Before the tips, a quip:

“A writer should say to himself, not, ‘How can I get more money?’, but ‘How can I reach more readers (without lowering standards)’?” ~ Brian Aldiss.

The beauty of reaching more readers is that it’s usually associated with earning more money. The more readers (and thus advertisers) a magazine has, the more money the editor can pay freelancers for articles. Similarly, the more readers a blog attracts, the more money the blogger earns from affiliate sources. If you’re serious about earning a living as a writer, click 102 Ways to Earn Money Writing 1,500 Words or Less: The Ultimate Freelancer’s Guide (pictured). If you want to increase your earnings as a blogger, you must read ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income! And, here are several tips for earning money writing from experienced freelancers…

5 Ideas for Earning Money Writing – Tips From Experienced Writers

1. Find your writing brand, image, or logo. “I know a lot of great writers who never get work and a lot of terrible writers who always get assignments,” says Arts and Entertainment writer Pj Perez. “A & E writers can be diverse in their interests, but still need to be an ‘expert” in at least one area. Capitalizing on that, they can establish their name as a brand.” Perez explains that clients hire him to write because they know he’s an ‘expert’ on two major things: Las Vegas and music. He’s not only sought out for those types of assignments, he’s also seen as a source for other writers’ stories about those topics, which increases his ‘brand awareness.’

2. Find permanent, contracted writing gigs. “I don’t know anyone earning a solid living freelancing by just selling individual articles to different magazines or publications,” says part-time freelance writer Julie Bonn-Heath. “Most everyone has some regular work from one contract or even contracted work for on-going writing work, in addition to the individual articles they pitch to magazines. Contracted gigs become your financial base and are important.” To find permanent writing jobs, check the job sites such as Craig’s List for on-going writing jobs, request a column after you have written for an editor a few times and consider applying to online publications such as Suite101 or About.com.

3. Explore different newspaper departments. “Newspaper Advertising Departments commonly hire writers (especially with copywriting experience) for the purchased articles in the newspaper,” adds Bonn-Heath. “They usually have a lot more budget to work with than the editorial department does.” The editorial department of a newspaper can pay as little as .10 or .20 cents a word, which may not be worth your time if you already have clips and experience as a freelance writer. But, the advertising department of newspapers or magazines may be worth investigating…

4. Create passive sources of writing income. “Create a good website and a content-filled blog that showcases your writing skills,” says part-time freelance writer Jill Nussinow (The Veggie Queen^TM). “And, write a book or something that you can sell over and over again. It beats continually writing articles for magazines, and it’s very rewarding to hold it in your hands! I always say, ‘My cookbook is a constant source for receiving 20 dollar bills.’ Gotta like that!”

5. Network with freelance writers, editors, and publishers. ”As the saying goes: ‘It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,’” says food writer Chris Perrin (who is looking to expand (not his waistline, his freelance writing career!)). “With blogging and social media, it’s possible to know a lot of people.” And the more people you know in the freelance writing business, the more articles you’ll sell – and the closer you’ll be to earning thousands of bucks a year freelancing.

What’s your best tip for earning money writing for magazines, newspapers, online sites, or your blog? I welcome your thoughts below — especially if you use online job sites to find writing gigs…

Before the tips, a quip:

“By working faithfully eight hours a day you may eventually get to be boss and work twelve hours a day.” ~ Robert Frost.

I’m the boss of my writing and blogging career, I work ten (sometimes twelve) hours a day, and my least favorite part is doing my bookkeeping and administrative tasks! Luckily, my husband who doesn’t mind doing my income taxes…but I suspect the time is coming to hire a bookkeeper or even an accountant. If you’re doing your own taxes this year, click TurboTax Home & Business (great tax software). And, read on for a few signs it’s time to hire a bookkeeper for your small business…

The Difference Between a Bookkeeper and an Accountant

A small business bookkeeper doesn’t usually have a college or university degree. He or she would keep your general ledger updated, reconcile your bank and credit card transactions, process payroll data, prepare invoices, and keep your paperwork and files up to date. Bookkeepers are great for small business owners who are busy and don’t have time to keep up with the weekly or monthly financial and administrative tasks.

A small business accountant has a college or university degree, and can take your financial transactions further than a bookkeeper. He or she organizes a suitable bookkeeping system, deals with bank loans, prepares financial statements, and helps yo understand the financial impact of your past, present, and future business decisions. An accountant prepares your income and expenditures for tax time (which many bookkeepers don’t do), and helps with more complicated income tax matters, such as reporting periods and tax compliance reports.

