Carrie Smith – The Write Life https://thewritelife.com Helping writers create, connect and earn Fri, 27 Dec 2024 23:51:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 20 Inspiring Pinterest Boards for Writers https://thewritelife.com/20-inspiring-pinterest-boards-for-writers/ Sat, 14 Sep 2019 14:29:00 +0000 http://thewritelife.com/?p=2436 Pinterest isn’t just a place for jewelry, clothing or landscape images; it can also help inspire and promote your work as a writer.

Check out these Pinterest boards for writers

If you want to spice up your book, find resources on editing or organize your writing space, check out these 20 Pinterest boards for writers.

(P.S. Be sure to follow The Write Life on Pinterest!)

1. Elsie Road Magazine’s Writing + Editing board 

With everything from articles and checklists, to writing prompts and enlightening advice, this in-depth resource will help you find all the tips you need to bring the best out of your writing. 

One of our favorite pins:

2. Writers Relief’s Getting Help With Your Writing board

Need help developing your novel’s character? Want to find a writing mentor? This board has everything you need to improve your writing, including ways to spice up your stories.

One of our favorite pins:

3. K.M. Weiland’s Writing Resources board 

One thing (of many) that’s tricky about writing is finding a way to relay your gripping idea to readers. Start here to learn neat ways to hook your readers with words and characters that jump right off the page. 

One of our favorite pins:

4. Book Riot’s Cover Lovin’ board

Create inspiring and eye-catching book covers for your upcoming novel or ebook with this vast collection of book cover designs.

One of our favorite pins:

5. Writers Write’s Writing Prompts board  

 Need some inspiration? Leave the brainstorming to this board filled with daily prompts that will keep your creative juices fueled and flowing. 

One of our favorite pins:

6. Laura Simms’ Home Office Inspiration board

Your office workspace should be a place that’s comfortable and reflects your creativity, but it also needs to inspire your senses. This board is full of beautiful office spaces!

One of our favorite pins:

7. Mandy Wallace’s The Writer’s Sandbox group board 

This board is like a Phillips screwdriver — everyone should have it in their toolbox. This one-stop-shop shares resources for editing, writing and publishing, creating complex characters and so much more. 

One of our favorite pins:

8. Arts and Classy’s Blogging + Content Marketing group board

If you’re looking to publish a book or want to level up your blog, this board has you covered. It includes tips on marketing your blog or book, getting reviews, establishing a platform and more.

One of our favorite pins:

9. Greatist’s Relaxation board

As a writer, it’s important to nourish your body as well as your mind. Sitting all day is not healthy for your muscles or your mind. Use these ideas to relax, recover and renew your imagination.

One of our favorite pins:

10. 1976write’s The Writer’s Guide to Writing board 

This board is different than the others on this list due to its 24 sections, all dedicated to teaching writers how to hone their skills. Its robust catalogue includes memoir writing, grammar and punctuation, writing productivity, self-care tips and more. 

One of our favorite pins (from the ‘Tips’ section!):

pinterest for writers

11. Amelia Hutchins’ Writing board

Myth: Writers are walking thesauruses. When you just can’t get the same five adjectives out of your head, or if too many of your characters have a furrowed brow, rejuvenate your creativity with this board. You’ll learn new vocabulary words, insight on how to describe characters and more. 

One of our favorite pins:

12. Melinda Copp’s Productivity board 

Want to learn how to maximize your creativity and increase your productivity? From office organization ideas, to productivity tips for writing, to creating consistent writing habits, you’ll find something to ensure your writing is a priority. 

One of our favorite pins:

13. Elna Cain’s Work From Home board

Being a parent and trying to be productive while working from home isn’t easy. Thankfully this board shares all the real-world advice you need to be a successful freelancing parent.

One of our favorite pins:

14. The Work at Home Wife’s Work From Home and Get Paid group board

This group board is perfect for freelance writers who are looking for ways to make a full-time living from home. You’ll find information related to being more productive, getting paid and jump starting a successful business.

One of our favorite pins:

15. Writing Forward’s Fiction Writing and Storytelling board 

You’re a writer; you know what you’re doing. But sometimes, it’s nice to be reminded of the little things, and that’s what this board is. Here, you’ll get all sorts of storytelling tips to help you make your work shine.  

One of our favorite pins:

16. Mooness Lindqvist-Ebadi’s Writing board  

For the writing life you’re gonna need the right tools , and this board delivers just that. With ideas for creating fictional cultures and effective ways to add emotion to your  writing, you’ll be sure to find a little bit of everything.

One of our favorite pins:

17. Lady Writer’s Writing Worksheets board

Storybuilding requires keeping track of small details, and without the right organization method, things can get a little messy. Gather your ideas and use a worksheet to guide you in mapping out your story. There’s even a worksheet to help you write pep talks! 

One of our favorite pins:

18. Bound to Writing’s Book board  

With tons of diverse book  r recommendations to choose from on this picturesque board, you’ll never run out of ingenuity or ideas for your writing work.

One of our favorite pins:

19. Gina Horkey’s Freelance Writing board

As a freelance writer it’s important to practice your craft and use samples to land more work. This freelance writing board offers actionable tips and advice for improving your skills.

One of our favorite pins:

20. The Write Life’s Writer’s Toolbox board

We couldn’t complete this list without including our own board, now, could we? Whether you’re looking for practical advice to help you write a book or manage your freelance hustle, our board is packed with expert tips and guides that will take your writing to the next level. 

One of our favorite pins:

Do you have a favorite writing-related Pinterest board? Share it in the comments below!

This is an updated version of a story that was previously published. We update our posts as often as possible to ensure they’re useful for our readers.

Photo via photobyphotoboy / Shutterstock 

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6 Old-School Rules You Should Break as a Freelance Writer https://thewritelife.com/rules-to-break-as-a-freelance-writer/ Fri, 20 Mar 2015 11:00:34 +0000 http://thewritelife.com/?p=4809 As freelancing has become more common, a set of “rules” has emerged as the norm. Blog posts advise us to put on pants, be active on every social media channel and pick a specific niche.

This is all good advice. But where do you draw the line between following the rules, versus being innovative and doing what works best for you?

Sometimes breaking the rules can actually strengthen your freelance writing business. Not convinced? Here are six rules you can break as a freelance writer — with advice from freelancers who’ve successfully flaunted them.

1. Always pitch editors via email

Yes, most communication these days is done via email. But the tried-and-true method of cold calling an editor can still be a smart way to break the ice. If you want to make your pitch stand out, consider picking up the phone.

“I’d just always thought if I [called editors], they’d view me as unprofessional (and kind of hate my guts for bugging them,” explained Deb Mitchell at The Renegade Writer. “I didn’t even get to leave voicemails with five editors before my phone rang.”

The editor had been delighted to hear from her, and wound up assigning her a story on the spot.

Before trying this strategy, read the publication’s submission guidelines. Some editors are clear that they prefer emailed pitches, especially if you don’t have a relationship with them.

However, if you feel that cold calling an editor is the best route for you, go for it. You could also send an initial email, then follow up with a phone call.

Don’t enjoy the phone? Consider other non-email strategies that play to your strengths. Writer Cinthia Ritchie successfully pitched a guest post to Carol Tice of Make a Living Writing on Twitter!

2. Make your pitch professional

Yes, you want to follow the instruction in the publication’s pitch guidelines, but you also want to make your email (or phone call) stand out by showing off a bit of your personality.

How can you add personality to a pitch? Include a photo of yourself to your pitch, show your quirky side with personal anecdote, or tell a joke. If you can make the editor chuckle (or even laugh out loud), you’ll have a good shot at getting her to read the rest of your pitch.

Asking about the editor and hiring manager’s “spirit animals” during an interview helped my friend Claire Murdough land a contract writing job at a startup in San Francisco. Her question broke the ice, and got everyone laughing and talking. Plus, Claire knew the startup’s atmosphere and that her quirky personality has helped her land gigs in the past.

Even a bit of fun with grammar is a good idea. “When it comes to grammar, my stance is that rules are made to be broken — but you gotta know those rules backwards and forwards to have the authority to break them,” says copywriter Betsy Mikel.

“I find that grammar rules can get in the way of being conversational. When I have to weigh being conversational versus following a nit-picky rule, conversational often [wins] out,” explains Betsy. “Most people would rather read something written by a friendly human than a stuffy academic. So it’s mostly about putting readers first over the editorial rules.”

3. Pitch your idea and wait for approval before writing

Most pitching processes start out with you researching the site’s content, coming up with a topic, and then pitching your idea to the editor. If it’s accepted, you write up the piece as soon as possible and send it over for the editor to review.

But what if you flipped the script? Instead of waiting for an editor to say “yes” to your idea, try including the post itself in your pitch email (or at least a detailed summary) so he can see exactly what you’re talking about. This could help push your pitch over the edge from a “maybe” to a “yes,” according to freelance writer Steve Gillman.

Additionally, you’ll be able to better organize your time. Rather than waiting until the editor approves your idea after a week or two, when your schedule may be busier, you’ll have already written the post. You can spend more time pitching ideas, and less time trying to fit in a last-minute (and possibly rushed) article.

4. Submit a piece and relax

As writers, we spend the majority of our time seeking out an assignment, pitching ideas, researching content, writing a draft and editing our post. So when we submit the final piece to an editor, we believe we’re finished.

But we’re actually still a few steps from the finish line. Aside from any revisions the editor requests, you’ll need to respond to reader comments and questions on the published post. You should also send the editor a quick thank-you note showing your appreciation.

Finally, it’s important to share the piece within your network and on social media. Help spread the word by posting a blurb and link on Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest. Sharing the post with your followers helps demonstrate that you’re invested in the article, and it’s increasingly expected from freelancers, notes Carol Tice.

5. Work for exposure

At the beginning of their careers, most freelance writers work for free or very cheap to gain more traffic and exposure, and build their portfolios. That’s great, but make sure you have a timeline for parlaying those unpaid gigs into paying ones.

“One rule I never follow is accepting that as a new freelance writer you will sometimes have to accept ‘exposure’ as a payment form,” explains freelance writer Kayla Sloan.

“When I was first starting out, there were a lot of job opportunities that wanted to pay a very small wage and instead provide ‘exposure’ for me and my writing. I’m not saying exposure and getting your name out there is a bad thing, but you shouldn’t get in the habit of accepting exposure as a payment form or you’ll never grow your business and get where you want financially. After all, exposure doesn’t pay the bills!”

If you do plan to work for free, make sure you have a detailed plan outlining what you’ll learn from it, how many clients you’ll work with and how long before you’ll start charging for your work.

6. Create set rates for clients

When it comes to getting paid, many editors want you to pitch them your rate before they will OK an article idea or long-term relationship. But this rule needs to be thrown out ASAP.

I’ve learned this lesson the hard way, and it’s meant missing out on a large amount of income. When at all possible, ask about the editor’s budget before quoting your freelance rate. Every time I’ve done this, I’ve been quoted at least $100 more for the piece than I was intending to charge (and in some cases even $500 more).

