It’s 2015. I’m a writer. I earn a comfortable living. And I get to write nearly anything I want. How is this possible? For one simple reason, which I’ll explain shortly.
But first, some context.
The world is changing incredibly fast for writers. Twenty years ago, the world of freelance writing was completely different. “Content mills” did not exist. Newspapers were still thriving. Magazines and books were mostly printed on paper. There were a lot of opportunities to make money as a freelance writer.
That world is gone. There are more opportunities for writers than ever before — but they’re probably pretty unrecognizable to writers from twenty years ago.
My goal with this article is to get you thinking about the future of writing, and hopefully help you find a path to long term success. A path that will take into account the dramatically changing face of writing.
I graduated college in 2004. Facebook was barely a blip on my radar. The iPhone didn’t even exist. The internet seemed familiar and well established. I’d just received my degree in creative writing.
I never spent any time looking for a job after graduating from college. Eleven years later, I still haven’t.
And I’ve been profitably employed the whole time. I have more work flexibility than the vast majority of my friends. I can write poetry whenever I want. Or sit down and write an article. Or walk my dog. I live the life of a writer.
It’s a wonderful life.
But how is this possible?
For one simple reason. Instead of becoming a writer, I started a business.
If I had graduated college and started looking for a job at a newspaper or a magazine, I might have had good luck and landed a job — but how stable would that job have been? How many newspapers and magazines have closed in the past ten years? The numbers are depressing.
But, because I decided to create a business instead of getting a job, I gave myself the flexibility to weather the coming storms.
I won’t kid you — it wasn’t always easy, and it’s not right for everyone.
But the major point I want to get across in this article, whether or not you want to start a business, is that you should be a student of business.
There are so many dreams that writers have. Some writers just want to get their poetry into the world. Other writers dream of publishing a novel. Some writers just want to pay the bills without working too hard. All of these are admirable goals. All of these writers should be thinking strategically and run their writing as though it were a business.
If you’re a freelance writer, don’t look for new clients. Create a strategy that will build you a solid base of clients. (Our free newsletter is all about sending you companies that hire writers.)
If you want to make a living writing ebooks, don’t just publish them and tell your friends. Create a marketing strategy that will build your base of readers.
Think about what assets you can build. For example, if you run a blog, a loyal reader is a valuable asset. How can you create more loyal readers? How much is a loyal reader worth? If you don’t know, create a way to measure the value of a loyal reader. This will tell you how much you can spend on advertising, in order to gain more loyal readers. If a loyal reader isn’t worth much, you’ll know you need to increase their value somehow.
And just as important as everything else: Start using math. I’m not talking about scary math. Use simple math. For example, one client that pays $150 for a 500 word article sounds great. But, are they as good as a client that pays $75 an article, each and every month? $75 times 12 is $900. That’s a lot more than $150.
Really basic math can be super exciting. I love multiplication. It’s always a lot of fun to see how numbers can add up and begin to mean something really big.
I could keep giving you more business pointers. And I will. But not in this article.
In the mean time, I want to ask you a question. What are your goals as a writer for 2015? Do you want to earn a living as a writer? Do you want your poetry to reach a wide audience? Do you simply want to finish your novel?
Let me know in the comments!
Sincerely,
Jacob Jans
Freedom With Writing
Great advice. Thank you.
My goals for 2015 involve building a solid brand for my blog. I’m not sure what I can do to attract readers and writers. As of now,I have a theme of informal topics such as music, pop culture,etc. But I’d like to narrow it down. While also developing a unique tone and voice. Any suggestions?
~Karin
Karin,
who are you readers? Who do you want your readers to be? The answer to these questions can help you answer the other questions you have. In terms of running a blog, there are many ways to get readers. Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Marketing, buying ads, are some of the options. But to be good at any of those, you need to choose a specific audience that you want to reach — and you need to make sure that audience is reachable via your marketing methods.
I am a poet who is looking to get published for the first time. Is there any advise that you could give me other than try, try again?
Thank you so very much for your article. I picked up some very valuable pointers that I will incorporate into my writing.
You’re welcome!
Jacob…
Happy New Year!
I appreciated all of your helpful emails all year. Because of you:
*I am a content writer on Blogmutt;
*I have been PAID to write!
*I have my biographical novel completed (well…in editing)
I could not (would not!)
..have done these things without your help and encouragement. Thank you.
Peace and blessings in 2015!
dEb
Deb, Do you make any real money over there? I looked it over but it didn’t seem profitable.
Gerry
Thanks for this. My goals for 2015 include:
1. Finish my memoir and send out a book proposal to potential agents.
2. Finish my MFA degree.
3. Take on more freelance journalism kinds of gigs in 2015 than I did in 2014.
Your articles have been a treasure that I’ve stored up for when my freedom gives me time to start writing. That freedom opened up at the end of 2014. Thank you for providing so much information and encouragement without advertising anything for sale. You are my champion! Namaste
I just completed my first children’s book and almost finished the draft for a 2nd one. I already have a sketch for a 3rd one then I will rest for the year…maybe squeeze in some freelance work.
My goal for 2015 is to make more money as a writer and find clients who are willing to pay me more than 2-3 cents per word for my writing work. With 10+ years of experience and a BA degree in English and Communications I am worth more and I want to be able to earn a living to support my family!
I am on to my second life! After raising 6 children as a single parent, I am almost finished my writing degree and want to, at the age of fifty, pursue my dream career of working from home as a writer. I have lots of ideas for articles and books but need help on how to market myself online. Thanks
Hi Jacob,
Thanks for your words of advice and Happy New Year. LOL, I graduated college in 1962. No internet. No cell phones. No x-boxes or i-pads or Wiis – How did we survive??? Real libraries with “stacks.” I am 73 and only a writer after other careers. I wrote for a psychologist for 7 years and then retired. I’ve been blogging for a few years. I freelanced for a while this last year but after 70 articles about things that weren’t in my niche – depression and anxiety, family relationships, spirituality – I found I hardly blogged any more – so I quit. I intend to write a book on depression and build my blog rand facebook readership.. But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t love to get paid for writing what i care about, especially if there were a byline involved. Any tips? Thanks
Thanks for sharing. my goal for 2015 is on a living as a writer and a photographer. This is the year of dreams and I’m going to make my dreams a reality.
Hi,
Really liked this article. I have a website/blog where I talk about horses and riding equipment. I also write short stories and a novelette along with a novel. I’m working on a sequel to the novel. My biggest problem seems to be marketing. The stories I’ve published has been through Kindle. I’m thinking of starting an author’s blog where I can start promoting the fiction better. Not sure the best way to do this. Marketing is not my forte.
This is where I’m at in my writing and yes I would like to be a full-time writer in 2015.
Thanks for reading. And again I enjoy your articles and look forward to more. 🙂
Judy
I am Ready To learn!
Really enjoyed your article. I receive your articles in email, and I’ve garnered a lot of good advice from them. Thanks for all you share.
I really would love to start earning income from my writing; however, when I apply for writing sites, such as Textbroker, they all ask the same thing: what is your expertise? I read through the list of topics, and find many I know a little bit about. But am I an expert? Not really. What’s your advice on that?
Good question! I would say you can be an expert in whatever you choose. A site such as TextBroker does not generally demand a high level of expertise. The most important thing is to choose a field to specialize in, and then start learning. As long as you’re able to meet the needs of your clients, they’ll be happy.
This is a great article, but I really never understood what the business is that you started.
I am 67 years old and have always wanted to be a writer. Now I feel I am too old. I did have some poems published in a Bipolar poems book that a friend put together.
Do you think I am too old or that my Bipolar illness will cause me a problem since I don’t take medication for it?
Sandi, I don’t think any of us are too old, and if mental health issues automatically disqualified writers I think there would be a lot less getting written! Not trying to make fun. My husband is bipolar and I know it’s hard.
I think what Jacob meant was that freelancing itself, if you want to earn anything doing it, needs to be looked at as a business of its own. I am my own business, for like 15 years now. Not a big business, not as comfy as I hope to become in 2015, but a business none the less.
If bipolar disorder or other mental illness were an impediment to writing, there would be no great literature lol. Some of the greatest writers and artists of all time had some sort of personality issue or mental quirk. I say make the most of it 🙂
Happy New Year, Jacob and thank you! 2015 is the year for me to take it all seriously and your significant service to writers is treasured. It is also inspiring to see that you have found a way to create a valued business. I appreciate having you on my shoulder, whispering encouragement and steadfastly pointing out leads. May you continue to prosper!
This article was so on time! I just put up a profile for freelance writing and already creche I’ve a request for services with a budget if $500…I’m brand new..how do I charge..for my service or by the article…I need to know how to price stuff…please help..
In terms of setting prices for your services, I would recommend just guessing a ‘fair’ price for your first few projects. Over time, you’ll learn how long you need to complete your projects, and how many projects you need to complete in order to make a living.
Another way to think about it: Figure out how much money you need to make each month, and then use that as a target for setting your rates.
Congratulations on your success!
Thank you. I would like more information about blogging. I would also like to earn an income writing. Help please! Any suggestions?
Great advice thank you, I have completed two books, but havnt got a clue on how to publish , where to look for a decent reputable company. Any advice offered would be greatly appreciated.
This article is a bunch of lies. I have thousands of people following my blog, YouTube, and Twitter and my EBook sales are garbage. This is a bunch of crap. Yes I advertise, yes I promote, yes I network, but this up here what you do for a living was a stroke of luck. It isn’t simple or this easy. Stop with the BS. You can have all the followers in the world and still not drum up enough attention for your stuff. Most people just don’t want to buy ebooks. I get so many comments about “ha h your book sucks so bad you had to self publish I’m not reading that crap” and yes this is how most of the world thinks. I’m wondering what gullible fish you have on your blog or what you write that appeals to the masses cause as of now it’s just not this easy.
Thank you for the comments! Running a business is definitely not always easy.
You might be surprised that we make more money giving away eBooks than we do selling them. This points to the need to be strategic. Having all of the pieces of the puzzle is important, but you still need to arrange them in the right order. Feel free to send me an email to my personal email address, and I’ll take a look at your site: jpjans@gmail.com
I love to write but my writing is sometime too ‘wordy’ is there a website that you would recommend that I can use that will help me cut down on excess words and phrases?
