Thursday, August 13, 2020

Tips for Kim's Creative Writing Group


This post is especially for Kim's Creative Writing Group. Thanks for having me share today (August 13, 2020). 

I mentioned a variety of things in my conversation. I want to share some links you may find helpful for trying to make money from your writing, plus a few other opportunities. 

If you have a question, feel free to message me at rjofficejob@gmail.com or through Facebook Messenger here https://www.facebook.com/rosalieg1


Non-paying Writing

Actually, I started out publishing free articles to promote my life coach business on Ezine Articles https://ezinearticles.com/ (NOTE IN 2022 THIS SITE CEASED PUBLISHING NEW MATERIAL.) There are many other ways to publish your work--a blog, for instance. 

Blog 

Start a blog with blogger.com or wordpress.com, market your books on your blog.

Web Content/Online Magazines

1.   I write as Joy R. Calderwood on this site and have sold over 400 articles. Constant-Content  https://www.constant-content.com/freelance-writing-jobs.htm

My personal bio page on Constant-Content. https://www.constant-content.com/Author/34906-Joy_R_Calderwood-details-0.htm


Sites that Pay (various work from home jobs)

1.   https://realwaystoearnmoneyonline.com/5-sites-that-pay-you-over-100-to-write/

2.   On the below link I have submitted to the greeting card companies. I didn't get any accepted. Rappers, poetry writers---the greeting card submissions might be for you!

https://wallethacks.com/i-need-money-websites-to-earn-extra-money/

3.   I haven't used this but you can offer to write for $5 or more https://sellers.fiverr.com/en/

4.    I haven't used this before, but looks interesting. See *notes below. Problogger Jobs

* Some job offers require you work in the US. Remote means work from home usually. If you're from Canada, check if they hire Canadians and how they make payment.  Avoid sites that make you buy a membership. Be careful of sites that ask you to do a practice test. For Constant-Content, I did have to submit 3 articles that passed editing before I could sell. That was okay with me. 



Creative Ideas 

A fabulous way to learn to use more description in your writing https://www.descriptionari.com/


Editing 

Here are examples of editing rates https://www.the-efa.org/rates/


Self-Publishing - Kindle Book or Paperback

KDP.Amazon.com 

My author page on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Rose-Garde/e/B00VXXGMRI?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1597348308&sr=1-1


Some Paying, Some Non-Paying 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ChristianWritersCommunity/



Life Coach Training 

1.   I trained through Life Purpose Coaching Centres. Here is a Facebook Page. I didn't seem to get to the website. https://www.facebook.com/LifePurposeCoachingCentersIntl/

I've asked friends to let me know where they trained. I'll add it if I find out. 

2.   A friend trained here: Coach U 

3.   Another friend of mine trained here:  Life Purpose Institute 

4.   Check out The ChristianCoachingCentre

I will add to this page as I think of what else may be of help.

5.    Another friend studied with New Life Christian Coaching and did a refresher with Transformation Academy.



I have several blogs on various topics. Here are two others.

https://midlifechristianwoman.blogspot.com/

MinistrytoWomenLPC.Blogspot.com


Monday, June 8, 2020

Managing Writing Inspiration



If you're an article writer who has the option of choosing your own topics to write on, there are a few tips that can help you collect inspiration:


1. Typically, a writer's mind is always writing in the same way an artist's mind is always seeing art in nature.  When an idea pops into your head, scribble it down or get to your computer to jot the idea down. 

2. When you read something online that inspires you, cut and paste it and save it into a special Word file perhaps changing the print colour so you know it is something you copied and not your own work. 

I named my file fodder (material that is used for a particular purpose). When I want to get some writing done to submit for pay, I look in my fodder folder for ideas. 


Sunday, June 7, 2020

Content Writer Fees



There is so much web content businesses need. 
They need to update their websites and blogs regularly.  They need blurbs written.  They need articles. 

While there are AI tools that can be used now, good material needs to be input first to generate a good article. Never before, however, have businesses tried to undercut freelance writers. The last three years I've had a drop in sales. Everyone is looking for bargains or using AI themselves it seems. 

With offshore outsourcing, something that's been going on for over ten years now, some of us are up against writers that charge $3.00 an article. We prefer to earn $20 to $400 an article. 

It's important to keep in mind that sometimes you get what you pay for when buying services. Unfortunately, some offshore outsourcers tend to copy, spin, and plagiarize content from others, resulting in poor-quality work.

I refuse to work for wages that are below the legal minimum in my country. In Canada, employers are required to pay a minimum wage to their employees, failure to do so can result in fines or legal action.If you are a business in need of web content that is written in good English, please plan to pay respectfully and purchase from a web content provider you can trust.

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Adding Description to Your Story

This was a cover featuring a door
(a photo my daughter took at the Boldt Castle)
was a R. Warren contest submission,
not an actual cover used by R. Warren.


Do you want to write fiction? Do you want to write a memoir that includes storytelling?

During the lockdown of the COVID-19 Pandemic, I've taken to learning how to write a story or a memoir. This is a change for me because not only do I not write fiction or stories, I don't read them often either.
Some might think that makes me shallow. Perhaps so. I find some of the descriptive parts of fiction tedious. But as I've been learning, I understand how they help bring a reader into a scene. 

To grow in my learning of how to add description I've done five things. 

First, I wrote my story including all events I wanted to be included. 

Second, I searched online for articles on adding sensory descriptions to stories. I learned about the importance of creating a visual, an aroma, a texture (touch), and sound. These details are easy to read about, but not always as easy to capture. 

