A Basic Guide for Those Who Dream of a. Writing Career

                

This is a first from a young mom fostering a writing career. She has the basics down. Enjoy! ~ CHJ  

   Get Discovered: Your 6-Step Guide to Shining as a Writer

By Gwen Payne

You’re ready to embark on the exhilarating journey of unleashing your creative prowess and getting your work noticed by the world. You dream of captivating readers with your fiction, inspiring others through your non-fiction, or sharing your unique insights through blogging. Whatever the case, this guide is your roadmap to success. Today, Tales2Inspiredives into six practical steps that will help you get discovered as a writer or author. Grab your favorite writing instrument, settle into your special nook, and let’s begin this extraordinary adventure together!

Step 1: Write Your Heart Out

First things first: you gotta write, write, and write some more! Pour your thoughts onto paper or screen and let your imagination soar. Whether it’s short stories, blog posts, or that novel you’ve been dreaming about, consistent writing is the key to honing your craft.

 Another way to express yourself through words is by journaling. Picture this: a quiet moment, a pen and hand, and a blank page waiting to witness the dance of your thoughts. Journaling is more than just putting words on paper; it’s a transformative practice that can unlock the power of self-reflection. Journaling captures your experiences, emotions, and insights. Along the way, it becomes a trusted confidant, an outlet for self-expression, and a tool for personal growth. 

Step 2: Build Your Online Oasis

Having a vibrant online presence is an absolute game-changer in this digital era. Create your own little corner on the web by starting a blog or website. Showcasing your work in a visually appealing and easily accessible format can go a long way toward attracting readers and potential collaborators.

Don’t forget to sprinkle some social media magic, too! Platforms like X, Instagram, and Facebook are fantastic tools for connecting with fellow writers and engaging with potential readers. Share snippets of your work, show glimpses of your writing process and join conversations using relevant hashtags.

Step 3: Network Like a Pro

Networking isn’t just for those fancy business types – it’s crucial for writers, as well. Attend local writing workshops, join online writing groups, and immerse yourself in the bustling community of fellow wordsmiths. Interacting with others who share your passion can open doors to collaborations, mentorship opportunities, and even publishing connections. This is where traditional marketing, like business cards, can prove invaluable. Start handing them out around town and leaving them at local establishments!

Step 4: Seek Out Opportunities and Promote Your Work

The world is brimming with opportunities, dear writer. Take the leap and submit your work to literary magazines, online publications, and writing contests. Rejection might sting, but every acceptance is a cause for celebration and a stepping stone toward recognition. Remember that all those “no’s“ are just a part of the journey to your “yes!“

Leveraging the tried-and-true tactic of creating a brochure to market yourself is a smart and cost-effective strategy. In today's digital age, you don't necessarily need to hire a professional designer to achieve a high-quality, impactful brochure. Instead, you can use a brochure template available online for free. These templates provide a solid foundation that you can customize to suit your personal brand or business. By adding your own text, images, and custom design elements, you can create a stellar brochure that effectively communicates your value proposition to potential clients or readers.

Step 5: Embrace Lifelong Learning

Writers never stop growing, so keep that curious spirit alive! Go to writing workshops, enroll in online courses, and devour craft books like there’s no tomorrow. The more you learn, the better equipped you’ll be to captivate readerswith your words.

Step 6: Stay Patient and Persistent 

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a successful writing career. Embrace patience and persistence as your trusty companions on this journey. Keep writing, learning, networking, and submitting your work. Your breakthrough moment is waiting just around the corner!

You’ve armed yourself with some serious tips, and now it’s time to put them into action:

l  Start writing

l  Embrace the digital realm

l  Network like a pro

l  Seek out opportunities

l  Embrace lifelong learning 

 Getting discovered as a writer can be challenging, but it’s far more easily attainable with a detailed plan and plenty of dedication. Above all, remain patient and persistent. Remember that your voice is unique, and the world is longing to hear it.

One way to begin is by submitting your work to anthologies. Here is an established series that offers a free contest that includes other value-added benefits to all authors who choose to enter. It’s from writer and editor Lois W. Stern who contributes her talents to TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com: 

Tales2Inspire books offer inspirational and motivational stories by award winning authors from across the globe. We also help talented authors on their individual paths to discovery.

MORE ABOUT TODAY’S SHARING WITH WRITERS CONTRIBUTOR:

Gwen Payne is a stay-at-home mom with an entrepreneurial spirit. Over the years, she has mastered raising her two daughters while side hustling to success through small ventures based on her passions - from dog walking to writing to e-commerce. With Invisiblemoms.com she hopes to show other stay-at-home parents how they can achieve their business-owning dream

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER

 Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning #HowToDoItFrugally Series (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTXQL27T/ ) of books for writers including "The Frugal Book Promoter" (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), and "The Frugal Editor" both offered in their third editions by Modern History Press. 

Others in that series are "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically," and two booklets, both in their second editions also from Modern History Press. The booklets, "Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers" (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and "Great First Impression Book Proposals" (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. "The Frugal Editor "(https://tinyurl.com/TheFrugalEditor), was recently released in its third edition. It is the winningest book in this series for writers. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them understand what is needed to convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is "A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques" (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at https://TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at "The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor" (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow it to get news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.

