Break into Becoming a Freelance Editor

You have heard about them. In fact, there are probably more of them than there are of us. What am I talking about - freelance editors. If you are like me, you have scrolled through endless lists of freelance editing jobs, only to find that most companies want 3 years of this and 5 years of that before they hire you? Don't be discouraged. The perfect editing job may be only a click away! Here's why:

I recently got an editing job with a great company. Keep in mind, I have NO prior experience, except that of a freelance writer. How did I do it? I just answered their ad, was given an editing test and they hired me. They don't pay much, but for those who want to gain experience, this may lead into something more lucrative further down the line. Interested? Here is the link to apply:

http://www.newyorkjobs.com/jobdetails.cfm?jid=696850

Good Luck and Let Us Know How You Did!

About.com Hiring Guides as Experts in Big Cities

Are you a freelance writer who lives in a big city like Los Angeles? If so, you may be qualified to guide one of About.Com's City Guidesites. The following cities are currently unguided and available to apply for:

• Boston, Massachusetts
• Columbus, Ohio
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• Los Angeles, California
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Salt Lake City, Utah

Go ahead, apply today to Be a Guide. Tell them Deborah the COPD Guide, referred you!

Fathers' Day Poems Needed for Blue Mountain Arts

Looking for a freelance writing job? Did you know that Blue Mountain Arts will pay you $300 to write a poem for one of their greeting cards? If you have a knack for writing inspiring prose or poetry, you may want to check out their submission guidelines. Here they are:


http://www.sps.com/help/writers_guidelines.html

Father's Day Submissions are due by March 9th.

Good Luck!

Freelance Writing Tips

In case you didn't notice, I took a rather long hiatus from blogging on this, and my other site, RN ONline. But, I am back with bells on, so to speak and hope to continue providing you with great leads and tips for freelancing.

What I have found out in the last few months, is that freelance writing takes a lot of time and energy to succeed. And, unless you have the Nobel Prize-winning articulacy of William Faulkner, you are not going to find overnight success in this industry. I am still working for About.com, but luckily, in the last few months, I have acquired several new freelance clients, not without due diligence, of course. How did I do it? Here are some tips:

• Create an attention-getting cover letter and resume
• Subscribe to every freelance job newsletter you can find
• Spend time each day searching and applying for new freelance jobs
• If you get rejected, ask if there are any other projects available that may be more suitable to your style
• Keep track of every lead you follow in a program like Excel, so if you get a response, you can respond appropriately
• Join social networking groups to promote yourself, such as Twitter and Facebook.
• Send everyone you know emails asking them to follow you on your social networking site
• Never give up hope

Hope these tips help and hey, why not follow me on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/AboutCOPD

Guide Site Needs for Week of May 12, 2008 for About.com

About.com posts a list of the most needed guide sites every week. For your viewing pleasure, I always post this not-so-top-secret information here at The Writer's Block. So, without any further adieu. for the week of May 12, 2008, here you have it:

• Insomnia
• PDAs
• Bladder Cancer
• Exotic Cars
• Hardscaping

Wow, I don't even know what hardscaping is? If someone has a clue, please inform me! If you are an expert in any of the above fields, and want a fun and exciting freelance writing opportunity, be sure to visit About.com at www.beaguide.about.com and apply today. Please tell us how you did!

Writers: Make Money Online With Shvoong

I received an email advertisement today from a website that I have never heard of before. I don't know much about it, but it looked rather interesting if you are a freelance writer and looking to make some extra money online. Check it out at Shvoong and let The Writer's Block know how it goes by sending me, the Cranky Editor, an email with your review. I will guest post your review and include a link to your blog or website with your guest post. Good luck!

Week of May 5, 2008: Guide Site Needs for About.com

For the week of May 5, 2008, About.com is looking for guides who are experts in the following topics:

• PDAs
• Smart Phones
• BlackBerry
• Ear, Nose, and Throat
• El Paso, TX

For a fun and exciting freelance writing job with unlimited potential, check out the qualifications needed and apply online at: http://beaguide.about.com/ .

Let us all know if you get accepted into prep by posting a comment. Good luck!