Life of A Writer

Good evening, friends! I've spent all evening market hunting, and I am hoping to get a few query letters into editors' inboxes before the night is over.

Tonight's market hunting adventure is a little more difficult than my past market hunting adventures, because I'm searching for markets that will accept reprints. Most of the time when I market hunt, it doesn't matter to me if they accept reprints or not, because during those times I was pitching articles that had never been published, but this time I decided to re-sell some of the articles I've had published. Yes, that's why writers don't like to sell all rights -- we like to keep them for ourselves. Besides, why should we sell all rights to our work and let someone else make money off of something we spent time writing and researching. I very seldom sell all rights to any of my articles, because on days like today I like to dust them off and go market hunting to make more from them. However, if the price is right, I will consider selling all rights, but I have to think hard before I will. Price isn't the only thing I consider, though. If I think the article will sell many more times down the road, and if I have put quite a bit of time into it, I usually try to keep my rights to re-sell it so that I can reap the rewards from my hard work. After all, it's only fair, right. However, I am learning that the markets available to sell reprints to are fewer than what I usually have to choose from, but there are still markets out there that buy reprints, and as long as they're willing to buy, I'm willing to sell.

Well, it's back to market hunting for me. I'm not going to have any queries going through cyberspace at all tonight if I don't get back to work, eh. With that said, I wish you all well. By the way, if you're a paying market that accepts reprints, and if your audience of readers is writers, then you just may be hearing from me tonight.

Bookmark on Del.icio.us | Stumble It!

It's 3:36am (CST) here and I'm getting ready to hit the sack. However, before I cuddle up next to hubby, I wanted to post a short blog. I wanted to do this so I could include a couple tips for writers. Tonight, as I was searching through Google for some paying markets for an article that I plan to pitch, I came up with an easier way to search for the paying markets, and I wanted to share these tips for writers with all my fellow writers.

You see I'm working on an article for people with disabilities, so I wanted to target paying markets that will accept these type articles. In the past, I have searched for "writers guidelines," "paying markets" and etc., but tonight, in an effort to narrow my results down, I entered this: disabilities intext:"writers guidelines." In deed it did narrow my results down, and returned quite a few paying markets geared toward people with disabilities. So, for my first tip for writers: try entering the above text into the search field the next time you're searching Google for a paying market. Just replace the word "disabilities" with the type of market you're seeking. For example, say you have a parenting article in mind: enter parenting intext:"writers guidelines." Go ahead and try it, you may be amazed at what you'll find. :)

Now, for the second tip for writers that I promised. Since you may also be searching for paying markets only, the results will possibly return some non-paying markets. Therefore, before you start reading through the entire guidelines and then find out they're a non-paying market, hit Ctrl and F on your keyboard, then enter the word pay, and finally, click "find next." This should take you directly to the payment information (if there is any). Once there, you can then decide if the pay is enough to go back to the beginning and read the market's complete guidelines. Happy hunting and goodluck! It's off to bed for me. ;)

Enjoy this post? Subscribe for updates.

Bookmark on Del.icio.us | Stumble It!

When I need a break from writing, or even inspiration, I enter the blogsphere and read other writers' blogs. I usually visit the same blogs every time, but I do, on occasion, search for new blogs by other writers. Plus, when a writer comments on my blog and leaves the URL to their blog, I'll return the favor and visit them as well; I've found some interesting blogs this way. With all that said, I've decided to share my list of other writers' blogs with you tonight. If you know of an interesting blog by another writer, or even a good blog about freelance writing, feel free to comment and let me know about it.

In no particular order, here's the list of other writers' blogs that I visit frequently. Also included are some great blogs related to the craft of writing, which I also visit frequently:

April Aragam's Blog
All Freelance Writing
Writers in the Sky
Fab Freelance Writing
Writing Spark
Jenna Glatzer's Blog
Writer Beware
Julia Temlyn's Blog
A Writer's Words, An Editor's Eye
Get Paid to Write Online
Writer's Brew

And there you have it, my list of other writers' blogs, as well as some great freelance writing blogs. Now you know what I do when I should be writing. Oh well, it's not a secret anymore. I could have kept it a secret, but I couldn't resist sharing my list of what I believe to be some great blogs. If you visit them, leave a comment and let them know I referred ya ;)
Happy reading!

Enjoy this post? Subscribe for updates.

Bookmark on Del.icio.us | Stumble It!

Well, since it has been a week since my last post, I thought I would let you know why. I decided to take a small break from writing to let my head clear, and in doing so, I turned to marketing. We as writers not only have the pleasure of writing, but unless we're well known like Ann Rice or the others, we're responsible for marketing our work as well as writing. Therefore, I chose to use my break from writing to catch up on some marketing. As it turns out, the biggest task at the top of my marketing to-do list was optimizing my Web site to improve my ranks in the search engines. My site was written for search engines before, but that was a while ago, and as most of us know, SEO changes just about as often as computers.

