It’s been a while since my last link-love, and I usually do it on Wednesdays. However, I’ve run across some great info over the last few days; some news, some fun, some thought-provoking, some helpful. Dig in!

****

“Strange Bird” is a must-read for this Monday. Written by JD Riso, it’s a story of a trip to Costa Rica, told in a personal and very unique way. Excellent read.

Sun and Oracle combine forces. What do I care, you say? Sun is responsible for Java, one of the most widely-used software technologies, and this union may give pause to giants like Microsoft. The software universe may never be the same.

If you’re single and looking, living in the Montana region, this young man is looking for a sweetheart. Forget Match.com, eHarmony, or any of the other meat markets — check this guy out. He seems real. It’s not “Rock of Love” but I’ll be keeping an eye out and wishing him well. Heh.

Is there anything better than ice cream? Why, yes, yes there is. FREE ice cream. Hit your local Ben & Jerry’s on April 21st and get you some.

Finally, the sequel to “The Da Vinci Code” is slated for a September 15th release by Doubleday. 5 MILLION copies ofThe Lost Symbol will be released to a long-awaiting public. Amazing. And that’s just the FIRST print run.

Unfortunately,scientist and professor Stephen Hawking has been reported as “very ill” and has been hospitalized. Author JG Ballard passed away this weekend. Very sad…condolences to Ballard’s fans and family, and good wishes to Mr. Hawking.

Nick Usborne has provided a page of some fabulous information for freelancers. WOW. Excellent resource.

If you’re looking to monetize your website, here are 6 Fool-Proof Steps to Make More Money With Your Website. Very detailed and informative.

10 Websites for Book Lovers — need I say more? I know, I know…you’re cursing me now, but you’ll thank me later.

And finally, you know I couldn’t just end this edition of Link Love without a couple of fun time-wasters. Take a look at this video if you’ve ever wondered what sheep herders do with their spare time, and then you can turn your brain to oatmeal with Seinfeld’s 100 Quotes About Nothing. Heh.

I’ll probably do another Link Love post soon — two weeks without internet access, and the stuff piles up. The next one will be strictly writing related.

Until then, enjoy the Monday. The best thing about Mondays are, they only come once a week. Heh.

One of the biggest challenges of a freelancing career is organization, at least in my experience. There’s a fine line between being organized yet flexible; after all, flexibility is one of the best perks of being self-employed. However, if you don’t stay focused on some level, all kinds of things can fall through the cracks and become lost and wandering. This, friends and neighbors, can cost you money and inspire a level of frustration in which you invent scathing swear words not fit for human ears.

There are some things to keep in mind when you’re embarking on a freelance career. It’s not as simple as just reaching for a pen, keyboard or crayon and scribbling away. You have to think about an online presence; marketing; pricing; accounting; prospecting, and at long last, writing. (And you thought you were just going to be writing, didn’t you? Hah. A freelancer must wear many hats.)

Becoming organized is different for every person. What works for one person might not work for you. The trick is to try a combination of things and figure out a way to maximize your work day to achieve your full potential. Once you get into a routine, your days become smoother and more productive. (That’s the theory, anyway. Work with me here, people.)

I can tell you some of what works for me, but to be truthful, it’s a work in process. I’ve learned a lot about my work habits over the last year or so, and instead of fighting them, I’ve embraced them. Know thyself, and to thine own self be true — just because you might not fit into the mold of writer you’ve read about or admired doesn’t mean you don’t have your own mold.

Making a list: I am a strong believer in making a list. Actually, I make several lists. I’ll detail out a weekly list of the goals or deadlines I need to meet, but I usually don’t write out a daily list until the night before. Sometimes, not until the very morning in question. Since things have a habit of changing on an almost hourly basis, I retain some flexibility and yet have a plan of some kind in black and white to which I can refer. My daily list may look something like this:

• Finish the edits for Chapter 4.
• TSB prompt (D/L Sunday.)
• Post for WW.
• Post for OF.
• Drops.
• Check work sites.
• Pimpage and networking.
• Newsletter shite (D/L 1/16.)

I keep in mind my weekly goals and deadlines, and what I don’t get to on this day will roll over to tomorrow.  I don’t obsess, but I do keep in mind what’s looming up, and by loosely scheduling certain actions, I keep ahead of my deadlines, which take priority over ANYTHING else. I use a calendar (actually, several, if you must know — I have a sickness regarding calendars, I can never have enough calendars…gah.)

