Category Archive

Happy Fourth of July to all the US readers of this blog!

Happy Canada Day to all readers of this blog!

If you want to start a big controversy on any online writer’s community or discussion group, just mention wages. Nothing seems to get writers riled up more. There are writers who accuse low-wage writers of bringing down income for all writers by getting clients used to paying pittance. There are writers who claim they need low-paying jobs to pay the rent. It’s a mess and through it all everyone is wailing “Where can I get better-paying jobs?” Everyone on writer’s groups seems to mention high-paying jobs – jobs that pay $50 or more – but few seem to explain where and how to get them.

I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I have landed a number of well-paid jobs, and from what I have observed it all comes down to a few basics:

1) Break out of the job ad habit. This is the single best piece of advice I can give you if you want to be a better paid writer. You need to look further than just job ads. Yes, some job ads are great and lead you to higher-paying work, but many bring in lots of responses and that means that the client is in control and can ask for any wage he or she wants. When you go after the hidden job market, you gain more control and you can ask for the wage you want. I’m not advocating not replying to job ads – I look over ads every day. I’m just saying that if you want well-paying writing work, you need to do more. Send out letters of introduction to companies you might like to work with or groups of publications. Find recruiters in your area. Put ads for your writing services in newspapers or online.

2) Prospect regularly. If you are constantly just working, you may be missing out on opportunities that open up every day. Give yourself 15 minutes each day to find a new opportunity and apply. Even if you are very busy right now, prospecting ensures you won’t face a drought after your current project is done.

3) Give yourself time. The more desperate you are for cash, the better those low-paying jobs appear. Give yourself time to choose an opportunity that pays well. If money is an issue, get the best paying “for now” job you can and be sure to dedicate at least an hour or two a day to prospecting until you can find something better.

4) Go after clients who can pay. Medium sized business and larger companies can afford to pay you more, in many cases, than start ups. Some companies can also just afford to pay you more. Go after white-collar clients in industries such as business, law, engineering, and medicine. These clients can afford to pay you more. Keep in mind, too, that businesses can often pay more than magazines. Copywriting on the side can help you finance a budding fiction or feature writing career.

5) Do some sleuthing to find out how much a client can pay. Google a company name to find out how much they are willing to pay other types of employees. Look at the prices they are charging their customers. Ask other writers about the ages they get from a particular client and base your suggested wages on all of this input. A client can often afford to pay more – sometimes much more – than he or she wants to pay. Knowing how much they are asking for themselves or how much they are paying others gives you an edge when negotiating.

6) Give yourself raises. Clients sometimes whine when writers want to raise their wages: “But you’ve always charged me that!” Don’t let that old trick get to you. Businesses raise their prices regularly and so should you.

7) Do not hold onto clients who don’t pay enough. If a client refuses to pay you well, get rid of that client as soon as you can afford to do so. It’s just not worth it. Once a quarter or at least once a year, you should be getting rid of your lowest-paying client or your biggest-headache client. It makes room for better projects. If you really are prospecting each day, you should be getting more clients so you can afford to drop the duds.

Today’s job leads:

http://anthologynewsandreviews.blogspot.com/ — This site lists many calls for anthologies. Most calls seem to be for paid anthologies.

http://angelface79.vox.com/ — This blog lists legitimate work-from-home opportunities. Most are not writing gigs, but some research and editing jobs do crop up here, so it is worth checking out.

http://www.thejournalist.ca/jobsearch — This is a list of resources that leads to job-hunting resources for writers.

http://www.justonlinejobs.com/search.php — You can search for writing jobs here, although some of the results seem to take me to bidding sites.

http://freelancemarketingjobs.com/ — This is a blog listing marketing jobs. Copywriting jobs do crop up here.

http://www.genuinejobs.com/members/jobdetails.php?Job_ID=10608 – This site gathers writing jobs via Google and posts them on one easy-to-find page.

http://notesfromawannabewahm.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.html — This blog lists work-from-home jobs. Some are writing-related.

1) http://www.theivrytower.com/ — Lots of markets listed here. Many are literary, although there are some non-fiction markets listed as well.

2) http://main.travelwriters.com/writers/marketnews/listview.asp — Travel markets and writing news listed here. If you are a travel writer (or want to be one), you will find many useful resources at this site.

3) http://www.literaturetraining.com/metadot/index.pl?id=2382 – Writing jobs in the UK

4) http://www.freewebs.com/obsessedwriters/hotmarkets.htm — Looking for new markets? This site lists new publications and offers links to the relevant websites. Their “writer resources” page is also very useful.

5) http://forum.authorityblogger.com/forumdisplay.php?s=ef01e89b966def7d1bfa41e5c6b8e05b&f=14 – This forum lists lots of blogging jobs, although you will have to sift through some low-paying and non-paying gigs to find the better jobs.

6) http://www.writersremember.com/markets.html — A great list of markets for you to consider when looking to place that newest piece of writing.

7) http://www.harpercollins.com/footer/avonGuidelines.aspx — Are you a romance fiction writer? Here is everything you need to know to break into a huge writing market at Avon.

I hope the Easter Bunny was good to everyone.

In many cases, freelance business writers writing for companies are outsourced workers by definition. Freelance business writers are third-party contractors, and are often hired to save a company money or to provide better, specialized service. There are many reasons why companies decide to outsource their writing needs:

*Cost. Hiring a writer full-time costs much more than outsourcing to a freelancer.

*Convenience. Often, hiring a freelancer takes less time and effort than hiring a new, full-time worker. With an outsourced writing service, companies do not have to train a new writer, provide a new office for a new worker, or spend additional effort working with the writer – the work the company needs simply gets done and submitted.

*Additional security. A company hiring a new employee is taking a huge risk – the new employee could refuse the job he or she was hired for or may under-perform. Most outsourced workers, though, are under contract. If an outsourced worker does not perform as expected, the company can seek legal help or refuse to pay the writer for work not completed.

*Expertise. A company may not have a professional writer on staff and may not be able to find a qualified writer in their area. Outsourcing allows a company to seek out the best – without considering borders.

*Timing. Outsourced writers can work outside a company’s time zone. This allows work to get completed during the company’s off-hours – all at no extra cost. A company can get more work done in less time this way.

Understanding why companies are turning to you can help you provide more of what companies seek. Start thinking of yourself as an outsourced worker: How can you offer more in each of these areas so that companies can benefit more (and value you more)? How can you develop your expertise, for example, so that you can help more companies? Which time zones can you work in to help companies the most?

Today’s job leads:

1) http://jobs.copyblogger.com/ — A newer job board for bloggers.

2) http://www.demandstudios.com/writers-application.html — Demand studios has a number of web sites they need writers for. Mostly, they seem to be looking for US-based writers.

3) http://www.work-from-home-directory.com/listings/online-teaching-jobs.html — This site lists writing jobs, including jobs for teaching English and writing.

