How to Earn Dollars Writing Short Sentences and Fillers Part 2
Learning to Write
If you have not read my first article on this subject
Please click on the following link,
then come back here to continue
How-to-earn--Writing-Short-Sentences-and-Fillers
Finding Ideas That Work
Write about something you have personally experienced yourself. How it affected you and your family. It could be how you felt and coped with an illness or your most embarrassing situation. Your experience at the birth of your first child and how it affected you.
Try to find a unique angle to this subject, be it the humorous or catastrophic side of it. It could be this opinion of yours that you read in your next magazine or paper and be paid for it.
Read, read and read. While reading an article you may find something that will trigger another idea or use a printed article in a similar way by changing the topics.
Reply to letters or articles you read in a magazine with your own opinion on a particular subject.
Use your camera and find unusual circumstances. Look for a misspelt sign, one with a humorous angle, celebrities, or your children's comical experiences etc.
Writing Readers Letters
Keep your letters, short and sharp. Thousands of newspapers and magazines have a letters page. You only have to look in your local newsagents to see how many there are. Some pay from $10 to $50 for this service, others give prizes or different incentives.
You can write an original one yourself or reply to one, or you may comment on a wonderful article that was in their last issue concerning a medical situation or similar. That is good publicity for them and shows that the magazine has a loyal readership following. I can't stress enough that you must read each publication before you write for that particular column. This is the best and easiest way to start earning a regular income from different publishers. And you can write about anything at all.
(My published Example)
Mrs Who?
After signing a legal document, I noticed my name was incorrectly spelt, so I mentioned the error to the lawyer. He assured me that he had felt it must be correct since my husband (of 28 years) had told him how to spell it.(Signed: EH. WA)
Writing Fillers
This is another good way to start of your writing career. You could earn a regular income if you become diligent and again study your markets. Check what a particular magazine, newspaper is using in their small spaces. Or even try the larger companies which put out a trade bulletin each month. Keep your eyes open for these opportunities.
Fillers can vary in size. They are called this because they fill those little gaps in between adverts or when an article selected is actually smaller than at first thought. So they need a small article to fill that gap before going to print. A sentence can be as small as three words. As long as those three words create action or make a statement.
These can be in the form of jokes, crossword puzzles, cryptic puzzles, and very short paragraphs or articles etc.
You may notice that your local paper doesn't cater for the keen gardener. Do you have lots of tips and tricks of how to plant or grow certain vegetables or plants? Before you contact the editor with this suggestion you need to do a well thought out draft of ideas for topics. You need enough articles with interesting information for the next 10 weeks or so, then contact the editor with your submission.
(my published example in children's world)
How Many Lives
Our sons cat Blacky had been run over. A week later an identical black cat arrived at our home. Master Three asked: "Daddy, did you dig him up again?" The new cat made his home with us . We call him Blacky Two. Signed EH. WA
Finding ideas
Listen to people chatting on the bus or train for little ideas. Keep a notebook and write down any ideas you think of before you forget them. You may not have a use for it now but next week or month it may be important.
Read other magazines or school newsletters for inspiration. Listen to children's funny sayings. Kids come home with a mountain of funny questions, so innocently asked, that you could use or reword.
Find Ideas Before You Start Writing
Write down a list of different ideas, when you have finished researching all the facts. Again check with the publisher's guidelines. Is the article you are going to write suited to that particular market you have chosen?
Start writing, making sure you keep sentences and paragraphs short and to the point. Keep it in the context that editors prefer.
Write your article and send it to a publication that best suits this particular topic. Don't be discouraged if it is rejected. Find another target if it's still rejected, review what you have written and see where the problem is. Can you improve it by deleting a sentence or altering it in some way? Ask a friend to read it and give their opinion; they may suggest a different angle.
Preparing Your Work
Keep records of where you send articles to. Make sure you know where everything you write is, or has been sent to at any given time.
If using a computer, use double spacing and a standard font, Arial or Times Roman. Leave an extra space between paragraphs. Print out on A4 paper. In page set-up leave a 3 cm Left and right margin. (You can check the guidelines as to what each editor prefers)
Don't be tempted to use fancy fonts. If your article has a photo, make sure it suits the article, and be aware that most publishers don't return photos. If sending by email, which some publishers accept articles that way now, add pictures etc by attachments.
