The WMF Archives

One of my primary sources of income is in writing lesson plans. I know, it sounds boring but seriously I love it. Here's why. I make good grades in college. I always have and it doesn't take the effort for me that it takes for a lot of the students I know. But...and there is always a but...that's because I grew up living in books. I'm an educated intelligent loner. Period.

With all the being said, from time to time I do get homework that I struggle with. I struggle with it not from a lack of intelligence but because it serves no real purpose for me so I lack interest in it. After all, my interest lies in children and psychology. I don't really care what the arc of the shadow of the tree 3 miles away is.

So what I do is look at a subject that bored me and try to find a way to help others to understand it by making it fun and hands on. Can you change a transmission if I tell you what the gear ratio is and provided you with some more semantics? Or would it make more sense to you is I just showed you and asked you to get your hands greasy as well? I thought so.

I can open my science book right now and get 5 lesson plans out of 1 page in my science book. Below are some of the tips I use to write a lesson plan. On Wednesday I'll give you a step by step method to building an effective lesson plan. For now, look over these tips and see what you can do with them.

Lesson Plan Tips

• Pick a subject no one else wants to write about. This gives you some job security.
• Start at the beginning and concentrate on one topic or general idea, then divide that into enough topics to give you a series.
• If you can't decide on a project or game, consult your children. My 8 year old has given me some of the best ideas completely on accident, leaving me staring stupidly at him in shock.
• Put a new twist on an old idea. Everyone has written about mixing vinegar and baking soda as a science project. Put some food coloring in it, put it in a film canister and now you have a rocket for any holiday. This by the way was one of my more popular 4th of July articles.
• Think about a subject you don't like. What would have made it fun for you? For instance, I hated Economics...boring! But I just wrote a series of lesson plans based on what would have kept me entertained, therefore interested, therefore educated. See how that all rolls together?

If you're wondering where you would sell the lesson plans, try oh virtually any site that publishes articles! Lesson plans are hot topics not only to certified teachers looking for new material, but to all those in the growing homeschool community.

How to Write a Lesson Plan

By Angela Atkinson

This was originally going to be a Writing Opportunities post--but after a little research, I learned some interesting facts about Strategic Book Publishing that I thought our readers could use.

The company's website says that they're a traditional publisher, currently seeking children's books, Christian books and non-fiction books. Their website says that they're VERY interested in the following:

* Authors with a built-in following or 'platform'. If you have a built in market for your work due to your job, your association, or your subject, we want to know about it.

* Authors that have been working with a literary agency or other 3rd party that can provide validation of the quality of work.

* Self-published authors that have sold a minimum of 1000 books in the last year. We can assist you in republishing your work and add our sophisticated marketing techniques to expand your sales.

And, says the website, "We are a smaller "boutique" publisher. We seek authors that want a close relationship, and trusted counsel from their publisher. Our turnaround times are faster, and we believe we are more responsive than larger publishers."

Sounds great, right?

I thought so too. Heck, right on the front page of the site, it says they're always looking for new talent. This seemed like it would be an ideal Writing Opportunities post.

But, I thought, to be safe, I would do a quick Google search and find out if this place was legit. Good thing I did, because Writer Beware had some interesting things to say about Strategic Book Publishing.

Apparently, according to Writer Beware's report, the company's owner, Robert Fletcher, has owned several incarnations of the publishing company/literary agency under various names--and WB received a lot of complaints from writers regarding the services and charges involved with publishing and agents.

The following is an excerpt from the Writer Beware report on the company:

"Other names the business has used include Sydra-Techniques, ST Literary Agency, Stylus Agency, Children's Literary Agency, Christian Literary Agency, New York Literary Agency, Poet's Literary Agency, The Screenplay Agency, and My Editor Is A Saint (an editing company).

Since the business began operating in 2001 under the name Sydra-Techniques, Writer Beware has received hundreds of complaints and advisories of fee-charging for literary agency services, fee-based publishing, critique and editing referrals, and other questionable practices. We're not aware that the literary agency branch of the business has a significant track record of commercial book or script sales under any of its names.

In February 2008, Robert Fletcher and The Literary Agency Group filed a retaliatory lawsuit against Writer Beware, alleging defamation, loss of business, and emotional distress. On March 18, 2009, the suit was dismissed with prejudice by the Massachusetts Superior Court, due to Fletcher’s failure to respond to discovery or otherwise prosecute the lawsuit. SFWA has issued an official press release.

The office of the Florida Attorney General has opened a public consumer-related investigation into Writers' Literary Agency and its associated businesses.

Writers who have had trouble with Robert M. Fletcher or any of the above-named businesses, and who wish to file a complaint, may contact the office of the Florida Attorney General, regardless of their place or country of residence, or the date of their involvement."

Here's a link to a summary of the retaliatory lawsuit filed by Fletcher against Writer Beware.

Please note: The WM Freelance Connection is in no way making assumptions about Strategic Book Publishing or Robert M. Fletcher. We are simply offering both sides of the story, so to speak, so that our readers can make informed decisions when considering which publisher gets the first (or fifteenth) query letter.

Strategic Book Publishing: Too Good to Be True?

If you have children then you know they can be sitting quietly playing with their toys or watching cartoons and all is well until the phone rings! Then suddenly there is a fight or someone is starving or the stuffed animal emergency room has to open up for stitches. Well, I'm sure you'll find that being on the computer is no different. Not only is it a beacon for the children, but for anyone else in the vicinity. I found this out when I started school, way back before I started writing online. I would be in the middle of a 5 page paper and someone would chime in and ask me what I'm doing. I tell them and they then chime in again. I begin thinking I must have typed in another language.

Then, my son would come up and say "Hey, I thought you were doing school work and that's why you couldn't play with me. But you're talking to (insert name here) instead!" in this accusing tone. I know right this minute a mother somewhere is nodding her head and thinking that oh yeah she's been there.

So, I decided now would be a good time to share some tips I use to avoid distraction. Use these with the knowledge that when people here you work at home, for some reason they must assume that you are playing on yahoo and the child or children all day and little magic elves must just keep putting money in your bank account. I don't know why they think this, but I've accepted it with a bitter taste in my mouth. And by the way...if you have those elves can you send them my way because I need a refill! At any rate, these are some tips I found that come in handy for me when I'm trying to write.