4) http://www.tutor.com/ — This site lists teaching jobs. If you want to teach English or writing, you can look for gigs here.

5) http://esylvan.com/About/AboutCareersTeachers.aspx — You can become an online teacher and teach others your writing skills here.

Over at freelance-zone.com, Joe Wallace has written a very nice post about none other than me, WritingHermit. I checked out freelance-zone.com myself and it has lots of cool information, advice, and more. I love the resources section and the lifestyles section. This site can keep a writer busy for hours and is well worth checking out.

Today’s job leads:

1) http://www.cthreepo.com/writelinks.html — A great list of writer’s submission guidelines/markets for fiction writers. You have to click around a bit, but it’s worth it.

2) http://newpages.com/npguides/litmags.htm — Lots of literary journals can be found here.

3) http://www.freelance-writing-career.com/writing-jobs — Subscribe to this feed and get new job leads every day. Many are from bid sites, but there are some non-bid jobs worth hunting for.

4) http://www.americanwriters.com/ — This is not a job lead per se, but rather a list of writing-related podcasts. Lots of useful career-building information here.

5) http://www.dotorgjobs.com/ — This general job search site lists writing jobs.

6) http://www.dailytelecommuter.com/ — This cool blog posts daily job leads for telework jobs – including writing gigs.

7) http://www.sun.com/corp_emp/ — Sun Microsystems hires technical writers, and has offices around the world.

Fashion is one of those things that I used to not worry about. Working on deadlines and working from home gives me the freedom to wear whatever I want (provided I don’t mind frightening UPS employees when they drop something off at my house). Still, I figured out a while ago that fashion affects my productivity, and ultimately, my success. Schlepping around the house in PJs and slippers, unwashed hair, and bare feet might be fun once in a while, but it does not exactly inspire. It’s hard to feel that you are working when you are dressed for sleep.

Putting on real clothes, on the other hand, makes me feel more productive. It makes sit up straighter and work more. And it does not scare any delivery personnel who stop by. Dressing for success as a freelancer means:

1) Dressing comfortably. If you are at the computer every day, it makes sense to dress in a way that does not constrict. Toss out the tight wardrobe items and the shoes that hurt. Breathing easy is a must.

2) Dressing for success. Do you really think you can make it as a freelance writer if you tell yourself that you can’t afford new clothes? Do you really think you are at your best in old and ratty clothes? Consider what you think a successful writer wears (short of Danielle Steele diamonds) and then start budgeting for those items. See if you don’t sit up a little straighter at your computer.

3) Nice clothes for interviews with clients, editors, publishers, and agents. You need some nice suits (whether you are a man or woman) to wear out. Whether you are having lunch with a prospective client or meeting a source for an interview, you want to be confident, comfortable, and able to project a professional image.

New media refers to communications methods that make use of the latest technology. While many writers decry the fact that the Internet and other technologies are taking readers away from books, smart writers are rejoicing. Every type of new media is heavily reliant on stables of writers. New video games need writers for story lines. Blogs need writers aplenty. Many of these positions pay quite well, too. New media may be the thing that takes writers out of the garret and into prosperity permanently.

I’m not advocating doing away with magazines and books. These are still great forms of communication and I think they will always exist (and will therefore always need writers). However, just consider the jobs you can land by expanding your job search to writing for:

* Video games. Gamers need new games all the time and an entire industry exists to supply them with new titles. The problem is that game developers and programmers need writers to come up with story ideas and plot lines to keep gamers coming back for more. If you love games and know a bit about game creation, check out sites such as http://www.gamedev.net/community/forums/forum.asp?forum_id=8 and http://www.gamejobs.com/content/xml-feed-recent-job-posts, where game-related jobs are often posted.

* Multimedia CD-ROMs. Multimedia CD-ROMs are now used by many colleges and even high schools to make learning more interactive and fun. Educational publishers are developing entire series of multimedia CD-ROMs to attract students, parents, and teachers. Best of all, each multimedia product needs to be researched and then written up. These publishers need good writers. If you have an educational background and can write for multimedia, consider checking out sites such as http://www.ires.ubc.ca/about/employment.html to find jobs.

* Software. It may not seem like it, but each piece of software contains lots of writing – the “help” section or user’s manual needs to be written, as well as individual instructions and marketing copy for each software title. You can find jobs in this field at http://technical-writer-jobs.dice.com/ and http://www.indeed.com/q-Technical-Writer-jobs.html.

* Web sites. Every word you read or listen to online was once written down by a writer. Today, companies realize that they constantly need fresh content to keep their web sites interesting, and that means that these firms are willing to hire writers en masse. You can easily hook up with a web design firm looking for a writer or you can look for individual writing jobs here: http://www.inserttexthere.com/ and here: http://www.asbpe.org/jobs/joblist.htm.

* Blogs. Blogs are no longer just online journals for angsty teens. Now, marketers and businesses rely on these sites to develop brand identity. As a result, many companies are now paying writers to develop blog posts. If you are willing to write regularly about the same topics, check out the blog jobs at http://www.freelancebloggingjobs.com/2007/12/freelance-blogging-jobs-blogger-jobs_09.html, http://jobs.problogger.net/, and http://www.bloggerjobs.biz/.

* Email. Businesses now send so much email and email marketing products that they often need to hire writers to come up with the material. You can write business emails, canned email responses, email newsletters, email ads, autoresponders and much more. If you can write persuasive, professional emails, look for jobs at http://www.job-search-engine.com/keyword/business-writer.  

* Mobile devices. Many companies are now coming up with separate websites that are designed to load correctly on cell phones and other portable online devices. If you can write succinctly, these business writing jobs might be right for you.

* Podcasting. Virtually every word that gets sent out over a podcast is written down first. If you can write for radio or for an audio format, you might enjoy writing for podcasts, too. Find these jobs at http://jobsinpods.com/, http://www.podcast411.com/jobs.html, and http://www.podcastingnews.com/tools/podcasting_jobs.php.

You can also find more new media jobs at http://jobs.lostremote.com/, http://www.mediabistro.com/OnlineNew-Media-jobs.html, and http://www.redgoldfish.co.uk/new-media-jobs.html.

Today’s Job Leads:

1) http://www.blogher.com/forums/blogher-news-forums/job-listings-and-gigs-0 — This forum lists a number of blog writing jobs.

2) http://www.fmwriters.com/community/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=17&topic_id=68363&mesg_id=68363&listing_type=search – This site offers a free 2-year novel writing course.

3) http://www.mediauk.com/ — Media jobs in the UK

4) http://www.litline.org/links/journals.html– Lots of markets.

5) http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/PayingWrit erJobs – Join the PayingWriterJobs group on Yahoo to get fresh writing job leads daily.

6) http://renegadewriter.wetpaint.com/ — The Renegade Writer Markets Wiki is created by and for writers. There is a growing market listing as well as a discussion forum for writers to place their questions about markets.

