for all of you novice writers out there working so hard to get your fabulous articles and stories noticed. It can be a very tough and frustrating road, can't it? I totally understand.

Not too long ago, I was right where you are frantically trying to get just one editor to take notice of my article and story ideas. Each rejection had me beating myself, wondering whether I was kidding myself of 'making it' as a writer. I kept every rejection letter--both paper and email versions. I know it seemed like I was just pouring salt on the wounds but, in the end, it proved to be one of the best things I've done.

You see, many editors will give you a reason your piece or idea was rejected--at least that's what I was lucky enough to have experienced. Alot of times, it isn't because your writing sucked but more because there wasn't room for the piece or they've covered the idea recently or it doesn't fit in to a particular theme they're going with. I always tucked away any tidbits of advice I was given so I could improve my querying skills (because it is a skill!). Another thing their advice gave me was the ability to look at my rejected offer with a magnify glass to see other possible reasons for it being turned down. And that's what we'll talk about today: The DON'Ts in article querying.

We talk about these periodically here on WOW but I felt it was a good time to bring it up again. We often put out all the 'Do's' to follow but you need to understand those Don'ts too. That way you can side-step all the things editors find most annoying and avoid having your idea turfed right into the rejection bin. These are just a few things I've learned (the hard way):

DON'T query about subject matter the publication doesn't cover. No matter how good your idea or your writing is that would be an instant rejection. Follow the publication's Writers' Guidelines to the letter.

DON'T call the editor by his or her first name unless you know him or her personally. It's a business relationship so unless they put that option out there, always address the person as "Miss", "Mrs." or "Mr." so-and-so. And, while we're on the subject, be sure that you address the person by the correct GENDER. There are many unisex names out there (eg: Jamie, Jordan, Jody, etc.) take the time to investigate whether you're addressing your letter to a male or female. Some editors don't have a great sense of humor about that sort of thing.

DON'T go longer than one page. You should be able to get a good hook in, a short description of your idea and your brief qualifications/contact information in one page. If not, you may not be completely certain about your idea.

DON'T send that letter off without checking it over completely. Check for spelling and grammatical errors, punctuation, and sentences that go on and on. And DON'T rely on spell check to catch everything. As you all know, some words can be spelled right but aren't the right word for what you want to say.

DON'T be over-casual in your email pitch. A business letter is the same no matter how it's sent so always be professional.

DON'T indicate you have no experience if you have none. For some places this doesn't matter but for others it does so no need to bring it up in your pitch. If they ask about it later, you can answer honestly but don't give that up from the get-go. You should be confident enough in your idea and your writing to sell it. Yes, there are some places who say they won't accept work from writers with no experience but if you have an excellent idea and present it strongly enough, you could get your chance.

On the other hand, DON'T, go on and on about your experience either. That can be annoying prattling on about every project you've ever done, especially if alot of it has nothing to do with what you're trying to pitch. Keep it down to a bear minimum or summarize your work as best as you can.

DON'T follow up on your pitch too soon. Most places will indicate in their guidelines how long they take to review and get back to you or if they even will get back to you. Some places state clearly that if you don't hear from them within a specific time frame, to assume your idea wasn't accepted. Editors don't have time to respond to every query or give each of us an answer to, "Why?". Just go ahead and pitch to the next editor on your list!

DON'T pitch more than one idea at a time. Give the editor a chance to read and consider one idea before suggesting another. But DON'T keep firing ideas at the same editor. This will only lead to you being blocked and you don't want to create a bad reputation for yourself before you even get your foot in the door! Unless the editor invites you to try again, don't. Or at least wait awhile before trying again.

And above all else, DON'T give up. Just because your idea doesn't work for one editor doesn't mean it won't for another. If I'd given up, I wouldn't be where I am today. Learn what you can from those rejection letters, absorb knowledge from those editors willing to share their pearls with you and thicken up that skin! The world of article writing is tough but there's enough room for all of us. Keep your dream alive!

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3 comments article writing, article writing do's and don'ts, pitching editors