Tips for Avoiding Distraction

• Prepare the kids ahead of time. Get up early and enjoy your cup of coffee, then get started writing before the kids do.Wake them after you make breakfast. Have a plan to keep the busy while you're working. Let them know your plan so they know what to expect from the day.
• Put your stealth settings on your yahoo for anyone who will persistently bother you while you're working. If they don't know your online then they probably won't talk to you. You'll find as you develop a writing network that it's a pretty safe bet that the only people who won't drive you nuts as you work are likely to be other writers. They may chime in for a moment, but soon you will both be saying you have to get back to work...and they will actually respect that! Shocking, I know.
• Buy a good pair of earphones. I can't stress this enough. If all else fails and the people in my home just don't get it, I just plug in my earphones and crank the tunes up. Use whatever doesn't distract you.
• Give yourself a break. I know I personally can sit pounding away at my keyboard for hours at a time, then get frustrated with my son when he distracts me. But when he says "Well fine, when are you taking break", it reminds me that as much as I need to get my work done, all he is asking for is a few minutes of focus just on him and it's not going to hurt my back any if I get off this chair for a few minutes.
• Plan for after work. Making a plan for something to do after work gives you something to look forward to and actually helps maintain focus. Not only that, but when the kids are clamouring for your attention you can let them know that if you don't get your work done you aren't going to be able to do the activity.
• Keep all your materials together. This avoids the frustration and bouncing up and down that comes with stopping to gather what you need.
• Go outside and work. This is one reason I love the laptop. If you have a glare problem, I have found that a beer box that held a case of beer is a great place to put my laptop. Yes, I am aware that they make screens for laptops, but I am CHEAP I tell you! Besides, that beer box holds my laptop, books, notebook and writing utensils for easy transport.

So, that's what I offer you today. I hope it helps. I know some of those things have saved my sanity...well as much sanity as can be saved for a writer anyhow. Let the creative juices flow!

How to Avoid Distractions

A Writer's Guide to Dealing With Rude Editors

By Angela Atkinson

The other day, my cable company accidentally deducted my monthly payment twice from my checking account. I understood that things happen sometimes, so I contacted the company immediately and expected it to be resolved without a problem.

After speaking with three people who couldn't understand me (lack of English skills), I finally reached a supervisor who said the money would be returned to me within 48 hours. Satisfied, I figured all was said and done.

An hour later, though, I received an automated phone call informing me that they'd deducted the payment twice, so just to be safe, I pressed 1 when prompted, so that I could speak with a representative and confirm what the other person told me.

Good thing I did, because after talking to two more people, I learned that it would be six to eight weeks before they could return my money. And, it seemed, even the manager's hands were tied.

After explaining to the manager how employee empowerment can make or break a company, I knew I had to do something more--especially since speaking directly to them didn't make a difference.

So, I wrote an article about it. I didn't even need to include my own personal experience, for the most part, because I was able to find other people who had experienced issues with the company, as well as facts and figures to which I referred and linked throughout the article.

I'll admit that I felt a sense of satisfaction when other people began to comment on the article, sharing similar issues they'd experienced with the company--but the best part was that an employee of the company came in and commented several times, responding to the concerns stated in the article and those indicated by other comments. He even told me that he'd sent the article to everyone in his call center, and had other managers send it to other call centers.

"Hi Angela! Just an update, since you posted this article I pulled it up at work and sent it out by email to my entire call center and had a manager send it out to the other call centers," he wrote. "I wanted them to know and let see how some customers felt, we're all human here at Charter and we care what customers think about our operations and our outsource call centers."

So what's the moral of the story?

Basically, by writing an article which was factual and professional (not a senseless blast of the company), I gave other frustrated customers a place to vent their concerns--and the best part was that the article and comments reached the ears for which they were intended--those of the company involved.

As writers, we have the ability to make a difference in many ways. Whether you're getting the word out about a great fundraiser to help needy kids or on a quest for justice, use your power wisely. Avoid blatant flaming of companies or individuals (at least without having facts to back you up). Instead, put together a well-researched piece and start helping to create positive change in the world around you. Or, as my kids would say--use your power for good instead of evil! :)

The Power of the Pen: Writing to Create Change

As writers, we face a hidden danger many people may not be aware of--online stalkers. Chances are, once your name gets out into the world of online writing, you may be faced with a "fan"who takes it too far. There are certain precautions you can take to help protect yourself against online stalkers.



Pen Names

Many writers choose to use their real names when writing. Although this can be fine, it also comes with a down side. Using your real name can allow online stalkers to find your address and phone number in a phone book or online directory. This can allow the stalker to take their obsession to the next level. One solution to this is make sure you are unlisted. Another option is to use a pen name. A pen name gives you extra security, keeping your true identity one step further away from the online world.



Be Careful

Writers often need to create online bios. Unfortunately, this gives stalkers vital information they can use against us. Make sure you are very careful about the information you post online, such as where you live and information about your family. Carefully consider what to include in your online profile or bio. Could a stalker use the information you provide to find you?




Dealing with an Online Stalker

Dealing with online stalkers can be very difficult. You can take special steps to try and discourage them from following you.

1. If they contact you in any way, do not answer back.

Doing so can encourage a stalker to keep contacting you, even if your response was negative. You can even anger them unexpectedly, causing them to take their stalking to the next step.



2. Change your information.

If you think you have an online stalker, change your email addresses and do not make your contact information public. You may want to consider using a pen name.



You can find more information about your rights and what to do if you have an online stalker at:

Halt Abuse

A note about pen names: While pen names are an option, be sure to choose one you can stick with throughout your career--otherwise, you risk being stuck with a moniker you don't love (or trying to change it mid-career.)

Hidden Dangers: Online Stalkers

By Angela Atkinson

Please help us offer a warm welcome to Kerrie McLoughlin, our newest Writing Mommy! Watch for her posts on Sundays. Want to know more about Kerrie? Check out her bio below.

Kerrie is a homeschooling mom of soon-to-be 5 kids and a freelance writer. She is also the author of an e-book called “Get Published in Regional Parenting Magazines." Check out her fun blog The Kerrie Show or her writing mistakes blog MotherWriter!@#$.

Welcome Kerrie! We're so glad you're joining the WM ranks!! :)

New Writing Mommy: Kerrie McLoughlin

So, you are plugging away at the keyboard all day long. You have enough work to keep you busy, but some days it feels just like that, work. Or worse, you don't have enough work and you're plugging away at what you do have while still trying to find enough so that you can actually pay the bills and do something fun with the kids. Then, out of the blue one day you realize that you can't remember the last time you wrote something just for the joy of it or read a really good book. Who has the time anymore?

Well, this is probably the fastest route to losing your joy in writing as well as your skills. After all, what chef could cook a good meal without tasting it now and then? So, I came up with some tips to for writers to maintain the joy of writing.

• Keep a schedule. Believe it or not, if you work on a schedule you can get twice as much done in about half the time. Why? Because you get used to the routine of things and you aren't so inclined to be on Facebook all day instead of getting your writing done.
• Go to the library once a week. Why not? Load up the kids and go in search of a good book!
• Actually read the book. If you think that you don't have time to sit and read a book, keep in mind that every writer has to be a reader in order to get fresh input and insight. Otherwise everything you write starts to look the same.
• Write some poetry. Personally, I used to love to write poetry, but sometimes I get so busy that I forget about it. It's pure expression of self and just plain fun to write. Do it!
• Browse an encyclopedia. You probably aren't going to pick up the most entertaining writing styles, but you will learn some crazy new facts!
• Take a walk. Sitting at a keyboard all day is not good for your body and in the end, won't do anything good for you mentally if you don't get the blood flowing!