Some freelance writers and bloggers hire a bookkeeper and/or accountant on a contract basis. Others can afford to keep those financial whizzes on the payroll permanently — a dream come true for an aspiring writer and blogger like me.

4 Signs It’s Time to Hire a Bookkeeper for Your Writing or Blogging Business

Whether or not you hire someone to keep your books, make sure you read Income Tax Tips for Freelancers, Bloggers, and Web Writers. It’s never too early to start thinking about your taxes!

1. You dislike paperwork, and can’t keep your office organized. Are you aware of all the bookkeeping tips for small businesses, but still can’t keep your paperwork organized?  Maybe it’s worth it to hire a bookkeeper to help you out once a month by taking care of those piddly financial and record-keeping tasks that are important.

2. You don’t have time to file or keep your books updated. Now that I’m earning money as a blogger and enjoying several different sources of advertising revenue, I’m learning that keeping track of my payments owed can be time-consuming. Most of the organizations I’m affiliated with are very good about paying promptly, but there are a couple that I really have to keep tabs on. I’ll know it’s time to hire a bookkeeper (or even an online assistant) when I just can’t keep up with those affiliate programs.

3. You want to pay less income tax and explore all the loopholes. My husband does a great job on my taxes every year, but my income and expenditures are getting more complicated all the time. I may consider hiring an account this year, to make sure I’m writing off all I can (to reduce my taxable income) and taking advantage of as many small business tax benefits as I can.

4. You have questions about earning a living as a blogger or writer. A fellow scribe asked a great question on my bookkeeping tips for writers article: “Do you need to declare your PayPal income even if you don’t transfer that money to your bank account?” (Answer: yes!). Another great question for Canadian freelancers is, “Do I need to charge GST when I write for magazines?” (Answer: not if you earn less than $30,000 per year from Canadian sources). If you have questions about bookkeeping for a freelance writing business, then you might consider hiring a professional accountant or bookkeeper.

Hiring a bookkeeper is similar to hiring a webmaster for your blog – it’s a financial investment in your writing career that saves time and energy, gives you peace of mind, and helps grow your business.

Do you have an accountant or bookkeeper…or would you hire one if you could afford it?

Before the tips, a quip:

“Writing is turning one’s worst moments into money.” ~ J. P. Donleavy.

Even if you only earn a couple hundred dollars a month from writing or blogging, you need to start putting these basic bookkeeping tips to work for you. Later, when you’re making thousands of dollars a month as a freelancer, you can think about hiring an accountant or bookkeeper to keep your finances organized. Think big, fellow scribes! Click Start Your Own Freelance Writing Business and More: Copywriter, Proofreader, Copyeditor, Journalist for more info about writing for a living, and read on for several small business bookkeeping tips…

6 Bookkeeping Tips for Freelance Writers and Bloggers

1. Keep your business and personal finances separate. To save time and avoid hassles at tax time, clearly differentiate between your different types of bank and credit card accounts. Deposit all your blogging, web writing, and freelance writing income into your business bank account. If you use your PayPal account for both personal and business transactions, make sure the different types of transactions are clearly marked. Pay your business expenses with your business checking account or a business credit card.

2. Open a US dollar savings or checking account if you’re Canadian. I live in Canada, yet most of my freelance writing and blogging income is in US dollars. So, I transfer my PayPal income (which is in US dollars) to my US dollar savings account, and then transfer those funds to my Canadian checking account when the US dollar is strong. The exchange rate can be a significant source of passive income for starving writer like me!

3. Neatly file every invoice, proof of payment, etc related to your business expenditures. Even if you’re not sure whether you can write off a particular service or good against your writing or blogging income, keep the receipt or proof of payment for tax time. And remember that every little thing you buy that supports or furthers your writing career – writing resources, time management software, bookkeeping for small business books, web hosting fees, etc – is a potential write-off. Read Income Tax Tips for Freelance Writers for more info.

4. Learn what expenses are tax deductible. Writing off certain expenses will lower your net taxable income – but don’t wait until the night before your taxes are due to frantically figure out what you can write off! Keep your property tax, home maintenance, and insurance and utility bills because they’re probably tax deductible. Keep your car mileage receipts, writing or blogging course receipts, restaurant bills, and library fine receipts. You’d be surprised at how fast those small investments in your writing career add up to save you money at tax time!

5. Develop a system for organizing your paperwork. Set up a tidy filing system, and keep your freelance writing or blogging invoices separate from your business expenses and tax writeoffs. File your papers every week or month – don’t let them pile up! Keep everything related to your writing or blogging career, but keep everything organized in labeled files or binders. Also, enter your bookkeeping information in batches to save time.

