I must apologize for my long absence. Fortunately, I have a good excuse. Actually, it's a great excuse. I was busy competing for a writing job at About.com. I'm happy to report that I am now the Senior Travel Guide at About.com. Stop on by, and please let me know if there's something you'd like me to write about.
I'm still writing my wine columns; I spent two weeks in Germany with my family in late fall, gathering material and feasting on yummy German food. I really enjoy writing these columns and hope you'll check them out if you have a chance.
December 19, 2007
October 07, 2007
Book Review - Margit Feury Ragland's Get a Freelance Life
Get a Freelance Life is an excellent resource for new and experienced writers. It details the nuts and bolts of the business of freelance writing, from setting up an office to filing tax returns.
I picked up Get a Freelance Life on a whim and immediately headed to the cash register. When I flipped through the pages, I saw informative sidebars, handy tips and clear explanations. As I read the book, I especially appreciated the insightful interviews, which gave me new insights into the editor's role and point of view.
Margit Feury Ragland was an editor herself, and she helpfully and completely explains the publishing process. Get a Freelance Life contains information on all aspects of freelance writing, from crafting successful pitch letters to understanding rejection letters. Ragland's chapters on the business of writing are packed with useful tips for finding health insurance and planning for the future.
Description
• Get a Freelance Life contains detailed information on how much writers can earn and how much publications pay freelancers.
• Margit Feury Ragland explains how editors perceive the pitching process.
• The book's glossary and resource sections are extremely helpful.
Pros
• Margit Feury Ragland thoroughly explains the freelance publishing process.
• She provides several excellent sample pitch letters.
• Interviews with writers and editors help freelancers understand what works and what doesn't.
Cons
• The book is a mediabistro.com product and is somewhat biased in its favor.
In Summary
Get a Freelance Life will help new and experienced writers effectively target and pitch publications, work with editors and develop their writing abilities. It's a must-read for any freelancer.
I picked up Get a Freelance Life on a whim and immediately headed to the cash register. When I flipped through the pages, I saw informative sidebars, handy tips and clear explanations. As I read the book, I especially appreciated the insightful interviews, which gave me new insights into the editor's role and point of view.
Margit Feury Ragland was an editor herself, and she helpfully and completely explains the publishing process. Get a Freelance Life contains information on all aspects of freelance writing, from crafting successful pitch letters to understanding rejection letters. Ragland's chapters on the business of writing are packed with useful tips for finding health insurance and planning for the future.
Description
• Get a Freelance Life contains detailed information on how much writers can earn and how much publications pay freelancers.
• Margit Feury Ragland explains how editors perceive the pitching process.
• The book's glossary and resource sections are extremely helpful.
Pros
• Margit Feury Ragland thoroughly explains the freelance publishing process.
• She provides several excellent sample pitch letters.
• Interviews with writers and editors help freelancers understand what works and what doesn't.
Cons
• The book is a mediabistro.com product and is somewhat biased in its favor.
In Summary
Get a Freelance Life will help new and experienced writers effectively target and pitch publications, work with editors and develop their writing abilities. It's a must-read for any freelancer.
September 25, 2007
Overcoming Writer's Block
Some writers claim there's no such thing as writer's block. I disagree. I have days when I wonder how I'll write yet another monthly column installment. I ask myself why I thought freelancing was such a great idea. Inevitably, though, the deadline nears and the ideas start flowing.
Every writer seems to have a different way to overcome writer's block. I usually try to get away from my desk, preferably into fresh air and sunshine. A good night's sleep helps me clear my brain's "temporary files". More than once, I've awakened to find that ideas have popped into my brain while I was asleep.
How do you overcome writer's block?
Every writer seems to have a different way to overcome writer's block. I usually try to get away from my desk, preferably into fresh air and sunshine. A good night's sleep helps me clear my brain's "temporary files". More than once, I've awakened to find that ideas have popped into my brain while I was asleep.
How do you overcome writer's block?
September 07, 2007
Online Style Help
Yesterday, I was working on an article that included references to the 19th and 20th centuries. I couldn't remember when to use hyphens with century terminology. Should I write "19th-century" or "19th century"? Since I was writing using AP style, I reached for my copy of the AP Stylebook, published by the Associated Press.
The AP Stylebook is the Bible of freelance writing. It tells you whether to write "on line" or "online," how to capitalize and abbreviate, and much, much more. My copy is a couple of years old and doesn't reflect the AP's latest style updates.
Fortunately, there's a quick, easy way to answer most common questions about AP style. The AP Stylebook website includes a great "Ask the Editor" section, where subscribers ask about style issues.
You can scroll down the list of questions and answers, or you can search by keyword. Chances are, you'll find the answer to your own style question.