Discipline: There are so many things that can distract you from your primary purpose, no matter your best intentions or what purpose you have scheduled for the day. As I may have mentioned before, research is especially seductive to me — oh, the siren’s call that echos! The enticing information that lies just beyond the next click! The answers to all my burning questions that are contained on just that next website! There are so many fabulous resources on the ‘net, and we’re not even talking about games, shiny things, and tempting tasty tidbits regarding your favorite hobbies, interests, or passions. Have a question about some obscure factoid you can’t quite remember? So, so easy to go to Google search to scratch that itchy brain. But beware! It’s entirely possible to fall into a timesink and next thing you know, it’s four hours later and you’ve lost some productive hours.

Exert some self-control! Schedule time to pursue such fascinating ‘net vistas, such as after you have completed some task you planned for the day.  Set a timer or alarm on either your cell phone or on your computer, and when it goes off, proceed to your next project immediately. Scribble the burning question on a pad you keep on your workspace, and refer to it later. You might be surprised at the level of self-accomplishment you feel when resisting the pull of the non-work related internet and getting back to business.

Networking duties: Actually, you are always networking as a freelancer. If you’re not, you should be. That being said, in order to make my day more productive, there are certain programs I keep closed until I know the bulk of my work is done for the day, or until my brain cells start emitting smoke, fire, and a weird screaming sound that won’t stop until I take a break.

For me, networking is one of the best parts of this business. I love people, I love talking to people, I love sharing tips, bon mots, and great links to visit. HOWEVER…I know if I keep certain programs open, I will be sucked into the time/space continuum and I will lose hours, days, weeks…not to mention money and opportunities, so I try to keep track of how much time I’m Facebooking, Twittering, checking email and generally socializing. It’s a fine balance, and it’s taken me some time to figure out what works best for me.

Keep your desktop, email, and bookmarks organized: I know, this is funny to me, also. Still, it only took a couple of times for me to waste precious HOURS digging through files and photos to find exactly what I was looking for to teach me to file it correctly the first time, or at least clean things up more than once a year. Not only does it make things easier to find and saves you time and stress, it also has the added bonus of making your computer run quicker when it has less to sort through when booting up. I’ve organized all my files into folders, then incorporated all my folders into one master folder, which is the only thing on my desktop besides assignments that are due this week. Not only is it less stressful to look at a busy desktop, booting up now is a lot quicker.

These are the things that work best for me as far as getting organized. Got any hot tips? I’m willing to try anything once, so leave your suggestions in the comments and I’ll be very grateful. Until then, I hope something here has helped you out, and I’d love to know if that were the case.

Sub-title: Traveling Around the Blogosphere

I run across so many great sites, I thought I’d list the best of the best here every Tuesday. Some of them are helpful, some of them are inspiring, some are just quirky. They might be writing-related, and they might not. A good freelancer and flasher is a well-rounded person, and you can learn a lot by wasting time visiting other sites.

A combination of the useful and the quirky, I highly recommend Mercenary Writer’s Press. “All the writing without the pretention” is their mantra — their Kung Fu is strong, even though their preferred torture device is plural gerunds. You might need to invest in Depends Undergarments, but it’s worth it.

Quarter-life Lady is the blog of a twenty-something woman blogging about the transition into adulthood as experienced by many young ladies. While it’s true I have socks older than 25, it’s also true I thoroughly enjoy reading about the trials and tribulations of that particular period of life. It brings back some great memories, as well as offering insights I have forgotten but still have great value even though I’m twice her age. (Gak. Can that be true??)

A freelance writer’s blog by Kristen King, Inkthinker Blog offers some fabulous inside information on the career of a freelancer. Online since January 2006, there’s tons of tips and tidbits regarding writing for a living that are very much worth a read.

Another freelancer blog, The Other ~F~ Word is one of my new favorites. Excellent information and inspiration, I’ve learned a lot by visiting Lydia’s blog, and am very grateful for her generosity in sharing.

If you’re craving a bit of the funny to pass the day, you must visit Wit’s Bitch. The woman is a riot, and if I’m stuck neck-deep in some project that makes me feel like poking my eye out with a coat hangar, I visit her for a while and I feel so much better.

Do you need a further distraction? Killer Broccoli is just what you need. By now, everyone must be aware of the conspiracy of the vegetables to take over our world. Do your part to eradicate this menace.

Peeking into the lives of others might be illegal in several states, but peeking into the brain of a real-life success story such as Peephole in my Skull is still legal, as far as I know. Mark the name of Peter V. Brett, friends and neighbors. He is the Next Big Thing, and I can’t WAIT for the release of “The Warded Man” March 9th.

