Allcot Media

Writing, Editing & Coaching Services

2009-10-21T10:36:00.000-07:00

Writing Services
Are you looking for an experienced freelance writer who can make your project shine?

Are you tired of working with writers who claim to be professionals but don’t have the talent, knowledge or credentials to back it up?

Do you want a writer who will not only meet deadlines and create clear, compelling copy, but will work with you as part of your creative team, brainstorming ideas, offering honest feedback and taking pride in your business?

I’m there for you.

Some of my services include...

- Feature articles (print and digital magazines)
- Newswriting
- Blogging
- Web copy
- Press releases
- eBooks
- Product descriptions

Niche markets

- home-based businesses and marketing
- social networking & technology
- health & fitness
- parenting & pregnancy
- audiovisual technology
- Christian writing (including house-of-worship technology & marketing)
- freelance writing/grammar
- paintball.

I love learning about new topics through writing. If you have a project that requires specialized knowledge, ask me! I might know about it or be interested in learning! Over the past two decades, I’ve written about everything from HVAC systems to teeth whitening – and hundreds of topics in between.

Email DawnAllcot (@) gmail dot com for rates or more information.

2009-10-21T07:50:00.001-07:00

On tap today, interviews w/ paintballers. More like chatting w/ friends. Who can call this work?

2009-10-20T14:33:00.001-07:00

Hungry for a quality audiovisual experience? http://ping.fm/gJZwF (Seriously, it's my latest trade article.)

2009-10-20T12:16:00.001-07:00

Review: The Essential Guide to Breastfeeding: I breastfed like a champ with both of my kids,.. http://bit.ly/fUBHU from @BabiesOnline

2009-10-19T13:07:00.001-07:00

What buzzword makes you cringe? http://ping.fm/7qZb7

2009-10-19T09:21:00.001-07:00

The big problem with "having it all" is you have to find a place to put it. :)

2009-10-19T08:24:00.001-07:00

Building a social media presence? You have choices... http://ping.fm/Pxsy1

2009-10-19T08:23:00.001-07:00

Good review of a book on presentations/public speaking... http://ping.fm/aoURj

2009-10-17T13:39:00.001-07:00

This is one big bouncing baby boy! http://ping.fm/5Itaq

2009-10-17T13:36:00.001-07:00

Should I buy a Blackberry? http://ping.fm/BRi3j

2009-10-17T11:47:00.001-07:00

Looking for quick reference AP style guides? http://ping.fm/H9lCR

2009-10-16T16:09:00.001-07:00

Can you get famous blogging for someone else? http://ping.fm/n2NqV

2009-10-16T10:50:00.001-07:00

Anyone else turn into birthday-zilla before their baby's first? http://ping.fm/oHUkK

2009-09-06T14:52:00.000-07:00

This blog was originally titled "Anything that Pays," a catchy phrase my husband selected to help me answer the question, "What do you write?"

It became my elevator speech, opening the doors to a variety of assignments.

As I moved from novice to experienced professional, the phrase seemed to imply desperation. But just the other day I told a friend, "I have lots of experience writing in fields where I have no experience!" And I love it.

My passion is writing and editing -- whatever the topic. My articles, web copy, press releases or marketing material entertain, make people think, move people to action.

While experience and growth leaves me in a position to be more selective about my projects, I bring passion and experience to every assignment, whatever the topic.

You can email me at DawnAllcot (@) gmail dot com for more information.

Freelance Writing

2009-09-05T17:37:00.000-07:00

Since 1996, I’ve published thousands of articles in print and on the Web, from human interest stories for local papers to cover stories in internationally-distributed trade magazines.

Some of my recent clients include:

Sound & Communications
Club Business International
BabiesOnline
Long Island Exchange
Church Production Magazine

I’ve also penned press releases for such companies as Cousins Paintball, P-C-W Worldwide, iPrayerworks software, Aadvert International and the SPPL Tournament Paintball Series.

My personal essays have appeared in the anthologies A Cup of Comfort for Sisters and Sacred Water.

With 15+ years experience in print and Web publishing, I can provide articles for your publication or take your small business to the next level with a range of marketing services.

For more information, please view my RESUME or e-mail me at DawnAllcot (@) gmail dot com for a free estimate.

RESUME

2009-09-05T06:28:00.001-07:00

Ghostwriting

2009-09-01T10:34:00.000-07:00

* Do you need content for your corporate blog but don't have time to write it?

* Do you want to enhance your reputation as an expert in your field?

* Do you have an idea for a non-fiction book but find yourself "blocked" when you sit down to write it?

You need a ghostwriter!

Whether you have a detailed outline or the faintest hint of an idea, I will work with you to create an article or book that will impress your client base, drive traffic to your website or simply fulfill your dream of seeing your name in print.

I've worked with top names in many different fields, including health and fitness, business, paintball and more ... but I'll write any non-fiction topic you request.
Please email me at DawnAllcot at gmail dot com for rates.

A professional freelance and staff writer since 1992, I have written thousands of articles for magazines and Web sites. I write in a broad range of niche markets. My interests vary widely, so I'm open to learning more about almost any topic. Ask me... I just may be interested in writing about it!

Editing

2009-09-01T10:33:00.000-07:00

My editing services run the gamut from proofreading or line editing to extensive copy editing and consulting for all non-fiction content.

I can edit your:

- Blog or website

- Marketing materials

- Articles for print or the Web

- eBook

- Press releases... and more.

Rates vary from $15 to $30 per page. Please e-mail me for a free consultation and estimate. I will happily sign any non-disclosure agreements required; your ideas are safe with me.

On Word Choice and Blog Titles

2009-08-08T19:04:00.000-07:00

“Inconceivable!”
“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”
- The Princess Bride

Words hold power. If you don’t believe me, think about this:

Have you ever…

- been moved to tears (or action) by a speech or movie scene?

- felt embarrassed over an off-handed comment made by a friend or relative?

- been yelled at by a boss or parent?

- decided to vote for a political candidate based on speeches, debates or quotes in an article?

- read a book that changed your life?

- heard (or said), “I love you?”

Several times in the past few days I’ve taken friends and colleagues to task because the words they chose did not convey what they “meant” to say. It resulted in my misunderstanding their intentions. They brushed it off by saying, “Well, you know what I meant,” or, “Oh, I didn’t mean that!”

In one case, I did know. But that doesn’t mean everyone would – or, more importantly, that what they said (rather than what they “meant” to say) wouldn’t become embedded in their subconscious as part of their life views.

That’s where we have to be really careful about word choices. We may know what we mean, but the actual words we use have power – on others and on ourselves. An ancient Indian proverb states:

I am aware of my thoughts because my thoughts become my words.
I am aware of my words because my words become my actions.
I am aware of my actions because my actions become my deeds.
I am aware of my deeds because my deeds become my character.
I am aware of my character because my character becomes my destiny.
-excerpted from The Secret Abundance Files

Distilled to its most basic meaning: “Our thoughts and words determine our destiny.”

And, to cover all bases in this short post:

“I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.” (Mark 11:23)

Do you agree that selecting the correct word to convey your meaning – whether you are writing an article, an e-mail a speech, or even holding a casual conversation – is important?

Having said all this, I've been considering changing the name of this blog. At one point in my career, it was a useful catchphrase to describe what I do for a living, and kept me open to nearly any type of writing assignment. Now, though, it's beginning to reek of desperation.

I may consider holding a contest in the future, but for now, I just want to know:

Should I change the name of this blog or keep it "Anything That Pays?"

Please vote in the comments section. I appreciate it!

Guerrilla Networking for Writers

2009-08-06T16:06:00.000-07:00

I frequently talk about networking on this blog. I believe it’s just as vital to success as the craft of writing (skill) and talent.

Many people view networking as something you do. Okay, language purists, networking is a verb and therefore, an action, literally speaking. But it’s not an action with a definitive start and end point, like washing the dishes. You shouldn’t put it on your to-do list and set aside time to complete it. (It’s actually a lot more fun than washing dishes, and not a chore to dread).

I’m reminded of a cartoon in which a writer is walking around his office with a coffee cup. A colleague asks him what he’s doing and he replies, “Writing.” Networking is just like that. You can – and should – do it anytime, any place. If you’re doing it well, people won’t even realize you’re doing it.

For me, networking is what I do when I’m procrastinating writing. It helps me justify – to some degree – the time I spend on Twitter and Facebook. But I understand not everyone feels that way. The good news is, you have opportunities to network all around you.

- When you read blogs and leave an insightful comment because the writer impressed you -- that's networking.

- When you go to a party, with some friends you know and some people you don't, introduce yourself and tell them what you do -- that's a first step toward networking. Ideally, you’ll build on this to create relationships with some of the people you meet.

- When you IM or call an acquaintance, not someone you speak to every day, and ask what they're up to, that's networking. (Some pros call this "pinging" people.)

- I went to a comedy club Friday night with a friend I hadn't seen in months. Not only did I introduce myself to the people at the table behind us, I'm writing about the comedian and I found out my friend wants to start a home business... you guessed it – I was networking (and drinking wine -- what could be better?)

Most importantly, networking should take place wherever you are, at any time -- ALL THE TIME, even.

I'm not saying to be shmoozy or sleazy or always looking out for your interests. In fact, networking really is just taking a GENUINE INTEREST IN OTHER PEOPLE AND THINKING OF WAYS YOU CAN HELP EACH OTHER.

Probably the only time a successful writer shouldn't be networking is when they're actually *writing*. And both are equally important to success. Do you agree?

Writing Leads that Sell

2009-06-28T19:45:00.001-07:00

I recently started writing for the Helium marketplace. Aside from a few paintball articles tossed up on Bukisa, this represents my first foray into content sites. Although others have recommended Associated Content and other sites, I like Helium because:

- the quality of writing, in general, seems better than some of the other sites
- the topics offered appeal to me
- the "marketplace" provides opportunities to be paid upfront for work.

Contributing to the marketplace is essentially writing on spec, so I'm careful to choose only topics I can use elsewhere if they are not selected for publication, or are so quick or interesting to write it doesn't bother me.

For instance, I wrote about the "Cash for Clunkers" program. I wanted to research the program anyway, and I've been doing so much finance writing lately, I figured the topic is bound to come up in an assignment soon.

Helium provides its members with an opportunity to "rank" stories written by other members. And during this process, I was reminded of the importance of a good lead.

You see, like many other people, I didn't sit and read every single article for ranking. I read the first paragraph and skimmed the rest. In many cases, a strong lead caused me to vote for one story over another.

In SEO writing, writers often neglect a strong lead, focusing instead on getting those keywords in the first sentence or paragraph. Like titles, though, the best leads appeal to real-life readers as well as search engine spiders.

Some examples of strong leads:

Anecdote – Stories engage. Marketing gurus and professionals from Dale Carnegie to Seth Godin have shared this principle. Start your article with an engaging, personal story (yours or someone else’s) and you’ll captivate readers.

Statistics – Startling – truly surprising – statistics capture people’s attention. It’s even better if you can share a statistic and illustrate it or personalize it in some way.

The Question – Some editors dislike the “hypothetical question” device. But if you can ask a question that gives your readers little choice but to answer, “Of course! That’s exactly like me!” you’ve got them hooked from word one.

Amazing facts – Like amazing statistics, it’s sometimes difficult to differentiate amazing facts from ho-hum statements. Test your lead by sharing the fact with a spouse, friend, or colleague. Don’t tell him it’s the first sentence of an article. If he responds with an enthusiastic, “Oh, really?” you have your lead.

My 8-week writing course, for sale for $129 at www.theabundantwriter.blogspot.com, takes you step-by-step through the process of writing a good lead and incorporating it into a query that sells.

Writing Leads that Sell

2009-06-28T19:45:00.000-07:00

I recently started writing for the Helium marketplace. Aside from a few paintball articles tossed up on Bukisa, this represents my first foray into content sites. Although others have recommended Associated Content and other sites, I like Helium because:

- the quality of writing, in general, seems better than some of the other sites
- the topics offered appeal to me
- the "marketplace" provides opportunities to be paid upfront for work.

Contributing to the marketplace is essentially writing on spec, so I'm careful to choose only topics I can use elsewhere if they are not selected for publication, or are so quick or interesting to write it doesn't bother me.

For instance, I wrote about the "Cash for Clunkers" program. I wanted to research the program anyway, and I've been doing so much finance writing lately, I figured the topic is bound to come up in an assignment soon.

Helium provides its members with an opportunity to "rank" stories written by other members. And during this process, I was reminded of the importance of a good lead.

You see, like many other people, I didn't sit and read every single article for ranking. I read the first paragraph and skimmed the rest. In many cases, a strong lead caused me to vote for one story over another.

In SEO writing, writers often neglect a strong lead, focusing instead on getting those keywords in the first sentence or paragraph. Like titles, though, the best leads appeal to real-life readers as well as search engine spiders.

Some examples of strong leads:

Anecdote – Stories engage. Marketing gurus and professionals from Dale Carnegie to Seth Godin have shared this principle. Start your article with an engaging, personal story (yours or someone else’s) and you’ll captivate readers.

Statistics – Startling – truly surprising – statistics capture people’s attention. It’s even better if you can share a statistic and illustrate it or personalize it in some way.

The Question – Some editors dislike the “hypothetical question” device. But if you can ask a question that gives your readers little choice but to answer, “Of course! That’s exactly like me!” you’ve got them hooked from word one.

Amazing facts – Like amazing statistics, it’s sometimes difficult to differentiate amazing facts from ho-hum statements. Test your lead by sharing the fact with a spouse, friend, or colleague. Don’t tell him it’s the first sentence of an article. If he responds with an enthusiastic, “Oh, really?” you have your lead.

My 8-week writing course, for sale for $129 at www.abundantwriter.com, takes you step-by-step through the process of writing a good lead and incorporating it into a query that sells.

Too Busy for Blogging?

2009-06-15T05:41:00.000-07:00

Well, so much for bi-weekly, weekly or even monthly posts. Was my last post really written in April?

A compliment from a successful freelancer has sparked me to write again. That, and an article in the NY Times. Because I'm a stubborn SOB, and the surest way to get me to do something is to claim I don't do it. Or, in this case, I'm posting to prove something wrong. (Even though, sadly, evidence claims they are right).

Wow. I need another cup of coffee this morning.

So, writer and college professor Bob Schaller called this article in the NY Times to my attention this morning. I'm not going to say the Times is dead wrong. One needs only to look at the date stamps on my posts to see that, yes, I'm one of those "mom bloggers" who has let life get in the way of blogging.

But please... "homework and swim practice... housework and parenting?" A spot of condescension with your morning coffee, WAHMs?

Judy Nichols, quoted in the article, is described as a stay-at-home-mom and mystery writer. Wouldn't that combination make her a work-at-home mom? When the English language seems to adopt new terminology more often than Lindsay Lohan gets into car accidents, why has this word not reached our mainstream lexicon yet?

And is there a slim possibility Judy Nichols stopped blogging to work on endeavors (like her novels?) that actually make money? Granted, I know some very successful mom bloggers who earn a living wage every month from blogging. But very few do that with their personal blogs. There are ways, between ad sense and affiliate programs. In fact, an ambitious mom blogger can create a whole blog network, which then becomes a business, with employees, advertisers and the whole nine yards.

But that's very, very different from blogs like Judy's "Rantings of a Crazed Soccer Mom."

Or this one.

Am I letting the New York Times guilt me into blogging again? Perhaps.

Hey, whatever works, right?

The Secret to Beating Writer’s Block

2009-04-23T06:13:00.000-07:00

I’ve had kind of a rough month. My working vacation at the beginning of April turned into more vacation and not so much working. Which was fine as far as recharging the batteries and having fun, but left me with a pile of stuff to finish when I returned.

Living out of a host of hotels up and down I-95 for the past few weeks left Ashley particularly clingy; I’ve spent a disproportionate amount of time holding her, at the expense of housework, work or any sort of social life. To add to it all, I’m trying to transition her into her own sleeping space (we’ve been co-sleeping for at least half the night, every night). Ironically, when she’s sleeping on her own, I’ll get a lot more sleep but the interim brings a lot more sleepness nights. (Just when I grew accustomed to five hours being a “good night’s sleep!”)

Enough whining, I promise. It gets better. And it got better. Because I remembered a very important writing rule: Writing breeds writing.

I had fallen out of the groove. I felt like everything I wrote was garbage, I had no ideas, and couldn’t put a sentence together. Finally, yesterday morning, I popped in a Baby Einstein DVD for Ashley and promised myself I’d just write one blog post. I put up a short post for www.paintballsportsmag.com. Don’t worry; I’ll wait while you go read it if paintball is your thing and you’re so inclined.