7) http://www.passionatepen.com/ — If you write romance, you will find markets on this site.

6) http://www.cs.cmu.edu/%7Emslee/mag.html — Speculative fiction markets listed here.

7) http://www.angelfire.com/ga3/catsandjackets/writingresources.html — Resources and markets for writers.

I hope the new year brings all my readers lots of acceptance letters, brilliant ideas, kind clients, prosperity, and joy.

Now is about the time of year when you see those “New Year’s Resolutions” articles – the ones that point out that 98% of goal setters don’t achieve their New Year’s resolutions. Well, if you hope to buck the trend, here is another article that will help you figure out how to set – and achieve — your writing goals in 2008.

I have to admit that I am a big goal setter. I set daily, weekly, quarterly, and yearly goals. I have 5 and 10 year goals. So, naturally, I like New Year’s Day quite a bit. From setting my own goals and researching goal setting, my best tips for making 2008 your best writing year are:

1) Look back over 2007. Too many of us start the new year thinking that we didn’t achieve all our goals for the past year. That just sets us up to believe that goals don’t matter or are hard to achieve. Even if you didn’t reach all your goals, you must have had some victories. What were they? Write them down and give yourself a big pat on the back. There are probably writers right now who would love to say that they achieved that in the past year. And there are probably people out there too scared to start writing who would be very proud to have your victories list.

2) Decide on your longer-term goals first. Imagine what sort of writing career you will want in five and in ten years from now. Some of your writing goals for this year should be pushing you towards those larger goals. If you want to be a best-selling romance novelist in five years, for example, you will want to create at least the first draft of your first romance novel in 2008. Once you set goals for the future, your one-year goals will seem more important and you may be more inspired to follow through.

3) Always write goals down. But you knew that from reading all of those other goal-setting articles, right?

4) Divide your writing career into areas and set goals for each area. For example, as a writer, you need to submit and query, complete projects, find some writing gigs, network, market yourself, develop your skills, manage your finances, and so on. What are your financial goals? Do you want to make $100 000 this year? What are your writing job goals? Do you want to land three new clients and let your lowest-paying client go? For each area, write down a goal or two. If you improve in every area, your writing career will really start to take off. Just make sure that your goals are specific. “Improve my skills” isn’t ideal, because how will you know you have improved? Something like “read 3 books on grammar and take one online course in magazine writing” is a better goal because you will be able to see exactly when you have arrived.

5) After you have a list of goals for the next year, break your goals down so that you can achieve them. For example, if you want to make $100 000 a year, you will need to make about $2000 a week. That means that you either have to take projects that give you no less than $50 an hour (assuming a 40 hour work week) or you will have to work longer hours. If one of your networking goals is to attend a conference in the summer that will set you back $1500 in total, you need to start saving $10 a day starting today. Knowing what you need to do today or this week is key.

6) Set up a system for checking in. You should be looking over your goals every week. If you are not making progress, those goals need to be right there to remind you. A common tactic is to hide your written goals at the back of your planner where you can’t see them because you don’t like to be reminded that you aren’t working on your dreams. Refuse to do this. One very productive year, I paid a local business to make me a rubber stamp that allowed me to literally imprint my top 3 goals at the top of my planner every day. I went through my planner right at the start of the year and stamped the goals right on every day so I would see them every day. It got the job done. It was easier to just do what I needed to check those off rather than stare at that red ink every day and feel guilty about it. And being able to cross all three off every day from November onwards was a huge ego boost.

Here are today’s job leads:

1) http://www.eluta.ca/ — This general job search page offers lots of Canadian writing and editing jobs.

2) http://www.musemasters.com/ — This website lists jobs as well as good job-hunting resources.

3) http://www.marketingtips.com/careers/index.php — Writers with knowledge of internet marketing will find many opportunities here.

4) http://careers.foliomag.com/ — Folio magazine’s job board has editorial, writing, and related positions. Many jobs are US-based.

5) http://www.tippit.com/ — This media company owns a number of publications, mostly in the business field, so it’s a great place when looking for a home for that business piece.

6) http://www.jobrapido.co.uk/ — A general job site out in the UK. Lots and lots of writing jobs.

7) http://www.writtenroad.com/wr/market-leads/ — Travel gigs here, but you do have to sift through some non-paying or low-paying jobs to find them.

Merry Christmas to everyone out there. I wish you a new year filled with lots of writing success and plenty of productivity.

Ghostwriting is a very lucrative type of writing, but it is also a type of writing that is often misunderstood. Ghostwriting involves writing content, articles, or books for someone else and giving up all copyright. The person who hires the copywriter gets to use the written material as they like, and they generally place their name (rather than the author’s) on the written material.

Even though you get no byline, ghostwriting can be a great gig because:

1) It often pays very well. Since you are giving up full rights and since the client will generally be profiting from your writing, you should be charging a pretty penny for this sort of work.

2) It lets you learn and grow. As a ghostwriter, I’ve worked with experts in all sorts of fields and I’ve written in a wide range of styles and voices.

3) Moneymaking opportunities. Once you ghostwrite a book or article for someone, you gain knowledge about the topic (not to mention an “in” with the client). If the topic is an interesting or relevant one, you can usually pitch magazines with related story ideas – you’ve already got the preliminary research done and you have an interview source ready to go. That way, you still get some sort of byline for your hard work.

There are many ghostwriting opportunities out there. You can hang out your own shingle as a ghostwriter or can look for businesses seeking ghostwriters. Just remember that if you are giving up “all rights” you should be handsomely rewarded for it. Stay away from clients who want to pay you very little in exchange for all rights.

Today’s job leads:

1) http://jobs.nna.org/home/index.cfm?site_id=118 – The National Newspaper Association has plenty of newspaper jobs available.

2) http://www.ingrambook.com/careers/default.asp — Ingram Book Company, one of the biggest book wholesalers, has lots of career opportunities, most in La Vergne, Tennessee.

3) http://www.reimanpub.com/Revise/Employment.asp?RefURL=&KeyCode=&tdate=&PMCode=&OrgURL= — Reiman Media Group has plenty of job openings, and copywriter jobs crop up here quite regularly.

4) http://www.knowmoremedia.com/write-for-us.html — Know More Media often has blogging opportunities open.

5) http://www.freelancebloggingjobs.com/ — Lots of blogging jobs here.

6) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3303596/ — MSNBC has lots of editing and some writing jobs available. Worth checking regularly.

7) http://www.google.com/intl/en/jobs/ — Google hires editors and technical writers.

Happy Thanksgiving to all viewers in the US. I wish you much happy feasting and lots of joy.

I’ve been buried under a huge pile of work and am only now peeking up for air. Thank you for all the kind emails. Hopefully, the rest of this month will be a little more sane. Here are today’s job leads:

1) http://bcwriters.com/publishers.php — Here is a list of Canadian publishers. Great resource if you are looking for a publisher for your book.

