Need Creativity? Brainstorm by Sleeping
The following ideas were all conceived during sleep and/or inspired by dreams. Which ONE of these ideas would you consider the best or “greatest” idea (i.e. in the sense that you’re most glad that someone ever had the idea in question)?
When it comes to the great ideas of the world – many were devised while the innovator was sleeping – or in a dream. As a writer, you can latch on to this idea to boost your creativity.
Einstein’s theory of relativity has been voted the greatest idea ever inspired during sleep, according to an international poll. Einstein's famous theory topped the list followed by the periodic table of elements and then then invention of the sewing machine in a survey of 4,453 Americans and Britons on behalf of Calm.com, the meditation and sleep app.
Here's some insight into how sleep can help your creativity, as well.
Rank, idea & percent of creative sleep respondents
The following ideas were all conceived during sleep and/or inspired by dreams. Which ONE of these ideas would you consider the best or “greatest” idea (i.e. in the sense that you’re most glad that someone ever had the idea in question)?
1 - The theory of relativity, by Einstein - 23%
2 - The periodic table of chemical elements - 13%
3 - The invention of the sewing machine - 10%
4 - The model of the atom, conceived by physicist Neils Bohr - 7%
5 - “Yesterday”, the Beatles song by Paul McCartney - 5%
6 - “Terminator”, the movie(s) and movie character - 3%
6 - The principles of analytical geometry, devised by René Descartes - 3%
8 - “Frankenstein”, the novel by Mary Shelley - 2%
8 - “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction”, the Rolling Stones song by Keith Richards - 2%
10 - “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”, the novella by Robert Louis Stevenson - 1%
10 - “Kubla Kahn”, the poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge - 1%
10 - The discovery of the structure of the benzene molecule - 1%
More about the poll
The poll was commissioned by the app Calm, recently named Apple’s App of the Year.
Calm helps users relax and sleep with a growing library of sleep music and 80+ bedtime stories for grown-ups known as Sleep Stories.
“It’s a stunning list,” says Alex Tew, co-founder of Calm.
“Sleep is not just vital to health but perhaps the greatest single source of creativity.”
Some items to note
Einstein’s famous theory comfortably topped the poll with 23% of the vote ahead of the periodic table on 13% and the sewing machine on 10%.
No other idea, including “Yesterday” (5%), polled more than single figures.
Einstein’s journey to the theory of relativity reportedly began with a dream about a field of cows surrounded by an electric fence. But when he told the farmer who he met in the dream what he’d seen and the farmer’s account differed, it gave Einstein the key insight that the same event could look different from different perspectives.
The periodic table of chemical elements seems to have appeared fully formed to the Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev in his sleep on the night of February 17, 1869. “I saw in a dream a table where all the elements fell into place as required,” he wrote. “Awakening, I immediately wrote it down on a piece of paper. Only in one place did a correction later seem necessary.”
“Yesterday”, The Beatles song whose tune came to Paul McCartney in his sleep one night in 1964, polled highest of any idea from the arts rather than sciences, ranking fifth overall – one behind the model of atom, devised by the Danish physicist Neils Bohr.
Sixth place in Calm’s poll went jointly to Terminator, the movie character which first appeared to director James Cameron in a dream, and the principles of analytic geometry devised by René Descartes, the 17th century French philosopher and mathematician who reputedly slept up to 12 hours a day.
Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones did not even have to write down the opening verse of the great Stones’ song, “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction”. When he woke in the morning of May 7, 1965, he found that he had unwittingly committed it to a tape recorder during the night.
“Sleep is the only source of invention," felt Marcel Proust, the great French writer. Winston Churchill agreed that the best time and place to get ideas was when asleep.
The French poet, Saint-Pol-Roux, reputedly hung a sign on his bedroom door before sleep that read, “Le Poète Travaille” [“Poet at Work”]. John Steinbeck, the American author and Nobel laureate wrote, “A problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep has worked on it.”
How it works
This kind of “intelligent information processing that inspires creativity and promotes problem-solving” is a distinct benefit of REM- [Rapid Eye-Movement] sleep and the act of dreaming, says Matthew Walker, the Berkeley University sleep scientist, in his acclaimed new book, “Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams.”
“Sleep seems to stimulate your mind to make non-obvious connections”, Walker has said. “It puts all the information from the day into a big biological theatre and forces the mind to speak to people at the back of the theatre, who you may not think you have any connection with. This is the basis of creativity – connecting ideas, events and memories that wouldn’t normally fit together.”
REM-sleep, and the dreaming process associated with it, says Walker, is “informational alchemy”, from which have come some of the most revolutionary leaps forward in human progress."
Four Ways To Come Up With Ideas In Your Sleep
Is “Sleep-storming” the new brainstorming?
Not only is it possible to boost your odds of generating ideas while you sleep but there’s even a scientific name for it: “Structured unconscious generative ideation”.
A non-scientific name for it might be “sleep-storming” – as in brainstorming, done solo while you’re asleep.
But can you really train your brain to harvest your sleep for ideas? And is sleep-storming the new brainstorming?
Here are four simple ways suggested by Calm to increase your chances of coming up with ideas while you sleep – and/or capturing the ones that you do.
1 - Keep a Notebook Handy + Write Down Your Dreams
It can be hard to remember your dreams and/or any ideas they inspire. So, always keep a notebook by your bed. Get into the habit of writing down your dreams – and any ideas they might trigger – immediately on waking and almost before you are fully awake. Write down every dream you can recall rather than being selective.
The act of writing them down helps you build a relationship with your subconscious, which should in turn help improve your dream recall.
“I always keep a notebook by my bed,” says Michael Acton-Smith, co-founder of Calm. “I often wake up in the night to jot down ideas – and then do so again first thing in the morning.”
2 - Ask Your Subconscious The Question You’re Trying to Answer
“Never go to sleep without a request to your subconscious”, advised Thomas Edison, the great inventor. So, instead of just falling asleep, brief or prime your subconscious to generate new ideas. Before falling asleep, ask yourself the question that you’re trying to answer; then, finally, focus on something else, such as reading or relaxation techniques.
3 - Wake Yourself Mid-Sleep
Waking yourself while dreaming or starting to fall asleep was a technique used by both the artist Salvador Dalí and the inventor Thomas Edison. Dali would put a tin plate on the floor and then sit on a chair beside it, holding a spoon over the plate. He’d then try to doze off so that the spoon would fall and wake him. Edison did similar but with ball bearings and a saucepan. The aim for both was to jolt themselves awake in order to capture ideas from their dreams.
4 - Learn to Have “Lucid Dreams”
coping with anxiety
Lucid dreaming is the sense of being consciously aware that you are dreaming. This state can help you to explore ideas, control elements of your dream and have better than normal dream recall than. Learning to dream lucidly takes time and practice. You need to try repeating a mantra telling yourself that you want to dream or know that you are dreaming and, for example, want to be aware that you are dreaming and to remember the dream.
The best high-paying freelance gigs of the week: April 27, 2020
Don't miss this week’s gigs!
Hey, No-fluffers! It's Monday, so it’s time to start pitching. Remember, keep 12 in play to keep bills at bay.
Here’s this weeks list of best paying gigs to help you find some new places to write for. These gigs pay at least $50 an article, offer a full-time salary, or pay more than $20 an hour. They are also all remote (also known as virtual jobs or work-from-home jobs). Be sure to check back each week for a new list of remote writing jobs.
Note: I don’t know anything about these positions other than what I post. I weed out the seedy looking ones, but it is your job to be diligent when applying. Also, please don’t message me with questions about the postings. If a link doesn’t work the posting has probably been taken down because the gig has been filled. If you have a gig for freelance writers that pays at least $50 a peice or over $20 an hour, please contact me and I will include your gig in next week’s post.