Those are my favorites of the past week; make sure when you visit to leave some comment love, bookmark, stumble, digg, or whatever floats your boat. These people work hard at providing quality content, and it’s only right to say thanks.

Excuse me now, while I go annihilate some broccoli.  Heh.

Image by Pablo Moran Jr. via Flickr

Today’s economy sucks, and we all know it. The daily news is rife with information about how difficult it is to work in ANY profession, and freelance writing is just one of them. Freelancing as a writer is difficult under the best of circumstances. Situations change on a daily, almost hourly, basis. What can you do to ride the waves?

Two words – flexibility and persistence, my friends. If flexible and persistent aren’t part of the vocabulary, it might be time to think of another profession. Work opportunities will come and go as fast as blinking your eyes. What might be a great paying gig today could be gone tomorrow. The competition is fierce, reliable job opportunities scarce, and staying motivated and focused can seem impossible.

You know more than you think. If you are a competent writer, writing about any subject is possible, but sticking to the things you know best or are most passionate about increases the chances of scoring a job. Your personal experiences, hobbies and outlook have a great impact on the work that’s most comfortable for you. Comfort means a better work ethic and better material produced.

Make a list. Ask yourself these questions:

What are your hobbies? What do you know about these hobbies? For example, say you like to craft origami. There are many people out there that would love to know what you do about origami. There are ins and outs of this hobby you might know that other people don’t. Same goes for anything from crossword puzzles to quilting to making reticello lace.

What jobs have you held? For instance, say you spent a summer as a dancing hamburger. What are the dos and don’ts of a dancing hamburger? What are the pitfalls? Someone out there might be thinking of taking a similar job, what would your advice to them be?

What are you passionate about? The environment, social issues, maybe the love of a certain place?

Have you taken classes of some kind? Were they corporate classes, college courses, lessons on scrapbooking? What was the experience like, and what did you learn (other than the information the class provided?)

These are just three examples of how you know more than you think. The list just produced will come in very handy in your quest for a freelance writing career. Thinking outside the box is a key component in making it work.

Looking for freelance work can be a full-time job in itself. The smart freelancer has more than one egg in their basket, and is looking to generate passive income as well as active projects. What do I mean by that?

Keep your options open. If writing an “audition” article and it’s not accepted, assuming you retain all rights, think of posting it on a site like Helium, Constant Content, or any one of a number of sites that pay something. It might not end up being a huge amount of money, but that’s an egg in your basket. Become the master or mistress of “spin”. You’ve already done the research work and have the sources documented — the information is right there. Spin the article from another point of view, another angle, and make it fresh and original. Switch it up, change it around, and you have another article!

I have experience with Helium and Constant Content, and here’s how they work.

With Helium, write an article and post it. You will earn money according to the views, or impressions, of the articles. They might be pennies, but pennies add up quicker than you think. Of course, volume counts – the more articles, the more impressions. Helium does require a bit of participation – you don’t earn unless you’ve read and rated a certain amount of other articles, but it’s easy to keep up. If a premier writer’s badge for the quality of work is earned (depending on your rating by other Helium users) you are also eligible to audition for Premier Marketplace assignments, and these pay really well. Keep in mind once an article is posted, it’s there for life. You can’t sell that particular article for unique rights, but you can post it on Constant Content for usage rights (meaning your article can be sold over and over again. See below.) Or, you can exercise the Power of the Spin and put together another article. Helium can also serve as an online portfolio of your work. Their payout threshold is $25.00, or donations of earnings to charity are an option. You can also earn from referrals, so if you sign up there, make sure you tell them I sent you.

Constant Content is a website that brokers articles. Write a unique article, and submit it to their editor review for quality. Once listed, you determine which rights and price you wish to sell. Clients then browse and choose the articles they wish to buy. Constant Content takes a commission, but the good thing is you post it, price it, and forget it. No marketing required, and additional money can be earned through special and private requests. Their payout is $50.00.

That’s just two examples of passive income. Think outside the box and squeeze every earning potential from your work as you can. Spin, post, and then write and spin some more. Use your own base of knowledge; use the research; be smart about your assets. Creativity is not limited to what you write – it’s also in how you fill your basket.