Presentation of Your Article
Make Sure you Include all of These
Example of Page
- Your name
- Your address
- Your Phone Number
Use single spacing for this
- Type Date
- The Editors name (or section of magazine)
- Address of magazine
- Type of article
- No (250) words
- Name of Article
- By
- Your name (the writer)
Check for Spelling & Puctuation Errors
Do not send anything with spelling errors or corrections. If necessary, start again. Include the page no's and your name on top right hand side of each page.
If you are sending pictures. Mark on bottom left of page
Enclosed (1 Picture)
Put your name on back of picture in case it gets separated from your article. Enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope. Keep a copy of everything you send out.
If of course you get to the larger article submission. Use a cover page with name, address, and name of article, word count and name of author. If you are using a pseudos (a name especially used for writing other than your own name) then use that instead of your own name.
(My published example) a local newspaper
REDUCE DANGER
We need to quickly eradicate all the dead long grass from the edges of our streets, not just the major streets.
Surely, the unemployed people in our community could do this? Creating employment and limiting the immediate danger of fires caused at times by dropped cigarette butts.
This would also lessen the dangers of children and adults, as they walk along, from being bitten by snakes hidden in the long grass.
Signed: EH. WA
Keep a Record of Ideas
Think; write down anything that pops into your head. Get any ideas no matter how insignificant they seem at the time down on paper, by doing this other ideas will evolve. Read the papers, magazines, trade bulletins, comics, anything at all. Ideas will come. Again listen to other people and take in everything you hear. Yes, write in a book, or keep a journal of anything at all. It's no good saying I'll do it later. You won't remember your wonderful idea, and it will be lost for good.
This is something you can do anytime while washing up the dishes or doing the ironing or any of those mundane jobs-Mowing the lawns or putting that washer in the leaky tap
Some people find they can write better at night, others are early bird writers. Try to write something every day. It doesn't have to make sense, just write whatever comes into your head. Weeks later it may jog something else in your brain.
A good writer makes sure he makes every word count. Make a list of every point you want to make, when you have finished writing your article, check the list and make sure you haven't forgotten the main point that you wanted to make in the first place.
Cheap laptop to Write and Save your Writing
Now!! Let's Get Started
Whatever you write, it needs to grab your editors attention. The first thing they see is the title of your article or filler. So the title is very important and it has to catch your reader's attention.
To write a short article about an incident that happened at the zoo. Choose the best impact title for this from the two options below:
A Snake at the zoo. Snake escapes Zoo enclosure.
As a reader I would pick no 2. It grabs your attention, you want to know more. Where did they find the snake? How did it escape?
With any writing, cut the wording down to the barest minimum without destroying the message you intended to make for your reader.
Read the following sentences:
‘Joey went outside and played with his mates in the park.'
‘Joey played with his mates in the park.'
They both say the same, but the second is more direct.
As you can see the word ‘outside' is unnecessary if he is playing in the park.
Be careful when editing your work. Don't use repetitive words unless it is to draw attention to the most important points.
Sometimes a writer is too close to his/her own work to see the mistakes. You may have meant to say something, but by leaving one word out the result may be entirely different. Put your work aside for a week or two before sending it away. You can then look at it from a fresh perspective.
This time, read it aloud. If you stumble over the words, it needs to be revised. Something is wrong. Re-read it and ask your self; would a different word or phrase improve it? Does it make sense? Is it saying what I intended? If you have written a humorous article - ask yourself, will it make people laugh?
When you are satisfied; Re-write, check your spelling with a dictionary or type it up without any errors and use your spell check if using the computer.
Keeping Accurate Records
It is very important before posting anything out, to purchase a small book and enter the following details of the article or filler etc, date sent, name of article, where sent to. Then as the responses come in enter whether rejected, accepted (include dates) and amount of payment for your records.
This is very important, so you don't resend an article to the same place twice, but also to know where each article is at any given time. You will need an accurate record of your income for the taxman.
Sample suggestion only
Keep Writing
No you don't sit idle waiting for a reply. Start work on another reader's letter or article or submit a joke or a crossword to another magazine. Never send the same thing out to two publishers at the same time. Be patient, it could be 3-6 months before you hear anything. Keep writing and send work out.
Editors reserve the right to edit your article if short of space.