Do you self edit? My first drafts are always too wordy. I let them be for an hour, or maybe an entire day, then re-read and cull the useless passages as needed. And believe me, they need it. 🙂
Thanks for the motivating article! And happy 2015!
After struggle back and forth in the war of academics (in Germany), I decided to go freelance again (did it for 9 years in Asia) and go back to scriptwriting. Since end of December nearly first act of the script finished (the synopsis was established already 2014) .. and as you are sooo right .. looking for clients – productions. (And despite of being already a writer, I signed up for an internal seminar in a publishing company – as the script could be adapted to a novel .. historical topic). Thus, beginning to advertise myself and my recent script .. you so right .. the whole new world of internet offers completely new opportunities. Thanks a lot! And all the best to you!
I have been freelancing for the last year or so but most recently got more serious as I realized I would like to do this full-time. You are absolutely right: there are times when it seems like a nightmare and other times when it’s absolutely golden. I have a few solid clients now and appreciate their consistency. I’d like to earn more, become more financially stable in 2015, and have time to write my next novel to boot.
My goal is to write, edit and promote 6 screenplays in 2015. With the goal of selling at least one. In between screenplays I’d like to earn a little extra money writing and learn to network as a writer. What are the best ways to build skills as a screenwriter? I only have one under my belt so far, and it hasn’t sold.
My goal in 2015 is to earn a living writing. I’m interested in a lot of different types of writing but I’m not sure how to make a living with any of it.
Thank you for your very helpful articles. My goals this year are,if nothing else,ambitious! This is year 2 of my 3 year plan. If all goes as planned my long time hobby will become my “over 50” career:-) I have 2 children’s books available on Amazon and hope that is only the beginning. I haven’t tried freelance writing, but I think I am going to give it a go.
For 2015 I have so many goals that it’s hard to even find a place to start! In previous years I have started out the same as now; Optimistic, Hopeful, and ambitious. However, as the year progresses I lose the wind in my sail and then I kind of give up or just get sidetracked by other things life has thrown at me. This year I want things to be different. I want to accomplish a lifelong dream which is to actually be published. Whether it’s just something as small as an article or as big as a novel, I don’t care. I guess a question I have for you is how do you keep yourself motivated when things get crazy in your life? Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!
Alyssa
Alyssa, thank you for the great question. Staying motivated is one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced. One of my favorite authors on the topic is Heidi Grant Halvorson. Her book “Succeed” is a favorite of mine. One of the big take-a-ways from the book is that you shouldn’t just have positive thinking. You need to face the obstacles head-on, and make a plan. The book is full of great advice, and it is all rooted in contemporary science. I highly recommend it.
My goal is to be a television screenwriter. What advice do you have for me?
I want to make a living as a writer. I have been writing since childhood and I have come to the conclusion that if I love it, if I’m good at it, then it’s meant for me. I’m not to good with poetry, so I will stick to stories and novels. I want my life to begin now.
My goal for 2015 is to become a better writer and to write shorter sentences. I want to write my writing to have more intensity without boring my audience.
This is a great start!
Warmly,
Jacob
Thank you.
Thank you, Jacob, for your article above.
I am a writer who truly feels this year is my year to become published. I am a spiritual writer and plan to finish my life story with a spiritual solution. Not religious. I am on the fence with having it self published through Balboa Press, as my book is in alignment with books they already publish, or should I go with a publishing house? Balboa is part of the larger, Hay House Publishing. What would you suggest? I could be offered the opportunity to be published through Hay House, which would be wonderful! I just need to complete my life’s work and send it out into the Universe. Should I self publish or go to a publishing house?
Great question! I would definitely hesitate to self publish a book, unless you know you have a strong business plan that will generate a lot of sales for the book. There is a lot that goes into selling a book, before and after it gets published. What roles are you comfortable taking? What can the publisher offer? These are important things to figure out.
I’ve been thinking about writing a book ever since I became a nurse. Just some daily adventures and mishaps and daily life working, being a mom and trying not to have a nervous breakdown.
Have you heard of ‘NaNoWriMo’?
It’s an annual marathon writing event in November and April each year.. It’s the best way I’ve found to get a novel written that’s just waiting to happen!
I’ve now written 26 novels and partial novels.. In slogging through rewrites and self-publishing woes.. But the feeling when that book arrives with your name on it! It’s so worth the work :))
For the longest time I fell into the ”one day I’ll write a book camp”…in that, that was as far as it got (and still has)BUT December 2014, saw a massive shift tin my mindset when it comes to being moved to action. Fed up with the existence as opposed to life I had, I decided on 27th December that I would do 2 things by January 31st, 2015 – a) get a job (an actual salaried ordinary job) having recently become unemployed I needed a steady income to pay the bills THEN I decided that writing was (always) my ambition so…..Jan 1st I sat down and made the first steps towards writing as a way of life….I’m currently actively setting up my own blog, have linked it to a FB Page of the same name and registered with a couple of the content websites provided by yourselves. It’s very early days but initial reaction has been warm and positive from family & friends, the writing part will be the easy thing the technical side will be more of a challenge than anything. As for the book I have a sample chapter and will be looking to do something positive with that by then end of February when I have a couple more under my belt……and somewhere along the line I’ll fit the day job in!!
Check out National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
It’s the best way I’ve found to get things done!
I have already been a published poet. That just isn’t satisfying, I feel I have so much more to say, and so many more people that could benefit from what I have to say.I want to write more and reach more people. I f I can make money while doing this , then what a bonus it would be.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Me! My writing goals are multiple. I would like to create a following for my fashion accessory blog, thereby creating a distribution channel for my fashion accessories. In addition to publishing my poems.
I want to get my poetry published, and also my novel. I want to find other ways of making money with writing while keeping my day job.
I appreciate your articles, they get me thinking.
My goals for this year include earning my income from writing, as a back injury put an end to the elder care I was doing FT. I have written for decades, had poetry or an article published here and there, but I’ve never been in a position to devote myself to it as desired. I have had a sometimes-blog, have grown uncomfortable with it, and am rebuilding now. I need to learn about branding, finding clients, marketing myself. That’s not easy for an introvert!
Hello Jacob, my goal for 2015 is to create multiple sources of residual income. I currently have a client who wants me to begin social media marketing for him. I have done bits and pieces of this in the past but I’ve never take out an entire campaign and I am thinking about subbing the work out but I am totally lost as to how much to charge the client or how much to pay my subcontractor. Any advice you can offer will be much appreciated. Please email me if you can.
I do so want to be heard for my work and of course money I have thought of a blog but I admit that I do not comprehend the system are there courses for blogging???
Yes I want to achieve my goals but I have no comprehension of how to blog Help
I am looking into running a fiction blog series , but am stuck on what might be an interesting theme to stick with .
I would love to quit my office job and make a living as a writer. And walk my dog whenever I want. Thank you for this helpful article!
I have written a book on World War I that Dorrance Publishing in Pittsburgh, PA is to publish this year. I also am researching for another book on World War I that focuses on the tragedies of the royal families from the major countries before, during and after the war. I also am focusing on a fictional novel about World War I where Germany wins the first world war. My goal is write full time so I can enjoy what I do for a living and career.
My goal is to actually finish any of the things I have written. I have can start things, but half way through I lose my focus, or forget where I was going with the storyline. I’m hoping that these tips of yours might help me to change the styles of writings I have been stuck to and branch out to more of what I’ve wanted to try as well!
A good piece of useful advice indeed! Thank you.
Being a retiree, I keep writing comments on a number of subjects. My responses to Blogs have been appreciated by the renowned authors, journos & writers. educational I have done well.MA in English; MA in Pub Ad & MA in Mass Comm. Additionally, possess PGD in PM & IR and PGD in Journalism!
avtar chauhan
I like to be able to write well and if I can publish that would be great but this year is for practicing to become a write . A good writer so I can make it my full time career.
I would like more information.
My intention for 2015 is to really push myself as a freelancer. I’ve always been hesitant to put myself and my work out there, but not this year!
I am a writer. I have a book out on Amazon. Not my best work but had to get that off my chest to move forward with my writing career. Have two books in the works right now. Will publish one of these in mid February. Very excited. I would like to earn a very nice living as a writer. In 2015, my goal is to have four to five books written and ready to work for me. I want to reach the world!
I have self published and I am excited about that. It did not cost me a dime!! I am fearless and ready to go in any direction! My next book is very different than my first as the first on was to get the grief of losing my sons off my chest and away from me. My next book is a comedy. Self-help through truth and truth is often hilarious. How to go from an ass to a decent human being. i am loving the writing of it and should be published and raking in the pennies by mid February!!! If it looks fun, smart and worth my time…I’m doing it, writing about it and laughing about it later!
I want to write and get paid handsomely for it. I don’t know what to write about or how to get started. I’m very lost, and honestly, very despondent. I don’t fully believe I can make a living without further damage to my body and my psyche. I’m almost done looking for the proverbial better life. I’m almost done with life altogether.
Happy new year!:-) I am an aspiring writer who wants to publish poetry but I’m not really sure how to go about it. I’m between careers. But writing has always been a great passion of mine!:-) Do you have any suggestions on how I can get started? Thank you for your time.
Respectfully,
Natasha J.
Your words truly speak to me! I hope to take your advice and proactively use it to reach my goals!
Hi Jacob,
I am pretty much starting from scratch. I have two things going for me—I love to write and I want to make a living at it. I’ve been published as a creative writer but I know freelance writing is different. I am just not sure how to start.
My husband and I lost our home due to several factors, and we are currently living in our trailer. I am working part time and that covers groceries but I want something more solid where I am in control of the paychecks. I would also like a reliable source of income in case, God forbid, something happens to my husband.My ultimate goal is to be completely financially self sufficient. If that happened this year I’d be thoroughly delighted!
Hi Jacob, Thanks for great advice. My goals for 2015 are to finish a novel (I have 5 books published and articles in an academic journal, but it’s all How to’s and a specialized reference pertaining to King Arthur), reach a wider audience, master the use of dialogue for the novel, and of course be successful. Do you have any advice on creating dialogue? For me, I find it difficult to write a realistic conversation between two characters, which is what’s holding me back with writing a novel. Any tips would greatly be appreciated!
All My Best,
Jill
Thank you so much for all the info you’ve shared thus far.
In 2015 I would really like to make a living (at least part time)from writing. I would also like my poetry to reach a wider audience. The world of blogging seems so…open, and the attention span of people…sucks especially when it comes to spoken word/poetry. Any insight possible would be great.
