tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post6479131427689744269..comments2023-12-20T02:09:03.416-06:00Comments on Redemption Road: Fitting It InMerry Monteleonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435956005780500310noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post-53181370334001121902011-03-02T19:03:33.296-06:002011-03-02T19:03:33.296-06:00Hi Kerrie,
I'm doing the same thing with RPM&...Hi Kerrie,<br /><br />I'm doing the same thing with RPM's... though now I'm starting to zone in on some editors who've bought my articles before... <br /><br />For the Koala challenge though, it's more about the writing... so you can only include a point per article, no matter how many times you submit it or how many places pick it up... It's really geared more for fiction writing, and keeping your page count up, but I'm using it for both this year.Merry Monteleonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09435956005780500310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post-42147761805040269722011-03-02T19:01:16.039-06:002011-03-02T19:01:16.039-06:00Hi Tyhitia,
That's the thing about creative e...Hi Tyhitia,<br /><br />That's the thing about creative endeavors... you are the only one who can make it happen... so you have to make it a priority or life will overtake it.Merry Monteleonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09435956005780500310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post-72629796135787863032011-03-02T19:00:12.154-06:002011-03-02T19:00:12.154-06:00Hi Angela,
I'm trying to stay organized, but ...Hi Angela,<br /><br />I'm trying to stay organized, but you know, not one of those naturally organized peoples... I wing it and make lists and such.<br /><br />That's great that you're back in school!!! Good luck with it...Merry Monteleonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09435956005780500310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post-73267632174460602452011-02-19T10:33:57.862-06:002011-02-19T10:33:57.862-06:00not trying to control your life, but i'd give ...not trying to control your life, but i'd give myself at least 5 points for submitting a piece to regional parenting mags ... b/c i submit to over 200 at once! that counts as bigtime in my house and it only takes seconds after i had put them all in my email contacts!Kerrie McLoughlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04357207300211730918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post-65170888222782169792011-02-18T16:58:50.073-06:002011-02-18T16:58:50.073-06:00I write around everything else, making time for my...I write around everything else, making time for my writing--and making it a priority. :-DTyhitia Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14070000168178880911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post-84914546792107711162011-02-15T11:05:52.076-06:002011-02-15T11:05:52.076-06:00You sound so organized! Now that I'm in school...You sound so organized! Now that I'm in school fulltime, writing and working are parttime...but I have big freelancing ideas for the summer! Hope you find a job that is both satisfying and pays the bills.angelawdhttp://angelawd.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post-5752586640338384742011-02-07T18:58:11.322-06:002011-02-07T18:58:11.322-06:00Wow, okay, I thank you, Merry. I understand that. ...Wow, okay, I thank you, Merry. I understand that. I need to learn more about all things Internet.Jean Ann Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15357746520145826414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post-91380646367848459492011-02-07T18:31:05.619-06:002011-02-07T18:31:05.619-06:00Hi Jean Ann,
Content is writing, but most often y...Hi Jean Ann,<br /><br />Content is writing, but most often you refer to web writing as content... when you submit to say a magazine, you just call it an article... web content can run the gamut from full, and very researched articles to little blurbs to blog posts... you'll sometimes hear bloggers refer to their posts as content.<br /><br /><br />Content mills or content farms are sites that writers can join, or be approved to write for. Often the articles are done for what is fairly low pay. There are pluses and minuses here - many professional writers hold them in a bit of disdain because they do pay so low, and the standards for writing the articles should NEVER be low, because your name is attached - so essentially you're doing the same amount of work for them for a fraction of what you might make ghost writing for private companies or even submitting your own articles to paying markets. <br /><br />The plus side writers who use those content mills will point to is that there is always work. And most magazine submissions are on spec. or by query and approval which can take some time. Like I said, I am registered at one, but I haven't yet found an assignment to take. I have ghosted and done batches of SEO articles (search engine optimization - they're short articles with specific search terms included, and they're notoriously low paying, but they're also pretty easy to write).<br /><br />The problem with all of the low paying jobs is that it makes it harder at times for professional writers to make what they're worth from their work. And a lot of newer writers who take them will burn out really quick, because the pay is often not worth the effort...Merry Monteleonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09435956005780500310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post-75119171946940830312011-02-07T17:47:23.744-06:002011-02-07T17:47:23.744-06:00I hate to show how clueless I am, but Merry, would...I hate to show how clueless I am, but Merry, would again explain to me what content means and the content farm?<br /><br />I'm not understanding.Jean Ann Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15357746520145826414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post-57409873309604842202011-02-05T14:10:12.003-06:002011-02-05T14:10:12.003-06:00Hi Jean Ann,
Thank you! And I did get your last ...Hi Jean Ann,<br /><br />Thank you! And I did get your last email, I keep meaning to respond, I've just been stretched... prayers are always appreciated ;-)<br /><br />Thank you!Merry Monteleonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09435956005780500310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post-35060383920144720532011-02-05T14:08:30.267-06:002011-02-05T14:08:30.267-06:00triplezmom,
