tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57698674037412392902012-10-22T15:50:15.797-07:00Heidi Shelton-Jenckhttps://plus.google.com/108024154054581280432noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5769867403741239290.post-43067366179806055302012-09-20T21:39:00.000-07:002012-09-20T21:39:14.041-07:00

Keeping the money flowing in as a freelance writer is a lot of work. A big part of my job is sending out queries and applying for work throughout the week. It is a lot easier to enjoy the ride if job hunting is efficient. One thing I do is have job listings come straight into my email box. Many job listing sites offer a subscription option. Three places I subscribe to are: Freelance Writing

Heidi Shelton-Jenckhttps://plus.google.com/108024154054581280432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5769867403741239290.post-8175711645271439102012-09-19T10:47:00.002-07:002012-09-19T10:47:59.072-07:00

Writer's Digest University offers courses for writers. I have taken two of their Children's Writing courses. Yes, they are expensive compared to some other online options. However, the courses I took were helpful and well done. They have some new workshops starting September 20th - tomorrow.  I hesitate to spend a lot of cash on anything! On the other hand, spending a couple hundred bucks to

Heidi Shelton-Jenckhttps://plus.google.com/108024154054581280432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5769867403741239290.post-4922767294942422272012-07-24T19:22:00.000-07:002012-07-24T19:22:17.367-07:00

Where do your writing ideas come from? I have days where interesting ideas burst out of my brain like Old Faithful. I keep packs of sticky notes in my purse and a little notebook in my car for those times. Unfortunately, ideas for articles, proposals, stories, and blog posts aren't always so effusive. Too often, I sit down at the computer and nothing comes out of my brain except random,

Heidi Shelton-Jenckhttps://plus.google.com/108024154054581280432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5769867403741239290.post-70174519339461157442012-07-15T09:12:00.002-07:002012-09-19T09:59:32.261-07:00

Hi-Lo readers are books written for older readers, with high interest and low reading levels. Many older students struggle to read grade-level text, but don't want to read books written for children in the primary grades. The publishing industry has created a product for tweens, teens, and adults who need reading instruction and practice on the elementary level, but don't want to use primary

Heidi Shelton-Jenckhttps://plus.google.com/108024154054581280432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5769867403741239290.post-50293130476242211402012-07-08T08:37:00.000-07:002012-09-19T10:00:50.529-07:00

The testing industry is a big business you may want to look into for freelance writing income. Publishers hire writers to create test items and passages, often on a short-term contract basis.   Some companies prepare test preparation materials. These are practice tests and teaching materials to help students from kindergarten through graduate school prepare for tests. Others produce the

Heidi Shelton-Jenckhttps://plus.google.com/108024154054581280432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5769867403741239290.post-75432302901695809372012-07-07T18:13:00.001-07:002012-09-19T10:52:59.757-07:00

Writing for the Christian Education market is creative, fun, and good spiritual exercise. There are opportunities to write for adults, teens, tweens, and children.  The Christian Writer's Market Guide - 2012 gives an excellent overview of the many opportunities Christian writers have to tap into the education market. My focus has been on the Pre-K - 6 children's market: Full length activity

Heidi Shelton-Jenckhttps://plus.google.com/108024154054581280432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5769867403741239290.post-54180422568487489762012-06-25T20:40:00.000-07:002012-09-19T10:04:03.103-07:00

The most obvious things are often right in front of my nose. I guess I don't focus on them because I'm distracted by so many other things going on in the world around me. (having four kids at home will do that...!) Correlating for the education market was a completely obvious employment option I never focused on. Never even considered it, until I read a helpful article on Writing for the

Heidi Shelton-Jenckhttps://plus.google.com/108024154054581280432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5769867403741239290.post-58881307380690072882012-06-24T16:30:00.002-07:002012-09-19T10:05:55.146-07:00

I call myself a WAHM freelance writer, but I have created multiple streams of income from different places to keep the money flowing in. Most are small streams! But, with four children at home, it all counts. Since my main goal is to find ways to make money as a writer, I have to be creative, organized, and thoughtful about how I spend my working hours. Some sources of income don't bring in as