See? It’s not my best work, but it’s informative, short and useful, and the editor liked it. From there, I did some work on another blog project, finished a review of the Cushi Tush infant seat for Babies Online, and by the end of the night, I felt like my writing wasn’t half-bad anymore. I had also gotten considerably faster.

I’ve been doing this a long time, and it’s the same story every time. Not writing feeds on itself. If you don’t make that commitment to sit at your keyboard and produce something, not writing becomes the habit.

However, writing does the same. And beating writer’s block really is that easy.

Here’s the six-figure secret to becoming a full-time freelance writer: Just sit down and write.

You will probably think what you created was awful. It might be. Or maybe it won’t.

If you’re really unsure, send it to a trusted friend or colleague. If you need a boost in confidence, send it to your mom. The point is, you will have written! And as you write, it gets easier. As you don’t write, it gets harder and harder to begin. So just take that step.

Some people might ask, “Do e-mails count?” Here’s my answer: They count if they count. I use e-mail as such a basic part of my existence, I don’t mentally count them as “writing.” Some people do, and say writing an e-mail is a great way to beat writer’s block. It’s never worked for me but if it works for you, then yes, it counts. If a 140-character Twitter post gets you out of the funk, more power to you!

In more than two decades as a paid writer, this has worked for me every single time. The problem is, when you’re in that funk and can’t write, the obvious answer (to write) doesn’t seem so obvious. I know it’s not for me, until I do it, and then I say, “Why didn’t I do this earlier instead of wallowing in misery.

Post this on your wall as a reminder, if it helps. You can do it!

JUST WRITE.

When Stories Touch Us

2009-03-29T07:59:00.000-07:00

Wow.

I read and copyedited a very disturbing article this morning before I even had my morning coffee. It drove home the real reason I write for a living.

I often joke that I’ll write “anything that pays,” and to some degree, that’s true. In the past few months,, I’ve written about cosmetic dentistry, digital signage, make-up and diaper bags. Not that there’s anything wrong with any of these topics but, with the possible exception of diaper bags, , none of these topics exactly touches mylife or my passion. (Makeup used to fall into that category. Ah, how life changes!)

On the other end of that spectrum, I’ve interviewed the band director at Columbine High School, cancer survivors, and people whose lives have been changed in ways big and small by the charity efforts of others.

This morning, I copyedited an article about a little girl in India named whose father burned her mother to death. Sushmita suffered third degree burns on her body, and emotional scars—as you might imagine—that last to this day.

As a new mother, the very thought of this turned my stomach. An organization called the Asian Christian Academy, however, took Sushmita into their House of Joy for children, where she has begun the healing process.

When the ACA brochure comes out, which I contributed writing to and also copyedited, I hope and pray it will move people as that story moved me, to give ACA the funding it needs to continue to do God’s work and spread His Word. I’m honored that Dr. David Fletcher invited me to be a small part of ACA and its mission. I am grateful that God chose to connect me with Dr. Fletcher so that I could use my talents in this way.

Why do I write? I write for a living.

But why do I write? I write because I want to share stories that can change small pieces of the world.

Writers: What stories have touched you lately? Please tell us here.

A Freelancer’s Four Most Profitable Words

2009-03-26T07:27:00.000-07:00

Most of the freelance writing and editing work I receive comes through word-of-mouth and personal connections. Every few months, I’ll hit pot luck with a gig through Craig’s List or another job Web site and really hit it off with the client. But most of the time, I get to know my clients before they become my clients.

The four most profitable words in my freelance career:

“Do you hire freelancers?”

Who do I ask?

1. Since I often do marketing work as well as writing magazine articles, blogging and writing Web content, I often ask people at PR firms who pitch stories to me if they ever hire freelancers. Many do.

2. If I hit it off with an interview subject who owns their own business and has their own Web site, I ask if they are looking for anyone to write for them.

3. And of course, I sometimes make cold-calls or e-mails to interesting trade magazines asking: “Do you hire freelancers?” Trade magazines often don’t have their writers’ guidelines posted online or listed in writer’s markets and sometimes you can’t tell by studying the masthead if they ever work with freelancers.

By asking this question in a cold call, I save myself the trouble of constructing a query, or even outlining my qualifications, only to hear, “Sorry, we do all our writing in-house.”

By asking interview subjects, I am targeting specific clients based on a rapport we’ve already developed. Since my gut instincts about people are pretty spot-on, this minimizes my chances of getting one of those “problem clients” we all dread.

If a PR agent is pitching me a story, chances are they are already familiar with my work and they like what they see. I have nothing to lose by asking if they’d like to work with me in a different capacity.

Sometimes, the people I ask aren’t hiring right now, but they will keep it in the back of their minds. Other times, they didn’t know they were looking for freelance help, but when I plant the idea in their mind, they grab it! Sometimes, you achieve that serendipitous moment when, indeed, a person is seeking freelance help, and there you appear, right in front of them!

Like so much freelancing advice, this, too, boils down to the JHS (Just Hit Send) philosophy.

“Do you hire freelancers?” Just. Ask.

“Filler” Income for Writers: Taking Surveys

2009-03-25T10:11:00.000-07:00

I’ve always believed in diversification with my business. That’s why I write feature magazine articles for print and magazines, blog posts, catalog copy, press releases, keyword articles and, well, anything that pays.

But, for the past several years, I have also earned money taking surveys. This isn’t full time income for me, by any means. I equate the extra cash to the “cashback rewards” I earn by using certain credit cards (and then paying them off that month.)

Like cashback rewards, money I earn from surveys has a knack of showing up in my Paypal account or mailbox right on the day when I could really use that extra $10 - $50 for a treat.

I like surveys because I can do them while I’m drinking my morning coffee, before my brain is in gear to start anything that looks like a writing project.

Could I earn filler income by posting articles on Associated Content and the like? Of course I could. But the way I see it, my writing talents deserve better pay than what those sites offer at this stage in my career. If I’m writing, I want to be paid what I deserve for my writing. I don’t mind making a few dollars a day just for clicking buttons to take a survey, though. I hardly consider it work. I want something different—a diversion from writing—for my filler income. We've all seen the ads to "earn money taking surveys," and it turns out, you really can!

What survey sites do I currently use?

MySurvey.com

This was the first survey site I ever signed up for, and I’ve earned $120 total just for taking easy surveys. I do this while I’m watching T.V., drinking my coffee in the morning, letting story ideas percolate. There are no catches that I’ve found with this site, no money to lay out, nothing to ever purchase. You don’t need to supply a credit card number – ever.

When you earn 1,000 points (surveys range from 10 points to 200 points), you can “cash-out” for a $10 check, donate the money to a charity of your choice or “buy” merchandise from their rewards store. You can also put the money into a raffle to win prizes like flat screen televisions. I always cash out or, if I’m feeling generous, donate the money.

I’ve also received free samples of household goods like paper towels and cat food. The real money from Mysurvey.com comes from referrals, which earn 150 points each, but you have to send an e-mail to get people to sign up.

Bottom line: I definitely recommend this site, as it’s fun and hardly takes any time. Post a comment if you’d like an e-mail from me with a referral link.

Vindale Surveys

I recently signed up for this survey site through a link on Twitter and so far, I love it. In one week, I’ve earned $24, all while drinking my morning coffee and getting geared up for the day. If you’re sitting in front of the computer, anyway, and have a few minutes to spare, why not sign up?

In addition to cash for taking surveys, I have also received:

- all three of my credit reports FREE
- FREE business cards from Vista Print
- $5 in FREE Postage from Stamps.com

What should you be aware of?

In many cases, you need to supply a credit card number and sign up for a free service, which you must cancel before the trail period expires or your card will get charged. In my experience, you need to call an 800 number to cancel, so expect that to take a few minutes out of your day.

I simply jot down on my calendar the date I need to cancel (actually, I mark down a week earlier, to give myself some extra time.) As soon as the survey is “verified” and the money is in my Vindale account, I call and cancel.

Stamps.com put cookies on my computer that Spysweeper caught, so I would make sure all your spyware is up to date.

Like other survey companies, you can also earn money through referrals: $5 per referral.

Bottom line: If you are well-organized and not susceptible to sales pitches, you can earn $100 a month or more with Vindale and it won’t take a lot of time out of your day. Highly recommended! If you like what I have to say, please sign up through my referral link. Fortunately, I’ve kicked my cup-a-day Starbucks habit, but I’m sure I can find a good way to spend five bucks. Two canisters of organic baby cereal, maybe?

Valued Opinions

Like other survey companies, Valued Opinions sends notifications to your mailbox when you have a survey.

After a week of being a member, I just received the first survey I was eligible to participate in today. One of the “qualifying questions” asks if you are employed by a media firm or a member of the media, and disqualifies you if you are. I have to learn to lie on these surveys!

I just spent about 30 minutes taking a survey about frozen foods and earned $3. Not fantastic, but if I had nothing better to do, I wouldn’t mind. Again, if you’re vegging out in front of the television with no pressing chores, it’s some money. But realistic, $6/hour is nothing to write home about, even in the realm of doing surveys online.

Also, I wasted quite a bit of time answering survey questions only to find out, 5 questions in, that I didn’t qualify. If you don’t qualify for a survey at MySurvey.com, you still earn 10 points for trying.

When your account at ValuedOpinions reaches $20, you can redeem the money for a gift certificate to a popular online retailer, including Amazon.com. So you’re not earning hard cash, either.

Still, what writer can’t use an extra $20 to spend at Amazon?

I’ve been a member for one week, and have only earned $3 so far. There is no referral program that I can find for signing friends up at Valued Opinions.

Bottom line: If you have absolutely nothing better to do, $6 an hour to spend on books, magazines and other fun stuff isn’t bad. Or if you just enjoy taking surveys and sharing your opinion and feedback with product manufacturers, sign up. What have you got to lose? No credit card required.

Dollarsurveys.net

Dollarsurveys.net deposits $1 in your Paypal account weekly for each survey you take. A reminder arrives in your e-mail every day reminding you to try for that day’s survey. So far, I haven’t qualified, and, like ValuedOpinions, you waste time answering questions only to find out you don’t qualify.

In theory, you could earn up to $30/month if you qualify for every survey and take a survey every day. There is no referral program to increase your earnings. No credit card is required, in my experience, which is a benefit.

Bottom line: You have nothing to lose, why not start your morning with a short survey and earn a dollar?

My Resume

2009-03-23T06:26:00.000-07:00

Dawn Allcot
DawnAllcot@gmail.com / www.allcotmedia. com
631.278.4217 (cell)

FREELANCE WRITER / EDITOR / PUBLIC RELATIONS / GHOSTWRITER

* My ability to generate ideas, create clean copy on tight deadlines and juggle multiple tasks has earned me thousands of writing credits and regular assignments. Since 2001, editors have counted on me to turn in complex assignments under strict deadlines.

* My background in magazine editing since 1997 means I know what editors want. I can take the reins of a project and guide it to completion, or write snappy copy to a client’s specifications.

* From press releases to web copy to feature articles, I approach every project with professionalism and enthusiasm.

NICHE SPECIALTIES:
Preferred topics include: audiovisual and lighting technology, particularly in the house of worship market; pregnancy & parenting; work-at-home business management; freelance writing; health/ fitness/beauty; Feng Shui; paintball; music & arts education.

ALLCOT MEDIA: Freelance writing, editing, proofreading, marketing
December 2001 – Present (full-time)

CURRENT / RECENT CLIENTS
* Regular contributor to print publications, including: Church Production, Worship Facilities Magazine, Sound & Communications, Club Business International;
* Blogger/writer for BabiesOnline.com;
* Columnist for Shooting Hot Magazine
* Published in Cup of Comfort for Sisters and Sacred Water, personal essay anthologies;
* Proofreader for LI Performance Poets Association Literary Review;
* Contributor to The Complete Guide to Paintball, fourth edition;
* Media Coordinator for Special Ops Paintball Elite Weekend and SPPL tournament series;
* Other clients include: iPrayerWorks, Aadvert International, the FitAdvocate, Ken Lauher, Makeup.com, BabiesOnline.com, AbsoluteWrite.com, and FamilyResource.com.

SOFTWARE
* Working knowledge of QuarkXpress, InDesign, Photoshop, Wordpress, Blogger

WEB 2.0
* Write and maintain writer’s blog at www.allcotmedia.com
* Well-versed in social media w/ strong existing social network
* Experience in writing keyword articles for SEO optimization

OFFICE EDITORIAL EXPERIENCE

Global Media (May 2004 – March 2007)
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 / 631.580.7772

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF (May 2004 – March 2007)
Paintball Sports Magazine

* Re-designed monthly newsstand publication, in collaboration with art department;
* Improved editorial content, resulting in increased circulation and advertising sales income;
* Consistently met strict editorial/photography budget while maintaining the highest standards of creative quality;
* Created new features and departments designed to target our main demographic (males, ages 15 – 45) and showcase the “paintball lifestyle;”
* Generated article ideas, wrote multiple departments and features, managed freelance staff;
* Promoted magazine at dozens of national events.

Testa Communications (August 1997 – October 2002)
Port Washington, NY / 516.767.2500
Held several titles at multi-property, multimedia publishing firm. Details below.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF (May 2000 – October 2002)
Band & Orchestra Product News

* Consistently completed magazine on time and under budget;
* Developed positive relationships with industry members, advertisers and readership through trade show presence and consistent phone contact.
* Oversaw production of all editorial content for magazine and companion website;
* Managed a staff of freelancers and two assistant editors;

EXECUTIVE EDITOR (April 2000 – July 2000)
Club Systems International

* Worked with publisher to launch, from concept and design to editorial content, monthly trade magazine focused on the sound, lighting and video systems in nightclubs;
* Edited first two issues of magazine while simultaneously editing B&O Product News;
* Promoted magazine at trade shows;
* Developed a freelance staff and fostered industry relationships.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR (July 1999 – May 2000)
Band & Orchestra Product News

* Introduced the “Making More Music Makers” scholarship program, coordinated the contest, secured sponsors and judged hundreds of entries;
* Worked closely with editor to generate story ideas, write features, report news, and establish an industry presence.

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT (August 1997 – July 1999)
Sound & Communications, DJ Times, Music & Sound Retailer, B&O Product News

* Spearheaded communication and idea trade between staff;
* Promoted to Associate Editor, B&O Product News, Staff Writer, Music & Sound Retailer and Managing Editor, Sound & Communications Blue Book, all within six months.
* Wrote news, product sections, and feature stories;
* Acted as Administrative Assistant to Editorial Director.

EDUCATION
Long Island University, Southampton
English/Writing major, staff writer for campus newspaper

Finding Expert Sources to Enhance Your Articles

2009-03-22T19:54:00.000-07:00

Many writers today find everything they need on the Internet to put together an article. But expert sources add validity to your points and professionalism to your story. If I find myself stuck on beginning an article, it’s often because I don’t know enough about the topic, or I don’t have enough information in front of me to find that perfect lead or –if it’s a longer article -- to outline the story from beginning to end.

How do professional freelance writers network with expert sources? Several ways.

Find experts.
Social networking makes it easier than ever before to find expert sources. Peter Shankman’s popular “HARO” network connects reporters to PR people who can connect you with experts or even experts themselves. Tweeting a query on Twitter will also connect you with people, or try Facebook. Perhaps a friend of a friend is an expert in the area you need.

You can find experts on message boards and forums, but people may be turned off if you just sign in announcing that you’re a writer and asking questions. Spend some time lurking on the forum, learn the rules of the land, and connect with the regulars. How long does this take? There’s no rule. You should know when you feel comfortable enough to start approaching members with questions for your article. You might do this through private messaging or, if you feel comfortable enough, start a thread asking for comments.

Finally, you can often find experts by doing a Google search on your topic and looking over the more popular blogs. Contact experts who write blogs via e-mail if you can’t find a phone number. Again, it helps to become an active member of their community, by reading and commenting on their blog, but chances are good they will want the positive publicity a reporter can offer, so they might be more than happy to speak with you even if you are a new reader.

Collect experts.
Keep a file in your computer, listing the names of different expert sources. As this file grows, you may want to break it up into several categories—public officials, technical directors, teachers, historians, or whatever categories best suit your needs.

List the person’s name, when you first spoke to them, and regarding what, their area of expertise, and any personal details that will help jog your memory so you can connect with them on a personal level. You may want to add a JPG to their file, too, because some editors request headshots of interview subjects.

Ping your sources.
As your writing experience grows, so will your file. Keep in touch with your expert sources on a regular basis, asking them what’s new in their industry. Soon, you’ll be the first one to hear about ground breaking news. “Pings” don’t take long. Simple notes on Twitter, Facebook or an e-mail once a month works. Some people prefer phone calls. Make a note in their file of each expert’s preferred contact method so you don’t intrude. You can also include special notes about the best times to reach them, like “always reachable by cell,” or “works from home Mondays and Wednesdays.”