Grant writer
Pay: $2000 per week
More info: Indeed
Skincare writer
Pay: $16 to $22 per hour
More info: Indeed
Content writer
Pay: $15 to $20 per hour
More info: Indeed
Pharmacy communications writer
Pay: $20 to $25 per hour
More info: Indeed
Business analyst / techincal writer
Pay: $40 to $50 per hour
More info: Indeed
Freelance writer
Pay: $1 or $1.10 per 100 words with the possibility of bonuses
More info: Indeed
Grant writer
Pay: $25 to $30 an hour
More info: Indeed
Technical writer
Pay: $26 to $33 per hour
More info: Indeed
Freelance photography writer
Pay: $100 per day
More info: Indeed
Small Business, SMB Writers, Journalists Wanted
Pay: $30,000 to $40,000 per year
More info: Indeed
Technical journalist
Pay: $60,000 - $120,000 a year
More info: Indeed
Social Media Specialist + Freelance Copywriting
Pay: $25 to $30 per hour
More info: Indeed
Website Conversion Copywriter
Pay: $50,000 to $60,000 per year
More info: Indeed
Multi-talented Writer for social media, website, blogs, and video scripts
Pay: $45,000 per year
More info: Indeed
Journalist
Pay: $25,000 - $30,000 a year
More info: Indeed
Math Copywriter
Pay: $1,000 - $1,200 a month
More info: Indeed
Business plan writer
Pay: $25 to $35 per hour
More info: Indeed
Grant writer
Pay: $50,000 per year
More info: Indeed
Remote Contract Writer for Full Length Investing for Beginner's Books
Pay: $60,000 per year
More info: Indeed
Car writer
Pay: Full-time
More info: LinkedIn
5 Types of Files and Extensions and How to Use Them
If you’re going to be a writer, you need to know about different file types. Enjoy this guest article!
Guest post by Emily Lamp
Note from Alina: If you’re going to be a writer, you need to know about different file types. Enjoy this guest article!
There are different types of file formats used by a computer, with each file type designed to support certain forms of content. The most common file types include program, scripts, images and web pages.
Filename extensions are often noted in parentheses if they are different from the file format abbreviation or name. Keeping this in mind, here are five file types and extensions and how to use them on your website.
1. JPG
Also known as JPEG, Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPG) is a method of lossy compression often used for digital images, especially for images produced by digital photography. You can adjust the degree of compression, which allows a selectable tradeoff between image quality and storage size. JPG files are easy to upload, making them suitable for use on the web.
2. ASPX file
Aspx file extension is an ASPX (Active Server Page Extended) file, a webpage that's generated by web servers designed to run the Microsoft ASP.NET framework. An ASPX file contains one or more scripts that are written in C# code or VBScript, which is processed by a web server into HTML (Hypertext Markup Language). This is then sent to your web browser.
You can convert ASPX page to PDF using Itextsharp. Itextsharp is a tool used to create reports and documents based on data from XML files or databases and split or merge pages from Portable Document Format files (PDF).
3. PDF
Commonly used for printing purposes and online documents, PDF was developed in the '90s by Adobe to achieve two main things. The first being to allow users to open their documents on documents on any web browser, operating system, application and device without needing the application used to create them - you only need a PDF reader. The second reason is that when you open a PDF file, the layout of your document will look the same. The reliability of PDFs allow you to create long documents, then share them with other people without losing the original design. Portable Document Format files can contain forms, interactive buttons, video, hyperlinks, embedded fonts, images and text.
4. PNG
Developed as an improved and non-patented replacement for GIF (Graphics Interchange Format), PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a bitmap image or raster graphics file-format designed for the web to support lossless data compression. Unlike GIF, Portable Network Graphics use better image compression technology, allowing for smaller files that can download more swiftly. PNG images also allow you to achieve full alpha channel transparency, allowing you to easily move images from a background and place it on another.
5. MP4
MP4 or MPEG-4 Part 14 is a multimedia container format used to store audio and video. An MP4 file can also contain PDF, metadata and XMP (Extensible Meta Data Platform), including PDF, subtitles, images based on PNG or JPEG and more. Support for metadata means you can integrate the file with user navigation options, 3D graphics or menus and other user interaction features. Its compression format makes the file small and lightweight, making it easy to upload your website. MP4 can be used on many platforms as it's supported by all media players. This makes it easier to use or distribute. It's ideal for those who want to save high definition audio-video files on their website.
Final Words
File formats and extensions are important as they allow you to identify the nature of contents in a file. File extensions tell your computer how it will handle a file by following a convention that the application's developer laid down.
About the Author
Emily Lamp is a professional writer, working closely with many aspiring thinkers and entrepreneurs from various companies. She is also interested in technology, business growth and self-improvement.
Best States (and Worst) for Working from Home
Some interesting news from WalletHub. Do you live in one of these states?
Some interesting news from WalletHub.
With COVID-19 turning home into the workplace nationwide, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on the Best States for Working from Home, as well as accompanying videos, in order to highlight which areas are thriving and which are struggling in this pandemic economy.
To identify which states are most conducive to working from home, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 12 key metrics. The data set ranges from the share of workers working from home before COVID-19 to internet cost and cybersecurity. We also considered factors like how large and how crowded homes are in the state. Together, these metrics show how feasible working from home is in terms of cost, comfort and safety. Below, you can see highlights from the report, along with a WalletHub Q&A.
Best States for Working from Home
Delaware
Washington
New Hampshire
Colorado
Georgia
Arizona
Utah
Oregon
North Carolina
South Dakota
Worst States for Working from Home
District of Columbia
Wyoming
Iowa
Rhode Island
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Arkansas
Mississippi
Hawaii
Alaska
Key Stats
Colorado has the highest share of the labor force working from home, 7.70 percent, which is 3.3 times higher than in Mississippi, the state with the lowest at 2.30 percent.
New Hampshire has the highest share of households with a broadband internet subscription, 78.80 percent, which is 1.7 times higher than in Mississippi, the state with the lowest at 46.80 percent.
Connecticut has the highest share of households with access to broadband speeds over 25 Mbps, 98.70 percent, which is 1.5 times higher than in Mississippi, the state with the lowest at 65.40 percent.
South Dakota has the fewest cybercrime victims per 100,000 residents, 54.73, which is four times fewer than in Nevada, the state with the most at 218.31.
Indiana has the lowest amount lost per victim as a result of internet crime, $2,465.73, which is 11.5 times lower than in Ohio, the state with the highest at $28,394.32.
North Dakota has the lowest residential retail price of electricity, 9.01 cents per kWh, which is 3.5 times lower than in Hawaii, the state with the highest at 31.70 cents per kWh.
To view the full report and your state’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-states-for-working-from-home/72801/
The best high-paying freelance gigs of the week: April 20, 2020
More gigs than ever before!
Hey, No-fluffers! The year is more than a forth over with. I know, I can’t believe it, either. Now is the time to start making moves. A big part of making your business successful is pitching. I’m here to help. These gigs pay at least $50 an article, offer a full-time salary, or pay more than $20 an hour. They are also all remote (also known as virtual jobs or work-from-home jobs). Be sure to check back each week for a new list. Need help with your pitches? Here’s everything you need to know about pitching.
Note: I don’t know anything about these positions other than what I post. I weed out the seedy looking ones, but it is your job to be diligent when applying. Also, please don’t message me with questions about the postings. If a link doesn’t work the posting has probably been taken down because the gig has been filled. If you have a gig for freelance writers that pays at least $50 a peice or over $20 an hour, please contact me and I will include your gig in next week’s post.
ACT Science Test Writer needed
Pay: $900 - $1,200 per test
More info: Craigslist
Contract Creative Writer
Pay: $55 – $65/hour
More info: Blogging Pro
Course Developer-Physics Content Writer
Pay: $20 - $30 an hour
More info: Indeed
Writer for Archery and Bowhunting
Pay: $15 - $25 an hour
More info:Pay: Indeed
Content Creators For Live Streaming Opportunity
Pay: $17 - $20 an hour
More info: Indeed
Data Science Technical Writer - PhD or Graduates Preferred
Pay: $20 - $30 an hour
More info: Indeed
BBC Worklife is looking for writers
Pay: $600 for 800-1200 words
Author brief:
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200417-bbc-worklife-author-brief
Pitch using this Google form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1cCZAY5_4WZ3F4d9taWB6YzMUp0xNv_FaCZ_dHb_LbK8/edit
The North American Guild of Beer Writers is looking for posts
Pay: $50–$100 per post
More info: Reporter’s Notebook
#Freelancers Seeking experienced beauty writers. $175-200 per article. Need unique angles, fresh perspectives, POVs and listicles. Send samples and pitches to choshaw (at) healthline (dot) com
— Crystal Hoshaw (@CrystalHoshaw) April 7, 2020
Freelance Writing
— Doris-Maria Heilmann (@111publishing) April 9, 2020
Chicken Soup: Age is Just a Number
We are looking for stories about the humorous or serious sides of life after 60. Limit 1,200 words. Pays $200 and ten copies.