To weed out some lower-paying clients, you may want to consider listing starting rates on your website. “I currently put rates on my writer’s site. Since I started doing that, I’ve gotten [fewer] low-ball inquiries,” says blogger and writer Bree Brouwer.

“I may remove them at some point in the future (since I’m doing freelance gigs on the side of my job now), but I was surprised to see the difference [caused by] adding rates to my site.”

If you aren’t comfortable publishing your rates, be open to having a general idea of what you charge for certain packages. “I break the mold as a freelance writer by not having a set rate card,” says blogger Miranda Marquit.

“Many freelancers have a set rate card for their articles, but I prefer to have a general idea of what I want to charge for certain types of writing, and quote a rate based on the client, their needs, and other factors. Then I can negotiate. I’m more likely to negotiate rates on a client basis rather than offer a standard rate card to everyone.”

Which rules will you break?

Stick to your guns when you’re quoting your rates, but know when to ask what the client’s budget is, too. Don’t be worried that clients won’t pay what you ask. You’ll be surprised at how many editors pay handsomely for high-quality work — and how many red-flag clients you can avoid by charging a little more.

Some rules are meant to be broken! Find those that fit your personality and work style, and throw out the ones that don’t.

Which rules do you break as a freelance writer?

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The 100 Best Websites for Writers in 2015 https://thewritelife.com/100-best-websites-for-writers-2015/ Mon, 19 Jan 2015 11:00:00 +0000 http://thewritelife.com/?p=4166 Editor’s note: Looking for our most updated list of best writing websites? Here’s our list for 2021.

Ready to improve your writing — and maybe even make a living as a writer — this year? Our 100 Best Websites for Writers list is back and better than ever.

Thanks to your suggestions, this year’s list of writing websites includes both well-established favorites and bold newcomers. We struggled to whittle it down to just 100 — there are so many fantastic resources out there for writers! — and could probably create a second list of 100 based on all your recommendations. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts!

We’ve broken the list into eight categories: blogging, creativity and craft, entrepreneurship, freelancing, literary agents, marketing, publishing, and writing communities. The writing sites are listed in alphabetical order within each category, and the numbers are included for easy tracking rather than as a ranking.

If you want to start your own website or blog, here’s our step-by-step guide.

Whether you’re keen to find better-paying freelance writing jobs or self-publish your NaNoWriMo project, build your email list or strengthen your SEO skills, these sites will help you reach your goals.

Best websites for bloggers

1. All Indie Writers

Developing a successful writing career is hard work, and Jennifer Mattern, founder of All Indie Writers, tells it like it is. AIW is a helpful resource for freelance writers, indie publishers and bloggers; it features a job board, community forums and podcast episodes.

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2. Be a Freelance Blogger

Sophie Lizard and other fantastic writers behind Be a Freelance Blogger are making their second consecutive appearance on this list. They share useful resources, valuable tips and guest posting opportunities for bloggers looking to earn a living from writing. If you need advice that’s tailored to your specific situation, or if you’d like to connect with like-minded bloggers, check out the BAFB community — it’s completely free.

Post you’ll like: How to Survive the Business Side of Blogging

3. Boost Blog Traffic

Since appearing on our list last year, Boost Blog Traffic has become an even bigger powerhouse in the blogging space. Jon Morrow and his team publish fantastic, in-depth content that will help aspiring — or even expert — writers get more eyes on their work.

Post you’ll like: 63 Blogging Tools That Will Make You Insanely Productive

4. Copyblogger

Founded by Brian Clark in 1998, this epic content marketing and blogging resource is a one-stop shop for bloggers looking to increase traffic, build a large community, sell products and gain exposure. Spend a few hours digging through their archives and you’ll be amazed at the number of takeaways you can immediately apply to your copy and business. Sign up for a free My Copyblogger membership to access 15 ebooks covering everything from keyword research to crafting headlines.

Post you’ll like: The Ultimate Copy Checklist: 51 Questions to Optimize Every Element of Your Copy

5. Problogger

Problogger is the go-to resource for online entrepreneurs and bloggers who want to make a living from their craft. Darren Rowse’s site is a wealth of resources, from its popular job board to workbooks, ebooks and programs to help make your blog a success.

Post you’ll like: Can You Really Make Money Blogging?

6. Sark e-media

With the help of Sarah Arrow’s 30-day blogging challenge (it’s free!), you’ll focus on creating and publishing without waiting for “perfect.” Her advice is motivational and inspirational — it’s the kick-in-the-pants we all need when procrastinating on our writing.

7. Smart Passive Income

In the year since we mentioned Smart Passive Income on our 2014 list, creator Pat Flynn has given it a beautiful makeover. Along with the valuable blog posts that help you create a successful blog and business, you’ll find an extensive podcast library and a new series called Ask Pat.

Post you’ll like: How to Grow Your Blog Audience by Building Relationships With Other Bloggers

Creativity and Craft for writers

8. AdviceToWriters

Curated by Jon Winokur, this site collects quotes from past and present writers, in the form of a Quote of the Day post and daily email. If you’re in need of inspiration, motivation or new ideas, these daily bursts of creativity can give you just that.

9. Aliventures 

Author Ali Luke’s site is all about writing, blogging and life as a writer, including behind-the-scenes details. While she’s on maternity leave until later this spring, her vast archives include tons of advice about blogging, freelancing, writing ebooks and creating a loyal reader base.

Post you’ll like: Finding Time — or Making Time — to Write

10. Almost Fearless 

Christine Gilbert is a videographer, storyteller and photographer who teaches courses and workshops on story-driven blogging. She’s working on a book about exploring the world and learning languages with her husband and two young children, and her storytelling advice glows with personality and life.

Post you’ll like: I Disappear When I Write, But for My Kids I Can’t

11. Brain Pickings

Maria Popova believes that multiple points of creativity drive our ideas and stories, and she created Brain Pickings to aggregate diverse, interesting information. When we look for many different sources of inspiration, we can create more complex worlds for our characters and readers. 

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12. Christina Katz

Christina Katz teaches writers to become successful at their craft through training and classes. From freelancers looking for a nudge to pitch new markets to new authors preparing to self-publish, many types of writers find helpful advice on this site.

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13. Daily Writing Tips 

If you need daily inspiration and writing tips, look no further than this site, which features articles on everything writing-related, including grammar, punctuation, spelling, usage and vocabulary.

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14. Dani Shapiro

Dani Shapiro’s site is unlike any other. Her words captivate your attention through each post. She shares her personal stories and experiences as a writer, author and storyteller. You’ll find plenty of creative inspiration here, and no doubt relate to her stories about looking inward.

Post you’ll like: On Getting to Work

15. Elizabeth Spann Craig

Mystery author Elizabeth Spann Craig shares advice on writing, character development, productivity and other details around the writing life. She also compiles a weekly list of writing articles that many writers find immensely helpful.

Post you’ll like: Multiple Projects at Once

16. Erika Napoletano

If you need a kick in the butt to overcome writer’s block or get unstuck with your writing business, you need to read this blog. Erika Napoletano offers advice that’s anything but ordinary (and usually NSFW [not safe for work]). You’ll cringe at being called out on chickening out as a writer, but you’ll laugh at the way she does it and feel motivated to step up your game.

17. Fantasy Author’s Handbook

Fantasy and science fiction author and editor Philip Athans shares his experience through witty, informative, entertaining and inspiring posts. Whether he’s decoding the legal page of a print book or analyzing word choice, his posts will make you think about your work in a different way. 

Post you’ll like: Thoughts on the Difference Between Science Fiction and Fantasy

18. Fiction University

Instead of sharing advice about what writers should be doing, author Janice Hardy explains how to apply the industry’s advice to your work, including tips on how to plan, write, edit and publish a novel. She also pulls back the curtain on how other successful authors and writers manage their creative processes.

Post you’ll like: The Inner Struggle: Guides for Using Inner Conflict That Make Sense

19. Grammar Girl

With Grammar Girl by your side, you can boost your writing and grammar confidence. Each article and podcast episode is an adventure into the world of the English language, and you’ll likely be able to find any advice you need in the archives or most popular tips categories.

Post you’ll like: When to Use a Comma Before ‘Because’

20. Inky Girl

Inky Girl is all about books for children and young adults. Author and illustrator Debbie Ridpath Ohi creates comics that many writers can relate to, as well as interviews with experts and industry professionals. With her passion for telling stories in unique and interesting ways, you’ll never run out of inspiration.

Post you’ll like: What Agents, Editors, and Art Directors Look for Online

21. It Starts With 

Sarah Peck combines her passion for technology, storytelling and creative design with her background in psychology to share a unique perspective on writing. If you’re looking to successfully mesh your multiple passions, better communicate your story and connect with your readers, it’s time to check out this blog.

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22. Jami Gold

Paranormal author Jami Gold breaks down the challenges of writing, plotting and character development until they’re easy to understand and overcome. She also offers great worksheets for plot planning, story development, scene strengthening and more.

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23. KidLit411

Keen to write or illustrate books for children? Author Elaine Kiely Kearns and author and illustrator Sylvia Liu compile tons of great advice on planning, creating and publishing your work from around the web. Their Facebook group is a great place to connect with other kidlit writers and even find a critique partner or group.

Post you’ll like: The Weekly 411

24. Positive Writer 

Many writers struggle to carve out time to work. Bryan Hutchinson tackles this challenge head-on in posts on Positive Writer. He believes you should stop seeking approval from others, and offers advice on overcoming doubt and fears as a writer.

Post you’ll like: Why No One Is Paying Attention to You (And How to Change It)

25. Procrastiwriter

It’s time to stop procrastinating and start writing! Written by Shanan Haislip, The Procrastiwriter will help you find the motivation you need to write more, hone your craft, and most importantly, make room for consistent writing.

Post you’ll like: You Might Be a Writer…

26. Romance University

This site offers inspiring advice from a variety of industry professionals and established authors to help you create a successful writing process. While romance writers will find plenty of inspiration in the archives, even writers focused on other fiction genres can learn a lot about craft, marketing and self-publishing.

27. Sterling Editing

The Sterling Editing team is comprised of experienced writers, editors and literary agents striving to help writers create their best work. Their weekly “Written on the internet” posts share interesting publishing trends, editing tips and other writing advice from around the web.

Post you’ll like: Written on the internet

28. Susan Dennard

Susan Dennard covers a wide variety of writing-related topics on her blog, with practical solutions and tips for all writers. She offers more great advice in her newsletter, which several TWL readers say are a must-read.

Post you’ll like: The Writing Is All That Really Matters

29. The Kill Zone 

The Kill Zone focuses on writing and publishing fiction, with 11 top mystery and thriller writers posting advice every day of the week. Tune in for thoughtful, informative and entertaining articles on writing craft, marketing and industry trends, as well as “first page critiques” of submitted manuscripts.

Post you’ll like: Getting Started With Scrivener

30. The Write Practice

To become a good writer, you have to practice — it’s as simple as that. The Write Practice, founded by Joe Bunting, offers daily writing prompts, creative writing lessons and a wealth of articles to help you overcome writer’s block.

