@->-Summer Banks-<-@

My First Short Story Has Lead to Two More

2012-01-24T08:37:00.000-08:00

There's nothing like writing a short story and truly enjoying the ride. Instead of hiding behind the failure of my poetry book, I finished my first short story and published it on Amazon.com (Kindle publishing rocks!) Just when I thought the idea drained every last bit of creativity I had, here comes another short story idea.

I quickly hammered out 1,200 words as a brief outline and start for the story when - low and behold - I remember writing an 800-word short story that needed development and editing. Hmmm...I could have a very lucrative career in short stories as long as the ideas never stop.

Check out my short story - Do You See What I See?

From time to time the story will be available free on Amazon.com.

Super Week: Writing Tips for Earning More in Less Time

2011-09-25T13:17:00.000-07:00

I want to earn a bundle this week. I have the work but I need to manage my time precisely to get more done. Here are 5 tips for earning more in less time.

Schedule breaks - don't just hop up whenever you want. You have two 15 minutes breaks...that's all.

Schedule a full day - work lasts 8 to 10 hours for most people. Schedule that same time at home.

Be prepared ahead of time - I have tons of articles outlined and I've compiled a to do list with my highest paying articles first.

Don't start a new client - if you need money fast, stick with what you know.Otherwise you'll spend time learning not earning.

Kick in some overtime - I am working two hours at night in addition to my work day. That's an extra 10 hours of work and a lot of cake.

You can make more money by simply being more attentive to your schedule and dedication. There is nothing wrong with working harder for a short period of time to earn those extra bucks. I am going to earn huge this week. You can too!

Ask Questions as SubHeadings for Easy Reader Scanning

2011-09-25T11:10:00.001-07:00

According to this study or that research report, Internet readers have the attention span of a small child.

How do you capture that attention?

You don't...for long, so ask common questions in the subheadings and bold those questions. The reader will quickly find the answer they are looking for and trust that you'll not waste their time in the future.

Google is an Untapped Source of Income

2011-09-24T19:32:00.001-07:00

Most freelance writers have such a hard time making money to pay bills in the here and now that they forget or put off residual income. Google offers unlimited income potential if a writer just takes the time to write one post a day.

Sure, it matters how much money you make for groceries, household bills and the like but give yourself the gift of money you don't see coming with Google.

Quick Writing Tip - Mobile Blogging

2011-07-29T12:34:00.000-07:00

Got Android? Get Blogging!

I am one of the worst bloggers on the planet. I start blogs and then I forget to update them. Most of the time, I spend hours making the blog look perfect only to allow it to collect dust. Then, I upgraded to an Android phone. There is a Blogger application from Google in the Android Market. The application is not without errors, but it allows me to update all my Blogger blogs from anywhere. The application also allows me to save drafts so I can write updates and save them for the future. You can also set up an email address to send mobile updates from other smartphones that don't have a Blogger app.

You Should be Writing for Money as a Main Goal

2011-07-29T07:30:00.000-07:00

I've read multiple posts and articles saying writers should not write with money as a main goal - why not? In the specific case of the Yahoo! Contributor Network, writing for money is the only way to stand out in a crowd. Companies like Yahoo! offer page view residuals so writers earn money every time a new reader visits the article. If no one visits the article then Yahoo! does not make money and you will not stand out of the crowd.

We are writers and we love to write by nature, but writing for clients is not the same as writing for our personal or business blogs. We collect followers from friends and professional acquaintances who watch and wait for our daily, weekly or monthly updates. Clients, on the other hand, want content that makes money.

It is a given that each writer will have different goals. My goal, for instance, is to make enough money to pay my bills on time and have enough left over to have a little fun once in a while and save a few dollars in the mean time. I have been hugely successful at meeting those goals, so now I am setting my goals higher. I want residual incomes to pay some of my bills so that is what I am working on at this given moment. That may change, but my main goal never changes. I write to make money. That is why I sit here everyday and pound the keyboard. If you are writing for something other than money, you may find you are left behind when the final cuts are made.

Quick Writing Tip - eBooks

2011-07-28T21:26:00.001-07:00

An eBook is nothing more than a series of articles creatively connected that takes the reader on a given path. Instead of tackling the project head-on, write individual articles you want to appear in the eBook and connect them later.

Everyone is Blogging - I Should Too!

2011-07-28T19:21:00.001-07:00

I am constantly clicking on other writer's blog posts and reading about the things they love, goals they are setting and struggles in life. I don't have a blog because I am terrible at keeping up with daily or weekly posts. Today I realized my trouble is not with a blog itself, but with a themed or topic-style blog. If I write a blog about my life as a writer, mother, wife and crazy person, I may just keep up with it long enough to gain a few followers.

I can't tell you what you'll find on this blog, because I don't know yet, but I do know I will share some secrets that helped me achieve writing success. I am not your average writer. I don't write two to three articles a day or even 10 or 11. My numbers are in the 20s and 30s every day because I have six mouths to feed, monthly rent, two car payments and other common household bills. Freelancing is my life and I take it very seriously.

You will notice a few counters on the side of my blog. One thing I am terrible at is saving money, so I am going to work on that. Watch my progress. Another thing I want to work on is monetizing websites for residual income. Look for daily Google Adsense updates to see how I am doing with that small goal.

I hope you like what you read and giggle from time to time.