Of course, these are just the basics. If you trust in synchronicity and the law of attraction, experts will come your way when you need them. These tips help that process along. If you would like to learn more about how I've been using the Law of Attraction to help in my writing career, please check out The Secret Abundance Files.

Writers: What’s the oddest way you ever found an expert source for an article?

Paintball Sports Launches New Web Site

2009-03-20T06:22:00.000-07:00

Wanted to share this press release. I'm pretty psyched, as I have what you might call a "history" (a good one!) with this magazine.

I have a habit of continuing to work for my former employers as a freelancer, and this continues. My business & marketing column for paintballers launches in Paintball Sports Magazine's March issue, and I will also be blogging about scenario paintball and woodsball for the Web site.

Paintball Sports Magazine Launches Brand New Website

Deer Park, NY (PSM) March 18, 2009: Paintball’s fastest growing magazine launched a brand new website - PaintballSportsMag.com. The cutting-edge articles and full-color photos that capture the true essence of the sport of paintball at every level are not only available in print, but at Paintball Sports Magazine’s website.

We’ll also bring you weekly blogs from celebrity athletes like Greg Hastings, Mike Paxson, Nicky Cuba, Todd Martinez and Chris Lasoya, along with a Scenario/ Woodsball blog from Dawn & T.J. Allcot, “Montydoom”, “Blue & Deuce,” and other well-known players.

Some of the features within this newly designed website will be:

· PSM’s “On the ‘Net” virtual online magazine,

· Streaming video with a video archive,

· Web exclusive interviews and stories,

· Up-to-date industry news and press releases,

· Instant updates and images from major industry events submitted by our on-scene staff of reporters,

· Product reviews,

· New product announcements and more!

Paintball Sports Magazine – We strive to provide our readers with in-depth coverage of the hottest players, products, and events, while increasing the general public’s awareness of the world of paintball.

www.PaintballSportsMag.com

CONTACT:

Bea Youngs

Editor-in-Chief

Paintball Sports Magazine

513 Commack Road

Deer Park, NY 11729

Editor@PaintballSportsMag.com

www.PaintballSportsMag.com

Life Coaching: Scam or Road to Success?

2009-03-19T06:40:00.001-07:00

Thanks to the generosity of fellow freelance writer Julie Fletcher, I received a free coaching session from Stacey Mayo. Since I wrote about coaching for DASH magazine several years ago, I had always wanted to have a session. But I wasn't sure what to expect.

Speaking with Stacey for 40 minutes was like having a brainstorming session with a non-judgemental, understanding, creative and highly intelligent friends. She was completely transparent, and I felt like she had no other motives other than the desire to help me succeed.

Why did I feel like I needed a life coach? Honestly, I don't. I have a wonderful husband, a beautiful daughter, the opportunity to work from home while raising my daughter, and I'm doing a job I love. I am earning an honest living in one of the most expensive regions of the country. But I wanted to take my business to the next level, while still managing the new demands of parenthood.

One of the first things Stacey mentioned (ah, here it is AGAIN) was the wisdom of bringing in someone to help me with the baby, even just a mother's helper for a few hours a day. It is increasingly difficult to run a business during naptime, and I try to resist the urge to plop Ashley in front of Baby Einstein DVDs. While breastfeeding, though, it doesn't make sense. I might wind up paying someone to take care of Ashley, but if it's her mealtime, I'll still be sitting there feeding her. (Please don't ask me about pumping.) Nonetheless, I have the luxury to choose.

Summer will be easier, with TJ working less hours. So after Ashley is weaned in the fall, I will bring in a mother's helper. Issue one, crossed off my concern list.

I spoke with Stacey about earning "passive income," through affiliate programs and the like. As I described my plan to earn passive income, she showed me the truth. "Now, none of that is very passive at all, is it?" I laughed at the truth of her statement.

We considered the possibility of my selling articles PLR (Private Label Rights). Again, not very passive to get it launched.

Then Stacey asked me about my various writing niches, and I rattled off my lengthy list. "Wow," she said.

"Well, I believe in diversification."

"But what's your passion?" she asked.

I thought for a second. "The writing." I explained where the title for this blog came from, and how my passion is in the craft and art of the writing, regardless of the topic.

That's when she reminded me of an idea I'd had about a year ago: to launch a course for beginning writers, to share my passion with them and hopefully help them to achieve a full-time income.

In between my various assignments for this month from multiple magazines and Web sites, I'm putting together the marketing material for my e-course, which I hope to launch come May.

Meanwhile, I'm still looking for other ways to achieve multiple streams of income on the Web. I found a site where I can get paid (about a dollar a minute!) for taking surveys. Check it out here: http://tryvindale.com/VJHjyXNP2

I'll also continue to add affiliate buttons if I feel they fit this blog and would help serve my readers. But I won't lose site of my passion: writing "anything that pays."

Thank you, Stacey for a wonderful coaching session. (Psstt... If you would like to learn more about Stacey's coaching, click here.)

About Dawn Allcot

2009-02-05T06:35:00.000-08:00

To inform and to entertain: This is Dawn Allcot’s calling and dream. A woman of diverse interests, Dawn Allcot is a full-time freelance writer and editor. Her impressive client list includes Fortune 500 companies such as Yahoo, AOL and Microsoft and a variety of others, including ghostwriting for top names in many industries.

Widely published in trade and consumer magazines, including Club Business International, Sound & Communications, Church Production Magazine and on Web sites such as Long Island Exchange, CreditShout.com and AllReviews.com, she makes it a point to continually expand her knowledge on all subjects.

She currently serves as the Grammar Guide on the popular Freelance Writing Jobs Network and as a blogger at Writer's Roundabout, where she fulfills her goals of mentoring, guiding and networking with writers at every level.

Always an entrepreneur and interested in every realm of the publishing business, Dawn launched her first publication while still in college. She went on to hold the title of Editor-in-Chief for Band & Orchestra Product News, a trade journal for music educators, as well as for Paintball Sports and RECON, internationally-distributed paintball magazines.

Critically involved in the mid-90s launch of Long Island-based publisher Testa Communications’ Club Systems International, she brought her vast experience and broad knowledge to the project as an Executive Editor. With her extensive editorial background, Dawn has insight into an editor’s daily challenges, understands the importance of deadlines and editorial standards, and prides herself on exceeding editors’ expectations.

Some of her niche markets include parenting, pregnancy and paintball, as well as health and fitness, home-based businesses and marketing, finance and technology.

Dawn serves on the Advisory Board of the International Mastermind Group with other top authors, coaches and professionals in a myriad of fields, guiding and advising fledgling writers as they accomplish their goals.

With a wealth of knowledge on a variety of topics and a willingness to share with others, Dawn has spearheaded, organized and moderated a variety of online writers’ workshops. Her desire to mentor young writers recently evolved into an interest in public speaking. To that end, she has joined Toastmasters to hone her speaking skills.

When she’s not traveling the world in pursue of captivating stories, this multi-talented woman lives on Long Island with her husband, daughter and four useless, but lovable, cats.

When asked what is next in the life of Dawn Allcot, her answer, without hesitation, is: “More of the same: Expanding my talents and always giving back in a spirit of gratitude for all the blessings in my life.”

Win Prizes!

2009-01-30T06:06:00.000-08:00

A happy result of social networking is the opportunity to WIN FREE STUFF. Really. Did you know that there are tons of prizes to be had out on the World Wide Web, given away by bloggers like me? (Wow, could that sound any more like bad sales copy??)

A friend of mine won a $15 gift certificate to a grocery store during a networking chat the other night. Another friend won a lovely gift set of lotions and soaps at the Tuesday night Business & Learning Chat. (They don’t give away prizes every week, though. That was in honor of Tammy Munson’s birthday). They’ll be giving away even more at the Business & Learning Expo.

There are a few great contests going on right now, too.

Until February 11, you can win a free copy of Deb Ng’s ebook, Beyond Blogging, through the blog Lively Women. (Don’t let the blog’s title deceive you, men can win too.) Deb Ng is one of my favorite people in the freelance writing/blogging world and I’m sure that whatever she has to say has LOTS of value. She knows blogging; she knows how to network; and she is a pro at making money on the Web. She is also an extremely talented writer, which, lately, has gotten to be less and less of a prerequisite to make money as a writer on the Web, so I have the utmost respect for her and what she does.

Another one of my favorite writer chicks (and I can call her a chick because she’s cool like that!), Julie Fletcher, is also holding a contest at her blog, Family Resource. Go to the site, leave a comment per the instructions, and you’ll be entered to win a free car seat ID for your child. This contest is sponsored by My Precious Kid and even if they weren’t giving away cool shwag, it’s a great place to check out if you have kids.

Finally, Babies Online, your resource for parenting, pregnancy and free baby stuff, is giving away free copies of the DVD Screenplay by the children’s rock band Milkshake, along with the band’s latest CD, Play!, and the first-ever Milkshake comic book. Go to BabiesOnline.com to find out how to win and read my review of the band. (Yes, I always save the shameless plugs for last).

Get Writing Assignments Without Querying

2009-01-28T08:42:00.000-08:00

In a previous post, I mentioned that I have built a full-time career as a freelance writer without querying. How do I do this?

1. Word-of-mouth – Anybody whose ever read a book about marketing knows the importance of word-of-mouth. Its significance is enhanced in Web 2.0, where WOM extends to social networking. I’ve landed several assignments through my social networks on Twitter, Facebook, and various forums. But my favorite story about word-of-mouth relates to a long-term client I began working with about 5 years ago. While shopping for paintball gear, I revealed to the marketing director at one of the top paintball distributors in the country that I was a freelance writer. He immediately hired me to write press releases. That job turned into a position as Editor-in-Chief at a leading paintball magazine. I share the story here, on one of my favorite sites for writers.

2. Assignments - My cash cows as a freelancer are regular clients who give me assignments every month. They generate the ideas in-house and, in most cases, provide sources. Since coming up with unique ideas and finding sources are two of the biggest challenges in freelancing, this makes my life a lot easier and my business more lucrative.

3. Ads – Sure, responding to ads takes time, and you’re up against intense and copious competition. But if you craft a basic letter that you can tailor to each specific ad, you’ll save a lot of time. The site Freelance Writing Jobs (www.freelancewritinggigs.com) is a great place to start, but you can have even more success by mining sites that aren’t regularly visited by every other aspiring freelancer on the Web. One caveat—there’s never any need to pay for job listings.

4. Letters of Interest – Want to write for a specific publication but don’t have an idea on tap? You can save time and capture the interest of an editor with a Letter of Introduction. LOIs, as they are known, work best if you have some credentials and quality clips. In this letter, rather than presenting an idea (as you would in a query letter) you sell YOURSELF as a writer. Start with a strong lead, emphasize why you would make a positive addition to the magazine’s team, and end with a call to action, asking for an assignment. Include clips and possibly your resume in the body of the e-mail (never send attachments).

I’m not saying you can easily break into a national magazine without a query (although it could happen) but you can build a successful freelancing career without spending hours on query letters!

When It's Okay to Write for Minimum Wage--or Less!

2009-01-22T05:38:00.000-08:00

I don’t believe in churning out an article in seven minutes to make minimum wage rates. Most of my clients, whether they pay per word, per project, or hourly, pay me approximately $25 - $30 an hour.

But I also believe it’s okay to write for extremely low rates, or free, sometimes. I mean, I’m not going to pass judgment on anyone who accepts $1 per article. Personally, I won’t go that low. (In fact, I’d rather just do the work pro bono than accept that rate—it’s a pride thing).

But when will I write for low rates?

1. When I’m starving. Well, okay, my freelance career has never reduced me to eating Ramen (at least, not when it’s not by choice… I have a great recipe for noodles with peanut sauce, though!) There are times, however, when a quick $10, payable upon acceptance through Paypal, may be just enough money going into my account to pay my electric bill a few days before it’s due. So if the pay is fast and the work isn’t hard, I’ll do it.

2. If it’s a topic I love so much, I’d write about it for free. Some topics, like freelance writing, parenting and paintball, I just love writing about. Why else would I run this blog? In the niche market of paintball journalism, after you add up the time actually covering an event (and getting shot at!), selecting photos and writing the story, the hourly rate is in the pennies. But it’s a passion.

3. When the perks rock. Even though the pay stinks in paintball writing, fields typically comp you entry to the event, encourage you to play, and often toss in a case of paint. Paintball costs a lot of money, so the comps make up for the pay rates. Oh, and I’m a total you-know-what for free concert tickets, DVDs and books, too!

4. When it's a cause I believe in. I will write pro bono for certain charities or causes, but I've also been known to devote time to paintball teams who I believe are dedicated to improving the sport. (Please don't contact me to see if I will write for your team for free!) These are hand-picked teams, mostly in situations where I'm good friends with the owner/captain. These guys have my back on the field, so I do what I can off the field!

5. When the work isn’t hard. There’s $40+ an hour of interviews, transcriptions, and pages and pages of notes to put together a cohesive, captivating feature article for a print publication. Then there’s $10 an hour to write a blog post on a topic you know well, that you can write one-handed on your iPod Touch while you’re nursing the baby. (And now my biggest productivity secret is out!)

When Are You Inspired to Write?

2009-01-18T20:19:00.000-08:00

The surest way to kick my muse into action is to take away my opportunities to write. My daughter is asleep, but my iPod Touch has a dead battery. And I’m certain that if I boot up the laptop, she WILL wake up. So I’m in bed, jotting down blog posts on an old filing folder because I can’t even find a notebook… and my pen is about to run out of ink.

I’ve already written three full posts and every sentence I write seems to spark an idea for another article.

My only problem? It’s been so long since I’ve written anything by hand, I’m afraid my penmanship will be illegible in the morning. (If you’re reading this, obviously, I was able to decipher my own personal brand of shorthand that I’ve developed over my 20 years as a writer.)

While I decode the rest of my articles, here’s a poem I wrote a long time ago on this very topic and it was originally published in Calliope’s Notes, a literary journal. If I can find the link, I will re-post it here.

Miss-Inopportunity

I have a stubborn muse
She likes to write at midnight
Family gatherings, funerals
And parties find her
Penning poems
For posterity.

We sit at my desk, finger
Poised over the keyboard
And she demands coffee,
Long-distance phone calls
To long-forgotten friends.
She wants to pet the cat.

She’ll offer up feature stories
On Highway 95
No rest stop in sight.
Leaving me muttering to myself,
In hopes of remembering
A segment, one catchy line.

On deadline days
I can whip her into submission
Greedy harlot loves checks
Even more than she enjoys
Taunting me with captivating leads
In the middle of the workday.

The house is quiet,
I’ve no plans,
And she’s run off.
She finds me when dinner’s burning,
And wants to finish this chapter.
Complete masterpieces emerge at 3 AM.

But if I tear myself from
The warm blankets,
Grabbing a pen and notebook
To capture a carefully constructed,
Chronologically-sound dream
She wants to pet the cat.

Writing v. Content Creation

2009-01-16T10:28:00.000-08:00

In my previous post, I guess I kind of slammed Jason Fladlien’s How to Write an Article in 7 Minutes program. I want to clarify. (And no, he hasn’t asked me to. I don’t think he’s even read the review yet.)

The program is probably very effective for many people to make decent income. For beginning writers, it offered some very useful tips on how to get started. And, believe it or not, I used some of his tips to write outlines for larger articles I completed this week, and it did shave an hour or so off my work. With an outline in place, I had to think *less* about where my article was going, and was able to better focus on how to get there.

But, if I understand him correctly, he advocates "not stopping to think" when you write an article. Here’s where I take issue.

Writing is an art. Even with all the “content creation” on the Web today, article mills, etc., I am still naïve enough to believe that there is still a little bit of art and craft left to any type of writing. His program takes all the art out of the process to create sparse, keyword-friendly “content.”

I guess for people who want to consider themselves content providers, that’s fine. But why not strive for something more? Why not strive to be a writer?

Has the field changed so much that the adage “90 percent of writing is re-writing” is no longer true? Am I a dinosaur because I seek the best—not necessarily the quickest—ways to convey my points? Fladlien’s tight, sparse writing is definitely something I strive for, but I don’t get there on the first try. Resources like Ken Rand’s 10 Percent Solution help me write the tightest, most specific article—but rarely on the first try. And the end result is there’s also a little bit of style left when I’m done.

That’s part of the reason some of my blog posts are rambling… I don’t spend the time re-writing here. That’s also the reason I may use the techniques in the program to churn out some useful content for this space, articles with no “bells and whistles,” just fast facts for freelancers and WAHMs.