Post you’ll like: 10 Questions to Find Your Unique Writing Voice

31. The Writer and the Critic

The Writer and the Critic is a bimonthly podcast that discusses all things fiction, book reviews and general industry gossip. You’ll find ideas for blog posts, novels, characters and random storiese. In other words, hosts Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond help you find a little bit of everything for your writing.

Post you’ll like: Episode 40: ‘Dust Devil on a Quiet Street’ and ‘We Are All Completely Besides Ourselves’

32. The Writing Whisperer

Shannon Hernandez spent 15 years as a teacher and now empowers other writers to find their voice in a noisy world. Whether you need memoir coaching, copywriting help, publishing advice or all of the above, her site is a full of high-quality information.

Post you’ll like: 10 Things I Wish I Had Known Before Becoming a Published Author

33. Write to Done

Everyone can become a great writer if they direct their practice properly and apply themselves, says Write to Done’s Chief Editor, Mary Jaksch. The site features inspiring articles and how-to posts that will help you become the best writer you can be.

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34. Writers Helping Writers

Formerly known as The Bookshelf Muse, Writers Helping Writers serves fiction writers of all types and offers tools to help with plot planning, self-editing and promoting your book. You’ll be especially excited about the collection of thesauruses for emotions, talents, skills, physical attributes and other important character traits.

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35. YA Confidential

Young adult fiction has never been so popular, and YA Confidential is one of the best resources out there for writers for teens. Although the site has been on a hiatus for several months, you’ll still find gold in the archives related to writing for young adults, interviews with real teens and more.

Post you’ll like: In Praise of Rejection

Entrepreneurship for writers

36. Alexis Grant

Writers are not just creatives; they’re also business owners who also have to pay the bills. Along with great advice for freelancers and writers, Alexis Grant also offers several guides, ebooks and courses that help you manage the business side of writing. (Full disclosure: Alexis is Founder and Managing Editor of The Write Life.)

Post you’ll like: Why You’re Failing to Make a Living as a Writer

37. Create as Folk

In the past year, Laura Simms has given Create as Folk an awesome makeover. You’ll find resources for quitting your job, following your passion and making a living doing what you love. She has also taken on guest contributors who share their own perspectives and journeys to creating meaningful work.

Post you’ll like: Can You Combine All Your Passions Into One Business?

38. Men with Pens

Since 2006, James Chartrand’s Men with Pens has helped writers, bloggers and businesses create engaging copy and market their writing to thousands of readers. If you want to achieve better results with your writing and earn more money as a freelance writer, check out the extensive archives.

Post you’ll like: Why Some People Make Money Writing and Others Never Will

39. Productive Flourishing

Productive Flourishing is one of the top websites for creativity, organization and productivity for all types of creatives and entrepreneurs. Founder Charlie Gilkey, who also works as a business coach, offers valuable advice and free planners that are sure to help you get past any creative slump.

Post you’ll like: 5 Ways to Get Through the Creative Red Zone

40. Seth Godin

Bestselling author Seth Godin never ceases to amaze the world with his ideas, advice and aha moments about business. Study his writing to learn how to build a loyal audience, market to your readers and hone your craft.

Post you’ll like: The Stories We Tell Ourselves

41. Side Hustle Nation

Many freelance writers start their careers as side gigs, and Side Hustle Nation is all about empowering your side ventures to propel you to financial freedom. The popular podcast offers interviews with many of the creative entrepreneurs on this list and covers topics related to self-publishing, winning over clients, passive income, recurring revenue and more.

Post you’ll like: The Self-Publishing Platform That Outsold Amazon

42. The Art of Non-Conformity

“You don’t have to live your life the way others expect” is the gist of founder Chris Guillebeau’s advice on his blog and in his books. His approach to business and creativity is unconventional, as he would say, and will have you questioning how you, too, can challenge the status quo.

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43. The Creative Penn 

The Creative Penn is the place to find advice on writing, self-publishing and marketing your new book. In addition to her self-publishing and platform-building advice, Joanna Penn shares how she makes a living as a full-time author and entrepreneur. Her podcast is also popular, offering interviews with dozens of successful writers.

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44. Untamed Writing

“Karen Marston’s no-BS approach is practical, funny and gutsy,” a TWL reader told us. Her blog helps writers develop their skills, pitch new clients with confidence and do great work. Whether she’s challenging common assumptions (“Do you need a blog to become a freelance writer?”) or explaining copywriting concepts, Marston’s advice is anything but generic.

45. Warrior Writers

Kristen Lamb is an author and coach who helps writers connect with their readers. She shares advice on topics like writing craft, building a following on social media, navigating the publishing process and making a living as a writer.

Post you’ll like: 5 Mistakes Killing Self-Published Authors

Freelance writing

46. About Freelance Writing 

If you’re serious about making a living as a writer, this site will give you the information and resources you need. You’ll find a wealth of original articles about being a writer, marketing your craft, and the business of writing archives. The site has been around for more than a decade, and writers keep going back.

47. Envato Studio and Tuts+

Previously known as Freelance Switch, the Envato Studio and Tuts+ websites offer the same excellent content and resources for freelance writers, designers and developers. Their in-depth archives are a gold mine for anything freelancing-related, so you’re sure to find the solution to any problem you face.

Post you’ll like: 5 Secrets to Freelancing Around Your Day Job

48. Funds for Writers 

If you’re serious about making a living as a freelance writer, you’ll be excited about C. Hope Clark’s goldmine of resources. She offers information on upcoming contests, freelance writing jobs, connections to publishers, and everything else you need to make money as a writer. Her most popular offering is her newsletter.

49. Freelancers Union

Freelancers are also business owners who worry about things like contracts, health insurance, saving for retirement and following up with clients who owe us money. Founded by Sara Horowitz in 2003, the Freelancers Union gives you access to a highly active community, valuable blog articles and local resource connections to tackle each of these challenges. 

50. Leaving Work Behind

While Leaving Work Behind has evolved over the past year,Tom Ewer’s blog still aims to help anyone interested in quitting the day job to build an online business. His honest, I’ve-been-there advice is specifically helpful for freelance bloggers, and the site boasts a tight-knit community. LWB is the place to be if you want to  make money as a freelancer.

Post you’ll like: 15 Actionable Tips for Revamping Your Freelancer Website and Attracting More Clients

51. LittleZotz Writing

Freelance writer Lauren Tharp offers an impressive spread of resources for anyone looking to build a writing business. Her blog’s weekly posts, newsletters and two free ebooks help writers hone their skills, find clients and earn money from their work.

Post you’ll like: What to Do When Writing Keeps You From Writing

52. Make a Living Writing 

Carol Tice is a successful freelance writer, and she shares her breadth of experience and knowledge on her blog. She suggests smart changes that will help you move beyond low-paying gigs and actually make a living from freelance writing. Carol also oversees the popular Freelance Writers Den community.

Post you’ll like: How I Made 6 Figures as a Freelance Writer

53. My Freelance Life 

Williesha Morris discusses her entrepreneurial journey on My Freelance Life, helping other freelancers manage their worries and achieve financial success. She approaches freelance writing from a unique and captivating angle, while offering practical ideas.

Post you’ll like: 12 Business and Blogging Lessons from My First Year

54. Productive Writers

John Soares has been a full-time freelance writer since 1994. On Productive Writers, he shares ideas for freelance writers about working  smarter, not harder — and landed higher-paying gigs. He focuses on earning a living without working around the clock. 

Post you’ll like: When and How a Freelance Writer Should Hire Help

55. Scratch

Created by Jane Friedman and Manjula Martin, Scratch is a digital magazine for writers that features in-depth interviews, personal stories from other writers and ways to make a living as a writer. While much of the content is behind a paywall, its “Who Pays Writers?” resource, which is crowd-sourced from freelancers, is incredibly helpful for figuring out what you might earn from various publications.

Post you’ll like: Who Pays Writers?

56. The Freelancer

Contently’s goal with The Freelancer is to help freelancers navigate what can be a confusing business. While it’s not solely focused on writing — photographers, designers and other freelancers will also value this information — the advice on negotiating rates, managing contracts and pitching clients is practical and actionable. Check out the weekly “Ask a Freelancer” column for answers to common questions, and the new Freelance Rates Database for pay information from various publications.

Post you’ll like: Ask a Freelancer: How Do I Negotiate Higher Rates?

57. The International Freelancer

Living outside the U.S. sometimes means managing your freelance career differently than a stateside writer. Mridu Khullar Relph shares tips and strategies learned from her years of experience as a full-time journalist based in London, U.K., and New Delhi, India, making her blog an attractive destination for international writers.

Post you’ll like: 4 Things You Must Do When Your Ideas Don’t Sell

58. The Middle Finger Project

Whether you like it or not, you’ll eventually have to deal with the business side of writing, and The Middle Finger Project is hell-bent on helping you. While creator Ash Ambirge originally focused on creative copywriting and marketing, the site has branched out to include tips for dealing with tough clients and getting paid what you deserve. At times the advice is NSFW (not safe for work), but it’s also fresh, entertaining and motivating. 

Post you’ll like: Dear Friends: I Work From Home (And Yes It’s a Real Job)

59. The Renegade Writer

Linda Formichelli is a freelance writer who earns a living on her own terms. She’s written for publications like Inc., Redbook and Writer’s Digest and makes “a full-time income working part-time hours.” Her blog focuses on building a writing business that works for you, breaking the rules and overcoming your freelancing fears.

Post you’ll like: Are You Missing Out On This Vital Freelancing Skill?

60. Writers in Charge

If you’re ready to start a career as a freelance writer, Writers in Charge is the site for you. Creator Bamidele Onibalusi shares resources to help you take control of your income, make more money and successfully navigate the freelance world.

Post you’ll like: 110 Websites that Pay You to Contribute an Article, Instantly

61. Writing Thoughts

Freelance writer Laura Spencer doesn’t update her blog often, but each post offers gems of inspiration and information. With more than 24 years of writing experience — 13 of them as a freelancer — she shares proven advice on running a freelance business, soliciting feedback and working with clients.

Post you’ll like: 21 Hard Decisions Freelance Writers Face

Literary Agents

62. Bent on Books

The Bent Agency looks to turn new and aspiring authors into bestsellers. If you’re interested in traditional publishing, Jenny Bent’s blog could help you launch your publishing career and turn your dream of being a published author into reality.

Post you’ll like: The 7 “Be”-Attitudes of Finding Your Agent

63. Guide to Literary Agents (Writer’s Digest)

One of the biggest blogs on publishing, Chuck Sambuchino’s Guide to Literary Agents blog is a must-read if you’re looking to land a literary agent to represent your new book. The site features posts by guest authors, including industry professionals and literary agents. It also includes resources on queries, book marketing, creating an author platform and more.

Post you’ll like: How I Got My Literary Agent (Series)

64. Literary Rambles

Created in 2008 by Casey McCormick and Natalie Aguirre, Literary Rambles covers topics related to children’s books, literary agents and publishing. The interviews and comprehensive profiles of industry experts give writers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to write a novel and become a published author.