Tip: Buy yourself a copy or subscribe to the online AP Stylebook. You'll be glad you did.
August 03, 2007
It's That Whole Transition Thing
The laptop is here. The camera works. I have a wine article due very, very soon. I'm having equipment adjustment issues.
I'm quite technically challenged. That's why I have a teenage son. Fortunately, setting up the laptop was very simple. My son has our wireless network numbers committed to memory, so I didn't even have to go downstairs to look at the router.
It's Word 2007 that's running me spare. We bought our last computer in 2004. Much has changed, my friend. I'm really struggling with the new features, and I don't have time right now to read all the documentation. I have an article to finish. Somehow I made my original article file read-only - I blame the touchpad on the laptop - and I almost fell out of my chair when I tried to insert a table into my article and got an interactive graphic thing instead of my old friend, the "number of rows" pop-up.
I think life will be easier when the mouse arrives (naturally, it was shipped separately). I'm not a touchpad person, I'm discovering. I'm up and running with the new gear, though, and that's what counts.
I have a deadline, after all.
I'm quite technically challenged. That's why I have a teenage son. Fortunately, setting up the laptop was very simple. My son has our wireless network numbers committed to memory, so I didn't even have to go downstairs to look at the router.
It's Word 2007 that's running me spare. We bought our last computer in 2004. Much has changed, my friend. I'm really struggling with the new features, and I don't have time right now to read all the documentation. I have an article to finish. Somehow I made my original article file read-only - I blame the touchpad on the laptop - and I almost fell out of my chair when I tried to insert a table into my article and got an interactive graphic thing instead of my old friend, the "number of rows" pop-up.
I think life will be easier when the mouse arrives (naturally, it was shipped separately). I'm not a touchpad person, I'm discovering. I'm up and running with the new gear, though, and that's what counts.
I have a deadline, after all.
July 31, 2007
Tools of the Trade
I learned today that the new laptop I've ordered is en route. I've spent a lot of time researching laptops, talking with laptop owners and trying to determine if I'll see a large gain in productivity once the computer arrives. My needs are fairly simple, actually; I need a portable platform so I can write while on travel and move away from the noise that comes from a normal family living a normal, albeit loud, life.
I also took the plunge and upgraded my digital camera; again, I'm hoping to improve productivity as well as photo quality. My Sony camera has been great, but it's large and awkward to use when I'm carrying family travel gear. We'll still use the Sony for family trips; my husband took some cool pictures of Stonehenge on a recent trip to England, and he'll be traveling to see some family members in the not-too-distant future. It will be nice to send the Sony with him and still have a camera to use at home.
It's still quite hard to tell what the "basic" tools for writers really are. Some folks do just fine with pencil and paper. In fact, that's how I started, at baseball practices in West Virginia. I drag notebooks with me to every piano lesson, in case I get good ideas. I'm not alone; at school board meetings, I've noticed that our local newspaper reporters also take the low-tech route.
I try very hard to make sure I'm spending my hard-earned money wisely. My Costco membership and subscription to Consumer Reports have paid off handsomely this year.
I'll report back when I've road-tested the new gear.
I also took the plunge and upgraded my digital camera; again, I'm hoping to improve productivity as well as photo quality. My Sony camera has been great, but it's large and awkward to use when I'm carrying family travel gear. We'll still use the Sony for family trips; my husband took some cool pictures of Stonehenge on a recent trip to England, and he'll be traveling to see some family members in the not-too-distant future. It will be nice to send the Sony with him and still have a camera to use at home.
It's still quite hard to tell what the "basic" tools for writers really are. Some folks do just fine with pencil and paper. In fact, that's how I started, at baseball practices in West Virginia. I drag notebooks with me to every piano lesson, in case I get good ideas. I'm not alone; at school board meetings, I've noticed that our local newspaper reporters also take the low-tech route.
I try very hard to make sure I'm spending my hard-earned money wisely. My Costco membership and subscription to Consumer Reports have paid off handsomely this year.
I'll report back when I've road-tested the new gear.
July 25, 2007
Not Just for Practice Any More
Well, I'm officially hooked. I really enjoy blogging, now that I've found a niche that appeals to me. My road trip "practice" blog is not even two weeks old, but I'm sure I'll stick with this topic for a while. I've learned a lot in a short time about the WordPress platform, and I hope to develop my skills further.
I'm still working on my German wine articles and searching for other opportunities, of course. The homeschool book review and science materials list season is well under way here, and I have plenty to do. I'll just have to juggle the schedule a bit to include road trip blogging, that's all.
I'm still working on my German wine articles and searching for other opportunities, of course. The homeschool book review and science materials list season is well under way here, and I have plenty to do. I'll just have to juggle the schedule a bit to include road trip blogging, that's all.
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