I’m not sure where I mean to go with this post. (If I had an outline, that wouldn’t be a problem.) So now I am stopping to think…

It’s cliché to rant about the writers who accept ridiculously low rates and as far as I’m concerned, there’s not much of a debate. As long as there are people willing to write for those rates, companies will be happy to take advantage. And I support that, capitalist that I am. Too many people don’t understand the value—and the art—of good writing. When we have writers, themselves, who don’t recognize the value of carefully crafted non-fiction, there’s no hope of ever obliterating the article mills.

But there are also people out there who recognize and appreciate quality writing as opposed to content creation—fortunately, enough to employ the rest of us, who need to spend more than seven minutes on an article.

Review: How to Write an Article in 7 Minutes

2009-01-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

I admit, in direct conflict with my previous post about not procrastinating, I put off reading Jason Fladlien’s How to Write an Article in 7 Minutes because I thought I didn’t have the time to sit down and read the materials. With three major deadlines and blogging commitments, I didn’t think I could take time away from my normal duties to read this information package. If it worked as advertised, it would save me a lot of time in the long-term, but I didn’t want to make that initial investment.

How many times have you done that in your life? Do you put off learning new skills because you don’t want to take the time to learn, even if, in the long run, it would make your life better?

Well, Kat Frass, THANK YOU for calling me on my procrastination, and for your comments prompting me to share my thoughts on the program.

Turns out, I had nothing to fear. The materials were a quick read. It took me less than a half hour to skim the program and learn the Fladlien’s technique for writing articles in 7 minutes. I’ve downloaded the videos to my iPod and can watch them in bed tonight.

Philosophical Differences With “Article Writing”

My views on writing differ, philosophically, from the author’s, which, I’m afraid, means I’m just not interested in using his program to maximum effectiveness. He claims that writing “slightly better than average articles” is good enough for article marketing purposes. He’s probably right. And while I do some article marketing, I’m not an “article writer” in today’s Web terms. I am a “writer.”

For instance, Fladlien doesn’t encourage knock-their-socks-off, keep ‘em reading, super-creative leads, which every freelance writer knows are the cornerstone to success.

Fladlien’s leads are more like the kind they teach writers in elementary school: "If you want to write an article in seven minutes, this article will show you how." I gave up those kind of leads in fourth grade and never looked back.

Fladlien's articles rank well in the search engines, but a strong lead keeps human beings reading. And you need both for Internet success. There is no space on the Web for leads that turn people off. When I read a humdrum lead, I think two things:1). This person didn’t care enough about their topic to take the time to entice me to read. 2). If they slacked on the lead, where else did they cut corners? Is their information even accurate?

Another key tenet of Fladlien’s program is to do your research quickly and then write without stopping to think. See objections 1 & 2 above.

Useful Advice for Re-slanting Articles

My favorite part of the program was actually “8 Ways to Slant an Article.” Great advice for beginning writers. Nothing I didn’t already know, but it helps to have a handy checklist of the different article formats that can be created from the same content.

Did I Like the Program?

I don’t want it to sound as if I’m slamming the program. It has its benefits and I’ll apply his techniques for certain article writing to create keyword-rich content quickly. I’m apt to use the techniques to try to expand my own business because, let’s face it, this blog *needs* more traffic!

I’m also likely to use his format, but spend the extra time to make my articles for clients more compelling and fun to read… to create the best content I’m capable of, even if it takes 15 minutes, and a bit of thought, instead of 7 and a formula. The hints on how to research quickly were quite useful, and I will be applying those right away.

Is This Program For You?

If you’re an Internet marketer, business owner or even a freelance writer looking to make money crafting articles designed to drive traffic to Web sites, this program could definitely help you. Will it turn you into a Hemingway of the Web? Not at all. But I believe you can create effective content in seven minutes by following Fladlien’s techniques.

I also recommend this program for people who have never written an article for the Web before. It gives you an easy outline to get started and makes the process a lot less scary.

I have no doubts that anyone who is dedicated enough to study the program (which doesn’t take a lot of time) and apply it to their work can easily make back the $37 cost of the program, so it is a good investment for an Internet business.

Incidentally, I tried to use the techniques outlined in “How to Write an Article in 7 Minutes” to write this post. It took me exactly 30 minutes to write this article, but it’s twice the length of the articles that Fladlien says can be done in 7 minutes. (So, 15 minutes per article…) Not bad for a first attempt. Using Fladlien’s techniques has already made me a faster writer.

Then again, it usually takes me only about 30 minutes to put together a blog post. Sigh… maybe I’m just too much of an old dog to learn any new writing tricks.

2009: The Year When Procrastination Can Wait

2009-01-07T06:53:00.000-08:00

I didn't make any New Year's Resolutions, but I did post a few goals here. I also changed my mindset going into 2009. This is the year I am going to stop procrastinating.

Part of this philosophy began when I first had Ashley. With a baby, you never know when you'll have a chance to do something, so you better do it when you have the chance. I don't know whether the saying originated with Robert Heinlein or the Marines, but I follow the credo of: "Eat when you can, sleep when you can. Never stand when you can sit and never sit when you can lie down."

This urgency to accomplish "life" tasks has translated into everything. No longer do I let projects, from small to large, sit. If I have an opportunity to do something, I do it right that minute. Of course, I still follow my to-do lists for business-related tasks.

Here's a small example. I have a bad habit of making purchases and then leaving the bag in my car overnight, or for weeks. I'm not hiding purchases from my spouse ala "Shop-aholic." I'm just too lazy to carry them inside, because that would mean finding a place for them. (Yes, that's a whole different issue of buying things when I don't have room for anything else in my house or in my life!)

Now, if I see something that needs doing, I just do it. This means no more dirty coffee mugs on my desk. If I see a smudge on the bathroom mirror, I wipe it off immediately. I don't wait until I have time to clean the entire bathroom. Nothing has to be perfect. It just has to be *done.*

After only a week of living this philosophy, my house is a bit more organized and I feel like I'm accomplishing more.

The same philosophy works in business. I don't wait for one-hour chunks of time to complete a task any more. 15 free minutes? I will knock out a blog post. An extra half-hour? I'll try to transcribe a 15-minute interview.

I just purchased an eBook and educational program titled "How to Write an Article in 7 Minutes" and hope this will boost my productivity even more. I will return with a complete review after I use the program and, if I find it effective, I'll add an affiliate link to this blog.

In the book, Jason Fladlien talks about "article-writing frenzies," where you take a grain of an idea from one article and create an offshoot article (or 10.) You can sit down and write these continuously, in a frenzy. If you don't have time for a frenzy, though, you can always jot down the ideas and write another article when you have another seven minutes. Keep in mind, I haven't read the book yet, so I'm paraphrasing based on my understanding from the promotional materials.

I'm going to try that right now, however, as this post has sparked an idea for a post about the concept of writing ANYTHING in seven minutes. (Teaser: I used to think it was impossible!)

Stay tuned... and while you're waiting, why not use a few free minutes to tell me:

What tools and techniques do you use to combat that ugly, lazy monster called procrastination?

Ten Days After Christmas

2009-01-04T11:03:00.000-08:00

As it's officially 10 days after Christmas, it's well past time for a Christmas wrap-up and...

MORE CUTE BABY PICTURES!

Ashley slept through the gift-opening festivities at my sister's house the weekend before Christmas... but looked very cute decked out in a pink Christmas outfit.

We decided to forego the traditional red velvet dress for her first Christmas, but she did sport red "My First Christmas" jammies...

And here she is posing with her Aunt Doreen.

"Ask Me How"... Advice for Freelance Writers

2009-01-02T11:52:00.000-08:00

Confession: I made a New Year's "Goal" to blog at least 2 times a week here. But I often find myself staring at this tiny box and wondering what on Earth to write.

With nearly 15 years experience as a writer and editor, I've launched magazines, written press releases, reported for a local newspaper, pitched countless article ideas and written thousands... but I find myself stumped when I stare at this little blog space and wonder what I could possibly have to share with the world.

So, I'd like to give you, my readers, the opportunity to ask me anything you want. Ask me how I made more than $40,000 as a freelance writer this year, putting in less than 30 hours a week (for the most part). Ask me how to impress editors. Ask me how to build a social network of people who need writers. Ask me the best places to find freelance writing jobs. Ask me why I won't work for less than $30 an hour, but why it's okay to blog for $5 a post sometimes.

In short, ask me anything else you'd like about the freelance writing life.

Some facts:

1. Although I call myself a full-time freelance writer, as it is my only source of income, I don't work full-time hours. There's no need. I never made $40,000 at any of my "day jobs," even as the Editor-in-Chief of 'top in their industry' publications. But I did it this year solely through freelance writing.

Can I do that--and better--while taking care of an infant in 2009? We'll see.

2. I rarely send queries--although that will change in 2009 as I attempt to achieve the goal of being published in a non-niche, mainstream glossy newsstand publication.

3. I love my job. More than anything I've ever done in my life.

4. I have the freedom to travel, to stay home and take care of my daughter, to set my own hours.

5. The one thing I've learned is that success is all about relationships. People hire people they like to work with... whether they're working long distance or side-by-side in an office.

I sometimes get e-mails or private messages through Absolute Write asking me how to make a living as a freelance writer. Unfortunately, many of the people who e-mail don't want to work at it. They don't want to hear it's hard work. They want the magic solution. I won't lie... freelancing *is* hard work and it takes time to build up contacts and connections (I'm assuming would-be writers have some level of talent).

But I will do my best to answer any questions posted here... it's up to those asking the questions as to what they do with the information.

Ask Me: Advice for Freelance Writers

2009-01-02T09:19:00.000-08:00

Confession: I made a New Year's "Goal" to blog at least 2 times a week here. But I often find myself staring at this tiny box and wondering what on Earth to write.

With nearly 15 years experience as a writer and editor, I've launched magazines, written press releases, reported for a local newspaper, pitched countless article ideas and written thousands... but I find myself stumped when I stare at this little blog space and wonder what I could possibly have to share with the world.

So, I'd like to give you, my readers, the opportunity to ask me anything you want. Ask me how I made more than $40,000 as a freelance writer this year, putting in less than 30 hours a week (for the most part). Ask me how to impress editors. Ask me how to build a social network of people who need writers. Ask me the best places to find freelance writing jobs. Ask me why I won't work for less than $30 an hour, but why it's okay to blog for $5 a post sometimes.

In short, ask me anything else you'd like about the freelance writing life.

Some facts:

1. Although I call myself a full-time freelance writer, as it is my only source of income, I don't work full-time hours. There's no need. I never made $40,000 at any of my "day jobs," even as the Editor-in-Chief of 'top in their industry' publications. But I did it this year solely through freelance writing.

Can I do that--and better--while taking care of an infant in 2009? We'll see.

2. I rarely send queries--although that will change in 2009 as I attempt to achieve the goal of being published in a non-niche, mainstream glossy newsstand publication.

3. I love my job. More than anything I've ever done in my life (besides parenting).

4. I have the freedom to travel, to stay home and take care of my daughter, to set my own hours.

5. The one thing I've learned is that success is all about relationships. People hire people they like to work with... whether they're working long distance or side-by-side in an office.

I sometimes get e-mails or private messages through Absolute Write asking me how to make a living as a freelance writer. Unfortunately, many of the people who e-mail don't want to work at it. They don't want to hear it's hard work. They want the magic solution. I won't lie... freelancing *is* hard work and it takes time to build up contacts and connections (I'm assuming would-be writers have some level of talent).

But I will do my best to answer any questions posted here... it's up to those asking the questions as to what they do with the information.

New Year's Wrap-up

2008-12-31T12:46:00.000-08:00

Over at the AbsoluteWrite forums, many of us are sharing our New Year's goals and resolutions.

This is the first year of my life (seriously... sad as that may be) that, going into the New Year, I feel like a "SUCCESS." I have made more money than I've ever made in my life, finally passing the $40K mark (that's gross, prior to expenses), have a beautiful daughter, and am somehow managing to handle it all.

This success makes me even more determined to achieve my goals in 2009. They are modest by some standards, but accomplishing them will mean a lot to me.

1. Publication in a big-name glossy newsstand magazine
2. Make at least $100/mos. as an affiliate through my blog and social networking
3. Exceed 2008's freelance income (which will not be easy between the economy and the baby)
4. Blog at least 5 X a week on BabiesOnline and at least 2 X a week on my own blog (that's here... so stay tuned!)
5. Get at least one more regular account that pays $400+ per month.

I'd like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and a prosperous 2009.

Transcription Tips for Freelance Writers

2008-12-29T21:59:00.000-08:00

Most freelancers have a love/hate relationship with interviews. They love doing them, but hate the tedious transcription process that follows.

Personally, I enjoy transcribing. It’s just the type of mindless task I can do when I don’t feel like writing but want to be productive. And since I type close to 100 wpm, transcription makes me feel very productive!

Fellow writer Mary asked me in an earlier post if I had any tips for transcribing. I’ve used all of these techniques at some point in my career, so hopefully Mary and other freelancers will find them helpful.

1. Get the right tools.
When I used an analog tape recorder, it featured a dial for variable playback speeds, a conveniently-placed pause button and a “forward/reverse scan” option. I confess, I haven’t figured out how to properly rewind and fast forward on my new digital model, so I download the files onto my PC and use Windows Media Player. Not quite as convenient, but it works. I drool over the start/stop foot pedal professional transcriptionists use, proving that the “right tool for the job” makes life so much easier.

2. Don’t transcribe it all.
Because of my typing speed, I find it easier to just transcribe everything. “Re-living” the conversation in this way helps me form my articles. But if you’re looking to save time, or only need a handful of supporting quotes for your story, keep an eye on your tape counter, on an analog recorder, or the timer on a digital model, and jot down the number when your subject says something quotable. Then you can easily fast forward to get the material you need in a snap.

3. Edit as you go.
This not only makes transcription faster, it makes it less tedious because you are actually thinking about your article as you type. As you listen to the interview, type only the parts you’ll need. Fast forwarding through large chunks of text saves time and energy. Warning: Whenever I try this, I inevitably skip a section that, in retrospect, I decide would be perfect for the article and have to go through the entire interview again to find the quote I need. But I’m throwing it out there because it might work for someone.

4. Take a touch typing course.
It amazes me that many professionals still write by means of “hunt and peck.” This may work for articles, as you can probably type about as fast as you can compose the words, and it allows you to re-write as you go.
But there’s no advantage to slow transcription. If interviews and transcription is a large part of your job as a freelancer, take a touch-typing course or invest in Mavis Beacon software. I still cite my typing class as THE most valuable course I ever took in high school. By that time, I already knew how to write. Although good English teachers helped me hone my skills, they didn’t get me anywhere I couldn’t have gotten on my own. But hours of typing on those big heavy—not even electric!—typewriters, paper over my hands so I couldn’t see the keys, gave me what is perhaps my biggest money-making skill.

5. Don’t transcribe.
Hate transcription with a passion? Not every interview needs to be recorded. Learn shorthand, either the real kind or your own version, and take handwritten notes with only the information you need. This is also a great skill to have in a pinch, in the event of equipment failure or if you find yourself in the midst of a great story without your trusty recorder. I learned it the hard way, on the street as a cub reporter for a local weekly, because I couldn’t afford a tape recorder. I still take notes by hand at paintball games, rather than risking my pricey, high-tech Olympus WM-800.
Oh, your other choice if you don’t want to transcribe is simply to hire someone to do it for you. And yes, I’m available.

Whatever it Takes

2008-12-12T12:21:00.000-08:00

A corollary to my stipulation that I will write "anything that pays" is the philosophy that I will do "whatever it takes" to get a job done.

In fact, my husband teased me that my water broke only *after* I submitted a story, on deadline, to a well-paying trade magazine. I'd been struggling with the article, as source after source fell through. I submitted the article at close of business Friday... early Saturday morning, my water broke. I do remember thinking, "My last assignment's done, NOW I can go into labor." But I'm sure the two events weren't actually related.

In those last few weeks before I had Ashley, I conducted interviews during Braxton-Hicks contractions. When I transcribed the tape, I could tell when I was breathing deeply through the pain. (Yes, I had false labor that actually hurt... you can read about it in Ashley Lyn's birth story.)

My husband teased me that if I went into labor, I would interview Seth Godin from the delivery room (I was thatclose to my due date, but there was no way I was turning down that opportunity!

I'm not saying all this to blow my own horn. I had another, let's call it an experience, today.

After a major story fell through at the post-last minute, another lead came across my desk. (It's great to know wonderful, friendly PR people!) I picked up the phone to call the source ASAP. The phone line was dead. Panicked, I picked up my cell phone and reached the source. But I don't have the means to record interviews on my cell phone. After years as a local news reporter, I have pretty good shorthand skills and I've done interviews on the fly with no tape before. Except I couldn't imagine holding the telephone and my daughter while trying to take notes on a very technical article... I'm short one hand to even attempt it.

