Well, now it is time for you to join a writers group. These groups consist of writers coming together, sharing their works and experiences, and offering helpful critique. There is an array of benefits to joining a writers group and it should be an essential step on your writing journey.

Emersion in the writing community

Writing is a solitary endeavor. Given this undeniable truth, it is important to break away from the computer every once in a while and actively engage with living, breathing human beings. To do so with people who also write will lead to an abundance of rich value.

We are all social creatures with a natural desire to belong to groups. Doing so helps feed into our respective identities. Being a part of a writers group will enable you to feel like the writer you are. It will give you confidence in your identity as a writer, even if you aren’t published.

You will hear about experiences in the writing world and glean terrific insight from other writers. And as your fellow group members find success, it will provide you with a sense of optimism and affirmation that “Yes, it really can be done.”

Creating deadlines

When you join a writers group, you are expected to arrive at every session with a short story, poem, essay, etc. to share. This establishes deadlines you would not otherwise face while writing the next great American novel at your own time and pace.

Some writers may veer towards procrastination and this is fine… provided there is a deadline to be met. Joining a writers group will create one and keep you on track. You will not want to disappoint your fellow writers by showing up empty-handed. This provides ample motivation to write and prevents “I’ll do it tomorrow” syndrome for a tomorrow which never comes.

Editing your work

As a writer, you must continually edit and re-edit your work until you have it “just right.” You should pour over your writing tirelessly to ensure the words are properly conveying your vision. Careful editing is a vital part of the writing process and your writers group will play a large role in helping with this.

There is tremendous value in having multiple sets of eyes reading your works. Gaining fresh perspective will enable you to see new possibilities you may not have considered. Additionally, your fellow writers help catch mistakes which might have otherwise gone unnoticed.

Often, when we read our works independently, the brain reads them the way we think they are written. As a result of this phenomenon, your brain might see “the cat pounced on a mouse,” when, in reality, your piece reads “the cat pounced on a moose.” Other writers, though, will envision the feline trying to attack a large mammal, instead of a small rodent, and suggest making a change. Or perhaps you will become endeared to the idea of an over-ambitious kitty and rewrite your story appropriately.

Learning new ideas and techniques

By reading and listening to fellow writers, you will hear new voices and see stories in different points of view. You might read a story presented in first person and it will inspire you to re-write a piece you had previously drafted in third person. Or you can see how another writer incorporates backstory and use a similar technique in your works.

During discussion, you will learn where others find their inspiration and how they overcome the dreaded writer’s block. You might hear terrific tips regarding research or how to more effectively utilize the internet as a means of self-marketing. There is a veritable wealth of knowledge at your disposal when you belong to a writers group.

Critiquing other writers

At writers groups, an important part of each session is the time following presentation, when everyone provides feedback for the piece which was read. If it was your turn to present, your fellow writers will tell you the aspects of your work they felt were either especially strong, or parts which need more editing. This is important, no doubt, but the actual critiquing you provide will mold you into a sharper reader and give you enhanced vision. In turn, this will lead to crisp, fresh writing in your own works.

If you are concerned about receiving harsh judgment from your peers, you needn’t be. Most criticism is constructive and writers generally frame their critiques in a positive manner. Remember, they are also exposing their respective works and will have the same trepidations and fears as you. Everyone in a writers group is a peer and it’s a safe community for you to express yourself.

Taking the step

Joining a writers group is an absolute must if you enjoy writing, and even more so if your dreams are to become published one day. It applies a time constraint to keep you moving forward in the craft. You will find help editing your works and develop stronger writing skills. And joining the community will only increase confidence in your identity as a writer. So if you haven’t already, take one of the smartest steps possible for your writing journey and find a writers group to join today!

John Neeb is a MI-based freelance writer who contributes articles to a variety of websites (for more info, please check out http://jmneeb.blogspot.com). Additionally, he is an active participant in a local writers group and writes copy for various businesses. If you would like to contact John and contract him for a freelance assignment, please e-mail him at polo.coach.neeb@gmail.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Neeb

Those who needed good writers could find their work in publications or through writer’s organizations and feel confident that they were about to hire a proven commodity. What those employers got were real writers, professional writers, who knew their craft and honed it over years of dedication.

Then came the Internet, and with the Internet came service marketplaces. These service marketplaces would bring service providers, such as writers, editors, programmers and graphic artists together with the buyers of those services. It looked like the Internet had achieved yet another noble purpose.

It can be said, with some accuracy, that the Internet has created untold numbers of opportunities for people in a variety of professions. Artists have found a broader market for their artwork, small businesses have been able to highlight their products to millions of potential customers and those with a political opinion can reach thousands of readers with a blog; something unheard of in the past.

With all of the good that the Internet has been able to achieve through its ability to connect people, it has also had a downside. In the old days, a buyer of services knew more about the service provider they were hiring based on the work that person had performed for others. It was also more important, and a very real prerequisite, that the service provider was skilled in their trade since their reputation was what brought them new customers.