2) http://www.ewa.org/desktopdefault.aspx?page_id=201 – The National Education Writers Association lists grants, resources, and potential markets.

3) http://www.nyabj.org/jobopportunities.htm — The New York Association Of Black Journalists lists job opportunities.

4) http://www.cnn.com/JOBS/ — CNN has lots of job openings, some for media types and some for writers.

5) http://www.npr.org/about/jobs/index.html — There are many editorial and some writing opportunities in public radio.

6) http://www1.recruitingcenter.net/clients/bna/publicjobs/ — The Bureau of National Affairs offers plenty of media and advertising jobs, with some writing opportunities.

7) http://www.tribjobs.com/ — Tribune has many jobs in the publishing and media fields.

I’m feeding the ghouls and goblins coming to my door now. I hope everyone has a pleasantly spooky day!

Writers in general love their work. Why else be a writer except a deep love of the written word? Even with all that love, though, there are times when settling down to write isn’t so simple. There are days when just about everything seems more enticing than the computer or notebook.

If this happens to you, try taking a look at what you are avoiding. You may simply hate a current project or a current client. If so, consider letting that project go. Why create resentment if you are not having fun with something? If you can’t just give up a client or project, consider whether you can make the project a little more fun. Maybe work outside on your laptop or take your work with you to your favorite café.

If it’s not the project you’re working on, it may be burn out. If you have been going non-stop for some time, consider taking a short break or at least switch what you are working on. If you’ve been plugging away at an article, work on some fiction or poetry. If you have been working on your book, take on one or two short assignments that can be completed fast and can give you a sense of completion. And don’t forget to step away from the keyboard. A long walk or an afternoon playing hooky at the local fall fair can make you enthusiastic about writing again. And who knows – maybe you’ll find a great idea for a new project while you are off duty.

1) http://www.talentzoo.com/website/content/ — This is a terrific site for marketing, advertising, and media jobs. Writing and editing jobs are often posted here.

2) http://www.knowthis.com/careers.htm — A good site for marketing jobs. Writing and technical writer jobs often crop up here.

3) http://www.georgiawriters.org/content/category/4/42/59/ –  The Georgia Writers Association lists opportunities for writers.

4) http://www.mississippiwritersguild.com/Writing_for_Publication.html — The Mississippi Writers Guild lists all sorts of markets, organized conveniently by genre.

5) http://members.aol.com/Raven763/Markets.html — This website lists markets for writers – both paying and non-paying markets here.

6) http://www.fictionfactor.com/markets.html — Fiction Factor lists markets of interest to the fiction writer.

7) http://www.duotrope.com/ — A search engine that lets you find markets for your work.

1) http://www.artcareer.net/search-jobs.asp — This website lists jobs for those in the visual arts. However, gigs for grant writers and course writers are also often posted here.

2) http://www.entertainmentcareers.net/ — Lots of writing jobs in the entertainment industry.

3) http://www.showbizjobs.com/ — Writing and editing jobs in the show business.

4) http://jobs.marketingpower.com/search/ — Lots of writing jobs to be found at this job search site for marketers.

5) http://www.hrjobnet.com/ — This job search site for HR professionals often has writing jobs.

6) http://www.jobs4hr.com/ — This job bank for HR pros often lists technical writer jobs.

7) http://www.marketingjobs.com/ — This job site lists some marketing writing opportunities.

One way to make a better career for yourself with writing is to put your efforts into a few channels. Rather than just writing one thing, you can be getting several checks in the mail by combining projects. For example, you could be querying magazines and sending articles on spec while also writing a book proposal, trying to get a regular column and writing for local businesses. You could even be taking on different types of writing – copywriting, fiction, and fillers, for example. Some writers find great success by even taking on writing-related tasks – such as consulting, teaching writing, and editing. Wearing lots of hats means you have to have great organizational skills, but it also means that you will be getting money from plenty of sources. Even if one income dries up, you’ll still have money headed your way. Plus, you never know when something will bite. Maybe you will have a hard time selling your short fiction at first but your article will be picked up. You won’t know until you try. And as you work towards success, at least you’ll have varied projects to keep life interesting!

Today’s job leads:

1) http://www.quintcareers.com/jobres.html — This general job site often has a number of writing jobs.

2) http://www.basejobs.com/ — This general job site lists some Canadian writing jobs.

3) http://www.bestjobsca.com/bt-jobs.htm — This is another general job site for Canada. Again, plenty of writing and editing positions here.

4) http://working.canada.com/atlantic/index.html — Lots of Canadian writing jobs at this general job site.

5) http://www.extremejobs.ca/ — This cool Canadian job site lists jobs in travel and related industries. It’s an overlooked job resource, but writing jobs do crop up here very regularly.

6) http://www.jobboom.com/mod-bin/prod/preferences.cgi?back_url=%2Fmod-bin%2Fprod%2Findex.pl – This general job site posts some writing jobs, all in Canada.

7) http://www.embanet.com/about_embanet/careers.asp — Embanet is an online education company. They regularly have a need for copywriters and people who can create online educational content. Check back often.

Where do ideas come from? Most writers get lots of them, and ideas are truly the backbone of writing. You need great ideas to write that query, create that book, impress that client, and land that job. Being able to create lots of ideas fast is a skill that’s in demand. There are a few reliable ways to generate ideas for your writing:

1) Carry around a notebook. Every time you get an idea, jot it down. You may get ideas from your daily walks, from questions clients and friends ask you, from things you read, and from the things you see. Become sensitive to questions. They are often the best hint that an idea is about to develop. If you find yourself reading something and thinking to yourself “I wonder…” then you have an idea. Stay alert for questions that people ask you – “How do I…?”  “What do you think…?” These are often great ideas for articles or short fillers.

2) Brainstorm. I like to brainstorm on big pieces of paper, using lots of colored pens. Brainstorming is nothing more than just writing down all the ideas you have – even the silly ones – to see which ideas are best.

3) Collect. Paste newspaper clippings, photos you like, pictures cut from magazines, and stubs into a scrapbook. Browse through once a week or once a month – this is a great way to generate ideas for personal essays and articles.

4) Put together two things that don’t belong. In many ways, there are no completely new ideas. But, you can put a fresh spin on things. Flip randomly through a list of words and pick one word. Then, close your eyes and run through the list again, randomly stopping on a word. Now, put your two words together and create a poem, story, or filler about it. Trying to make two very different words fit together is a good practice for thinking creatively.

5) Look at what you have already written and try to find new approaches. This works really well with articles. For example, if you have written an article about choosing a digital camera, maybe you can write an article about setting up your camera or taking pictures. Maybe you could write a personal essay about the first time you used your camera. Maybe you could write an article for a children’s magazine about how kids can choose their first camera.