So I call my husband, the household tech guru, in a panic. He came home and tried everything he could to fix the phone, to no avail. Finally, he offered me his cell phone, which has a better speakerphone. Not trusting the system, however, I still wanted to take back-up notes by hand. So there I was: telephone on desk, digital recorder right next to the phone, squirming baby in arm, (she had just woken up from a three-hour nap so there was no chance of that!), and pen in hand. I'm not going to say this freelancing thing is easy, but it's do-able.

The downside to this story is that we may need a new telephone, because our phone, Internet and cable are all tied together, and only the phone isn't working.

But that's minor compared to what people in the New England area are experiencing right now. Entire sections of Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts are without power. The shelves are bare at the few Wal-marts still open for business. And they're expecting another ice storm this evening. Please pray for everyone in those areas, and across the country, experiencing what I'm afraid is only the start of a very bad winter.

It's a good reminder for those of us who haven't YET been hit. When I go out to get a new phone this evening, I'm also going to stock up on some essentials like water and batteries (we'll need Ds for flashlights AND the bouncy chair!) and make sure our storm kit is well-stocked.

I guess there's my tie-in: Surviving a storm is like building a freelance career... always be prepared to do *whatever it takes.*

Lists: The Lifeblood of a Successful Business

2008-12-11T06:58:00.000-08:00

Before I started freelancing, I was never a big list-maker. Things just got done at work and I’d stay late during crunch-times to make sure they did.

Then I joined the JHS team at Absolutewrite.com and everything changed. Following the lead of successful women over there, I started to write everything down. Long-term goals, short-term to-dos, article assignments and ideas.

After Ashley was born, though, I misplaced my calendar. I’ve been without it since October. While I haven’t missed any deadlines or fallen behind, I’ve felt directionless. I know I have a handful of stories due the end of this month, beginning of next, but I sit in front of my computer once I get my daughter to sleep and stare blankly.

Fortunately, I have a brand-new planner, still in its wrapping, to crack open for 2009, so I’ll have a fresh start and will keep meticulous records of all my assignments, appointments and interviews. I have a feeling I’ll need it even more than I ever did before. My daily to-do lists will be significantly shorter than they ever were in the past, but I’ll aim to accomplish every item and then some. I used to be able to complete several interviews, 2 to 3 transcriptions and maybe a blog post or two (or a full-length feature article) in one day. Now I’m thankful if I get one “large project” done per day. But that’s okay.

On today’s agenda? I have at least five hours worth of interviews to transcribe that I will begin to tackle, and an interview scheduled for a few minutes from now. I’d also like to get a few blog posts written. Once the transcriptions are done, I can begin to write one of two articles due within the next few days. I have a feeling T.J. and Ashley will spend quality time together tonight while I type like a madwoman!

How about you? Do you keep lists or just remember it all in your head? What organization tools would you not be able to live without?

And now, as Promised, CUTE BABY PIX

2008-12-07T20:09:00.000-08:00

Ashley Lyn, at about 1 mos. old (taken November 17, 2008)

(Left) Ashley loves getting wrapped up in "Lammy" (her thick fluffy hooded towel) after her bath.

(right) Panzer takes a nap on Daddy and Ashley takes a nap on Panzercat. Ghost (not present for photo) sulks. This is life in our house.

More Changes

2008-12-07T19:55:00.000-08:00

I recently interviewed author and parent-prenuer Julie Lenzer Kirk for www.theWAHMmagazine.com. She said something (well, a lot of somethings, actually!) that really resounded with me. Should you happen to read this post, Julie, let me thank you for such a wonderful talk!

The line that keeps echoing in my head is: "You can't build a business during naptimes."

To some degree, I agree, especially if she was speaking metaphorically. If you want to make money working from home, you have to be serious about it and run it as a business. It can't be something you "just do while the baby's sleeping."

However, I know that Julie meant it in quite a practical sense, and, for now, that is exactly what I'm doing. My business was "built" prior to the arrival of Ashley Lyn, of course, but as every freelancer knows, success means constantly RE-building -- especially in today's economy. Fortunately, I believe that if you have already built a reputation and a client base, and if you work hard and (most importantly) efficiently during those naptimes, I believe you can schedule your business hours, for the most part, around naps and other convenient times of day.

Maybe I'm wrong... ask me my opinion in six months. And if I am wrong, I will definitely let Julie know. (I'm also not the CEO of a major corporation or running a Fortune 500 company the way she is, either, so we are talking different ends of the business spectrum.

Anyway, I do have a point.

In the next few weeks, I hope to revamp this blog with the subtitle: One WAHM's journey to build a business during naptime. We will see if I'm right, that it can be done on the scale I wish to do it.

I have other motivations for re-creating this blog into more than just a clearinghouse for my clips and an ocassional rambling post. I want to create content that keeps people (and Parent-preneurs in particular) coming back.

So yes, continue to expect photos of my daughter. What's better for Web traffic than photos of cute babies? Forget it, don't answer that... I intend to keep this blog purely PG-rated!

But seriously, I'm turning this site into a resource for WAHMs and others who want to make a living on their computers in a crappy economy. What will you find here? Helpful links to posts related to business, marketing and freelance writing. More posts like "90 Minutes in the Morning," with tips on how to streamline your business efforts. (P.S... I have that down to about 10 minutes now!) More of an effort to stay connected to the rest of the blogosphere and create a community feel on this site.

Of course, this blog will remain a clearinghouse for clips, links and, yes...baby photos.

So please, come back often.

Ashley Lyn, 10-12-2008

2008-10-22T07:26:00.000-07:00

On October 12, 2008, at 10:04 PM, I experienced the biggest change in my life since... well.. ever. Having a baby daughter is the most wonderful thing to happen to me and my husband, T.J. It has strengthened our already-strong relationship in ways I never imagined, and given me a new perspective on everything. Ashley Lyn is the whole world to us!

Having said that, I know I've been blessed with the abilities and means to work at home while raising my daughter, so maintaining my freelance writing business is more important than ever before.

Before I get to the good part, I'd like to say a quick thank you to my regular clients who were so patient and understanding with me through three weeks of false labor, and finally, the delivery of Ashley Lyn Allcot (and my short break!)

I have already returned to work on a part-time basis for the next month or so, but hope to be going full throttle and pursuing new opportunities come early December.

But... enough about me. Here are the photos I know everyone has been waiting for!

Ashley Lyn Allcot, born 10-12-2008, 6 lbs., 4 oz., 19.5"

Inspiration, E-Marketing and Powerful Women

2008-09-18T17:57:00.000-07:00

It has been such an inspirational day! I love when interviews with great people leave me feeling refreshed, renewed, and just a little bit smarter.

I just had the opportunity to interview Casey Conrad from Communications Consultants, Inc. and Take It Off. The article won't come out until January, so I don't want to reveal where it will appear until I ask the editor for permission to do so.

Casey just sold out print copies of her latest book, Selling Personal Training but the eBook is still available (of course). This is appropriate as Casey's most recent focus is e-marketing for health club owners and operators.

It was very hard for me to stay on track during our interview and ask only the questions that needed to be answered for a 700-word article. I could have spoken to her forever about the various tenets of e-marketing, and she even introduced me to a site I had heard of, but hadn't thought about very much. (Squidoo.com -- check it out.)

The health club industry is a bit behind other fields (say, the work-at-home industry, which is very on top of the trend) when it comes to e-marketing and social networking, but it was interesting to hear how something as global as the Web can be used for successful local marketing.

Yes, I'm being intentionally vague. I need to transcribe our hour-long conversation and then decide what doesn't make the cut for the article. Stay tuned for some e-marketing tips that can be applied to help you target leads and close sales, whether your customer base is your community or the world.

Hmm... I had wanted to discuss a few other powerful (I won't use that other word!) women I know, as well... but this is probably long enough for one night. You ladies know who you are and why I love you... but here are the links so readers can get a hint of what I experience every day by having each one of you in my life. ;)

www.onewomansheart.wordpress.com
www.rebeccalaffarsmith.com
http://juliefletcher.blogspot.com/2008/07/when-i-was-first-asked-if-i-wanted-to.html

Book Review: the Heretic's Daughter

2008-09-06T08:59:00.000-07:00

I took a course on 19^th Century Women’s Literature in college and fell in love with the works of the Bronte sisters: dark, eerie yet romantic tales written in classic prose with a descriptive tone that carries readers on a lyrical journey through time and space.

Recently, my reading interests have been consumed with business and networking books, with mostly light-hearted, quick-read chick-lit novels tossed in when I have free time. The Heretic’s Daughter, by Kathleen Kent, is a deep read that is both entertaining and insightful—a page-turner with depth. Both the tone and themes are reminiscent of some of my favorite 19^th Century classic novels penned by great women authors.

For the writer in me, beautiful turns of phrase made the process of reading as enchanting as following the story. Early on in the book, several passages caused me to pause, left breathless by their eloquence. For instance, “It was deep into the season and so bitterly cold, the liquid from our streaming eyes and noses froze onto our cheeks like frosted ribbons of lace.”

Too many books on today’s bestseller list contain heart-pounding plots with little in the way of true craftsmanship on the writer’s behalf. Other so-called “literary” novels place too much emphasis on how the story is told, without caring if the story, itself, will hold a reader’s interest. Kent is a true wordsmith who never sacrifices plot or character development for the sake of quality prose, and successfully delivers all these elements in a captivating 332 pages.

The book spans the time period of 1690 to 1752, jumping around to tell the story. Chapter heads make it easy to follow the time changes as we peek into the different stages of Sarah Carrier’s life. Young Sarah, only 10 when the novel begins, is the daughter of Martha Carrier, one of the first women to be accused, tried and hanged as a witch during the Salem Witchhunts.

The book explores the lives of the Carrier family: mother Martha Carrier, a strong-willed woman who eschews the conventions of church life; father Thomas, a large man who seems to elicit deep respect bordering on fear from others in the town; sons Richard, Tom and Andrew; young Sarah Carrier, age 10, the point-of-view character; and toddler Hannah. At the book’s start, young Andrew is afflicted with smallpox and the reader knows life will not be easy for the Carriers in 18^th Century Massachusetts, just outside of Salem.

When the children go to live with their aunt in a nearby town, Sarah bonds closely with her cousin Margaret. Is Margaret a witch or is she not? For that matter, is Martha? There are hints throughout the book – odd healings and other events that make you wonder if there could be something behind the accusations. In general, most of the supposed “witchcraft” can be easily chalked up to coincidence and false persecution, but it lends an additional air of mystery to the story. To be sure, there are dark secrets within the Carrier family, and Martha is a strong, strong woman. But a witch? Probably not.

The book is historical fiction and therefore, the characters are based on real people. However, as characters in finely-crafted fiction should do, each fills an important purpose, driving the plot forward and developing Sarah’s personality through her interactions with them. Sarah’s relationship with her mother is complex, lending even more depth and emotion to Sarah’s guilt over Martha Carrier’s inevitable death.

Mysteries, family relationships, religious beliefs, coming-of-age, bonds between women, and personal strength are all explored in this fascinating tale. One of the more powerful lines in the book comes toward the end, in Martha Carrier’s last words to her daughter: “There is no death in remembrance… Remember me and a part of me will always be with you.” A part of “The Heretic’s Daughter” will always remain with me.

I’ve often heard people say that first novels are never a writer’s best work. This is Kathleen Kent’s first novel, and, if that’s the case, I can only say I can’t wait to read more!

***

This review is part of BlogStop Book Tours.

Please check in to the other writers' blogs on this tour to read more reviews!

Blog Stop dates and blogs:

September 1 - Devourer of Books

September 5 - Anything That Pays… A Freelance Writer’s Blog

September 8 - Literarily

September 10 - Writers, Witches and Words… Oh My!

September 12 - Book Room Reviews

September 15 - Something She Wrote

September 17 - She Reads Books

September 19 - Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin’?

September 22 - Presenting Lenore

September 26 - Sharp Words

September 29 - Write Now

You can purchase The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent here:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Support Simon: A Poem, a Story, and Inspiration

2008-08-29T18:52:00.000-07:00

Just about a month or two after I found out I was pregnant, I learned that a close friend/fellow writer (part of our JHS group on AbsoluteWrite) was expecting, too. As we entered our second trimesters together, we compared cravings, kicks, and our respective sizes. (Although I wasn't brave enough to share belly shots). How exciting, that even though she lives across the country, we would be raising our little ones "together."

Mysti, due in November, gave birth to Simon Gabriel on July 28, 2008. At 24 weeks gestation, he weighed only 1 lb. 7 ounces. This small miracle, as many are now calling him, is currently hanging in there in the Denver NICU, gaining weight and growing, but every day is a struggle.

Many freelance writers across the Web are sharing Simon's story, in hopes of helping Mysti raise money to temporarily relocate her family (including 4-year-old Jaden) to Denver so they can all be closer to Simon. They currently live two hours away in Wyoming.

I wrote this poem shortly before Mysti gave birth to Simon, in early July. At this point, we knew Simon would be early, and we knew Mysti was having a very rough pregnancy, but we had no idea just how early he would be. We had entertained the notion of giving birth on the same day, even! Although I don't normally share my poetry--and this is the first poem I've written in a very long time--I felt it was appropriate to post it here.

I also ask everyone to please check out a toy car that is currently up for auction as a fundraiser, and to visit Mysti's blog to hear the entire story of Simon in Mysti's eloquent words. She is also accepting donations here, at her spirituality forum, The Echo of One.

Parallels

A beautiful woman
And at this moment
Our lives parallel--
Who would have imagined?
Me in this spot, reaching out to you

Friendship parallels inspiration, birth, creation.
So much more experience--
But so much more pain, too.

Miles apart
We connect across cable lines
And I wonder how you’ve survived
You give me perspective
But also knowledge, friendship, laughs
And focus.

Trepidation tempered by hope
Shared prayers for positive outcomes
I stifle the desire to offer sympathy
Or censor my own joy
Friendship, normalcy and diversion
Mean more now; treasured now.

We share trivial moments, talks of food,
Baby kicks and I wonder
Parallel delivery rooms?
Who would have imagined?
Me in this spot, reaching out to you.

Friendship parallels inspiration, birth, creation
Relishing the experience--
But wishing I could heal your pain.

Book Review: The Smart One

2008-08-25T12:07:00.000-07:00

When I received my advance copy of “The Smart One,” I knew it was exactly what I needed. After several months of reading only business, marketing, finance and health & fitness books, I was in the mood for some good chick-lit. And that describes The Smart One, exactly.

When Mary Lewis invited me to participate in her Blog Stop Book Tour by reviewing The Smart One, I looked up the title on Amazon. I was certain I’d seen it before. Turns out, I hadn’t, but it was so reminiscent of many of my other favorite books, it must have struck some subconscious recognition in my brain. This is not a bad thing. I enjoy titles by writers like Sophie Kinsella, Jane Green and Jennifer Weider because they deliver exactly what they promise every time: a light read with characters I could picture as my friends. The heroines in this genre typically have a good sense of humor and a bright yet realistic outlook on life.

This describes Bev, the main character in The Smart One, pretty well. But the plot twists--utterly surprising yet completely logical in retrospect—set this book apart in a genre that features many “copycat” titles by less-than-talented authors and hum-drum, no action plots.

On the contrary, The Smart One is a skillfully woven tale that seamlessly blends the genres of true crime, detective story and romance while exploring deeper issues such as sibling rivalry and competition amongst sisters.

Long Island-based sisters Bev, Claire, and Joey discover a dead body in an oil drum hidden in the crawl space of their childhood next door neighbors’ house. And yes, things like this do happen in the Utopic (dystopic, perhaps?) suburbia of Long Island. In fact, author Ellen Meister says the idea for the story was sparked by a similar local incident, although all facts, personalities and plot twists aside from the “dead body in an oil drum” detail, are completely fiction. (Are you surprised? After all, Long Island is the home of Joey Butofuco and Amy Fisher, and the Amityville Horror.)

As a fellow Long Islander, I enjoyed Meister’s references to local landmarks and traditions such as concerts at Jones Beach and shopping at Fortunoff. But such intimate knowledge of the geography of our strange little sandbar is definitely not necessary to enjoy the book.

The characters, too, are realistic portrayals of suburban women. There is Bev, the “Smart One” of the title, a bit too pudgy for her own liking, smart but unfulfilled. There is big sister Claire, the suburban housewife who seems, on the surface, just a bit too perfect, and was always viewed as “the pretty one.” Finally, there is the baby of the family, Joey, a former rock star and recovering addict, who provides a dose of harsh reality to the sisters’ worlds. She’s viewed as the rock star and the rebel with a voice like an angel.

