Archive for November 9th, 2007
There is a certain picture that most people get in their minds when they think of freelance writers. I always pictured my uncle – wild hair, free spirit, just a little off. It wasn’t until I launched my own writing career that I began to see freelancers in a whole new light. Not only are there many types of people out there who write, but there are just as many venues and genres as there are people.
The art of Grants writing is something that has been brought to the forefront of my life in the last few months. It is something that I dabbled in (starting in college) for many years, but not something I ever viewed as real “writing.” After all, you don’t get a byline, so it doesn’t count, right?
Grants’ consulting is all about research, writing, and reaching out. If these things appeal to you, then it might be a path you can take with your writing.
1. Research – you have to be able to find the sources to fund your activities, and that’s not always as easy as it might seem. The ones that are easy to find (government grants) have lots of competition and are harder to get. The ones that are hidden from the view of the world (private, foundation, and corporate grants) are easier to get, if you can find them. You have to have the desire to hunt down the money. Then you have to be willing to hunt down all the information you need to present to the grants committee. Two hunts in one.
2. Writing – finding the information is just the beginning. You have to present it in a light that will make your proposal stand out among all those that have been received. In many ways, it is a lot like a query letter – and we all know how creative we have to get with those. Writing the actual grant will pull on all your creative writing juices and test your structural skills as well.
3. Reaching out – every writer out there knows what it is like to be underpaid and under appreciated. Grants writing can be the same. Most of the organizations that need help with grants really can’t afford to pay for the assistance. Fortunately, most freelance writers are use to living on tiny bits of pay. Plus, there are grants out there that will allow the organization to include administrative costs (that would include the grant writer) in the proposal.
If you know nothing about writing grants, don’t fret. You probably didn’t know all that much about writing essays, or books, or blogs before you began. There are lots of places you can go to get yourself started (ed2go.com has some great classes). After that, you just have to bombard the community with your ideas the same way you do with all of the other areas of your writing.
November 9th, 2007
Tradition is far more powerful and memorable than any gift you could ever give. Every year, my family gathered around the free cut tree to decorate. Every year, we drove by the “House of Lights” (one that was so decorated a lit up that you literally could see it for miles) on the way to my aunt’s house. These memories are stronger (and more treasured) that all the gifts I ever received (and I got a horse one year 
).
There are times when I worry that I’m not doing enough to instill tradition in my children. It doesn’t help that extended families have scattered and splintered to the point of almost being non-existent. Every year, we try to keep the focus on the meaning. The truth is, we may never know (at least not for many years) if that meaning stuck.
1. Advent Calendar – years back, I didn’t have the money to buy one of those “fancy” advent calendars. Instead, I made one with felt and tiny ornaments. Every day, starting Dec 1, we put one ornament on the giant tree. Christmas day, we put the manger scene at the top of the tree. The kids think about that tree first thing every morning.
2. Decorations – we have two December birthdays in our family. As a way to keep them from ever feeling unimportant, we wait to decorate the tree until AFTER their birthdays. This means that Dec 24th is always a tree trimming party. Dad takes the boys off to play while I get everything set up. With Christmas carols playing on the stereo, we spend time together bringing our tree to life.
3. Christmas treats – it started as a money thing (in that we didn’t have any and I needed some gifts) but making a plate of treats for friends and family is now a fun time for me and the kids. We spend several days talking about which recipes to use and then several days cooking and packaging the treats. On Christmas Eve, we make the trip to all the houses to deliver our gifts.
4. Christmas lights – since we are already out and about, we use Christmas Eve to do our light seeing. My uncle is famous for his decorations, and we always make the trip over there. On the years when he has live reindeer, we make this trip during that time as well.
5. Parades – my husband is a huge fan of parades (I still don’t know if it’s because of his needs or because he wants to entertain the kids) so each year we make the trip downtown to watch the parade (and grab up some candy).
Traditions don’t have to be costly or outrageous to find their way into our hearts. It is those times that we spend with family, that we know we can count on, that will live on in our lives long after the presents are forgotten.
November 9th, 2007
Checking accounts are getting more competitive every day. It use to be that banks felt comfortable just using your money without any compensation for you, but not anymore. Now they are working hard to win over and keep their customers. You are the one that benefits.
1. Traditional Checking Accounts – not only do the banks now offer these accounts for free – meaning you save on all those fees they hit you with, but many of these accounts now offer an interest rate (although it’s tiny) for customers. Each month you can make a few dollars (or few pennies) just because you have an account.
2. Online Banking – Paypal is becoming as common as any bank out there. If you do have an account at Paypal, do you realize that they offer a “mutual fund” option that pays (at this time) nearly 5% on all monies in the account. Now that is a nice little bonus.
3. Rewards Cards – Every store seems to have them these days. Using the cards for items you would normally purchase can win you a big payoff (I just got a $30 rewards check from Staples and a $4 from CVS Pharmacy). These probably have to be used in-store, but it’s still free money.
4. Credit Cards – Even the lending industry is getting more competitive these days. Credit cards offer great rewards programs; cash back programs, or other options for their customers. IF you pay the card off each month (this is a requirement or the programs will never balance out) then you can use the card, get the rewards, AND let your money sit in an interest baring account until it’s time to pay off the bill.
Being smart with your money could help you make money in the long run. Watch for hidden or unexpected fees that will take away all the progress you make. Read all the fine print. Then go out there and find creative ways to let the industry make money for you for a change.
November 9th, 2007