Image via Wikipedia

Just like you wouldn’t open the hood of a car with a vegetable peeler in your hand and expect to change the spark plugs, there are certain tools that are essential to your writing career. Sure, you might be able to get the spark plugs out and changed, but it would take a lot longer and you won’t do a good job. Here are some must-haves for embarking on a writing career:

1. Computer , website and internet access. Although this may seem like a no-brainer, the truth is the writing profession has undergone many changes as technology has erupted. It’s much easier to send articles and manuscripts via email; many places offer online submission; some won’t take them any other way. Often, employers will want samples of your work, and the easiest way to showcase these are on your very own personal website.

Investing in a state-of-the-art computer is a must. Get as much as you can afford — this is an investment that will pay off big-time. To start with, the only software you need is a good word processing package. Websites, or blogs, are easy to set up and can be done at low or NO cost. You’ll need a reliable internet service provider with an email address you can access several times a day.

2.  Buy a printer. Most of your submissions will be done via email, however, it’s helpful to have a printer for those publications that still do it the old-fashioned way. In addition, sometimes it’s easier to edit your work if you print it out and read it over in paper form. Again, purchase the best you can afford. Office equipment can be tax deductible; save your receipts for the year-end tallying at tax time.

3. Paper, notebooks and pens, oh my! Some things never change. Keeping a pad of paper handy next to your computer gives you the option of scribbling ideas, to-do lists and other flashes of inspiration when working on different projects. As a writer, you should go NOWHERE without a pocket notebook and a pen. You never know when the muse will strike, when you may overhear an interesting conversation or witness an event you’ll wish you recorded.

4. Thesaurus, dictionary and Strunk and White. This is the Holy Trinity for writers. You can use the online versions, such as the one included in your nifty writing software, but it’s a good idea to have the hardcopy by your side. You can easily access information about correct use of grammar, look up that pesky word you thought you knew how to spell, or find the other word tickling the tip of your tongue.

5. Imagination and curiosity. These two traits are mandatory for a writer, whether you’re writing fiction or non-fiction. You must be able to imagine how other people feel or how they view a subject in order to present your information in a helpful way. Research is an integral part of writing; insatiable curiosity is one of your most valuable tools.

6. A thick skin. Rejection is never pretty, but developing a thick skin is a necessity in this business. Not every editor will love your stellar prose, and not every article will find the perfect home the first time. Don’t take this as a personal affront — it just means your piece is not in the right place at the right time. If you are lucky enough to receive feedback, pay attention and utilize it. Most likely you’ll get nothing more than a “no thanks”, but that’s okay, too. Review, revise, and keep it out there until it sells.

In the next article, I’ll detail the Top Websites You Can’t Do Without. In the meantime, these basic tools are all you need to get started. Open the hood and get to work!

Image by DanielaNob via Flickr

That’s a good question, and I wish I had a good answer.

The truth of the matter is, as some of you might know, I lost my momma in August and the world has not been the same since. I’ve been trying very hard not to fall into the Abyss of Depression, but it’s been a difficult battle. Words don’t come as easily now as they once did, and this causes me no small amount of angst.

I guess everyone deals with a Major Life-Changing Event in their own way, and I have to constantly do a self-check — and I have to stop being so hard on myself. Why is it so difficult to be as kind to myself as I am to other people? Dunno. A Mystery of the Universe, at least for right now, because it’s too damned early in the morning to do an intense self-examination.

****

In writing news, Duotrope has posted some great new paying markets, especially for speculative fiction. If you’re a spec-fic writer, it’s worth signing up for their weekly newsletter. I have never gotten any spam of any kind by sharing my email with them.

Although I have been primarily focused on writing non-fiction lately, these professional paying markets are nudging me toward submitting fiction again. Most of my pieces need a good re-haul before strutting out on the street again, but I’m thinking it might be worth it to do that. I’m really trying to pick up the pieces; it’s fitting them together that’s been the challenge.

For non-fiction work, the Core Creative Group is back up and running after a few months on hiatus. I’ve applied for a couple of job openings I found there — it’s nice not to have to scour the interwebz for this stuff, and to find it all in one place. They only post the highest paying gigs, so you’re not wasting your time writing for pennies. Although in this economy, every penny counts. I’ll let you know what happens, as it happens.

Funds For Writers, edited by C. Hope Clark, is another fabulous resource for writers. If you haven’t checked her out yet, I highly encourage you to do so. She also puts out a very informative newsletter, spam-free.

Last but not least, a newly revamped World Wide Freelance offers markets, information and free articles to use on your website. They also have a weekly newsletter and premier services available for a small fee. (I’ve stuck with the free version, at least until my pennies start turning to dollars.)

****

It’s a lot of work, looking for work. Sometimes it takes as much or MORE time to look for markets than it does to write the piece in the first place. Still, that’s part of the job and I know these  websites and newsletters has made it easier for me — I hope they do for you, as well.

