In this Issue:

• "Welcome" - Dan Case, editor
  
  
• Feature "A Writer’s Journey" by Albert Isaac
  
  
• 12 Paying Markets - High, Medium, and Low
  

Want to contribute to this newsletter? We are a paying market. Read our guidelines for contributors here: http://www.writingfordollars.com/wfdguidelines.cfm

Welcome

You can follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ChickenWriter and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1041077107
I'll tweet you some interesting articles and markets!

How to Promote Your Book Get new ideas to promote your book at promotebooks.blogspot.com. Please visit and leave a comment or two.

Check out the article database. Our inventory of over 500 past articles from WFD is available to search and read. Find just the right information you need to make a few more bucks this year.

Don't forget our database of writer’s guidelines is readily available to everyone for FREE! All links have been checked within the last year (the date that they were last checked is listed) so you can be sure to have the most up-to-date information.

Here are the top-selling writing books at AWOCBooks.com - $1 SHIPPING on selected books! ($2.95 value)

1. The Organized Writer is a Selling Writer by Kathryn Lay. $1 SHIPPING!
   
2. The Complete Guide to Writing & Selling Magazine Articles 2nd Edition by Peggy Fielding and Dan Case. $1 SHIPPING!
   
3. Inspire! Writing from the Soul by Linda C. Apple $1 SHIPPING!
4. Confessing for Money 2nd Edition Writing and Selling to the SECRET Short Story Market by Peggy Fielding $1 SHIPPING!
   
5. Who's Your Daddy? by Carolyn B. Leonard $1 SHIPPING!
   
6. Preserving Family Legends for Future Generations by M. Carolyn Steele $1 SHIPPING!
   
7. Connect! A Simple Guide to Public Speaking for Writers by Linda C. Apple $1 SHIPPING!
   
8. Magic Steps to Writing Success by Charles W. Sasser. $1 SHIPPING!
   
9. Devoted to Writing! by Nancy Robinson Masters & Maurice Parsley Mallow $1 SHIPPING!
   
10. Be Your Own Book Doctor: So You Can Cure What Ails Your Writing by Robyn Conley.
    

Dan Case, editor
editor@writingfordollars.com (put WFD in the subject line)

A Writer’s Journey

In 2005, I found myself unemployed and feeling lost. However, before the year was out I had become a novelist, columnist and freelance writer. I’ll never forget the satisfaction I felt penning the words “freelance writer” as my occupation. Sure beats “unemployed.”

For me, the combination of hard work, positive thinking and good fortune led to a new, highly rewarding career. It also helped having a supportive wife, who believed in me, and thus tolerated our months of diminished income.

I do not profess to be an expert in the field, but here are some things that helped me in my writer’s journey.

Business Cards
I took advantage of a free online offer and ordered cards for my ‘imaginary’ business, even though I was unemployed. I distributed these to the people I met. Business cards gave me some legitimacy, even though I was, as yet, unpublished. I gave one to an editor who later offered me freelance work – with pay.

Establish a Web Presence
I joined a Web site for writers, and started a Blog. Within a few weeks, my name was at the top of the search engines. While this in itself is not an indicator of success, it did have a purpose: If someone searched for me, they found an author.

I uploaded stories I’d written years before and began receiving encouragement from other writers and readers.

I started an upbeat Writer’s Newsletter to keep my friends and family informed of my accomplishments. This helped me keep my eye on the prize. Writing about every little victory kept me thinking positive. I expressed my gratitude to all who supported me.

Networking
I sought out and met other writers and editors. I made new friends. I listened and learned from my mistakes. We encouraged each other by focusing on the good things coming our way. Every victory was worth sharing.

A friend gave me some great advice: “Do the work and the money will come.” I started doing the work.

Homework
I read books on writing, to learn as much as I could about the business. This is an ongoing process, as there is still much I need to learn.

I subscribed to a variety of free newsletters and Ezines, such as “Writing for Dollars!” Not only do these resources keep us motivated, they also offer helpful writing tips and ways to market our writing.

Get Published
I self-published my science fiction novel, understanding that my success came from having that finished novel in my hand  – the rest was icing on the cake. After all, few of us start at the top. As it turns out, my book landed me freelance work and launched my writing career.

I wrote an article about being stuck on the Interstate in a four-hour traffic jam, and sent it to a local daily newspaper. The paper published my piece and the editors even grabbed my picture from my author’s Web page and ran it with the article. Talk about a confidence a boost! That same weekend a local magazine published a profile on me about the release of my new novel. My efforts were paying off.