Post you’ll like: The Key to Building an Audience, Selling More Books and Finding Success as an Author

65. Nathan Bransford, Author

As a published author and former literary agent, Nathan Bransford gives readers an insider’s look into what literary agents do, how to go about finding one, and tips for writing a good query letter. Whether you’re a newbie author or an experienced veteran, you’re sure to learn something new about the publishing industry. 

Post you’ll like: How to Write a Query Letter

66. Rachelle Gardner

Rachelle Gardner’s blog is one of the most popular literary agent resources for a reason: she’s passionate about working with writers and stays updated on what’s happening on both sides of the desk. You’ll find advice about partnering with an agent who’s a good fit for you, what to include in your book proposal, writing a query letter, how book royalties work and more.

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Marketing for writers

67. Mirasee

Running a successful writing career means embracing the business and marketing side of being a writer. With the help of Danny Iny’s site, you’ll tackle both with ease. His fantastic resources for guest blogging, advertising, SEO, branding, marketing and more are sure to give you an edge up when it comes to making sales. 

Post you’ll like: 5 Proven Strategies to Encourage Clients to Pay More for Your Services (and Love It)

68. Jessica Lawlor 

Public relations professional and freelance writer Jessica Lawlor is all about getting gutsy: stepping outside your comfort zone to reach your goals and live a life that makes you truly happy. As the founder of the Get Gutsy blog and community, Jessica’s website and newsletter are filled with inspiration, ideas and action items to help you #GetGutsy and step outside your comfort zone.

Post you’ll like: The 5 Things I Know For Sure About What It Means To Get Gutsy

69. Kikolani 

Kristi Hines is a blogging powerhouse, and her site documents her marketing strategies, guest blogging methods and social media tips for writers and professional bloggers. She also discusses the best digital tools for publishing, productivity and content marketing. 

70. Michael Hyatt

Marketing expert Michael Hyatt shares advice on everything from blogging to publishing, and his goal is “to help leaders leverage their influence” by managing their platforms. Read his blog for advice on productivity, goal setting, social media and traditional publishing.

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71. Social Triggers

Derek Halpern mixes psychology and social behavior to develop marketing and pricing ideas that will knock your socks off. His no-nonsense attitude will go a long way toward helping you make more sales, price products based on value and become a profitable freelancer.

Post you’ll like: Struggling to Make More Sales? Follow These Two Simple Steps

72. The Story of Telling

Marketing does not come easily for many writers, but selling your work is all part of making a living as a writer. Bernadette Jiwa is a bestselling business author who shares how to create meaningful work, embrace marketing and tell your best story.

Post you’ll like: Value Creation and Stories to Believe In

73. Writing Happiness

To sell books, novels and products, you have to build a readership of loyal followers, and that’s where Marya comes in. She’s in her fourth year of business and shares her personal experiences, tips and ideas for gaining blog subscribers who become buyers. 

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Publishing

74. A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing

Author Joe Konrath has published 24 novels and sold millions of books, giving him the experience to create a must-read blog. If you write mysteries, thrillers, horror or sci-fi, you’ll find a ton of helpful advice for writing, editing and publishing your novel.

Post you’ll like: Agents Behaving Badly

75. Better Novel Project 

Have you ever wanted to deconstruct a popular novel to learn how authors create bestsellers? Christine Frazier explores common elements in popular novels, draws conclusions from her findings and creates a master outline for a “better novel.” She offers insights on plot analysis, creating excitement in your novels, word counts and character development.

Post you’ll like: 6 Writing Rules That Even Bestselling Authors Break

76. Blots & Plots

Jenny Bravo, founder of Blots & Plots, focuses on writers and their stories. Through her personal anecdotes and writing advice, you’ll find encouraging ways to bring your story to life and publish your work. Readers love her #TATM series (These Are The Moments), where she details the journey of writing her novel. 

Post you’ll like: How to Write a Novel With a Dual Timeline

77. Dean Wesley Smith 

A professional writer for more than 40 years, Dean Wesley Smith has published independently and traditionally. In addition to the valuable editing, craft and productivity advice in his blog posts, make sure to read the comments — they often offer even more helpful information.

Post you’ll like: New World of Publishing: Failure Must Be an Option

78. Diversity in YA

Authors Malinda Lo and Cindy Pon founded Diversity in YA to celebrate young adult books about diverse characters and subject matter and “to bring attention to books and authors that might fall outside the mainstream.” Read their posts for conversational, nuanced takes on diversity in the publishing industry.

Post you’ll like: Representing Diversity on 2014 YA Book Covers

79. Goins, Writer

Author Jeff Goins has written and published multiple books, and he’s on a mission to help writers tell better stories. Along with building his career as a successful writer, he’s established a community that helps answer questions like “What does it really take to get published?” and “How do successful writers make a living?” His free 31-day writing challenge is also popular.

Post you’ll like: How to Get People to Care About What You Create

80. Helping Writers Become Authors

K.M. Weiland’s site features hundreds of posts about writing, publishing, marketing and other fiction-related topics. If you need help crafting a captivating story, exploring the psychology behind the inspiration, and following through till publication, this site is for you.

Post you’ll like: What’s the Difference Between Your Story’s Theme and Its Message?

81. How to Plan, Write and Develop a Book

Mary Carroll Moore shares weekly tips and techniques on how to structure, create, write and sell your first manuscript — whether it’s a novel, memoir or nonfiction book. She also offers writing classes to help writers hone their craft and navigate the publishing process. 

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82. Indies Unlimited

Created to help independent authors write, publish and promote their work, Indies Unlimited is run by a team of writers and publishing industry professionals. With a nearly overwhelming number of posts, tutorials, lists of low-cost books and writing prompts, there’s lots for writers to explore.

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83. Jane Friedman 

With more than 15 years of experience in publishing, including work with Writer’s Digest, Jane Friedman focuses on moving from writing as a hobby into creating a full-fledged digital publishing career. She shares tips on storytelling, writing techniques and finding your creative inspiration.

Post you’ll like: How to Get Your Book Published

84. Lisa Romeo Writes 

While many TWL readers highlighted the wonderful Friday Fridge Clean Out features, Lisa Romeo also shares posts, interviews and writerly opinion pieces. She writes candidly about what it means to be a writer, from submissions and editing to getting published and dealing with rejection.

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85. Live Write Thrive

Author and editor C.S. Lakin’s blog provides valuable writing tips and editing advice for fiction writers. In addition to focusing on the craft of writing, Live Write Thrive helps writers with their publishing and marketing strategy. If you’re writing a novel in 2015, be sure to check out this site.

Post you’ll like: 15 Tips for Aspiring Writers from 5 Successful Authors

86. Novel Publicity 

Regardless of whether you choose traditional or self-publishing, the Novel Publicity team’s blog offers helpful advice on craft, marketing and publishing. With posts offering writing tips, social media strategy, publishing techniques and more, you’re sure to learn something new each time you visit.

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87. Pub(lishing) Crawl

Run by a group of authors and publishing industry professionals, this site shares advice on writing craft, publishing and marketing, as well as interviews with authors, illustrators and literary agents. The popular “Question of the Month” series is fun to follow as well.

Post you’ll like: Writing Out of Order

88. Steve Scott’s Site

If you want practical ideas on how to sell your books on Amazon and make a living from your writing, you need to read Steve Scott’s blog. The successful Amazon Kindle publisher offers proven strategies and case studies of his publishing experiments to help other writers learn from his efforts. You’ll appreciate his transparent analysis and income reporting for the real numbers and results he shares. 

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89. Terribleminds

Although NSFW (not safe for work), Chuck Wendig’s blog is spot-on and funny. He writes about what it really means to be a writer, author and storyteller, without bothering to be politically correct. Having published both traditionally and on his own, he offers interesting, nuanced comments on publishing industry trends and debates.

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90. The Book Deal 

Alan Rinzler has worked in traditional publishing for more than 40 years. His blog is an in-depth look at how to write an attention-getting book proposal, land a literary agent, market your book and otherwise succeed in traditional publishing.

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91. The Book Designer

With a background in book design, advertising and layout, Joel Friedlander shares guidance on how to make sure your book looks its best. He touches upon marketing and writing, but readers flock for his advice on cover design and self-publishing, which is detailed and authoritative. Check out his Ebook Cover Design Awards for inspiration for your next ebook cover.

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92. The Passive Voice

Stay up-to-date on the latest happenings in self- and indie publishing from the perspective of a lawyer who specializes in these topics. Before diving into the world of being a published author, David Vandagriff (aka Passive Guy) will help you arm yourself with the information you’ll need to succeed. 

93. The Review Review

If you’re interested in literary magazines, check out The Review Review. It assists writers to better target their submissions to literary magazines by interviewing representatives and analyzing past issues of various publications. The site also offers a classifieds section of magazines looking for submissions. 

94. Warner Coaching

Brooke Warner, a publisher and author, is dedicated to demystifying the business of book publishing. She works to give writers the confidence and information they need to publish well and self-promote with confidence. 

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Writing Communities

95. A Writer’s Bucket List 

A Writer’s Bucket List is a place for writers who think outside the box, have a sense of humor and enjoy connecting with quirky, like-minded peers. Created by author Dana Sitar, the site features articles from writers in the community, as well as experts who share topics on blogging, freelancing and storytelling. 

Post you’ll like: Be Picky, Get Paid to Promote Yourself, and Build Your Dream Career

96. Fantasy Faction

Fantasy Faction’s discussion forums are invaluable for inspiration and discussion of every aspect of good fantasy writing. They also feature interviews and industry news for fantasy fans.

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97. Kboards

Kboards is a site devoted to all things Kindle and has become a powerhouse community for Kindle authors and publishers. This all-inclusive site will keep you updated on the latest Amazon Kindle news, KDP changes and how you can make a living selling ebooks.

98. She Writes

Founded by author Kamy Wicoff, She Writes is a community for people who write — yes, men are welcome! With more than 20,000 active members from around the world, you’re bound to find interesting discussions of writing craft, marketing strategies, publishing advice and more.

99. Wattpad 

Wattpad is a community of more than 35 million users writing, reading and sharing stories — all for free. Want to share a short story that’s tangential to your novel? Or tempt readers with an excerpt from your upcoming book? This might be the platform for you.

100. Writer’s Carnival

Writer’s Carnival draws many novelists wanting to receive useful critiques through prompts and challenges. Explore poetry, flash fiction, short stories and writing contests in this community for writers.

Which sites do you regularly read and find helpful as a writer? Are there any other sites you think should be on this list?

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Writing Spaces: Where 9 Famous Creatives Do Their Best Work https://thewritelife.com/writing-spaces-9-famous-creatives-best-work/ Fri, 26 Sep 2014 10:00:00 +0000 http://thewritelife.com/?p=3635 Where’s your favorite place to write?

Does your writing space help you be productive and stay organized?

