How to Find Writing Jobs Online

Along with other keywords and phrases, I set up a Google alert to notify me whenever the term “writing jobs” appears on line.  Invariably, besides returning links to legitimate job sites, I see people in online forums asking about how to get writing jobs online as though nothing has ever been written on the subject. 

I know why, of course.  Some people keep hoping to find some magical key that unlocks the door to easy access into the world of writing for money.  And, like with everything else, there are people willing to sell them such a key, even one that’s one size fits all, leading them to information that they could have, with even just a little effort, found for free. 

Yet there are legitimate how-to guides out there as well, excellent ones that will save you a great deal of time in researching your own writing outlets, or steer you towards types of  writing jobs you may have never thought of pursuing.  The trick is to separate the writing wheat from the chaff. I have listed the best free online resources for finding writing assignments in a previous article, which you can find here:  Best Web Sites for Finding Freelance Writing Jobs.  The following are a few resources that, if you have some money to invest in your writing career, are worth looking into:

• The Wealthy Web Writer:  This is a new membership site launched by the American Writers and Artists Institute (AWAI), a company that has put out a number of excellent writing programs over the years.  For a monthly fee that you can cancel at anytime, you’ll find a treasure trove of information, guidance, direction and writing career advice.  You can learn more about it by clicking here.

 

• Make Money from Writing: Freelance writer Debbie Dragon has developed eclasses based on her own experience that guide you step by step in establishing and growing your own freelance writing business.  Find out about her in-depth program here.

 

• The Wealthy Freelancer:  Copywriters Steve Slaunwhite, Ed Gandia and Pete Savage collaborated to bring you this excellent guide, which will be available as of March 2, 2010.  I had the opportunity to review the first three chapters, and strongly endorse this information-packed book.  You can find it here.

“Find an Expert” and “People Search” Sites

“Find an Expert” Sites: 

Here you’ll find people available for interviews on pretty much any topic you can imagine list themselves on these. 

HARO (Help a reporter Out) http://helpareporter.com/ 

ProfNet https://profnet.prnewswire.com/ 

Ask me Help Desk http://www.askmehelpdesk.com/ 

People Search Sites 

Looking for some one in particular? These are the top people search sites on the ‘Net. 

AT&T’s AnyWho http://anywho.com/ 

Switchboard.com  http://www.switchboard.com/ 

WhoWhere http://www.whowhere.com/wwphone/phone.html

Monday Miscellany for February 22

Hello!

 

Yes, I took one week off from this column.  I expect to more than make up for that over the next few weeks, as I am coming across writing contests galore.  Have fun, and go win some money.

 

Mary Anne

 

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The ‘What If’ Fiction Competition

 

Rose sees her best friend’s husband going into a hotel with another woman. The two look very friendly and Rose believes that they may be having an affair as her friend had already voiced her concerns. She feels indecisive about making the decision…so…

Consider the following options and choose the option that you feel would help you write a powerful story around it.

1. What if Rose rings her friend so that she can catch them out?
2. What if Rose decides to follow them into the hotel so that she can catch them out?
3. What if Rose confronts them?
4. What if Rose walks away and says nothing.

Submit your completed story in a maximum of 1500 words to info@creative-competitor.co.uk . 1st Prize: £75. 2nd Prize: £50. 3rd Prize: £40.

Deadline: March 7.   Entry fee: £2.

http://creativecompetitor.com/competitions

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Northern Writers’ Awards 2010 (UK)

 

The awards are run to support writers who are looking to move their work towards publication. Submissions of poetry, prose, children’s fiction, biography, creative life writing and creative literary non-fictio are accepted.  You may enter for a Time to Write Award if you are an established writer with a history of publication; a Northern Promise Award if you are a new writer who is not yet fully published; and for the special Andrea Badenoch Fiction Award if you are a female writer over the age of 42. The awards fund for 2010 is £25,000. The judges of the awards will decide how this money is awarded across all of the winning writers. Awards in the past have ranged from small bursaries of £500 to major awards of £10,000.