6. File your tax compliance reports on time. Okay, this is where my simple bookkeeping tips for a small business get more complicated! If your writing or blogging income is high enough, you’ll have to set a specific reporting period and pay different types of taxes, depending on the country, province, or state you live in. This is where I jump ship! My next article will discuss this in more detail, and explore several signs it’s time to hire an accountant or small bookkeeper.

Do you have any tips or questions about bookkeeping for a small business, please comment below…

Before the tips, a quip:

“I don’t wait for moods,” said Pearl S. Buck. “You accomplish nothing if you do that. Your mind must know it has got to get down to work.”

Don’t wait for Cupid to shoot an arrow, whether you’re blogging about Valentine’s Day or writing a book about love in the 21^st century! Don’t wait for the Muse, the right mood, or inspiration to write. Instead, take small, specific steps towards your blogging goals every day. If you need inspiration, click Juicy Pens, Thirsty Paper: Gifting the World with Your Words and Stories, and Creating the Time and Energy to Actually Do It. And, read on for a few ideas for online writing on February 14…

8 Ideas for Blog Posts or Online Articles on Valentine’s Day

These tips apply to print magazine articles, too – but you have to pitch query letters at least four months in advance. You could pitch to online e-zines a month or so in advance (but remember: the earlier you pitch, the better!). If you’re writing for Suite101 or a similar online magazine, remember that it often takes months or even years before your articles see serious traffic…so writing for Valentine’s Day this year could mean you’ll see traffic next year.

Anyway, here are a few ideas for blog posts in honor of the “most romantic day of the year”…

1. Best or worst Valentine’s Day experiences. Don’t just write about your past; ask your Twitter or Facebook friends for their best and worst experiences! Rounding up several of the best or worst Valentine’s Days is a fun, easy way to write a blog post…and it’ll strengthen your social media connections and friendships. Plus, your friends may Tweet and link to your post or online article, which can make it more popular.

2. Top 10 Valentine’s Day ideas. Top 10s are tried-and-true ideas for blog posts or magazine articles, for any season or topic. For Valentine’s Day, you could write about the Top 10 Most Romantic Weekend Retreats, the 10 Best Types of Gourmet Chocolate for Women, or the Top 10 Valentine’s Day Stuffies. I’ve found Top 10s to be a great way to increase blog readership.

3. Different ways to survive Valentine’s Day. How can you combine your blogging or general interests with Cupid on February on 14? For instance, I love writing about introverted personality traits, so I wrote Valentine’s Day for Introverts in Love With Extroverts a couple years ago. My newest blog is Quips & Tips for Spiritual Seekers; for that, I recently wrote 6 Spiritual Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day. And, before I got married I was single for 35 Valentine’s Days, so I was itching to write Are You Single and Lonely on Valentine’s Day? for Suite101. I haven’t written about losing someone you love right before February 14, but that could be a helpful, popular blog post or online article.

4. Classy, upscale, or celebrity Valentine’s Day parties. This could be a huge source of blog traffic; readers might love to learn how the rich and famous celebrate Valentine’s Day! You could research or fantasize about Brad and Angelina’s romantic shenanigans on February 14, or what Valentine’s Day parties are like at the most wealthy people’s places. Or, you could use your imagination and write something like “The Valentine’s Day Dinner That Cost $55,000” and get crazy with the details!

5. How famous lovers celebrate February 14 – or what famous writers think about Valentine’s Day. What did the famous couple Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning do on February 14 (challenging to figure out!) or in your imagination (fun!)? What about Anne Lamatt or Elizabeth Gilbert – they’re not a couple, but what do they think about February 14? I’d be interested in reading a blog post that explores either of these ideas…and if I’m interested, you can bet other people will be too!

6. Answer questions on relationship, marriage, or singles forums. Reading forums about love or relationships can be a gold mine for ideas to blog about on Valentine’s Day. Look at the questions asked and the conversations the forum posters are having, and then share your opinion on your blog. For instance, if someone who can’t afford to spend a few hundred dollars on a romantic weekend retreat asks for ideas, write something like how to celebrate Valentine’s Day without spending money.

7. Repurpose past blog posts. This is one of the best ways to find article ideas, because you’ve already done some of the legwork! And in many cases you can get more mileage out of the same idea by tweaking it for a different audience or topic. For instance, if you’ve already written an online article about “romantic Christmas gifts for couples”, then tweak it to be “romantic Valentine’s Day gift ideas.”