Deadline May 31, 2020 - Find more benefits for writers here:https://t.co/JRa6DIY88z
. pic.twitter.com/Yt9v33Ue7i
CNET Wellness Reviews Writer
More info: Indeed
Contributing Writer/Editor
Pay: $15 - $30 an hour
More info: Indeed
Technical Writer
Pay: $52 an hour
More info: Indeed
Research Grant and Manuscript Writer
Pay: $50,000 - $60,000 a year
More info: Indeed
Forbes is growing its news desk
Pay: Full-time
More info: Indeed
The best high-paying freelance gigs of the week: April 13, 2020
Here’s this weeks list of best paying gigs to help you find some new places to write for.
Hey, No-fluffers! Here’s this weeks list of best paying gigs to help you find some new places to write for. These gigs pay at least $50 an article, offer a full-time salary, or pay more than $20 an hour. They are also all remote (also known as virtual jobs or work-from-home jobs). Be sure to check back each week for a new list. Need help with your pitches? Here’s everything you need to know about pitching.
Note: I don’t know anything about these positions other than what I post. I weed out the seedy looking ones, but it is your job to be diligent when applying. Also, please don’t message me with questions about the postings. If a link doesn’t work the posting has probably been taken down because the gig has been filled. If you have a gig for freelance writers that pays at least $50 a peice or over $20 an hour, please contact me and I will include your gig in next week’s post.
Copywriter
Pay: $40 - $50 an hour
More info: Indeed
Freelance Resume Writer
Pay: $17.50 - $20.00 an hour
More info: Indeed
Content Writer for Dog Content Site
Pay: Full-time
More info: Indeed
Medical Writer
Pay: Full-time
More info: Indeed
Security Specialist/Technical Writer, Security Transformation and Resources
Pay: Full-time
More info: Indeed
Business Writer
Pay: “We pay $350 per article. After writers have written for us for months, mastered the process and require minimal editing, we pay $450 per post.”
More info: Blogging Pro
Freelance Blogger
Pay: $15 - $25 an hour
More info: Indeed
Freelance SEO Content Writer / Copywriter for Specialty Law Firm
Pay: $15 - $25 an hour
More info: Indeed
Email Writers
Pay: $50-60,000 a year
More info: LinkedIn
Data Writer (Insurance)
Pay: Full-time
More info: LinkedIn
Remote Grant Writer
Pay: Full-time
More info: LinkedIn
Medical Writer
Pay: Full-time
More info: LinkedIn
Freelance Blogger / Content Marketer
Pay: $50 per post
More info: Craigslist
Proposal Writer
Pay: $30-$40 per hour
More info: Daily Remote
Resume Writer - Healthcare
Pay: Full-time
More info: LinkedIn
Content Writer
Pay: Full-time
More info: LinkedIn
Technical Writer for Zoom
Pay: Full-time
More info: Recruit.net
How Much Can You Make as a Freelance Writer?
Indeed has released information they have collected on this very topic. Here’s a look at what they shared and some other insights.
I’m asked a lot about how much income someone can expect as a freelance writer. I always say it depends on how much time you put in, your skill and niche. I know that answer doesn't satisfy most people. Interestingly enough, Indeed has gathered some information on this very topic. Here’s a look at what they shared and some other insights.
How much does a Writer make in United States?
Here’s what Indeed had to say about writer pay in the US:
The average salary for a Writer is $23.38 per hour in United States. Salary estimates are based on 1,159 salaries submitted anonymously to Indeed by Writer employees, users, and collected from past and present job advertisements on Indeed in the past 36 months. The typical tenure for a Writer is less than 1 year.
I think this is pretty accurate for beginners. Many writers (including myself) make much more. I tend to make $100 to $200 an hour. Also, what type of writing you do plays a role. For example, Indeed found that content writers (people who write articles or blogs) tend to make $16.97 per hour. Copywriters make around $57,152 per year on average and technical writers tend to make $33.24 per hour.
How to raise your rates
Overall, Indeed says that writers in the United States generally earn between $10.50 – $56.05 per hour based on 5,014 salaries shared by writers and employers in the United States. How much I earn is 311.84% above the United States's average. So how did I get here? Glad you asked. Here’s some tips:
Read articles, blogs, whitepapers, or whatever in your niche and take notes.
Write, write, write! You can’t improve without consistently working on your craft.
Apply for high-paying gigs and be confident!
My No-Fluff Freelance Writing Pack lays out all of the steps for you. Get it for just $29.97.
The best high-paying freelance gigs of the week: April 6, 2020
Come get your weekly serving of awesome writing gigs.
Hey, No-fluffers! No matter how the world keeps saying that jobs are going away, remember that editors, businesses and publications still want our pitches. Don’t give up! Quality content is always needed, even during a pandemic.
Here’s this weeks list of best paying gigs to help you find some new places to write for. These gigs pay at least $50 an article, offer a full-time salary, or pay more than $20 an hour. They are also all remote (also known as virtual jobs or work-from-home jobs). Be sure to check back each week for a new list.
Note: I don’t know anything about these positions other than what I post. I weed out the seedy looking ones, but it is your job to be diligent when applying. Also, please don’t message me with questions about the postings. If a link doesn’t work the posting has probably been taken down because the gig has been filled. If you have a gig for freelance writers that pays at least $50 a peice or over $20 an hour, please contact me and I will include your gig in next week’s post.
Digital Wellness Freelance Writer
Pay: Minimum pay is $50 per 500 words.
More info: Craigslist
We are looking for guest posts for the UX Writers Collective blog! If you have a topic that you want to write about related to UX writing or content design, pitch us at blog@uxwriterscollective.com. We pay US $100 an article! https://t.co/uVnXxXRUgM #uxwriting #contentdesign pic.twitter.com/CuSBuj97ck
— UX Writer's Collective (@uxwritersc) April 1, 2020
Business & Tech Writer
Pay: “This role can be either Full time ($50k-$60k plus a great benefit package) or freelance ($100-$150/issue).”
More info: MediaBistro
NerdWallet Writer
Pay: Full-time
More info: LinkedIn
Remote Technical Writer 2
Pay: 35.00 to 40.00 an hour
More info: DailyRemote
Copywriter
Pay: Full-time
More info: AngelList
Remote/Telecommute Fiction Ghostwriter
Pay: $1,000 to $3,000 Monthly
More info: ZipRecruiter
Looking to commission some really great real life stories for Fabulous magazine's Life Stories page. We pay £350 for 1000 words. Must be UK-based, female-focused stories with great pics and not done media before please! Please pitch me rosie.gizauskas@fabulousmag.co.uk <3
— Rosie Gižauskas (@RGIZZA) April 1, 2020
Technical Blogger
Pay: Full-time
More info: Lensa
Senior Technical Writer
Pay: Full-time
More info: Philips
Write Summaries of Non-Fiction Books and Articles
Pay: “Compensation is paid hourly, with expected rates from $15 to $25, depending on prior experience and quality of work.”
More info: MediaBistro
Teaching Tolerance is seeking writers
Pay: $1 per published word
More info: Guidelines
Investigative Journalism
Pay: $100 per article
More info: JournalismJobs.com
Website Content Writer
Pay: $30 - $35 an hour
More info: Indeed
Freelancer, Legal Research/Writer
Pay: $25 per hour
More info: Indeed
18 Tips for Taking Care of Your Mind and Body While Working at Home
If you’re new to working at home, or you’re an old pro looking for some tips, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve teamed up with award-winning career coach Neha O’Rourke, actress Amanda Steele, and International best-selling author Devri Walls to share how to mix a little self-care into working from home.
If you’re new to working at home, or you’re an old pro looking for some tips, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve teamed up with award-winning career coach Neha O’Rourke, actress Amanda Steele, and International best-selling author Devri Walls to share how to mix a little self-care into working from home.
3 Ways to ease anxiety
Neha O’Rourke has three ways to mitigate anxiety or fear that may become leading characteristics of individuals’ emotional wellbeing:
Choose empowering thoughts: It’s really easy to get caught up in fear in these situations - and that’s not always a bad thing (think: fear is helping you buy soap or cleaning products). Just evaluate if your fears are empowering you and are constructive or if they are merely draining your energy. If they are draining your energy, try to reframe it to be an empowering thought.