Those can totally drain you! I'm ...triplezmom,<br /><br />Those can totally drain you! I'm registered with one content site, and I still haven't taken an article... I occasionally scroll through to try to find something, but eh...<br /><br />Have you tried writing for regional parenting magazines? Or subcontracting through another freelancer? The negative part about submitting your own articles is that you're basically writing on spec. so there's no guarantee anyone will buy it... but at least it's something that interests you. If you subcontract through another freelancer, you do have the option of declining the assignments you're not interested in... just a thought. <br /><br />I'm at merry (dot) monteleone (at)gmail (dot) com if you want to talk about it... I'm always happy to share anything I've learned. Makes me feel better because most of the stuff I've learned has been because another freelancer gave me tips the same way. =)Merry Monteleonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09435956005780500310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post-67752594223689797532011-02-05T13:56:24.771-06:002011-02-05T13:56:24.771-06:00I wrote articles for a content farm for a while be...I wrote articles for a content farm for a while because I needed immediate, reliable money. And it totally drained me of the will to write much else. I feel like I'm still climbing out of that black hole. But my only other job is mom. At least for now.Triplezmomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04394529890501082797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post-9191178642303489042011-02-05T02:02:59.037-06:002011-02-05T02:02:59.037-06:00Merry, I sure hope you do get the job best suited ...Merry, I sure hope you do get the job best suited for you.<br /><br />Micro writing? I believe it. Sometimes I get only five sentences written at night on my newest project. Doing that month after month, I now have a legal sized tablet full and am beginning a new one. <br /><br />There is ALWAYS time to write, if even for a few minutes daily.Jean Ann Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15357746520145826414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post-5498673582859437302011-02-04T12:23:50.627-06:002011-02-04T12:23:50.627-06:00E,
I have no idea how you stay so productive with...E,<br /><br />I have no idea how you stay so productive with everything you have going on... it's amazing! And lucky for those of us reading you =)Merry Monteleonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09435956005780500310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post-67759468707233876712011-02-03T15:18:47.448-06:002011-02-03T15:18:47.448-06:00I write full-time with nothing to fall back on. At...I write full-time with nothing to fall back on. At times, it can make the pressure that comes with that pretty intense, and writing can seem like a job. I've waited tables and bartended early on in my career and never minded it. Always felt like I observed people and it gave me good material. I've also worked in publishing houses as an editor--and I echo Stephen's sentiments. All it took was cool co-workers. And when I didn't have them, I was miserable.<br /><br />Of course, now I work with Pop and Pirate Boy talking to me all day. Productivity . . . WAY down. LOL!Erica Orloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16415925758466527671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post-19625798600825613052011-02-02T12:31:04.484-06:002011-02-02T12:31:04.484-06:00Hi Stephen,
You know, that's probably the sin...Hi Stephen,<br /><br />You know, that's probably the single most important characteristic of a great job - people you like working with. It's kind of luck of the draw, though, in some aspects. You never know how someone will be to work with until you're actually there for a while... they're all on good behavior for the first few days... and then their little quirks come out. lol.Merry Monteleonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09435956005780500310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post-56284747919057222892011-02-02T12:28:53.863-06:002011-02-02T12:28:53.863-06:00Hey Pete,
Well at least there's a silver lini...Hey Pete,<br /><br />Well at least there's a silver lining to the elbow injury! :-)<br /><br />I was a writer who needed to get in the zone and work on it steady for a number of hours... the kids kind of cured me of that... it still annoys me to be interrupted midstream... but because there's always been so many interruptions, I've kind of learned to work around it when I can.<br /><br /><br />I wonder if, one day when the house is all quiet, I'll find it hard to work without all the interruptions.Merry Monteleonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09435956005780500310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post-40927170865944749832011-02-02T00:58:04.580-06:002011-02-02T00:58:04.580-06:00Seriously, any job is a good job if you enjoy it, ...<i>Seriously, any job is a good job if you enjoy it, work hard at it, and it allows you to live.</i><br /><br />Once when I switched from one jewelry store to another I went from having a lot of fun to being miserable. Same kind of store, same kind of merchandise, same kind of clientele.<br /><br />Different kind of colleagues. The former liked to whistle while they worked, the latter were Satan's minions. Thinking about other jobs I'd had, I realized the only thing I needed to enjoy a job was someone nice working next to me.Stephen Parrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16883165490847664389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post-90477798114476394642011-02-01T23:57:55.501-06:002011-02-01T23:57:55.501-06:00Every path is indeed different, and you gotta hike...Every path is indeed different, and you gotta hike the one that's right for you. I could never microwrite--jot down ideas, yeah. But actually compose? No, it takes me a full 10 minutes before I build up the concentration and attitude. I'm one of those who writes an hour or two three or four times a week, in a good week. Lately there have been a lot of good writing weeks since my broken elbow frees up a few hours a week of gym time.<br /><br />Life goes in cycles. Sometimes your writing time is abundant; others, not so much.PJDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05028687955957107957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post-72089722827249827542011-02-01T16:04:04.659-06:002011-02-01T16:04:04.659-06:00Awwwwww SS@S, thank you!