Remember what you loved about writing? Don't let it become just another chore. Find the joy in writing by reading and writing just for the fun of it!

The Joy of Writing

By Angela Atkinson

As freelance writers, we gotta stick together. In that spirit, I thought I'd discuss writing scams and rip-offs today. Whether you write for content sites or you're a well-respected novelist, it's important to be educated and knowledgeable about the business. Knowing what to watch for can help you to avoid falling into the clutches of common literary thieves.

And, while there are thousands of articles out there in Internet land about this very subject, I thought I'd offer a little down-to-earth advice, based on both research and personal experiences.

Get Them Before They Get You

We all know the old saying, "if it's too good to be true, it probably is." It's no different in the writing world. Often, companies who want fresh and original content (i.e. they don't want the free crap they can download from certain sites), they will approach a freelancer. So far, so good, right?

Sure, and that's bread and butter for many freelancers--but be careful. Often, scammers will ask you to provide a large number of articles for a small price, promising that they'll provide more and higher paying jobs later.

For example, one friend of mine mentioned that a private client asked for 100 articles in two days. The client offered my friend six hundred bucks.

She, being desperate for cash, took the gig. With help from two other writers, she completed the first 50 articles on day one and asked for half of her payment. The client refused, outright, and told her she would be paid in full when the final article was submitted.

Since she was so far into the project, she went for it. She and the other writers finished the work and she asked for her payment.

After playing email tag for awhile and getting the run-around, she was finally informed that another writer on the project had 29 articles unfinished, and he told her that unless she could finish the additional articles, (which would give her an additional $180.00), she would be paid nothing.

She did the additional work and requested payment again, only to be told that the project had been canceled. The client kept her articles and she received no payment. This, my friends, is what I call a scam.

Pay Me and I'll Pay You

If you have to pay to be published on a website or otherwise, you cannot, in most cases, consider it a legitimate gig. And, on a related note, a legitimate agent or agency will not charge you up front to represent you--that's not how they make their money. Instead, they'll collect their fee as a percentage of the money you bring in.

We'll Pay You When...

Many online content sites have certain payment limits. For example, one of the sites I write for has a limit of $25.00. So, if a writer makes less than $25.00, the company withholds payment until the writer reaches that threshold.

In many cases, this is a completely legitimate attempt the company makes to save a few cents here and there--but in some cases, the limits are unreasonable. One site, for example, offers writers two bucks per article but has a payment limit of $200. So, you have to write 100 accepted articles before you receive any payment whatsoever. My feeling is that these sites are a waste of time.

What Fine Print?

Certain content sites, especially certain ghostwriting sites, require you to sign all kinds of forms, filled with legalese. If you find yourself involved with one of these sites, read the forms very, very carefully. Often, you will find a lot of nastiness in the fine print. Don't get yourself into trouble--do the legwork or don't write for the site.

A friend of mine recently wrote an article for one such site, and the editors told her it'd been flagged for plagiarism. The article was not in fact plagairized, but they rejected it and told my friend they couldn't use it. As a result, my friend placed the article with another site, only to be fired by the ghostwriting site for violating her contract. Apparently, the fine print stated that even if they rejected an article, she could not print it elsewhere--or something of that nature.

(On a side note: They later threatened to sue her for writing a review about the site, trying to warn other writers. Again, the contract she signed stated somewhere in the fine print that she could not discuss her employment with the site for one year after being terminated.)

Low or No-Pay Sites

Low and no-pay sites are considered "scammy" by some freelancers--but the fact of the matter is, the ones which are "up front" and tell you what to expect (honestly) are not technically scams. If you choose to write for such a site, you go into it knowing you're probably not going to get rich. As far as I'm concerned, while these sites may milk decent writers for all they're worth and publish anyone who can put their fingers (or nose, toes or earlobes) on a keyboard, they're not scams. They're just what they are--low and no-pay.

What Can I DO?

Now, understand, I'm not trying to scare you. It's not so bad out there in the freelance world, as long as you don't jump on every boat that floats your way. One great way to figure out which jobs are legit and which aren't is a simple Google search. Check out the company--find out what other writers are saying about them. Get into writing forums and groups--and hey, I'm more than happy to check them out for you. Just shoot me an email at angela@angelaatkinson.com and I'll get the scoop for you. Your writing contemporaries are going to be your best bet.

So what's the bottom line? Do your homework, kids. If you are offered a writing job and you aren't one hundred percent sure that it's legitimate, take a little time to find out--BEFORE you get involved with the project. Save yourself the time and headache.

To our readers:
Do you know of writing jobs, content sites or other venues that are scams, rip-offs or otherwise? Share them here or send me an email at angela@angelaatkinson.com. Help Writing Mommies help other freelancers!


Other Helpful Resources:
Freelance Daily: Scams, Warnings, Deadbeats
Writer Beware

Scams, Rip-offs and Other Loathsome Stuff

Most things you make or sell, you get one last look at them, then they are gone. Well, obviously it doesn't work that way with writing. You are well aware that you can see your work anytime you want and you can even rewrite your work anytime you want, making it into an entirely different piece that provides the same information as it did the first time. But, are you aware that you can also resell the same piece without rewriting it? Let me tell you how.

Careful Who You Write For
If you're going to resell your work, you first have to check the policies of the company you sell your work to. I'm going to help you out by doing some of the legwork here while also shamelessly promoting my own work (there's another hint for you...take every advantage). I'll give you the tools to put your article on 4 different sites. It doesn't get much better than that does it?

The first place is going to be Associated Content. Let's just sell I sell an article to AC. I keep a copy for myself in my Word file. As long as I sell it to AC on a non-exclusive basis, I can sell it to other publishers as well. AC's policy is that they want to print the non-exclusives first. After that they don't care what you do with it!

Then I take a copy over to Bukisa (this place has higher page view payments than AC anyhow). As long as I use the same byline I can post my AC work here. Then I'm going to shoot over to Helium and post my work there as well. Next in line is Ground Report. Ground Report and Helium both vary in their pay scales. so does Bukisa, but it seem to stay around 3.42, which is over twice what AC offers for those below clout 10. So I have written one piece, posted it at four different places and not only got one upfront payment, but also get to collect pvs from 4 different sites.

Now you may think pvs aren't a big deal, but consider that you will collect them for as long as the work is posted on the site. How many places have you ever worked that you get paid for the same work repeatedly? None that I know of. Think about it like this. If you have one piece that gets good exposure and you get 1000 pvs per month per site, that's 4000 pvs a month. Just for the sake of simplicity we'll say that the piece originally sold for just $4.00 and the pay for each site is 2.00 per 1000. That's $8.00 per month for one piece. So 8 x 12= 96 96 + 4(original payment)= 100. That's $100 for the first year of the articles life. In the second year, check out the SEO and brush it up a bit for a fresh look and more exposure!