The marketplace for service providers has changed with the advent of the Internet. No longer are service providers required to be skilled at their craft. For a few dollars, they can hang a shingle out on the Internet and make any number of claims. This ability to turn a hobby into a profession, and hawk ones assumed expertise, has been a thorn in the side of real professionals who find themselves competing with weekend hobbyists hell-bent on getting a piece of the pie.

Please read below about my terms before placing bids

* $2.00 per article Max
* Minimum 400 words per article
* No plagiarism
* No grammatical errors

Few markets have seen more of an impact resulting from this metamorphosis than the writers market. Professional or commercial full-time writers deliver a product that is unique and polished. Real writers hone their craft over years of varied writing assignments and challenges. These professional writers had initially welcomed the opportunities realized through the Internet; but then it changed.

What is occurring in the writing and editing market has already occurred in the real estate market. Over the past couple of years, the number of licensed real estate agents dropped by approximately one million. That’s an enormous number of people getting out of the business.

What happened in real-estate in recent years was caused by a housing market that went from normal to hot to cold. When it was hot, tens of thousands of people got real-estate licensed and jumped in with both feet. They were not real-estate professionals, but they saw the opportunity to make a buck and they took it. A steep drop-off in the real estate market shed these opportunists and the pros were left behind.

The Internet marketplaces for writers are chock full of new writers who are opportunists. They have found a new opportunity, created by the Internet, and they have jumped on-board to capitalize on the potential it presents. Their presence though, has had an adverse effect on the very marketplace they have joined. A large preponderance of writers, fighting for the same buyer’s dollars, has reduced the compensation for writing to an all-time low.

Professional full-time writers are now mulling over projects with budgets of two or five dollars an article. Some buyers now believe that professionally written copy that would be a thousand dollar project can be had for a hundred dollars.

These projects still find takers on the provider side because the weekend writers are presented on a par with the experienced writers. Buyers have lost any ability to create a distinction between the two classes. The buyers, supported by the service marketplaces, throw their money and projects at the inexperienced writers, focused only on low ball bids.

What is the result of this process of novice writers churning out buyers copy? The buyers get their copy or content delivered to them and then put it to work for whatever purpose it is meant to serve. And then, weeks or months later, they realize that it doesn’t work. Much like buying a cheap imitation watch, the movement stops after a short time, and the cheap timepiece has to be replaced. The old axiom, you get what you pay for, has never been truer.

Buyers, in this scenario, end up paying twice. If they haven’t learned their lesson by the second time, they end up paying three times. When all is said and done, they could have received exactly what they needed the first time, and saved time and aggravation, by just paying the cost of a professional.

The same goes for editing. Professional editors have a trained eye that has been nurtured by years of experience. A plethora of amateurs, entering the market, has distorted the precision required of this craft. Buyers are surprised, after paying a weekend editor, when someone brings a mistake to their attention later on. What did they pay for? Buying quality and experience in the first place is the high-road less traveled.

A shake-up is needed in the writer’s marketplace. How it will happen is anybody’s guess. In real estate, the market collapse in home sales forced the amateurs out. In a well dispersed virtual market, like the writer’s marketplace, there is no opportunity for buyers to collectively raise the bar and start hiring the pros again. As long as the part-time writers are willing to bid on projects for a few dollars, the vicious cycle of cheap projects and poor writing will continue.

What is the real result of a writer’s market full of inexperienced, pseudo-writers? The professionals are left with fewer projects and less income. They are also more likely to have to ‘clean-up’ after the shabby writers. The effect on buyers is that they lose confidence in the writers they hire on-line, or have to pay more than once to get their project done right. It costs everyone in the pocketbook and the market loses some of its previous professionalism.

The message for buyers; pay the price for experience and professionalism. If you had to have delicate heart surgery, you would not go to a first-year medical student. You would seek out a heart surgeon who has performed the procedure several times with good results.

This all gets back to the Internet again. Companies, of all sizes, are relying on the Internet for sales and revenues. The power of the Internet, as a marketing tool, is nothing short of extraordinary. Now, like never before, writing is relied upon to to carry out a mission. Good content can sell; bad content just takes up space. Don’t make the mistake of saving a few dollars to hire a weekend amateur. In the end; it costs you dearly.

Questions for a buyer in a service marketplace. Three incredulous writers ask the buyer to clarify their project
(read from the bottom up)

Same question as below.
Posted on September 13, 2008 17:06:02 EST

Same question as last pro because 250 descriptions @ $250 total is only a dollar per entry or .005 per word (not even a penny). Thanks!
Posted on September 13, 2008 16:10:45 EST

For the sake of clarity… you want 250 descriptions of about 200(min) to 250 words for a budget of $250?
Posted on September 13, 2008 13:42:47 EST

Make certain that you hire a professional for your project the first time

http://www.thegreatwriter.com

K Richard Douglas is the owner and chief copywriter for The Great Writer and Solution Content. He is a full-time commercial freelance writer and editor. His client list includes companies around the world. His services include web content, sales and marketing collateral, white papers, press releases and sales letters. He can be reached at info@solutioncontent.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=K_Richard_Douglas

Maybe a better way to put it is that the old business model has been replaced by a newer business model for those writers who seek it.