I do want to earn a living as a writer. I am working towards an ebook which will contain a compilations of stories about my journey of being homeless. I also wish to write for others.
Very clearly stated! My main literary goals for 2015 are: #1) to publish my enovel (under a pen name) to the widest audience possible; #2) to get my registered play produced by a great theater company; and #3) expand my presence online–and possibly in print as well.
I appreciate all the advice that’s possible, and regardless of results, plan to intensify my efforts this year. Best and Blessings to all, who not only seek literary fame, but have high regard for what John Keats called, “the honour of English literature.”
My goal is to complete a copywriting course I bought from AWAI last June and have left to gather dust since then. If I can get to a point of reasonable financial stability from copywriting income, I can turn some focus back to writing that “Great American Novel” that has been gnawing at the back of my brain for the last twenty years.
Interesting! Hope I can earn something!!!
Actually, I have multiple goals this year. First would be to establish a list of clients to write for and make a good living doing so. Secondly, I’d like to see some of my poetry and short stories published. Then, I’d like to begin the novel I have been planning for about 6 months and possibly even finish it. Do you think I have set too many goals?
Great article,thanks for the food for thought. My goal is to get the novels out and work on some list writing.
I am a respected freelance writer in a regional market with a wel-read niche blog. How do I expand it to make it provide an income stream? I’m burning out on “labor of love” writing. Proper paid freelance gigs are few and far between.
Thank you for your input.
My writing is much like a vocalist who is a song stylist. I am a poet; a children’s book writer; I do OP-EDs; I write a myriad of articles……… but they all share the same thread: m
I write many things: poetry; OP-EDs; articles; short stories; children’s books; theatre reviews. I love writing in general; short of technical writing. I would like to make my living as a writer; poet; I want my words to bring fantasy and comfort. I have published some, through eZines.. . I would like something more consistent.
how can i start writing. i dont have a job and i would like to start to learn to write so i can earn an income and take care of me and my children. its not easy here in jamaica
I have several stories that I have started writing and none are close to finished. In the last year, I have become involved with comics and graphic novels due to my work with a comics based podcast. I have “met” many writers, artists and creators, which has now led to opportunities for me to edit and write for comics as well. I am involved in a collaberative project right now as both an editor and a writer, having submitted my own, one page story that will be part of the whole. I am now looking at the stories I have started in a whole new way and I’m more confident that I will get published. My goal for 2015 is to have at least 3 stories written and published, whether they be part of a collection or stand alone.
This all sounds very good. However some of us “oldies” (but “goodies”) do not even know what a blog is. My son, apparently writes a blog on travel, as he has visited many countries on business trips. His name is David (Dave) Owers. My computer acumen is back from the days of WordStar and the Vic 20. I just like to write.-period. Cheers, Helen
I started a blog that is a resource blog for women who own businesses. My blog launched Mother’s Day of 2014. My main goal for 2015 is to increase my subscribers to 500. I am currently a school counselor. I WOULD LOVE to retire in about five years and write for the rest of my life and teach other educators how to run a business from home. This is exciting,
!
I found this to be inspirational. Although unclear about my exact goal as a writer, I have a passion towards the health/wellness industry and just not sure what to do to attract clients. I even advertised myself on craigs list but no luck. Perhaps with 13 years in medical billing, I am working towards a higher credential so perhaps my expertise can lend me to become a medical writer.
I want to earn a living as a writer. I want to show the world what I am capable of.I’m not sure what kind of writer. I’d like to try different writing trials and see which one suits me best.Maybe in the future, write some sort of a novel. I enjoyed your article and got some very important pointers.
My goal for 2015 is to finish my humor book, and continue my blog, whether or not I earn anything. I think there is value to the written word, and I believe there are things I need to say before I leave this planet. Would it be nice to be published? Certainly! However, it is the writing that is the thing. I doubt Tennyson ever thought about whether anyone would publish his work. He just did the work.
It enjoy the articles you send Jacob. I’m hoping that soon I will be able to get my content into the “web world”. I have to admit, I’m somewhat afraid to begin, but you are giving me the courage I need to take the baby steps to a new future.
Thank you.
Patti Bristow
would like to do freelancing to pay my bills
I would love to become a full time writer. Right now my goal is to complete my powerful autobiography by my 50th birthday, which is Decemeber 31, 2015. I am told that I should create a blog but i am not sure I want to write my life story there. I have also been told that I should self publish but I don’t know where to start with that. Can you give me any advice on where to find a publisher and or self publishing?
Angela,
you should subscribe to our newsletter, Authors Publish Magazine. It sends you manuscript publisher’s every week. http://www.authorspublish.com
I have been writing for a few years, I would like to make more money doing it and have a little financial freedom!
My goal for 2015 is to focus and share my testimony, help others who struggle with a lot of baggage and not know where or how to begin their own journey. I’ve been a wannabe writer for many years and THIS is the year!
My first novel; “Mistake Corrected” is entered in a literary contest. It will be around March when I find out whether or not I won. The 2nd in the series; “Mistake Confronted” is currently in progress. My goal for 2015 is to see both of them; along with “Comparisons- Parables and Illustrations from My Life” on the market and available for purchase. The main frustration I have is that I don’t have a ‘flesh and blood’ person to talk to; to ask questions and get answers.
I am a former staff reporter and editor who was displaced from the newspaper industry. I freelance as a feature reporter for a daily newspaper, business magazines, write weekly blogs for a real estate company (I am also a former Realtor)and write blogs about having the autoimmune disease Lupus for a help-website. I really need just a couple more regular gigs to make it so I can relax about the family. budget every month.
my goals are to submit and get my work out there, but more simply to just write more consistently. I’ve committed to writing 4 hours a week. From that commitment I hope to hone in on my poetry, short stories or playwriting.
I want to write a book about the demise of public education. I can start by promoting it through my blog.
Dear Jacob Jans, I am interesting acquiring more about this service. Only interested. Thank YOU
How do I start writing? I wrote a little story about the atmosphere of Dogtown, (St. Louis, Mo.)better than ten years ago and it is on the computer under my full name, Rose Marie Chiaurro Kennedy called My Story. Since then I have written several little stories and have thought of putting them in a book called “Vignettes of My Life” but then I am not anyone particularly well known for any reason although I have done many interesting things in my life, considering I came from a broken home, lived with foster parents, finally married and had 11 children, and later adopting one. Am now 86 and widowed ten years having contributed to two books, the Arena and Forest Park Highlands and interviewed by the Mo. History Museum as one of 50 people in St. Louis for the 250th birthday of St. Louis. What do you think? Also familiar and worked at several places in Gaslight Square.
Jacob, I found myself in so many of the comments that others made.
thanks for this information. Want to learn more.
This is actually what I need – further advice on building my business as a freelance article and content writer. Thanks!
Hi Jacob:
I love reading your articles. I find them very informative. I lost my job in October and I am having trouble finding work. My goal for this year would be to start a successful writing career. I have worked from home for almost 23 years and have a Bachelors if Englush/journalism. I feel like my age is blocking me from getting a job and working from home also. We will see where this year leads me.
Thanks again for your wealth of info,
Kim
I will finish my memoir. (750 words per day through 3/31/15, then revision during April, and submission to editor in May.)
I will begin to actually read and review the opportunities in your newsletter and actually trying to avail myself of some of them.
Thank you for your insight and your service. And thanks for the advice to think of it as a business.
Happy New Year
Hi, I am a new writer and I would like to see where being a freelance writer will take me. I’m sure it will give me more time with my wonderful children which is my goal. To spend more time with my children.
Thank you for your posts. They are always so helpful and informative.
My goal for 2015 is to finish my 2nd and 3rd drafts of my 2nd novel, The Consequences of Choice – Fight for Freedom, and to get better organized to do freelance writing in my retirement including blogging.
Thanks for the great advice! My goal is to finally write and publish the first novel of my epic saga by July 2015! I want to build a loyal fan base and publish eBooks, paperbacks and graphic novels.
I’d like to replace (journalism) clients that went out of business in 2013 & 2014 with new regularly paying clients; organize my writing and marketing time to allow me to finish another novel and still make comfortable money from my freelance articles.
I am a 72 year old retired teacher. I had a short story book published through my local library two years ago. People who read it (mostly friends and family) praised it but I never got enough publicity to make it sell. I have written some more short stories and want to incorporate them into a new book along with the stories from the other book but this time I want to find a way to make money from the book. I also have no idea how to get into writing e books. Could my short stories be successful e books? I love writing but I also would love for it to be profitable as I live on retirement. Any advice would be appreciated.
I am working with a small publishing company to publish my 3rd children’s chapter book (hopefully early 2015) and would like to finish editing and illustrating its sequel, Book 2 and get it ready for publishing, as well as finish writing and illustrating the third book in this series. These are my initial writing goals for 2015…
I want to finish my inspirational autobiography this year. Then to find the right platform to market it.
Interesting article. You’re right about building a marketing plan rather than just telling friends.
Sounds Great! I absoulutely want to work on become a better writer in 2015! I just don’t know where to start? I thought a blog of 2015’s adventures would be a good idea. I always thought of publishing a book but, unsure? Do you have any recommendations on how writing could help pay for college tuition and housing?
I want to start with baby steps, maybe some top 10 Lists, move on to some well researched articles that are easy and fast to read and has some bit of takeaway. A couple of short stories to test the waters of beginning, middle and end and how well the loose ends are tied. Only with those successes behind me will I believe I’ll be ready to tackle the novel.
My goals for 2015 is to get accepted at a film school and be able to secure gigs as a writer in my home country South Africa
First and foremost I’d like to thank you for taking time to help educate and guide other writers. 2015 is going to be all aboit change for me personally. I need change like humans need water. I have been writing since I was a preteen and started with poetry. It came naturally to me. I would be sotting around or even out somewhere and I would feel inspired. I would how to run and grab a piece of paper and pencil and start writing the words spewing out of my hear. It felt amazing seeing my creation on paper. I still have all those five star notebooks to this day. I have an amazing life story that for years has been brewing inside my soul. The only issue I face is how to exactly begin my story and how to have it written out smoothly. I would love to be able to keep writing my story and eventually publish it. Even if I dont become famous or make it a best seller, I just want to share my love and life with the world. Possibly even help some people along the way. I love the business aspect you apeak of and would love to know how I may also go about owning my own company and writing for the world. I am from New Jersey and want to drive from here to California. Ive lived in NJ most of my life and have never been to New York, so that is another goal for 2015 recording my journey the entire time. Letting others know, especially woman and young girls that you can live your dream. And regardless of the obstacles we may face, if you can take it tou can make it. Just always be aure to have a notebook in hand to record all those exciting unique and wonderful life experiences. I will continue to follow your work. Best of luck to you! Happy New Year!