Reselling

Constructive Criticism VS. Deconstructive Criticism

Often as writers, we are not only writers but editors as well. We edit our own work, of course--but we also often edit for an employer, co-worker or friend. Whatever your reason for editing a piece, certain techniques and basic etiquette should be used, especially when editing another person's work. There is constructive criticism and deconstructive criticism. Knowing the difference between the two will help you become a more successful and influential editor.



Constructive Criticism

The basic definition of constructive criticism is to offer well reasoned and valid opinions of the work you are reading to improve the quality of the content. This can be done with both positive and negative comments about the writing piece, but you have to be careful when using negative comments.

Using constructive criticism is far more effective than deconstructive criticism when editing. Blatant rudeness doesn't serve either party. If you do not practice proper constructive criticism techniques and etiquette, your job as an editor can quickly devolve into deconstructive criticism.
To ensure you are doing the best job you can do as an editor, there are certain guidelines you should follow to help improve the quality of the writing piece.


Respect

Try to always remain respectful of the writer. You can still offer your advice and opinions in a respectful manner even if they are negative comments. You may be the greatest editor on the planet, but it is important to keep your ego in check. Flaunting your impressive editorial skills in the writer's face does not do the writer or the piece any good. The author is more likely to respond and improve their writing with respectful comments made about their work than rude and inconsiderate comments. Writers understand that they should expect a little criticism, but they shouldn't have to expect to be treated disrespectfully in any way.


Positivity

Of course, the editing job includes pointing out the mistakes made in a writing piece, but it should also include pointing out some of the writer's stronger points. Positive reinforcement can really help a writer to fast-track their path to improvement.

While editing, it's not necessary to include numerous positive comments through out the piece, but one or two wouldn't hurt. For example, the author may have organized their writing piece very well despite possible spelling or grammar mistakes. Be sure to point this out so the writer knows their strong area and exactly where they need to improve.


Negativity

Making negative comments about a writing piece should be handled carefully. When editing, you need to say what you mean and be to the point--but it's not necessary to be offensive.

For example, maybe the writer forgets to insert commas in the correct places. Do not mark every single comma mistake, simply mark one and leave a comment of how and why a comma is used. This will help the writer find their own mistakes and improve their writing ability. Too much negativity about a piece is more likely to offend a writer than help them. People are not as open to improvement when offend as they are when offered helpful advice.


Although all writers must learn to deal with both constructive and deconstructive criticism, there are some editors who just go too far and a writer knows when this occurs.

Maintaining a good relationship with your editing clients will not only help them improve, but can also enhance your experience as an editor. Writers are more likely to respond to helpful and professional editors that practice proper critiquing etiquette in a positive and productive manner every time.

Of course, we can offer all the advice we like--but that won't change some people. Watch for our upcoming article, A Writer's Guide to Dealing With Rude Editors.

Do You Know the Difference?

By Angela Atkinson

Children's writers will be interested in today's writing opportunity for American Girl Magazine! Below, the writer's guidelines from the American Girl Magazine Website.

***

American Girl is a bimonthly, four-color magazine for girls ages 8 and up. Our mission is to celebrate girls, yesterday and today. American Girl readers are girls in the formative years, girls who dream big dreams. We hope to encourage that dreaming and to reinforce each reader's self-confidence, curiosity, and self-esteem as she prepares to navigate adolescence in the years ahead. Our lead time is approximately six months.

Fiction

We're looking for contemporary and historical fiction up to 2,300 words. The protagonist should be a girl between 8 and 12 who captures the hopes, thoughts, and emotions unique to that precarious age between childhood and teenager. We look for top quality writing and thoughtfully developed characters and plots. Stories should engage readers quickly and have a satisfying conclusion. We are always looking for humor and seasonal stories. We don't publish science fiction, romance, or horror stories.

Nonfiction

We're looking for individual girls or groups who are doing something other girls would love to read and learn about. Find a topic about which girls are passionate. Past pieces have featured synchronized swimmers, rhythmic gymnasts, ballerinas, and girl bands. Some of our most successful pieces are sports-related, but that doesn't mean we won't consider other contemporary topics or profiles. Look for new twists on familiar topics. Please send queries rather than finished manuscripts.

Girls Express

This section offers the most opportunities for freelance writers. We're looking for short profiles of girls who are into sports, the arts, interesting hobbies, cultural activities, and other areas. We are also looking for true stories about girls who have had unusual experiences. The girl must be the "star" and the story must be from her point of view. Be sure the include the age of the girls you're pitching to us. Let us know if you have any photo leads. We also welcome how-to storiesÑhow to send away for free things, hot ideas for a cold day, or how to write the President and get a response. Stories should be no more than 150 words. In addition, we're looking for easy crafts and recipes that can be explained in a few simple steps, ideas for contests, and current products and trends for girls to review.

Craft and Cooking

We welcome original craft and cooking ideas that are new and exciting to our readers. Projects should require limited parental involvement and supplies should be inexpensive and readily available. Keep in mind the skill level of our readers. Safety is a priority. Query with a short explanation of the project and an example, photograph, or sketch.

Giggle Gang

We're looking for visual puzzles, mazes, math puzzles, word games, simple crosswords, cartoons, and other ideas. Seasonal ideas are especially welcome.
Sample issues

American Girl costs $3.95 per issue and is available in many children's bookstores. To get a sample copy, send a check for $3.95 made out to American Girl, plus a self-addressed stamped 9x12 envelope with $1.94 in postage on it.

Address

All queries and requests for sample magazines should be addressed to: Magazine Department Assistant, American Girl, P.O. Box 620986, Middleton, WI 53562-0986.

Please Note

American Girl cannot reply or return a manuscript unless you enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope. Please allow 12 weeks for a reply.

Writing Opportunity: American Girl Magazine

If you're just starting out as a writer, you may have a tendency to be so excited by the idea that you got published that you are just putting out as many articles as you can and becoming overwhelmed at the thought of all those articles being published. That's fine and a lot of writers go through this because it really is so exciting. But there are a couple of things you need to know before you get addicted to this method of writing.