I'm still bummed abo...Awwwwww SS@S, thank you!<br /><br />I'm still bummed about not being able to make it out there in November.<br /><br />I think it's awesome that you get to pursue it full-time. Let me know if you need an extra spot for a blog tour or anything! <br /><br />As far as how people go about it, I think any path that takes you there, or any path you're not afraid to hike, will do. There are excellent writers who have several novels out before they turn to it full time, if they do at all... then you look at people like Erica, who are so unbelievably prolific - if I had all the time in the world I don't think I could accomplish as much as she can in writing, all while juggling a full family and illness. Every path's different.Merry Monteleonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09435956005780500310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post-22143126901822450192011-02-01T15:57:18.534-06:002011-02-01T15:57:18.534-06:00Hey JJ,
I'm not (insanely enough) putting it ...Hey JJ,<br /><br />I'm not (insanely enough) putting it aside now. It's way slower going than I'd like, but that's time constraints more than anything else. And I figure, once I find a permanent position, I can budget both my time and income in a more reasonable way, at which point I'll fit it in if I have to get up at 5 in the morning.<br /><br />I dig the idea of keeping a notebook. I did that when my kids were young - toted it with me everywhere and wrote the rough drafts to my first two novels out longhand. I still keep a legal pad in a little leather portfolio when I'm on temp assignments... I write article ideas down and sometimes full sketches for something I can work on when I get home.<br /><br />Probably not going to start taking it into the bathroom though... ewMerry Monteleonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09435956005780500310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post-33446674810410146692011-02-01T15:52:52.895-06:002011-02-01T15:52:52.895-06:00Laurel!
Yes, yes, and yeppers! Writing is a cons...Laurel!<br /><br />Yes, yes, and yeppers! Writing is a constant... not the act of sitting at the computer hacking out the words, but the stories and characters roving through your head... of course, I think it's probably a little crazy to non-writers, but yeah, I've had some of my best fiction breakthroughs when I'm driving or doing dishes or anything other than concentrating on the words.Merry Monteleonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09435956005780500310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post-1018347368459680092011-02-01T15:23:24.341-06:002011-02-01T15:23:24.341-06:00I hope you find something wonderful soon!
I basic...I hope you find something wonderful soon!<br /><br />I basically write full time. This is the year I'm hoping to make some money at it--and my husband really is hoping! <br /><br />I have that support system though. If I didn't, I'd have to work. And knowing me, I wouldn't write. Art for me is a bit like an on/off switch. I either live the life of an artist or I don't. I admire people, even some in my own crit group, who write their books for an hour after work every day! It's incredible! I have no doubt you'll manage it somehow.ssashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15527483283426518167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post-18599698089021984522011-02-01T12:31:39.419-06:002011-02-01T12:31:39.419-06:00You've got to put living and family ahead of a...You've got to put living and family ahead of art. It's sad, but you're making the right choice, Merry, and you can always come back to your art when your life and family situation stabilizes.<br /><br />One technique I heard mentioned by a fellow who was INSANELY busy with his kids and job was to practice micro-writing.<br /><br />The idea is you carry a notebook with you all the time and jot down stuff while you're waiting for the coffee to brew, while you watch over the baby splashing in his bath, while you're on the toilet, even (ew.) Whatever works!<br /><br />I got the impression this fellow didn't sleep much because he still made time to type up his notebook's jottings--but even keeping notes for later might help scratch the writing itch when you just can't take time to sit down at the keyboard.<br /><br />Good luck juggling it all, Merry, and let us know if you need some moral support. (((*hugs*)))jjdebenedictishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16950592240599703771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35866870.post-91719238291155692492011-02-01T12:23:42.969-06:002011-02-01T12:23:42.969-06:00Writing time is the water that seeps through the c...Writing time is the water that seeps through the cracks and keeps everything else afloat. And honestly, don't you find that you're always writing? Maybe not sitting at a computer but driving down the road, doing dishes, trying to shut your brain down at night...those are all times when the voices in my head talk the most.Laurelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06120847492230531939noreply@blogger.com