Self-Promote
It is up to us to get the word out. We can’t just sit back and expect the media to come pounding on our doors. I scheduled book signings at the local bookstores. I promoted myself by contacting the local newspapers to tell them about my new novel and upcoming book signings. The newspapers interviewed me. Suddenly I had some press.

I was invited to talk to book clubs about my novel, which not only allowed me to talk about my writing process with people who read my book, but also helped me become accustomed to public speaking. I even sold some books.

Never Give Up
Writers write. This is what we do, regardless of our level of success. Most of us strive to write every day.

Remember that just because you are not published doesn’t mean you are not a brilliant writer – and the reverse is also true. In a nutshell, material success doesn’t correlate with literary ability.

Believe in yourself, listen to constructive criticism, continue learning and don’t give up. Successful people don’t quit.

Be Professional
Networking brought me local freelance writing opportunities. Being dependable kept those opportunities coming my way.

I was fortunate to have met other writers and editors who believed in paying it forward, who encouraged me and gave me a chance. In turn, I like to think I helped their publications by providing well-written, accurate stories, on deadline. I made mistakes, but I learned. I picked up every assignment I could handle, and I provided the best photography I could produce. I began pitching story ideas to my editor.

Soon, I was writing for two magazines and a newspaper. The experience was invaluable, even for someone like me who prefers writing fiction.

My hard work paid off. Within two years I had landed a fulltime job as editor, heading up several award-winning publications. I had found the best job I’ve ever had (so far) and had truly reinvented myself. Friends I’ve now known for years see me only as a writer and photographer, my previous occupation but a footnote in the pages of my life.

Now start writing!

© 2010 by Albert Isaac

Albert Isaac is the author of the science fiction/spiritual novel Endless, and is Editor-in-Chief for Senior Times Magazine and the Our Town Family of Magazines at Tower Publications, Inc. Check his Web site for more information: http://authorsden.com/AlbertLIsaac.

High - Over $500

• Associations Now - Guidelines:  Pays on publication.  Seeks nonfiction. Subjects: Association management. 

• Elks Magazine - Guidelines:  Pays on acceptance.  Seeks nonfiction, photos/artwork. Subjects: Youth programs, veterans service, drug awareness, Elks National Foundation activities, fund-raisers. 

• Sport Fishing - Guidelines:  Pays on acceptance.  Seeks nonfiction, columns/departments, photos/artwork. Subjects: Saltwater fishing. 

• True West - Guidelines:  Pays on acceptance.  Seeks nonfiction, photos/artwork. Subjects: History of American West from 1800 to 1930; modern Western lifestyle. 

Medium - $125 - $500

• JAKES Magazine - Guidelines:  Pays on publication.  Seeks nonfiction, fiction, photos/artwork. Subjects: Educating and involving youth in wildlife conservation and stewardship of our natural resources. 

• Referee - Guidelines:  Pays on publication.  Seeks nonfiction. Subjects: Sports officiating. 

• Women in the Outdoors - Guidelines:  Pays on publication.  Seeks nonfiction, photos/artwork. Subjects: Informs and entertains outdoorswomen of all skill levels. 

• WoodenBoat - Guidelines:  Pays on publication.  Seeks nonfiction, columns/departments, photos/artwork. Subjects: Design, building, care, preservation, and use of wooden boats. 

Low - Less than $125

• Hopscotch - Guidelines:  Pays on publication.  Seeks nonfiction, fiction, columns/departments, fillers, photos/artwork. Subjects: Of interest to girls from 6 to 13 years. 

• Oatmeal Studios - Guidelines:  Pays on acceptance.  Seeks nonfiction. Subjects: Greeting cards, post-it notes. 

• SageWoman - Guidelines:  Pays on publication.  Seeks nonfiction, columns/departments, fillers, photos/artwork. Subjects: Issues of concern to Pagan and other Goddess-friendly women. 

• Stone Soup - Guidelines:  Pays on acceptance.  Seeks nonfiction, fiction, fillers, photos/artwork. Subjects: Stories, poems, book review, art, for children up to age 13. 

Check out the latest articles in
How to Promote Your Book BLOG
Find out what works.

Join the Writing for DOLLARS! group on Facebook.

Writing for DOLLARS!
is a publication of
AWOC.COM Publishing.