Writing for Dollars

Working online is a great way to control your own employment destiny. The hours are up to you. The work load is up to you. The price is up to you – sort of.

Online writing is notorious for low pay. Many “writers” are accepting jobs for $2 an article (around ½ of 1 cent). I assume it is because they either want to write so bad they don’t care how much they make or else the buyer doesn’t care about the quality of work received.

I was a cheap writer for the first few months online. As a matter of fact, I made all of my money writing posts on forums for a whopping 15 cents per post. It didn’t make me feel like a writer, but I was learning about the internet, making a few connections, AND getting some money along the way.

As I began to understand the online world of writing and I started getting more regular work, I determined that I am worth more than I was charging. Now when I bid for work, or a potential client asks for a fee, I have a genuine idea of what to charge (I start at 6 cents a word, which I know is still cheap). There are some things you have to do to be able to ask for more.

1. Start writing online. If you have a personal blog, be sure to make each post quality content that you would be proud for an editor to view. Other wise, visit some other sites and inquire about doing a guest post for them. Even if you don’t get paid, you are building up clips for editors (and potential employers) to see.

2. Evaluate your pay before accepting a job. Set a per hour limit that you are willing to accept and don’t go below that. Instead of accepting $2 jobs, use that time to build up clips on other sites and to tweak your own site as well.

3. Meet your deadlines. The internet lends itself to an extremely casual work environment, but meeting deadlines is not where you should be lax. Do what you say you are going to do, on time, and with quality.

4. Ask for an increase. As you continue to work for the same person repeatedly, as for an increase in pay. If you are doing a good job, consistently, then you just might get what you ask for.

5. Be willing to learn. You may have little (or no) knowledge about parrots, but don’t turn down a job because of that. Put a little time into research. You’ll learn something AND make money along the way.

6. Overlap jobs. If you can do the same research for several jobs, you will end up making more money per hour. Use your time wisely.

7. Look to print. Use some of the articles and ideas from your online work to query print publications. DO NOT submit the same material you sold to someone else (unless you have a contract saying you retain control). Create new material from the information that you now have stuck in your head.

Working online is a great way to make extra income or start a new career. Remember to charge what your worth. Selling yourself short cuts into your ability to make an income but don’t over price yourself out of the market. Look for some solid opportunities to stretch you gifts and talents and then ask for compensation that you and the site owner can both live with.

Add comment February 6th, 2008

Confession of Credit Card Misuse

This is my confession. Rebate offers and cash back plans finally won me over and we got a credit card. For a long time, we paid it off every single month, without question. Having the credit card was a blessing (easier to keep up with spending AND the cash back program paid for Christmas).

The last two months have been tight, and I slipped on my payments. The interest isn’t hurting too much, but if I don’t do something fast then I’m going to negate the whole reason for getting the card in the first place – the cash back program.

1. Stop using the card! Go back to paying cash or using the debit card until the credit card is paid in full.

2. Quit pretending. Once interest starts accumulating the rewards programs become moot. Stop acting like money is being lost.

3. Pay before the due date, and pay more than once. As extra money becomes available or as money gets set aside, pay it on the credit card balance. Interest accrues every chance they get.

4. Go back to what works. If the cash isn’t on hand (in the bank or in savings) then don’t charge it – plan and simple.

I made a mistake (which I still haven’t admitted to my hubby, so don’t you tell him ). Instead of getting all pious about it, I’m just going back to what I know works. It will all be sorted out soon enough if I do. It’s waiting that usually ends up getting you in a mess that you can’t deal with on your own.

Add comment February 6th, 2008

3 Ways to Keep Going

It’s hard to make changes. That’s why so many people either don’t make New Year’s resolutions or don’t keep them. Not doing something is easier (and sometimes less disheartening) than failure.

The only problem is that is a Catch 22. If you don’t try to change then you will always need to change. Even worse, your life will never get any better than it is right now. Change might be hard. It might be painful. It might be a struggle. But change is necessary to get to where you want to be.

I am determined that this month will be the beginning of huge changes for myself and for my family. Every day I am getting up and repeating the changes over and over – with enthusiasm!

Until yesterday that is. Yesterday I had to work, quite literally, for the whole day. I did stop to eat meals with the family, but that was about it. Everything else on my schedule was set aside for a deadline.

THIS morning, I was determined to get back to it. But Mother Nature had different plans. Instead of doing what I was supposed to be doing I was watching severe weather creep up and over my area (we are okay though).

I’m currently three hours behind where I should be (and a couple of days behind where I actually want to be) and I almost didn’t get going at all. It’s easier not to start than to not complete what I want to do. I was going to skip the lists, the motivational chants, and the exercise and go right to feeling sorry for myself.

Something changed around the second paragraph of this article. I managed to regain my focus and reignite my determination. You can to.

1. Write out your problems so that you can start to see a solution (or just see how silly you are being).

2. Remind yourself why you are trying to change in the first place.

3. Start now.

Change can happen, but action is required. I refuse to let setbacks, delays, or distractions (like the weather or elections) keep me from reaching for my goals. I know what I need to do, I have the time and ability to do them, and today I’m going to continue to do them despite how my morning started!

Add comment February 6th, 2008