1. Don't expect your friends and family to be as excited about it as you are. If they aren't writers chances are that they are going to have no clue as to how good the idea of being published feels. Don't take it personally.
2. You will be rejected from time to time. It doesn't matter how good you are or whether you are writing online or for something in print. Rejection happens and it can happen for a variety of reasons that have nothing to do with your writing quality.
3. Those published articles are representing you as a writer. It pays to do some research and make sure you are putting out a quality piece. If you are focusing on online writing then you need to decide what type of writing you really want to do. If you want to develop your own niche then you need to make sure your writing is focused on that niche. If you want to do SEO writing (which by the way you are going to have to learn anyhow if you want to get your niche articles read) then you need to do some research into how SEO works.
4. Have patience. I remember waiting for my first few articles to get published and checking every day to see if I had gotten any responses. It's nerve racking I tell you! Editors and publishers tend to take weekends off (how weird is that?) so don't even bother to check on the weekend. Keep in mind that you have no idea how many submissions the editor has to read through. Just because they take their time doesn't mean that you are going to get one of those nasty little rejection letters.
5. Every time you write a piece, ask yourself if you would use this piece as a sample of your work. If not, then don't submit it because it is a sample of your work to potential publishers who might read it.
6. Pencil edits into your schedule. Even if your article is already published, go over it and make sure there are no changes to be made. Grammar errors can make the best piece of work unattractive and no one wants a reader cringing from typos as they make their way through the article.

I know you want to make money with your writing, but that doesn't mean you have to pump out garbage. There are ways to make multiple payments on just one article. Check back Wednesday for a discussion on how to use the same article over and over to collect page views.

Quality or Quantity?

Now I know that there are plenty of people out there who would love to be writers. Everyone has something worth saying trapped in their minds. However with everything being done on computers, it's hard to get the word out about anything if you don't type well. This is especially true of older people who didn't grow up with computers in every household. The good news is that not knowing how to type doesn't have to be a barrier. In fact, even if you do know how to type there is actually an easier way to write that leaves the writer hands free.

Type with Your Tongue
Catchy Heading there huh? Sorry, I just couldn't resist. The fact of the matter is that it is perfectly feasible to type and use your computer in every way if you simply know how to talk. There are several programs that make this possible, but I'm going to talk about the one I use, the Vista program.

Okay, so alot of people just cringed as they thought about how much they dislike Vista. Look, I'm a creature of habit. I actually almost cried when I realized my last laptop as well as the one I currently have both had Vista on them. But really, it's not so bad and has some features that I personally fell in love with. One of them is the voice recognition program that comes with Vista.

Personally, I enjoy the act of writing. If I could submit my work on steno pads I would be in heaven. Unfortunately no one would be able to read them as my writing could easily pass for any doctor's writing. And honestly I do enjoy typing as well, just not as much. But every now and then I get sick of being hunched over the keyboard and turning my head from side to side to make my neck sound like popcorn should be shooting out my ears. These are the times when I switch to voice recognition.

How to Use Voice Recognition
Some people may not even be aware that this program is on their computer.If they have Vista, then I know it's there. The program is accessed via the control panel. Once you're at the control panel you simply click on "Ease of Access" which will lead you to an area that was created for those that need to use alternate methods to operate their computer. Open the voice recognition software. You will be offered the option of "training" the program to your voice. Personally I didn't use it but that doesn't mean you can't. The more you use the program, the more it recognizes the way you speak. For this reason alone I recommend that only one person use the program per account. Otherwise it will combine various voices and you won't get the results you desire.

Use this program as a dictation program. In other words, you can't just keep speaking to it. You have to tell the program "period", "question mark", "enter" and specific commands like these. Otherwise you will end up with one very long run on sentence.

Once the program is running, all you have to do is say "start listening" and the program will begin using your voice commands. To end it just say "stop listening". You can still use your keyboard and mouse pad while the computer is running, but you don't have to. You can literally perform all the functions of the computer using this program. Please note that this program works much better if you have a headset. If you are using a microphone other than that, like the one that comes standard on laptops, the program will pick up every noise around you and you'll end up doing a lot of deleting words that you never said.

So that's my word for today. Enjoy your new toy. Hey, even if you don't use it for writing you can always just use it to impress your friends by controlling your computer completely by talking to it!

Writing for Nontypers

By Angela Atkinson

Yesterday, we posted part one of our interview with Michael Geffner, completed over the phone and by email. In the second half of the interview, Mike offers real advice for new writers, discusses mentors and inspiration and gives an insider's insight into the business of journalism. Plus, learn more about how he became the successful columnist, feature writer and journalist that he is today.

Interview with Michael Geffner, Part Two (Read Part One Here)

WM: In your experience, what does it take to get started in the field of journalism?

MG: 1) Find a way to land an internship at a publishing place. 2) Network with people in the industry. 3) Respond to as many job ads as possible, even ones that don’t appeal to you.

Get connected, body and soul, with the writing business and work hard at the craft each and every day.

WM: Rejection is part of the life of a writer. How would you recommend that writers deal with rejection in their careers? How have you dealt with it personally?

MG: The fact is, believe it or not, there are people who read Hemingway and Steven King and don’t think they’re any good. It’s all subjective. So don’t take any of it personally. If you take it too personally, you’re doomed. Me, I handle rejection by getting bummed out for a couple of days, then think about the next thing.

The secret of my success, I believe, is getting over rejection quickly and jumping right back in the race. I never let anybody tell me I can’t do this or that. If some editor doesn’t like what I do,
I simply go on to the next editor. It’s about moving forward.

I think my perseverance and resilience have been the keys to my longevity in this field. The people who give up—those are the people who don’t make it.

Think of yourself like a door-to-door salesman. When a door-to-door salesman gets rejected, he’s happy, because he knows with each rejection he’s closer to a sale. He understands percentages.

The problem is, writers are wired differently than door-to-door salesmen. We’re sensitive souls and when we get rejected, we feel like it’s an attack on our souls. Ok, so get bummed out if you want, eat ice cream for two days straight if it makes you happy, but once that time is over stop thinking about that rejection and get back to writing again.

WM: Do you recommend that aspiring freelancers quit their “day jobs” in order to focus on writing?

MG: No!

Keep the guaranteed money coming in. But at the same time keep trying to publish and keep trying to make more and more money with your stories. Then, once you’re making decent living, strategize on making the gradual shift from part-time to full-time writing.

I won’t lie. Unless you land a staff writing gig, it’s very difficult. Freelancing can be a sucker’s life for most. You need to start making at least a $1-a-word to have any chance at all. Of course, if you’re a stay-at-home mom, if you’re not the primary breadwinner, freelancing can not only be a great creative outlet but a decent source of extra income.

WM: What’s the best way to make money as a freelance writer?

MG: Do Q&A’s. They’re not as easy as they look, because you have to make the interview compelling and make it flow. You need to ask great questions and have the ability to find the core. Even though it’s a Q&A, it’s still a story and still requires storytelling. But they pay the most money for the least amount of work.

WM: How do you feel about content sites like Associated Content?

MG: Don’t get addicted to them. That’s my advice. They pay nothing and odds on they’ll lead to nowhere. And since it’s not going to lead anywhere, essentially all you’re doing is providing free content to a site so they can sell advertising. Worst, since there’s no editor to oversee your work, to intervene, you’ll likely develop bad habits and become a lazy writer.

Get used to working for places that require a certain standard for publishing your stories. And get used to being paid for your work. And get used to working with editors (I’ve learned so much from editors over the years.)

WM: So do you advise writers to stay away from AC and similar sites?