As I began the optimization process, I knew I was going to change the design some, because tables seem to push the content further down the page. So, when the search engine spiders visited my site to read the content for targeted keywords, they saw the HTML code for the tables first. I had so many tables that I needed to remove them and try to put my text toward the top so hopefully the spiders will catch more of my actual content rather than the HTML coding for the tables. I'm still somewhat new to SEO, so I hope what I did pays off, because I spent a lot of time doing it.

Now that I have my optimization completed, I'm back to writing again. I must say I missed it, and I do believe the cobwebs have cleared. I also should be back to blogging like normal again… I hope. :)

Be sure to join me again Friday for a list of writing-related blogs. Yep, on Friday I plan to share some of my favorite blogs with you. Until then, take care and God bless!

Enjoy this post? Subscribe for updates.

Bookmark on Del.icio.us | Stumble It!

Last week I blogged about "8 Things a Man Might Say to a Woman That Could Land Him in the Doghouse," and in my blog entry I stated that I could not scold my hubby for not remembering our wedding anniversary anymore. When I made that statement, I also said that was another story that I would have to tell you about later. Well, this is later, and the story follows:

I forget things a lot now… must come with getting older… LOL… Anyway, it seems not only did he forget our three-year anniversary this year, but I did as well. The funny part: I didn't realize it until one month later. Yep, that's right, one whole month later! Just last month I was sitting on the couch watching television, and they brought up forgetting anniversaries. It was then when I realized on June 26 of the previous month my husband and I had been married for three years. I looked at him and said, "Honey, did you forget our anniversary last month?" His mouth dropped open and he replied, "Yes, I did." I told him he's not in trouble, because I forgot too. Of course, he laughed and found it hilarious since I make it a point every year to let him know he'd better never forget. Well, I can no longer do that now… LOL… And I guess -- if we remember -- we'll celebrate our four-year anniversary next year. In fact, I should drum it into my own head to remember. (*blushes*)

I guess I'm the one in the doghouse now...LOL.

Enjoy this post? Subscribe for updates.

Bookmark on Del.icio.us | Stumble It!

Mommy's little angels :)

Well, I went in search of a MEME to do on my blog today, and surprisingly I discovered that with most Memes it seems you have to be tagged. Since I don't do Memes often, I've never been tagged. I thought a MEME would be fun, and that's why I searched. I did manage to find a MEME that didn't require tagging. This meme I got from Another day in the life of… Amanda. Thanks, Amanda! Oh, by the way, Amanda, I love the music on your blog. :)

1. What kind of soap is in your bathtub right now?
Actually, we have a shower, but I'm looking forward to the day we put in our bathtub; there's nothing like soaking in a nice warm bath. With that said, there's Dove in my shower.

2. Do you have any watermelon in your refrigerator?
Sure don't, but now I wish I did.

3. Is there anything moldy in your refrigerator?
Can't say that there is.

4. Are there any dirty dishes in your sink?
From supper, yes. I can't seem to talk the children into loading them into the dishwasher.

5. What would you change about your living room?
Well, we're in the process of remodeling right now, so I'd say… hmmm… to finish cleaning the walls with bleach, and then add the paint.

6. Are the dishes in your dishwasher clean or dirty?
Clean.

7. Do you have a can of mushrooms in your pantry?
Nope.

8. White or wheat bread?
White.

9. What is on top of your refrigerator?
Dust… LOL… I bet you weren't expecting that. Aside from the dust, paper towels and a soup pot.

10. What color is your sofa?
I have two. One is black and the other is a dark blue.

11. What color or design is on your shower curtain?
A white plastic panel (I guess that's what you'd call it), and a white fabric panel.

12. How many plants are in your home?
None.

13. How many candles are in your home?
Oh dear, I couldn't even begin to count. I collect the scented candles so there are several of them.

14. Is your bed made right now?
Nope, Hubby's in it sleeping.

15. If you have a coffee pot, what color is it?
White.

16. Electric or standard can opener?
Electric.

27. Comet or Soft Scrub?
Neither. I use Mean Green on just about everything. Not only do I use Mean Green, but I highly recommend it. This stuff cleans well!

28. Is your closet organized?
Ha! This is on my to-do list…

29. What color is the flashlight that you use the most?
Black.

30. What kinds of things are in your junk drawer?
Don't have one of those anymore. I finally cleaned it out.

31. Do you drink out of glass or plastic most of the time at home?
Glass.

32. Do you have iced tea made in a pitcher right now?
Yep, two gallon pitchers to be exact. Usually we have three gallon pictures, but one needs re-made at the present. Trust me, with three kids and three adults in the house, it's easier this way.

