Writers Unbound

Work Opportunities

DEMAND STUDIOS
I write for Demand Studios, and overall it’s a good gig. They have several websites but you start out writing for eHow.com. You can write for eHow.com simply by being a registered member there, and you have the potential to earn money off page views. However, if you apply at Demand Studios, you get paid cash for every how-to article you produce. If you pick how-to articles
within your knowledge base, they can be simple and quick to write. You can include graphics or not. You can include resources at the bottom, which I’ve used to send people back to related articles at my website.You want to be careful not to overdo the self-marketing there, but if you have high-quality, related content, it’s a good opportunity.

The drawbacks? It takes a week or two to process an article from “Under Review” to “Published,” which keeps your queu full (you have a limit of 10 articles in progress at a time) so you can’t claim other articles to write until yours are far enough along in the processing line. There are lots of categories, but not always lots of articles to choose from. When there is a fresh infusion of available titles, they go pretty fast, and I can’t find a pattern or schedule for when those new articles are going to appear. So I just check out the available articles every other morning or so.

It isn’t a perfect system, and it’s a little pesky sometimes, but overall it’s an easy way to get articles on a major site with your name on them and get a quick cash infusion. Go apply!

More Work Opportunities

• Part-Time English-Language Editors - freelance, telecommute, part-time; you edit essays. $16 per 250 words. (Source: Atlanta Craigslist)
• I don’t like to post non-paying jobs, unless the byline is worthwhile, but this one sounds fun: a Music Writer for an online magazine, no pay, but “with great perks like free albums/music, free shows, and the chance to interview popular musicians,” or so they say. Freelance, telecommute, part-time; no pay. (Source: Los Angeles Craigslist)

Workshops - free online courses.

These courses are from the Open University, a UK based organization offering “high quality university education to all.”
Writing offerings include Approaching Prose Fiction, Approaching Poetry, Approaching Plays, Writing What You Know, What Is Poetry?, Start Writing Fiction, and Forms and Uses of Language.
Why take online courses? Oooh, I don’t know, maybe to keep yourself sharp, to learn new things, to have an imposed deadline, to push yourself to new challenges, to LEARN (duh), to stretch yourself, to become an expert in new areas, to generate writing ideas, to set yourself on a schedule, to produce material, to understand your craft, to grow.

Go get a job. Make it a good day.

Good morning readers and writers. It’s Writers Work Wednesday. Let’s get some dollars going.

• Avalon sure is friendly to potential authors. Their ”want list” is almost always updated. They’re currently putting the call out for a guide on travel to Honduras.
• Are you new to blogging? You may want to see if you can get on board with the Families.com blog network.
• Veteran writers based in San Francisco may want to check out this posting.
• Tech and custom car blogger needed. Be sure to bookmark this board, it’s great because it tells you how long ago the job was posted.
• Here’s a magazine I would read: Mexico Xpatz is seeking freelance writers. I’m burned out on writing about Mexico right now, so I won’t compete with you! (I’ll just subscribe and read you later!)
• Habitat Magazine is looking for journalists.
• Novelists: Twelfth Planet Press has put out a call for novellas numbering between 20,000 and 40,00 words.

 Another thing I want to bring up this Writer’s Work Wednesday is this wonderful book I’m reading that WILL get you motivated to query magazines and GET ASSIGNMENTS. I’m not even done with it, yet I CANNOT wait to recommend it to you: Writer Mama by Christina Katz.

Christina takes you through the process of becoming a writer for magazines, from beginning to end (and beyond). One book has never generated so many ideas for me before. I am reviewing it for About.com Freelance Writing, and carefully crafting my review. But don’t wait, get it today! 

Hello, is it Wednesday? See, I wouldn’t know, because I am actually dripping these posts ahead of time in an effort to be a more efficient freelance writer.

Either way, it’s time for some writing work for you!

• Copywriter needed at a company with a really cool name. This is a virtual position.
• If you’re in Chicago, you may want to check out this op from Mintel.
• Poetry Coach needed. Must have a college degree.
• WRG is hiring hiring again. This is a virtual position.
• A POD Publisher needs production help.
• If you have a creative mind, you can make some extra money with Sandbox International.
• Got a niche you that you know a little something about? About.com is looking for Guides for many of its niche sites. Minimum pay is $725 a month.
• McFrank needs an advertising copywriter.
• A Tech Writer is needed by a software company. This one requires a degree.
• Eh. I don’t like this one so much, but I will put it out there for you to check thoroughly.
• Here’s a short term opportunity for writers in North Caroline. I wouldn’t mind having Wake Forest on my resume! I’ve been called an education snob though. Hmm, on second look, I’m not positive this is for the University though.
• Several positions are listed this week at Editors Only classifieds. Don’t let the name throw you off- I saw several postings seeking freelance writers.

As always, I wish you the best of luck! (And I do so sincerely, as there are literally thousands of writing positions out there, and I am willing to share! : }  )