Control what’s in your control and let go of the rest: You can’t control what’s going on around you, but you can control your thoughts, actions and choices: keep up your hygiene, choose where you interact, take preventative measure, etc. From there, recognize that other things are out of your hands and worrying about that will not serve you. You worrying will actually cause stress, which we know has negative effects on immunity.
Get perspective and be mindful of your impact on others: Many of us are lucky enough to work at jobs that allow us to stay home or in a safe environment. There are many who do not have that luxury. Additionally, remind yourself that although you may not be in the highest risk category, your choices can affect someone’s parent, grandparent, brother, sister, mother, etc. Think about your privilege and make choices with your impact in mind .
Five Beauty & Fashion Tips for Keeping it Together While Working From Home
Amanda Steele using a Glowdust mask.
Once you have your head right, it’s time for the body. Digital influencer, model, and actress Amanda Steele offers these five tips:
The Glowdust Beauty After-Party CBD Sheet Mask is a MUST in my evening skincare routine. The all natural ingredients have really nursed my skin back to life by keeping it extra hydrated and glowing all day long.
I am OBSESSED with hair masks right now. The living proof intense moisture mask has restored so much health in my hair, and you only have to leave it in for 15 minutes.
As fun as it is to stay in sweats all day at the house, I don’t feel as productive if I don’t get ready for my day and put an outfit on that makes me feel good. You will always catch me wearing STEELE, as it's my own brand and in my opinion the best brand ;) My go to pieces will always be the Baby Tee and Vegan Leather Blazer. I can never go wrong with them.
Aquaphor is such an underrated product for literally everything! It is hands down the best moisturizer for my lips. My lips are always left extremely hydrated and plump. I apply this at all times of the day, almost as much as I can.
Last but not least, a good sleep schedule is critical to my day to day lifestyle. Good sleep is an essential to beauty and health. It’s very easy to get off track when you work from home, so it’s key for me to keep an eye on it and make sure I’m up and ready at the same time every day.
Make your day great
When the body and mind are taken care of, you can make sure your days go great with these tips from International best-selling author of the Venators Series, Devri Walls:
Get ready for the day. Hear me out. First of all, if you’re showered and dressed in decent clothes, you might actually do that job that has suddenly been moved to your home kitchen table office where your toddler is dripping milk across your very important documents. But equally as important, what if this quarantine finally spurs the ancient elven races to descend from their hiding places and retake Earth? All I’m saying is that if Legolas comes walking down my street with that long golden hair flowing out behind him, I’m going to want to look good.
Stop staring at your phone and reading everything you can find. Here’s the deal - I did it. I read all the things. I’m scared to look at my screen time count…IT WASN’T PRETTY! So, before you start leaving blubbering social media posts about how you’ll miss the society you once you knew while quoting Shakespeare in preparation for our return to days of yore, walk away.
Create something. Anything. It’s hard when it feels like things are falling apart around you. Take back an iota of control and start up those piano lessons online, build your website, read that book, redecorate the room that’s been driving you nuts, get a garden ready, teach your pet dragon not to set your beard on fire, build that meditation tree stand. You do you!
Find your quest mates. This life is a crazy adventure, and some of us have lost sight of that in our modern world. Well guess what? Life just demanded that you slow the heck down and look around for a second. Find those that are important to you and cling tight. Live alone? Losing your mind? Guess what? This is the easiest year ever to have a quarantine. You can live video chat with whoever, wherever. It’s like magic! The most amazing, socially-connecting magic ever! Trust me when I say that Arwin (one of my favorite wizards) would be most impressed.
Take your magic potions. A magic potion is critical! What? Why are you looking at me like that? All right fine, there’s no potion. It’s vitamins. I’m talking about vitamins. But it’s a fact that having a healthy body is important.
Read the books. If I had a dollar for every person who told me, “I’d like to read but I don’t have time,” I’d be a ka-billion-jillya-naire. And instead of writing this post, I’d be recording some uber-swanky video from my own personal island that I purchased just for this quarantine. Guess what we’ve all got now? Time. So hey, pull that old book off the shelves, order a new one from your favorite local bookstore for delivery, choose an eBook or download an audio book. The book world is so accommodating these days - take advantage.
Dance party in the living room. I have no fantastical basis for this suggestion; I just feel like it’s a good, solid plan. Music, exercise, fun, and laughter. With no one other than your immediate family to make you embarrassed. Now is your time to let those dancing shoes out of the box. Fine print: Cats and dogs are included as family. Also, goldfish. I’d add chinchillas but I have it on good authority that they get a little judgey.
Eat well. Look, we’ve all said that we’d love to cook this or that but we don’t have time. I made sweet and sour pork with fried rice last night. How long did that take me? Two hours. TWO HOURS, people! Think I have time for that on a normal weekday? No. (Nor would I have had time for the second degree burn on my thumb from frying said sweet and sour pork.) Maybe today is the day that you finally make that attempt at homemade bread. Will you ever want to do it again? I have no idea.
Find your Zen. Life these days moves at breakneck speed. Article after article has been written about how much stress the constant barrage of things that need attention creates. That includes cleaning the house and keeping your space from clutter. This means before you start your work week, getting all of the bigger and smaller jobs done will help you to keep a clean mind. The bigger, annual jobs like boiler checks and dryer vent cleaning can make all the difference when you know they’re booked in and ready to go. You’ve just been forced to slow down. No, you can’t attend the after-work get together, and little Johnny won’t be making it to that birthday party after all.
Even though many of us are working from home and trying to juggle new distractions, the fact is that your social calendar just cleared up. Let’s figure out how to live at a lower level for a while. Who knows what heroic things we can accomplish when our lives and minds are less cluttered?
Find your moments. Even in fiction we can’t write all bad all the time. It’s not sustainable. And what I mean by that is that YOU the reader cannot and will not sustain it. It’s too heavy, too depressing, you literally can’t handle it. So, we add breaks, moments of light. Sometimes it can be as small as a smile and a sarcastic comment. Living life in the darkness, even if it is dark, is not sustainable. You must find the light in the small moments throughout the day to hold onto. They are there if you look for them.
The best high-paying freelance gigs of the week: March 30, 2020
Hey, No-fluffers! We’re going through some hard times right now, but editors, businesses and publications still want us pitching. Don’t give up! Quality content is always needed, even in times of hardship. I’ve also listed some places where writers can go to potentially get financial help through funds and grants.
Hey, No-fluffers! We’re going through some hard times right now, but editors, businesses and publications still want us pitching. Don’t give up! Quality content is always needed, even in times of hardship. I’ve also listed some places where writers can go to potentially get financial help through funds and grants.
Here’s this weeks list of best paying gigs to help you find some new places to write for. These gigs pay at least $50 an article, offer a full-time salary, or pay more than $20 an hour. They are also all remote (also known as virtual jobs or work-from-home jobs). Be sure to check back each week for a new list.
Note: I don’t know anything about these positions other than what I post. I weed out the seedy looking ones, but it is your job to be diligent when applying. Also, please don’t message me with questions about the postings. If a link doesn’t work the posting has probably been taken down because the gig has been filled. If you have a gig for freelance writers that pays at least $50 a peice or over $20 an hour, please contact me and I will include your gig in next week’s post.
Freelance Remote Comic Book Features Writer
Pay: Full-time
More info: LinkedIn
Scripted needs writers
Pay: 10 cents per word
More info: Scripted
Freelance Remote Gaming Features Writer
Pay: Full-time
More info: LinkedIn
Freelance Remote Trending Tech Features Writer
Pay: Full-time
More info: LinkedIn
Senior Medical Writer
Pay: Full-time
More info: ZipRecruiter
Nutrition Article Writers
Pay: $50 per article for word count of 3500-4500 words per article
More info: Nutrition Jobs
SEO Marketing Writer
Pay: $50 for (1500 words). Will pay more for experienced writers.
More info: Craigslist
COVID-19 EMERGENCY FUND FOR JOURNALISTS
Pay: Grant
More info: National Geographic
IWMF Emergency Fund
Pay: Grant
More info: International Women's Media Foundation
COVID-19 Related Funding
Pay: A list of places you can reach out to for funding
More info: Grant Station
AreWeEurope print magazine needs writers
Pay: 100 Euros
More info: Guidelines
Medical Writer
Pay: Full-time
More info: Indeed
Remote Copywriter
Pay: Full-time
More info: WebFX
5 Tips for Finding Remote Writing Gigs
Here’s how to find remote writing gigs that are perfect for you and your freelance lifestyle.