Ideas for Special Occasions
Think of special times of the year. Valentines Day, Easter, Christmas, Weddings If you are thinking of writing for these make sure you submit articles at least six months before the event. Editors are very busy at these times of year.
For Christmas, there are literally thousands of articles waiting for you to write about. For instance: suggestions for new ways of decorating the house, recipes, lighting, drinks, gift ideas, Christmas trees, greeting cards.
You could send in ways to amuse children over the holidays. The same goes for Easter, decorating eggs, gifts ideas instead of giving loads of chocolates; send in ideas of how children can make things themselves.
Staff Newsletters
Larger businesses like to produce a newsletter advising staff of production, products, new ideas, and personal success and staff members' achievements, interesting events happening in the company. You could add a jokes column etc. Companies believe these newsletters help bind staff together with interesting snippets of all types of information and events.
Before starting, try to locate one or two of the newsletters to study in your community and understand what type of information they require.
Do it Yourself Articles
With the advent of unemployment these days more and more people are doing things themselves. So if you know of some small thing that you can do and give clear (safe) directions that anyone can understand, then try writing this up. You may know an easy way of propagating plants, or a simpler, different design for making cushion covers.
My husband made a shelf-tidy under my computer hutch for all the envelopes and miscellaneous items. (It was a great idea but I tend to overload it.) Put these Ideas down on paper and find a market for them.
Always find a market before you write the article. Why you say? If you don't, then you may have written the article for nothing and you wasted that time.
Earn Money Writing Articles Online
There are many sites that allow you to write articles online. You can earn ongoing income year after year from Google Adsense. Start writing now and you will still be earning money from articles that you write now in ten to twenty years from now.
Join Hubpages its where you are reading this and is a great friendly place to learn how to earn money writing online writing experience. There are heaps of people waiting to help you if you need help. Just read the information or ask in the forum.
Join other writing sites to earn money writing online from. The main thing when you start is to read how others are making money this very same way. It will not happen overnight, but it will happen if you put in the hard work.
Good luck and start writing!!
Learn How to write articles for children
Check out how to do this HERE
© 2008 Eileen hughes
Comments
katyzzz from Sydney, Australia on May 22, 2012:
You've certainly done your homework and what a great response you have here, but yikes 4 years ago, hope you're still around
cashmere from India on December 09, 2010:
Took me three days to really read this article. Its full of all kinds of useful tips. Thanks a ton for sharing.
waj4all on November 23, 2010:
Hi Eileen. Info Barrel's new to me, but now it keeps cropping up - I'll check on it. Thanks! Nice article (again) bye-the-way.
jane fernandez on August 05, 2010:
very interesting, and informative.
Eileen hughes (author) from Northam Western Australia on February 25, 2010:
Welcome to hubpages, yes I am sure you willenjoy it here. thanks for stopping by.
kathy02 from Mayenne. France on February 25, 2010:
Thanks Eileen for all your tips and hints. I am quite new to Hub pages but I find everyone is so helpful. I will improve my writing I'm sure. Keep up the good work
Eileen hughes (author) from Northam Western Australia on January 25, 2010:
Ictodd, thank you glad you liked it.
Linda Todd from Charleston on January 25, 2010:
No, I'm your newest fan. This is the greatest information. I will be reading more and more.
Thank you
Eileen hughes (author) from Northam Western Australia on January 20, 2010:
Wife who saves, Thank you hope it helps.
Wife Who Saves on January 20, 2010:
I've just discovered your hubs. This one is very informative and has good ideas. I'm your newest fan.
Eileen hughes (author) from Northam Western Australia on January 19, 2010:
amethyst, glad to be of help, nice to meet you too.
amethyst-rose from Washington on January 19, 2010:
Thank you Eileen -- I've found some new and fresh ideas here. Plan to bookmark and keep for reference. Nice to meet you here! :-)
shirleybill from Texas on July 30, 2009:
Very informative.
Eileen hughes (author) from Northam Western Australia on June 09, 2009:
hope it helps you to earn a couple of dollars.
Reynolds_Writing from Atlanta, Georgia on June 09, 2009:
Interesting Hub. I'd never heard of writing filler. Thanks for the helpful advice.
