Jen's Writing Journey

The main reason we are in this whole writing game is that we love to write, to tell stories. But we also have real needs–bills must be paid, food must be purchased, and so on. Thus the desire to earn money for some of these ditties we write.

I’ve written before about the need to multiple income streams to protect us when one stream dries up. Jenna Glatzer and Christina Katz both focus on writing all different types of pieces as a means to earn a living, from greeting cards and reader tips in magazines to full-length novels and nonfiction books. It’s like diversification in your stock portfolio–it’s a good idea, but sometimes you don’t know how to do it.

The Internet can be a treasure trove for connecting with potential employers. Writersmarket.com connects you with magazines and literary journals. oDesk connects you with jobs worldwide that can be as small as a single blog or forum post or as large as full-time web development. And Virtual Vocations compiles work at home job listings from multiple sources. The listings are easily viewed with a free site registration, but a subscription is required for complete contact information and easy applications.

The jobs you find at these sites can help you supplement your income and give you the freedom to write that book.

What interesting job sources have you found? What odd writing or non-writing jobs do you do to help finance your dream?

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Model Liskula Cohen is suing Google for the identity of a blogger who posted some comments about her that she deems defamatory. What does this mean for writers?

This particular case probably doesn’t mean much. It’s a small blog with a few posts, and it does not have great political or cultural importance, in my opinion. And Google appears to be committed to maintaining anonymity unless ordered by the court to reveal a blogger’s identity.

However, there are more interesting cases out there that could change the rules for anonymity on the web. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press posted a piece a few months back discussing court cases and issues related to anonymity on the web: http://www.rcfp.org/news/mag/32-4/guarding_the_unnamed_writers_of_the_internet_34.html.

It makes for interesting reading, and leads me to ask some interesting questions. In what circumstances would you post anonymously? What protection would you expect? What protection would offer a source of information?

I’m particularly interested in the use of shield laws to protect commenters on media websites. One of my earliest memories of journalism (as shown on tv) was when Mary Richards went to jail to protect her source. I loved Mary Tyler Moore, and I think her portrayal of a groundbreaking female in the media are a big reason I was drawn to journalism as a field of study. I always wanted to write something important enough that I might have to go to jail to protect an anonymous source.

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Writing Too Enjoyable for John Updike to Consider Retirement
In this nice profile, John Updike maintains that he is just not ready to retire. How nice to find a profession that you want to do as long as possible. I hope that I feel this way about writing when I’m in my 70s–and that I remain sharp mentally and healthy physically.

Google Hopes to Open a Trove of Little-Seen Books
Google’s book scanning project has received preliminary approval from the courts. What does it mean for authors? Those whose books have gone out of print can continue to earn revenue through advertising and subscription sales on Google. Cool, but I can’t help but wonder what it means for the future. Online delivery of television has meant lower revenues for television actors and writers. Does that mean that writers will earn less in the future, making it even harder for writers to make a living doing what they love?

Mystery Author Donald E. Westlake Dies at 75
The writing world has lost its first member of 2009. Donald E. Westlake, who also wrote under the pseudonyms Richard Stark, Tucker Coe, Samuel Holt and Edwin West, dies while vacationing in Mexico.

Building a Blog
Story Sensei Camy Tang compiles a series of blogging guides she wrote for authors. I started blogging in lieu of journaling as a means of practicing writing, so I enjoyed Tang’s series when she first posted them last year. The collected works make a thorough guide for creating a good blog.

I hope you enjoy these resources. Talk to you Wednesday!

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A new year is a good time for a little reflection.

This last year was a doozy. I edited a collection of articles from the magazine I used to work for, and as I was working on that, I got the bright idea to try to build a freelancing business. Then I got some inspiration and decided to try my hand at fiction. I wrote a couple short stories, one of which has morphed into a novel idea.

I closed the year with 10,000 words written on the novel, two article queries out to national magazines, and two short stories out for consideration. Not too bad.

But I know that I can do more. So I am setting more strict and measurable goals for myself that will move me closer to my goal of working from home. When I feel tired or just not like doing any of my work, I’ll revisit these two blog posts:

Don’t Let Yourself Use the Tired Excuse
Mixing Day Job and Writing Life

I’ve also been assessing my posting schedule, and I think I will make some adjustments. I’m going to stick with three times a week, but shift it to Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Thoughts?

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I’m branching out from just covering blogs. As we begin the new year, these articles help us think about our future as writers, whether we are focusing on novels, nonfiction books, or news articles.

Turning Page, E-Books Start to Take Hold
This story in the New York Times discusses the burgeoning interest in e-books, spurred mainly by the Kindle. I like books. I like their form factor. I like that I can read anywhere, without worrying about finding a power outlet or whether dirt will get into the circuitry. But I also like the idea of carrying multiple books in one small device. Books are heavy, and an ebook reader is appealing for travel.
Letters in response: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/30/opinion/l30ebook.html

Bargain Hunting for Books, and Feeling Sheepish About It
Another piece from the New York Times, which Tiffany Colter posted on Twitter. The publishing industry is feeling the pressures of the Internet and sharing, and publishing companies are downsizing right and left. Physical bookstores are in serious trouble. The author and his sources argue that the end of physical bookstores will irreparably damage communities, but they don’t say how. What will you lose as a writer if the Internet is the only way books are purchased? As a reader?

Reinventing Journalism
Is journalism dying? In this discussion of what is wrong with journalism today and why, the editorial staff of the San Francisco Bay Guardian present some success stories and ideas for the future.

Non-Profit Model for Newspapers Could Be the Answer
As newspapers and magazines lose readers and ad revenue, they need to find a way to remain competitive. The author suggests that more newspapers follow the model of the St. Petersburg Times, a for-profit newspaper owned by a non-profit foundation.

A Brief History of Modern Lying Authors
Why do people write fake memoirs? If they’re going to make things up, why not just write fiction? A good story is a good story, whether it is a memoir or a novel.

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