MG: I would say that you should use this type of platform to simply establish your voice and practice. Then move forward, challenge yourself—or, trust me, your career will never go anywhere. If you’re not sure about the legitimacy of a site, there’s a great site called Writer Beware that can help. In fact, check out this post on my blog.

WM: Is that what you’d say about online publishing in general?

MG: Writing for websites is fine as long as it’s a pay site sand especially ones people know. Slate.com and Salon.com are two highly respected online-only sites. Also, look for online extensions of print publications and national TV networks. But, no matter what, you should try to get into print—and the bigger the circulation the better.

WM: You do so much to help other writers. What inspires you to do that?

MG: For one, there’s so much misinformation out there that I want to set things straight and get young or aspiring writers on the right path. In fact, that was the impetus behind my starting Mike’s Writing Workshop on Yahoo in March 2001. Instead of just complaining, I did something to change things.

Another reason is that one of my mentors, a retired Wall Street Journal salesman, once told me to “pass it on”—meaning the wisdom and knowledge he passed on to me. “I don’t want anything,” he said when I asked how I could repay him. “Just pass it on.” And I have ever since.

WM: Why don’t you charge writers for the ‘insider’ information you offer them on your websites?

MG: I do what I can. I charge for private sessions and my one-day Sunday workshops. But that’s it. Most writers, especially new ones, aren’t exactly rich, so I don’t want them forking over more money than they can afford. I just really enjoy teaching others and want to get the real information out there—not the crap you see on so many sites, like making money writing bumper stickers and for greeting cards. I mean, you didn’t become a writer to write bumper stickers and greeting cards, did you?

WM: What kinds of advice do you offer for writers in your groups?

MG: Well, I kept hearing the same questions over and over again, so one day I decided to answer the questions in one swoop and wrote The Ten Commandments to Writing Success.

Originally I wrote it just for the group members so that they could refer to it, but it wasn’t long until a slew of writing resource sites asked me if they could reprint it.
I later came up with 10 more commandments, labeling it Part 2.

WM: The Ten Commandments to Writing Success has now been published all over the place. How did that happen?

MG: It’s been picked up by so many writing resource sites (including Writing Mommies). And, it was eventually published by The Writer magazine, for which after a little re-writing I was paid a few hundred dollars. They then reprinted the article in their Writer’s Handbook and paid me again. And they’ve since reprinted it several times for their advertising material, paying me every step of the way. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

Mind you, I never planned on this little piece being published. I never wanted to make a dime doing it—but when you do something good, someone will find you and pay you for it. That’s the lesson to be learned there. Put it out there and anything can happen—just like someone winning the lottery or some homely lady becoming world famous because of some TV talent show.

WM: If you had to choose, who would you say was a writing mentor for you?

MG: The person who helped me most wasn’t a writer at all, believe it or not, but a retired salesman for the Wall Street Journal. His name was Al and he gave seminars in New York City (as well as other places) about finding work. Not writing work, mind you. Just work in general.

Well, one day, when he was giving a seminar in a library, I decided to take a listen, since at the time I was struggling to find work as a writer. Part of me thought, “What can he do for ME? It’s not about writing jobs.” But the other part of me kept an open mind and listened. Luckily.

Because Al was a fascinating, tough, and wise man.

I ended up following him all over Manhattan, going to every one of his seminars for months. He taught me that looking for work was nothing more than selling—selling yourself. In other words, to be successful at finding work, you need to be a great salesman of the commodity of YOU.

In the end, I landed a major writing job, thanks to Al’s guidance, but when I asked what I could do for him in return, he said, “I don’t want anything.” And he paused before adding: “Just pass it on.”

That was such a powerful moment for me, so memorable. That was something that made a difference in my life, a critical juncture. I don’t think I’ve been the same person since. I’ve definitely made sure to pass it on, to pay it forward.

So, tag, you’re it now! It’s your responsibility to pass it on.

WM: Thank you, what an honor! So that must have helped inspire you to work with new writers?

MG: Definitely. And the fact that there’s so much misinformation out there, so many freelance writing “gurus” who don’t have any real credentials or know what they’re doing, I wanted in my own little way to set the record straight. A lot of these self-proclaimed writing gurus are like those middle-of-the-night real estate guys you see on television—they don’t make their money buying and selling real estate as much as they do selling tapes and books.

WM: Have you ever considered writing a book? We think it’d be a best seller.

MG: I’ve been asked to write a book a zillion times, but for some reason I haven’t done one yet. When I am ready, I guess, I’ll do it—if that day comes. The fact is, I go wherever my heart takes me. As long as I have a roof over my head and food on the table, I do what’s right for me. I’m sure I’ll probably do that book at some point, just not sure when.

WM: What would you say is the best writing advice you’ve ever been given?

MG: I’ve been given a lot of great advice over the years, but the one piece I remember best came years ago from Joe Klein, the wonderful political journalist who wrote “Primary Colors” and now writes for Time magazine. He said to me once, “Never throw away a single line.” In other words, really try to make every single line count. To this day, I think about Joe’s advice every time I write a story. I’m still trying to make my stories better. I keep searching for the right words. I keep working, day in and day out, at the craft.

Writers to Watch: Michael Geffner, Part Two

By Angela Atkinson

Mike Geffner is an award winning writer who was awarded for outstanding column and feature writing by the APSE (Associated Press Sports Editors) in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, he won the New York Publishers Association’s contest for Distinguished Sports Writing. He has been included seven times in the annual Best American Sports Writing anthology and was voted the Best Sports Writer in New York City by the New York Press in 1990.

Mike won first place for profile writing by the Society of Professional Journalists in 2000. He has interviewed many well-known public figures, including former President Richard Nixon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dennis Hopper, Forrest Whitaker and Derek Jeter. Mike has written for USA Today, The Associated Press, Details, The Sporting News, Cigar Aficionado, Texas Monthly, Page Six Magazine, FHM, The Writer and The Village Voice.

Over the years, Mike has learned the ins and outs of the business on a level that many writers never can. And, much to our delight, Mike shares his secrets to success openly.

He is passionate about helping new writers get started in the business, founding several popular online writing groups. He also produces the poetry and prose reading series called The Inspired Word.

Want to know more about Mike? Check out Mike's Writing Workshop and Newsletter or join Mike’s Writing Workshop’s Yahoo Group. You can also find Mike on Facebook or in his Facebook writer’s group, Writers Helping Writers.

Writing Mommies is honored to have had the occasion to speak with Mike. The following is part one of two of an interview we conducted both on the phone and through email. Thanks to Mike Geffner for giving us this opportunity to share this very valuable information with our readers.

Writing Mommies: Have you always wanted to be a journalist?

Mike Geffner: Actually, I started out wanting to be a fiction writer—a novelist or short story writer. I absolutely adored writers like Faulkner, Hemingway, Tolstoy, Conrad, Camus, and so many others. In fact, the year right after college, I consumed, believe it or not, 300 classic short novels. It was so intense. I thought legendary novelists were just the greatest writers ever to inhabit the planet and I wanted their words inside me.