8. Invite guest bloggers for Valentine’s Day. If you’re plum out of ideas for February 14, you could find some of the most popular Valentine’s Day blogs and invite the blogger to write a guest post for you. This is not only another great way to increase blog traffic, it’s also an effective source of different ideas. Valentine’s Day bloggers have tons of tricks and treats up their sleeves — and most are willing to appear on your blog.

What have I missed? If you have any thoughts or questions on these blogging ideas for Valentine’s Day, please comment below!

Before the tips, a quip:

“Write only if you cannot live without writing. Write only what you alone can write.” ~ writer and professor Elie Wiesel.

Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, there are words and articles and books in you that only you can write. These tips for being more productive aren’t about changing who you are…they’re about figuring out who you are, so you can be a better, more prolific writer! For more writing motivation, click Time to Write: Professional Writers Reveal How to Fit Writing Into Your Busy Life. And, read on for seven tips for increasing writing productivity…

7 Tips for Increasing Writing Productivity for Extroverts

1. Realize how your personality affects your writing. Do you know the difference between extroverted personality traits and introverted personality traits – and how much impact your personality has on your writing? Extroverts may have more difficulty finding time to write because they like to go, go, go! They love being around people, which can make it difficult to write. In contrast, introverts generally like their time alone, which may give them an advantage in terms of productivity. To write more, do a little self-exploration and get a little “touchy-feely.” What personality traits make you a more effective writer…and what traits are holding you back?

2. Decide whether you really want to be a writer. Many people have this romantic vision of being a writer…but not as many are willing to do what it takes to be successful. Not being able to “find the time” to write is essentially deciding you don’t want to be a writer. If you really want to be a writer, your behaviors must match your intentions or writing goals. It’s all about “walking the walk – not just talking the talk.” To increase productivity (and your ability to earn money as a writer or blogger), you need to decide that you’re not just a wannabee…you’re a writer, and writers must spend time writing. That’s the oldest, most boring, most effective rule in the book.

3. Refuse to play until you’ve achieved certain writing goals. Do you love hosting dinner parties, watching football on Sunday afternoons, or singing in the church choir? Make a deal with yourself: play with your words first, then play with your friends later. Set your specific, measurable, achievable writing goals – preferably daily goals – and do not let yourself leave the house until you show up for your writing self. If you don’t reach your goals, you cancel your plans.

4. Develop habits that support your writing goals. Refusing to party until you’ve written X number of words per day or emailed Y number of pitches to editors are examples of habits that support your writing goals. Make it a habit to get up every morning at 5:30 am, or meet with a writing group every second Wednesday. Make it a habit to research possible literary agents on the first Monday of every month, or read a new book about writing every two months. Your habits form your life, and they will help write your first novel or build a successful freelance writing career.

5. Find ways to write while surrounded by people. Extroverts are energized when they’re with people. The more people, the better! If your extroverted personality traits drive towards loud boisterous places, flow with your urges. For example, take your writing utensils and plant yourself in a busy coffeeshop, the commons area of a university or library, or the food court of a mall. You may not need to actually interact with people to get your socialization fix…just being around crowds may energize you and give you time to write. Two birds with one stone!

6. Use your experiences to fuel your writing. If you simply must attend all the parties, dinners, and events you planned this week, then use those experiences to guide your writing progress. Don’t compartmentalize your life by spending time with people, and then trying to write about things that don’t relate. This is the “write what you know” cliché with a bonus tip: writing what you know can increase your productivity by saving time and energy.

7. Remember how fast time flies. My biggest fear is turning 95 and regretting that I didn’t spend more time planning my career and achieving my writing goals. I’ve got no problem with getting older…I just don’t want to waste my days doing things that get me nowhere! So, to write more, remind yourself daily that your days are numbered. If you don’t write now, you won’t likely be writing later.

Write now, fellow scribes, because it’s later than you think.

Are you a writer who wrestles with your extroverted personality traits? I’d love to hear how you stay productive as a writer below!

Before the tips, a quip:

“You just have to work with what God sends, and if God doesn’t seem to understand the concept of commercial success, then that’s your bad luck.” ~ H L Mencken.

That’s a great way to overcome your fears of writing and getting published! Work with what you have – whatever God or the Universe sends – and flow with whatever happens next. Put your fears, anxieties, and “what ifs” aside, and live it out. Here’s a book that a fellow blogger recommended about fear of success (thanks Jenny of Workin on a Ramp!) The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles – click the cover to learn more. And, here are a few ways to cope with self-sabotage for writers and bloggers…

6 Tips for Overcoming Fear of Success for Writers and Bloggers

Writers may never get over the fear of success or fear of failure, but that doesn’t mean we can’t progress towards our writing goals! These tips won’t make fears disappear…but they can help writers write and bloggers blog…and maybe even get happily published…

1. Accept your fear. Be scared. Are you afraid of sending article pitches to editors, asking agents to represent you, writing sample chapters that may never be read, or otherwise sharing your writing dreams? Don’t fight it, fellow scribes. Accept it. We’re all scared – even the most successful writers. Read Feel the Fear . . . and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers (one of my favorites!). Make that phrase your motto. Simply feeling the fear and forging ahead anyway can help you cope with fear of success.