Heidi Shelton-Jenckhttps://plus.google.com/108024154054581280432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5769867403741239290.post-16342363707639417572012-06-24T09:22:00.002-07:002012-09-19T10:13:42.343-07:00

Chicken Soup for the Soul stories are inspirational and heart-warming. The first story I submitted to the series was published in a collection of adoption stories. After submitting my story, I heard it was to be published almost a year later.  The payment came as promised, and I was given one complimentary author book copy. Read the Guidelines for Submissions, and check out the upcoming

Heidi Shelton-Jenckhttps://plus.google.com/108024154054581280432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5769867403741239290.post-16082786647746498552012-06-20T06:17:00.000-07:002012-09-19T10:17:38.726-07:00

Authors tell stories about critique groups and writer friends who go above and beyond to help other writers. The internet is full of kind authors who share their knowledge, training, and wisdom with other writers - for free. Here are some of my favorites author websites. I have visited their sites, and learned from the articles and tips. Please let me know of others, and I will add their

Heidi Shelton-Jenckhttps://plus.google.com/108024154054581280432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5769867403741239290.post-91000359102931481872012-06-19T06:36:00.001-07:002012-09-19T10:14:49.376-07:00

Where are your children when you write? Are they in the house with you? Do you hire a sitter? Do you only write while they are in school, busy, or sleeping? I'm curious to know how those of you who are parents write at home with children around. Maybe you are like me and enjoy writing in the dark, predawn hours. Or, you may be a night owl and write after your children go to sleep. Do

Heidi Shelton-Jenckhttps://plus.google.com/108024154054581280432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5769867403741239290.post-48228906719979665572012-06-18T06:57:00.000-07:002012-09-19T10:15:25.460-07:00

What do you think? Are there good reasons to use your valuable freelance time for no pay? It depends. Sometimes different kinds of payoffs are just as important. Samuel Johnson said, No man but a blockhead ever wrote, except for money. I disagree. Sometimes there are good reasons to write for free. For example, I work as an editor in training for Bella Online. I'll be the blockhead Samuel

Heidi Shelton-Jenckhttps://plus.google.com/108024154054581280432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5769867403741239290.post-89229106752594152192012-06-15T16:56:00.001-07:002012-06-17T20:51:25.084-07:00

When I began planning this blog, I considered trying to create my own blog header. I thought it would be an excellent learning experience with a little creativity and fun thrown in. There are some sites that demonstrate how to create your own blog header. Two I like are the Musings of a Housewife blog and Shabby Blogs. I bailed on trying to create my own blog banner. I am not a designer.

Heidi Shelton-Jenckhttps://plus.google.com/108024154054581280432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5769867403741239290.post-64054137024934465222012-06-15T06:18:00.000-07:002012-06-15T17:50:30.914-07:00

I love to read mystery novels, but have no interest in writing them! After I began working full-time as a freelance writer, I tried out all kinds of writing projects. In the end I found that I was most happy writing short stories, fiction for children, curriculum, and devotions. It was a journey to find my place in the writing world. If you are on that journey, here are some tips for trying out

Heidi Shelton-Jenckhttps://plus.google.com/108024154054581280432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5769867403741239290.post-1478759577101441832012-06-07T12:02:00.000-07:002012-06-15T06:54:56.471-07:00

working in my home office That sounds nice. I even have one. Nothing fancy, but I like it. My office doubles as a guest room on the main floor near the kitchen and living room. It can get noisy at times, especially when the dogs start barking at the front door. I have a window, which I learned last time I worked as a stay-at-home writing mom is critical. My previous home office was in the

Heidi Shelton-Jenckhttps://plus.google.com/108024154054581280432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5769867403741239290.post-75871932518534018332012-06-07T06:30:00.000-07:002012-06-15T17:49:03.557-07:00

My professional path has zigged and zagged as I follow detour signs and road maps. No smooth, linear road for me. Like many people, I dream about running my own business and being my own boss. My dreams usually involve writing and teaching, so  I never seem to get rich following this path! Nevertheless, it seems to be my Yellow Brick Road. And I've found great joy and fulfillment working with

Heidi Shelton-Jenckhttps://plus.google.com/108024154054581280432noreply@blogger.com0