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Many among us would love to be published in the Wall Street Journal, or have our fabulous idea for a novel turn into a bestseller. While these are both great goals to have, it is very difficult to achieve either overnight.
However, you can build your portfolio and put some money in the bank while working toward this target with these tips.
If you have a computer and an internet connection (or can use one at the library) you have access to an abundance of writer’s websites, where you can find markets for your articles, short stories, even poems. Each website is different-some have listings for print magazines, some literary projects, some online or e-zines, along with tips on writing and getting started in this business. Read the listings carefully so that you know what the publication is looking for, and try to read over some of the previous issues so that you understand the style readers are accustomed to.
www.ralan.com Ralan’s Webstravaganza is a fairly comprehensive website that has listings for anthologies, adult markets (somebody has to write that stuff), paying and nonpaying markets and contests. This site is geared towards science fiction, fantasy, horror, which are collectively called speculative fiction. This site also lists humor markets.
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~mslee/mag.html This is another speculative writing site, though Mary Soon Lee maintains her lists in order of how much the listings pay, from less than one cent per word to over three cents per word. (500 words is about one page.)
www.passionatepen.com This site caters to romance writers. Listings range from large publishers to small presses to e-publishers.
www.writerswrite.com This site has a searchable database plus lots of other tips, message boards, and job postings.
www.worldwidefreelance.com This site has free listings for over 500 markets, plus articles to help you in your writing career.
Additionally, you should check out these sites, where you can submit your articles, and you earn cash from them:
www.helium.com Helium has a writer’s marketplace, articles you can write to for a fixed price. If yours is picked as the best, you get paid. They also have contests on an ongoing basis, and upfront payments for articles posted once you reach a certain “star” level.
www.hubpages.com Hub doesn’t do upfront payments, but you earn through the advertising they have on their pages.
www.constant-content.com This site is like a consignment shop. You can post and sell your original works here.
www.examiner.com Of course you know about this site, since you are on it now. Examiner pays based on the popularity of your postings, and is a great way to impart your wisdom of your local area or a specific topic.
There are many other places you can search as well:
www.freelanceswitch.com
www.odesk.com
www.getafreelancer.com
www.scriptlance.com
www.elancer.com
www.indeed.com (put “writer” in your search bar)
Keep in mind, these are more general sites, and offer other freelance positions, including web design and programming in addition to writing and are very competitive. Be careful not to sell yourself too short--many work similarly to Ebay, where you do a job and get rated, so the temptation is to work for peanuts to build your reputation.
Additionally, for further information, I have negotiated a discounted price ($7.00) for an eBook written by Kerry Finch, who comes highly recommended as a great source for beginning writers everywhere! Her e-book, “Overnight Writing Income” has tips on the top ten ways to write for the internet, more information on where to find work, what (free) accounts you need to get started, how to write articles, press releases, eBooks, biographies, sales copy, and building your own online portfolio. Link to her site: http://www.overnightwritingincome.com/Examiner-Special-Offer.html.
These resources are by no means exhaustive, but can give you numerous reference points to get started writing for dollars!
