Diversifying

I’ve beeen calling myself a writer for quite some time…

…don’t worry, this is NOT one of those posts where I write about writing.

Here’s the thing.  What I want to be doing is writing as a job.  Not necessarily my only job, or at least not right away.  I’d like to have writing, something I’m passionate for and at least marginally skilled at, as a supplementary source of income for myself and my family.

I’ve been saying this for years.

It could look like a number of things:  Being commissioned and royalty-ized as a playwright, whose works are being produced at theaters nationwide.  Being a published novelist.  Being a magazine journalist or freelance contributor to whatever publications will have me.

As a matter of fact.  Though in doing this I’m stepping out of the “narrator of my life from a literary distance” voice I usually go for in my blogging, I’ll put it out there to you all who are reading this.  You folks know my writing style as well as any, though of course my ‘professional’ writing is a bit more formal.  I’m open to suggestions, referrals, advice, whatever you’ve got.  I’ll be grateful for any help.

Anyway – back on track.

In recent days, I’ve been stepping outside the box and looking for actual work for the first time.  I was stuck in this self-imposed sentiment of “I don’t know where to start.”  Which is, of course, a huge lie and disservice to myself.  I have a whole Internet, a functioning and creative brain, and a wife who is a blue-ribbon net surfer.  How can I not know where to look for writing jobs?

What’s wierd is that I never really considered looking for online writing jobs.  It probably comes from the same part of my mind that caused a recent post, where I was surpised that my wife would look up info on the Web when she could also find it in a book.  I’m a print-media type, and I guess there’s a part of me that looks at online journalism as ‘cheating.’

But no more!  I’ve found a new goal:  Online Freelancer.  If the stuff I’m finding online is to be believed, freelancing for online companies is the new gold mine in what I thought was a rapidly shrinking industry.  Companies need constant content for their websites, and they’re willing to pay well for it.  Why didn’t anyone tell me about this?

So, now I’m finally in action, to a degree I haven’t been before.  Today I submitted for two resources and networks for freelancers.  One I’ve been accepted to, and the other’s under review.  I’ve got other irons too, that while they’re not yet in the fire, they’re poised to be and the fire is stoked.  By this time next week, I should be being published for actual financial compensation.  I know that’s not an actual barometer of success…

…but it will help with the rent.

~ by joshkauffman on August 11, 2009.