Hi I have really enjoyed your newsletters. I have a goal to begin my freelance business this year. I’m wondering what do I actually need to put in place to become a legal business.
Thank you for your inspirational and encouraging words. You are really a pillar to many out there, and especially people like us, learning the ropes of the industry.Well, my plan is to be a good writer, and to be specific, write ebooks, create a blog, and like you said, treat writing as a business not just doing it to clear bills.That’s my plan and thank you!
Thank you 2015 the sky shall be the starting point?
My goal is to earn a living with writing articles, blog postings, social media strategists and online marketing for clients and businesses. So far, I’m now working on trying to fix something to gain a new client to write for. Actually, a writing company.
I do have a monetary goal that I want to reach first before I aim even higher. I do have a blog as well but due to personal reasons, I can’t post much on there for this year until maybe starting a certain month.
While building my clients to keep writing for, I’ll continue to do promos and demos as the bulk of my income. I would LOVE to someday earn a living just with my writing skill. And hopefully, to add my bilingual skills too.
Your argument sounds convincing.
This year I want to monetize my blogs and make a good living writing. I want to write an ebook that I have been planning and seriously start the novel I have been sitting on for years. But most of all, I want to be able to get past this slump I’ve been in for weeks now about writing. I write on iWriter and Textbroker. I plan to branch out but those two have been the sites that have worked pretty well. I’m trying to move up the ranks in iWriter and every time I move up a tier, I get knocked back down into the previous tier. Someone will reject an article and rate me poorly because it wasn’t what they were looking for, because they accepted an article from someone else on the same request and a vast array of other hard to accept reasons. It can be debilitating. I’m not a quitter so I will conquer this thing but I haven’t mastered the formula around requesters that no one can make happy. There was one requester that rejected every single request they received for an article they wanted written. No one stood a chance with that one.
My ultimate goal is to be able to figure out how to please as many requesters as possible so I can continue to rise up the tiers. I want to be able to spend a few hours a day writing and getting paid for it. I teach piano for a little and have another form of making money so I do not need to make thousands of dollars a month from writing to be happy. It would be nice though. If I made an extra $500 to $1000 a month extra from my writing, I would be ecstatic. I want to be able to pay more attention to my daughter with less stress. I want to be able to make enough money to live a life where everything is paid for without stress or concern. I’ve never taken a vacation, ever. I’m 43 and I have never taken a vacation. I want a vacation every year with my daughter. I know all of this is possible. I just need to find what works for me so I can succeed.
Thanks for the article, very inspiring. I’m writing my own novel and also have a client who wants to publish his Poetry. My company did not bring in any money in 2014, so my goal in 2015 is to get the company to start making money so that i can start actually write what I want.
I never have a degree in writing. But I think I have the heart to write. Thanks for the inspiration I get from you. I intend to be better.
i want to earn a living as a writer
i want to earn a living as a writer but i have so many questions like what to write about,who will be my target audience how do i market my literary works,how do i get paid via online freelance writing and how do i build my audience.if you could help me answer some if not all of these questions ,i think i will become a successful writer.
Complete and publish novel plus make a living as a writer
I would like to be a writer in 2015 and I am preparing for writing myself. My topic could be ” Communication to different people.” This topic based on speaking a kind of different languages to other people with different tribes.Therefore, I should have a registration so I would like to fulfill registration first. This is my requirements to you to get help please. Thank you
At the moment I just write as a hobby. but more and more I am getting the urge to take the plunge and try to earn a living from it. So my goal this year is to “dip my toe in the water” and get some writing out there, preferably in a way that I can measure the response to it. Thank you for your articles…they are enlightening and inspiring.
Hi Jacob
Thank you for all your writing advice. I am self-published writer of poetry currently and have the desire to reach a more widen audience in 2015 and beyond. I published my book in 2014 and could only reach readers in my community and only a few friends outside my own Province. I’m grateful nonetheless that I could create a base, but I need some tools and guidance on how to accomplish my goal.
Regards
N. Zulu
Dear friend,
I am looking forwards to have my poetry and narratives published in a traditional printed book. I would like to know if there is a short cut to have it done.
Best regards,
Dido.
My goals for 2015 is to have my novel completed and get published. This is the plan for a new career for myself.
You are so right! To that end I am going back to school (at an age when some are retiring)to take a Personal Finance class a full semester with college freshmen. Even though I have a B-School degree and many writing classes, knowing your money is very important to move forward.
And I want to finish my memoir in 2015 and Yes.Earn a living as a writer. Thank you so much!
Would really like to earn more as a writer, given that I’ve never even found a client who can offer even $50 per article. Sometimes I just get discouraged with the freelance writing industry, and the fact that there is too much discrimination where clients think people from Africa cannot write well. If only they knew we were taught 1st class British English. But I’m sure people like you JJ will help us grow as writers, am I right?
I am a part time freelance academic and article writer. Although I am not devoting my full time to writing but I sincerely want to devote full time to writing as it fascinates me more than anything else. My plan for 2015 is be full time writer. I want you to tell me how can i find high paying work and is it better to work in some company to get some more ideas and than start full time freelance writing?
I’m a fictional writer, writing during my spare time to keep the juices flowing, and to make extra spending money. My intended main genre is fantasy stories, some science fiction, horror and adventure. I have several works that I feel are ready to be sent to publishers. Can you recommend any, preferably those who don’t charge, or charge very little? I’m actually unemployed, being temporarily disabled, and I’m on a tight budget at the moment. I do make money on occasion writing erotic fiction via an online erotic story site, but I would like to stop that eventually and start gaining recognition for my more family oriented works. All assistance would be greatly appreciated.
This article couldn’t have come at a better time than now. I have been writing, just for fun, for a very long time and I have been thinking about doing it professionally and even making money out of my writing. I pray 2015 be the year!!
I am just now starting a travel/photography blog. I am a travel writer/photographer and want to move into this new life ( inching my way there ) from the retail world I have lived in for 20 plus years. I want more freedom, and yes, I love seeing my name on a by-line or photograph, the feeling is awesome and the 150/article checks are bonus. I obviously need a lot of them to add up and pay my bills.
I have been a full-time writer for almost two years and I support my family with my income. My goal for 2015 is to find higher-paying clients so that I can cut down on how much I write for others and focus on writing ebooks – my income for the future. I would love to see more of those $75 for a blog post clients. This site has been an inspiration and provided a lot of valuable information to help me in my career.
And this is why I love Freedom With Writing! I learn things like this – not the what, but the how and the why. I wanted to get into writing, but I hated business. I told myself I wouldn’t run a business. When I started writing for a living, though, I realized that I was essentially doing business, and that if I didn’t do “business” stuff, I wouldn’t get anywhere!
Thanks so much for the advice and the prompts. This year, I am definitely going to publish a book and run a blog. No more excuses.
Yes, Jacob: I am officially retired and looking for work but after 44 years of punching in and punching out, I want to work from home. I want to write anything but my brand in reality show concepts.
I’m looking to take advantage of being able to work part time to finally finish the two novels I have made most progress with, to write my memoirs,and to find ways of making mooney through writing.
Hi!! Loved your article but need more information. I have a degree in Ohoto Media and Journalism and am just starting to write my own books. My goal this year is to become financially independent with my writing. I’m publishing on Amazon. My novels include two fiction stories and a true story about a 21 year old kid that gave up on life and ended up dying in a car wreck (true story). I’m struggling a little with exactly what I need to do to build an income with my books. Can you help me??
Good morning Jacob,
I am a Poet and have become a prolific writer for many years, too many to not be published or widely recognized of my gift. I have completed two children’s books and a few plays. My goal for 2015 is both, to be published to reach a wide audience and to earn a living as a writer. Your advice is very useful. I will act upon it and aim to reach my goal this year. I’ve never put it aside. I use it in my Ministry in my Church. This is my audience. How can I get start earning a living from it? Everything is at a stand-still because of funds to move it. Is there a grant out there that I am not aware of? Thank you for this “nudge” for 2015!.
I want to write a family history that can be passed on to future generations. I want to write it as a story teller with real people, places and things. I don’t want it to read like a report but more like an interesting story of the life and times of our Ancestors. I have some interesting stories of lives of interesting people. I would like to flesh them out with descriptive phrases and draw mental pictures of them as real people in a real world. I need to change the names of some of them to protect them from controversy and me from law suites. Need to create an outline to get started and move in the right direction. I am not interested in making money at this junction. I just
My goals for 2015 is to stop procrastinating and finally start writing to make money. My aim is to sell at least 1 article but of course hope it turns out to be many more.
My goals are to discover a way to turn my blog into an income stream (I’m an art historian and write about pets in history and culture), and to work on my fiction writing again. If I manage to get even one poem published this year, that would be nice, too. Thanks for the uplifting article. I am very glad I subscribed!
I’ve found that versatility is a major factor for freelance writers. Writing poetry and novels are two ways to make money but they take time to complete and then you must market, market, market. I personally enjoy the constant plink, plink, plink of money being deposited in my account from steady clients who like my style while my words draw the customers that they’re seeking. I can type out a total of 2000 words a day for six or seven clients at $50-$75 for 250-300 word articles and know the money is in the bank where the poet and novelist have typed the same amount of words yet all they have at the end of the day is another chapter or several more poems. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve written novels for myself and for clients that brought in excellent money but I had to wait to be paid as I complieted the milestones. I much prefer money in my account everyday. The difference in writing income is the same difference as sprinters verses marathoners. One style just takes longer. To those who are just starting and seeking to earn a living wage from their talent, I recommend doing some research online. No one has to write for pennies per word unless they want to. Sometimes that’s the only way to get started. We all had a starting point. Where will yours be? Where you start should never be the same point you’re at after a few months. There’s no shame in moving on and up…quickly. If you’re a talented writer, a person with the gift of communication via words then you can’t stop success from happening. Surround yourself with writers who are successful. Pick their brains, copy their habits and keep trying. Unfortunate there are those who desire to make money from writing because they think it’s an easy form of income. It’s only “easy” when others want to read what you have to say. Can you capture their attention? Can you keep it? “Talent” only has to be exposed…it never has to chase recognition. Those with the money are delighted to find talented writers. They need you because you provide what they can’t. Go for it! You’ll never know unless you try. The nice thing about being
…here’s the last sentence of my post.