33. If you have a garage, is it cluttered?
Don't have one… yet.

34. Curtains or blinds?
Curtains, but as soon as we get to the windows in our remodeling process, I'll have blinds.

35. How many pillows do you sleep with?
Three.

36. Do you sleep with any lights on at night?
Yes, two.

37. How many ceiling fans are in your home?
Three.

38. How often do you vacuum?
Twice a month. That's a writer's life, but the floors don't really get too bad either.

39. Standard toothbrush or electric?
Standard

40. What color is your toothbrush?
Yellow, my favorite.

41. Do you have a welcome mat on your front porch?
Don't have a front porch… yet.

42. What is in your oven right now?
Nothing.

43. Is your microwave clean or dirty?
Clean.

44. Is there anything under your bed?
Toliet paper… LOL. Now, let me explain. We have two ferrets, and when they're out one of them likes to steal the toliet paper and put it under the bed, so we leave it and know where it is when we run out.

45. Chore you hate doing the most?
Cleaning the ferret cage.

46. What retro items are in your home?
Don't have any retro items.

47. Do you have a separate room that you use as an office?
Not yet, but it is in our remodeling plans. I can't wait!

48. If you have a yard, who mows it?
Step-son most of the time, and when he doesn't, my 14-year-old daughter likes to mow.

49. Is there anything on your kitchen floor right now?
Aside from carpet, chairs and a kitchen table, nothing.

50. How many mirrors are in your home?
One in the bathroom, two in the master bedroom and two in my daughter's room.

51. Do you have any hidden emergency money around your home?
Can't say that I do.

52. What color are your walls?
An off white.

53. Which rooms in your house have wallpaper?
None.

54. Do you have a peephole in your front door?
No.

55. Do you keep any kind of protection weapons in your home?
Yes, Hubby is a member of the NRA (National Rifle Association) and a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. They're locked up in a cabinet, though, because of the kids.

56. What does your home smell like right now?
Nothing at the moment, but tomorrow it will smell like one of my Glade Scented Oil Candles (Spiced Roses and Vanilla scent).

57. Fave candle scent?
Spiced Roses and Vanilla.

58. What kind of pickles (if any) are in your refrigerator right now?
Dill.

59. Who are in the pictures you displayed?
My daughter and two sons.

61. Do you have plenty of cabinet space in your kitchen?
Nope, but this is in our remodeling plans as well. :)

62. Ever been on your roof?
Yes, but I didn't like it! I'm not much for heights, but someone had to hang the Christmas lights.

62. Do you own a stereo?
Yes.

63. How many TVs do you have?
Four.

64. How many house phones?
None, we use cell phones; it's cheaper.

65. Do you have a housekeeper?
Nope, just me, myself and I.

66. What style do you decorate in?
Don't really have a style.

67. Do you like solid colors in furniture or prints?
Solid.

68. Is there a smoke detector in your home?
Of course.

68. In case of fire, what are the items you would grab if you only could make one quick trip?
Other than my family, I would grab my CDs, because they have all my writing data on them.

69. Do you know how to work your electrical box?
No, I leave that to Hubby, because I don't like to mess with electricity.

70. What temperature in your home is most comfortable to you?
Around 70 no matter what the season. I like things to be cool.

That completes the MEME. I hope you enjoyed my answers. For future reference, friends: If you create Memes and tag other bloggers, please feel free to tag me anytime. It'll give me something to blog about when my mind's blank from all the writing, and I think they're fun. In fact, if I happen to come up with any of my own, I'll post them here for you to do. I won't tag anyone; I'll just post it here like Amanda did. I would love some writing-related Memes.

Finally, feel free to do this meme on your blog, and if you do, comment and let me know the URL so I can read yours too.

Enjoy this post? Subscribe for updates.

Bookmark on Del.icio.us | Stumble It!

I'm so glad it's almost Friday, and I sure hope and pray next week is much better than this one has been. For some reason I have had absolutely no energy at all this week. I guess the night swifts, which I have been doing for years, are finally catching up with me. I'm not a morning person -- never have been. All week I have been unable to do any writing. I can't focus because I'm so tired. No, it's not writer's block. In fact, I'm not sure what to call it. I've just not been able to focus because I'm tired, and then when I wake up, I'm still low on energy with no oomph to do anything. I've surfed the web reading other writers' blogs in hopes of getting some get-up-and-go; however, it ends with no luck. I'm so frustrated with myself! And just to think, last Friday I couldn't sleep because it seemed like I had all the energy in the world; I blogged about that in Brainstorming and Research.

Fellow writers, have you ever experienced this? And if so, what did you do about it? I sure would appreciate any advice you could offer. I've thought about getting out and taking a walk, but with no energy that's out of the question, because I can't seem to force my lazy butt to do it. Actually, I think I need a good swift kick in the butt to get me going again. I have never felt like this before. Therefore, I'm clueless. PLEASE HELP!