In the old model, writers sold their product to publishers, who assumed all of the risk of publishing. Old-fashioned publishing was never cheap. Publishers paid to print and distribute books, magazines, and newspapers. Besides collecting quarters for newspapers, publishers sold advertising space. It was a risky enterprise but some did well and a few even got rich.

That business model is still going strong. The trouble is that it does not pay writers very well. It really can’t. The publisher lays out too much cash and takes on too much risk to pay writers what they perhaps ought to earn.

But the new model-and not that many writers have discovered it yet-involves writers stepping outside their comfort zones and becoming publishers of sorts. The term is content provider. This means they now write, but instead of selling the content to a publisher, they self-publish.

Self-publishing is not what it used to be. Not so long ago, even reputable self-publishing houses were considered “vanity presses” and an imprint from one of their companies could damage a book’s reputation. Today, just about anybody with enough money to get a “doing-business-as” (DBA) license from city can be a full-fledged publisher.

But more important than just setting up a business, writers can market their end products.

Want to write a how to book for growing roses? Instead of ink and paper, you can produce an online book (sometimes call an e-book) and sell it directly.

Online products like this are an interesting phenomenon. The more narrow and specific your topic the better. Growing roses in zone 9 (the extreme South and Gulf Coast) is an even better e-book title. Growing white climbing roses in zone 9 is better still.

The reason it’s a good business is that production costs are very low and very specialized information can fetch a premium price online.

But what if you’d rather write a lot of short articles about a broad topic, say like a magazine writer? Great! Online magazines exist although they don’t call themselves magazines. They’re just websites and the articles are content. They often sell advertising or their own products to subsidize themselves. An example of such an online magazine is http://www.thePerfume-Reporter.com. It was started by a writer.

Writers are often puzzled by this turn of events. How do writers make money if they have to give away their writing? What’s changed is the business model. Smart writers are no longer selling content, they’re publishing. They’re selling e-books, online courses, or other information (the whole industry is called “information products”). Or they’re selling advertising by writing content-dense sites that appeal to specific (often limited) audiences.

But unlike publishers of yesteryear, a writer today does not need a bankroll to set up a publishing empire. A computer with Internet access, some software, and some basic skills (which admittedly may require a couple of courses) and a home-based writer can now become a publisher.

Are there advantages to the writer? After all, many writers live to write. First of all, a writer who publishes online is no longer working with an editor. This means the writer can write what he or she most wants to write about. There is no editor to change your headlines or publisher who wants to gut your story.

Writers are free to explore and write about the things that most appeal to them. Old-fashioned publishing had to be broad, because it just didn’t pay to invest the amount of money publishers had to spend to produce niche publications. The Internet turns that paradigm on its head. Narrowing the focus works better in this instance.

Today, writers can find readers and income writing about building kites, managing a dental practice, or planning a cruise-ship wedding. Just about anything that people might spend money on is grist for the Internet.

With a wealth of publishing opportunities and virtually no financial barrier to entry, many online entrepreneurs find themselves playing in many niche markets.

However, many writers are still working on the old model and frequently end up selling their writing skills to this new breed of publisher. For instance, websites for freelancers or job boards seeking writers frequently try to lure writers to write e-books or articles for content websites. And, like old-fashioned publishers, these new non-writer Internet publishers are not known for their largesse to writers.

Being a writer is a huge advantage for Internet businesses. These cyber-publishers devour content and producing high-quality material is a bottle-neck for even most robust online businesses. A competent and capable writer with a lot of interests can easily leap the fence and become a publisher.

If it’s done correctly (and it can take a while the business down pat-this is not necessarily easy stuff), writers can devote most of their time to doing what they love, namely writing, and earn a good living, too.

Ain’t the Internet great?

Jo Ann LeQuang is a full-time working writer based in Texas, and who thinks the Internet is the greatest thing for writers since the copyright law. To learn more about how writers can benefit from online publishing, click on http://www.workingonlinewriter.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jo_Ann_LeQuang

This website has a list of the top ten hosting service providers available over the internet and these hosting service providers are ranked based on the services which they offer, the cost for the services that they offer, the quality of service and customer support and many other common parameters. Apart from the ranking feature, this website offers their customers with hosting and hosting related guides which can be of great help for those who are beginners as well as those who are experts having huge experience in this particular field of web hosting. The guide this website offers has information on each and every thing related to hosting and using this customer can solve simple technology problems which arise often without the help of an expert’s website also host a number of reviews which the customers can use to find about the services and the quality of service offered.

A Writer’s Office

Every writer needs a place to work and a home office is one of the best places for writers. What a writer’s home office looks like will depend on the budget. Some writers will be able to set aside a room for writing. Other writers may prefer to set aside a space for their home office.

A writer’s home office needs to be quiet and large enough to contain a desk and a chair. Most of the other equipment needed will fit on or under the desk. The writer’s chair needs to be comfortable and should fit under the desk.

