So last week I mentioned this new “writing gig” I’ve been doing. It’s not glamorous, it’s only marginally fun, the pay isn’t great, and I get no publishing credit for my work. So why am I doing it? Well, a couple of reasons:
1. It makes me write. The more you write, the better you get, right? And while it’s not the fun fantasy, children’s stories, or poetry that I love to do, it makes me sit down for at least a few minutes every day and hone my craft.
2. It pays. Well, it does. Nice to be able to contribute to the family income and put away a little bit for my future adventures.
3. It’s flexible. I choose each week how many articles I will commit to complete that week, so I can work as much or as little as I want, as long as I don’t bite off more than I can chew.
4. I’m learning. Not only do I get to research topics I never would have studied before, the people I’m working for have a super strict style guide. I have to make sure that each article conforms exactly to their specifications or else they’ll reject it. It’s causing me to look much more closely at the way I write!
So there you have it. I guess I’m a professional writer!
By the way, I found this job through Elance. Elance is a great place for freelance writers to find work. Maybe I’ll write about that next week... ;-)
Have you ever hired yourself out for less-than-enjoyable work, writing or otherwise?
I've had a couple jobs I was less than enthusiastic about. Never been paid to write though, so congrats to you for moving up! I think we all probably have to start small. And you are right, writing ANYthing hones the skill. :-)
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