Archive for the ‘Writing Craft’ Category

We’re professional writers and we all know how to use apostrophes. And that makes it that much more annoying when someone around us does not. Do you have a Facebook friend or a Twitter follower who constantly murders the apostrophe? Send them this and they may not even notice they’re being impatiently corrected.
Just, whatever you [...]

If my posts this week haven’t yet convinced you that you should attend writing conferences, check this out. During H. M. Cauley’s “Writing Naked” seminar, I nailed down an idea for a story to submit to – of all places – AARP Magazine, and since then I’ve been brainstorming ideas like crazy. In other [...]

…Then maybe you’re just a snob.
Check out this article on Salon.com about class warfare in language and think about your intentions next time you slap someone upside the head for a dangling participle.

Freelance writers, what have you done today that you will still remember five years down the road?

I was all set to write an “International ‘It’s Hard Out Here for a Writer’ Week” post yesterday. The post was going to be all about slow payment and how we constantly have to fight just to see our paychecks and blah blah. But then I received some bad news that someone I know who [...]

We writers don’t have time for a lot of self pity because we’re too busy writing. (Well, except for maybe Percy Blysse Shelley. Doesn’t that guy look like “Woe is me” popped out of his mouth after every other sentence?) But recently several of my colleagues have run aground on writing hard times [...]

I have decided that it’s going to be weird quirk week here at The Life and Times of a Freelance Writer. Why? Why not?
Today I’m going to talk about love words. Not as in “Baby, you so fine,” but as the words that we fall in love with and suddenly find ourselves using over and over [...]

Do you have any weird writing process quirks of foibles? I recently identified one of mine. It’s something I’ve been doing since high school, but hadn’t actually given much thought until recently. I generally write a whole article, brochure, paper, or whatnot but then need some time and distance before bringing myself to write the [...]

I like to say, “yes.” I like to give encouragement, advice, and even the occasional bracing hug. (But only if I know you really well, so don’t get any ideas.) I also intend this blog for beginning freelance writers, baby birds with your beaks open, chirping away for small, slimy worms of wisdom to sustain [...]

Today I’m feeling quite appreciative of William Strunk and E.B. White and their writer’s bible, The Elements of Style.
I love this book so much that I’ve memorized a whole chapter, which is helpful, because I don’t have the book in front of me right now. So here goes with Rule 13:
“Omit needless words.”
Yes, that was [...]


About this blog

Your source for full-time and freelance writing, social media and community management jobs in the Atlanta area and beyond. Subscribe via email or RSS for unadvertised jobs as well as jobs from hidden (and not so hidden) places around the internet. Now with words of wisdom here and there from freelance writing and social media old salt Jennifer Escalona.

Photostream

  • Jenn Escalona: I'm so glad you enjoyed the tips! I hate it that you couldn't make it to the Atlanta Blog Live event [...]
  • Emily: Thank you for sharing all these jobs, Jenn! Unfortunately I was out of town for the blogging event, [...]
  • Jenn Escalona: I guess, as someone who gets frustrated with crazy pay myself, I'm giving her the benefit of the dou [...]
  • Gina Gareri-Watkins: Agreed, but $25 might have been too high an offer, considering the prospective editor can't spell "p [...]
  • Jenn Escalona: I've had one instance of bad grammar ruin whole articles or books for me! Sometimes ignorance really [...]

Upcoming Appearances

If you live in the Atlanta area, I would love to meet you. Please see below for a list of events I plan to appear at or attend over the remainder of the year. Stop by and say hi, or better yet, drop me an email and let's coordinate a get together!

December

The Write Room's Playpen (Literary Reading & Music Showcase) - Tuesday, 12/1/09 - Johnnie McCracken's Pub (Marietta, Georgia) - Join us for Festivus!