As one of three sisters myself, I enjoyed the dynamics between these women. Even in their most hateful moments of rivalry and bickering, the love between them is tangible. Like real-life sisters, the women come together when it matters.

I’m bursting with a desire to tell everyone I know about this title, to share the amazing plot twists and dramatic moments. I’ve stopped myself short several times so as not to give away a key detail. Suffice it to say, the book carried me from laugh-out-loud guffaws (politically incorrect as it may be, who can resist a good midget joke delivered tongue-in-cheek?) to tears—only to sigh in relief when my preconceived notions were proven wrong.

If you’re in the mood for a good beach read before the summer winds down or something to help you escape from the realities of back-to-school time, The Smart One is, well, pardon the cheesy word play, but it’s just a smart choice.

To read the other Blog Stop Book Tours reviewers' opinions, go here!

August 1 - Mom Is Just A Nickname

August 4 - Virtual Wordsmith

August 8 - Musings From The Mitten

August 9 - The Book Faery Reviews

August 11 - Maw Books

August 18 - Fighting With Writing

August 20 - Book Room Reviews

August 22 - Presenting Lenore

August 25 - Anything That Pays… A Freelance Writer’s Blog

August 29 - She Is Too Fond Of Books

The Bunko Babes, A Review

2008-07-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

From page one I really tried to like “The Bunko Babes” by Leah Starr Baker. The book is an unusual blend of contemporary Christian fiction meets chick-lit. Think Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood finds religion. (How’s that for a 5-second tagline?) Given my diverse blend of interests and philosophies, it sounded like just the type of book I’d love—and tell my friends about.

You’d also think, based on this somewhat contradictory description that the book may not appeal to everyone. Certainly, some of my fellow BlogStop Book Tours reviewers, including Julie Fletcher at Not Enough Coffee, opened the seafoam green cover with skepticism, only to find within an endearing—and enduring--tale.

The Christian overtones are not evangelistic and should not turn off mainstream readers. The Bunko Babes does provide enthusiasts of Christian literature a unique book that addresses their values and ideals. The Bunko Babes happen to be Christian and, for the most part, exemplify these values throughout the book, but this does not detract from the story.

The intricate yet well-thought-out plot emphasizes life challenges, friendship and growth. When the book begins, lead character Becca Thornton has “plenty of room to grow,” as fellow BlogStop blogger Carolyn Erickson so eloquently and diplomatically phrases it in her own review at Mama Needs a Book Contract.

The Bunko Babes is about a group of eight women at varying stages of their lives with two common bonds: Bunko and friendship. The women meet weekly to play Bunko, a game of chance played with three dice, and, while each week a new winner is crowned, so much more occurs at these important get-togethers.

The women struggle with such issues as pregnancy, infertility, infidelity, and seeing a husband sent off to war. The weekly Bunko games become the glue that holds their lives together, their counseling sessions, and their escape.

When Becca starts developing odd physical symptoms and ailments, the suspense builds, as we wonder what’s wrong. Later, when we find out she is diagnosed with lupus, we keep reading to see how she will handle her debilitating illness. Just as the main character wonders about her own survival, so do we.

Sounds pretty good, right? Eight women, lots of laugh, suspense, drama, strong female characters. What’s not to like?

In spite of the main character’s declarations about how important her friends are to her, Becca’s actions in the beginning don’t show this to be the case. Instead, she comes off as self-centered, shallow, and a bit petty; she judges her friends for their clothes and how they keep their houses and seems to spend an inordinate amount of time describing everyone’s outfits, including her own. It’s hard to get into a book when the main character grates on your nerves. I had to keep reminding myself that the writer is not the character and Becca Thornton was created this way—to be realistic and flawed.

Nevertheless, if Becca were real and if I were one of her seven Bunko Babe pals, I’d be the first one to tell her to get over herself. Yes, Lupus is a terrible illness, but the situations her friends were going through were no less challenging, and Becca says some very cruel things, particularly to her best friend Jessica. I know books’ heroines are supposed to be flawed, but I failed to find any redeeming qualities in Becca throughout most of the book. Becca becomes a modern anti-hero, but even anti-heroes (Hell Tanner of Damnation Alley comes to mind as one of my favorites) must be likeable, even as their actions are immoral. Becca’s character has the opposite issue; she’s not exactly evil in a compelling way, but she’s not easy to like, either.

Her redemption may be in her brutal honesty and self-exploration. Even though I may not like the petty character traits she reveals, it’s hard to fault her for her telling the truth.

She’s honest to a flaw—with the readers, with her friends… The only one Becca seemed to lie to was herself, by not seeing how un-Christian and detestable her thoughts and actions were. Still, it did leave plenty of room for the character to grow.

I also discovered some literary flaws in the book. As these are more pet peeves of mine than anything else, it seems fair to say I just didn’t enjoy the author’s style, rich with adjectives and providing little variance in the sentence structure. But that’s okay. I don’t like Danielle Steele’s style either, but she tells a page-turner of a story, and has the seven figure sales of her books to prove it! Many people fault Dan Brown’s literary abilities (personally, I enjoy his writing) but he still sells millions of books, too.

Unfortunately, The Bunko Babes’ ending felt rushed; we didn’t really get to see or immerse ourselves in Becca’s new personality, so I’m left wondering if the character’s change will be permanent. However, this is an important point. Long after I closed the book—for all certain aspects annoyed me—I found myself thinking about it, discussing it with others, even discussing it with the author in a blog comment conversation.

For someone who reads as much as I do, it’s not often that I come across a book that impacts my life and has me thinking about it long after I’ve tucked it away on an overstuffed bookshelf. And that, to me, is the mark of a worthwhile read. While I can’t say I thoroughly enjoyed The Bunko Babes, I’m glad I had the opportunity to read it and feel as if my life has been enriched by the experience.

This is one of the beautiful things about Mary Lewis' Blog Stop Book Tours; they are a great way to introduce readers, and the reviewers, to a diverse blend of interesting titles we may not otherwise pick up. I'm proud to be a small part of this book tour. Please check out the other reviews on the tour, and drop by the home of Blog Stop Book Tours, too.

July 1 - Not Enough Coffee

July 3 - Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin’?

July 7 - Mom Is Just A Nickname

July 11 - Mama Needs A Book Contract

July 14 - Something She Wrote

July 16 - Virtual Wordsmith

July 18 - Writing From Kiddom

July 23 - Anything That Pays… A Freelance Writer’s Blog

July 25 - From The Cheap Seats

July 28 - A Mama’s Rant

90 Minutes in the Morning

2008-06-25T06:46:00.000-07:00

There’s a popular weight loss book titled “8 Minutes in the Morning.” The book provides easy exercises you can do that will make a positive change in your health and fitness. The number one excuse people use for not exercising is “lack of time.” Who doesn’t have 8 minutes?

“Not enough time” is also a common reason people give for not marketing themselves or their business properly, and for not taking advantage of all the networking tools available today. (The other reason is not being tech-savvy, which we will address later).

I haven’t managed to get my social networking down to eight minutes, but through effective time management techniques, speed-reading, and a very targeted plan, I can get a lot accomplished in just an hour-and-a-half at the start of my day. If you can find a way to incorporate your morning exercises into your Web surfing, let me know!

So, how do I do it?

First, I check my e-mail, possibly using this to compile the rest of my to-do list. Then I visit three forums and make the rounds of my favorite SM sites, including Twitter, Plurk, Facebook and Myspace. By visiting these sites, and these sites *only*, I keep myself from getting bogged down in mindless surfing. If a link or a forum thread catches my attention, I click on it, read and comment. There are others I want to add to the list, including LinkedIn, but I’m still new to this and don’t want to overwhelm myself yet!

One habit I fell into previously is, after making my rounds, I’d start back at home base and check my e-mail again. It was an endless cycle and before I knew it, I’d have five conversations going on five different sites, but no real work accomplished. Don’t do this! Check a site, and move on! If you really feel a need, you can make your rounds again in the evening, and I definitely recommend checking e-mail at least one more time during the day, preferably after lunch.

Timothy Ferriss, author of the Four-Hour Workweek, recommends checking e-mail and voice mail once at noon and once at 4 PM. But I can’t start my morning without two things: Strong coffee and e-mail.

Before I get started on my assignments for the day, I visit blogs. I don’t visit every one that I like every single day, but I try not to get backed up, either. Choose a selection of blogs to check on Mondays, then different ones on Tuesdays, and again on Wednesday. Rotate every three or four days… once a week isn’t enough and you’ll find yourself getting backed up. When you read, comment on at least one post from each blogger, then and there.

If you’re like me, you’re a “response” junkie and need to find out when people comment on your comments. Set up a separate e-mail address, and enter that address when blogs ask for an e-mail to notify you when someone has replied to your comment. You can also use this e-mail on forums and social networking sites, to notify you when you have private messages, comments, or someone has replied to a certain thread. Check this e-mail address once in the morning, and, if you really can’t wait, again at lunch. That’s it. Do not check it compulsively. If there’s something you want to reply to, do it and move on.

Finally, set up a separate e-mail account for newsletters. Check this once or twice a week, and take some time when you really need a break to sit back and enjoy your favorite newsletters.

By keeping separate e-mails, I find I never miss anything important (like an assignment from an editor) and can check “non-time-sensitive” information at my own leisure, without feeling pressure over having 2,564 unread messages in my mailbox.

This may sound like it’s very regimented, taking a lot of the fun of following link-after-link in that way Web junkies love. Take time to do that, but don’t take the time out of your workday. Enjoy that for what it is: time-wasting fun. In the morning, you have a goal to accomplish--to stay in touch with your network.

Don’t forget, however…social networking can be superficial, with people posting tweets and plurks and comments. If you have extra time when you’re done with your rounds, strike up a conversation with someone in your network. Share ideas. Participate in a chat. They will certainly understand when your 90 minutes (or 60, or however many you decide you need) is up and you say that you have to get to work.

I love SM sites for many reasons, but I also crave deeper connections with my, well…connections. After all, we do this because we love people (and to make money, yeah… but we’d find another way to do that if we didn’t love people!) Use tweets to stay in touch day-to-day, but don’t neglect the relationships behind those short notes.

"Use As Many Microphones As Possible..."

2008-06-24T06:14:00.000-07:00

This guy sums up, in just under 10 minutes, everything I've been thinking for the past year.

There's some harsh language in it, but he speaks the truth.

And yes, it's Chris Brogan again! I just hope I'm not coming off as stalker-ish to him.

WOM, WAHMs and Networking Secrets

2008-06-18T14:14:00.000-07:00

I'm not a networking guru, not by a long shot. Someone at AW has listed her location as, "at the feet of my betters," and that is how I feel when it comes to social networking both online and in person.

One of those "betters" is Jennifer Gniadecki. She is the author of Non-Toxic Networking, a must-read for work-at-home entrepreneurs, small business owners and anyone who wants to achieve greater success in their field. I had the pleasure of talking to Jennifer for about an hour the other day... and I realized her 'networking secret.' She is genuinely a nice person. She's a lot of fun, with a great joie de vivre, is refreshingly honest, sincere and *real.* After 30 minutes on the phone (we'd "met" in a chat room once before), I felt like we'd been friends for years. I really had to force myself to hang up the phone and get some more work done.

Now, if that's the secret to networking, it can't be faked. And I think that IS at least one of the keys: You have to genuinely like people. Then again, why work in a networking-intensive field if you don't like people?

Another woman I am lucky enough to learn from every day is Erika-Marie Geiss, Editor-in-Chief and publisher of www.thewahmmagazine.com. Incidentally, that's a "double m" in the URL, as in "hot momma!"

In many ways, Erika embodies the spirit of "JHS" (Just Hit Send: The freelance writer's version of "Just Do It"). Late at night, when her toddler is asleep, this hard-working WAHM sends out queries, press releases and interview requests to big-name markets and well-known celebrities in the work-at-home and social networking field. It has already resulted in some great press for her content-driven digital publication devoted to the work-at-home industry, and will result in some fantastic coverage to appear in TWM in the future.

In a lot of ways, it's appropriate that Erika "introduced" me (in a social networking way--we've yet to meet, even online, or do more than trade Tweets on Twitter) to Chris Brogan, social networking king.

And, in one of those odd coincidences, which really hammers home the massive connectivity of the Web, Chris Brogan recently blogged about The Word of Mouth Manual: Volume II, a book that I am also signed on to buzz about as a BzzAgent.

I admit, I've been so busy immersing myself in this wide world of social marketing lately, that I've only skimmed The WOM Manual. I encourage you to download your own free copy (from Brogan's site, or any other number of places), and post your opinions here. It will help me file some buzz reports and, it may just inspire me to sit down and finish reading it. (I admit, this is probably the laziest way to generate word of mouth: "I heard of this thing. Read it and tell me what YOU think.") I will fulfill my BzzAgent duties and finish reading the book this weekend and post a review by next week. But I really would like to hear what you have to say about it, too! :)

There is a lot more I want to say about WOM, WAHMs and Networking Secrets but this blog is quite long enough. Please drop by tomorrow when I tell you how I've gotten my SM surfing down to two effective, targeted hours a day.

Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: I recently joined the Non-Toxic Networking affiliate program, which means I make a small percentage of money from sales of the book that come from this site. That does not make my assessment any less valid. If I'm going to be using WOM to promote products that have value, created by people I like, what's the harm in adding a few dollars to my Paypal account along the way. No one that I know is getting rich off these affiliate programs... I simply urge you to check out the sample chapter posted on Jennifer's Web site and make your own buying decision.

"How to Promote Your Business In Trade Magazines"

2008-06-05T06:46:00.001-07:00

I will be at the Business & Learning Work-at-Home Expo again today, with a presentation at 1:30 PM for small business owners and freelance writers alike. Learn how to "Promote Your Business in Trade Magazines."

One of the ways to approach trade magazines is with a Query Letter. Since this information is helpful to freelance writers (that is, visitors to my blog) as well as business owners, I thought I would share it here, as well.

QUERY LETTER RESOURCES

**Send an email to DawnAllcot@gmail.com and I will send you my FREE article on how to write a query letter.**

Why Blog?

2008-04-12T13:48:00.000-07:00

In my last blog post, way back in February, I promised a blog every few days for the month of March. How about... None? The truth is, once my energy started to come back, I had fallen so far behind on my paying freelance work, I had no time for blogging and other "fun" writing pursuits. Clients have to come first.

Which brings me to an important question. If it's the first task to get dropped when life gets busy, why blog at all?

I know why many other people blog: to promote their name or their company, to make money through Adsense or another earn-per-click program, or simply to feed their ego and have people read their work. Still other bloggers blog "for themselves," to share their thoughts and feelings with the world in a way that is free of an editor's intervention, advertiser interests or pesky publication guidelines.

But why do I blog? I haven't yet gotten to the point where any of my blogs are doing a great job promoting my brand, so it's not for self-promotion. Yes, I find blogging fun, but no more or less fun than writing a feature story for a paintball magazine.

I'm going to be brutally honest. I blog for attention. I thrive on comments and feedback. I'm not an "attention-whore" in real life, and, in fact, shy away from being the center of. But when someone makes a comment, or links back to my blog with the comment "great post," that small thing makes my day. That's why I blog.

Now, where do I blog?

I just launched a new one as a tie-in to RECON, the Magazine of Woods Paintball. Check out RECON, the Blog. I also have guest bloggers, some big names in the industry, helping out there sporadically.

And, as referenced recently in the comments section here, I blog at Miss Michele's Tarot, where I offer a variety of free and reasonably-priced tarot readings for my visitors.

I also blog, as I mentioned earlier, at Babies Online. I love the unique perspectives offered at this site from a variety of moms and pregnant women. I don't always agree with the posts, but I always find them thought-provoking and informative. Check it out.

Oh, and please leave a comment so I know you were there!

Writing and Researching for Life

2008-02-27T07:26:00.000-08:00

I write in so many diverse industries, most articles give me a chance to learn something new--but not anything I can apply to my life.

It's great when I get to write about topics that I would research even if I wasn't being paid to do so! That's why I feel truly blessed to have landed a spot as a blogger over at Babies Online. I will be writing a pregnancy diary, filled with tips and advice for expecting moms.

I've also been a guest blogger at Family Resource, thanks to the lovely and talented Julie Fletcher.

In addition to all this research about pregnancy, I also did a bit of research for after the baby is born. You'll see my article, "Baby On Board: How to run an at-home business with an infant in tow" in the latest issue of TheWAHMmagazine, coming out March 5.

Between new blogging gigs, trade magazine assignments, and ongoing work for RECON, I've sorely neglected this blog.

I'm going to get on a twice a week schedule of some sort for March. It is one of my JHS goals!

Call Me "Catalyst"

2008-01-31T17:22:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine once said he wanted his business cards to read "Catalyst" as his title.

