Learning Curve

I do not know how to use textbroker.com yet. I admit it. I was going to write an article today so I went to the site. They rated me at 3 stars (not bad for a 250 word sample but I can do better) and I can apparently only apply to 3 star jobs…I think. So I clicked on it and it said 11 jobs. I started researching for an article a little bit, clicked back on the article and it was no longer there. After that all the articles were not in my field. Debating on taking one and researching the hell out of it to get on the map at least. But I just do not know anything about corporate nonsense. Hopefully some home and garden articles will turn up.

Also I wonder… Am I supposed to reserve it somehow? Hmm. I will figure this thing out and then I will let you know if it eventually makes me money.

On the fiverr front, I may need to add another gig for writing. I got a great assignment to do 10 illustrations and a cover. Pretty excited. I’ve always been a split major: writing/illustration. So money in either camp makes me a happy girl.

I’m looking for a guest blogger exchange… Let me write for you and I will let you write for me. Let’s expand our clips and audiences. Just let me know what sort of post you are looking for from me. I am looking for some successful tips on breaking into fiction writing. Hit me up and we’ll talk.

Progress!

I’m going to stop putting days on here since I am so random in posting. But progress has been made! Since the last time I’ve posted I got a fiverr gig for writing and did some ghostwriting that was well received. I was told it was so good they had to verify I wrote it. Ha! No I didn’t copy and paste sir, I wrote this. I was late on the gig though, stupid holidays! Now that they’re over I expect to be able to focus more. Maybe get somewhere with the writing. To that effect:

I have gotten my textbroker account working. They have rated me 3 Stars. I’m guessing that means they’ve just proved that I can speak and write in English. Now I have to choose some articles and get some better ratings to open up the pool to better, more interesting assignments. But first I must prove myself. So tomorrow I will be picking and writing my first article for them. I’ll let yo know how that turns out. But unfortunately it means filling in the dreaded tax form. See first ep of Black Books for my exact feelings on taxes and forms and tax forms. But I shall persevere.

On the fictional front: I’ve been working on a vampire novel since I was 14. Well I wrote it when I was 14, then forgot about it for a decade. I found it in a box and read it. I thought: This isn’t that terrible. I should rewrite this. Forgot about it for another decade and have now resurrected it yet again. I’ve mostly finished transcribing/rewriting it back into the computer. Tonight I added another 700+ words. It will probably be done the day before I die but such is life.

DAY 9 and 10

Writing took a back seat to crippling need for a job. I have been all over the place scrambling to get something that pays enough to keep the lights and heat on while I try to make it. The problem with not figuring out what or who you want to be when you’re older is that you come pre-loaded with bills. Bills upon bills.

I would really like to hop a plane to San Diego, book a hotel for a week and just write my face off. Then get some tropical drinks and a tan while counting my imaginary book deal offers. But while trying to get my art career going, I burned through my savings and am now just drowning in stress. My eye is getting that weird twitch. My head is hurting and my stomach is soooo full of acid that eating is super fun. And I am getting laid off on Sunday from my tiny money Christmas time gig.

But you know what calms me down? Writing.

Got a bad mood? Write about it. Good mood? Write about it. Instantaneously feel accomplished. I even have a fiverr gig for writing to do. I have a story out there trying to get me published and a plan to write for my favorite show. Now with my Christmas gig over, I can try to relax, regroup, vacuum the damned house and write some more. Because my head is just bursting with ideas.

And soon, very soon, I will be selling those ideas to someone.

I know it’s not Day 8 but… DAY 8!

It’s been a few days. Work and a failed Christmas party (thanks a lot gods of ice and snow!) put me in a little bit of a funk. I’m an artist, it happens. But today I finished editing my story Kind and submitted that SOB to Analog Science Fiction and Fact.

It is my eventual goal to write a Doctor Who novel. And a zillion other novels. But I love the show. Been watching since I was a kid. Also saying the goal out loud on here, means I actually have to do something about it. But I need some clips first so I don’t look like just another fan girl. So here’s the plan:

Step 1: Get published (maybe in 3 places but I’ll settle for one good 1.)
Step 2: Write up a synopsis for a good Doctor Who Novel (while waiting to get published.)
Step 3: Send Synopsis, clips, sample chapter to BBC.

So yep. That’s my plan and I’ve planned it. Wish me luck.

Day 7: Writing Career…Snow Day?

I got canceled from work and thought I would get loads done. And I did but it was mostly illustration and rescuing a friend’s car from the snow. I also watched way too many episodes of Doctor Who and now have an English accent as I type. Oh go on…

The short story I wrote yesterday has gotten 2 good reviews so far. Waiting on one more and then Thursday when I’m off, I will be editing it. But I’m pretty excited about the positive feedback. It makes me want to keep going. One beta reader even suggested I just send all my writing to her for review (I think she likes it!) So there’s that!

Also signed up for a writing site. It looks pretty interesting. Started filling out my information. I am 47% complete. Whoosh! That’s a lot of completeness for one day. I am feeling pretty accomplished and I made cookies.