Journalism was just something I simply stumbled into, writing about what I knew, I guess—which, like most young boys, was sports. I figured I’d use journalism simply as a bridge to writing novels, but somehow it didn’t turn out that way. I fell in love with journalism.

WM: Did you have to deal with any rejections starting out?

MG: Oh, my, yes.

I’d published some stories in small magazines and newspapers while still in college, so I thought I’d have it easy landing a job. Well, I sent out 100 resumes to newspapers and magazines around the country and got rejected by 99 out of them.

Only one newspaper showed any interest in me at all: the Charlotte Observer in Charlotte, North Carolina. They considered me for a job as a junior sports editor. I did an audition for them, and, unfortunately, that didn’t work out either. So, I was 0 for 100. Not a great batting average.

That just shows you how far you can go despite early rejections—from that awful beginning to where I am today.

WM: So what would you say was your first “real” writing gig?

MG: My first real job was stringing for the Associated Press. I first covered the New York Yankees every single home game. Not a bad gig for someone only 23 years old—covering the most famous sports team in the world and my favorite team as a kid. My job was writing game stories and features, as well as breaking news stories if I could dig them out.

It all felt natural to me—the reporting, the adrenaline rush of writing on deadline, the watching of baseball games and seeing the story within the story.

What’s funny is, I wasn’t even sure I wanted the job when it was offered to me, I remember calling my father and discussing it with him. He was a huge Yankee fan and said I was crazy if I rejected it.

“Listen,” he said. “Take the job and if you hate it in a couple of months, just quit.”

That was in 1981—and I’ve never looked back since. I’ve been a working journalist all these years, never working a “real job.”

WM: You’ve worked for Penthouse, in addition to several other major magazines. What kind of stuff did you write for Penthouse?

MG: I did Q&A’s with athletes. No sex stories. In fact, my stories were completely non-sexual. But the pay was ridiculous—between $5000-7,500 for what amounted to no more than four days’ work. I spent a couple of hours interviewing the subject, which the magazine transcribed for me. I whittled down the transcription to its essence, made the thing flow smoothly, then topped it off with a 300-word lead-in. That was it. You don’t turn down assignments like that!

WM: We have to ask, what was it like interviewing President Nixon?

MG: I interviewed Nixon twice in the early 80’s, when I worked for the AP. It was a surreal experience. Like talking to Mount Rushmore. I mean, I never expected to interview him, because I wasn’t a political writer. We chatted about baseball. He was very charming and a huge baseball fan—and very knowledgeable about the game. One thing that sticks out in my memory is that once he learned my name, he used it in his answers, like “Well, Mike...” It’s, of course, a politician’s trick, a way to develop immediate intimacy—and it worked.

WM: What do you love about journalism?

MG: The immediacy of it, the digging out of unique stories. I love telling people something they didn’t already know.

But the journalism I grew up in, the one I grew to love, doesn’t really exist anymore. Accuracy and fairness doesn’t matter much anymore, stories with a heart aren’t given much space, and great writing is virtually non-existent. It’s all about gossip and controversy now, all about shock value and titillation.

WM: You work with new writers a lot, with Mike’s Writing Workshop, Writers Helping Writers, your Sunday workshops, etc. What inspires you to do that?

MG: I confess that I’m obsessed with helping new writers. I love giving back, making a difference in people’s lives.

The thing is, we all start out in the same place—unpublished and wondering if they’ll ever make it as a writer full time. My mission: I want to provide the advice and guidance that I didn’t have and make things easier if I can.

Part Two Tomorrow: Find out what inspired Mike to begin helping new writers and how he does it. Learn what he says it takes to get started as a writer, his thoughts on dealing with rejection, online publishers and more.

Update: Read Part Two of Mike's interview here!

Writers to Watch: Michael Geffner

Writing Classes: Learn How to Find the Right One for You!

By Angela Atkinson

I'm not being negative here folks, but the fact is--professional writing and rejection go hand and hand. Of course there are a few super-writers who publish their first novel by the age of 8 and never receive a rejection, ever ever.

However, such writers are the exception more than the rule, so the rest of us need to be prepared for at least an occasional rejection. So how does one cope?

Don't Take It Personally

It's much easier said than done, but there it is. Just realize that the editor is NOT trying to hurt your feelings or tell you that you're bad--she's just doing her job. So, if an editor wants revisions, make them and thank her for the opportunity to make the corrections. If you feel strongly that her recommendations are wrong and you're not willing to make the changes, maybe it's time to send the piece to a different publisher.

On the other hand, if an editor rejects you completely, take it for what it is: your piece wasn't right for the publication for one reason or another. Move forward. If the editor offers you any personal comments (even a scribbled one at the bottom of a form letter), read it carefully and absorb it. It may just be what you need to get published next time.

Handle It Gracefully

In fact, says writing blogger Damien Kane, "As a writer, you will get hit, as sure as you will get wet in the rain. A writer who receives criticism with a rejection slip is lucky. In my personal experience, there are three levels of rejection with the fourth being the acceptance:

Newsflash: You're Gonna Get Rejected

Today seemed like a good day to talk about ghost writing. This is something most struggling writers battle with themselves about. New online writers may not even know what it is. When i started I kept seeing the words "ghost writing" all over the place and I had no idea what it meant. Honestly I was too busy trying to find a way to make some money using the things inside my head and what resources I had available. Heck, I was impressed by the very idea that someone was going to pay me to write about things I just took for granted. When I thought about today's post I was trying to keep new writers in mind. There is a lot of money to be made doing ghost writing so I thought it might be prudent to address it.

What is Ghost Writing?
Ghost writing is a form of writing that the writers doesn't get credit for. You write it but someone else's name goes on it. To serious writers trying to get their name out there it's an almost offensive idea. No, actually it is offensive. Why would a writer bother? We'll get to that right after I tell you how it works.

There are plenty of people who are looking for articles to serve their own purposes. One primary reason for ghost writing is that the publisher of the writing doesn't want to be bothered with usage rights and page view payments. Some sites offer ghost writing jobs on a regular basis and individual clients go out of their way to find professional ghost writers. It's actually a booming field.

Why Do Ghost Writing?
The answer to this question is simple. Cash. If you want to make a living, you have to go where the money is. If you're a writer, this can be tricky. Some open calls take weeks or months to respond and even then you might get rejected. In the meantime, the bills still need to be paid.

Personally, I'm pretty good at seeing the silver lining in the cloud. I have to. Sometimes life just sucks and who wants to walk around with nothing to look forward. Yes, I ghost write. I do it for a couple of reasons like the ones I've listed below.