Guest Post by Desiree Villena
Of course, in order to flourish as a freelance writer, you need jobs. And to find jobs, you need to know how to optimize your presentation and communications with clients on sites like Indeed, Mediabistro, Upwork, and more. I’m here to give you five actionable tips on how to do just that, so you can find remote writing gigs that are perfect for you and your freelance lifestyle! Let’s get to work.
Tip #1: Construct a detailed, eloquent profile
The two main elements of any professional profile are a) the work you’ve done and skills you possess, and b) the manner in which you present this information. A strong freelance writing profile must excel in both areas. Sloppily listing off your achievements is a self-defeating exercise; likewise, a flowery mission statement is worth nothing if it lacks concrete details.
You’d be shocked how many online freelancer profiles fail at either detail or eloquence, and sometimes both. Fortunately, this means it’s easy to stand out from the crowd with just a bit of effort! If you’ve never constructed a thorough résumé, or haven’t revised your existing one in some time, now’s the time to see where you can improve.
Start with basic information. Have you mentioned your education and degree, if relevant? An English, journalism, or communications degree shows that you’ve invested in a writing career. Next, move onto work experience. Emphasize roles where you’ve done lots of writing, or even worked “writing-adjacent” (as a copyeditor, for example). Finally, if you can think of any other special skills or outstanding achievements, list those as well.
Once you’ve compiled all that, it’s time to make it look nice. Though you don’t want to go overboard, include a couple of descriptive bullet points per job title, and employ professional yet creative language to demonstrate that you are, in fact, a talented writer. And before you upload your profile anywhere, have someone else check it for errors. Nothing’s more embarrassing than having the wrong form of “they’re”/”their”/”there” on your writing-based résumé.
Tip #2: List your profile under multiple categories
Speaking of uploading your profile to job sites, not only should you take advantage of every freelance platform at your disposal, but you should also list yourself under as many categories within those platforms as possible. For example, on Upwork you can select multiple writing categories such as article and blog writing, copywriting, and technical writing. You can even create specialized profiles to appeal to different types of clients!
But besides that, consider listing your profile under semi-related categories (admin, marketing, SEO, etc.) in order to gain more prospects. It might seem counterproductive to target clients who aren’t necessarily looking for writers — yet in today’s hyper-competitive job market, it never hurts to cast a wider net. And in my experience, posting your profile outside of writing-related categories is one of the best ways to find hidden gems with minimal competition.
This is because just about every company needs writers for something, and competent writers are surprisingly hard to find. So if they happen upon your profile while looking to fill an admin role, they might be a bit confused, but mainly impressed by what you have to offer — and will likely contact you either for the job at hand (which may involve a small amount of writing), or for a higher-paying gig that involves more writing. Either way, you’ve made a valuable connection, not least because it provides an opportunity for the following…
Tip #3: Build a diverse portfolio of writing samples
Even the most silver-tongued profile can only do so much to convey your true writing prowess. To show clients you’ve got the skills to pay the bills, you’ll also need a strong collection of writing samples — ideally from several different projects. For example, in my portfolio I have listicles, how-to guides, a few “topical” articles, and even one technical piece that breaks down a complex process into manageable steps.
Needless to say, these writing samples should be as polished as possible, ready to submit at a moment’s notice. So if you wrote your most interesting pieces years ago, make sure they’re updated to your current standard of quality. And if you don’t have any quality writing samples, there’s no time like the present to create some; don’t wait until someone asks! Depending on the platform, you may be able to upload them as part of your profile.
Not only is it more professional to have samples ready right away, it’s also way less stressful than being forced to pull something out of thin air. And if a client does ask you to create a new sample based on a specific prompt, at least you’ll have some similar work to reference. Of course, not every client will do this, or even ask for writing samples at all — but writers hoping to secure long-term writing gigs (such as company content writing or ghostwriting jobs for authors) should always be prepared to offer them up.
Tip #4: Seek out clients yourself
Though there’s certainly something to be said for letting writing jobs come to you, this article is about how to find them yourself. This means that even after perfecting your profile, settings, and samples, you still need to proactively apply for gigs — especially if you’re just starting out.
The obvious way to do this is to search for them on your job site(s) of choice. Though each writer will have their own preferences, my recommendation is to stick to gig-based sites like Upwork and Textbroker if you’re still relatively new to the freelance writing game, and only consult job boards like LinkedIn and Indeed once you’ve got a few years of experience and you’re searching for a long-term, in-house writing or editing position.
In terms of the “newbie” sites, it’s easy to experiment with different keywords to discover gigs that suit you. Once you find one you’re interested in, submit a brief message or cover letter; this should be tailored to the gig, within reason. Consider creating a few cover letter templates, say for copywriting vs. technical writing vs. blogging, so you can quickly pick the most effective one, personalize the greeting, and shoot it off.
Again, today’s freelance job market is a numbers game, and on most platforms you have to send loads of messages just to get a single response. That said, once you’ve built up your portfolio and the job requests start rolling in, make sure to remember this next tip.
Tip #5: Don’t bite off more than you can chew
Perhaps it’s a bit premature to give this tip to readers who are just dipping their toes into the pool of freelance writing. But honestly, it’s never too early to learn the most crucial lesson of freelancing: don’t take on so much that you burn yourself out.
Almost every freelancer remembers a time when they had to work 50, 60, 70 hours a week or more to make ends meet. So even when they’re financially comfortable and can afford to take fewer jobs, there’s still that internal pressure to say yes to everything just in case.
From the bottom of my heart, I urge you not to do this. Not only is it mentally and physically taxing, but juggling too many jobs will almost inevitably result in one of them being dropped — either shoddily completed, or not completed at all. Clients will notice, they’ll give you negative feedback, and your job success rate/star rating/whatever metric will drop. The ironic result of taking on too many jobs is that you end up exactly where you feared: not being able to get any.
So know your limits and politely turn down work that pushes you beyond them, especially if it’s not part of your skill set — for example, marketing a book that you helped ghostwrite. And though most freelancers have to hustle when they’re just starting out, just keep in mind that there will come a time when you’ll be overwhelmed with job requests, and that it’s in both your personal and professional best interests to only take those you need.
Indeed, all these tips should help you balance those interests as you search for freelance writing jobs. It might take some perseverance, but if you work hard to stand out and follow through with high-quality writing, you’ll have your pick of the freelance litter in no time.
4 Ways to Boost Your Confidence as a Writer
Here are four easy ways to boost your confidence.
Everyone should feel confident, happy, and secure in their job roles, even if they are forging a new life as a freelance writer. Taking steps to improve your abilities and feel more confident will help to boost your overall satisfaction…and how much you make. Here are four easy ways to boost your confidence.
1. Complete online training courses
Modern technology means that it is now possible to complete a wide variety of online courses from the comfort of your home. These courses are designed to be flexible and can be completed at your own pace, alongside work and other commitments. Completing online training courses and qualifications can be an excellent way to develop your skills and improve your abilities at work. Taking the time to focus on your professional development will put you in a stronger position when applying for promotions or other advancement opportunities. Here are some courses to consider:
3 Steps to $1,000 Freelance Writing in 45 Days or Less - Free
Freedom Machine - Free webinar then $2,000
Other ways to broaden your knowledge include reading up on the latest research in your sector and attending webinars, workshops, and talks with industry experts.
2. Dress to impress
One study found that wearing formal business attire improves abstract thinking, creativity, and long-term strategizing. Another study found that doctors make fewer mistakes when wearing a white lab coat. Overall, there is a lot of research to suggest that what you wear at work is essential. The way you dress at work can have a significant impact on your performance and overall productivity, but it works for at-home workers, too. For that reason, you should dress in clothing that makes you feel comfortable and confident. For instance, a well-fitted tailored suit can make you feel powerful and instantly boost your self-confidence. You might consider getting a few “power pieces” of jewellery that make you feel powerful, even if you’re wearing jeans and a tee. Fjewellery.co.uk offers an excellent range of versatile pieces that can be used to complement any work outfit.