Today’s leads:

1) http://db.texaspress.com/jobbank/ — The Texas Press Association has a job bank.

2) http://www.vpa.net/jobs.htm — Jobs at Virginia newspapers.

3) http://www.allfreelancework.com/ — You need to register, but it’s free to do so. Jobs range from low-paying to decent gigs.

4) http://www.aquent.com/ — This recruitment company offers creative staffing and marketing solutions to businesses. Their page has a job search function, or you can send in your CV and register with the company.

5) http://www.freelanceq.com/ — This site allows you to register for free and will troll the web for you, looking for freelance work opportunities that meet your search criteria. A handy tool for job-seekers and a neat way to find lots of opportunities.

6) http://www.sologig.com/ — This is another website that has you register before you can get any gigs. It is not a bid site, but I notice that most employers do not post the fees they want to pay – you apply for the job and “negotiate” with the employer about fees. This can work against you, especially if lots of other writers apply. This isn’t a freelance bid site, but the results may be similar. Still, some of you may like it.

7) http://www.writeradvice.com/markets.html — This web site has lots of great resources, plus markets for writers.

Creativity is one of those things I think about a lot. Is my writing fresh and creative enough? How can I be more creative in what I write? Every writer I know also thinks about and worries about the subject. Years ago, it was popular to believe that creativity was just something that some people were born with. Today, it is popular to see creativity as something that can be taught. Great teachers such as Natalie Goldberg and Julia Cameron are worth checking out if you want to learn how to boost your creativity. You may not agree with everything they write – I don’t – but the exercises and tools they give are great.

Today’s job leads:

1) http://www.inanews.com/about/viewlistings.php — The Iowa Newspaper Association has a job listings page.

2) http://www.mna.org/mna-resources/mnajob.html — The Minnesota Newspaper Association lists lots of jobs for writers.

3) http://nenews.org/jobs/index.html — The New England Newspaper Association has a job bank.

4) http://www.njpa.org/njpa/jobs/index.html — The New Jersey Press Association has a job page.

5) http://www.ncpress.com/ncpa/jobbank.html — The North Carolina Press Association lists jobs for writers and editors.

6) http://www.orenews.com/cgi-bin/internal/database/jobs/showjobs.cgi — ONPA member newspapers regularly advertise writing and editorial jobs on this page.

7) http://www.snpa.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=CircuitAddOn.employment – The Southern Newspaper Publishers Association lists news jobs, writing and editorial positions, and internships here.

Freewriting is one of those tools I use all the time. It’s a great way to complete work when I’m not feeling motivated and it’s a great way to get my creativity going when I feel sluggish. Freewriting is also blessedly simple:

1) Get your weapons. You will need a piece of paper and a pen or your computer and a timer. You can find an online timer at http://html_help4u.tripod.com/javatime.html and at http://www.timeme.com/timer.htm.

2) Decide how long you will write. At the beginning, 5 minutes might be a good aim, but if you learn to like freewriting as much as I do, you might end up going for 45 minutes. You can also set your timer for 10 or 15 minutes – do what feels right for you.

3) At the top of your paper or blank screen, type out what you will be writing about. This can be a topic you have for an article, the next scene of your novel, or just a general idea , such as “love.”

4) Start the timer and immediately begin to write. Write without stopping until the alarm goes off. Write quickly and do not go back or edit what you have written. Just keep moving forward. If you get stuck, write “I don’t know what to write, but” or write the words at the top of your screen or paper. You may veer off in all sorts of directions or even onto different topics. Again, don’t think or worry about it. Just write.

5) When the timer indicates that your time is off, review what you have written. You may find that there are some sentences, ideas, and phrases that you can use in your work. If there aren’t you will still find that you leave the exercise more motivated to write. It’s very rewarding to be able to produce some work – and often good work – in such a short period of time.

6) Repeat as necessary.

Many people think that freewriting works because when you do this exercise you are not listening to that little voice inside your head that tries to tell you that you can’t write. Creativity experts – including Natalie Goldman and Julia Cameron – both advise something similar to this exercise. It really works. Try it out for yourself.

1) http://www.freedom.com/jobs/ — Freedom Communications Inc. usually has a number of jobs of interest to writers, mostly in the US.

2) http://www.hearstcorp.com/human_resources/ — Hearst has many opportunities for editors and some for writers.

3) http://www.hotjobs.com/ — A general job site, usually with a number of jobs for writers and editors.

4) http://jobs.mediageneral.com/ — Lots of media jobs here.

5) http://www.lee.net/careers/ — Lee Enterprises has a number of positions in newspapers.

6) http://biz.oregonian.com/jobs/ — The Oregonian has lots of newsroom jobs, internships, and some editor positions, usually.

7) http://gapress.org/classifieds.html — The Georgia Press Association has a classified section that lists Georgia news jobs.

A few posts ago, I wrote about a plagiarism case that was bothering me. Well it’s still bothering me. The so-called author is still not admitting that she did anything wrong, because her ghostwriter apparently offered her the plagiarized material. This is just a stupid argument. When you place your name on something, you take responsibility for it. Unless you have a contract stating specifically that the ghostwriter is liable for any mistakes or problems with the text, you are also legally responsible for the work that appears under your name. Even with all that, it is just common sense to check to make sure that the content you have received is not plagiarized. Add to the fact that this writer very unethically claimed that the writing was her own and you have a real mess.

Why does the case bother me? A few reasons. First of all, I don’t think this was just a “mistake” and the author’s bull-headed and suspicious actions after being uncovered anger me. It’s not ok to keep plagiarized work on other sites after you have been outed. It’s not ok to try to bully others into not speaking about your case. It’s not ok to try to get pity in order to distract attention away from what you have done wrong.

The other thing that really bothers me is the way that this author used ghostwriting. I ghostwrite and it is in fact a very lucrative and interesting job. However, I do not ghostwrite for people who style themselves as “writers” and try to get work from ghostwritten material, which is what this author tried to do. Ghostwriters are for businesses and professionals who have something to say but don’t have the writing ability to express themselves. Ghostwriters, for example, help celebrities write autobiographies or help companies create websites. If you claim that writing is your “gift” you do not hire a ghostwriter – you continue polishing your gift until it can be shared with the world. You do not take shortcuts.

Rant over. Here are today’s job leads:

1) http://novelandshortstory.com/blog/ — This blog lists markets, conferences, and other opportunities of interest to fiction writers.

2) http://www.netread.com/jobs/jobs/ — Lots of jobs for writers, editors, designers, and professionals in the publishing industry.

3) http://careerlink.com/ –  A general job site, but often with a good listing of jobs opportunities.

4) http://www.mcclatchy.com/108/story/230.html — A newspaper giant with many jobs of interest to writers.

5) http://www.cnhi.com/employment — Employment opportunities at CNHI newspapers.