A writer’s home office can be just like a normal office. Family photos on the desk will make the writing environment pleasant. Make sure the desk has room for a cup of tea or coffee – freelance writers spend a lot of time at their computers. Any drinks should be kept well away from the computer, though.

Writing Equipment

A computer is one of the most important pieces of equipment for a writer. A basic PC is not expensive and can even be bought on Ebay. The computer should have a keyboard, a mouse and a modem or networking card.

A better option for writers is a laptop. A laptop or notebook computer allows writers to write anywhere. Modern laptops also allow writers to connect to the internet from anywhere. An internet connection is essential for researching writing and receiving email from editors and publishers. Dial up is a good basic option, but if writers need to submit images with their writing, they may be better off with cable or DSL.

Writers may find it useful to have a printer for printing out articles. This allows writers to check their own writing for errors. There are also some publishers who only accept hard copy writing submissions. A laser printer gives a crisp, sharp look, but an ink jet is a good option for writers on a budget.

Writers will also need some way of taking notes if they do interviews. This could be a notebook and pen, which can be kept on the desk. A better option is a recording device of some kind to allow the writer to have a record of interviews and conversations with people. This can be a tape recorder, digital recorder or personal digital assistant (PDA) depending on the writer’s budget.

Organizing The Writing Environment

Once a writer has got a desk, chair and the right equipment for typing articles and taking notes, s/he will need a way of organizing the paper that covers every writer’s desk. This could be a series of file folders or filing trays to contain copies of email or snail mail letters to and from editors and publishers.

A good filing system is essential for writers. Writers need to keep track of what articles have been commissioned and when deadlines are coming up. Writers should also save copies of bills for travel and other expenses so they can claim tax relief or expenses.

Tip: Writers can print a list of their ideas for articles or stories and stick them up near the desk. These ideas may spark other ideas for writing and will help writers to have a goal when they sit down to write.

Sharon Hurley Hall gives writers advice on how to get paid to write [http://inspiredauthor.com/Business_Career/Freelance/GettingPaid/index.htm]. Sharon is a freelance writer, ghostwriter and editor who writes on freelance writing [http://inspiredauthor.com/Business_Career/Freelance/index.htm] skills and writer promotion for InspiredAuthor.com. For more information or to contact Sharon, visit doublehdesign.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_Hurley_Hall

This article not only provides invaluable tips for budding freelance writers, but also tackles the following issues:

· The freelance writing market in India

· Branding yourself as a freelance writer online

· How to submit articles to various publications

· How to handle rejection

· How to network with other Indian freelance writers

· Top Freelance writing websites in India

Do you often receive mails from publications saying ‘While your article is very interesting, we find that it does not fit in with the style and ethos of our magazine…’ or ‘we have just carried articles on topics similar to yours a while ago and deeply regret our inability…?’

Do you then listlessly, go back to the grueling job of looking for other publications while seeking, searching and surfing an indifferent market for that one editor who may accept your article and actually pay you for it?

As any freelance writer worth his ink knows, getting established as a respected writer is a daunting task. As for earning a living from it, nah! (Does anyone make a living from writing alone???) In this dog eat dog world, ‘respect’ is still forthcoming only to that writer who draws a regular wage from an accredited newspaper, magazine or tech company and not to the immensely talented freelancer who doesn’t have a single published article to his credit.

A career in freelance writing is not a cakewalk

To succeed, a freelance writer must swallow his pride, his acute disappointment and keep knocking doors with renewed energy. He needs to, like Robert Bruce, try and try again till he eventually succeeds in catching the imagination of a discerning, wage earning editor who can help get his name up in print, cyber or otherwise. More often than not, this salaried genius of an editor pays him a pittance or not at all.

Moreover, ideas upon ideas and hour upon hour of creativity can all be junked at the click of an editor’s delete button. Being a famous freelance writer may be your goal, but the path you must take is disheartening, to say the least. You know, you are good but unfortunately those who control the paying market may not think so and with Lady Luck playing truant when you need her most you are back to playing SCRABBLE with your other unemployed friends!

But it is not so bad either!

Take heart all you brave freelancers. Things are about to change .In fact they have already changed. The print media alone not dominate any more; the Internet is akin to Ali Baba’s cave as far as writing jobs are concerned. The good news is there are more publications and websites looking for writers than ever before. Professionalism combined with payment ethics together with the world of ‘outsourcing’ has made ‘writing’ a highly lucrative career. Work-from-home freelance writers, especially web content writers, are a much sought after tribe these days and before you know it, healthy ‘respect’ may follow too and yes needless to say the moolah will come in as well!

Become a specialist

Today the demand is for good ‘niche writers’. Restrictive though it is, like everything else, even here, the need for specialization is at an all time high. Travel writers, Creative writers, Copywriters, Resume writers, Content writers, Technical writers, Essay writers, you name it, and there is a market for it. If you are slowly able to, after a few initial experiments, carve out a niche for yourself by specializing in any one such field and you get published (usually without payment first!) you are almost there. Once you manage to sell your ideas, you are home and running.