 

Deadline: March 10.  No entry fee. Entrants must live in specific regions of the UK.

http://www.newwritingnorth.com/awards/awards.php?section=308

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Mozelle Memoir Contest

 

The Mozelle Memoir Contest, established by Roy and Barbara Minton in 2006, offers an opportunity for writers to tell the stories they’ve always meant to write. Prize: $500 and publication on the WLT Web site.

 

Deadline: March 10.  Entry fee: $10 per submission.

http://www.writersleague.org/contests/memoir.html

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Next Generation Indie Book Awards

 

Best Fiction and Non-Fiction Books: $1,500 plus trophies

Second Place for each: $750 plus trophies

Third Place for each: $500 plus trophies

Best Cover design: $250

60 additional $100 prizes  

 

The top 60 books will be reviewed by New York literary agent Marilyn Allen of Allen O’Shea Literary Agency or one of Ms. Allen’s co-agents for possible representation.

 

Deadline: March 10.  $75 entry fee for first category, $50 entry fee additional category.

http://www.indiebookawards.com/awards.php

 

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The Nelligan Prize For Short Fiction

 

$1,500 will be awarded for the best short story, which will be published in the Fall/Winter 2010 issue of Colorado Review.

 

Deadline: March 12.  Entry fee: $15  

http://coloradoreview.colostate.edu/nell/sub.htm

 

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Writers-Editors Network International Writing Competition

 

Open to all writers, this contest includes nonfiction, fiction, children’s and poetry divisions. Will accept both published and unpublished work. First place in each category: $100 plus certificate. Second place: $75. Third place: $50.

 

Deadline: March 15.  Entry fee: $3-$20  

http://tinyurl.com/wencomp

 

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So to Speak Writing Contest

 

Each year So to Speak offers fiction, nonfiction, poetry and now an art contest. Winners in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction are awarded $500, two complimentary issues, and publication in the journal. The three finalists are also featured in the journal. Submit two copies of your manuscript: one with your name and contact information and one without. Manuscripts should not exceed 5,000 words; they should be typed and double-spaced with numbered pages.

 

Deadline: March 15.  Entry fee: $15.

http://www.gmu.edu/org/sts/contests.php

 

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The Prairie Schooner Book Prize

 

The Prairie Schooner Book Prize Series welcomes manuscripts from all living writers, including non-US citizens, writing in English. Both unpublished and published writers are welcome to submit manuscripts. Writers may enter both contests. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but we ask that you notify us immediately if your manuscript is accepted for publication somewhere else. No past or present paid employee of Prairie Schooner or the University of Nebraska Press or current faculty or student at the University of Nebraska will be eligible for the prizes.

Winners will receive $3000 and publication through the University of Nebraska Press.

 

Deadline: March 15.  Entry fee: $25.

http://tinyurl.com/prairieschooner

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Gemini Magazine Short Story Contest

 

No restrictions on content, style, genre or length. Simply send your best unpublished work by email or snail mail.  Flashes, novel excerpts, experimental—all types of short
fiction are welcome, as are both new and established writers.

 

Deadline: March 31.  Entry fee: $4.

http://www.gemini-magazine.com/contest.html

 

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Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition

 

Stories must be original unpublished fiction, typed and double-spaced, and may not exceed 3,000 words in length. There are no theme restrictions. The literary competition is open to all U.S.  and international writers whose fiction has not appeared in a

nationally distributed publication with a circulation of 5,000 or more.

 

The first-place winner will receive $1,000. The second and third-place winners will receive $500 each. Honorable mentions will also be awarded to entrants whose work demonstrates promise. The Saturday Evening Post will publish the first-place winner in its pages. Occasionally, the Post may also choose to publish any runners-up, either in its pages or on its website.

 

Deadline: April 1.  Entry fee: $12

http://www.shortstorycompetition.com/

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