Today’s Worthy Wednesday Pick: AllFreelanceWriting.com

AllFreelanceWriting.com is one of the first blogs I began following as a freelance writer, and it should be one of yours, too. AFW’s Jennifer Mattern provides compiled lists of freelance writing jobs along with bracing writing advice designed to empower freelance writers as businesspeople.

A lot of freelance writing blogs give general advice, but not as many remind you constantly that freelancing is not just a business, it’s a state of mind.If you are a freelance writer, J Mat isn’t going to hold your hand. She’s going to tell you exactly what you need to be doing, and that advice often boils down to two simple words: value yourself.

Don’t take my word for it. Check out some sample posts:

101 Niches to Write About – SpecialtyBuzz is all about exploring a writing niche in depth, but how do we know what to explore if we don’t have a big ol’ list? Well, now we do.

Freelance Writer Challenge – Make More Money – This is the first post in what promises to be a week full of writer challenges. Go read it, apply the advice, and you just might start making more money. Who doesn’t want that?

How to Build a Web Writing Portfolio Even if You Have No Experience – This is another gem of a post that will benefit new freelance writers. If you really want to write for a living, there are ways to get around a lacking portfolio.

As a bonus, I also recommend Jennifer Mattern’s Query Free Freelancer blog. I don’t know about you, but constantly querying to find new work brings me down. It’s a crap shoot and you don’t get paid for it. Let Jennifer Mattern show you a new path.

*For the approximately 75% of you that do not embrace your Google Reader or other RSS feed reader, these things basically allow you to plug in a web address (not all addresses, but many) and then, while you are off writing, or working, or playing, they collect all the new posts that cropped up on that site while you were gone. This makes it a breeze to come back and read all your regular blogs, news outlets and even Craigslist categories without missing a thing.  Once again, I will shamelessly suggest that you try it now by plugging the address http://blog.jennescalona.com into your Google reader or other RSS feed reader of choice.

In keeping with this week’s “Writing Quirks” theme, this week’s Worthy Wednesday pick is: Query Shark.

Don’t be fooled by the Query Shark blog’s stark exterior. This is the place to be if you have ever considered writing a fiction book proposal or you just need a good laugh. The Query Shark is a real literary agent (Janet Reid of Fine Print Lit) who graciously allows people to submit their book proposals for her er… biting critique. She dissects each proposal, letting the author know what’s great about it (usually very little) and what absolutely stinks and should double as toilet paper (usually most of it).

While I’m sure Query Shark is ego bruising for the people submitting proposals, the blog is an absolutely invaluable resource for anyone who ever considered submitting a book proposal to a publisher. I’m not going to philosophize about our human need to feel superior while laughing at the misfortunes of others, but I will say that anything that helps us feel better about our writing while teaching us a useful skill on the side should be Worthy in anybody’s book.

Unlike with many of the blogs I post here, I have read every single post at Query Shark. Here are a couple of my recent favorites:

#118 –Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants meets Go Ask Alice

#106 – “WHISTLE BRITCHES is a southern term of endearment for boys with more energy than sense and who talk to hear their heads rattle.”

#103 – Demon diarrhea (Eww!)

Happy swimming!

*For the approximately 75% of you that do not embrace your Google Reader or other RSS feed reader, these things basically allow you to plug in a web address (not all addresses, but many) and then, while you are off writing, or working, or playing, they collect all the new posts that cropped up on that site while you were gone. This makes it a breeze to come back and read all your regular blogs, news outlets and even Craigslist categories without missing a thing.  Once again, I will shamelessly suggest that you try it now by plugging the address http://blog.jennescalona.com into your Google reader or other RSS feed reader of choice.

Today’s Worthy Wednesday pick: Fail Blog

While most Worthy Wednesday posts are all about productivity or furthering your career, today’s is not. Today’s Worthy Wednesday post is all about failure. Why would you want to read a blog about failure? Because it’s funny, of course.

Fail Blog comes from the same people as the lovely LOLCats and is basically a repository of pictures and short videos of so-called “Epic fails,” such as this advertisement for the fire alarm that traps the hand of the fire alarm puller until an authority figure can arrive and confirm that yes, indeed there is a real fire.

Be warned! Some may not be quite work safe and some are just not tasteful in the least. That’s why they failed at their purpose, of course. And don’t be like me and browse about 200 pages of fail blog. For maximum failure interspersed with your productivity, just stick it in the RSS reader and get a good laugh once in awhile when a “Fail!” crops up among your more serious feeds.

*For the approximately 75% of you that do not embrace your Google Reader or other RSS feed reader, these things basically allow you to plug in a web address (not all addresses, but many) and then, while you are off writing, or working, or playing, they collect all the new posts that cropped up on that site while you were gone. This makes it a breeze to come back and read all your regular blogs, news outlets and even Craigslist categories without missing a thing.  Once again, I will shamelessly suggest that you try it now by plugging the address http://blog.jennescalona.com into your Google reader or other RSS feed reader of choice.