If you need some inspiration, check out the writing spaces and environments of these famous artists, writers and storytellers.

1. E.B. White, author

Sometimes all you need is a comfortable desk with a view of the outdoors for inspiration. (Ideally, near a farm with plenty of interesting animals, including a few spiders.)

Image: e.b. White

Image credit

2. Jane Austen, author

This table may be tiny, but it supported the creation of her later works, including Emma, Persuasion, and a revision of Pride and Prejudice.

Image: Jane Austen

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3. Mark Twain, author

When you’re struggling to write, sometimes taking a break can help get your creative juices flowing. Perhaps a game of pool would inspire some ideas?

Image: Mark Twain

famouscreatives

4. Nigella Lawson, chef and food writer

When you’re looking for inspiration, having all your favorite books within arm’s reach certainly can’t hurt.

Image: Nigella Lawson

5. Steve Jobs, inventor

Jobs was well-known minimalist. He described one home by saying, “All you needed was a cup of tea, a light, and your stereo.”

Image: Steve Jobs

6. Virginia Woolf, author

This simple desk and chair overlooking the outdoors were ideal for writing, at least in the summer. Woolf noted that this converted toolshed was so cold in the winter that she couldn’t hold a pen!

Image: Virgina Woolf's Desk

7. Tina Fey, author and comedian

Were you wondering about the workspace that may have inspired 30 Rock, Mean Girls or Bossypants?

Image: Tina Fey

8. Chip Kidd, book cover designer

Many artists find their creative inspiration in other books, authors and stories.

Image: Chip Kidd

9. George Bernard Shaw, playwright

Keep it simple with a typewriter, a clean white desk and a small window in a private place. That last one was key for Shaw, who once confessed, “People bother me. I came here to hide from them.”

Image: George Bernard Shaw

What’s your favorite place to write?

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How to Invoice International Clients Without Paying Tons of Fees https://thewritelife.com/invoice-international-clients/ Mon, 24 Feb 2014 10:00:00 +0000 http://thewritelife.com/?p=2186 A lot of people now do freelance work for overseas clients, or they’re traveling entrepreneurs who don’t have a permanent home base. This luxury is one of the great things about working digitally because you can connect with clients and customers all over the world.

However, there’s one huge downside to sending invoices from different countries and receiving payment in different currencies: the fees that eat into your profits.

So how can you stop paying a ton of fees for international payments?

The best payment methods for overseas transactions

When you’re being paid online for international services, you have to understand that you’re going to pay extra fees, in comparison to working with a local client. With that being said, there are still ways to keep more of your hard-earned money.

PayPal

If you’re in the U.S. and being paid through an online service like PayPal, you’re likely to pay 3-4% of the total transaction. If you live outside the U.S. the fees vary according to your country, with a fee of 0.5-4% based on the type of payment method used. Invoices paid with a bank account or PayPal balance have a much smaller fee, versus payments made with credit or debit cards.

There is an additional fee to withdraw any amount under $150, and you’ll still have to pay currency conversion charges. Even so, PayPal is also the most commonly known and accepted form of payment.

If you’re dealing with North American clients, PayPal is usually the best way to go,” says Sarah Li Cain, who currently works as a freelancer in China. “Everyone has a PayPal account, and they are able to navigate it in English.”

Wire Transfers

Many overseas clients may prefer wire transfers. Send them an invoice as usual, then include your account number as well as your bank’s info in the “note to recipient” box at the bottom.

Keep in mind that your client may have to pay fees to process a wire transfer. “You could take on the fee (instead of the client), and figure out your rate that includes this fee,” suggests Sarah.

internationalclients

Invoicing Services

Invoicing services such as Freshbooks or Harvest are a great alternative. Many are free to domestic (and some international) users, and can connect with a variety of payment gateways for different countries.

Additionally, you can easily track different currencies by changing the desired currency directly on your invoice. This allows you to create an invoice in a currency that’s different from your default.

It gets a bit more complicated for overseas freelancers, as some invoicing services don’t cater to them, but there are some that are specific to a certain nation (like Alipay in China).

International Bank Accounts

If you’re processing a lot of payments, specifically as a Canadian or American freelancer, you could look into setting up an international bank account. (Important consideration: you may need a tax number or resident permit for the nation you’re living in).

Using an international account circumvents many of the fees that come with wire transfers, allowing you to receive direct deposits quickly and easily. “This is helpful for both you and the client, especially if they aren’t comfortable using anything outside of PayPal,” suggests Sarah.

Some international freelancers have multiple accounts in different currencies so they can transfer funds between their accounts for free, and have the ability to use local ATMs at no cost. Instead of paying a conversion fee immediately, keep the money in your international account, either for future expenditures in that currency or until there’s a more favorable exchange rate. (Click to tweet this idea.)

For example, if you live in Canada and have an American client who pays you via Paypal in USD, try transferring those funds to a USD bank account without paying currency conversion charges — though it must be at a U.S.-based bank. Don’t want to cross the border? There are still some options.

The best currency for your invoices

The best currency to invoice your clients in is the one you discussed with them prior to starting work.

That being said, the most widely accepted currency is U.S. dollars. Most, if not all businesses use U.S. dollars for international transactions, so it’s best to stick with invoicing clients in this currency.

Escrow services and bidding sites

If you want to guarantee payment, you could invite clients to a bidding site with escrow service. Sites like PeoplePerHour require payment upfront in an escrow account, and you won’t get charged a service fee, no matter what type of currency they use.

Another option is a site like Upwork, where they knock $10 USD off payment fees. Of course with escrow services and bidding sites, you’ll pay a commission to find work through their services, but it might work out cheaper than paying a big transaction fee.

Invoicing fees are tax-deductible

As tough as it is to pay a fee to receive the funds you worked so hard for, at least these costs are tax-deductible.

Any bank fees, PayPal charges or other invoicing expenses you pay on behalf of business transactions are considered qualified expenses. And since they are a part of running a business, you can write them off at the end of the year. At least there’s a silver lining!

Your turn: how do you invoice your international clients? International freelancers, how do you manage working for American clients?

This post contains affiliate links. That means if you purchase through our links, you’re supporting The Write Life — and we thank you for that!

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The 15 Best Twitter Lists for Writers https://thewritelife.com/the-15-best-twitter-lists-for-writers/ Tue, 21 Jan 2014 10:00:00 +0000 http://thewritelife.com/?p=1974 Twitter is an awesome tool for sharing and promoting your work as well as connecting with your community of readers. However, it’s equally important to meet others in your industry and build a resource of contacts for support and encouragement.

Thanks to the ease of using Twitter and the instant accessibility of its users, it’s one of the best places to turn to in order to accomplish this level of connection. But with up to 60,000 tweets shared everyday, it can be hard to cut through the chatter and find what you need. This is where Twitter lists come in.

What’s a Twitter List?

In case you don’t already know, a Twitter list is a great feature that allows you to group together certain types of people, authors or businesses you want to connect with. You can also subscribe to other people’s Twitter lists if you don’t want to create your own.

Below are the best Twitter lists for writers looking to hone their craft, expand their knowledge of self-publishing or generally connect with like-minded creatives.

1. Jane Friedman’s Best Tweets for Writers

A focused list of people who tweet articles and information helpful to writers.

2. John Kremer’s People Worth Following

A Twitter list that not only includes influential people, but also authors and writers connected to the book world.

3. Joel Friedlander’s Self-Publishing List

A great list of self-publishing resources, tips and tricks from other self-published authors.

4. Galley Cat’s Best Book Reviews

Get access to book reviews by readers and authors from one of the best book review sites around.

5. Gail Baugniet’s Bloggers of Book Topics

A complete list of writers, bloggers and authors who share links to books they’ve read, written or published.

6. Julie Isaac’s Writing Faves

Find everything from writing inspiration, to the latest news and happenings in the writing world.

7. Rachel Jameson’s Writing Tips

Follow some of the best writers in the industry as they tweet their best tips and tricks on topics like self-publishing, fictional novels and more.

8. Melissa Foster’s Book Promos List

As author of multiple books, Melissa knows a thing or two about promoting a new book, as does everyone on this list.

9. Mike Stelzner’s Copywriting Gurus

An exclusive list of well-known freelance writers and business copywriters who’ve built successful businesses.

10. Srinivas Rao’s Book of Publishers

If you want to connect with a publisher, here’s a list of some of the best ones in the industry.

11. Courtenay Bird’s Digital and Social Media List

If you’re looking for ideas or inspiration, this list includes some fantastic content and opinions from Twitter influencers.

12. Joanna Penn’s UK Bloggers and Writers

Use this list to connect with editors, authors and publishers from all over the world.

13. The Write Life’s Writing Associations

If you’re looking for a writing association to connect with, check out our very own list of influential organizations.

14. Kathryn Vercillo’s Writing, Writers List

Reach some of the best writers, authors and bloggers in the online writing world.

15. Nick Thacker’s Writers List

A complete list of resources for self-publishing, marketing and building your writing platform.

What are some of your favorite Twitter lists for writers? Share them with us in the comments!

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The Write Life Presents: The 100 Best Websites for Writers in 2014 https://thewritelife.com/100-best-websites-for-writers-2014/ Tue, 14 Jan 2014 10:00:00 +0000 http://thewritelife.com/?p=2191 Editor’s note: Looking for our most updated list of best writing websites? Here’s our list for 2021.

Is becoming a better writer your top priority this year?

Maybe you want to earn more money as a freelancer. Or land a literary agent for your book. Or figure out how to take your marketing game up a notch. Or breathe new life into your draft of a novel.

Whatever your goals for 2014, we’ve got you covered. We’ve broken our list of 100 Best Websites for Writers into 11 categories: blogging, business and career, copywriting, creativity and craft, freelancing, literary agents, marketing, publishing, travel writing, writing advice and writing communities. They’re in alphabetical order, but we’ve added numbers to make the list easier to read.

Want to start your own website or blog after browsing this list? Here’s our step-by-step guide.

Best blogging websites for writers

1. Be a Freelance Blogger

Be a Freelance Blogger teaches writers how to make real money blogging for hire. Sophie Lizard offers paid guest posting opportunities, fun group mentoring sessions and a range of useful free resources. There’s also The Freelance Blogger’s Client Hunting Masterclass for bloggers who want to win higher-paying clients.

Post you’ll like: Why You Should Step the F*ck Up to Be a Freelance Blogger

2. Boost Blog Traffic

In the big pond that is the blogosphere, it can be frustrating for the articulate yet unnoticed small fish to make a name for themselves. At Boost Blog Traffic, Jon Morrow teaches you to create a quality blog that attracts the level of traffic you’re looking for.

Editors note: This site now redirects to Smart Blogger.

3. Penelope Trunk

Even if Penelope’s out-there advice isn’t immediately applicable to your career or life, study her style as a stellar example of how to grow a blog community. Penelope’s mix of professional and (sometimes too much) personal has worked in her favor, earning her thousands of fans.