How to get started

Your best bet is to email/call up editors and constantly surf the net for opportunities. Make Search Engines (Google, yahoo) your trusted lieutenants and use them to help you seek, search and finally apply to advertised or possible opportunities.

If you find good websites you could write for, look for submission guidelines or send in your query. A query letter is not a waste of time. On an average three out of every five will elicit some kind of a response that will take you forward.

Though it is usual practice in established writing circles not to start writing till an understanding is reached, you the newbie can take no chances. So, till you have sufficient work, give them what they’ve asked for, quickly, whatever the subject, or send them something you have already written. Odds are that they will use it and pay you with a nice “Thank you for your submission’ letter or not at all, but if rejected or if you don’t hear from them ever again, which is highly likely, don’t lose heart. Move on. Just keep those articles as ready-reckoner samples for later use. Stockpile them in a folder for the future, to be sent on to other editors who may seek samples of your written work.

If they are freelance writing markets, narrow in on the popular ones. Subscribe to their newsletters. Most of them are free. It will give you a fair idea of their reliability. Generally avoid those that promise you the moon. Look for those that seem sincere. But do not subscribe or pay for anything till you are sure of a website’s credentials. Also, remember to check out the various published lists of dishonest and fly-by-night operators often. Soon you will be able to sift the wheat from the chaff.

Occupational Hazards

Occasionally, you might also find your article published without you getting a cent of the promised amount or worse, published under another writer’s name. And oh yes, it could also undergo a complete makeover (usually, very ineptly) so much so, you might not even recognize it as your own barring the name. It could very likely put you off writing, totally. The print media specially is notorious for this! But that is a hazard you must realize, that comes with your occupation. Though new laws are being introduced and forums being convened to prevent such occurrences, there is very little one can do, to actually thwart them, other than avoiding such sites and magazines in the future.

Patience Pays (Literally!)

So your article was rejected?

Disappointments and rejections not withstanding you need to keep your spirits up and patiently continue to write everyday – about something, about anything!
Never stop. Never give up. Also don’t sell yourself short. It is only a matter of time before your articles start finding a market, eventually on your terms

Do not get bitter with an editor because he/she rejected your article. Try and build relationships with your editors. Send them query letters every now and then gently remind them you exist! More often than not you may get no reply. But persist. Who knows, they might just remember to call on your services when the need arises. Or your email might reach them at a time when they are looking for someone with your skills. And when they start contacting you to get articles written, they start paying too. Slowly but surely you will soon start finding more and more of your contributions in print/uploaded and along with this will come ‘recognition’. And this recognition will soon translate your output into bucks even if it is not instantly megabucks. And then you the lowly work-from-home freelance writer would have arrived.

Ways to network

You could also pick up many a useful tip by becoming a member of various interesting writing communities and lists (Yahoo, Msn etc) on the web .And you will realize that you are not the only freelance-writer out there plowing a lonely furlough. It makes for a great sense of belonging and helps hone your creative skills.

Online freelance writing markets for Indian writers

While there are no guarantees that your article will find a home instantly or that all sites on the net are legitimate, there are many sites and publications that do accept and survive on freelance submissions .You need to sift through them to pick the genuine ones and choose those that will suit your purpose. And just as there are many sites, which insist on a membership or subscription fee to check out their market database there are also many that post interesting, paying offers –free!

Chillibreeze.com

Of special interest to both writers and corporates is the Indian website Chillibreeze. The Chillibreeze network of writers includes talented individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Operating out of India but spanning the world through the web, it matches writers and projects quite effectively. Chillibreeze is devoted entirely to the savvy freelance writer! The writer selection process takes into account several factors including the writer’s profile and the quality of the sample submitted to our website. Says Dr. Nishi Viswanathan, Chief Content Officer of Chillibreeze, “Chillibreeze gives Indian writers an arena to showcase their talent and work with clients from all over the world. Our writers love the flexibility and freedom we offer them. Every article written by a writer at Chillibreeze goes through a meticulous process of editing and QC before it is sent to the client, so our clients receive high quality error-free content. We are growing at a steady rate and are well on our way to becoming one of India’s top content companies. Hope we are able to provide more opportunities for Indian writers in the coming years.”

According to Dr. Viswanathan, Chillibreeze will soon launch a new website exclusively for Indian freelance writers.

Visit the Chillibreeze website for more details.

Freelanceindia

This is a freelancing job portal for Indian freelance writers. While Projects posted here appear to be genuine the website also allows you to post your profile for free. The team at Freelanceindia describes the portal as a website “For freelancers, to unleash their potential and avail of the global opportunities and in turn get best dues for their skills professionally and financially.”

Guru.com

This is another freelance writing portal that is India specific but this website is not very user friendly. Writers bid for projects and the lowest bid wins. Often, writers end up getting paid a pittance.

Thehoot.org

This is a website that targets journalists, users of the media including lay readers and viewers, students and teachers of journalism and communications. It also attempts to provide tools for communities and individuals to interact with the media. According to the team at thehoot, the website “will attempt to hold a mirror to the way journalists practice their craft in this region.”