This week’s Worthy Wednesday Pick: Freelance Writing Jobs

I’m probably preaching to the choir here when I tell you to put Freelance Writing Jobs in your RSS feed reader immediately. If you are a freelance writer, chances are you have Googled “Freelance Writing Jobs” before and guess what? This is the site that comes up.

Not only does Freelance Writing Jobs post a daily list of – wait for it – freelance writing jobs, it also features informative blog posts by the site’s founder Deb Ng. Deb is one of the most informed, interesting and experienced advice-giving freelance writers out there and she won’t steer you wrong. She’s also, for a freelance writing giant, very approachable and a very good steward of the freelance writing business. What do I mean by that? Well, she makes sure only to post reputable jobs on the site and the advice she gives is geared toward helping writers know their own value and, if they wish, make a full time living.

Further, keep an eye on Freelance Writing Jobs because it’s getting ready to bring the funny. Deb recently hired a couple of comedians (well, very funny freelance writers) to bring a little levity to our job searching. Stick Freelance Writing Jobs in your RSS feed reader so you don’t miss out.

In keeping with the spirit of Worthy Wednesday, here are some sample posts to whet your appetite:

Who Sets Your Freelance Writing Rates? (An absolute must read)

At What Stage Should a Writer Start a Freelance Writing Blog? (This post came out very shortly after I started this blog, so I read this one with interest.)

5 Places to Find Higher Paying Freelance Writing Jobs

One last note, while the site is called “Freelance Writing Jobs” the URL is www.freelancewritinggigs.com. I’ve steered at least two people the wrong way on Twitter due to this error, so when you find this link helpful, as I know you will, and get ready to pass it on to others, as I’m sure you’ll do, don’t forget it’s “gigs.”

Wondering what else warrants worthiness? Check out more Worthy Wednesday picks!

*For the approximately 75% of you that do not embrace your Google Reader or other RSS feed reader, these things basically allow you to plug in a web address (not all addresses, but many) and then, while you are off writing, or working, or playing, they collect all the new posts that cropped up on that site while you were gone. This makes it a breeze to come back and read all your regular blogs, news outlets and even Craigslist categories without missing a thing.  One again, I will shamelessly suggest that you try it now by plugging the address http://blog.jennescalona.com into your Google reader or other RSS feed reader of choice.

Since its inception in 2008, the Atlanta-based Save Our Pets Food Bank has given out over 30,000 lbs. of free pet food to pet owners who would otherwise be unable to keep their pets due to the economic crisis. (What does that have to do with Dad, you ask? Impatient, much? Just keep reading.) Pets are expensive, folks, and without the SOPFB then a lot of people would have been forced to put their beloved companions in overcrowded shelters. I won’t say what happens next, but you do the math when it comes to abandoned pets in shelters.

Now here’s the Father’s Day part. Adding your dad to the Good Dad Honor Roll will allow more pets to stay with their owners. With a donation of at least $10, you can show Dad that you (and Fido and Mittens) care about him and the pets  threatened by the economic crisis.

While Save Our Pets Foodbank is located in Atlanta, the organization has compiled a national list of food assistance programs and provides tips on starting a pet food bank. Find out more about a program in your area at www.saveourpetsfoodbank.org.

And if you happen to visit the site, you’ll see that my Daniela has written a rather terse note to her “Papi.” She isn’t much for sentimentality, our Dani, but her donation shows she cares. I hope.

Maybe she has a reason for her brevity. Note the expression on her face after my husband wrangled her into a pillowcase:

This week’s worthy Wednesday pick: Unclutterer

Unclutterer spends every day fighting the good fight against clutter. I have to admit, when I worked outside the home, I did not need Unclutterer as much. I was barely home and owned few possessions anyway, so my apartment stayed fairly neat. But now that I’m home all day (and thus can get into mischief when it comes to my personal possessions), and I’ve added a husband to the mix (never a good idea when it comes to simple housekeeping), my place gets downright cluttered.

Enter Unclutterer. Unclutterer is ingenious in that most of the clutter solutions it comes up with are simple to apply and cost very little, if anything.  As the blog suggests, they are all about paring down the clutter in your life, not buying things to help you organize. (I believe I read on there somewhere that bringing something new into your house sort of defeats of the purpose of trying to fight “clutter.) I have implemented many, many of Unclutterer’s solutions, but I think the most important lessons I’ve learned from Unclutterer have had to do with office organization.  

With that in mind, here are some Unclutterer sample posts:

Six Tips for Going Paperless

Let Go of Your Clutter Crutches (Yes, Unclutterer often gets philosophical. You’ll learn something.)