This resonates with me. Many times, my greatest success occurs when I bring other people together, then step back and let the sparks fly. Sometimes I reap rewards myself, but often, the reward comes in watching friends achieve amazing things based on connections I expedited.

I don't want to say, "Oh, look at me!" or, "They never would have done this without me." Fate has a way of bringing people together when they can help each other. But it's nice to know I can help make the process go smoothly sometimes.

This happened to me yesterday (a few times!) and while I didn't get a lot of work done, I did accomplish significant "networking" in two different circles, in three different circumstances.

I can't reveal the details just yet (yes, yes, more secrets...) but one phone call I made yesterday might result in some very strong marketing connections for three other women. And me? I'll get to sell a few stories about it.

I'm happy with that.

Working Through Challenges

2008-01-30T06:59:00.001-08:00

Every writer has faced situations which made it hard for them to concentrate. People face this in 9-to-5 jobs, as well, and deal with it in one of three ways:

Close their office door, play solitaire all day and hope they don't get caught or;

Suck it up and get their work done or;

Ask the boss if they can go home.

The third will work if you have a valid reason: illness, death in the family, etc. "It's raining," is not usually a reason to request PTO.

Writers face these same challenges, great and small, and to some degree, have the same options. The major difference is we can surf the web or play solitaire all day and remain accountable only to ourselves. And we don't have to ask permission to call it quits. That only makes the temptation to do so greater.

So which is the right choice?

In most cases, I'm a staunch advocate for number 2.

"A writer writes, everyday." "How will others take your job seriously if you don't?" Pick your cliche to describe that frame of mind that says "I am a real writer."

Jenn Hollowell noted what a gray, dismal dreary day it is. She decided she's going to close all the blinds, turn on all the lights, and pretend it's night time in order to get some work done. If what you're facing that's keeping you from working isn't that bad, or you have an important deadline, do whatever it takes and get it done.

Option number 1 is really just fooling yourself. You could say you're "searching for markets" or "checking up on the competition" or simply "stirring the creative pot" as you read 3 weeks worth of blogs and play 6 Degrees of Separation on Wikipedia, don't fool yourself. Accept that you've decided to take some time off, and enjoy your surfing or chatting or Internet poker guilt free. Put aside the notion that you "should be" doing something else. If you're going to goof-off, at least enjoy it!

At that point, also ask yourself if you could be more productive with the computer off.

It might just make sense to call it quits for the day and begin refreshed tomorrow.
Deadlines will be met, work will get done. When it's crunch time, you always make it happen.

Parkinson's Law states, "Work expands to fill the time available." If you only have one day to finish that article, you'll finish it.

If you had two days... well, you'd have taken both. Might as well enjoy the other day, instead.

How do you handle circumstances that make it hard for you to write?

JHS

2008-01-27T07:57:00.000-08:00

I want to talk about a certain feeling I believe all writers get. It's that knot in the pit of your stomach after you "hit send" on an article or query, before you hear back from the editor.

You second guess yourself: Did I spell my source's name right? Did I spell the editor's name right? Will she hate it? Love it? Did I forget anything? Did I include the attachment?!

The best method to get past this feeling is to start work on your next project--immediately!

And remember, you're not alone.

In fact, an entire community of writers over at AWexists to support writers getting over that fear of "just hitting send."

Hence the odd acronym, JHS. No, it's not Junior High School, or Jumping Hairy Snakes... It's that phrase that sets successful writers about from the wanna-be schlubs. It's the ability to "Just Hit Send," then put aside those feelings and get ready to JHS again...and again...and again.

RWAAARRR....

2008-01-25T19:58:00.000-08:00

Plaid Earthworm , one of my favorite people in the writing community, has tagged me with a Meme. This is a fun one, because it comes with an Award. It's called "Roar for Powerful Words." In a fit of writerly "lack of self-esteem," I let myself get a bit down because this meme traveled three-quarters of the way around the AW writers' community without hitting me. Of course I was being silly, but Plaid, thank you! It really means a lot to me.

In this meme, you must blog about three things that create good, powerful writing. Let's see if I can come up with some tips that haven't been done to death.

1). Learn the basics!
This seems so obvious, but many writers want to pursue their goal of getting published before they've learned the mechanics of good grammar, tight writing, how and when to incorporate quotes, what makes a good lead, etc.

Unlike talent, tenacity and persistence, the basics *can* be taught. Writing is a competitive field and writers have enough factors working against their success. Do yourself a favor and learn the basics first. You wouldn't try to be a mechanic if you didn't know how to use a wrench, would you?

Grammar, flow, pacing, word usage, interview skills, etc. are a writer's *tools*. With these tools, we can create great, publishable work. You may have a great story to tell, but without the basic storytelling tools in place, no editor will take you seriously. (Unless you're a big name star or a strongly-established expert in your field--then, your name is worth more than your abilities and an editor *will* fix your work. But that's not your "average person" I'm talking about).

Some writers say, "Fixing my grammar is the editor's job."

No, it's not.

There are too many writers out there who know how to use the basic tools of the trade. An editor will hire them, instead, because those writers make the editor's job easier.

It is also not an editor's job to teach you these skills. There are plenty of resources available. Start with Strunk & White's Elements of Style. Read William Zissner's On Writing Well. If those aren't sinking in, start with a basic grammar book or take a course.

Good writing begins with the basics.

2). Observe and absorb.

Ideas are all around us. A good writer swallows these ideas, savoring every taste, like a ravenous lion. Pay attention to the way people talk, how they respond to certain stimulus, how they act in one situation or another. People-watch. Eavesdrop. Listen.

As a writer who writes a lot of interview-based features, I am often tempted to "space out" during interviews, especially when I know my recorder is catching it all. Don't.

Focus on what your subject is saying, so you don't miss the perfect follow-up question. Besides, people are that much more forthcoming when they know you're paying attention and are truly interested in what they have to say.

3). I keep wanting to slant these tips toward "successful writing" rather than "good writing." In other words, I want to show the reader how to make money as a writer. I'm going to give in to that temptation with my third tip: Be easy to work with.

This encompasses many aspects of freelance writing. Knowing how to follow writer's guidelines makes you easy to work with. Happily re-writing when an editor requests it (within reason, of course) makes you easy to work with. Not squawking when an editor alters your precious prose, but, instead, studying what he did so you can improve your work with that publication next time, makes you an editor's dream. Delivering the story you pitched in your query makes it likely the editor will hire you next time.

Oh, and, finally... just being a friendly, nice person, with a kind word for your editor every now and then, will set you apart. All other factors being equal, an editor is more likely to hire the writer she enjoys working with than the arrogant know-it-all or even the stick-in=the-mud writer who has skill but less personality than a wet rag. That's life.

I'd like to pass this meme and Award on to five writers who regularly practice all three of these tips, but, quite honestly, don't feel like spending an hour checking to see if my choices have already been tagged.

If you are reading this and somehow have been passed by, please consider yourself tagged!

On Failure, Success and the Writing Life (AW Blog Chain Post)

2008-01-25T09:09:00.000-08:00

People often ask writers where we get our ideas. For me, finding ideas has never been a problem—it’s deciding which ideas to pursue that creates the challenge.

This entry is part of an AW blog chain, in which the blogger has to build upon one of the topics mentioned in the previous blog.

Razib, over at Techtainment, has given me (and the other bloggers in the chain) so much to think about, I simply don’t know which path to take.

This happens when I’m writing feature articles for magazines, too. I may have three strong leads, three different themes, if you will, and the challenge lies in choosing the best, most interesting way to tell the story. Once I decide on the overall gist of the piece, the words flow easily to the article’s conclusion. It’s that all-important lead that can make or break a project.

Some of the topics Razib hit upon were: failure, success, persistence, heroes, spousal support, and making a living as a professional blogger. Razib gets a phenomenal number of hits on his sites, and is making a real living through blogging.

I couldn’t imagine taking that career path, but I have a few projects in the works that will supplement my other writing income through blogs, and a few opportunities to learn more about how to make money as a blogger. I’m going to grasp these opportunities with both hands. After all, what do I have to lose?

Fear of failure has never stopped me from doing anything. My personal demon is fear of success. What if I get so good that people expect more from me, and I’m forced to step outside my comfort zone to pursue new challenges? What if I achieve my goals and can’t decide where to go from there?

Or worse… what if I make my dreams come true and realize it wasn’t all I expected it to be? What if I get where I want to be and I’m still not happy?

I’m making a full-time living as a freelance writer – in an area of the country with a very high cost of living. Granted, I couldn’t do it without my husband’s support, medical benefits and job security. But I’m doing it. And making more than I ever made working for someone else as a magazine editor.

Some days, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Work comes in spurts – you either have more than you can sanely handle, or you’re trolling the job markets wondering if anyone will ever hire you again. A freelancer’s bank account follows similar cycles.

Success requires discipline, persistence, tenacity, and a healthy dose of self-esteem to keep you going during those down times. You have to realize that your work has value and you’re worth every dollar you’re making. Otherwise, your career is dead when you hit your first rough patch (and there will be rough patches!)

Even when things are going well, however, sometimes it’s just…not… fun. It’s work. That’s why we get paid to do it.

However, as “work” goes, writing as a vocation has more good days than bad, is fun more often than not. And the thrill of seeing my name in print—or on a check—outweighs any drawbacks.

On those hard days, it’s important to remember that living the life of a full-time freelance writer is the chance to live a dream. I can honestly say there is not one thing about my life I want to change. That’s a great place to be.

If you’re reading this, I invite you to kick me when I forget that! ;) And, if you stay tuned to these pages, I will do everything I can to show you how I did it so that you can do it, too.

Far more than just fulfilling the requirements of a blog chain, I think this post has (finally) given me some direction for this blog!

Since this chain may lead to the most readers I’ve ever had here, tell me: what sort of writing tips, advice and content do you want to see?

Now, I respectfully pass this chain on to Polenth's Quill.

living my life all over again
Spontaneous Derivation
Jenn Hollowell: Working Writer
Peregrinas
Techtainment
Anything That Pays
Polenth's Quill
wfg thinks out loud
Twisted Fantasy
Spittin' (out words) Like a Llama
A Thoughtful Life
The Speakeasy
Virtual Wordsmith
The Writer's Round-About
My Copious Notes Blog
Tennessee Text Wrestling
Writings

awchain

Tarot Themes

2008-01-16T10:12:00.000-08:00

Yes, I read tarot. Daily, in fact, over at Miss Michele's Free Tarot Readings. I draw a daily tarot card which reflects (much like a horoscope) the theme for the day and offers insight into the day's events.

Today, I drew the Three of Pentacles which is, simply put, the card of work and learning.

What have I learned today?

I've learned that Verizon still charges $50 to get a new phone, even if you have insurance. :(

I've learned my husband is due for a free upgrade... which means I can take his old phone, and we don't have to pay $50.

I've learned, once again, that there is a point of diminishing returns after tweaking an article for three hours, and sometimes, you need to Just Hit Send. :) (Done!)

I've learned a bit more about blogs and readability thanks to fantastic critiques from friends over at Absolute Write. While my goal for this blog is just to get some more content up here -- clips and resources -- expect to see some significant changes over at Miss Michele's Free Tarot Readings. I hope to take some time this weekend to get both blogs where I feel they should be.

I plan to learn a lot more about the history of Cousins Paintball field in Plattekill this evening, as I put together a press release for the upcoming SPPL event here in New York. I'm venturing out of the house to do the interview in person, because the field owner is a close friend who TJ and I haven't seen in quite a while. I could have gotten it done a half hour ago by phone, but I'm looking forward to visiting the paintball store.

Factoring in driving time plus the interview, not to mention the hassle required to leave the house for an interview, (ie, finding something to wear that doesn't have a drawstring waist!) it will cut my "average hourly rate" in half. But I've learned that it doesn't matter. Some things are just worth doing.

In what other job (besides, possibly, sales and marketing) do you get to chat with an old friend for an hour or so--about a topic you both love--and get paid to do so?

Two Things You Need to Know to Be a Successful Writer

2008-01-10T14:49:00.000-08:00

I'm a big fan of the BIC school of writing. Butt-in-chair, that is.

It seems the more I write, the more opportunities arise.

That's tip number one: show up everyday... or at least, on whatever schedule you set for yourself that works for you. I try to take at least one day a week off, sometimes, two, although those days may not coincide with the weekend.

Today, I showed up at my kitchen table and completed three phone interviews, solidified four writing assignments, accepted a fifth assignment, got the wheels in motion on two regular Web jobs, and... [squeal] was invited to be a guest blogger on Family Resource. Look for me there beginning in February, where I will be blogging on pregnancy, finance, and possibly lifestyle tips.

The funny thing is that this invitation came to me just as I was beginning to feel guilty about "slacking off," chatting with a fellow AW writer in between phone interviews, when I could have been transcribing or writing.

But writing, like so many occupations, is a people game. Would I have gotten the invitation through e-mail if I wasn't online at that moment? Probably.

But I know for certain that I wouldn't have gotten the invitation if I haven't been posting about my (diverse!) niche markets on AW lately, offering advice to new writers, and showing that I have a talent to convey ideas in a concise and entertaining way. Mentioning that I wanted to start pursuing pregnancy/family topics in my writing through the course of conversation didn't hurt, either, I'm sure.

Fate is funny that way. It rewards hard work, persistence, and communication. In short, fate favors those who "show up."

Spring Awakening: A Short Review

2008-01-07T08:08:00.000-08:00

My niece and I went to see Spring Awakening yesterday. I've become something of a Broadway fanatic since last year. Thinking we'd move out West by 2008, I wanted to absorb as much of the New York experience as possible. I've seen Rent twice, Stomp (off-Broadway), the Evil Dead (off-Broadway), Xanadu and Avenue Q in the last year. That's as many plays as I've been to my entire life. The full list? Wicked, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Phantom, Les Mis, and going way back, Annie.)

Spring Awakening was, in a word, haunting. The award-winning lighting added to the effect, while the kickin' rock score, anachronistic for a play set in the 1890s, added an indescribable energy. Blake Bashoff as Moritz had a voice not unlike Green Day's lead singer, adding an alt rock flavor to the music. Befitting a Broadway performer, though, his range was absolutely incredible.

I tried to describe the plot to TJ when I got home from the city, and something got lost in the translation. You have to see it to fully understand the plot, themes and motifs.

It's a play about sex, abstinence, life, death, religion, atheism, rebellion, growing up, abuse, respect and more.

The male lead, Jonathan Groff as Melchior was equally strong as an actor and singer; his passion had half the audience fighting back tears during the penultimate scene. The onscreen chemistry between he and Lea Michele (Wendla) was nearly tangible. What a great pair! Lea Michele kicked off the play with one of those scenes--and songs--that sticks in your mind. Her voice filled the Eugene O'Neill theatre with the opening notes of "Mama Who Bore Me" and we knew we were in for something good!

Two days later, I'm still thinking about the play, it's meanings and messages. I'm also considering ways i can share my love of Broadway with others, further my freelance writing career, and maybe make some extra money (of course.)

At this point, "Will Write for Broadway Tix" -- in spite of what many pros would say about never writing for free -- seems a reasonable declaration.

Counting Down...

2008-01-04T21:03:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure of the exact time, but (looking at the clock now) TODAY, December 5, 2008, is the day TheWAHMMagazine launches!

Although I'm only a contributor, I am as excited about this launch as I was when the first RECON bearing my name as Editor-in-Chief hit newsstands. Hmm.. maybe there is something to that... I get to celebrate a launch, with none of the headaches of getting the magazine to press. I like this freelancer stuff.

Those Editor-in-Chief headaches, this time around, belonged to the lovely and talented Erika-Marie Geiss. Of course, the readers won't know anything of the hard work that went into making TheWAHMMagazine a success. What they will view, tomorrow, when this digital magazine goes out, is a perfect, sparkling new publication--a mean, green, information-disseminating machine. :)

And it is, truly, green. The interactive format means no paper, no dead trees, but the page-flip technology means it will read just like a regular print publication.

It's not just for WAHMs (Work-at-Home-Moms) either. I thought that was going to be an obstacle to getting my foot in the door, but Erika assured me it is for Work-at-Home-Moms, Work-at-Home-Dads, telecommuters, and freelancers of every sort.
Which is a good thing because not being allowed to park in those spots labeled "For parents of toddlers only" is about as much discrimination I can handle in that regard!

But seriously, go check out the magazine at www.thewahmmagazine.com. Sign up now so you can be one of the first to read the premiere issue.

A Writer's Resume, Helpful Links

2008-01-02T09:44:00.000-08:00

Writing blogs seem to be active in the new year. Many writers are posting goals, tips and helpful links; the community seems to be revived and refreshed with the start of the New Year.