Ten steps towards a successful career in freelance writing

· Surf the net every day for new opportunities regularly, both print as well as online media.

· Respond to as many postings as you can. Set an hour aside just for this each day.

· Send query letters to editors for topics you think you could write about

· Choose a few editors and ask them if you could write for them or send them what you’ve already written

· Start a dialogue with them. Forge a strong relationship with your editors.

· Enter as many contests as you can. The confidence you gain is tremendous.

· Become an active list member and use the forum as a sounding board.

· Patience and persistence will be your best assets.

· Keep writing and keep sending your pieces to various publications. Your masterpieces will eventually find a home!

· Don’t ever lose heart. Rejections are a writer’s stepping-stones to great success!

Looking for more resources? Hang on.

Chillibreeze.com will be launching a free online resource guide for Indian freelance writers. This short guide will include around 100 paying markets/websites that are both popular and freelance writer-friendly. Watch out for this valuable guide.

Good luck with your freelance writing career!

Sreelata Menon is a freelance writer who enjoys writing on all kinds of topics. The more controversial, the better! Her ‘letters to the editor’ on current happenings appear with unfailing regularity in newspapers while her articles appear in various printed and online publications. A Masters in history from Mumbai University, she has worked as an Asst editor with the Onlooker and World trade Magazines .She has taught history to undergraduates, has had a stint as an Accounts executive in an Ad agency, and has been interviewed on television as an up and coming professional before switching over to full time freelance writing.

She is currently busy reinventing herself as a web content writer with quite a few projects in hand. She is based in Allahabad.

Resources: http://www.chillibreeze.com and http://www.thehoot.org

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sreelata_Menon

The opportunity is fantastic, and so is the writer’s life that you could enjoy. But where can you find the jobs you need to establish a full-time writing career?

One way to start is through working the Internet job boards. Here aAlso included and listed separately are resources for business and technical writers, editors, journalists, and translators.

Writers’ Resources–General

Absolute Write – freelance writing, screenwriting, playwriting, writing novels, nonfiction, comic book writing, greeting cards, poetry, songwriting. One stop shop

Emily’s Writing for the Web Emily A. Vander Veer gives professional writers the tools needed to promote, publish, and sell work to the largest and fastest-growing market in the world: the Web.

e-Writer’s Place For writing inspirations, motivations and prescriptions.

Freelance Writers is a searchable database of writers from all around the world.

Freelance Writing This is the ultimate job board for freelance writers.

Freelance Writing Organization – Int’l This site hosts one of the largest free writing resource links databases in the world! It offers education, daily news, a writer’s store, creativity advice and forums, to name a few of the resources. Over 2,000 free writing resources in 40+ categories of writing

FundsForWriters – A plethora of sources where freelance writers can find paying jobs

Momwriters A community of professional and new writers … who face the unique challenges of writing with children underfoot.

National Writer’s Union ‘The only U.S. trade union for freelance and contract writers.’ We offer contract advice, grievance resolution, health & dental plans, member education, Job Hotline, and networking. See also: Writers Union Job Hotline

Published! Articles and resources…from Marcia Yudkin, author of eleven books and hundreds of magazine articles, syndicated columnist, public radio commentator, writing coach

Published – The Directory of Independent Writers & Artists. searchable directory of independent Writers & Artists

SharpWriter Grammar. Complete writing resources. Lot of good stuff here but not geared expressly for freelancers

Suite101 This is an online community for writers. Not only is this a great site for work-at-home resources. You can apply to become an editor for them and get paid for your work.

Sunoasis Jobs for Writers, Editors, and Copywriters Employment opportunities for writers, journalists, new-media types on-line off-line in reporting feature writing reviewing editing free-lancing editorial content providing etc. … Recently submitted job offers: Copywriter, Freelance. Monarch Design, a design and advertising agency,

The Burry Man Writers Center freelance job links, resources for fiction and nonfiction writers, working professionals and beginners

with particular support for writing about Scotland

The New Writer – the monthly magazine with the best in fact, fiction and poetry. aimed at all writers: the short story writer, the novelist, the poet, feature writer, anyone with a serious intent to develop their writing to meet the expectations of today’s editors.

The Writers Home A Web Site For Writers, Editors And Lovers Of The Written Word.

TrAce Online Writing Community trAce connects writers and readers around the world … with the focus on creativity, collaboration and training. New media writing, web development

Worldwide Freelance Writer How to sell your writing overseas. Find out where to sell your freelance work. Detailed guidelines for paying writing markets all over the world.

WriteCraft Writers Resource Center Companion to the WriteCraft Critique Group – where writers learn the trade.

writejobs Job Title. Company. Location. Proofreader/editor. Bioedit Ltd. Freelance. Digital Photography Writers …

Writers Unbound Writing resources, Internet resources related to writing, writers, publishing, epublishing, authors and more. Articles and resources related to creative writing.