The nice thing about being a writer is that you never run out if words!!
My goals include continuing to write web content, sales copy. I’m currently working on a book of quotes.
At some point in the future, I would like to breakdown my life story into several individual books. I would also like to rewrite a couple of scripts.
I’d like to learn more. Currently I have a day job and a part time gig (during the week and on weekends). I write at every available opportunity – journal daily and submit articles to content sites such as WriterAccess and The Content Authority. I’m finishing my novel and indulge in unpublished poetry. Writing is not a choice, it is a basic need; sometimes the need to write is more demanding than the hunger for food. I’d love to learn more about making a decent living doing freelance/operating a business.
Thank you for sharing,
Tracy
I’m not sure what I want to do. Lost a full-time tech writing job last fall (my third layoff in 20 years) and am so done with corporate life. Want to break out into different genres like outdoor writing and social commentary/satire. I’m on social media a lot and even if my comments are not well taken by some, I still get enough likes to think I might be onto something. Seems like waste for this writing to go relatively unnoticed.
My goals as a writer for 2015 would be to finish my fiction novel and launch my blog. My novel has been picked up and put down more times than I can count. I have a story line but follow thru to finish has been hard. I have a domain name and areas of topics for my blog BUT blog for dummies hasn’t made set up easy. Should I hire someone to do my blog set-up? Is there a writing schedule to help me stay on track with my novel?
My goal is to be a successful self-published novelist. Successful to me is to be able to pay the bills with it.
Hello Mr’ Jans. I love this particular article because it inspires me to pursue my career as freelance writer even more. It is, and has always been my goal to earn a living as a writer. I want to get started as soon as possible so if you have any ideas as to where and how I should begin I am all ears. I am currently working on a gospel CD…the songs are all originals. I write poetry, essays, etc. Writing is my passion. I recently completed 3 children’s books and I am working on a Biography of my father’s life, a book of poetry, and an inspirational book. I look forward to hearing more from you.
Great advice, thank you.
My goal for 2015 is to finish my book about growing up in the 50’s.
I want my six children to know why I made certain life choices. However,
When my oldest son died unexpectedly, I lost motivation.
Suggestions please.
I have yet to delve into the world of blogging, but am curious to know if one can create a story- blog, the basis of the blog being the story itself. An interactive novel where followers can ask questions…even suggest character development etc…or ad their own sub stories inspired by the main…if this is possible how does one get income from such an idea…
Thanks
Jes Chernila
7204228135
I have been working as a virtual administrator but I want to change to freelance writing but don’t know where to start.
I am currently writimg my second book. My first book, which I self published in July 2014, has a limitef audience, but was something I felt I needed to do. It is the unique story of my parents life.
I am currently writing a novel based on the true story of my 35 year marriage to a narcissistic “preacher”. I am changing the names and places and using a pen name so that “he” won’t try to sue me, but the story is true.
Shirl
novel, would love to finish eventually 🙂
I believe that effective writing, verbal communication and diplomacy are the keys required to successfully connect people and objectives.
I like to write fiction and non-fiction but I always seem to approach the writing from an advocate perspective. Not preachy…
I want to write in order to make the world a more comfortable and interesting place.
To find a purpose. To help myself and help others. I want find a career, I have a lot to say and I know it can turn into a novel
I have been writing short short stories for many years. Most concern my life, raising a grandchild, growing up as a preacher’s kid, my family, my dogs & cat. I would love to publish, maybe for Kindle. Although my Facebook community enjoys the stories and asks for more, I do not know if they would have a wide enough appeal. I have no idea how to reach an e audience.
I want to write my story that dances in my head but I must be afraid to put it on paper. My goals is to do so.
I would like to start a Christian-oriented blog, but don’t know where or how to begin. Can you suggest anything to get me going? Thank you.
I have dreamed of being a writer for years. I want to finish my memoir and get it published. My ultimate goal is to make a decent living from writing. Granted I am older, however I believe that is an asset in this business.
Hi Jacob,
I am a seasoned writer, however haven’t had anything published in many years because I quit writing 10 years ago and in the last year have started up again…long story there.
I started a blog that I keep re-inventing, I have been traveling this past year and am writing on my travels and hope to submit some articles. I have so many directions, interests, niches that I want to pursue, I have purchased writing programs and have made it half way through, I seem to be spinning my wheels and need some real direction. Hopefully you can shed some light.
I work a full time job and write in my spare time, my goal for the next 2 years is to be writing full time from anywhere and living comfortably off my writing.
Thanks for listening.
Mary
Thanks for this site. My goal is to write a Novella this year. For the first time I have overarching idea which resonates within me from the top of my head to the tip of toes. I have started the prologue and am almost frightened at how easy it is to pick up the story’s thread when I begin my daily writing discipline. After several attempts I finally feel anchored in my chosen genre and first story attempt. It took me two years to get this point after deciding to write in my retirement. Is that unusual, do you think?
I want to make a living as a writer. As much as I’d love to be the kind of person who is okay with a day job while my passion steams on the back burner, I can’t. Also, idk about starting my own business, per se…I want stability and enough relevance to matter. I want to be taken very seriously. I’ve studied my craft for 8 years (Poetry and Creative Writing) and I won’t settle for less.
Thanks for all your mails. They have been very valuable and resourceful. I can imagine how much you have gone through to make this possible. I desire to earn good money writing in 2015.That is my desire.
Stephen King once said, he didn’t understand people with talent, and not using that talent.I did not graduate college. However, I did complete my writing requirements; I did my term paper on Terrorism in 1988. I am 52. It’s time I get this party started. Unfortunately, I am a techno-tard, however, I’m trying, rather than writing long handed. I am excited, for this world is a changing, and we all have different views,stories, experiences, etc.I’d like to have a say and leave my legacy as I am. My daughter is so much better at writing than I. Maybe if she sees her mom do something other than taking care of folks, it will inspire her to get her views out there.
Blessings.
Most sincerely,
Amy Zweck
I have a book that I would like to publish. I write about current events on face book. I am a liberal and it shows in my essays.
2015 writing goals..to have my book professionally edited before self-publishing.
Hi – I am a letterpress printer – I use Victorian presses and lead type. There is really no work as such for LP so I do a little bit of digital. I write for myself, I have just written a short ‘book’ (50 A4 pages) with pics of my recent trip to the Isle of Man for the TT motorcycle races.I write in my own style, the way I write my poetry, no real publisher would print my work, they’d edit the hell out of it and it would lose it’s reality/style/feel. I’ve printed (digital) and published it myself. Several writers have read it and told me how much they like it, how reading it aloud to themselves/others was like me talking to them in our local tavern, how they loved the story, how they laughed and cried and commiserated. Theyve also said not to change it, not to let a publisher near it! to self publish all my work. I’ve also printed/published 3 of my own poetry books. All handset lead type on beautiful paper. No-one buys these books – they do not understand letterpress and the work involved. especially if theyre ‘young’ – so – I do want my writing read/seen/listened to. But it must! be my words/style/content. I have been compared to Irvine Welsh and Janet Frame (Kiwi writer) and Hubert Selby Jnr. I make my own words, I’m lyrical and my words flow. I am a musician and write sing my own songs. Your opinion and others here would be appreciated. Cheers.
I love researching historical places and people. What and where is the best place to start for writing articles for tourguide purposes? This is where i would like to start for 2015. Thanks
My goal is to begin making money as a writer. I currently work in education as an administrator and am dying to get out of it — and work for myself as a writer! I love to write and do daily. I feel like I have an excellent command of the language. I have a blog that nobody reads, but I write regularly anyway. I’d love to connect with some of the jobs you have listed/written about, but feel overwhelmed about how to even get started. I think if I just take my first step, I’ll be fine. It’s taking that step…
Heys
I guess my goal for the first few months of the year is to finish the second novel in my SF series. The first took me 40 years to write (well, I was writing other stuff, but the task of putting together a universe took that long).
The second novel actually started about 5 years ago (I know, unusually long gestation periods considering the norm is probably around 1-2 books a year.)
I think the process is speeding up. Now that much of the foundation has been laid, getting the stories out should be a simpler, easier and less time-consuming process.
My goal for 2015 is to finish a novel. I have always dreamed of having a major publishing house pick up one of my books. Recently I’ve even considered doing an e-book but my print dream always gets in the way. From what I’ve seen, most e-books are badly written, badly proofed and not worth much. Is my print dream getting in the way of my success?
I’m new to writing for money or for public consumption. I do not have a clue how to start. I’m of the older generation, and saved going to college until I was in my late fifties. A botched hip replacement surgery took me out of action after my second year, and I have not been able to return and complete my degree in English Writing and Creative Writing.
You above article was a helpful read, and I hope to have more insight from you.
Ann, don’t concern yourself with having or not obtaining a degree in English/Creative Writing. My training is in anything but writing and I’ve been successful. Believe in YOU and your talent!! Seek instruction from a writer with talent. I took classes from art & writing teachers and what I found was…instructors wanting to make me into a duplicate of them. Teachers can’t “make” great students. It’s up to the student to learn and develop what’s inside, naturally. Just do it! You may be surprised at how much talent rises to the top. You can do this!!!
I want to finish my novel and have my poetry reach a wide audience
My goal for 2015 is to find these clients that pay $50-$75 for an article… So far all I have found is Textbroker, Crowd Content, and Blogmutt who pay mere cents a word… I really didn’t want to mention iWrite, as their pay is beyond ridiculous. I also write for a popular website, but even they only pay $10 for a 300 word article… Where are these guys you talk about at pay more? The only ones I have seen are the ones on blogs that write about writing… Are there any others that accept different subjects ?
Being a writer who receives $25-$75 per article takes time along with consistent proof of talent. Be patient while building a great portfolio & reputation. The high dollars come through networking which also takes time. My first clients weren’t going to pay my bills but they were connected to the next tier and I started the climb to higher wages. Your talent will speak for you. You don’t need to compete with ESL writers who are willing to work for pennies on the dollar. As writers, we must demand that talent is paid a living wage. Don’t let the “cheap companies” deter your goals. The cream always rises to the top. Hang in there and you’ll eventually find a permanent client who will make you a part of their team and pay you well. Repeat business is your bread & butter (as long as they pay well) Top companies don’t use “low pay” writers because 90% of the time, the talent’s not there.