2. Figure out why you’re sabotaging your writing goals. You don’t have to see a psychologist to figure out why you fear success (though I admit I’m a big fan of counseling!). To get to the bottom of it, talk to people you trust, write in your journal, and be as honest and objective as possible. What are you afraid to admit? What do you know, that you aren’t allowing yourself to know? What’s holding you back? You don’t even have to go further than that. Just allowing your fears and anxieties to permeate your consciousness can free you to be more creative, more productive.

3. Accept failure as part of succeeding. “It’s a common assumption that if you really try your hardest to get something and don’t get it, you’ll be shattered – so it’s safer not to risk going out at all,” says Barbara Sher in Wishcraft: How to Get What You Really Want (another of my favorites!). “That is totally false. The exact opposite is true.” If you try and fail to get published, you won’t feel as bad as you think. You’ll gain experience, education, contacts, and self-confidence as a writer. Failure makes you smarter, stronger, more savvy, and more likely to succeed (if, of course, you don’t give up).

4. View your writing and editing skills as changeable. Research from the University of Toronto shows that if you think your professional skills and abilities are fixed, then you’ll become anxious if you’re successful. These psychologists found that people who think their capabilities are fixed get disoriented when they succeed, and their performance then spirals downward. To overcome fear of success as a writer or blogger, remind yourself that you will be a better writer in a year or two (or ten!) and you will be able to handle your success and your fears. Remember: your writing and blogging skills are constantly improving – they’re not set in stone.

5. Compete against yourself – not other writers or bloggers. “Competition in which one person must lose in order for us to win tends to undermine the best in most of us,” writes Robert K. Cooper in The Other 90%: How to Unlock Your Vast Untapped Potential for Leadership and Life (another great book!) “It makes us wary and distrustful of others, causes us to withhold and distort information, makes us intolerable of uncertainty and change, and it so narrows our focus that constructive creativity is practically shut down.” To overcome fear of success as a writer, don’t compete with other freelancers, bloggers, novelists, screenwriters, etc. Instead, compare your achievements and goals to where you were a year ago. Focus on your own progress, and celebrate the progress of others. 

Is there a part of you that is afraid to pitch editors of magazines, ask literary agents to represent you, or send your book manuscript to publishers? Are you afraid of failing…or of succeeding? I welcome your thoughts below…

Before the tips, a quip:

“The good writing of any age has always been the product of someone’s neurosis, and we’d have a mighty dull literature if all the writers that came along were a bunch of happy chuckleheads.”  ~ American novelist William Styron.

Don’t just be aware of your flaws, weaknesses, fears, and neuroses – use them to become a better writer! Remember that everyone is abnormal in some way, and don’t let your quirks get the better of you. If you’re struggling to live up to your full potential, do something about it! Click Success Is Not an Accident: Change Your Choices; Change Your Life for help, and learn how fear of success works for writers…

What is Fear of Success for Writers?

Writers may fear success because they don’t know if they can live up to their achievements. They may feel they’re not good enough or smart enough to keep writing, keep getting published, and keep satisfying editors, publishers, agents, and readers. Writers may think they don’t have what it takes to rise to the challenge, and they don’t know if they can sustain their writing success.

Sometimes writers fear success because it tests their limits and makes them vulnerable to new situations. Even worse, success can expose weaknesses and force writers not just to face, but to deal with their flaws. Other writers don’t believe they have a writer’s personality.

Writing or publication is scary because it involves change. Success can be intimidating and hard to handle! And, with success comes more challenges and responsibilities – and that can be threatening.

Possible Signs of Fear of Writing Success

Procrastination. Putting projects, assignments, or duties off while you take care of non-essential fluff or “make-work” chores can be a sign of fear of success. If you putter around instead of taking care of business, you may be subconsciously sabotaging yourself. Instead of avoiding your dreams of being a published author, re-evaluate your writing goals.

Talking the talk…but not walking the walk. Sometimes writers look unmotivated, undisciplined, or downright lazy…but their behaviors may be a symptom of fear of success. For instance, some writers blog and talk about their writing dreams and goals constantly, but watch TV every night and surf the Internet for hours every day. They don’t take practical, specific steps to achieving their writing goals, and they don’t exert the self-discipline it takes to write and get published. This is a primo example of self-sabotage.