3. Maintain a positive mindset
Things will not always go to planned, and it’s important not to beat yourself up or respond negatively when you encounter issues. You can maintain a positive mindset by learning from your mistakes, surrounding yourself with supportive people, and taking regular breaks. Maintaining a positive outlook will help you feel more in control, which should help to boost your confidence levels.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask questions
Doing something incorrectly because you were too afraid to ask for help is not going to help your confidence in the workplace. You should keep in mind that you are never going to know all the answers, no matter what stage you are at in your career. For that reason, you should always ask questions and seek clarification if you are unsure about something. Never be afraid to ask your client for clarification. That way, you will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to complete your work tasks efficiently.
How to Organize Your Ideas for Better Web Content Writing
Here’s how to organize your website content ideas.
Guest post by Emily Lamp
Given that nearly all content begins with written words, it won’t matter what kind of web content you generate. But the truth is that you can benefit from observing how professional writers go about their work. The biggest struggle for many content marketers is finding a way to create enough content while at the same time ensuring its high-quality content.
This is something that all professional writers have to deal with on a day-to-day basis. The following is a look at how to organize your website content ideas.
Begin with the Sitemap
We have already established that content writing isn’t a piece of cake. It’s the reason why you need to be organized. Failure to organize your writing will cause the writing task to feel overwhelming. For this reason, you need to take a step by step approach when writing content for your website.
You can start by opening a Word or Google document featuring an outline. Then take a step back and inhale deeply. You can simplify the whole process by using readily available tools. Look for tools that will enable you to set up a map as you continue to supplement the content that you will eventually want to display.
Create an Outline for Each Page
A good sitemap ought to have an outline for all the content to appear on the website. Garner a general idea of the kind of structure that you need. Start by organizing this first. You can use an excel spreadsheet to help you organize all the ideas that you have generated so far, and will continue to generate.
Go back to the sitemap created above and start jotting down the main points, which will include the top-level navigation for the website. Using a programming language like C# to read excel spreadsheet will make it easier for you to continue drilling down all the individual pages. For instance, in the Services section, you will need to have numerous pages about each service.
Ensure that the outline gets to capture all the key components of the pages you intend to write. This kind of organization enables you to not only organize words, but also determine the images that you have to start collecting, the CTAs to use, and any other items you may want to capture.
Start Writing the Copies
Having developed an outline, you can now start writing content for your website. Now put your thinking cap on, grab your thesaurus and start crafting your copies.
If you always find it hard for you to tackle the writing aspect, you are in luck, as the work that was done earlier will help smoothen things for you.
At this juncture, you have already done most of the work, and you can always opt to let another team member handle the creative aspect. All you need to do is hand them the notes you prepared in the second step.
Polish and Refine the Content Created for the Website
At this point, you have already created the content for the site, and all that is left is to refine it. Refining will involve checking the spacing, font size, adding images, and using a spell checker to look for grammar and spelling errors. Ensure that the work looks perfect before publishing it for the world to read and view.
Conclusion
It becomes easier to create content for your website when you are properly organized. The good news is that there are tools such as excel that have been designed specifically for this purpose. You need to utilize these tools whenever you’re writing new website content to ensure that you don’t get stuck midway. And always remember to proofread your work before publishing it.
About the Author
Emily Lamp is a professional writer, working closely with many aspiring thinkers and entrepreneurs from various companies. She is also interested in technology, business growth and self-improvement.
The best high-paying freelance gigs of the week: March 23, 2020
Hey, No-fluffers! The month is almost over so you need to ramp up your pitching. Here’s this weeks list of best paying gigs to help you find some new places to write for.
Hey, No-fluffers! The month is almost over so you need to ramp up your pitching. Here’s this weeks list of best paying gigs to help you find some new places to write for. These gigs pay at least $50 an article, offer a full-time salary, or pay more than $20 an hour. They are also all remote (also known as virtual jobs or work-from-home jobs). Be sure to check back each week for a new list.
Note: I don’t know anything about these positions other than what I post. I weed out the seedy looking ones, but it is your job to be diligent when applying. Also, please don’t message me with questions about the postings. If a link doesn’t work the posting has probably been taken down because the gig has been filled. If you have a gig for freelance writers that pays at least $50 a peice or over $20 an hour, please contact me and I will include your gig in next week’s post.
Freelance Legal Marketing Writer
Pay: Full-time
More information: Indeed
Content Editor/Content Marketing Manager
Pay: $65,000 - $90,000 a year
More information: Indeed
Technical Writer
Pay: Full-time
More information: Indeed
Writing short skits
Pay: $100 per page
More information: Craigslist
Home, Pets, Crafts Content Update Editor
Pay: $25 per hour
More information: Blogging Pro
Personal Finance Content Update Editor
Pay: $30 per hour
More information: Blogging Pro
Scriptwriter for Educational Math Videos
Pay: $.10 per word
More information: Indeed
The Drive is looking for writers
Pay: $500 an article and up
More information: Guidelines
Call for Submissions: Community Power in Times of Crisis
Pay: $0.35-0.50 per word
More information: Guidelines
Looking For Long Term Writer For Premium Music Website
Pay: $225 per week for (4) 1200 - 1700 word articles but is negotiable DOE
More info: Problogger
5 Easy Actions Writers Can Use to Prevent Back Pain
Sitting all day writing can really do a number on your back. To help, Blitz Results, an interactive educational website with focus on consumer topics & health, sent over some tips to help.
I tend to have a lot of back pain. Sitting all day writing can really do a number on your back. To help, Blitz Results, an interactive educational website with focus on consumer topics & health, sent over some tips to help.
1: Place your computer monitor at least one arm's length away. If it’s too close, you will create tension in your shoulders and neck.
2: The monitor should be set so that your eyes are at a downward angle. This helps to relieve strain on your neck and your eyes.
3: Sit with the pelvis tilted slightly forwards. Ergonomic chairs and seat cushions help to retain the backs’ natural posture, providing relief to the discs and muscles.
4: Move around. Drink a lot of water: it’s not only healthy, but it will keep you moving.
5: Important - Adjust the desk and chair to your height so that you are relaxed while sitting. How does that work? Use an online calculator for ergonomic sitting.
"Most people don’t realize how much damage prolonged sitting can do, but there are some simple remedies. In most cases, minimal adjustments to your desk and chair will help ensure proper posture,” says Tim Lilling, expert at blitzresults.com.
Here are some more great tips to prevent pain at your desk:
The best high-paying freelance gigs of the week: March 15, 2020
The Coronavirus has everyone staying home. Know what that means? More writing and more pitching. Many online publications will be pumping out new article just like they normally would, so there’s no excuse. Here’s this weeks list of best paying gigs to help you find some new places to write for.
The Coronavirus has everyone staying home. Know what that means? More writing and more pitching. Many online publications will be pumping out new article just like they normally would, so there’s no excuse. Here’s this weeks list of best paying gigs to help you find some new places to write for. These gigs pay at least $50 an article, offer a full-time salary, or pay more than $20 an hour. They are also all remote (also known as virtual jobs or work-from-home jobs). Be sure to check back each week for a new list.
Note: I don’t know anything about these positions other than what I post. I weed out the seedy looking ones, but it is your job to be diligent when applying. Also, please don’t message me with questions about the postings. If a link doesn’t work the posting has probably been taken down because the gig has been filled. If you have a gig for freelance writers that pays at least $50 a peice or over $20 an hour, please contact me and I will include your gig in next week’s post.
Technical Writer
Pay: $15 - $20 an hour
More information: Indeed
Business Content Writer
Pay: Full-time
More information: Indeed
Staff Writer
Pay: Full-time
More information: Indeed
Principal Medical Writer
Pay: Full-time
More information: Indeed
Are you looking for funding for your investigative reporting idea? Pitch us!
— Coda Story (@CodaStory) March 10, 2020
We’re offering $16k to fund one reporting project for an early/mid career journalist, and we want to hear your ideas. The more ambitious, the better.
