When one door closes another one opens. There is a whole world of opportunity out there for writers. In this currant market, everyone is feeling the squeeze, magazines that have been around for decades are gone. Leads are drying up in the markets where you have sold articles, short stories, or fillers. Do you panic? No way, you are a writer, check the job boards, search the net for ideas. There are so many new jobs for writers on the Internet. Newsletters of every kind, looking for nation wide news, or women's view on any number of topics, and much more. These newsletters and magazines need copy on a weekly basis. This is just the tip of the markets looking for writers to fill up the pages.
As freelancers we learn to go with the markets, the ups and the downs. This economy has closed the doors to many lucrative markets for freelancers, but many writers have found new markets and are pulling in over $2,000.00 a month. Some writers supplement their income with these little known markets, while others are writing for them full-time and making good money. I know because I found markets in areas I didn't know existed and once you find a new way to use your writing, you'll find many new doors will open for you.
My time is short today so I will start with a market we are all familiar with, "Blogging" everyone blogs. But, not everyone gets paid for blogging ! Let's give your income a quick and easy boost with two places I know are looking for blogs. http://tvsquad.com/ and http://people.com/ . I will be back to add on a variety of markets and let you know what's new for freelancers. So, keep blogging and stop by for the latest news and markets.
Here's another area where writers can pick up some extra cash to pay the bills. There's no glory but, you will get paid and it won't take days or weeks to accomplish. Every newspaper and magazine use them to fill up those little places on the written page. It is a versatile market and you can use a picture with a caption, or draw a funny cartoon character who has words of wisdom.
As writers we have accumulated bits n' pieces of information from all the research material we've gone through to write articles and stories. We have it at our fingertips, or should I say, in our head, it's just sitting there taking up space. Use it and make money from the vast storehouse of material collected. You probably have enough for ten years worth of fillers. I'm a stanch believer in using what I have, my parents went through the depression era and passed down their life experience. "Waste not, want not" With today's economy, these words of wisdom are once again valid.
This is a good thing, using what we have, but now we need to find the market. You could go out and buy magazines that coincide with the information you accumulated, or when you're at the doctor's office read the selection they have while your waiting. I ask the nurse or receptionist if I could have the older issues and they tell me to just take what I want. Either way, it doesn't cost anything and you get what you need.
Another venue of interest in fillers, are the newspapers in your area. Living in the New England States I am privy to the history of that began this country. We have the early settlers, the Native Americans, and the Revolutionary War to draw vast amounts of information for fillers. Plus human interest stories, about people like George Washington stopped here to recruit men for Valley Forge, Benedict Arnold was a pharmacist in New Haven, Connecticut, or Roger Ludlow prosecuted a woman in Westport, Connecticut for witchcraft. That's just a sample, but wherever you live you'll find history that can be used in a filler. You can call or query the newspapers in your area and what starts out as writing fillers could lead to a column.
That's all for today, but I'll be back with an assortment of money making ideas for writers. While searching the Internet you'll find many local newspapers now publish on line. Right now they don't charge, but that may change in the future. I hope this will help and please feel free to contribute any information that will help writers find work.