• Money.Oh yeah, I have bills to pay. A good portion of my income comes from ghost writing and all I can say is that yes I am serious about my writing, but I'm like most people and have to start at the bottom. I have news for everyone else. There's more to be learned along the way to the top than there is looking down from it.
• Learning different styles. Most clients have their own styles that they require from the writer. Different sites may do better with different styles as well. When I ghost write, I have to meet the standards of the client. In doing so I may use a completely different style than I normally would. This is one way for me to add some variety to my writing tools. You can never have too many of those!
• New Topics. If you've ever had writers block or just can't focus, working on ghost writing jobs is a great way to bring things together. You don't have to think of the topic or the keywords. They're already provided for you. All you have to do is string some words together and make sure all the standards are met. When it's all said and done, you've made some money and you may even have some knowledge of topics you never even considered before.
• Rewrites. Ghost writers lose all rights to their work. That means they can't sell an article then post it somewhere else for page views. But, any article can be rewritten. The general rule is to have a 60% difference in the writing. Personally, I don't rewrite other's work. I just don't feel right about it. But then I also don't write other people's research papers while other writers make a great living off of that kind of work. I am however, perfectly willing to rewrite my own work when I'm having a bout of writer's block and need to get some work out there for page views.
• Critiquing. Some sites that offer ghost writing work actually rate the work. Their rating system gives me an idea of how other people view my writing. Even individual clients are sure to share their opinion of your work. If they don't share their opinion but keep asking me to do work for them then it's pretty safe to assume I'm doing something right. It doesn't hurt to simply ask them either. Most are happy to give their opinion even if it's a brief one.

Where to Find Ghost Writing Work? If you're just starting out then there are a couple of sites that are great for testing your ghost writing skills. Textbroker is one that offers tons of ghost writing work and the pay is based on your skill level. No one is going to get rich writing for them, but they are great for making some quick cash and getting topic ideas. Payout is once a month and you have to have a minimum of $10 in your account to request it.

Mturk is another great resource site for ghost writing. They also offer other kinds of work which makes it a convenient place to go when you simply can't find anything else. Payout is whenever you request it after the minimum of $15 is reached.

Check job boards frequently for more ghost writing jobs. Don't be afraid to apply. After all, the worst that can happen is for them to say no or not respond at all. Since this can be a frustrating and repetitive, you might consider making a word pad document with a generic format that can be used over and over as well as being easily modified to fit the needs of particular clients. Then you can simply cut and paste it into forums and job boards.

While some writers may really enjoy this just for the sake of enjoying writing at all, chances are that this will simply be a starting point. That's okay. Everyone has to start somewhere. With the economy looking like it may get worse before it gets better, ghost writing may be the only thing between some writers and complete financial devastation.

Ghost Writing

Fiction Writers: What You Need to Know!

By Angela Atkinson

Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There’s plenty of movement, but you never know if it’s going to be forward, backwards, or sideways.
H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Working as a freelance writer can feel like an ideal gig. Let's face it--we can set our own hours and goals. We can stop to change a diaper or take a call if needed, and we can take a day off anytime we like, provided we meet our deadlines.

And hey, that's definitely a sweet deal. But with the sweet can come the sour, and here's the sour end of this lollipop: procrastination and lack of focus.

I realize that there are plenty of freelance writers out there who are naturally organized and who never find themselves staring off into space or trolling Facebook instead of writing--but I, my friends, am not one of them.

Like many creative souls, I occasionally find my mind wandering and my self-discipline waning. And, from what I understand, many of my fellow freelancers have similar troubles. Some of us even love the thrill of meeting a deadline at the last possible second.

Even so, I know that I am definitely more productive when I'm determined and focused. And, I suspect, so are most writers.

So what's the answer? How can one begin to maintain (or regain) the focus you need to stay on top of your freelance career?

Set Office Hours

Most people don't call friends or family at work for idle chat or to request favors (rides, babysitters, etc), but they won't think twice about calling someone who works from home. Try setting office hours and letting your friends and family know that this is your work time. Then, let your answering machine screen calls while you work.

Set Daily Goals

As Alyssa has discussed before, it can really boost your productivity to set daily goals. Don't make them too lofty, but certainly challenge yourself. You might choose a certain word count, page count or number of articles.

Goals and Time

Alternatively, you can set time goals. So, for example, you might set aside one hour per day for blogging and follow up work, three hours for your freelance work (paid gigs), one hour for that novel you've been meaning to finish and one more hour to check email and do your social networking. Set a timer and take a break each hour (or between pages, articles, etc).

Remember, It's Business

While many freelance writers choose their career because they love to write, others choose it out of convenience. In either case, it can be easy to forget that your writing is your business. Would you go to work in an office and sit around Facebooking? Of course not. So, when you're working--treat it like a real job, which is exactly what it is. The only difference is that it's YOUR business--and hey, doesn't that make you want to work harder?

Limit Distractions

Speaking of Facebook, it's just one of many online distractions waiting to pull you away from your work. I love it, I really do, and it's hard to pull myself away sometimes. Even so, I'll certainly never get any work done if I'm playing around (on Facebook or anything else.) If you use an instant messenger, turn it off during your working hours or set yourself to "busy." This way, you won't be distracted by friendly chat.

Buddy Up

If you can, find yourself a "writing buddy." For example, Alyssa and I chat off and on during our work days. Generally, we chat in the morning and discuss our daily goals, then set a time to check in. We usually check in every hour or two during our working hours. It's really a great way to help get the mojo working.

If you're not willing to accept your own discipline, you're not going to accomplish two percent of what you could - and you're going to miss out on 98% of the good things you could have.
Tom Hopkins

So how about you? What do you do when you're lacking focus or feeling scattered?

Scattered? Find Focus!

As writers, we often need to create a biography page about ourselves. Biographies can be used for a number of reason. You may need to create an author biography to send along with a manuscript, an online profile, or for a website. Figuring out what to include in a biography can be difficult and confusing. There are a few necessary requirements that should be included in every authors biography along with a few simple rules to follow.

Background Experience
Your biography should include your background experience. This should include all relevant things you have done related to writing. This gives publishers, editors, and readers information about where you have been and what you have done as a writer.

Educational Experience
Educational experiences should be included in you biography to show how relevant you are as a writer. It should include any degrees, special classes, training programs, or credits you have acquired to further your career. Your educational experience does not have to be strictly about writing. Any educational experiences, no matter what subject they are related to, is important to include in the biography.

Writing Credits
Including any credits to your writing career is important to include in a biography. This means any special awards, recognitions, and past writing experiences. Including these in a biography will show your professional experiences as a writer.

Creating the Biography
Although you may have a lot to include in a biography, they should be kept short and simple. Normal biography's are only about 250 words. Some places may require more or less of a biography. Biography's should be written in the third person. The style of the biography should be appropriate to what they will be used for. For example, if you are writing a comedy piece, it should included a little humor.

Following this simple out like can allow you to create an amazing and professional biography to use with any writing piece.

Creating an Author Biography