Comments on: The Staple Work

By: AnnaLisa

AnnaLisa — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:40:14 +0000

I agree with Kimberly and Paula, the smaller pubs don't pay much, but they're real gems. I do a couple columns a month for a hyperlocal newspaper. I write for the food page. Since I have a family to feed and love to cook, the columns don't feel much like work. Add to that my opinion that the editor is the nicest guy in the world to work for, and it all makes the small pay more than worthwhile. (Bonus: Food makes for fun portfolio clips!)

By: Wade Finnegan

Wade Finnegan — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 19:20:12 +0000

Man, sickness is rampant everywhere. Disinfect all surfaces!

There are so many avenues that a writer can go. The message I've received from Lori (finally) is to get paid what you're worth. Fluctuations in pay are fine, but don't take something just because it is something. We have a talent and that talent is worth fair compensation, and there are decent paying gigs if you search.

Glad you're feeling better Lori. :-)

By: Paula

Paula — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:50:56 +0000

I also do a semi-regular column for a local paper. Pay isn't great at a small weekly paper, but one column pays multiple times more than you'd get for a content mill. They tend to pay really fast, too.

Now that I'm beginning to figure out Twitter a bit more, I'd love to branch into social media promotion. My first start may be voluntary - I want to set up a Twitter account for my neighborhood group. If they don't want an official account, I might just start an unofficial one of my own. Seriously, who knows the neighborhood better than someone who's lived in it her entire life? If I manage that well, perhaps I can leverage it to get some paying Twitter gigs. Ditto for the blog. (I already have one client in mind that I would love to run a blog for! First I need to prove I can do it.)

Glad you're feeling better, Lori. I hope your daughter is well soon, too.

By: Kimberly Ben

Kimberly Ben — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:35:19 +0000

Great list of ideas, Lori. Blog posts, resumes and a monthly contributor gig for a small, niche magazine are a few of my long-stretch staple projects.