Make Your Kitchen Magnetic (We have this, partially, and it is amazing.)

Also, don’t forget to check out Unitasker Wednesday. This segment features ridiculous products that appear to have been launched into the market to confuse the gullible.  Check out the Rachael Ray Garbage Bowl. A bowl. Just for garbage when cooking. Please.

I also want to brag that, for once, I finally beat Unclutterer at something. Earlier this week they suggested using touch lights in dark places to illuminate your hidden clutter. I’m already on that, though all it really does in my case is allow me to shift the clutter around when I’m looking for something. But the touch lights are there!

If you could use a little less clutter in your life, add Unclutterer to your RSS Feed Reader. And try to forget that I just asked you to clutter your RSS feed reader with another feed just now.

*For the approximately 75% of you that do not embrace your Google Reader or other RSS feed reader, these things basically allow you to plug in a web address (not all addresses, but many) and then, while you are off writing, or working, or playing, they collect all the new posts that cropped up on that site while you were gone. This makes it a breeze to come back and read all your regular blogs, news outlets and even Craigslist categories without missing a thing.  One again, I will shamelessly suggest that you try it now by plugging the address http://blog.jennescalona.com into your Google reader or other RSS feed reader of choice.

This week’s worthy Wednesday pick: Freelance Folder

Like Freelance Switch, my Worthy Wednesday pick from three weeks ago, Freelance Folder is an all purpose resource for freelancers. I find the two sites very similar, yet also very different. For one, Freelance Folder’s posts tend to be a tad shorter than Freelance Switch’s, making them often easier to digest when you are looking for a quick pick-me-up or are browsing blogs on your coffee break.

Freelance Folder also tends to do fun lists and open threads that give it a conversational, community feel. The fun posts can make reading Freelance Folder seem more like a reprieve than a reason to put on your thinking cap and take notes. For example, a recent open thread asked everyone to identify where they were located. It was a fun idea and I was amazed at the diversity of the blog’s readers. “If You Could Have a Freelancing Superpower, What Would You Choose?” encouraged a little midday creativity on my part. (You’ll have to visit the post to find out what I said.) Freelance Folder was also one of the inspirations for my shower-time epiphany, the SpecialtyBuzz segment.

But don’t take my word for it. This is Worthy Wednesday, after all, and I encourage you all to paste www.freelancefolder.com into your RSS feed reader of choice and give it a try for a few days. Here are some great past posts to whet your appetite:

35 Online Tools that Make Your Freelance Writing Career Easier, by Amir K.

Twitter for Freelancers: A Basic Overview, by Laura Spencer

The Ten Types of Freelancers: Which One Are You?, by Laura Spencer

*For the approximately 75% of you that do not embrace your Google Reader or other RSS feed reader, these things basically allow you to plug in a web address (not all addresses, but many) and then, while you are off writing, or working, or playing, they collect all the new posts that cropped up on that site while you were gone. This makes it a breeze to come back and read all your regular blogs, news outlets and even Craigslist categories without missing a thing.  One again, I will shamelessly suggest that you try it now by plugging the address http://blog.jennescalona.com into your Google reader or other RSS feed reader of choice.

Today’s Worthy Wednesday pick: The Simple Dollar

While all of my previous Worthy Wednesday picks have been group efforts, The Simple Dollar is written by one person, Trent Hamm.  Trent hit financial bottom a few years ago, but instead of giving up, he clawed his way out of destitution and now he shares his tips with what seems like (from the comments) godzillions of readers.

Yes, the Simple Dollar is a finance blog, but, like the site says, it’s “financial talk for the rest of us.” Trent talks about everything from saving money on groceries and day to day expenses to buying houses and investigating in complicated financial products.  Of course, so do a lot of other blogs.

What makes The Simple Dollar different is that it focuses less on the actual handling of money than it does on the rewards of living simply without worrying about out-of-control finances. Trent brings his personal values – spending time with his loved ones, doing creative, fulfilling work, and not having to worry about finances – to his blog, and he helps “the rest of us” learn how to enjoy those simple values, too. Hence the blog’s name.

There is also a great mix here. Some of my favorites are frugal cooking, DIY and general household money saving tips.  I’m not very investment savvy and I’m not planning on making any major purchases soon, so I am not quite as attentive to investing posts or house and car buying tips, but they abound and seem very common sense.

If you are looking for the next hot stock tip, the Simple Dollar probably isn’t the place for you. If you are looking for ways to manage your finances so you can get on with your life, stick the Simple Dollar in your RSS Feed Reader posthaste.

I’ve included a smattering of recent posts. Note the diversity!

The Barter Economy: 14 Great Places to Trade Stuff Online

Video: How to Make Your Own Laundry Detergent

The Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Act of 2009 Is Here: What Does It Mean For You – And What Might It Mean for the Future?