My goal for 2015 is to earn a living as a writer. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Dear Jacob,
I want to make a living with words. I enjoy proofreading as well as writing, and I am great at it. I have had articles published in newspapers and just finished writing a novel. My biggest problem is that I don’t know how to market myself to achieve my goals, either as a writer or a proofreader.
Thank you for this article, it came at precisely the right time. I’m working on my Business Plan for 2015 as a Writer/Artist. My goal is to earn a living doing both writing and art. I also have a novel to finish which I started in 1997…This is the year to get it DONE!
Thank you for your direction, guidance and honesty in your articles, it is very much appreciated.
For 2015 I want to finish the novel I’ve been working on for what seems like forever as well as complete and publish the handful of short stories I’m working on and try my hand at a play. Maybe an e-book or two while I’m at it.
-William
Thank you. Lots of food for thought in your article. I need to be more confident and assertive with regard to marketing my articles.
I want my poetry and prose to reach a wide audience – may be get published in literary journals. But I want to ask; is there journals or publishers who pay for publishing one’s work ?
I would also like to write articles and or contents for publications or individuals. Precisely what I need is those who need written works or contents on African issues, cultures and environment. I am base in Africa. Is it possible to make a living as a writer, writing from Africa ?
Another issue is – how can I get a mentor-editor who can guide/assist me in my writing career. I am still very young in the profession. I’m in dire need of a matured mentor- editor whom I can send my written works for editing and review prior to publication.
Please the above are my main concerns for now which I really need help. I want to write, I mean to write professionally and make a living from it. You can assist me.
Thanks.
I want to write jingles, and come with catch phrases for different brands and consumer products.
Thanks for asking! I’d like to earn a living as a writer, above all. I’d like my blog to be more widely read, and to promote the first book I published (on caregiving) in November 2013, which should have a much-wider reach. I’d like my second book (at the same publisher) to see the light of day, to at least start a novel, and to see a few of my plays published/produced. Is that too much to ask? Am I too scattered? Thank you for youor e-letter!
I enjoy your articles and information. This year I hope to make my web presence better with an improvement of my existing websites and more efficient contacts with publishers and editors.
First, I want to say sorry if my English is not perfect and you don’t understand me at all.
This will be an important year for me, I’ll leave Italy, probably in spring, to move to England, I’ll work hard, do as much as possible to improve my English, so that I could use it to do what I really want: write poems, in different languages.
I know it won’t be so easy, but I’m determined and I’m also thinking about starting a creative writing course at college, when it would be possible.
And maybe one day I’ll be paid for all my works.
Thanks for your advices, I always pay attention to what you write.
Very thought provoking advice.
I have a English Literature degree and never imagined myself getting into anything like journalism but in the last six months I have begun writing for a local newspaper and a magazine. It has given me the courage to take the step toward making writing my career now rather than waiting until my kids are in school and we are more financially stable (if that should ever happen).
My goal now is to embrace writing as the career I have chosen and make enough income so that I can live comfortably without having to do any more “interim” jobs that I only kind of like. My challenge is balancing writing jobs that make money (I am writing captions for a photography company) but take up an enormous amount of time against the fear that I won’t find anything to replace it with that is steady. Does that make sense? What are your thoughts?
Melissa,
I would suggest carefully planning for possible outcomes that might happen. Make a plan, and make sure you know what to do in various scenarios. Your concerns are valid — but they aren’t insurmountable. It’s hard to offer specific advice, but I stay focused on both your dream and ways of overcoming the obstacles in the way.
I hope this helps.
Warmly,
Jacob
Hi Jacob,
I’ve been reading your emails for about a year. I wanted to write freelance but was intimidated by the experience most of the sites expect. I finished all the yahoo “classes” for contributors, but that site closed down. Finally, I went to the good old library and took out all the books by authors I’ve loved over the years that write about how they write. I found Stephen Kings book “on writing” the most helpful. He says to be yourself and write because you love it not for the money. Easy for him to say, you might reply, but I get it. He worked hard for many years before anyone acknowledged him. If you want to get anywhere you have to sit down and write. I don’t think you can present yourself without inventory in any business, especially intellectual business. Anyone can say I want to write, but the response is what have you written? So I’m writing my first novel, I’m about 18,000 words into it. My confidence is growing and I will get into freelance this year. Thanks for all you do.
I have just a couple of months left before I must move on.
Where, is a big question. I’ve been writing a long time; finally started publishing novels; 4, so far. Not selling enough books to make real money though.
I’m intrigued by your email and would like to hear more, but I would like to know if a cost is involved.
I want my words to reach the world.
I’m a former publisher/editor and I love to write! I’m working on a novel that is a thriller but also have interest in writing chikldrens books!
Would love to learn more!
936-332-7482 (cell)
Fabulous article! Great ideas and very inspirational. As a writer, the pep talk is always needed. Many thanks!
I don’t have a writing degree, but I was told by two high-school English teachers that I should be a writer. That was more years ago than I care to mention, but I would now love to become a writer from home at least part time to supplement my retirement income. My problem is how to get started. I don’t have a blog, and I’ve never been paid to write. Who will hire such a person, and how does one get started?
I’ve thought a lot about writing my memoirs, as well as publishing a book of poems and a novel my late husband wrote, as well as writing a couple of nonfiction books myself. I just haven’t gotten started, because, as they say, “life happens,” and it’s kept me busy just doing the essentials. I currently work at home doing transcription to supplement my income.
Any pointers you can give me would be much appreciated.
Thank you!
Charlene
Great article!
Please am 19years and am a citizen of ghana. I have written many stories and am good at every genre. However,my challenge has been lack of a laptop to fascilitate my writing experdition. Please help me. phone: +233574505750 facebook: Willson Aaron Smith.
I’m not sure what you mean about starting a business. Do I need to legally incorporate? If not how do I start a writing business? I’m not experienced in that area.
I know you’re busy, perhaps you could publish an article on methods of getting a business going.
Thanks for your time.
Richard Taylor Boswell
Personally, I want to start writing in a variety of genres(of my own interest of course) and see if my life experiences and interests can be beneficial and pertinent to others.I would also like to expand my songwriting abilities and learn other forms of writing. Those are MY writing goals for 2015. 🙂
I want to be able to eventually replace my income so that I can have more time with my family. I am a mother of 6 and feel like they are my first responsibility, but many times I find myself focusing more on my job.
I want to sit in front of a publisher, with my agent and lawyer by my side negotiating the publishing of my historical fiction novel. I want my other stories considered for movie and television options. In order for this to happen, I have to get to work. My thoughts have to transpose to sentences, to paragraphs, to chapters. I want to reset my sail from working for someone else to sharing my creativity and imagination to whoever decides to take the time to read my work, if only to acknowledge it. Appreciation is definitely welcomed as well.
I would like to be a published author, earn a living as a writer, and finally get started on that blog! I just don’t know where to begin..
I had seen many black people journeying from a gentile life into Judaism, but I want to explore this journey of mine from a latino/catholict/christian Puerto Rican poor family into the ultimate reach of journeying emotionally, physically and spiritually into the world of the pure, sacred, chosen people, the people of the book, the biblical journey that I place myself into and transformed it mine own, am Jewish today, but not just that but an Israelite, as the biblical stories mentions and had taking me from my poor social status to a people of power and emunah, faith.
My main goal for 2015 is to finish the next two ebooks in my Sci-Fi series. I am continuing to learn and grow while I earn my college degree and build my webstie. My long term goal is to make a living, no matter how scant, on writing alone. It’s what I was born to do. Thank you for your article and recourses, they have already made a difference in my marketing.
This is all sensible advice but really what difference does it make. My Goal for twenty fifteen is to finish my tenth novel “The Sea shall give up its Dead”
Jacob…I’m a G.E.D.Diplomat.And have been circumvent’n the North American Atlas, and Canada for the last 34+ years.I strap my money maker’s to the truckit bucket (truck seat) of a late model Tin Can (truck).Then enter it in the “BIG RACE”(highway traffic) daily.As I drag freight,back and forth,up and down,and to and fro,across the country.I enjoy write’n, but am pretty limited on what I can write.Many friends and family over the year’s have told me I need to be a writer.I usually reply with a shrug of my shoulder’s and a ;”Ahh Iohknow bout that”…smile’n…Open to suggestion’s…I’m no spring chicken at 55 yr’s old and several millions of mile’s under my laurel’s…chuckle’n…Cannot afford to quit drive’n either…Thank You for your comment’s.
My goal in 2015 is to write about motorsports full-time. I am already paid to do so on a contract basis, but have to work full-time in a job that I HATE because I can’t find enough outlets that actually pay writers to promote the sport and athletes that they ate most passionate about.
Are not ate
My goal is to finish my second novel ( first one was self published sold 400 on my own) and have it picked up by a publishing house or expand and create a better marketing strategy for nationwide sales.
My goal is to be published this year preferably before 6 months.
I am not stuck on a paper version and I have been told I can create funds for publishing each chapter on Line. I feel responsible for completing this book as it introduces a huge evolutionary shift in psycho/spiritual work and lifts the co-dependent relationship out of client/patient while it takes the trauma out of trauma work. Stoked and feeling unprepared for a dynamic shift.
Thanks Jacob for the chance to express this fresh into 2015.
Felicia ~~~Silver Moon Dolphin~~~
i enjoy all your articles and check out all links but haven’t acted on any yet due to starting a new job, working on my next novel and crafting. I have self published three books so far but want to make my writing a success and pay off. I am contemplating freelance writing and find your articles all very inspirational. I want to eventually get to the point where I can live of my writing, like you. I’d rather do something I love then do a job I have to do to pay the bills. Keep up the good work dude.
Wonderful article!
I would love to make a living as a writer be it as a novelist and/or freelancer. I’d like to find a good solid client base and figure out how to use my website to get me in the air.
My interests lie in fantasy, horses, and technical writing though I have written a few other types of articles as well. I’m just not sure how to go about finding those clients! Getting paid $1.25 per 500 words isn’t going to cut it!