6) http://www.coxnews.com/html/careers.html — Job opportunities at Cox newspapers.

7) http://www.dowjones.com/Careers/Careers.htm/index.html — Dow Jones have editorial positions and other opportunities of interest to writers.

I don’t have a ton of time today, but I just wanted to post some leads here:

1) http://www.corecreativegroup.com/ — This web site posts regular writing gigs.

2) http://themusepub.blogspot.com/ — This blog posts plenty of job opps.

3) http://www.careerbuilder.ca/CA/Default.aspx — A general job site, but with lots of writing jobs.

4) http://performancing.com/forum/326 — Lots of blogging jobs listed here.

5) http://www.ralan.com/ — Lots of paying markets for speculative fiction writers.

6) http://www.jobadsusa.com/jobseekers/search.php3 — A general job site, usually with a good selection of writing and editing gigs.

7) http://www.creative-weblogging.com/50226711/jobs.php — A blog with lots of writing jobs, blogging jobs, and editing opportunities.  

Of the many writing jobs out there, only some are gigs you actually want. When applying for jobs, make it your policy to never apply for jobs you wouldn’t love. You have so many options that it really does not make any sense to take on work that will make you dread heading to the computer every morning. Research companies before applying and even once you land a gig, keep in mind that you can say “no.” Sometimes a company will seem very legitimate before you apply but once your application is accepted you might find that all your projects are due ASAP – with no extra compensation for the rush jobs.

Part of getting a great jobs means working out expectations early on. Determine your hourly or by-word fee as well as deadlines and be wary of that “extra bit of work” assigned to you from time to time. You should be compensated for even the “little extra bit” you have to do. The last thing you want is a client devaluing your work by slowly and steadily assigning more work for the same pay. Make your rules clear up front – when do you need to be paid? How will you be paid? Do you wish to impose late fees on late payments? How much lead time do you need on assignments? Are there rules business calls you want to make? If so, you better make them now, before a client gets too used to calling you late at night and on Sunday mornings.

Take a few minutes to draw up your perfect work circumstance and when you take on an assignment, consider sharing these rules – gently and kindly – with your new employer. It’s not so scary – start with “To better create content that makes my clients happy, I have the following rules. Can we agree to abide by them?” If your rules are reasonable the only clients you will alienate are those you don’t want to be working with anyway.

As a writer, you set your own working conditions, so set them consciously.

Here are today’s job leads:

1) http://bloodletters.com/goblin/?viewall=true – Markets for prose and poetry, mostly SF, horror, and fantasy.

2) http://www.writingtoheal.com/pew/markets.html — This site lists markets accepting personal essays. Read writer guidelines – not all markets listed are paying ones.

3) http://www.publication.com/aylad/paying.htm — A list of paying markets (mostly magazines).

4) http://womenst.library.wisc.edu/mags.htm — Lots of markets. Almost all are women’s publications.

5) http://www.perseusbooksgroup.com/basic/employment.jsp — Basic Books sometimes has editor positions open and they are always accepting resumes.

6) http://www.battelle.org/careers/index.aspx — Battelle publishes science and tech books and are sometimes in need of editors.

7) http://www.beacon.org/client/client_pages/about_openings.cfm — Beacon Press often has jobs and internships of interest to writers.

1) http://www.writelit.com/market — Markets listed and updated often.

2) http://www.smartwriters.com/content/blogcategory/25/18/ — Magazine markets for children’s writers.

3) http://www.jbwb.co.uk/markets.html — Lots of markets listed, most in the UK. You need to navigate around the site a bit to figure out where the markets are, but it is well worth the effort.

4) http://home.snafu.de/gadfly/a-c.htm — Canadian paying markets for your work.

5) http://www.forwriters.com/markets.html — Lots of markets for your work. Most listed here are paying, with some non-paying.

6) http://storypilot.com/ — A search engine that lets you find markets for your work. Mostly for fantasy and SF writers.

7) http://www.utmostchristianwriters.com/markets/wrpubs.php — Markets for Christian writers. Not all markets are paying, so read the writer guidelines.

Creative Writing — Barbara Kyle’s Writing Fiction Workshops

Here is a peek inside a writers’ workshop. Some very useful ideas here.

There’s a bit of a tempest in a tea pot right now over allegations that a newbie author has plagiarized word for word the work of noted author David Gemmell. The situation is very weird, since the author chose to work with noted scam artists (which she now blames for the plagiarism) and because both the author and her agent are threatening law suits and even Wiccan curses on everyone. You can read all about the controversy here:

http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2007/10/11/top-10-tips-for-plagairists/

A number of things that the author is doing – including using her disability as an excuse and painting herself as the victim of a scam – make it very hard to defend her. Nevertheless, reading about the whole mess has made me realize:

1) Publishers that accept anything for a fee are not a great route. Presumably, the publisher in this case did not check for plagiarism or writing quality because the company was being paid to produce the book. Of course, plagiarism does happen with traditional publishers, but it seems less likely to happen when there are professional editors reading your work.

2) If your agent cannot string together a decent sentence and charges you fees to place your book with a vanity press, you need a new agent.

3) You really, really need to know about the publishing industry before trying to get into writing books. Part of the reason why I find it so hard to have sympathy for the author in this case is because she claims that she did not know that the people around her were scam artists. Yet, she has her own web site and obviously does some online marketing. Surely, she has enough computer knowledge to Google the names of people she is working with to check their legitimacy.

4) If you don’t like writing and pay someone else to write for you, become a business entity or a retailer. Do not become an author, especially not one that gushes that writing is a “gift” you want to share with the world.

5) If you screw up, it’s better just to admit the mistake, apologize and try to rectify the situation. The author in this case at first claimed that the work was hers then did not immediately try to remove the offending text from her web page. In fact, what she seemed to want most is for people to stop talking about it.

That’s just my two cents. Here are the job leads for today:

1) http://www.randallpub.com/careers.shtml Randall Reilly sometimes has editorial positions open.

2) http://www.putman.net/careers/submit_resume.php — Putman Media sometimes has writing and editing opportunities.

3) http://www.phillips.com/employment.html — Phillips often has content, writing, and editing jobs available.

4) http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~lcrew/pbonline.html — This great site from Louie Crew has a list of poetry markets that accept submissions electronically.

5) http://www.poetrymachine.com/ — This great site lists lots of markets for poetry – International, Canadian and US markets here.

6) http://www.writers.ns.ca/periodicals.html — The Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia has a nice page of markets.

7) http://www.writersreign.co.uk/Markets_for_Writers.html — Markets and writing gigs, mostly in the UK.

It’s a touchy subject and the one topic most likely to cause conflict on writers’ discussion boards and forums. Some writers write for no pay while others claim that writers writing for free lower everyone’s chances for decent payment. A decent fee for one writer is unacceptably low for another.