This morning has been productive for me with a lot of invoices and bookkeeping finished, and, after a bit of blogging, I'll be moving on to paid assignments for January.

I want to share a fantastic post from Jenn Hollowell, Working Writer. Inspired by a thread on AbsoluteWrite, Jenn posted some helpful links for writers interested in creating or revamping their resumes. See her post about Writer's Resumes here.

I recently revamped my resume, but may look at it again after reading the advice on these links. Jenn brought up an interesting point. She started getting more assignments after she began including a resume with her cover letter and samples.

What's your experience on this? Do you use a resume? Has it helped?

Putting It All Out There

2008-01-01T17:40:00.000-08:00

I'm going to put it all out there. I just added up my before-taxes freelance income for 2007.

$21,934.

I was a bit disappointed. It felt like more. Of course, not on those days when I'm visiting Coinstar or trying to figure out how to stretch $50 for another few days until a PayPal deposit clears, but overall, I felt like I was doing well.

On Long Island, especially, low-20s is not a lot of money. At least that explains why I always feel broke.

However, in the first one-third of the year, I was working full-time at a magazine and not really freelancing, other than an article here and there. Once I went full-time, things picked up significantly.

So my key goal for 2008? Double my income, to make $42,000.

This seems like a reasonable, attainable goal, and means I will have to bring in $3,500/month.

Using Chris' Freelance Writing Income site as a model and as inspiration, I will "keep myself honest" here by posting my freelance writing income every month.

Check back often for freelance writing tips and to see how I'm doing on this journey!

First RECON/BRWP Podcast!

2007-12-30T09:42:00.000-08:00

I am feeling great!

Let me begin with that simple statement. T.J. and I got the house in order, and have even created "the Allcot Home Gym" in our 12 X 14' foyer. We have our weight bench, a Rebounder personal trampoline, and a WaveMaster kickboxing/punching bag, plus our bicycles hanging from the ceiling and a bicycle trainer set up if we want to use it. I love cycling. I find riding the bicycle on the trainer the most boring form of exercise. The set-up of the handlebars and the balance required on a regular bike (not an exercise bike) prohibits reading while I ride, and spinning and spinning while not actually getting anywhere, to me, defines futility!

After two days spent cleaning before the holidays, almost everything has a place now!

I have enough assignments to keep me busy until mid-January, but plan to send out a few queries every day in the New Year or write online articles on spec for sites such as AC and Suite101. I am also offering a special on Tarot Readings over at Miss Michele's Free Tarot Blog.

Finally, in good news to start the year, Blast Radius Woodsball Podcast has launched the first edition of "RECON: Behind the Lines," part of a partnership between the podcast and the magazine.

It is going to be a good year!

Writer's Evolution

2007-12-14T10:29:00.000-08:00

Writing is evolution. Individual works evolve as a story grows from a germ of an idea to an outline, then a first draft, second draft, etc. etc., to final copy. (And then, if it is accepted for publication, continues to evolve until it is in its truly final stage on the newsstand or bookstore shelf.)

Evolution also takes place within a writer's larger body of work—in everything that a writer has created throughout his or her career.

A friend of mine noted that writer’s block is, itself, a form of evolution. (Or, again, revolution). It is our mind pushing us to that next level of writing… to push us beyond the cliché, the usual phrasing, the voice that flows so naturally from our fingertips, to create something truly wonderful and unique.

We all fall into ruts as writers. We grow to love certain words, phrases, rhythms. We adopt them. They become part of our repertoire. Then they become second nature. Writer’s block is, quite often, our minds telling us that we can do better than the instinctive writing that tends to pour out during first drafts.

When Rachel, over at That Which Deranges the Senses, and I were discussing the evolutionary stages of writers, we decided that you can gauge the stages of evolution by noting when you started creating work that doesn’t make you cringe when you re-read it. (This is also, probably, a good way to determine a final draft—when nothing makes you cringe! Although, we may want to aim higher than that. Say, no cringing, along with a few “oohs” and “ahhs.”)

The other day, putting together clips to post, I pulled out two old magazines, from 2000 and 2001. I re-read two of my favorite stories—stories I had re-read over and over when they came out, marveling at my journalism skills, my wit, the flow, the layout. (Yeah, really. Every so often, you hit a winner like that).

Blah and Bah Humbug! My work was stilted. It needed tightening. It sounded forced. I could barely stand to read anything in the magazine except my editorial, which was written in my journal-ing voice. That particular style (what you’ll see on my blogs and in forums) hasn’t changed much.

I have noticed a more recent evolution, too. After teaching an online writing course for paintball writers, re-iterating the principles of good writing to my students-- I became more conscientious of these principles in my own work. Work I wrote just last week bothers me in some way or another.

I’d like to hear others’ ideas on their evolution as writers. Have you ever noticed yourself going through stages? (“Ah, that was my ‘make sure I include all five senses in every scene’ stage or, “Oh, my ‘use everyone’s height in their description’ stage.”)

How new does a piece of work have to be that it doesn’t make you cringe when you re-read it? Do you notice evolutions you’ve already gone through in other, less experienced writers? Has an evolution ever snuck up on you, like it did to me just recently? Is my friend’s theory on writer’s block true? Have you noticed a significant difference in the quality of your work after you’ve successfully battled a bout of Writer’s Block?

The Early Bird?

2007-12-12T09:56:00.000-08:00

I've never been a morning person. I'm coming out about that right now. When I schedule an interview for 10 or 11 AM, it's because I don't plan to be awake much before that time. But I often spend many late nights in front of the computer, when the house is quiet, the phone has stopped ringing, and I can let the words flow.

It takes a lot for me to admit that. Peter Bowerman, author of The Well-Fed Writer, helped me come to terms with it, finally, when he wrote about keeping similar waking hours (10 AM to 2 AM, approximately).

But this morning, after a day of non-stop "networking" yesterday, I was in front of the computer at 8 AM this morning to finish an article. It felt... peaceful. I was refreshed, not exhausted and accomplished more in two hours than I did all day yesterday.

In proving that the "early bird" does, indeed, get the...gig, some good news awaited me in my gmail box this morning. (Or perhaps it's just the result of all those "Just Hit Sends" I did at the end of last month!) My article, Both Sides of the Fence, will be published in the January 7 edition of the Absolute Write newsletter. Also beginning in the new year, I will be the author of a monthly AW column, titled Living Creatively.

Of course, at 10 AM, the phone rang. Then it rang again. And again. Then I had to make some follow-up calls to confirm information based on earlier calls. So much for peace. And while many people may not view 8 AM as "early," I think I am going to steal these two hours in the morning more often.

Following Your Passion

2007-12-10T19:48:00.000-08:00

What I like best about being a writer and publicist is the opportunities to talk to people about their passions.

Last week, I spoke with two men who are extremely passionate about what they do: Jayson Nielson of the SPPL and Toby Dagenhart of iPrayerworks.

Jayson, my business partner for RECON Magazine, took over the SPPL scenario paintball tournament league last year and has implemented a ton of changes for the 2008 season. The introduction of Divisional Play at three levels, a ranking system, and player ID cards will make the SPPL -- the premier woodsball tournament league in the sport -- more like the major paintball leagues, the PSP and NPPL.

For those unfamiliar with the sport, this will help turn woodsball players (long the invisible majority as far as marketing and sponsorships) into rock stars.

Nielson's enthusiasm is infectious. When he told me about the refinements to the league, I said, "This is the best thing to happen to scenario players since SpecOps!"

While I was still reeling in anticipation of covering the 2008 SPPL season in RECON, Paintball Sports, Paintball News and a host of other media outlets, I had a conversation with Toby Dagenhart, who designed Web-based prayer room management software.

The coolest thing about the program is not that it lets people pray for congregation members from their homes, anytime (although that IS cool.)

The software also manages the records of homebound and hospitalized members of the church. People can log in, track a congregatoin member's condition, see who visited last, and when. After a visit, a church volunteer can log in straight from their Blackberry, iPhone or any web-enabled device and post an update.

While the data is computerized, the ministry is 100 percent human. As Toby said to me: "It's less administration and a whole lot more ministry."

I could hear in Toby's voice how much it means to him to be able to offer the software.

That's what happiness is about: finding a way to make a living using your talents and following your passions.

Me?

I'm passionate about freelance writing. As much as I know about the field, I realize there's a lot more I have to learn, and many people out there who know more than I do.

I recently updated this blog to include more links to sites of interest to freelance writers. If, like me, you enjoy learning about the craft and business, or you're just looking for a few good markets, check back often.

Lament for a Missing Notebook

2007-12-09T19:19:00.000-08:00

I have a collection of notebooks that I use for on-the-scene reporting, as a back-up to my digital voice recorder, and for paintball events where I don't want to carry something else that uses batteries and can get broken, wet, or lost on the field.

I got hooked on Moleskine notebooks a few years ago. These sturdy little leather journals include an inner pocket for business cards, an elastic band to hold the book closed, an attached bookmark, and was the writer's notebook of choice for Hemingway. I loved the insert in the notebook which told the story of how Hemingway used the book. (Yes, that's what sold me on it. Really.)

The book includes a place to write your name: "In case of loss, return to_____" and a line that reads, "As a reward: $___." I always write "Good Karma" in that spot. Fortunately, I've never lost one (well, not permanently) but I like the idea that my notes could have a dollar value assigned to them if I desired.

Then I discovered similar notebooks, not leather, for about half the price in bright colors. I came to associate different color notebooks with different times of the year or different eras in my writing life. Plus, what's cooler than a chick in digital camouflage who pulls out a bright pink notebook to write down the Commander's name during a big scenario paintball game?

I remember my first trip to Salt Lake City in October 2006. I was visiting two paintball companies, fierce competitors. I signed a "non-disclosure agreement" for one company and took pages and pages of off-the-record notes in my little blue notebook.

The next day, I visited their competitor. When I got back to my friend's house that night, (who happened to work for the first company) I couldn't find my notebook. I thought I left it on my friend's desk at work, I could even see it there in my mind's eye, but a fear nagged at me that I had left it at the competitor's facility. I didn't sleep that night.

Then again, I purposely take notes in my own version of shorthand, practically illegible to anyone but me. My husband loves teasing me about it. "How can a writer have such awful handwriting?" he asks. But there's a reason for it, beyond expediency.

Anyway, when we arrived at the office very early the next morning, there was my notebook, right where I left it, on my friend's desk! Since then, I'm even more careful with my notebooks. Usually.

Late Friday night, lying in bed, I wrote a post for this blog in one of my notebooks. I didn't feel like booting up the computer. Now I can't find the book. It may be in my car, but it's 30 degrees outside, 10:30 at night, and I'm not wearing shoes.

I added a few links to some job resources for writers and a few good web sites.

Hopefully, I'll put up "the missing post" tomorrow. I hope it's worth the wait.

From Idea to Article to Action

2007-11-28T18:36:00.000-08:00

I had a meeting today with Todd Morena of Ultimate Fitness & Sports Performance, in the Northport Wellness Center. Todd, along with Frank Brady, created a muscular robotics machine designed to increase athletes’ range of motion and flexibility. I wrote about the machine in the November 2007 issue of Club Business International.

But I first spoke with Todd in 2006 when I talked to him about the predecessor to this technology for a feature story in DASH Magazine. When I walked into his Fitness Center today, I saw the magazine article, mounted and framed, hanging right on the wall beneath an article in Vogue.

It’s a shame I wrote the article under a pseudonym because it would have been cool to see my name hanging there. Regardless.

I received a treatment from the muscular robotics machine. Very cool. Todd demonstrated how it increased the range of motion in my shoulders. When cycling season begins again, I want to get the treatment on my legs. I can see how it could really improve my performance.

We also discussed future business possibilities. But being surrounded by all this fitness and wellness reminded me how badly out of shape I am. I’ve had free passes to Crunch fitness sitting on my desk for a month. It’s too cold (in my opinion) to bicycle, although I still see a lot of cyclists out, and the high school track team runs right through our neighborhood every morning.

Fortunately, TJ set up the weight bench in the foyer/weight room today for the first time in over a year; the weight bench has been crammed in the spare room with boxes still left unpacked since we moved, books, and who knows what else… Feng wha--?

Okay, one life goal at a time. Today, fitness. Tomorrow, clutter. Right now? Writing.

I love when my writing inspires me into action--whether it's trying something new or putting into practice something I know I should be doing, like straightening out my home office or implement a work-out regime.

What about you? What positive changes have article assignments or ideas sparked you to make?

Welcome to Blog #3

2007-11-24T21:31:00.000-08:00

A few discussions on Absolute Write convinced me that I need a place to discuss writing, share links, and, most importantly, post clips until my new web site is launched.

Then a fantastic interview at the Renegade Writer made me want to blog about the writing life, but not place it in my personal blog, which has turned a bit rant-y of late.

Hence, Blog #3 was born.

Lest my title, "Anything That Pays," seem mercenary, let me explain.

The question, "What do you write?" leaves me stammering with no easy answer. I write a lot: technical articles for trade magazines, paintball stuff, articles about business and writing, poetry, short stories, blogs, press releases, product catalogs...

But I always feel like my answer won't be good enough, or what the person wants to hear. They want an easy, cool, response: "science fiction novels" or something, which I can't deliver. (I haven't done THAT quite yet!)

A few years ago, my husband came up with a clever answer that has actually resulted in connections that gave me some assignments. Faced with the question, he replied for me: "Anything that pays."

I've tried using the line at cocktail parties recently and felt awkward and arrogant. But when my husband says it, it works. It either catches people's attention and leaves them too speechless to ask me to elaborate, or it just shows them I'm not a dilettante, an unpublished novelist working on the same piece for decades. Either way, it seems to satisfy.

And with the variety of genres I'm willing and capable to write in, it satisfies me, too--both my natural curiousity and desire for challenge that keeps me pursuing various fields of expertise and the profit column in my spreadsheets.

So, what can you expect to find here, in my third blog (which joins It Had to Be Said and Miss Michele's Free Tarot Readings)?

I imagine I'll share knowledge on writing, good writer's websites, and my own victories, with the hopes of inspiring other freelancers.

I'll also post clips and new projects here. Thanks for visiting; come back soon.

Testimonials

2000-09-02T09:05:00.000-07:00

Courses & Coaching

2000-09-02T09:04:00.000-07:00

Ghostwriting

2000-09-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

Editing

2000-09-02T08:59:00.000-07:00

Writing

2000-09-02T08:55:00.000-07:00

About

2000-09-02T08:53:00.000-07:00

Allcot Media

Writing, Editing & Coaching Services

Freelance Writing

RESUME

Ghostwriting

Editing

On Word Choice and Blog Titles

Guerrilla Networking for Writers

Writing Leads that Sell

Writing Leads that Sell

Too Busy for Blogging?

The Secret to Beating Writer’s Block

When Stories Touch Us

A Freelancer’s Four Most Profitable Words

“Filler” Income for Writers: Taking Surveys

My Resume

Finding Expert Sources to Enhance Your Articles

Paintball Sports Launches New Web Site

Life Coaching: Scam or Road to Success?

About Dawn Allcot

Win Prizes!

Get Writing Assignments Without Querying

When It's Okay to Write for Minimum Wage--or Less!

When Are You Inspired to Write?

Writing v. Content Creation

Review: How to Write an Article in 7 Minutes

2009: The Year When Procrastination Can Wait

Ten Days *After* Christmas

"Ask Me How"... Advice for Freelance Writers

Ask Me: Advice for Freelance Writers

New Year's Wrap-up

Transcription Tips for Freelance Writers

Whatever it Takes

Lists: The Lifeblood of a Successful Business

And now, as Promised, CUTE BABY PIX

More Changes

Ashley Lyn, 10-12-2008

Inspiration, E-Marketing and Powerful Women

Book Review: the Heretic's Daughter

Support Simon: A Poem, a Story, and Inspiration

Book Review: The Smart One

The Bunko Babes, A Review

90 Minutes in the Morning

"Use As Many Microphones As Possible..."

WOM, WAHMs and Networking Secrets

"How to Promote Your Business In Trade Magazines"

Why Blog?

Writing and Researching for Life

Call Me "Catalyst"

Working Through Challenges

JHS

RWAAARRR....

On Failure, Success and the Writing Life (AW Blog Chain Post)

Tarot Themes

Two Things You Need to Know to Be a Successful Writer

Spring Awakening: A Short Review

Counting Down...

A Writer's Resume, Helpful Links

Putting It All Out There

First RECON/BRWP Podcast!

Writer's Evolution

The Early Bird?

Following Your Passion

Lament for a Missing Notebook

From Idea to Article to Action

Welcome to Blog #3

Testimonials

Courses & Coaching

Ghostwriting

Editing

Writing

About

Ten Days After Christmas