Third, I visited websites that give examples of show, don't tell.

Fourth, I pulled some of my husband's fiction books off the shelf and also a few from my daughter's old room. I sat with a notebook and Post-it notes. I looked for examples in these books that might describe parts of my story. 

For instance, for a scene where I'm confronting someone, I looked for the same type of scene in the fiction books. 

Then, I took notes or put a Post-it note on the page to hold the spot. I returned to my story inserting something similar. I didn't copy exactly what the book said, but I used it as an example and worded it to fit my character.

Fifth, I realized my daughter's books weren't helpful as they pertained to fantasy and unreal worlds mostly. I'd need another avenue for this exercise. 

So I took to Amazon. I searched some memoirs for sale that have the "search inside" feature. 

This was fun. I was able to glimpse into so many books! I could even use my keyboard to search for certain words like "farm" or "disappointed". 

I borrowed several examples to put into my story, again rewording lest I be accused of plagiarism. (My examples were far different enough.) 

At one point, I put my story through an online tool called ProWritingAid. It didn't like several of the words I'd used. It suggested I used too many words in some sections. 

On editing, I went through my story again, adding more texture and reworking the story as we always do when editing. 

This has been a very fun and helpful exercise to help me increase my storytelling ability. Even when I write nonfiction, I often tell small stories. I am better prepared now. 

Monday, March 23, 2020

Need Editing or Proofreading?

Are you a blogger, article writer, or Indie author? 

Do you have a short book, article, letter, or other item you would like proofread, edited, or rewritten? 

I am available to work on your project--all done virtually. email



Writing/Proofreading/Copyediting
Rewrites/Critique
Nonfiction Only

  



Don't get caught looking unprofessional! 
Have your writing checked!


Sunday, January 19, 2020

Writing Non-Fiction? Are you Realistic?



When I submitted my first book for publishing, publishing houses were still viable. I was brave and submitted a manuscript. The returned message was discouraging as it is for most.  I was told I would do better with a platform. 

But that doesn't mean the person without a platform doesn't have something meaningful to communicate. I don't have a platform. I didn't then, I don't now. But I am a writer.


The response I got that day also urged me to try article publishing first. I made queries to several magazines, mostly to no avail. 


I sold my first print article to the Evangelical Church Library Association for $50. It was a fabulous win for me at the time. 


Then, in 2010, I got a gig with a web content company. To date, I have over 500 purchased articles published in 10 years. This is the anniversary of getting my paid writing career off the ground!


Over time, publishing houses went belly-up. CEOs were let go. Self-publishing began to take the stage.


I don't believe in writers pursuing self-publishing with companies that make you pay to have your book published. Too many friends of mine have ended up with stacks of books in their garages. They have no idea how to sell them.  


I do believe in Kindle Direct Publishing by Amazon (KDP), though. I have had good success with it. Look for my books there under the name Rose Garde, Life Coach. 


Saturday, January 18, 2020

Editing or Proofreading for the ESL EAL Market

(These details are from work I did several years ago. Rules may have changed.) 
 

With so many new immigrants both to Canada and the USA, there is a writing, proofreading and editing market for the EAL and ESL sectors. 
The work can range from a newcomer needing to fill out government forms, to an engineer writing a report. Just today I saw a Twitter post about a new immigrant finding it difficult to fill out an application for her child to attend summer camp. I got work for a university professor submitting a scientific journal and students submitting papers (they had approval to have editing help). 

Some people I've helped with their written work have included:

  • A scholar submitting scientific journals  
  • An executive needing his CV tweaked
  • A BSc student applying to med school
  • High school students needing essays proofread
  • An MBA student's multiple submission of documents 
  • A recent immigrant's government documentation 
  • A Professional Engineer's report
I offer my services virtually.  I don't ever have to meet a client face-to-face, but I can if necessary.

If you are a writer and want to help out this market try these methods:

  • Put ads for your services on online directories such as  www.Kijiji.comwww.craigslist.comwww.foundlocally.com (these may no longer take such ads as they did years ago)
  • Use social media to get the word out.
  • Post an ad where a local school or college student will see it.
  • Spread word by word of mouth.
  • Spend time in the ESL/EAL communities getting to know people who may need your help.
  • Do quality work and don't get pushed around.
If you want to do this type of work, set boundaries. For instance, it won't help a student if you significantly change their writing. Their professor or potential employer needs to see a true representation of their abilities through their writing.

Use the Right Style Guide 

Be careful to ask if there is a specific style guide you're to follow eg. APA, ALA, CMOS, or other. Scientific writing is much different than writing for the arts. 

Decide how you will do this work. When I started, I worked in person with one client.

Another author brought a thumb drive to my house and picked up the changes a few days later. 

Then I began email exchanges with clients. 

How to Do it

I always edit in MS Word with track changes on. I send back a marked-up and a final copy. I allow one revision in the price quotation.

I have found I need to charge more for most ESL/EAL writing when the grammar is extremely choppy. It takes time for me to understand what is being communicated. That is more time-consuming than simple editing. It is about making the writing make sense. 

Getting Payment

I usually send back the work and then forward an invoice to be paid through PayPal. 

I had one student who wanted to ignore the invoice and when she did pay it, complained about having to pay the Paypal service fee. In the future, I may only return half a document until it is fully paid. 

If you have an idea of how to do this more effectively, perhaps with a document download prevention program until payment arrives, that would be ideal. 

Editing and Proofreading Help for the ESL/EAL Student

I live in Southern, Ontario, Canada but I can edit your ESL/EAL work, in most cases, no matter where you live!