What Features are Most Important for your Primary Bank? My Thoughts and Recommendations

So for those of you who aren’t literally sitting on an oil field or busily running your diamond mine, head over to The Simple Dollar for a little common sense financial advice.

*For the approximately 75% of you that do not embrace your Google Reader or other RSS feed reader, these things basically allow you to plug in a web address (not all addresses, but many) and then, while you are off writing, or working, or playing, they collect all the new posts that cropped up on that site while you were gone. This makes it a breeze to come back and read all your regular blogs, news outlets and even Craigslist categories without missing a thing.  One again, I will shamelessly suggest that you try it now by plugging the address http://blog.jennescalona.com into your Google reader or other RSS feed reader of choice.

Today’s Worthy Wednesday Pick: Your Local Newspaper

No, this isn’t a website. It’s actually the newspaper that serves your local area. Sorry, I hope that wasn’t a letdown.  But the fact is that keeping up with current events is extremely important for a freelance writer.  We writers tend to get caught up writing and forget the world around us. That can be a good thing when we’re on a creative kick, but a bad thing when tornados are bearing down on the tri-county area or that bag of frozen spinach we have festering in our freezers has been recalled.

But, for a freelance writer, keeping track of your local paper is more than just ensuring your well-being. It can be gold for story and job ideas. New company opened up in your area of expertise? They may need a freelancer. Send your marketing materials out, stat. Or, is a big trend developing? For example, I live in Atlanta and until recently we were in a drought. A drought, while bad for the environment, is mana from heaven for a freelance writer in a number of specialties.  With a little tweaking, this timely current event can become an article for you to publish on the web, in a local magazine, or even, if the issue is large-scale, a national publication. Here are just a few examples of the articles than can come out of a drought:

Green and Sustainability Writer – What environmental factors caused the drought?  How likely are similar droughts in the future? What are scientists saying about the drought? What can we do to prevent droughts in the future?

Gardening Writer – How to Water Plants in a Drought, What plants should stay and what plants should go in a prolonged drought? Tips and Tricks for Surviving the Drought

Landscaping Company Blogger – How to maintain your landscaping in a drought, What new plantings/landscaping elements are allowed in a drought

Legal Blogger – An article explaining any new laws or ordinances put into effect by the drought

See? All those articles were inspired by one little news item. Even if you simply blog about life, the universe and everything, you could still use the drought as fodder for a post about global warming, people’s reactions in the face of adversity, the merits of drinking fruit juice instead of water, or just about anything else you can think of.  (Not to mention, keeping topics timely is good for SEO. If you are writing for the web, think about your keywords when writing and titling articles and posts and maybe, just maybe, you will see a spike in traffic.)

One last note – not all newspapers are RSS friendly, though most major city newspapers are.

Good luck keeping up with the world! Try not to let rampaging swine flu, border town hit men, and Pakistan’s eminent collapse ruin your day!

*For the approximately 75% of you that do not embrace your Google Reader or other RSS feed reader, these things basically allow you to plug in a web address (not all addresses, but many) and then, while you are off writing, or working, or playing, they collect all the new posts that cropped up on that site while you were gone. This makes it a breeze to come back and read all your regular blogs, news outlets and even Craigslist categories without missing a thing.  One again, I will shamelessly suggest that you try it now by plugging the address http://blog.jennescalona.com into your Google reader or other RSS feed reader of choice.

Since I believe in showing not telling, let me share some examples of Freelance Switch’s genius:

50 Simple Marketing Ideas all Freelancers Can Use by Thursday Bram – This is just what it sounds like. I saved this list and immediately implemented some of the ideas. Now, this was only a couple of weeks ago, but I already feel like my business is just a little more visible.

 How to Craft Your Personal Business Model by Gina Trapani – Along with offering great tips on crafting a personal business model, this post drove through my thick skull just why I need a personal business model in the first place. Enlightenment ensued.

Top 10 Myths About Freelancers  by Adrian Try – This post was integral to helping me figure out what my clients might fear about hiring me and working to alleviate those fears. After reading these myths (i.e. freelancers don’t get any work done, freelancers won’t produce quality work), I was forced to look at every interaction from the client’s point of view. Once again, enlightenment ensued.

If you are a freelance writer searching for enlightenment or simply a Google Reader addict, I can’t recommend Freelance Switch more highly.  Now where’s that “subscribe to feed” button?

For the approximately 75% of you that do not embrace your Google Reader or other RSS feed reader, these things basically allow you to plug in a web address (not all addresses, but many) and then, while you are off writing, or working, or playing, they collect all the new posts that cropped up on that site while you were gone. This makes it a breeze to come back and read all your regular blogs, news outlets and even Craigslist categories without missing a thing.  One again, I will shamelessly suggest that you try it now by plugging the address http://blog.jennescalona.com into your Google reader or other RSS feed reader of choice.