Note: No, that is not me in the pic. I guess you could say its more of a visual of how I've felt this past week.

Bookmark on Del.icio.us | Stumble It!

I thought this would be fun so here it goes:

1) "Oh, she's just a hitchhiker I picked up on the side of the road."
2) "Honey, have you put on a little weight?"
3) "Did you see the size of that woman's breasts!?" (This one may even earn you a slap upside the head … LOL.)
4) "Do you plan on wearing that out tonight?"
5) "Not meatloaf again!"
6) "I'm going to Hooters with the guys tonight, dear."
7) Her: "Our anniversary's coming up."
Him: "When is that again?" (Note, I can't scold my hubby for not remembering anymore, but that's another story that I'll definitely have to tell you about in a few more days.)
8) "You're mother's coming over again!"

How about some more fun? I would like to challenge you to make your own list of things a man might say to his woman that could land him in the doghouse. Once you've created your list, post it on your blog then come back here and leave a comment with the link to your list. I'd love to read your list too, and I'm sure the men may want to make a mental note of these things as well. ;) Go ahead and try it. It really is fun!

Enjoy this post? Subscribe for updates.

Bookmark on Del.icio.us | Stumble It!

I just had two new articles published on Associated Content and would like to invite you to read them. In fact, if you know of anyone else who may benefit from the articles, feel free to forward the link to them, or click "email to friends" at the beginning of each article. Ah yes, don't forget to give my articles a rating and leave a comment if you wish. As always, I enjoy reading your feedback.

The first article, "Responding to Freelance Writing Jobs," will give tips on how you can increase your chances of getting a response to the next set of freelance writing jobs you reply to. In my second article, "Increase Revenue From Google Adsense," you'll discover how you can increase your Google Adsense earnings. No, I'm not going to tell you to promote your Web site or blog to increase your traffic, nor am I going to explain how to pick keywords and sprinkle them throughout your content. Why? Because I'm sure you've read these articles several times already. Instead, my article will reveal something you may or may not know about already.

Enjoy!

If you would like to keep up with all my blog entries, subscribe today.

Bookmark on Del.icio.us | Stumble It!

What does brainstorming and research equal for you? For me it equals a combination of things: more busy nights, a night of tossing and turning until you get back up (like tonight), more writing just for you and moola. Let's begin with the brainstorming shall we. As most of you know by now, I'm one of those "night owl" writers. Yep, I write up until the wee hours of the morning -- usually until four or five in the morning. Well, tonight I began working, but my eyelids kept closing. So, I told myself, "That's it. You're going to bed, woman. You're tired and need a good night's rest." I did just that. Well, until my head hit the pillow! For some odd reason, when my head hit that pillow, the ideas started roaming through my head, and all of a sudden I was wide awake! "Shoot, will I remember all this in the morning?" I asked myself, then rolled over, adjusted my pillow and tried to put my ideas to rest, too. Ha! You see how that went. Here I am up and fully awake, and just a few minutes prior I could hardly hold my eyes open. And that my friends is truly the life of a writer. When those ideas begin to form, you can't sleep a wink. Within moments, you're up, firing up the computer again, opening Word and recording those ideas on paper. Hopefully, after you've jotted down the ideas that were keeping you awake, you'll be able to put your computer back to sleep and hope the next time you lay your head on the pillow you'll visit dreamland. I guess we'll soon see if I can master that and get the rest I need, eh.

What started the brainstorming? Well, before I attempted to visit dreamland, I applied for another writing job. This writing job is one I'm crossing my fingers and my toes for. The writing job I applied for would require me to write about freelance writing. Yep, something I know well. Anyway, upon applying for this job, I already had a long list of writing-related topics stored in my brain to write about. Then once I hit the sack, my brain started working 100 miles an hour with more topics to write about, and I even thought of some topics to pitch about Adsense, as well as another idea that I believe would fit well in general consumer magazines. No matter how much effort I put into trying to go to sleep, I just couldn't. Therefore, I rose from my bed to get those ideas typed into Word.

Ah, yes, I can't forget the research. Once those ideas formed, I started thinking about ways I could improve the traffic to my Web site and blogs. I know writing keyword-rich content is the way, and that's when I realized I was going to spend one night or two researching to learn more about finding the right keywords for my Web site and blog. Then, I'll research a better way to sprinkle those keywords throughout my content to gain a better PR. I also need to learn this so I can increase my Adsense earnings. Once I've absorbed all of this information, I told myself I would help y'all by posting some of what I've learned here on my blog. With that said, keep watching my blog for the information or you can subscribe to be notified immediately.

OK, wish me luck as I attempt to visit dreamland again. I'm hoping all of this will allow me to rest my head on my pillow, close my eyes and there I'll be ... in dreamland.

Until next time, friends ... rest well and may all your dreams come true!

Bookmark on Del.icio.us | Stumble It!