Have you always wanted to start a blog? If you’re a writer, it makes perfect sense: You can use a blog to serve as your author platform, market your work or find new freelance writing clients. Blogging is also a great way to experiment with your writing style. This is...
All my life, I dreamed of being a writer. But when I was a kid, I didn’t think it was a dream I’d ever realize. In my mind, making it as a writer was like winning the lottery — a goal with such out of reach odds that I might as well set my sights on something more...
Whenever a fellow writer or client asks me what I use to create ebooks or print editions, my first question is always, “Mac or PC?” It’s not my intention to raise my elitist, Apple-shaped nose at them. Rather, their response dictates my answer. PC users get the hard...
If you’re itching to write a book — or are stuck in the middle of one — join Jenny’s Book Ninja 101 course this month for just $97. Use code THEWRITELIFE at checkout. “Writing a book is hard.” In the last three years of working on Pivot — from the book proposal that...
Have you ever considered putting together a DIY writing retreat? It’s not as difficult as it may first sound! Why you should take a DIY writing retreat1. You want time to write2. You need structure3. You don’t know what to write4. You’ve had a project sitting on...
As a writer, you are likely already using social media to promote your published work—or you should be! And since you’re already a wordsmith, cobbling together clever and engaging tweets, Facebook posts, and descriptions for Pinterest and Instagram comes fairly easily...
If you’re a pro at spotting spelling or grammar errors, proofreading could be a great way for you to make some extra money. Here’s Edee’s story for inspiration on how you can find proofreading jobs. “Are you any good at proofreading?” I was a second grade...
Becoming a freelance blogger and finding paying jobs can be tough. Where should you look for gigs that pay more than a couple measly bucks for a 500-word post? Are content mills the only way to get paid to write? The truth is, if you know where to look, you can...
When when you find yourself with a big, time-consuming writing project to pursue, your love of words alone might not pay the bills. That’s when writing grants can swoop in to save the day (and your budget). If you find you enjoy writing grant applications, grant...
While most of think of filler words as using “um” or “uh” in speeches, there are lots of other extras we put in our writing. These extras can distract from your main message and make your writing come off as less serious. Keep in mind, the type...
Early in my writing career, I discovered a troubling truth about those arguments I’d had in my (very, very cool) adolescence about spelling, commas, pronouns and other conundrums of the English language. No right answers exist. No definitive tome rules over all of...
Dream of getting away to a writing retreat so you can just write? Want to meet and work with other writers with structured guidance, but in a more intimate setting than a writing conference? A writer’s retreat in an exotic location may be just what you need....
Once you’ve finished a draft of your book, the natural next step is to look for a book editor. But how much does an editor cost? And, most importantly, is it going to break the bank and wipe out your revenue? I wish I could give you a firm rule, something like...
Have a long-form journalism idea? Here are some pitching tips from Nicole Dieker. When you’re pitching a complicated story, it’s important to provide enough background information to help an editor understand why this story needs to be told. But too much background...