Writer’s Software SuperCenter Writer’s Software SuperCenter has software for writing books, articles, novels, and screenplays, including Writer’s Blocks software, StyleWriter editing software, StoryCraft, and more!

Writing World – Moira Allen provides writing tips, markets, news, contests and more.

The Writer’s Gazette Writing resource site for writers on freelance and publishing, including articles, job board, contests . Nice, comprehensive list of writers’ job boards.

Business and Technical

Copywriter world Freelance writers bid for writing projects such as resume writing, documents in APA style or MLA style writing, poems, sonnets, research papers, business plans, your biography, free e-books, your business proposal, essays, marketing plans, web content, ghost writing, ad copy, catalogs… virtually any form of writing.

Freelance Online – a professional online service for freelancers in the publishing and advertising fields. Free for employers; freelancers pay $15.00/year for membership.

Freelance Success Freelance Success is a community of professional, nonfiction writers who subscribe to a newsletter that guides them toward well-paying markets and editors. There is not a job board located on this site.

Techwriters Employs technical writers on and off site. The pay is excellent, but you must have a lot of experience with the topics

writingassist.com Provides local freelance technical writers for projects such as manuals, policies, software documentation, and work flow integration.

Children’s Literature

Institute of Children’s Literature offered the premiere writing course, books, and a newsletter to adults interested in learning how to write and be published for children and teens.

Editing

Manuscript Editing Fiction and Non-fiction; Serving writers, literary agents, and publishers since 1976.

Fiction

Fiction Factor – The Online Magazine for Fiction Writers. NEW!

International markets

Australian Writer’s Marketplace The essential resource for getting published in Australia and New Zealand.

Author Network – resources for writers including links, articles, monthly columns and ePublishing services.

Canadian Writer’s Journal Canada’s Independent Writer’s Magazine.

Freelance Spain – the online Spanish resource for editors and journalists.

FreelanceJournalist.co.uk Helping journalists build a presence on the web. The web directory for UK freelance journalists.

Freelancers.co.uk offers you the complete guide to freelancing for publishers as a copyeditor or proofreader.

New Zealand Writers Website Writing Resources for New Zealand writers

writelinkpro.co.uk WritelinkPRO is the content provider for top UK monthly newsletter and website. We pay on acceptance for writing articles, fiction, poetry, reviews. We offer free e-book workshops, free e-book on travel writing, exclusive Members Area.

Journalism

International Federation of Journalists – The world’s largest organization of journalists, representing around 450,000 members in more than 100 countries.

News Jobs Network Journalisms resources and News jobs in US, Canada and Utah.

UK Links 4 Journalists the most useful sites on the web. This is the journalist’s section.

Translation

ProZ: Freelance translators, translation services, agencies, jobs and directory …

Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia Fostering creative writing and the profession of writing in Nova Scotia.

Writerfind New Zealand Linking New Zealand writers with local and global markets.

Playwriters

writernetwork. We provide dramatic writers with the tools they need to build better careers and redefine the

About The Author

Janet K. Ilacqua is a freelance writer based in Tracy, California. She specializes in academic writing and ghostwriting of books and manuals for individuals and small businesses. For more information about her services, check her website at [http://www.writeupondemand.com].

jilacqua@aol.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janet_K._Ilacqua

Ghost writer services come in more forms than many people realize. Traditionally, a ghost writer service was thought of as a service provided by a professional writer in order to create a book or novel. With the boom of the Internet, however, ghost writer services have grown into much more.

Types of Ghost Writer Services

Today, ghost writer services come in many forms. One of the fastest growing forms of ghost writer service is the creation of content for web sites. Business owners are quickly realizing the importance of having relevant content on their sites when it comes to attracting visitors and ranking high in the search engine results. Therefore, qualified individuals that are capable of creating content that is meaningful to the site yet attractive to search engines are in high demand.

Another popular form of ghost writer service that has grown because of the Internet is that of the ebook ghostwriter. An ebook is a book that is distributed in digital form, usually as a download from a website. Like a hard copy book, an ebook must be interesting and well-written. Since it is distributed in digital format, it must also be written in a format that is easy to read from the computer but that can also be printed off if the buyer wishes to do so.

Another form of ghost writer service is that of a technical writer. Technical writers create articles or instructions that explain how to perform a specific task. Technical writers must be able to create content that is clear and concise. The boom of the Internet has made it possible for the technical writer to offer ghost writer services from home, which has significantly increased the pool of potential writers for a business in need of a qualified technical writer at a good price.

Grant writers are also offering ghost writer services to nonprofit agencies and to businesses that qualify. In the past, it was often difficult to find a grant writer in the area that was qualified to write a grant for a particular niche area. Today, it is far easier to find a competent grant writer with a proven track record through the help of the Internet.

Even professional resume writers provide ghost writer services through the Internet. All you need to do is send an email containing your relevant information to the resume writer, and he or she can create a winning resume that will be sure to land you that dream job.

