Accentuate Short Story Contest Entry

I started on my story at 3:00 this afternoon, and I just uploaded it to the contest thread! It took a loooong time, but I think it's worth it--I think this could be a book. Maybe this will be my nano project this year! Anyway, stop by and read it, and the others while you're at it. Oh, and sign up for Michy's forum! It's a great place. :)

Short Story Contest Thread

Would you all mind helping me reach my goal?

I'd like to make $5 for the month at AC (woo, big goal, huh?). Anyway, I need 585 views by Monday night to make it happen. Mind sending a few my way? I'd really appreciate it!

My AC page

Writing non-linearly

Something I need to work on is writing non-linearly. I'm a very A to Z kind of gal--I like to start at the beginning and work my way through the end. Since the beginning is often the hardest part, I will stall and stall getting started on a piece because I don't know how to start it. I will play games, blog, surf the internet, get a snack...anything that will distract me from writing this thing. What a silly waste of time!

When I can wrench myself away from this desire to start at the beginning, I manage to be much more productive. I break the piece into sections and write the parts where I already know what I want to say. This helps me to set the direction for the piece and get my fingers working. Often, after writing the body, the opening and conclusion come very naturally.

OK, now I need to take my own advice and quit stalling and write this article!

Second book review posted

My second book review, for "Still Life With Elephant" is posted on Michy's Review Blog. Please stop over and take a look! While you're there, look through the other books she's reviewed or read the author interviews.

Demand Studios

Demand Studios is not a new market by any means, but it's new to me. I'm lukewarm about it, because it's only $15/article and you lose your rights. However, writing an article for them doesn't preclude me from reworking it and submitting it elsewhere! So, I decided to sign up last week and they accepted me. They also accepted the seven topics I suggested. I finished the last one tonight and they've accepted three so far. They are very low effort, because so far I've only suggested topics I can write about off the top of my head. I can do two in an hour, earning a decent hourly wage. I recommend giving it a shot, but only as a temporary gig--keep working on getting better paying work!

Book review posted

My review of Size 12 is not Fat was posted on Michy's Book Review Blog. Check it out!

Michy provides a free service to authors, reviewing their books and posting interviews with them. This costs the author nothing but the book. Check it out, and maybe you'll discover an exciting new author...or get some promotion for your own book!

Get Organized

Today I'm going to talk about a lesson I learned about freelancing. When you have a number of assignments that all need to be done at once, organize them to determine in which order you should do them. Are any of them due before the others? Are any of them more imporant than the others? Here's the lesson I learned: Do any of them require interviews or other research you need to conduct at specific times, like during the typical work day? If an article can be researched completely on the internet, books, or other research that can be done any time, you might want to put those last for when you're up all night the night before your deadline trying to finish. If you need to conduct interviews, do those first! It often takes time to find subjects and connect with them, so give yourself plenty of time.

I have this insane desire to do things from top to bottom, beginning to end. I have a list of articles I need to do, and instead of picking the ones that need interviews to do first, I insisted on doing them top to bottom. Now, my deadline isn't until next Tuesday...but I need to interview doctors. Doctors are busy people. Sometimes they take time off work, like Friday or Monday. Will I get to any in time? I guess we'll find out. I sent emails to five of them in hopes two will get back to me. I'll start making phone calls either tomorrow or Monday...of course, the hard part here is that I need to call them when they're at work...which is when I'm at my day job. Wish me luck.