When did you start writing full-time?
I started writing in November of 2005. I quit my job to be home with my daughter, who was 9 months old at the time. It was a big change of pace! I always knew I wanted to work from home and I just decided to take the plunge. I’d been writing forever, and once I realized I could do it only and get paid instantly…I was sold.
Why did you want to become a writer and work from home?
I’ve written for most of my life…even since before I could write or type (I dictated stories to my dad). Even though I tried other things and tried out other majors in college, I think I always knew I wanted to be a writer in some form. I never liked the corporate world and felt trapped in an office environment. I like to be in control of my own stuff, and I like working by myself most of the time. It didn’t seem fair to me that if I finished my work at 11 am…I had to pretend to be busy for the rest of the day. I also knew that I wanted to travel the world, and that’s just not possible with a regular job.
What prompted you to write The Content Chef?
I got a lot of questions from new work at home moms, and also some people on the Internet marketing forums that I frequented, about writing for pay. I learned a lot in the past two years and I hoped that I could help some new writers get the kind of “leg up” advance that I wish I’d had when I first started the process. There are a lot of dead ends out there when it comes to writing online, and I knew some tips and tricks that could help newcomers.
What are some tips you could give other work-at-homers…
=> to be more productive?
Having a schedule is of the utmost importance. It can’t be rigid, especially when you have children, but if you have a range of time where you have to work it’s so much easier than just trying to fit it in wherever you can. Many people make the mistake of thinking that a flexible schedule is a good idea. I did too. When my husband came home to work, there was a transition period where I had to “school” him on getting into a schedule. To a lot of people, working at home means freedom…and it does, to a certain extent. Instead of being chained to the desk for 8 hours and pretending to work for five of those (like I used to), I can focus for three and be done for the day. But I still have to work.
=> to market themselves more?
Market your name as much as possible. Make sure that your website or your profile or your Squidoo page is the first thing that people find when they look up your name. That way when people research you, they can find information about your writing services.
Also, networking in “customer” forums is a good place to start. Spending all of your time where writers hang out doesn’t get you new jobs.
=> to become more confident in themselves?
The best piece of advice I’ve gotten is to fire, then aim. Just get your profile page up there, send some samples out, apply for some jobs, set up your own websites, etc. Don’t wait until everything is perfect. The marketplace is very forgiving. If your samples aren’t up to par, you can always perfect them later. There will be fresh new clients out there who will hire you. Don’t worry about making it perfect…just do it and then perfect as you go.
Are you willing to reveal a figure of how much you made from writing in 2007?
I started out the year making about $300 per week, and at the close of the year I was up to an average of $1000 (most of that was in the last several months).
Any other thoughts or words of wisdom for new writers who want to earn a full-time income from writing at home?
If you’re going to be a web writer, take time to learn about the Internet, SEO and marketing online. Web writing is a different sphere with different rules and different rates. Some people take a look at the rates and don’t see the other benefits of writing on the web. You have a constant flow of work, you can build your own websites and develop your own income streams, you don’t have to spend months researching one topic, etc. I’m just as passionate about web writing as other people are about doing their first novel or writing for a magazine. If you aren’t interested in learning about how content is used online, or how to write for both search engines and people, then you are going to be very dissatisfied. This doesn’t mean that you can’t pursue other kinds of writing, but I think a lot of people get involved with writing for the web without really learning how it works and then end up throwing in the towel.
Thanks Courtney!
I give The Content Chef 4/4 Stars!
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