Choosing the Best Ghost Writer Service

Now that you have decided that you need the help of a ghost writer service you might be wondering what steps you should take when selecting a provider. When looking to hire ghost writer services, there are a number of things you should look for. These include:

How much experience does the individual have with providing ghost writer services? Although you might be able to get a lower price by selecting a provider with little to no experience, you are taking a risk that the final product will not be up to par.

Does the person providing ghost writer services have a portfolio? When selecting someone to provide you with ghost writer services, you should first take a look at examples of his or her writing. Just because the person has received rave reviews from others, it doesn’t mean his or her style will suit your needs or taste. Ideally, the person providing ghost writer services should have a web site where you can read samples and learn more about his or her writing experience.

Do I like this person’s personality? When hiring someone to perform ghost writer services, you will be working closely together – even if it is just for one small project, you need to be certain that you feel comfortable with the person doing the writing. You should feel comfortable with making suggestions and you should get the feeling that the person is really listening to you and responding to your needs.

Is the person easy to get in touch with? If you have difficult getting in touch with the person providing ghost writer services before your project has even started, it is a sign that your troubles will continue once the project has started. You need a writer that is easy to get in touch with and that is quick to respond to your emails or phone calls. This way, you will always know that your project is on track.

By asking these few simple questions, you are likely to find a ghost writer service that will get the job done quickly and to your liking.

This article was written by a ghostwriter at RentAGhostWriter.Com. To hire a ghostwriter for your needs, please visit: http://www.rentaghostwriter.com, where you can find dozens of writers waiting to bid on your project. So whether you’re an individual seeking ghostwriter services or a freelancer seeking writing jobs, RentAGhostWriter.Com is for you. Visit now: http://www.rentaghostwriter.com/blog

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=R._Sharp

Article Directory Submission

A popular service I offer is the provision of a second, rewritten, version of a commissioned article, so that the customer receives two articles rather than one. This allows one version to be posted on your own website and the rewritten version to be submitted to article directories. The purpose of doing this is to avoid you competing with others using exactly the same content as you. There seems little point in you placing an article on your own web page then submitting that article to directories from which your competitors can copy them to their own web pages.

You are then competing for keywords against potentially hundreds of other websites using your own article. You may have your resource box on their site, each one giving you a valuable back-link, but this could be insufficient to make up for all that competition with duplicate content that may cause your site to drop down the listings.

What you should do to avoid this is to offer a rewritten version to the directories, and I find this one of my more popular services. The way the article is amended is important. It must give the same meaning as the original, but contain different semantics. The keyword density must be reasonable, around 1%, and the textual theme of the page must be relevant to the keyword targeted. The rewrite should be different enough to be regarded as unique, but not so different that it does not adequately address the topic at hand.

Use The Same Article On More Than One Web Page

Exactly the same approach should be used if you want to use the same article on a number of different websites or pages utilising the same keyword. Here, you are competing against yourself, and the article should be rewritten so that this does not happen. You have the same situation as that above, except you are your own competition. Unless the article is radically rewritten you may be in danger of diluting your website with too much similar content. This is the most common reason for article rewriting.

Use The Same Article For Different Keywords

I have frequent requests for rewrites where the customer wants to use the same article for a range of different keywords. This involves a slightly different style of rewriting since two keywords rarely have exactly the same meaning. How many exact synonyms are there? Very few, since most words have their own roots and there are generally different nuances in meaning between words which are synonymic in some contexts, but not in all.

In such cases the article will be adjusted to meet the requirements of the vocabulary being used. For example, the terms ‘internet marketing’ and ‘online marketing’ appear to have the same meaning in the context of marketing techniques, but the words ‘internet’ and ‘online’ are not synonyms – not even close. You can work ‘online’ but you can’t work ‘internet’. The reason is that ‘internet’ can be a noun or an adjective, while ‘online’ can be an adjective or an adverb.

The consequence of this is that one cannot always be used synonymously for the other, so article rewriting involves more than simple word substitution. It involves a good knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. This is where I see most attempts at rewriting articles go wrong: through misuse of grammar and a misunderstanding of the parts of speech. It can get complicated when we consider noun, adjective and adverb clauses, and article rewriting is not as simple as most believe.

Rewriting Scraped Articles

A major rewrite service I am frequently asked to provide is a complete rewrite of an article so that it bears little resemblance to the original. The customer likes the look of an article, but wants it rewritten so that it is indistinguishable from the original. A bit of a conflict there, I feel. Whenever I get work like this I am suspicious that the article has been scraped from the internet and the author’s resource box removed. The customer wants the article rewritten with his or her own name as author, and written so that the original author will not recognize it. What’s the point? I prefer to write from scratch because it is easier, and I therefore charge more for rewrites than original work. It is easier for authors to give their own slant on a topic than copy that of another.

The next time you want an article rewritten please determine clearly what your objective is. If a rewrite is essential have it done professionally or it could harm your listing rather than improve it, and please do not ask for a rewrite if a fresh article would do – it is easier for a professional article writer to write originally than copy another author’s style. If the sense of the piece is to be exactly maintained, article rewriting is not as simple a task as most people believe it to be.