Negative, pessimistic thoughts and behaviors. Fear of success can involve an extremely negative perspective of the writing business. “What’s the point of pitching query letters to editors? There’s no money in freelancing these days.” Not trying to get published – and focusing on all the things that can go wrong – is self-sabotaging and defeatist. It doesn’t lead to writing success because thoughts become action!

“Partying” the night before the big presentation. This can be literal partying (drinking too much, experimenting with drugs, staying out until the wee hours) or metaphorical partying (cleaning the house until 3 a.m., drinking too much coffee or soda pop and making sleep impossible). It’s similar to procrastination, but a little more destructive. Writers may be flirting with self-sabotage if they somehow always ruin a good night’s rest before a big presentation, exam, or job interview.

The Benefits of Self-Sabotage for Writers

These self-sabotaging behaviors allow writers an escape hatch. That is, if there’s no point in querying magazine editors, then writers can shrug off their writing dreams performance. If the market is already glutted with suspense novels, then there’s no reason to query literary agents.

Writers who dabble in self-sabotage have a ready-made excuse for not succeeding – and it’s not their fault. Instead of facing the fear that they’re not good or smart enough, they chalk it up to uncontrollable, external forces (book publishers aren’t giving high enough advances these days, or editors aren’t hiring new freelancers anymore).

Self-sabotage and fear of becomes a habit that destroys creativity, self-confidence, and dreams. Don’t go there, fellow scribes. Instead, learn how to fail and bounce back as a writer!

What do you think – are you a writer who fears success? My next article will be about overcoming fear of success…so stay tuned!

Before the tips, a quip:

“The five principles of aloha, when practiced together, awaken our awareness of our human potential and the sacredness of our life.” ~ Paul Pearsall.

Can you guess where I’m on vacation right now? If you thought “Hawaii”, then you’re right…I’m in Maui, in Lahaina. The word “aloha” is like “shalom” or “namaste.” It means love, peace, wholeness, and connection – and it’s a great way to greet both the world and yourself. If you’re a blogger who hasn’t traveled much, I encourage you to think about how your blog can help you get discounted vacation packages! My travel tips are below; for more info on being a travel writer, click Travel Writing: See the World.  Sell the Story.

10 Tips for Travel Deals for Writers and Bloggers

Travel writers can earn money by selling articles to magazines, before or after their trip. I suspect it’s slim pickings in the magazine travel writing market right now – but I know bloggers can get discounts on travel! Here’s what I’ve learned so far about blogging your way to a beach or other vacation destination…

1. Ask the hotel if they have a “media rate” for bloggers or travel writers. I’m staying at the Aston Kaanapali Villas in Maui (my travel buddies had already booked their vacation packages here, so my destination was set). Before I booked my flight, I asked the hotel for a discounted room in exchange for exposure on my Quips and Tips blogs. It took a couple of days, but they eventually came through with the “media rate.”

2. Ask for an upgrade. The Aston Kaanapali Villas gave me a complimentary upgrade with the media rate, from a hotel room to a 700 foot studio apartment with a full kitchen. Don’t be shy about asking for free upgrades, especially if you’re blogging about the hotel!

3. Research vacation packages versus hotels and flights. The cheapest vacation packages I found for Maui were only 12 days long, which was too short for me. I want to stay for at least two weeks if I’m going on vacation. So I started playing with the airfares and hotel prices, and found it was slightly more expensive to book a flight and hotel separately. But, the upgrade to a studio instead of a room was well worth it, and I don’t know if the hotel could have discounted a vacation package. Plus, I’m saving money by not eating out (the upgraded room has a full kitchen).

4. Email and call the booking office at the hotel directly. I emailed the media relations office first, then called the hotel. Don’t expect the operator at a central hotel-booking call center to get you a deal; they just book rooms for several different hotels. Instead, get the number to the hotel’s booking office, and then speak to either the manager or the media relations office.

5. Make your pitch. Bloggers and travel writers can’t expect to stay for a discounted price without giving something in return – even if they’re with a magazine such as National Geographic! What are you offering the hotel in exchange for your travel discount? I offered to write 10 articles that feature the Aston Kaanapali Villas, and the media relations person immediately accepted.

6. Polish your blog and clips. Before I emailed the Aston booking office and media relations person (I contacted both), I made sure Quips and Tips for Achieving Your Goals was ready. That is, I featured my previous travel articles and wrote an article about vacations that same day. I didn’t prepare clips, but did include my link to my clips on The Adventurous Writer. If you’re a blogger who wants to score travel discounts, you need to be as professional as possible. Prove that you’re worth the media rate!

