Writers Unbound

These Are Worth Your Time

• Book Reviews for Real People is one of my favorites. Jim and Maria Duncan write quick, insightful, funny reviews on the books they’ve read. Recent titles include “The Year of Living Biblically” (A.J. Jacobs), “The Evolution of Useful Things” (Henry Petroski), and the most recent is “The Angel on the Roof” (Russell Banks). The posts are kind of sporadic as far as timing goes, but I always go see what’s there when a new post goes up.
• Creative Writing Contests is a blog you should know about if you’re a writer. Updated often, with helpful categories and pertinent information about manywriting contests. It’s definitely worth adding to your reader so you know when a new contest opens up. Also, if you’ve not checked out the site before, scroll through the recent archives for contests you might be interested in.
• Liz Strauss at Successful Blog is my most recent add to my Google Reader. I haven’t had a chance to read through the archives yet, but I will be spending some time there. Her “Successful Series” alone will take me a while. The information here is amazing, timely, and helpful. Go read something. You’ll learn.

And as always,

make it a good day.

Read Monday’s article on 5 Tips for a Better Writing Week and tweak it to apply to your weekend, especially if you’re one of those who works full-time and must squeeze writing into the edges.

• If you’re feeling in a rut or just need a break, incorporate the tips from this article on getting the most from your holiday. Consider your weekend a mini writer’s retreat, a mental spa.
• Check out 10 Tips for Getting Started as a Freelancer as well.

Tuesday’s article was about How to Build a Successful Freelance Foundation; if you haven’t already, read it! Writing is a business and a craft. Being a well-organized and prepared business person will help you be a better writer. So start getting your foundation in place this weekend.

• Learn how to Hold Yourself Accountable As a Writer.
• Make sure you don’t have any of these bad habits.
• Learn How to Set a Schedule, a basic must for a freelance writer.

Wednesday’s article, How to Become a Prolific Writer, states my definition of success. What is yours?

• LifeScript’s article, How Do You Define Success, can help you answer that question.
• Still not sure? Browse a few of these thoughts about success…

Thursday was Part 2 of How to Be a Prolific Writer: I theorized and proposed a freelance writing experiment of sorts.
Here are some other writing experiments:

• This one will help you get started on a poem.
• Inkwell Editorial’s 30-day Article Marketing Experiment e-book (must purchase).

Finally, since today is, according to my little freelance time experiment, the day I get to search for jobs, here are a few sites to check out for your own job-hunting:

• Great leads at JournalismJobs.com.
• Not a lot, but some good opportunities at Idealist.org.
• Freelance Job Bank is another site to check. Lots of SEO stuff here. Check the company and make sure it’s all legitimate.

Have a great weekend!