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4. Problogger

Problogger is the go-to resource for… you guessed it…bloggers. In addition to its comprehensive archive of posts on growing a successful blog, Darren Rowse’s site offers a job board that’s worth browsing if you’re looking for a few freelance blogging gigs.

Post you’ll like: 2014 Reboot: Get Ready for the New Year With a Blog Overhaul

5. Smart Passive Income

Smart Passive Income is a blog started by Pat Flynn, a former architect who now publicly builds online businesses and shares everything that goes right and wrong along the way. He writes with honesty, transparency and experience behind his words.

Best Business and Career websites for writers

6. Advanced Riskology

No one wants to look back on their life and ask, “what if?” Tyler Tervooren’s Advanced Riskology is about abandoning the familiar script the majority of society lives by and taking a more rewarding and meaningful path as a freelancer.

Post you’ll like: 99 Quotes About Risk to Inspire You to Great Things

7. Alexis Grant

It’s essential for writers to balance creativity with practicality, because we all know the bills have to get paid. Alexis Grant shares her perspective on the new world of work and offers strategies for creating alternative careers that fit well into your life.

Post you’ll like: One Small Way to Invest In Yourself and Your Business That Will Yield Big Results

8. Create as Folk

Laura Simms’ Create as Folk is a home base for purpose-driven people. She helps readers explore meaning, money, identity, contribution, and self-expression in the quest for a career that feels like home.

Editors note: This website is no longer about this topic.

9. Jessica Lawlor

Public relations professional and freelance writer Jessica Lawlor is all about getting gutsy: stepping outside your comfort zone to live a more fulfilling life. Jessica’s blog and newsletter are filled with inspiration, ideas and action items to help you #GetGutsy, pursue your passions and achieve your goals.

Post you’ll like: Get Gutsy: Celebrating One Year of Life Outside My Comfort Zone

10. Live Your Legend

Believe it or not, you can make a living doing work you love! Scott Dinsmore wants you to make a career out of the thing you are most passionate about, thereby improving the world with innovation and a better attitude.

Editors note: This website is not https compliant so we have removed the hyperlink.

11. Microlancer

Developed from what was once Collis Ta’eed’s Freelance Switch, this site helps freelancers and digital creatives find jobs and paying gigs in seven easy steps. Every Microlancer is connected to the perfect client, job and project so you can stand out from the crowd of other freelancers.

Editors note: This website no longer exists.

12. Paid to Exist

Doing what you love and getting paid don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Jonathan Mead’s Paid to Exist is about eliminating the gap between the two and living your dreams.

Post you’ll like: What to Do When You Fall Out of Love With Your Work

13. Productive Flourishing

Productive Flourishing is one of the top websites for planning and productivity for professional creatives, writers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. Founder Charlie Gilkey is a sought-after speaker and advisor on small business growth and strategy and a recently self-published author of the Amazon.com best-selling book, The Small Business Lifecycle: A Guide for Taking the Right Steps at the Right Time.

Post you’ll like: Use the Two Hour Rule to Make Progress on Your Creative Projects

14. Seth Godin

Seth’s aha moments about business and life will have you scrambling to, as he says, “make something happen.” He’ll help you think differently about how to be productive, what really matters in life and the best ways to reach your readers.

15. Steph Gordon

Steph Gordon’s site is a mecca for side hustlers, those building their dream business on the side of their day job. A mix of straightforward expert business how-to, from-the-trenches wisdom and a dash of sass create a blog you need to read if your dream business isn’t your full-time gig just yet.

Editors note: This website no longer exists.

Best Copywriting websites for writers

16. AmpAndPivot

No filter, no apologies—that’s the AmpAndPivot rally cry. Jules Taggart, founder of AmpAndPivot, has started a BLAH Rebellion, one that begins with compelling copy. She shows entrepreneurs and small business owners how to tell their stories in bold and unforgettable ways. ¡Viva la Revolucíon!

17. Live Write Thrive

Created by author and editor C.S. Lakin, Live Write Thrive is dedicated to providing practical writing craft advice, editing tips and deep instruction to aspiring and established writers who are “writing for life.” In addition to focusing on the craft of writing, Live Write Thrive examines publishing trends and gives advice on marketing, promotion and indie publishing.

Post you’ll like: Creative Mind Mapping for Novelists

18. Men with Pens

Men with Pens has well over 1,000 articles geared to help writers with content-marketing, freelancing and small business endeavors. The blog, founded by web designer and copywriter James Chartrand, has more than 50,000 readers.

Editors note: This website no longer exists.

19. Sterling Editing

Kelley Eskridge and Nicola Griffith, the Sterling Editing team, share weekly roundups of writing links from around the internet. Their blog combines advice on writing craft and publishing trends with a healthy dose of literary humor.

Editors note: This website no longer exists.

20. The Copy Bot

Demian Farnworth teaches people how to write clear, concise and compelling copy through this blog and for Copyblogger Media. His goal is to create writing that is equally irresistible to search engines and readers.

Editors note: This website no longer exists.

21. The Middle Finger Project

The Middle Finger Project is hell-bent on teaching writers to do business and life differently while having way more fun than the neighbors. See also: creative marketing ideas, sarcasm and copywriting advice delivered on a silver platter (alongside a glass of bourbon—neat), so you can get more clients, make more money and do this one life right.

Post you’ll like: 3 (Top Secret Ultra James Bond) Ways to Add More Personality to Your Writing

22. The Writing Whisperer

Are you trying to find your voice as a writer? This site will help you do just that, while cultivating your personal writing style. With the help of M. Shannon Hernandez, the Writing Whisperer, you’ll blend your words with your love of writing to create a masterpiece.

Editors note: This site now redirects to Joyful Business Revolution.

23. Writing Happiness

If you want to get more clients and customers with your blogging, it might be time to revamp your copywriting strategy. With help from Marya Jan’s blog, you can attract the right kind of traffic and turn leads into revenue.

Editors note: This website no longer exists.

Best Creativity and Craft websites for writers

24. Aliventures

Whether you write novels, non-fiction or another genre, Ali Luke’s site offers practical advice for overcoming obstacles. She covers topics like how to be more productive, tips for finishing your projects, and even shares some behind-the-scenes details of her own life as a writer.

Post you’ll like: The Four Stages of Writing

25. Brain Pickings

At Brain Pickings, Maria Popova discusses the combinational force of creativity, the combination and recombination of ideas. She compares it to building with LEGOs—the more blocks, the more interesting the creations.

Editors note: This site now redirects to The Marginalian.

26. Dani Shapiro

When it comes to blogs about writing, Dani’s blog is a breath of fresh air. This memoir author doesn’t publish on her blog as often as we’d like, but when she does, her literary voice and her insight—often about life—is beautiful. Stop here for creative inspiration.

Post you’ll like: On Vulnerability

27. Grammar Girl

Grammar Girl, created by Mignon Fogarty, is a writer’s best friend. Each episode is a fun guide into the world of grammar, punctuation, usage and fun developments in the English language.

28. Inky Girl

Inky Girl is a blog geared toward those who write and illustrate for young people, written by children’s book writer and illustrator Debbie Ridpath Ohi. Content includes interviews with industry professionals, comics, publishing industry news and advice.

Editors note: This website is not https compliant so we have removed the hyperlink.

29. It Starts With

While we all have ideas, dreams and goals, many of us have a difficult time executing them. Sarah Peck combines her background in psychology with lessons on how to turn small actions into huge results!

Editors note: This website no longer exists.

30. Marianne Elliott

Marianne believes writing can be a potent form of social action, and stories help us not only see the world in new ways, but also build the world we want to live in. She shares her own stories and others she gathers, and teaches on the courage, compassion and curiosity it takes to work with stories.

Editors note: This website no longer exists.

31. Mystery Writing is Murder

If you’re looking for motivation to keep writing, this is the blog for you. Elizabeth Spann Craig covers all aspects of writing and the writing life, including character development, productivity and social media.

Post you’ll like: Tips for Writing in Short Blocks of Time

32. PickTheBrain

Led by Erin Falconer, PickTheBrain is one of the leading self-development sites. With more than 400 guest bloggers from around the world, PTB creates a global voice on all things productivity, confidence, creativity, motivation and more.

Post you’ll like: 3 Ways Your Comfort Zone is Restricting Your Life

33. Positive Writer

Created by Bryan Hutchinson, Positive Writer is for writers and all creatives who struggle from time-to-time with confidence and trust in their ability to create art that matters. Bryan writes positive reinforcement articles that help fellow artists start and finish work they’re proud of by avoiding the never-ending, never-winning goal of “perfection.”

Post you’ll like: How to Unlock Your Creativity and Stop Feeling Like a Failure

34. E Napoletano

If you feel stuck with your writing, you need the Redhead Writing blog. E Napoletano is blunt, brazen and badass, but also hilarious! This site gives a much-needed reprieve from any ordinary writer’s block.

35. Romance University

Romance University is a group blog dedicated to helping writers advance their careers, introducing readers to a variety of authors and delving into the ever-inscrutable male mind. Join them for free lectures on writing romance in any genre.

Editors note: This website no longer exists.

36. Story Bistro

Story Bistro is another site by The Word Chef Tea Silvestra, whose mission is to help solo biz owners listen more deeply to their audiences, tell better stories and build stronger businesses. She publishes blog posts with concrete advice on storytelling of all kinds.

37. The Artist’s Road

The Artist’s Road is an ongoing conversation regarding the challenges and rewards of pursuing an art-committed life. As a professional storyteller who brings readers insights gathered on creativity and writing, Patrick Ross includes lessons from all types of creatives through video interviews.

Editors note: This website is no longer public.

38. The Other Side of the Story

Author Janice Hardy’s blog is dedicated to helping writers improve their craft through in-depth study of writing, focusing on how to use a “rule” as well as why the rule exists in the first place. She doesn’t just say to “show, don’t tell,” she explains how. She also offers examples and practical tips you can apply directly to your work-in-progress and see immediate results.

Editors note: This website no longer exists.

39. The Story of Telling

Bernadette Jiwa is a bestselling business author and speaker. She writes about how to reinvent your business and rethink your marketing by embracing your customer’s worldview to help you tell a better brand story.

Post you’ll like: Doing Work That Matters

40. The Writer and the Critic

The Writer and the Critic is a monthly podcast devoted to speculative fiction books, reviews and occasional gossip. Hosted by Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond, you’ll find a little bit of everything for your writing.

Post you’ll like: Everyday and The Woman Upstairs

41. YA Confidential

If you write for teens, this site is a must-read. The YA Confidential Operatives share everything you need to ensure your work appeals to young adults, from reviews of the newest YA fiction to undercover interviews with real teens.

Editors note: This blog no longer exists.

Best Freelancing websites for writers

42. Cordelia Calls It Quits

On this blog, Kelly Gurnett documents her attempts to rid her life of the things that don’t matter and focus more on the things that do. She shares her journey to launch her freelance business full time as a blogger extraordinaire.

Editors note: This website is no longer about this topic.

43. Freelance Folder

The life of an entrepreneur can be solitary, but Freelance Folder helps fix that. Join this community of writers, publishers, designers and artists, and learn how to improve your craft while collaborating with others.