Working from Home for Authors--Successfully and Legitimately

Legitimate Ways to Make Money as a Stay-at-Home Parent

By Gwen Payne 

 

We writers are lucky. The ability to stay home and care for your kids is an invaluable gift. Beyond the savings involved in skipping years of outsourced childcare, you get to be around for all of those important early childhood moments. Of course, becoming a stay-at-home parent also means losing work income. If you’re worried about making ends meet, or you’d just like to put some extra money away for the future, a work-from-home job will give you the best of both worlds. 

 

Making money from home is easier than you may think! Are you wondering where to start? Tales2Inspire presents these tips to help you begin.

 

Start a Home-Based Business

 

Have you always dreamed of running your own business from home? Don’t let anything stop you! Countless people have launched successful home-based businesses while juggling the demands of parenting — and you can, too. All it takes is a little self-discipline and your ever-present writing skills.

 

Before you start,  make sure your idea--what your writing will do--solves a real problem or entertains in way that will encourage people to want more of what you do. A great way to generate business ideas is to think about the problems you encounter in your everyday life and come up with effective solutions for them. For example, if you’re a writer and you know business owners who would love to start a blog, offer to write some articles for them. Before you know it, you could start a business as a professional content writer.

 

Once you have a business idea, you will have to pick a business structure and register with your state. Forming an LLC could be a great idea if you’re looking to minimize your taxes and protect yourself from potential lawsuits should things go awry. Research how to start an LLC so you can get your business up and running as soon as possible.

 

Become a Freelancer

 

If you’re looking for a way to make some money on the side while building your business, freelancing is an excellent idea. You can freelance in a wide variety of industries. Some great freelance jobs to consider include writing, transcribing, online tutoring, marketing, and social media management. 

 

The best part? You don’t need any training or qualifications to get started. Create a few portfolio pieces to share with potential clients and learn how to write amazing proposals. Freelancing platforms are a good place to find your first clients, but you may also want to set up a basic website where you can showcase your professional portfolio.

 

Work as a Virtual Assistant

 

Do you need something a little more stable than a freelance job? While many freelance contracts involve one-off projects, virtual assistants often work for the same clients on a long-term basis. Some even work as remote employees. If you’re looking for employee benefits, virtual assisting may be perfect for you.

 

Virtual assistants perform a variety of tasks on the job. As Desire to Done explains, virtual assistants offer all kinds of services, ranging from blog maintenance and social media content creation to bookkeeping and email management. Try to find a virtual assistant job in an industry that interests you, whether it’s fitness, real estate, photography, web design, or business.  

 

Start a Home Daycare

 

Not so tech-savvy? There are plenty of money-making opportunities for parents who prefer to work offline, as well. Running a home daycare is one of them. You’re already home with your own kids all day, so why not add a few more? 

 

Operating out of your own home means very low startup costs, but you might have to invest in toys, cleaning products, mats, food, insurance, and first aid supplies before launching. Hunting down funding to cover these minor costs shouldn’t be too difficult. Consider asking your friends and family to invest in your business or checking with your bank about a small business loan.

 

Be sure to consider your legal obligations, as well. For example, most states require that daycare staff have CPA certification. You’ll also have to check your state regulations regarding health and safety inspections, facility requirements, child-staff ratios, and zoning regulations.

 

How to Find Work-Life Balance

 

When you’re juggling remote work and childcare responsibilities, life can get out of control very quickly. Make sure you’re prepared to find a work-life balance before you start working from home. First, manage your expectations. You might not be able to get as much done in a day as you expect — and that’s okay! Count on everything taking longer than planned so you can avoid overbooking yourself and causing burnout. 

 

Try to maintain a routine, but be okay with some uncertainty. A few hours of focused, kid-free work every day can be invaluable to busy parents. Consider getting up before your kids and plugging away at your most important projects during this sacred time. Save the more mundane tasks — answering emails or creating invoices — for those hours when you have to keep an eye on the kids. 

 

Practical By Default also recommends setting a timer to block off work periods during which your kids know not to interrupt you. Once your kids learn what the timer means, you should be able to focus for 15 to 30 minutes at a time without distractions. Most importantly, remember to give your kids plenty of attention when your work block is up.

Thanks to the internet, there are countless ways for stay-at-home parents to make money. And you don’t have to stick with just one method. Consider juggling a few different gigs to maximize your money-making potential. For example, you could run a home daycare business and work as a freelance writer on the side — whatever sounds good to you!

More on Today's Guest Blogger

Gwen Payne runs InvisibleMoms.com.

MORE ABOUT THE SHARING WITH WRITERS BLOGGER 

 Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the multi award-wining author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series
of books for writers including the multi award-winning The Frugal Book Promoter (http://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), now offered by Modern History Press in its third edition. Carolyn's latest is in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers is How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. She has two booklets in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series, both in their second editions from Modern History Press. Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers (http://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and The Great First Impression Book Proposal (http://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The Frugal Editor (http://bit.ly/FrugalEditor), now in its second edition, is the winningest book in the series. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques (http://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). 

 In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs at all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor (http://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow for news on her new releases direct from Amazon: http://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.