Day 6: Writing!

Today was a good day to get an idea in the shower and spend all day writing it. Well not all day, I had to go to the bank, didn’t I? The rough draft was just finished 10 minutes ago and already 2 people have volunteered to read it and tell me if its crap. That’s good! I like it. It is rough. Tomorrow night I should be able to edit it into something good once the betas tell me what works and what needs clearing up.

I was looking at Swoon Reads and wondering if it was worth writing a whole romance just to test it out. Apparently it’s like the Voice for romance novels. 50,000 at the low end just to be considered but if you get picked it’s a book contract: $15,000 advance. Sounds pretty awesome. I might even have a Romance I can rewrite and submit. Something to seriously consider.

It’s not as if there is a direct path to publishing. Got to get my oars in the water somewhere. I’ll keep you posted on what happens next.

Day 5: Writing Career

Yesterday I went to my cousin’s wedding. I presented him with a nice typewriter, all old and dirty and in working order. He was thrilled because like me, he loves old things and writing. But that’s about all I did for my writing career that day… Other than observe people and wander if they looked like friends of mine from the future. That counts as character designing, doesn’t it?

Today was a work day and it snowed. I almost got murdered a zillion times on the way home and saw a crashed bus. Everyone was sliding all over the ice and it was scary as hell. My car she doesn’t like the ice. She doesn’t like anything, actually. She is annoying and whenever there was a hill she just said, “Nope, go around.” So it took an hour plus to get home from work. And then it was illustration time! I finished two illustrations and then….

I’m researching places to send my fiction. A few of them have writing fees. I’m wondering if the fees are worth it. I mean if there’s a good chance of getting published I will pay it. But if there is no chance…well, I’d rather pay for electricity. But anyway, today was spent compiling a list of places to send short stories. I want to get a few of them published and then I am going to edit a bunch of my novels and start pitching them.

If anyone has any tips, comment. I am willing to do a lot to break into publishing. I think underneath it all that telling stories is the most amazing thing you can do with your life. Because it makes people think. It makes people feel and it imagines the future for scientists to puzzle out the magic behind whatever nonsense you’ve invented. Anyway, back to the list. Need at least five places to send submissions.

Tomorrow I will be creating a submission Excel Spread Sheet. I read several ‘Breaking into Fiction’ Articles and now I must steal all their info and use it for my nefarious goals.

Day 3: Writing Career

Today was a work day.

I meant to get up at 8:30 so I could go to the gym. I woke up at 9:20. I had no time for the gym. I ended up getting a shower and working on the illustrations I need to finish by Sunday Night. Then I worked with all my awesome friends at our min wage job. So that sucked up a lot of writing time. But do not be discouraged! Today I did some writing. (Other than the blog… which is me currently writing.)

I worked on a novel for NanoWriMo called Wolf Girls. It’s a fun coming of age story about werewolves…and murder. It needs a subplot in the rewrite but so far so good on the main story line. Anyhow, I finished that story while doing nano and Book 2. Well today I wrote almost 600 words in that story. That’s right, even after 8.5 hrs of work, oversleeping and the completion of the first of three illustrations I’m working on: I had time to write.

Feeling accomplished.

Also I opened a photobucket account. I am going to get into the Cracked.com Photoplasty contests. I want one of those under my belt and then I want to come up with a 5 Things Article… So step 1 complete.

Today was a good day. Even got some compliments on my book The Angry Rabbit.

Day 2 Writing Career….

Today I spent an awful lot of time not writing. There was laundry and Christmas shopping and lunch with Mom… Then there was art that had to be done since I am also an illustrator. I did manage to read a few articles on writing and marketing but unfortunately I didn’t get any actual writing done…well except for this! 🙂

I have started researching markets and I remembered that I used to have an account at Helium. Helium pays writers by the view or assignment. I had made some little money off of the site before when my career was starting. So I went back there and was shocked to see the entire interface had become something new. They assure me it’s better. But I have no idea how to work the dang thing.

I did update my writer’s information. I did not update my credentials. I will be doing so soon. As soon as I figure out a way to add ‘write a lot of Buffy fiction in the 90’s’ in a way that looks and sounds professional. Since it is late, I am now going to do some more research and hope for better results tomorrow.

Day 1: Writing Career?

I’ve decided to get my act together and go for a writing career. Don’t worry. I’m still going to illustrate and create art but I’ve wanted to be a published writer for as far back as I can remember. I’ve even had limited success in the past writing for a music magazine. I’ve also written web content and flash fiction that has gotten picked up. But after those small successes I never pushed harder. Now’s the time.

On November 30th I finished National Novel Writing Month’s challenge to write 50,000 words in one month and I cried. I was so proud and happy and accomplished. So now I am firmly of the mindset that writing is where it is at!

Step 1 is getting this blog going for real this time. There will be a multitude of posts from now on ( I hope.) And I will tell you about step 2 tomorrow… Wish me luck. I’m off to read a bunch of helpful tip sites. I will report back on what I find useful. Continue reading →