44. Freelance Writers Academy

Freelance Writers Academy helps writers earn what they deserve with essential tools, resources and information that guides them in launching successful careers. They also provide encouraging support, in-depth business training and up-to-date employment resources in a fun and interactive membership community.

Editors note: This website no longer exists.

45. Freelancers Union

As a writer, you’re also an independent business owner. And with that responsibility comes the need to understand details like contracts, health insurance, saving for retirement, taxes and more. Founded by Sara Horowitz in 2003, the Freelancers Union gives you access to resources on these topics and much more.

46. International Freelancers Academy

Creating your own freelance writing business is all about connections, so you can bring in enough money to support you and your family. Ed Gandia and Pete Savage’s International Freelancers Academy provides training on these topics and a chance to work with other freelance writing experts, along with free weekly training videos.

Editors note: This website is no longer about this topic.

47. Leaving Work Behind

Tom Ewer’s Leaving Work Behind is a blog and community for anyone interested in quitting their job and living a better life. The site’s main focus is on making money through blogging and freelancing.

Editors note: This website no longer exists.

48. Little Zotz

Lauren Tharp is a freelance writer dedicated to helping other writers ease into the freelance lifestyle. Her website is a wealth of information, providing readers with weekly blog posts, video answers, newsletters and two highly-regarded free ebooks.

Post you’ll like: 16 Red Flags: Say NO to That Potential Client

49. Productive Writers

Productive Writers helps freelance writers get high-paying assignments and finish them quickly so they have more time for the rest of their lives. The site is run by John Soares, a full-time freelancer since 1994, and its motto says it all: Work Less, Earn More, Live More.

Post you’ll like: How to Write Faster: 12 Top Tips for Freelance Writers

50. Scratch Magazine

Scratch is a quarterly magazine for writers that focuses on intersection of writing and money. Created by former Writer’s Digest publisher Jane Friedman and freelance writer Manjula Martin, the site also features an ongoing collection of reports about magazines and websites and their pay rates called, “Who Pays Writers?”

Editors note: This website no longer exists.

51. The Freelance Pinoy

Stef Gonzaga’s site guides freelancers on how to get started, improve and succeed in their respective trades and industry. Whether you’re a writer or an illustrator, this is the place for expert advice, informative tips and actionable steps to help you run a successful freelancing career.

Editors note: This website is not https compliant so we have removed the hyperlink.

52. Tuts+ Business

On the new and improved site, formerly part of Freelance Switch, you can dig through the archives to find all kinds of resources for growing your business, marketing and dealing with clients. You’ll discover specific ideas and tips related to the business side of writing and freelancing.

Post you’ll like: How to Plan an eBook Series

53. Writers In Charge

Writers in Charge helps writers take charge of their careers and command the rates they deserve by delivering practical content. As a writer you should be the one calling the shots, and this site, created by Bamidele Onibalusi, helps equip you with the necessary skills to build a successful writing career.

Editors note: This website no longer exists.

Best literary agent websites for writers

54. The Bent Agency

Make your writing dream a reality with the help of The Bent Agency. From navigating contracts to marketing to cover design, Jenny Bent’s blog helps new and aspiring authors publish bestsellers with a personal touch.

55. Guide to Literary Agents (Writer’s Digest)

If you’re looking to land a literary agent to represent your book, this blog is a must-read. Run by Chuck Sambuchino, the blog features posts by guest authors who have real-world experience, including literary agents who are looking for new clients and authors who have successfully sold books. Watch for a series on “7 Things I’ve Learned So Far” and “How I Got My Agent.”

Post you’ll like: 7 Things I’ve Learned So Far

56. Literary Rambles

Literary Rambles spotlights children’s book authors through interviews and giveaways, and literary agents through comprehensive profiles. Casey McCormick and Natalie Aguirre give you an up-close-and-personal look at what it takes to write a novel, book or other literary work.

Editors note: This website no longer exists.

57. Miss Snark, Literary Agent

Anonymous literary agent Miss Snark vents her wrath on the world of writers, and although the author is no longer publishing new posts, this blog’s archives are pure gold. Many of the posts are replies to actual reader questions, so you’re likely to find the answer to yours.

Editors note: This website no longer exists.

58. Nathan Bransford, Author

Author and former literary agent Nathan Bransford blogs about every facet of the publishing process, from writing to finding agents to the latest publishing news. If you’re a newbie to the publishing world, or even a resident veteran, this site has everything you need.

Post you’ll like:  The Publishing Process in GIF Form

59. Rachelle Gardner

Rachelle’s blog is one of the most popular resources by a literary agent. She offers the inside scoop on traditional publishing, including advice about how to sign with an agent, what to include in your book proposal and how royalties work.

Post you’ll like: How to Get Published

Best marketing websites for writers

60. Mirasee

Danny Iny’s blog, Firepole Marketing, is devoted to helping non-marketers become expert marketers. Danny and his team believe that through connecting and engaging with your audience—whether they’re clients, customers or readers—you can inspire them to new heights.

Post you’ll like: Why Guru Strategies for Blog Growth Don’t Work…and What Does

61. Kikolani

At Kikolani, Kristi Hines covers content, search and social media marketing strategies for business and professional bloggers. Her strategies will help you learn how to successfully promote your blog and your brand.

Post you’ll like: 32 Experts Share their Best Blog Post Promotion Tips

62. Social Triggers

Writers often hate sales and marketing, but whether you go the traditional or self-publishing route, you’ll have to sell your books, your proposal or yourself. Derek Halpern uses his outgoing personality to make sales fun, and his suggestions will help you earn more money as a writer.

Post you’ll like: How to Tell People What You Do (and prove you’re good at it)

63. The Creative Penn

Indie author and marketing star Joanna Penn writes this blog for authors, writers and entrepreneurs. In addition to her self-publishing and platform-building advice, Joanna gives behind-the-scenes details about how she’s making a living as a full-time author entrepreneur.

Post you’ll like: Lessons Learned From 2 Years as a Full-Time Author Entrepreneur

64. The Identity

Lis Dingjan runs The Identity, a creation and hustle studio powered on fruity tea, where she writes about branding, design, breaking the biz rules, marketing and reflections on the online world. Mixed with laughs, lashings of high quality, a sprinkle of rustic fusion and a whole lot of love and value, she’s determined to help your business succeed.

Editors note: This website no longer exists.

Best publishing websites for writers

65. Goins, Writer

If you write, you’re a writer! Jeff Goins blogs about creating a successful writing career you are passionate about and getting published. With multiple best-selling books, both self-published and traditionally published, he has loads of experience and expertise to share.

Post you’ll like: The Secret to Developing a Regular Writing Habit

66. Helping Writers Become Authors

This site, run by author K.M. Weiland, features tips and essays about the writing life to enlighten and encourage other writers. Helping Writers Become Authors was created to help other writers understand the ins-and-outs of the craft and the psychology behind the inspiration.

Post you’ll like: 15 Bad Habits That Hold Writers Back

67. How to Plan, Write and Develop a Book

Get weekly exercises, tips and techniques on how to structure and craft a book-length manuscript in any genre from Mary Carroll Moore, author of Your Book Starts Here. This blog includes interviews with published writers of fiction, nonfiction, and memoir on structuring methods, character, dialogue, pacing and more.

Post you’ll like: Your Writing Voice: How to Develop It, Recognize It, Not Copy Someone Else’s

68. Jane Friedman

This blog from the former publisher of Writer’s Digest focuses on writing, reading and the digital age. It also features a weekly column on the publishing industry by journalist and publishing consultant Porter Anderson.

Post you’ll like: Why Don’t Publishers Believe in Author Websites?

69. Jody Hedlund, Author

Jody’s blog is a chronicle of her writing journey. She offers advice, encouragement and inspiration based on all that she’s learned about writing, publication and marketing in today’s tough publishing industry.

Post you’ll like: When to Show Character Emotions and When to Tell

70. Lisa Romeo Writes

Lisa blogs about writing, editing, reading, books, submissions, freelancing, getting published (and rejected), revisions, life after the MFA, teaching writing and living the writer’s life. Her site features guest posts and interviews with authors, editors and other publishing experts, but comes with one caveat for writers: Write first, read blogs second.

Post you’ll like: When “So What?” Is a Perfectly Good Response

71. Lynette Benton

If you want to become a better writer, Lynette will help you get there. As a published author of multiple essays and blogs, she shares some of the best tools and tactics for writers. She’s also in the final stages of editing her memoir, so she knows a thing or two about the traditional publishing industry.

72. Novel Publicity

Novel Publicity aims to be a one-stop shop for published and aspiring writers alike. They blog about topics related to writing advice, publishing, social media and more. If you have a specific writing question, take advantage of their Ask the Editor feature.

Post you’ll like: How to Run a GoodReads Giveaway With Maximal Results

73. Terribleminds

Chuck Wendig discusses writing, storytelling and publishing with great irreverence and gulping bucketloads of metaphor and vulgarity. He interviews other authors, talks about writing and the publishing industry, and offers lots of writing prompts.

Post you’ll like: 50 Rantypants Snidbits of Random Writing & Storytelling Advice

74. The Book Deal

Alan Rinzler’s blog goes in-depth on how to succeed at traditional publishing. A veteran editor, Alan provides advice on writing memoir, marketing your book, landing an agent, self-publishing and more.

Post you’ll like: How to Grab, Delight or Shock Your Readers Right from the Start

75. Warner Coaching

Warner Coaching is Brooke Warner’s coaching site and newsletter, dedicated to helping writers understand the business of book publishing, including traditional, hybrid and self-publishing. Her primary goal is to give writers the confidence and information they need to publish well and self-promote with confidence.

76. Write Hacked

Created by Nick Thacker, WriteHacked.com (formerly LiveHacked.com) is all about writing better, self-publishing and building an online platform that actually works. Publishing today doesn’t mean the same thing it used to, and it’s easier than ever to create, publish and sell your work—but are you doing it well?

Best travel writing websites for writers

77. Almost Fearless

Christine Gilbert’s storytelling draws you into her life as an expat: her writing is honest and heartfelt as she describes travel, language and her writing process. If you can tear your eyes away from her stories and photos, you’ll notice that she and her husband Drew, a videographer, also teach courses and workshops on story-driven blogging.

Editor’s note: This website no longer exists.

78. Camels and Chocolate

Kristin Luna is a travel writer with a thirst for adventure. If you’re looking to incorporate more images and creativity into your writing, this is the blog you need! Her beautiful photos and honest, imaginative descriptions of exotic locations are sure to inspire your writing—and your envy.

79. Location 180

Who says you have to write in one spot or in a boring office? Sean Ogle writes about building a business you can run from anywhere and living a life worth writing about.

80. The Art of Non-Conformity

If you’re sick and tired of the status quo, Chris Guillebeau may be the answer. A published author, Chris has traveled to every country in the world and preaches the art of non-conformity through his own lifestyle. Start living a life that matters… to you!