If you’re a professional writer and can produce good copy reliably then you deserve to be compensated for your work. If you choose to write for nothing, that is your business, but if you write for money you should be paid a good wage.

So what’s a good wage? Ahh. That’s the big question. Everyone has a different view of what a fair wage is and in part it varies depending on where you live. A decent wage in New York City is very different from a decent wage in Nova Scotia. Your best bet when figuring this out is to determine how much you want to make per year. Let’s say that for you it’s $40 000. Keep in mind that taxes, all benefits, sick days, and health care costs come out of this. Let’s say, though, that you live somewhere where living costs are low and $40 000 is a decent wage for you.

There are 52 weeks in a year so you will need to earn about $770 per week to average out $40 000. For a 40-hour work week that’s about $154 a day or about $20 per hour. That means that when considering a project, you should estimate (generously) how much time you will need to complete the project. If the amount you are getting is less than $20/hour you need to renegotiate or turn down the project. I know that turning down a paying project is scary, but if it is taking you away from a decent wage, you need to turn it down.

By the way, to be on the safe side, I recommend that anyone who wants to earn $40 000 a year writing (which is a very easy goal to achieve, in fact) actually double the hourly wage. That’s right – aim for $40 an hour rather than $20. That’s because if you stick with the $20 you will inevitably earn less than your $40 000. Again, as a freelancer you are paying for overhead, taxes, benefits, and sick days out of your own pocket, so increasing your wage is the best way to ensure that you meet your financial needs. You can even follow this model with $100 000 or whatever yearly wage you want to earn. Once you know you need to earn a certain amount each day, it’s amazing how clearly you can select which projects to take on. It’s also very freeing to know that you sit at your desk until you earn your daily amount. Once you have done that, you can switch off your computer and enjoy the rest of the evening.

Today’s job leads:

1) http://www.cpb.org/jobline/ — Jobs in public broadcasting.

2) http://www.publishinghelp.com/editors/eoclas.shtml — Jobs for editors and some copywriters from Editors Only classifieds.

3) http://careerbank.naa.org/search.cfm — Lots of jobs in newspapers, as well as internships. Most are in the US, although some Canadian jobs do crop up.

4) http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com/ubm/workingubm/jobshop/ — United Business Media has positions (editorial and some copywriting, usually) open in the UK and US.

5) http://www.reedbusiness.apply2jobs.com/ — Reed Business Information has positions available in the US in editorial and publishing fields.

6) http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=variety_careers – Online media and writing job search board.

7) http://jobs.publishersweekly.com/ — Publishers Weekly has a Job Zone that lists lots of jobs in editing and publishing fields.

1) http://www.meistermedia.com/modules.php?name=MMW_People&op=opportunities – Meister Media often has spots open for writers and editors.

2) http://www.key-com.com/index.php — Key Communications is a media company. Their web site claims that they are always looking for new professionals.

3) http://careers.idg.com/ — International Data Group usually has plenty of editorial jobs on offer.

4) http://www.cygnuspublishing.com/jobSearch.cfm — Cygnus Business Media has editorial and publishing jobs.

5) http://www.cbizmedia.com/careers/ — Commonwealth Business Media often has editorial positions open.

6) http://www.cmp.com/careers/ CMP Technology has positions for copywriters and editors, usually.

7) http://www.cancom.com/joblistings.php — Canon Communications has a number of jobs of interest to writers and editors. Most are in the US or UK.

5 Types of Article You Can Write

by David Goldsmith

About the Author

David Goldsmith is a freelance writer and author of the popular e-book “25 Ways to Write for Money”. Discover how you can earn a good living from your writing. Download your copy of his e-book today at http://write523.quickq.hop.clickbank.net.

1) http://avalonbooks.com/faq.html#19 – Avalon Books considers freelance copyediting or proofreading professionals in the New York City metropolitan area only. If you qualify, scroll to the end of the FAQ page for more information or contact them directly with your resume at Editors, Avalon Books, 160 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016.

2) http://www.travelmatters.com/jobs.php — Avalon travel does not specify what sort of job opportunities they currently have available, but they likely hire editors, readers, and all the likely suspects. Their page offers good instructions for applying. They are based in Tennessee, so on-site jobs would likely be there.

3) http://www.harpercollinscareers.com/careers/ There are usually some good editorial and assistant editor jobs available over at Harper Collins. Jobs for publicists, librarians and others also crop up.

4) http://www.wwnorton.com/area4/jobs.htm — Norton sometimes has promising job opps. Their internships seem very attractive.

5) http://www.barbourbooks.com/about-us/join-our-team/ — Barbour Books is a Christian publisher. Their web site claims that they are always looking for motivated and organized professionals.

6) http://search.writersweekly.com/search-ww.cgi?cmd=Search&fmt=long&form=extended&GroupBySite=no&m=all&ps=50&q=%22welcomes+new+writers%22&sp=1&sy=1&type=&ul=&wf=2221&wm=wrd&s=SRPD&su=title – This page from Writers Weekly allows you to search specifically for markets that welcome new writers. This is a great place to start if you are new.

7) http://writing.shawguides.com/ — This great resource lets you search for and find writing conferences by genre or location.

Joyce Carol Oates - On Writing Characters

I love Joyce Carol Oates. Here she is talking about writing. Well worth a listen.

Freelance bid sites. I’m not going to name names, but if you have been hunting for writing jobs online, you have likely run into these sites at least occasionally. The set-up is simple: these sites allow employers to come in and post jobs. Then they graciously permit writers to come in and place “bids” on these projects. In the end, the employer gets to pick a writer to work on the project.

These sites, run like ebay auctions, are a bit controversial in the writing world. Some writers make money by bidding on and completing projects while others hate these sites. I have to admit I shudder whenever freelance bid sites are even mentioned. And it’s not because I don’t know what I’m talking about – I have tried these sites and have watched with a sinking feeling as the cost of a project dropped lower and lower and lower, so that the writer eventually being “awarded” the project was paid peanuts for his or her work. Bleah.

The problem with these sites is that they skew power so much in favor of the employer. Few sites, for example, will take disciplinary action against an employer who does not pay, because it is the employers who are bringing in the money. Plus, the entire set up of these sites is, to my mind, somewhat insulting. These projects are doled out and writers must scramble to bid on them so that one lucky writer can be “awarded” the project (after pushing the writing rate through the floor). If you live in North America, you are generally competing with writers from places with much lower living costs, so you will be outbid virtually every time. It’s not a great way to boost your confidence or your sense of self-worth.

Plus, you have no control over setting your rates since other writers are on the site with lower bids. This takes away your bargaining power  to negotiate for better rates. Sure, you are competing with other writers (and their rates) when you apply for a job, but in that situation the employer is not given a set up that expressly encourages him or her to look at the bottom line and compare writers primarily by how inexpensive they are. Freelance bid sites seem designed to make employers think that writers are virtually dispensable — “I can always go back to that site and get another, cheaper writer.” That doesn’t encourage anyone to take writers seriously. You don’t see attorneys scrambling to offer their clients the lowest rates. And sure, you might compare a few contractors if you want to renovate your home, but you have to do the footwork. You’re not encouraged to go with the cheapest contractor online.