Deadline - 29 Marchhttps://t.co/hcKuqHEj6P
Technical Writer
Pay: Full-time
More information: Indeed
Freelance Writers for Privacy-Focused Website
Pay: $1 per word
More information: JournalismJobs.com
Content Writer/Developer
Pay: Full-time
More information: LinkedIn
Monster Horror / The Blob Freelance Blogger
Pay: $100 per post
More information: Craigslist
Senior Writer, CIJ
Pay: Full-time
More information: LinkedIn
Sustainability Writer
Pay: Full-time
More information: LinkedIn
Freelance Finance Investment Writer
Pay: Between $50 and $500 per analysis
More info: FreelanceWriting.com
Policies and Procedures Writer
Pay: $3,000 per assignment
More info: FreelanceWriting.com
Blog Content Update Opportunity For A Leading Leadership/Employee Engagement Blog
Pay: $0.15 per word up to a maximum of $250 per post
More info: ProBlogger
Experienced Book Reviewer
Pay: $40-$45 per 350-400 word review
More info: ProBlogger
Freelance Writers for Positive News Email Newsletter
Pay: $25 for 250 word article
More info: Craigslist
The Slowdown is now accepting pitches
Pay: $1.50/word
More info: All Freelance Writing
Learn how to make a successful living as a freelance writer! Get the No-Fluff Freelance Writer Starter Pack. Only $29.97.
The No-Fluff Guide to Creating a Home Office
f you’re just starting out at working from home, or you just need some tips on how to make things run smoother, here’s how to set up a home office that will fit your needs perfectly. Plus, I’m serving up tons of photos of home offices for inspiration.
Freelancers have the most freedom when it comes to deciding what their work environment should be. No one is going to come by and tell them to take down whatever pictures they want to put up. It is their home after all.
One of the disadvantages of this, though, is that the freelancer has to procure all of their own office supplies. There is not a cupboard at the end of the hall that has everything that you could ever need. If you want it, you have to get it yourself. You also have to figure out how to decorate.
If you’re just starting out at working from home, or you just need some tips on how to make things run smoother, here’s how to set up a home office that will fit your needs perfectly. Plus, I’m serving up tons of photos of home offices for inspiration. If you need more ideas, check out this Pinterest board.
Make your work area separate
Working as a freelance writer can be psychologically odd. When you have a nine to five job, you get up in the morning, get washed and dressed and commute to work. When you arrive at the office, you are subconsciously aware that you should now be working. Your brain will start perceiving things differently, concentrating and responding in different ways. If you're good at your job, this change will be advantageous and will allow you to prosper.
home office you love
With freelancers, they get up, get washed and dressed (don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!) and then go into the room where they work. They are still at home, the place where they relax, so getting into the mindset for work is sometimes more of a conscious process. This can be difficult sometimes. One way of dealing is separating your home into zones where you work and zones where you relax.
This means you need a dedicated area just for your home office. Ideally, this would be a room, but you can get away with setting up an office in a corner of your living room. I had a home office in my dining room for years. Just be sure that you don’t use the kitchen table as your desk. That’s a prescription for disaster. Eventually someone will spill something on important papers or your laptop.
Adjustable Desk
My first recommendation on what to buy for your office is an adjustable desk. With an adjustable desk, you will be able to raise and lower the height of your workspace and you can decide whether you work standing up or sitting down in your chair.
Research has shown that sitting down for long periods can actually be bad for you, according to the Mayo Clinic. So, by standing up every so often and still being able to type can make your day a lot better for your health.
I have a full standing desk, like this Halter model, but there are units you can buy that fits on top of a normal desk and will just raise your laptop or keyboard. These are less expensive than buying a whole standing desk and is a great way to upgrade an old desk you found at a thrift store. For example, the SHW Height Adjustable Sit to Standing Desk Converter Riser Workstation is under $90 and the Wallniture Updesk Wood Height Adjustable Monitor Stand Riser is under $40.
Heighten Your Comfort
Bending your neck to look at a screen can give you neck pain or really hurt your back. The solution is to boost your screen so that it is right in front of your face.
Here’s an example of a homemade screen booster made from scrap wood.
The problem with this type of booster is that it makes the keyboard high, too, which can be misery on your wrists. The photo below is a better option. It puts the laptop keyboard at an angle so your wrists don’t hurt. I personally use this type of setup. You can get an inexpensive AmazonBasics stand to get started and then move on to something fancier later.
For a regular monitor, you can set it on a stack of books until it reaches the right height or buy something a little more snazzy, like this monitor stand with storage.
While you’re at it, be sure to get a mousepad with wrist support (I personally love rose gold, so the one below is my choice) to prevent strain that can lead to carpal tunnel and cushion to pad the edge of your keyboard so your hands stay in an ergonomic position.
Proper Filing
Next, we need to think about a great filing system for your home office. My favorite way to file items is digitally. You can scan documents or receipts, or take photos of them using your cell phone and keep the images in files on your computer. (This is only a good idea for paperwork where you won't need to keep the originals, btw.) There are some scanners out there that will scan and digitally file your paperwork automatically, like the Neat Company NeatConnect Scanner.
You might still have a lot of hard copies of important documents and data. Not everything has to be digital, and sometimes it’s useful to have a hard copy of a file that you can layout across the desk.
However, if you’re going to do this, you need to make sure that you can easily find and access files. This means you need a great storage system in place. I personally have cute little wooden filing cabinets, but I’ve also been known to stash hard copies in three-ring binders with clear pockets.
Also invest in a shredder to “file” documents you don’t need anymore safely. It doesn’t need to be an expensive one, either. The AmazonBasics 6-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper and Credit Card Home Office Shredder is just $35.
Office Chair
It’s easy to just pick an old chair for your office. Hey, it's cheap, right? There are several reasons why you should spring for a new chair, though.
For one thing, it may not be giving your back the support it needs for hours of sitting. Therefore, your back could end up in jeopardy if it’s not getting the cushioning it needs.
And not only is an old chair not good for your back, but it’s not good for the floor either. Old wheels or worn furniture pads on the legs could mark your office floor.
I personally have a Serta Executive office chair because it is fully adjustable and it was a great investment. I also keep a yoga ball chair in my office. Sometimes it's good to switch things up.
Hard Drive
There is nothing more frustrating than working all day only to have it all wiped out. That’s why it’s always a good idea to back everything up on an external hard drive. When I started out, these were huge, but now you can get tiny ones that can fit in your bag. I use the My Passport Ultra, but there are a lot of great ones out there on the market. I also back up my work into the cloud with Google Drive, which costs around $11 a month.
Add Some Light to the Room
A lot of people choose a particular room because it has the most privacy. After all, you need minimum noise to get on with your work. But you need to think carefully before choosing the room.
lighting in home office
For one thing, you need to think about lighting. Low light can tire your eyes and force them to work harder if you are writing on the computer. Lack of natural light can also lead to depression, sleep problems and other crap you just don't need to deal with on top of running your own business.
I myself chose my home's sunroom as my office when I moved in (I’ve moved to a larger room since then). Half of the room is covered in windows and I have a nice view of my garden and pecan trees. Even if you don't have a sunroom, at least put your desk facing a window. Trust me, it will do wonders for your outlook on life after being cooped up inside all the time. (Plus, facing a window will prevent glare on your computer screen.)
Choose a room which enjoys a lot of light during the day. Then add some blinds so you can adjust the light accordingly. If you don’t have a room with a bunch of windows, add some extra lighting. Make sure it’s soft lighting overheard with bulbs that mimic natural sunlight, then add a lamp for task lighting on your desk. Some twinkle lights are nice, too.
Give the Desk Some Life
There’s nothing worse than sitting down at a boring desk. You need to give the desk a personal touch to boost your home office. You can do this by adding a beautiful vase of flowers or even a photo of your loved ones. I have like five plants on mine, some books, pretty rocks and crystals and a golden Buddha coin bank.
You might even want to give the desk some life by getting creative. For example, you could paint it a fun color which will make it stand out in the room. Or you could even skip the paint and decorate your desk by covering the whole thing in wrapping paper. That’s what I do to mine (see below). It will look fantastic and will give you a smile when you start your work.
Paint the Walls a Great Color
pretty home office
You should also color the whole room so it becomes somewhere you love to work. Choose a great paint color that will give the room a lift. It might be that you go for something bright like orange or yellow to lift your spirits. Calming green and blue have been found to improve efficiency and focus so you will have an office which will ensure you have a productive work day.
My office is purple has been purple and now it is pink. Both are colors that help with creativity.
And remember the walls in your office don’t have to be plain. Go for inspiring wall quotes and artwork which will give you a boost!
Why not print motivational work posters around your room to remind you of why you do this? This doesn’t need to be the infamous "office motivational posters" that were popular in the early 90’s. A picture of your family or intended long-term purchase can both be applicable here. Seeing what you're working for every day can keep you going.