I want to keep writing. Mostly articles. But what ever it is, just let me know. I want to make at least $1000. a month.
You see—I’m semi retired, but I do need to make some money somehow.
I am in the process of getting a degree that involves holistic nutrition and urban gardening and I would like to built a business writing articles for others on those subjects as well as building a blog. Just found out I am losing my job, so no time like the present!!
I’ve been writing press releases for a social media company…www.socialordeals.com for fifty bucks a pop and if I’m lucky, maybe the client will go as high as $75…yay!
I also have a mission statement on my one-page website…www.malibubrew.com but have no clue how to start building a blog to attract investors.
Hi thank you for the article. I love to write poetry and I have been writing about my daily routine for sometime. But recently I stopped doing so. I love to give this a try but I don’t know where to start. I don’t know much about any of this. All I know is I love to write, and am willing to give it a try. Where do I start? Any Ideas.
Could I ask your help, please? Perhaps I am showing my age or my ignorance, but could you help me understand when and how “graduating from college” became “graduated college?” And could you also cite the grammar rule governing this usage. I am not fond of simply copying misusage of the English language and have been unable to ascertain the basis for this change.
Perhaps you’re confused by the POV. (Point of view)
Interestingly enough, I can answer YES” to all of your questions. After many years in the legal field as a paralegal with great writing talents, I finally decided to do it for myself as a writer. I am finally in a position where I can pursue my dream of becoming a published writer. My poetry has been published in two anthologies and this has given me a boost in the ego department to think I can pursue this dream in a serious and committed way. But the problem is this: I don’t really know how to go about it. Truth is, I need some serious guidance. Can you help me?
My goals for 2015 are to write freely yet help people. My feelings and emotions change I much involving writing but I can’t keep my pen down!!!
My goal for 2015 is geared towards writing short stories and anthologies for learners of english. I want to start with re-writing some of my favorite old folk tales, myths and legends.
My goal: finish the sic-fi trilogy I have (almost there), self publish, then market, market market.I love what you said about writing as a business. As a novelist, I don’t want to hide my light under a bushel, and I also want to make some money. So marketing strategies, here I come. I know some, need to know more, will never stop learning.
My goal for 2105 is to change my whole life!!! Writing has always been both my talent and passion, but I was always discouraged from the furled as it is often considered that of a dreamer. Currently… I work long and extremely hard hours as a RN in a large ICU. I’m also a single mom to a darling, but challenging, 10 year old boy. Additionally, I homeschool that boy. I’m tired of living so many of my hours enslaved in work that sucks the life out of me and leaves me no room to live!!! My goal is to educate myself on the how’s and why’s of the new world of writing and find a way to fit it into my life so that I may again work in my passion and have more freedom to be the mom my son deserves (as well as save my sanity!)
Mahalo for your informative contributions to my goal 🙂
Misty
I’m a caregiver for an invilid family member and must now work from home. I was a technical writer for roughly 10+ years. I’ve also written a few magazine articles and dabbled in creative writing. I’m just looking to pay the bills and make a moderately comfortable living.
Dear Jackob Jans,
Thank you for your inspirational articles. I am writing you from Ethiopia, a country in the horn of Africa. Currently, I am working as a Project Coordinator. However, I have a plan to be a freelance writer. I have a thesis which deals with analyzing an Amharic Novel through Existential perspectives. So, in 2015, I need to publish a literary criticism translating it from English into Amharic and to publish it on an international journal in English.
I have a job that I like, but I want to do what I love. I want to be a writer. I love writing poetry, articles, and working on my novels. I have been writing for years, but I have yet to consider myself a writer.
I want to learn to become a successful writer with a valuable and loyal client base.
I love to write essays blogs, short stories. I write well but do not know how to market my articles.
I would like the opportunity to write for those clients that pay $75 and $150 for 500 words.I cannot get pass $15. I began to write for ridiculous amounts just so I could build up my portfolio. I have been trying to make money on this writing thing for some time now, and I’m about to give up on my dream yet again.
I want to make a living as a Freelance Copywriter.
I have been interested in publishing my poems for years, and have had to put it off due to personal issues. Many now resolved, it is my time to do so.
I journal regularly, writing topical articles relating to personal growth and realizations in how to apply Godly principles to real life.
I want to start writing regularly and start a blog.
Better late than never!!
Thanks for this article Happy New Year!!!
Thanks for the advice. My goals for this year are to make a decent income freelancing. I’m trying to get my ducks in a row to do this, and info like yours is appreciated.
I definitely want to finish and publish my novel in 2015! I want to make a living a writer.
Hi Jacob, thank you very much for this artitle I learnt a lot.
*My goals for 2015 is to get a degree in creative writing and communication
*To write as often as I can (almost every day)
My dream as a writer in 2015 is to make a living as a writer; but along the way publish one novel that mostly science fiction. Also, I to publish a book of poetry mainly love poetry. I want to continue my blog of mainly my person opinions on pop culture and current events, that’s what I would do to male my living as a writer. I just need the tools to get started.
Mr. Jacob Jans,
I too graduated with a creative degree, and loved every moment of school until I graduated, and 11 years later, I have never found steady work for editing nor writing fiction. I make some money off helping tutor college kids in composition. It is certainly not the future I saw for myself. I thought I would have a book published by now. I love children, and have written a few children’s stories, short stories and edited a few novels, but nothing constant. I am always open to ideas, so I would be proud to play the grasshopper to a wise person for ideas that may help my passion for writing become a steady job. I am not afraid of hard work. I am only afraid of not finding work in our field, and in the craft I love so much.
Sincerely,
Joanna Leventis
I am starting a blog this year, and I am super excited just to get my thoughts and feeling out into the world. I also have been looking at becoming a freelance writer to supplement my income, so that I can quite my second job and write part time and get paid. Any other advise that could be helpful in completing this goal?
I love to write poems and short stories. My goal as a writer is to publish my children’s book. I’m currently in the process of looking for publishing and printing companies. I do not have a steady job at the moment and I’m hoping that I could earn additional income as a new freelance writer.
Hi Jacob,
I rarely respond to your posts. In fact this is the first time, but I wanted to say thank you for all the great training and information you have provided me.I have been writing since I was 8 yrs old and I will be 70 next month. I am now retired from my life’s work as a healthcare consultant for many years and have decided I want to supplement my income by writing, and publishing what I have already written.Thank you so much for all the valuable information. This is the year this writer begins to make her living doing what she has loved to do all her life. I have written 100’s of poems and songs, completed one book and working on 3 more. I have written too many healthcare policies and procedures and training programs to even try to remember. many are still being used in the operations of the companies I worked for. Thank you so much for your encouragement. You have made me believe that I can do this. I cannot say thank you enough.
Sincerely,
Betty C.
I have been writing poetry for years just for recreational purposes, and never knew I could make a living of it. That changes now.
I have run a mowing business for over 25 years. I got my degree in accounting, but never used it. I have been doing standup comedy the past three years, and do weekly radio each week under the stage-name “The Grassman”.
I write a lot, it forms the basis of an overview I later develop into my stage time. I look at comedy like a business, and writing is the foundation upon which the business rests. I would be greatly interested in acquiring writing assignments to gain experience and to further develop my abilities.
If you could further assist me in taking the next step to getting paid work it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You
Deron Cundiff
I choose to make a living! My goal has been to write: stories, articles, essays, even letters. Finding work for unpublished writers has been the greatest obstacle. I love your newsletter and the great information you provide.
All the above
Hi Jacob, I love to write and would like to establish a good reputation as a writer, and create a significant stream of income. However I am just really getting started, I have set up a website, to create a portfolio, thus far I have one published ezine article and I am ready to put more consistent time and effort into honing my writing skills.
Boy,do I have Dreams! Up until 2,shoot coming on 3yrs ago I basically took for granted that,though I might get tired,achy and not want to leave my house or answer the phone for a full 24hrs,I could do anything I wanted. That can be a dangerous way to think. I’ve been a Hat Maker for about 12yrs now,but only when I wasn’t working my fulltime&part-time jobs the past 3yrs solid. So I had to have surgery and was going to re-arrange my whole life. I don’t know how much of this you want to hear,I do have a tendency to go on and on. I have definitely made some changes in my life. More like my Life has made changes and I better learn them or I’m going to be left out of my own Life. Basically I went from working on average 52-64hr week to ZERO! To add insult to injury I have 200+ hat bodies looking at me and I don’t even know if i ,my body can even make a hat anymore. I am afraid to try and find out I can’t. This way,I still have hope I guess. So I am pretty sure you’re thinking,”OK is there a point to any of this?” Well I would like to think part of my point is that I have a ton of stuff in my head and in notebooks,I’m still old school. Some of the things I e gone through the past almost 3yrs…being single,except my little dog and my grand-puppy when I had my surgery on my foot with 141stitches,learning I damn sure don’t have enough sick/vac time built up for FOREVER!! The help I was to have went on vacation 2 days after my surgery and decided to stay… There! My 401K,I’d been paying on gave me LongTermDISABILITY… With NO MEDICAL COVERAGE! The state I am in gave me $13.00 food stamps,No joke,land Medical coverage when I paid down an $8,000.++ Spend down on $735.00 month that my 401K claims I owe them for the $1000.month they gave me till SSD came through. Oh that isn’t even all of it. Being 50yrs old owned my home out right,after the fire 10yrs ago. Then to be a 50yr old woman who’d owned her home since 40ish to be Homeless was not a pretty sight in the mirror. I hope you don’t put this out there with other comments,I will write another one that will be normal OK. I just had to get this out there. A girlfriend keeps telling me I’ve got to start a Blood,off my smartphone? Is that possible? There are so many things/ nightmares I’ve been through that I really want to warn others about! My Retirement company’s Policies for one. I was preparing for my Retirement,did not have a clue about their messed up Policy if you become disabled prior! Pray you never do! But check it out now! To the point that I was told,” if you don’t take those pills, you “Could” lose your benefits.” Anyway I am committed to hopefully sparing anyone else some of my nightmares. I loved your posts. Obviously they got me revved up! Thanks,yea that gal from my 401K is definitely in my Book.
Thank you so much Jacobs…in still pursuing my degree in Education…I have a passion for writing yet I don’t know much about getting started but I’m glad to have you…I’m getting more insight through your mails…this year I want my first book published…. Please help…live in Botswana and fictional writters are not well recognized.