The way I see it (and you are free to disagree) is that these sites devalue writing, suggesting that writers are a dime a dozen and can even be made to fight each other over a few low-paying gigs. A number of these sites even charge you money to allow you to place bids, which just heaps insult on injury.  

At some point, every writer wanting to make cash has to decide whether or not to try one of these sites. If you decide to give these a try, research carefully what your rights are if you are not paid and at least select a site that does not charge you fees. Bid on a few projects while continuing to find jobs in other ways and please be careful out there.

1) http://working.canada.com/atlantic/index.html — Another general job board for Canadians.

2) http://www.classefind.com/search_category.php?cat=50 – This site allows you to search classified job ads across Canada.

3) http://www.jobrapido.co.uk/ — A general UK job search site, usually featuring a good range of writing jobs.

4) http://www.abanet.org/hr/ — The American Bar Association sometimes has a need for editors, reporters, and marketers.

5) http://www.apa.org/jobs/homepage.html –The American Psychological Association regularly posts editor jobs on their web site.

6) http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/about.html — Arcadia publishing sometimes lists jobs opportunities and always has internships available.

7) http://www.augsburgfortress.org/company/employ.jsp — Augsburg Fortress has internships and job opportunities for writers and marketing professionals.

Thank you to everyone who has left such kind comments recently. It’s wonderful to know that others are reading this blog.

Today I wanted to discuss marketing. Any writer who wants to write non-fiction articles markets themselves in three ways: by querying, querying, querying. Fiction writers market themselves by creating a great piece of writing and sending out again and again until it finds a home. If you have a business writing for businesses and company clients, though, you can’t just consult market lists to send out individual emails. You have to market yourself so that businesses can find you. Here are some ways that I have found useful when promoting a writing business:

1) Start a blog.

2) Launch a web site.

3) Have some business cards printed. Hand these out to people you know.

4) Publish articles online. Query online magazines or publish on blogs or other web sites. In your byline, include a link back to your business web site or contact information for potential clients.

5) Submit to online article directories. These directories do not pay you for your writing, but allow you to add a live link to take viewers back to your web site. Although I usually hate anything involving writing for free, article directories are a good way to promote web sites and products because these articles are often published and re-published in many online publications.

6) Get yourself in the yellow pages.

7) Register yourself with your local chamber of commerce. You may have to be a registered business to do this.

8 ) Meet other entrepreneurs at local small business events. Your local chamber of commerce and local business organizations may host a number of events aimed at small business owners. These events are a great way to meet business leaders in your community and a great way to get your business card out there.

9) Sponsor someone in a race or marathon. Have them wear a shirt with your logo, URL or contact information.

10) Have custom t-shirts designed. Hand these out to friends, family, even clients.

11) Create brochures.

12) Register yourself at online directories. Google online directories and you are sure to find many of them. Today, many businesses search the Internet more than the Yellow Pages.

13) Buy online ads. This can be very inexpensive, especially if your ads are in online newsletters. Just be sure to place your ads in newsletters where your clients may see you. If you are selling editing services, for example, consider an ad in a newsletter for business owners taking English language courses. Do not advertise in a publication for editors – the people who read the publication are not your prospective clients.

14) Buy pay-per-call ads. These online ads allow prospective clients to call you with the click of a button. You only pay for actual leads calling you, so this can be very cost-effective.

15) Buy ads in your local papers. Many small business owners read the local business section thoroughly.

16) Get your car emblazoned with your logo.

17) Cold call.

1 Send out letters to businesses who might be interested.

19) Send follow-up letters to potential clients.

20) Analyze when you get the most business. Choose the holiday just before that date and send cards to everyone you have worked with in the past. For example, if most of your business comes to you in the weeks before Christmas, send your client list Thanksgiving cards. That way, your clients will be thinking of you just as they are about to need your services.

21) Ask your current clients to recommend you to others.

22) Ask your current clients whether they know someone who might need your services. Call up these new potential clients.

23) Ask local coffee shops whether they might place your business card/brochure at the front counter. Many will.

24) Support a local charity or community event. See #9. You can often get a mention in an event’s brochure or web site just for sponsoring part of an event.

25) Hand out more business cards when you meet someone so that they can pass it on. Instead of giving someone one business card, offer them two so that they can pass one on.

26) Make friends with reporters and other media types. Getting your name on the news is great publicity.

27) Give talks or workshops. Organizations, churches, and schools all need speakers. After your talk, you can always hand out your brochures and business cards.

2 Develop an online forum. A place where people can chat about business writing is a great way to bring more traffic to your site.

29) Create an online discussion group for potential clients. This can be through email and gives potential clients a way to ask questions and get to know you.

30) Send out a newsletter. Paper or email versions both work, although with the cost of postage, email is less expensive.

31) Have your logo and contact information imprinted on something useful you can give to clients. Paper clips, pens, and mugs are all items that people tend to keep around, so if your contact information is on these items, your contact information will always be within easy reach.

32) Partner up with related businesses. Web designers and graphic artists sometimes need content for clients who want a web page put together. You might have clients asking about creating a web site. Team up with a designer and agree to recommend each other to clients.

33) Tell friends and family what you are up to. They might hear about businesses needing writers.

34) Do some market research. Where did your current clients hear about you? Which industries are your clients from? If you have success netting certain types of clients, it just makes sense to approach the same type of client when you are prospecting. Market research doesn’t have to be intimidating – just add a poll to your blog, web site, or emails.

35) Buy a radio spot.

Today’s leads:

1) http://www.fwpublications.com/careers.asp — F + W is a publishing giant with a variety of jobs usually available.

2) http://www.gapc.com/corporate_overview/jobs.html — GAPC is a Canadian media company. Their web site states that they are always looking for freelancers.

3) http://www.allianceatlantis.com/corporate/careers/ — Alliance Atlantis sometimes has content producer and writer jobs available.

4) http://www.algonquin.com/about/faqs/ — Algonquin books hires editorial freelancers. To find out how to apply, scroll through their FAQ page.

5) http://www.allworth.com/Articles.asp?ID=124 – Allworth Press has freelance opportunities for editors and indexers.

6) http://www.amanet.org/aboutama/hr/ — The American Management Association publishes quite a lot of materials and their job board often has at least one or two positions for editors.

7) http://www.jobpostings.ca/jobsearch.cfm — A general job search site for Canadians. Plenty of writing jobs here, usually.

Happy Thanksgiving to all fellow Canadians out there.

I hope your turkey is juicy and your pumpkin pie spicy, no matter where you are celebrating!