Here’s to better writing days ahead.

*Author’s note: I am in no way affiliated with the above websites and I receive no payment or compensation in any way, shape or form by featuring them here.

Image by Torsten Hofmann via Flickr

Haunting the markets used to be a habit of mine.  Time and circumstance has limited me somewhat recently, but I’m happy to report the majority of my bookmarks are still working. Small markets come and go at a fast pace and some excellent online publications, sadly, faded out of the marketplace. It’s a loss for everyone, because those ezines produced some excellent literature.

I won’t get into the debate here about writing for money vs. not getting paid. It’s a whole other post, but I will say I have written for nothing. Some independant publications are worth it to me, but it’s not something I make a habit of doing. But I digress.

Markets. Specifically, markets for fiction. I’ll post them here for you to read about, and maybe one will entice you to submit (that sounded kinky. Heh.) If I’ve had a personal experience with a market, I’ll let you know how it went. Feel free to express your opinion here as well.

Oceanview Publishing is sponsoring a short story contest. The prize is publication, $250 cash, and $150 in books. Word count is 1,000 to 5,000 words, no entry fee, email submissions only.

They’re looking for something “out of the ordinary”. Something that pushes the genre boundaries.

The deadline is November 17, 2008, and you must be 18 by January 1, 2009 in order to participate.

****

Flash Fiction Online pays professional rates for flash fiction. Jake Freivald as editor has made it very clear what he’s looking for, so make sure you read and follow the guidelines when submitting your story.

There’s your markets for Monday. Check them out, and let me know if they work for you.

Image by appaIoosa via Flickr

You have created a literary masterpiece, a gem of a short story. You just know you’re destined to be the next Great Thing in short fiction, and the money will be rolling in. Just a short word of caution: I’ve heard earning a living from writing short fiction can be done, but I’ve also heard people have seen a Sasquatch.

There are few writers who make a decent living from writing short fiction. There are plenty of markets, but to consistently place enough short fiction to make a living is a full-time job, above and beyond the creative process. This is when you start to realize writing is more than creating – to make a living, you have to learn how to market. How do you improve your odds?

Hint #1: Research your market. Don’t send your romantic love story to a horror magazine, unless your protagonists are dripping with blood or eating body parts. Sending a science fiction story to a publication that specializes in benefits for the elderly  won’t work, either. They’re going to reject your story. Familiarize yourself with your chosen market by reviewing a few of their issues, either online, in the library, or hanging out in Barnes and Noble. It’s unprofessional to send a story to an inappropriate market, so find a good fit.

Hint #2: Read the guidelines. For the love of all that’s good and holy, reading the guidelines is not enough. Following them is what really matters. The highest paying markets receive hundreds, nay thousands, of submissions. Why should they read yours, when you haven’t taken the time to read and follow their guidelines?

Unfortunately, there is no universal standard for formatting manuscripts, but this site will get you started. Pay attention – some publications require your piece to be an attachment, and others want it in the body of an email. Still others have online submission forms. Your story might be of the caliber of Ernest Hemingway, but if it’s not formatted correctly, chances are it will end up in the trash bin.

Hint #3: Keep your correspondence personable, but professional. Editors are people, too. They’re not some three-headed Gorgon to be slain by your Magic Pen (or keyboard.) Indicate in your cover letter your admiration for their publication (but don’t cross over to Kiss Ass Territory.) Let them know you’ve done your research by citing articles or stories you admire, but keep it short. Editors don’t have a lot of time.

Hint #4: Get organized. If you’re going to make a habit of sending out your darlings, keep track so you’re not sending them to the same place multiple times. Duotrope is great for this and for researching markets, and I also keep an Excel spreadsheet updated.

Hint #5: Don’t give up. Stephen King had over 300 rejections when “Carrie” finally sold. Granted, he’s a prolific writer and his success is the exception, rather than the rule. However, you’ll never get there from here if you just lie down and quit. Keep it out there until it sells – researching your markets and following the guidelines are just the start. Perseverance is probably one of the best attributes you can have as a writer – if you believe in your work, if it is the caliber you believe it to be, there’s a place out there for it.

There’s more to this writing gig than writing. It takes guts, it takes heart, and it takes a lot of hard work. Your odds of seeing a Sasquatch are slightly worse than making a living writing short fiction, and that’s the good news. Improve your odds by researching and following the prescribed guidelines, and hopefully you’ll see your story published before you see Bigfoot traipsing across your lawn.