My goals are to finish my novel while earning a living as a writer. I need some help getting started as a freelance writer.
I spent years employed as a full-time technical writer for a Fortune 500 IT contracting company. Due to health issues, I require flexibility. And I have always wanted to be my own boss anyway. With the experience I gained working in numerous “tech writer” capacities for many companies, I feel ready to take the experiences I found most fulfilling, i.e., the more creative aspects, and leverage them toward a new direction as a freelance writer, indeed with the needed business acumen to implement my plan. I may need to think about my many interests and perhaps narrow them down to my passions, but I feel I can write about anything and present it well. I am wide open to ideas and input on strategy as well as reading about others’ experiences.
Sounds like you’re living my dream! I’m a published Author…but not sold very much – I love to write – it’s my passion I just can’t figure out how to make a living at it. I’m a medical transcriptionist (for 26 yrs) with a special needs son and because of the changes (voice recognition) in our industry I’ve been forced to seek other employment. Every avenue I have explored for writing results in requiring 1000’s of dollars…and I am barely keeping a roof over my head!
As a writer in 2015, I would like to find a writing job that would allow me to write and research the topic I love which is the great sport of horse racing. I want to tell the stories of the champions of the Sport of Kings but I want to be able to earn money doing so. I’d also like to finish some creative fan-fiction projects I have going and also find publication for the One Act Stage Play that I wrote and have copyright for.
I want to make a living writing
I am interested in getting my book published though I can´t afford to self publish at the moment. I have an active website. I blog and appear regularly on the social networks. To help me achieve my goal, I am interested in earning money as a writer of articles and/or direct mail to supplement my meagre income writing a corporate blog. My interests & strongest subjects are champagne, fashion, flowers & gardening. I also can write extensively about life for Brits holidaying or moving to Spain, especially the Costas. Can you help point me in the right direction please?
I have always had an interest in being a writer. However, I never knew exactly how to get started. I’m interested in working with you and trying this out and see if I can be successful at writing.
Poetry, short stories, mentally stimulating works aimed at 30 – 60+ readers
I would like to make a reasonable living off of writing as well as write children’s books and novels.
For 2015 I want to become a paid freelance writer. First goal is $ 150.00 a month within six months. I also want to finish a novella I have started by the end of the year. These goals mean a daily minimum of one hour at the computer for each goal weekdays. I also want to commit to writing a daily journal for personal goals unrelated to writing i.e. daily disciplines that contribute to my mental physical and spiritual health. Here is the biggie for me at this time. I want to practice turning off ESPN !!!!!
I want to write at my own pace, and make a decent living. I have a small blog to put my work out, but it’s not enough.
“How is this possible? For one simple reason, which I’ll explain shortly”.
With those words, you just wiped out any desire to keep reading. With any number of ads, both written, and in video, this has become the buzz phrase, and when I see or hear it, I’m done.
It’s not a clever teaser. It’s not clever at all; it’s simply irritating. GET TO THE POINT ALREADY! Just say what you have to say, and be done with it! We will either be interested, or we won’t, but adding, “I’ll get to that in a minute” is a guaranteed killer.
I have a screen play and a book in my head
am looking to do some freelance writing. please send info.
well first of all i am writing poetry but not as much as you do but i have published poem already, frankly speaking i still don’t have confidence to write english peom because i am a hiligaynon poet but i badly want to write good english peoms and well earn money for schooling. thank you for your help
writing poem rather 🙂
Hey Jacob,
Thanks for the Insight and sound advice.
Personally, I think the new realities you describe have greatly reduced the quality of writing one comes across in mass media today. Almost anyone can call themselves a ‘writer’ and I read dozens of horribly-written and poorly researched articles by people who claim to be journalists. The talent pool has become very watered down.
Of course, this is just my opinion.
Shawn
Great advice. 2015 will be the year I start my writing full-time. I would like to build an audience thru quick shorts…stories, advice, diy articles that can be read in 2 minutes or less.
I like this I think. I found a direction to move forward. Was confused of were to go next
Not sure where i want to be with my writing, I have a blog no one visits, I write poetry and have nearly 100 to date, and i want to focus at some point on a book I just don’t know which way to turn with this. Or how to go about it in a way it will be productive for me. thank you
Thanks for the advice, Jacob!
In about a year’s time, I’ll graduate with a bachelor’s degree in English literature. Then, I suppose, it’ll be time to either find a job or hightail it to grad school, where I’ll probably have to find work anyway. And while all this sounds exciting, everyone I’ve talked to can agree on one thing (and I’m glad you said it): the world is a scary place—especially for writers. I see people graduating, getting jobs, starting families and all that, but they’re not writers. They have no interest in being the next Hemingway. But I do, and I see a long road ahead. Writing is a tough business, full stop. And I know that I’ll need to be flexible, to find other ways of expressing myself without giving up on my dreams.
Great advice and I am taking it!
Hi Jacob, Happy New Year!
I love reading your emails. I just wish I knew exactly what a blog is and how to go about getting one started. I also like to write poetry, children stories and have a life story idea about a middle-aged single mom who recalls her past several decades and by referring to and calling them her “ugly (with an “i” instead)years. I think a lot of other women would get a kick out of her story. What do you think? Any suggestions? All help tru
ly appreciated.
I want to earn a living as a writer and also get my novel published.
Hi there. I am an experienced elementary teacher who enjoys writing for fun. I’d love to write about my experiences and get paid, but I really don’t know where to start with this. I am currently still teaching, so any advice or direction is appreciated. Thanks so much!
Thanks for all the tips and valuable information you’ve been providing, Jacob. I’m a single man with no dependents. I’m looking to increase my finances with freelance writing and I’m curious if you know of any good clients who need articles, blog posts, or any type of informative piece focused on video games, computers and hardware, or audio technologies. Right now, I seem to be caught in a loop of quantity in artiles that don’t pay much.
I studied media at Cairo University, but now I can not find a suitable opportunity to work in the press, or the completion of the dream of writing a novel … but I have hope that I find the opportunity to train at the hands of professionals working in the Media
I want to publish a fictional novel without losing control of the content of my novel to a publisher and I want to be able to make a living as a writer, not just write to “suplement” my income. How do I do this?
hi Jacob. thanks for the article. I am a writer. as a child I wrote lots of poetry. i’ve published several poems. after getting married and having children, I began to write children’s stories(never turned them into books). I created characters and story lines on the spot as I told my kids bedtime stories. as my kids got older, they told me I should turn the stories into books. I am also a song writer. I taught my nine kids the art of song writing and they are better than I am. they have collectively written about 200 original songs!! I am an educator (with a degree in psychology-emphasis in early childhood education). while living/teaching in Thailand for 7 years, I wrote several educational columns for newspapers and magazines. I want writing to be one of my streams of income (they say you should have 10!)so my goal for 2015 is to establish myself as a writer for several companies. I would like to receive your free newsletter. thanks for the guidance.
my goals for 2015, is to write and get paid, i also have two books on line at amazon.com iam writing my third book call wow, i also host my on radio show on thrusday and friday nights, i love writing about true love and life,i took a class for screenplay writer, my first book was a play.i turn the book into a novel, thank you jacob jans.
I am a writer, and self published in 2005. After 31/2 years of research, while writing the novel. By the name: “The Subtle Murderess.”
Then one day, while a Security Officer,I passed a comment while a patron was passing me. Who had the cutest little boy. I said: “What a cute little boy you have!”
After thanking me, she began telling me her experience as a Battered Wife. When she walked away, she mentioned, “Now all there is :Just Me and My Son.”
I was so inspired by her: I spent the past 81/2 years writing my novel, which by the way is a trilogy.
“Why did it take me so long to finish it? Because, it became so emotionally overwhelming. I had to walk away from it for months at a time.
I did extensive research, along with test marketing. Also because of this, other battered women approached me, an told me their experiences.
To make a long story short,I am looking to have it published. As I was unhappy with the deal with the first publisher. Who took advantage of me.
I would like you to contact me, and see what you can offer, as I have very limited resources,
I’d like to finish my novels, but interested in freelance writing as well. How do I break into that?
Hey Jacob;
I have been following your site for about three months. I am a 62 year old disabled vet on Social Security and can’t work any more. I would like to make a supplementary income writing content or short stories while I write a book about my life as an adopted kid surviving idiot parents, drug addiction, incarceration, going straight; basically growing up alone during the 1960s at the mercy of crazy adults and even crazier times. I am unpublished, but think I have some talent. I am taking your advice and preparing samples to send to a variety of websites. I am sure you are a busy guy, but do you any specific advice for someone in my position? I would appreciate any input that you may supply, and Happy Monday. Peace, VanWyck.
Wonderful advice and such a good perspective.
I started freelancing in 2010 and wrote for a couple of online publications. I loved it and considered taking it on full time. In 2011, I had my first child and stopped writing all together because it was a bit challenging to find a balance between the roles of wife, mother, and full-time job holder. My writing ended up being placed in the back burner. Most of the writing I do now are journal entries or letters to my child.
However, I’d really like to take on freelancing as a full time job and a steady source of income—mostly because I’d like to spend more time with my not-so-little one.
I started subscribing to your website a couple of months ago and have found it very useful.
Many thanks!
My goal for 2015 is to earn a living as a writer. I need to get all the ideas that keep me awake at night out of my head and onto paper (or a computer). I have created a plan to make that happen, however, the first few steps seem to be the hardest for me. Building a blog with loyal readers, creating a successful Twitter account, and creating a resume.
While I could build a fantastic resume for a job in customer service, I have nothing to put on paper that will show clients I am the writer for them as I have never published anything.
I am raising 5 kids so I have many articles in me to create a mommy blog. I also have so many other articles in me that have nothing to do with parenting and I don’t know if this means I need to run two blogs or pour it all into one. I don’t understand the reason for or how to make use of a Twitter but I will learn.
The lack of an author’s resume scares me more than the rejections of my work that are in my future. I guess a more appropriate statement would be; I have never been scared of the fact I have only a high school education until now. I will offer what I have and maybe it will be enough for someone to give me a shot.
After over 25 years as a newspaper writer, most of it on a freelance basis, I want to get out of the newspaper business and into something more creative. My goal for 2015 is to simply lay the groundwork needed to move on to something else.
I whant to become a writter, what do I do?
Regards,
Joseph
Incredible Listings and possible writing opportunities.
This is great information that I can use.