Curious to see what my whole office looks like? Here’s a tour.
The best high-paying freelance gigs of the week: March 9, 2020
Here’s this week’s best paying freelance writing gigs.
Here’s this weeks list of best paying gigs. These gigs pay at least $50 an article, offer a full-time salary, or pay more than $20 an hour. They are also all remote (also known as virtual jobs or work-from-home jobs). Be sure to check back each week for a new list.
Note: I don’t know anything about these positions other than what I post. I weed out the seedy looking ones, but it is your job to be diligent when applying. Also, please don’t message me with questions about the postings. If a link doesn’t work the posting has probably been taken down because the gig has been filled. If you have a gig for freelance writers that pays at least $50 a peice or over $20 an hour, please contact me and I will include your gig in next week’s post.
Content Writer (Medical)
Pay: $27 per hour
More info: LinkedIn
Remote Device CER Technical Writer
Pay: Full-time
More info: LinkedIn
Tech Writer
Pay: Full-time
More info: LinkedIn
Content Marketing Writer
Pay: Full-time
More info: JustRemote
Retweeting this thread because we pay minimum $200 and up to $500 to QTPOC writers. Send a pitch (a summary, not a draft); selected pitches go through several drafts with our EIC; pieces published in May/June. Unpublished writers are welcome! Browse the thread; more at the link!! https://t.co/mfb9BaP60Q
— Chief 💚🧸 (@saychieeef) March 5, 2020
Expert B2B Marketers and Copywriters for Solar Energy Co.
Pay: $20.00 to $120.00 /hour
More info: Indeed
Online News Editor
Pay: Full-time
More info: MediaBistro
Staff Writer for Freethink
Pay: Full-time
More info: MediaBistro
Email Marketing Coordinator/Copywriter
Pay: $20-$25 per hour
More info: Craigslist
Movie, TV, and Comics Feature/News writer
Pay: Full-time
More info: MediaBistro
Political Writer
Pay: $17 to $20 an hour
More info: Indeed
Writer for special needs law website
Pay: $25 an hour
More info: Indeed
ELA Curriculum Writer
Pay: $25 to $35 per hour
More info: Indeed
Technical Writer/Content Specialist
Pay: $17 to $22 per hour
More info: Indeed
Archer is looking for articles on about sexuality, gender and identity
Pay: $50 per article
More info: Guidelines
Want to learn how to make a successful living as a freelance writer? Get the No-Fluff Freelance Writer Starter Pack. Only $29.97.
How To Choose the Keywords That Appeal to Your Target Audience
Finding keywords that will appeal to your target readership and answer their queries can be a challenge, which is why we’ve put together some tips to help beginners.
Guest post by Rosana Beechum
Creating a popular WordPress blog takes hard work and dedication, but this will pay off in the long run when you’re able to reach your target audience and develop a relationship with them. One of the main ways you can attract readers to your blog, and keep them coming back for more, is to use relevant keywords.
Finding keywords that will appeal to your target readership and answer their queries can be a challenge, which is why we’ve put together some tips to help beginners.
Choose Hot Topics
Creating relevant, inspiring content takes a lot of thought and market knowledge. You also need to know the most popular topics that readers want to know about. Check out this list of the most searched keyword topics on Google to get some inspiration and find a topic that will entice readers to your blog.
Use Google To Your Advantage
When you’re looking for relevant keywords, you might think that you need expensive SEO tools and an expert to help you use them, but there are many free techniques that a budding blogger can employ. One of them is to use Google to find the keywords, phrases and questions that readers are searching for. Simply type your topic, and some phrases related to it, into the Google search bar, then see what the search engine suggests. You can also use the ‘People also ask’ and ‘Searches related to’ sections to see what people are searching for in this subject area.
Read Existing Content On Your Chosen Topic
It might sound like an obvious step, but it’s surprising how many content creators neglect to read existing content on their topic when they’re searching for keywords. You should read the top-ranking content and explore the keywords it uses frequently, how it uses subheadings and the questions it answers for readers. Once you’ve read a few pieces, you’ll begin to see patterns in the way they use keywords, which you can replicate in your own content.
Check Out Keyword Research Tools
As well as Google, you can also use SEO keyword research tools to find out the keywords your readers want to know about. Many SEO reporting solutions, including Moz, SEMrush and AHrefs have keyword research tools. If you’re not paying to use these solutions already, then consider using free tools such as Answer The Public to find keywords that are related to your chosen topic.
Add A WordPress Plugin To Help You Research Keywords
If you want to integrate your keyword research into your blog writing process, you can use a WordPress plugin to quickly find relevant keywords. This solution will allow you to quickly find long-tail keywords that your readers want and add them to your content. As it’s already integrated into WordPress, you can use it as part of your blog writing process easily and efficiently.
Learn How To Use Keywords Correctly
Once you’ve gathered your keywords together, you need to learn how to distribute them throughout your content. You want to avoid ‘keyword stuffing’; an outdated practice involving repeated use of the same keywords to achieve a good ranking in search engines. Instead, you should try to distribute your keywords naturally throughout your content, so that they are noticeable but don’t look like they’ve been forced into your writing. This will help you to ensure that your blog posts reach and appeal to your target audience.
Finding trending keywords might seem like a laborious and time-consuming task, but it will be worth the effort when your blog is popular with readers. This list of tips isn’t exhaustive, but it should give you a good place to start in your journey to creating great content that’s relevant and engaging.
The best high-paying freelance gigs of the week: March 2, 2020
Ready to make March your highest paying month yet? Here’s some writing jobs that can get you on your way.
Ready to make March your highest paying month yet? Here’s some writing jobs that can get you on your way. These gigs pay at least $50 an article, offer a full-time salary, or pay more than $20 an hour. They are also all remote (also known as virtual jobs or work-from-home jobs).
Note: I don’t know anything about these positions other than what I post. I weed out the seedy looking ones, but it is your job to be diligent when applying. Also, please don’t message me with questions about the postings. If a link doesn’t work the posting has probably been taken down because the gig has been filled. If you have a gig for freelance writers that pays at least $50 a peice or over $20 an hour, please contact me and I will include your gig in next week’s post.
Freelance Blogger
Pay: $250 per article
More info: Craigslist
Technical Writer
Pay: Full-time
More info: JustRemote
Staff Writer
Pay: Full-time
More info: JustRemote
Staff Writer, Technology
Pay: Full-time
More info: JustRemote
Celeb Gossip Feature/News Writer
Pay: Full-time
More info: MediaBistro
Politics contributor
From MediaBistro:
Heavy, a leading news and information site, is looking to partner with ambitious, entrepreneurial freelance contributors to cover American politics, with a focus on the 2020 Democratic primary and general election. The ideal candidate will be an election junkie with a high-level understanding of the landscape, coupled with the ability to convey that understanding to a broad audience. Qualified candidates will be able to demonstrate the following: Exceptional planning and organizational skills Deep knowledge of the United States political landscape Ability to distill election-related data and present it to a broad audience Ability and desire to react rapidly to breaking news Strong multi-tasking and communication skills Ability to quickly navigate social media — especially Twitter — to spot breaking news Ability to produce clean and polished copy Work autonomously and remotely. Compensation scales with performance.
Send cover letter, resume and three writing samples to News Editor Tom Cleary at tom.cleary@heavy.com with Politics contributor in the subject line.
Content Writer for the Hindu American Foundation
Pay: $60,000 - $65,000 a year
More info: Indeed
Marketing Writer / Producer
Pay: Full-time
More info: Framework
Technical Proposal Writer
Pay: Full-time
More info: Indeed
Passage is looking for writers
Pay: $100 to $250 per article
More info: Guidelines
Logic is looking for writers
Pay: $150 for shorter essays of 1000-1200 words, and $400 for longer features of 2000-3000 words and up
More info: Guidelines
I’m looking for new freelance writers for @MONEY. Send me pitches with advice, trends, new ideas on college costs, student debt, paying/saving for college, college-to-career transition. Anything in the intersection of higher ed & personal finance.
— Kaitlin Mulhere (@KMulhere) February 24, 2020
Pay: $1 per word
Want to learn how to make a successful living as a freelance writer? Get the No-Fluff Freelance Writer Starter Pack. Only $29.97.