7. Get the hotel discount and your responsibility in writing. A phone call isn’t good enough. Make sure you correspond via email or fax with the hotel, and that your hotel rate and blogging responsibilities are clearly documented.

8. Make sure your hotel has wireless internet in the room, and take your laptop. If you’re blogging about your travel experience – and if you’re getting a travel discount because you’re calling yourself a “travel writer” – then you need to spend time writing and blogging! You’re not on a free ride, fellow scribes.

9. Don’t just blog about your experience; share travel tips with your readers. Right after I booked this trip, I wrote 10 Tips for Booking Vacation Packages to Maui for Quips and Tips for Achieving Your Goals. And of course now I’m helping bloggers get their own travel deals. Instead of just reviewing a hotel or vacation destination, write practical articles that help other travelers. Stuck for things to blog about? Read Ideas for Writers Who Travel, But Who Don’t Write About Traveling.

10. Get an assignment from a magazine. Can you secure an article assignment from a travel or lifestyle magazine before you book your flight and hotel? That’ll not only help you get a better rate for a room, it’ll probably get you a few free tickets to various shows, events, etc at your destination. Some magazines pay the expenses of travel writers — but you need to clear that with your editor first.

Has your blog or helped you score travel discounts, and how did it work out? I’d love to hear from you below!

My mother-in-law is going for surgery to ease her painful carpal tunnel symptoms next week – and she’ll be out of commission for six weeks. I can’t imagine not being able to work for that long, and am on an anti-carpal tunnel syndrome rampage.

Here’s a tip for writers and bloggers: if you daydream, think, write, or blog in your head, don’t “just” stare off into space. Grab a soft stress ball or something that stretches your hand and wrist muscles while relieving pressure. Click the hands and red balls for more info — there are also exercise bands that can ease the effects of repetitive strain. And, read on for the causes, symptoms, and exercises to relieve carpal tunnel syndrome…

Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when there is increased pressure on the median nerve and tendons on the outside of the wrist. According to Body and Health Canada, the exact cause of carpal tunnel can’t be determined because it’s usually a combination of things that causes increased pressure on the wrist.

Factors that contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome include:

• repetitive movements of the hand or wrist
• trauma or injury to the wrist
• certain medical conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, low thyroid, diabetes)
• cysts or tumours
• pregnancy
• frequent use of vibrating hand tools
• having wrists too small for all the ligaments and nerves to fit properly

Writers and bloggers may be at a greater wrist of developing carpal tunnel because of the repetitive movements of typing and keyboarding.

Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Numbness or tingling sensation in the fingers.
• Loss of feeling in thumb, index, and middle finger.
• Hands falling asleep.
• Aching shoulders and neck.
• Pain radiating up forearm.
• Hand and/or wrist pain.
• Poor circulation in hands, wrists, and fingers.
• Loss of hand grip strength.
• Clumsiness of hands; dropping items.

It’s extremely important for writers and bloggers to do all they can to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome – especially if they want to make a living from writing!

6 Tips for Preventing Carpal Tunnel for Writers or Bloggers

1. Use a mouse – or stop using your mouse. I write on a laptop, and never used an external mouse until the tingling and numbness in my fingers started to unnerve me. Now, I use an external mouse as much as possible; it’s like a massage for my wrist and the meaty part of my thumb. To prevent carpal tunnel syndrome, change your hand, wrist, and finger position as much as possible. Use different types of mouses and keyboards.

2. Take frequent breaks. Every hour, take a few minutes to walk around your office or home. Shake out your hands, stretch them above your head, dangle them near your feet. Get the blood flowing! Give your hands, wrists, and fingers a break from the repetitive motion of typing. Just like breaking any bad writing habit, incorporating “stay healthy” breaks takes time and effort — but then it’s just part of your day. If you’re on Twitter, try @twittercize (“getting fit, one tweet at a time”).

3. Get exercise that involves your hands and arms. My exercise break is at 11 am every day; I do an hour-long home-based workout that’s incredibly effective, inexpensive, and fun (I have seven different 10 Minute Solutions DVDs, and have toned up and lost over 15 pounds because of them – read 7 Tips for Working Out With Pilates Fitness DVDs for more info). To avoid repetitive strain injury, don’t just run or cycle to stay fit. Do exercise that actually uses your arms, hands, and fingers.