Post you’ll like: Why You Should Quit Your Job and Travel Around the World

81. The Writer and the Wanderer

Life only seems to come together in stories and in journeys, and those two narratives—one of the mind and the other of the road—have shaped travel writer Mary Morris’ life. The Writer and the Wanderer, with its posts, photos and watercolors, is an attempt to give all her adventures a context.

Post you’ll like: On Longing

82. The Writer’s [Inner] Journey

There’s no one way to create or write, and everything you’ll discover on The Writer’s [Inner] Journey proves that. Meredith Resnick engages bestselling authors, professional creatives and emerging voices in quirky dialogue about how they write and why it works for them.

83. Travel Writing 2.0

Tim Leffel’s Travel Writing 2.0 blog is a guide to finding real success as a travel writer in the digital age, without abandoning opportunities to succeed with books, print articles or other options. It features advice and interviews from freelancers, bloggers and editors earning a good income from their writing.

Post you’ll like: Five Things Writers Should Stop Doing in the ‘20s

Best writing advice websites for writers

84. About Freelance Writing

With original articles, answers to your writing questions and resources for finding gigs, increasing pay and pretty much anything about freelance writing, this site lives up to its name. Impressively, it’s been around for more than a decade, and creator Anne Wayman has been freelance writing for over 30.

85. Advice to Writers

Curated by Jon Winokur, this site collects the writerly wisdom of the ages in the form of a Quote of the Day (also available as a daily email), hundreds of links to resources and exclusive weekly interviews with writers like Harlan Ellison.

86. Christina Katz

Christina teaches writers to prosper by building solid, salable, life-long career skills via classes and training groups that work even in a rapidly evolving publishing marketplace. Highlights of the site include the Writers On The Move health and fitness accountability group for writers, an annual round-up of Movies About Writers and The Writing Life, and monthly writing and platform challenges.

Post you’ll like: How to Navigate Tough Times & Get Back to Writing

87. Daily Writing Tips

DailyWritingTips.com features articles on grammar, punctuation, spelling, usage and vocabulary. The site was founded in 2007, and its archives contain more than 2,200 advice articles for writers.

Post you’ll like: 10 Techniques for More Precise Writing

88. Funds for Writers

FundsforWriters.com is C. Hope Clark’s website on financial resources for the serious writer. Her weekly newsletters reach 45,000 readers and contain calls for submissions for grants, contests, freelance markets, publishers, agents and jobs. Hope is also a freelance writer and mystery author.

89. Make a Living Writing

Stop getting paid pennies for your amazing content! You can move beyond the low-paying gigs and actually make a living from freelance writing. On this blog, Carol Tice writes from her wealth of experience and knowledge as a successful freelance writer.

Post you’ll like: How I Make $5,000 a Month as a Paid Blogger

90. Moody Writing

With resources for fiction writing and creative tips, Moody Writing will get you in the mindset to explore new worlds with your writing. You’ll find resources for everything from creating characters to meeting deadlines for your story.

Post you’ll like: The Best Way to Improve Your Writing

91. Procrastiwriter

Written by Shanan Haislip, a champion procrastinator who also happens to be a writer, The Procrastiwriter is for beginning and veteran writers who are trying to write more, write better, and most importantly, fit their writing into a full-time life.

Editor’s note: This website no longer exists.

92. Read. Learn. Write.

As a writer, you should constantly be reading, learning and, of course, writing. At Read. Learn. Write., Brandon Monk discusses the importance of all three and shares essays from contributors all over the world.

Post you’ll like: What Does It Mean to Be a Writer?

93. The Renegade Writer

Linda Formichelli, aka the Renegade Writer, helps freelance writers earn a living on their own terms. The blog focuses on magazine writers but also includes information for copywriters, bloggers and other types of writers.

Editor’s note: This website no longer exists.

94. The Write Practice

Founded by Joe Bunting, this site is where procrastination goes to die. It offers fun creative writing lessons and prompts to practice your craft 15 minutes a day, six times a week. It’s considered one of the best writing workbooks on the Internet.

Post you’ll like: How to Write a Book in Nine (Not So) Easy Steps

95. Write to Done

If you want to improve your writing, Mary Jaksch’s Write to Done is a fantastic online resource to tap into; it features inspiring articles and how-to posts that will help you become a better writer. Check out their free ebook, The (nearly) Ultimate Guide to Better Writing.

Post you’ll like: How to Write Better: 7 Instant Fixes

Best writing communities for writers

96. A Writer’s Bucket List

A Writer’s Bucket List is a place for entrepreneurial writers and writerly entrepreneurs to connect with, learn from, and discover awesome work by their peers. Created by Dana Sitar, the site features posts from writers in the community as well as expert columnists on blogging, freelancing, marketing and storytelling.

Editors note: This website is not https compliant so we have removed the hyperlink.

97. Laptop Cafes

Created by Lis Dingjan, Laptop Cafes is a directory of little corners all across the world where you can access free wifi in a comfortable, quality space. Whether you need to work, check your email or book the next leg of your trip, you’ll find the perfect place to do it. All cafes are vetted by the LC community and summaries include important details such as which seats have power outlet access.

Editor’s note: This website no longer exists.

98. Writers Helping Writers

Writers Helping Writers (formerly The Bookshelf Muse) is a site dedicated to serving the writing community through solid craft advice, unique tools and friendly support. Its founders Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi are best known for their descriptive Thesaurus Collections on Characters Traits, Emotions, Physical Attributes, Setting, Weather, Symbolism and more.

Post you’ll like: The Seven Deadly Sins of Novel Writing

99. Writers-Network

In this free online creative writing community, writers and poets can post their writing, get feedback and discuss writing-related topics in the forums and live chat rooms. Members can also participate in contests, earn points for reviewing, maintain a personal writing profile and gain fans from all around the world.

Editor’s note: This website no longer exists.

100. Writertopia

Writertopia is exactly what it sounds like: it’s a place where writers can hone their craft while connecting with other writers. Created by Bill Katz and Jennifer Yoon, Writertopia’s goal is to build a community of collaborative, skilled writers.

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15 Blogs That Will Help You Make Money Off Your Writing https://thewritelife.com/15-blogs-make-living-off-writing/ Mon, 01 Jul 2013 07:00:14 +0000 http://www.thewritelife.com/?p=16 “Writing is the only profession where no one considers you ridiculous if you earn no money.” ~ Jules Renard

True writers write because they enjoy creating art, connecting with the community of writers and sharing their perspective. But the reality is, every writer still has to pay the bills. And the only way you can afford to keep creating is to charge enough to not only survive but to thrive.

Here are 15 awesome blogs that will help you make money off your writing, plus one of our favorite posts from each site:

1. Make a Living Writing

Want to start freelancing but not sure you can make a living at it? Carol writes about how to make money doing what you love, and this site is her own personal contribution to an industry that has given her so much.

For inspiration, check out How I Make $5,000 a Month as a Paid Blogger.

2. Writers In Charge

One of the hardest parts of blogging is getting noticed. Onibalusi wants to help you generate more traffic, which in turn will help you generate more income from your writing. And who doesn’t want more income?

Start with 30 Websites that Pay You to Contribute an Article, Instantly so you can get recognized (and earn some cash!) for your awesome writing skills.

3. Write to Done

One of the best parts of blogging is being part of a community. It’s about learning from each experience and teaching the newbies what you’ve learned. At Write to Done, you can share that knowledge with a community of writers and discuss the art of the written word.

Get a headstart at improving your writing skills with Learn from the Greats: 7 Writing Habits of Amazing Writers.

4. Be A Freelance Blogger

Sophie was broke, jobless, homeless and pregnant when she started freelancing, and now she supports her family by freelancing part time. She knows what she’s talking about! (And she’s awesome, too.)

Sign up for Sophie’s free newsletter and you’ll get access to her free resource, The Ultimate List of Better-Paid Blogging Gigs.

5. A Writer’s Bucket List

“I wish I could do what you’re doing.” Dana heard this phrase a lot as she started making a living as a writer, and at A Writer’s Bucket List, she wants everyone to know that YOU CAN! She writes to give aspiring writers the nudge to make their dreams come true.

Are You Writing, or Are You Dreaming of Writing? is a great first nudge in the right direction.

6. Leaving Work Behind

Do you stare out your cubicle and long to leave it all behind and pursue your dreams? Tom did that, and now he makes his living working as a freelance writer. Check out his story and get inspired to quit that job you hate and replace it with work you’re passionate about.

One of our favorite posts on Tom’s site is How to Set Goals and Motivate Yourself to Actually Achieve Them.

7. Blogcast FM

How do we learn to be successful? We study those who already are! Blogcast FM is a great resource for interviews with successful entrepreneurs, business owners and published authors.

As a starting point, check out The 10 Best Blogging Tips I’ve Learned.

8. Mindy Writes

What if you want to run your own business but have a household to run at the same time? Mindy writes about being a write-at-home mom, balancing entrepreneurship and family.

Mindy’s Six Tips for Freelance Success are a must-read for any upcoming freelancer.

9. Funds for Writers

Want to know your options for funding a writing career? Funds for Writers provides useful information on grants, markets, and awards (sprinkled with motivation) for serious writers of all skill and experience levels.

Jump right in with the Grants and Markets pages to get your funds rolling!

10. The Creative Penn

Learn how to promote and market your writing from someone who’s been there. Joanna is a fiction writer and marketing maven who shares her journey to help others get their work out into the world.

A post from Joanna we like: Help! My Book Isn’t Selling. 10 Questions You Need to Answer Honestly If You Want to Sell More Books.

11. Goins, Writer

“Why do writers write?” Jeff started his blog in search of answers to questions like this one. He found a community of inquisitive and creative aspiring writers who pondered the same questions. If you want to join a community of people who change the world through their words, this is the place to go.

Head on over to Stop Waiting to Be Picked and start creating.

12. Alexis Grant

Alexis inspires writers to make their own luck through writing, entrepreneurship and social media. She preaches (and practices) using technology to your advantage in both your career and in your life.

Here’s some tough love from Alexis: Why You’re Failing to Make a Living as a Writer.

13. FreelanceSwitch

This is the ultimate resource for new and experienced freelancers. FreelanceSwitch provides helpful information on determining rates, finding work and the transition from full-time work to freelance.

For a crash course in the art of freelancing, read A Comprehensive Guide to Starting Your Freelance Career.

14. The Renegade Writer

You are a writer because you’re creative, and you’re creative because you’re unconventional. So why would you follow rules on how to be a freelance writer? Linda and Diana write about how to figure out freelancing on your own terms while using your strengths to advance your career.

Don’t miss this post from Linda and Diana: 3 Excuses That Are Keeping You from a Successful Freelance Writing Career.

15. Freelance.Blogging.Life.

How do you figure out what works and what doesn’t when it comes to freelancing? Ruan writes about his experience as a full-time blogger on topics like negotiating with clients, creating a distinct online presence and, of course, blogging!

A good place to start on this site: Freelance Blogging Strategy: Getting Freelance Blogging Gigs.

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