Eileen hughes (author) from Northam Western Australia on February 06, 2009:
Ajcor
thanks for stopping by, hope some of it helps you.
ajcor from NSW. Australia on February 06, 2009:
thanks Eileen for your many wise tips - most apprecciated ,,,cheers
Eileen hughes (author) from Northam Western Australia on February 06, 2009:
kaushikk, thanks for stopping by and I will have a look at that site thanks.
kaushikk from india on February 05, 2009:
hi...nice hub..
i found out another site http://earning-online-free.blogspot.com/
which has great stuff as yours..happy earning..
Eileen hughes (author) from Northam Western Australia on August 23, 2008:
Thanks marion, I hope it helps to inspire a new idea for you
Marian Swift from San Francisco Bay Area on August 21, 2008:
Thank you, Eileen! I'm bookmarking these two for those (many) times when I need a bit of inspiration.
Eileen hughes (author) from Northam Western Australia on March 28, 2008:
Thanks for stopping by and commenting have a great day
Angela Harris from Around the USA on March 28, 2008:
Good ideas, Eileen. I've thought about branching out some with writing. I'll keep these tips in mind. Thanks!
Eileen hughes (author) from Northam Western Australia on March 27, 2008:
Thanks sapristi. I need to follow some of my own advice. I forget and just write. thanks for stopping by
Eileen hughes (author) from Northam Western Australia on March 27, 2008:
Thanks Cgull. At last I just couldnt work out what I was supposed to do. I did go to google reader but I think I messed it up before. They are in there now so simple thanks to you. Much appreciated.
Sapristi! on March 27, 2008:
Thanks for the advice! Every practical tip is as good as gold for a young writer. And you touch on what I'm coming to understand is one of the most important things for a writer to remember: analyzing the market!
cgull8m from North Carolina on March 27, 2008:
Hi Eileen, regarding RSS Feeds, if you clickyour profile, you will see a small box that will say "Subscribe to Eileen Hughe's RSS Feeds", just copy that link, which is the following:
https://hubpages.com/author/Eileen+Hughes/latest/?...
Go to Google Reader (it is free), then you can add Rss feeds easily. Open Google Reader and then click "Add Subscription" you can then add the above RSS link. It will add all the latest articles and keep updating from thereon.
Hope this helps if not I will write one article for you. Cheers.
Eileen hughes (author) from Northam Western Australia on March 27, 2008:
Thanks hope it will help you in your writing career. have a good day.
pjdscott from Durham, UK on March 27, 2008:
Some great tips here for budding writers and I have found them extremely useful. As someone who is 'shifting' career towards writing, this hub is a gem! Many thanks, and thumbs up to you!
Eileen hughes (author) from Northam Western Australia on March 26, 2008:
Thanks very much for those great comments, I will certainly try, thanks for stopping by.
Writing Coach -- Rajinder Soni from New Delhi, India on March 26, 2008:
This a wonderuful hubpage created by you. It helps me a lot at least, I do not know about others. I expect more great hubs from you in the near future.
Eileen hughes (author) from Northam Western Australia on March 26, 2008:
Thanks Sheila and Dorsi for your comments hope it still helps you. Also thanks for stopping by and reading my the article
have a nice day
Dorsi Diaz from The San Francisco Bay Area on March 26, 2008:
Wonderful wonderful article! Lots of great advice! When my sons were growing up I would write down all the cute things they said and I have them all in a briefcase at home, written down on scraps of paper. I've always wondered how to share them and I'm going to try this! Thanks!
Sheila Martin on March 26, 2008:
Such practical advice, Eileen. I would have loved to have seen tips like this many years ago when I was a beginning writer!
Eileen hughes (author) from Northam Western Australia on March 26, 2008:
Hey I bet I need more help than you. But I still wrote it anyway
MrMarmalade from Sydney on March 26, 2008:
Well done and extremely useful for me.
I believe if I follow your advice I may even become a writer of no mean ability.
I wish.
Thank you
Eileen hughes (author) from Northam Western Australia on March 25, 2008:
thanks for the compliment and for reading
cgull8m from North Carolina on March 25, 2008:
Thanks for the tips Eileen, people don't listen instead of going through all this by experience they should follow this.
Eileen hughes (author) from Northam Western Australia on March 25, 2008:
Thanks for stopping by I appreciate that. Iwill check that one out of yours too.