4. Consider ergonomic desk chairs, keyboards, etc. If you have ergonomic office equipment, use it. I used to shrug off the idea of buying good office furniture and equipment because I thought it was a luxury…but now I realize that protecting my health for the long term is a necessity, not a luxury!

5. Do specific exercises to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. There are dozens of great exercises for carpal tunnel and I can’t list them all here, but I found several excellent sources of info. One of the best is the University of Maryland Medical Center’s How Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Can Be Prevented.

6. Consider wrist support. Similar to a knee brace, carpal tunnel wrist support can brace your hands and wrists. This type of brace can ease the pressure on your finger and thumb muscles, which may reduce the chances you’ll struggle with carpal tunnel as a writer. Whether a brace works depends on your hands and arms, the position they’re in all day, and your specific type of strain. But, they may be worth a try – this might be a good product to share with a coworker or family member who also writes or blogs a lot (or  spends a lot of time on the computer).

Fellow scribes, don’t wait until your wrists or hands are sore before you think about carpal tunnel syndrome. Take care of your hands…they’re your second-best source of income (after your brain, of course).

Does the repetitive motion of writing or blogging affect your hands and fingers? If you have any tips for preventing carpal tunnel, I welcome you below…

“As a freelance copywriter, I often work on multiple projects simultaneously,” says Karen Marcus, M.A. “In order to honor budgets, invoice my clients accurately, and gain insights for future estimates, I track my time on each project. Until recently, I used a form that I created in Word. But, analyzing the data meant I had to spend time crunching numbers. I started looking around for an automated system that could track my hours and provide reports on the time I was spending. I took advantage of the free trial offers from Cashboard and Basecamp, but eventually settled on Harvest, which I found to be user-friendly and have the appropriate features for my needs.”

In this guest post, Marcus shares her tips for using this time management software. If procrastination is your problem, click Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time – it’s one of my husband’s favorite time management books. Your goal as a writer is to make your time profitable — and either books or software can help with that.

The Harvest Time Management Program – Guest Post

Harvest is an online application that allows me to start a timer when I begin working on a particular task, and stop it when I finish. Or I can enter time for tasks that have already been completed. I can also add time to an already completed task. At any given time, I can see totals for each project, including indicators that show when I have exceeded estimated hours.

This time management program also has the capability to prepare invoices, record expenses, and create customized reports. I don’t use the invoice or expense features (I perform those functions in other applications), but do find the report feature useful for viewing time information in various configurations. For example, I have a client that I charge hourly and invoice on a bimonthly basis. When I invoice, I set up a report to show me how much time I have spent during the previous two weeks on projects for that client. I can set it up to show, say, how many billable hours I have logged in a particular month, or how much time I spent on different phases within a given project.

Managing or archiving clients, projects, and tasks is easy, and I have the system set up to show on my dashboard only the projects in which I’m currently engaged.

Here are some tips for writers for making the most of this time management software:

1. Take advantage of the free trial. In thirty days, you should be able to determine whether this project software meets your needs.

2. Determine your level. The Solo package will probably work best for most writers, since it allows a single user to set up unlimited projects. This package costs $12/month, and you can add users (e.g. subcontractors) if you need to, for an additional charge. The next level, Basic, allows up to 10 users for $40/month, and there is also a Business package that allows unlimited users for $90/month.

3. Take the time to set up project details. Within each project, you can set up a variety of tasks, so you will know how much time you’re spending on research, drafting, editing, etc. Each task can be labeled as billable or not, allowing for more granular information in your reports.

4. Track ALL your time. Don’t forget that writers are their own clients. You can set up a project that tracks internal hours so you can determine how much time you’re spending setting up your blog, responding to e-mail, brainstorming article ideas, etc.

5. Download the time tracking widget. Rather than logging in every time you want to track your time, you can use a widget that sits on your desktop. This time management widget allows you to choose projects and add time to them in fewer steps. The information is synchronized with the full application, so you can use both of them without losing any data.

6. Customize invoices with your logo and personalized information. This software doesn’t just help writers manage multiple assignments, it streamlines the invoicing process.

7. Integrate Harvest with applications you already use. It is compatible with iPhone, QuickBooks, Twitter, and WordPress, as well as others.

This is a great system for getting and staying organized; in fact, it may be one of the best ways you could invest in your writing career.

Have you tried Harvest? How did you like it? What other time tracking methods have worked well for you?

Karen Marcus, M.A., has developed hundreds of documents for a wide range of businesses, including Hewlett-Packard Company, Intergraph Corporation, and over a dozen telecommunications companies. Her work also appears as part of the interpretive display at the Hoover Dam visitor center and in numerous business websites. For more information, visit Final Draft Communications.