Obviously, writing books for kids can be a goldmine if you stumble onto an idea that children and parents fall in love with. But, even if you don't want to go the traditional route of finding an agent and/or submitting your book ideas to a traditional publisher, you may still be able to write great stories for kids...and earn some money while you let your creativity flow freely.
Try starting a blog with children's stories, and monetize the said blog with Pay-per-click advertisement like Google Adsense, or take ads from kid friendly websites.
Or...another option is to look at self-publishing your children's book idea.
Monday, July 2, 2012
1000 Ways to Make Money Writing: #13 - Study the Writer's Market
Most suggestions on how to make money writing from home don't come with a link to purchase a book. But, when I thought back to when I first started writing for money, I realized that the Writer's Market was the best investment I ever made.
Take time to find the current contact information for the editor you're writing to - the biggest turn-off for any publisher or editor is to discover that the writer has sent in a query to them, but with their name spelled wrong, or even to an old editor altogether!
Study the current Writer's Market for information on small, medium and large publishers of newspapers (less and less available opportunities for freelancers), magazines, and online zines and websites and blogs. Even if the Writer's Market is just a jumping-off point for you, you'll discover tons of ways that you can make money writing. It should be in the library of any new or wannabe writer, along with seasoned writing professionals.
Take time to find the current contact information for the editor you're writing to - the biggest turn-off for any publisher or editor is to discover that the writer has sent in a query to them, but with their name spelled wrong, or even to an old editor altogether!
Study the current Writer's Market for information on small, medium and large publishers of newspapers (less and less available opportunities for freelancers), magazines, and online zines and websites and blogs. Even if the Writer's Market is just a jumping-off point for you, you'll discover tons of ways that you can make money writing. It should be in the library of any new or wannabe writer, along with seasoned writing professionals.
Monday, March 5, 2012
1000 Ways to Make Money Writing - #12 Write Articles for Trade Magazines
When you first consider writing articles for magazines - the big, impressive glossy magazines that everyone knows first comes to mind. Who wouldn't love to pad their writing portfolio with clips in Time magazine?
But, there's a lucrative career to be had by saavy writers who know that writing for trade magazines is often where the great - and great paying - assignments are to be had. No matter what your hobbies or passions - be it fly fishing or hunting, Nascar races or cooking classes - there is very likely a trade magazine that deals with that very topic. And remember that editors of magazines are ALWAYS on the lookout for new writing talent (yes, that means YOU) to fill their pages with written content. They need articles, and so you are an asset to those editors.
A great way to begin is to create a long list of all your interests and hobbies. From there, research each one online with a simple Google search. Here are a few to try:
1. Restaurant trade magazine
2. Banking trade magazines
3. Day trading trade magazines
The ideas are literally endless! So, what is a trade magazine and how does it differ from the glossy mags we know and love on the newsstands? The defintion of a trade magazine is a magazine with editorial content of interest to someone in a particular industry or profession. Trade magazines are therefore of interest to anyone in a certain trade, or field of business.
Contacting the editors of a trade magazine may sometimes be even less intimidating than contacting those at the glossies. The editors at trade magazines don't get nearly as many contacts or query letters, so your email or letter will stand out. (And don't worry - most editors are accustomed to receiving email queries. Very few will be bothered by receiving them, and for us underpaid writers, it's a great relief to not have to spend our precious dollars on stamps!)
A quick Google search for trade magazines will also unearth some interesting publications you've never heard of. There are literally thousands of magazines that are being published and that need editorial content - so get searching, and start submitting some new query letters! Onward and forward, paid writer.
But, there's a lucrative career to be had by saavy writers who know that writing for trade magazines is often where the great - and great paying - assignments are to be had. No matter what your hobbies or passions - be it fly fishing or hunting, Nascar races or cooking classes - there is very likely a trade magazine that deals with that very topic. And remember that editors of magazines are ALWAYS on the lookout for new writing talent (yes, that means YOU) to fill their pages with written content. They need articles, and so you are an asset to those editors.
A great way to begin is to create a long list of all your interests and hobbies. From there, research each one online with a simple Google search. Here are a few to try:
1. Restaurant trade magazine
2. Banking trade magazines
3. Day trading trade magazines
The ideas are literally endless! So, what is a trade magazine and how does it differ from the glossy mags we know and love on the newsstands? The defintion of a trade magazine is a magazine with editorial content of interest to someone in a particular industry or profession. Trade magazines are therefore of interest to anyone in a certain trade, or field of business.
Contacting the editors of a trade magazine may sometimes be even less intimidating than contacting those at the glossies. The editors at trade magazines don't get nearly as many contacts or query letters, so your email or letter will stand out. (And don't worry - most editors are accustomed to receiving email queries. Very few will be bothered by receiving them, and for us underpaid writers, it's a great relief to not have to spend our precious dollars on stamps!)
A quick Google search for trade magazines will also unearth some interesting publications you've never heard of. There are literally thousands of magazines that are being published and that need editorial content - so get searching, and start submitting some new query letters! Onward and forward, paid writer.
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