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Write At Home Moms - September

post #1 of 45
9/5/10 at 6:37am
Thread Starter 
Welcome Writer Moms, one and all!

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post #2 of 45
9/5/10 at 7:01am
Thread Starter 
I've placed a link from the August thread, but FYI, this is a place for moms who write at home to discuss, share, commiserate and celebrate. We have bloggers, novelists, ghostwriters, poets, tech writers, copywriters, journalists and probably many other writer mamas working hard--at the kitchen table or tucked someplace else, and we squeeze it in between the rest of life, including husbands, housework, children, studies, jobs, etc.

I, for example am a wife and mom to my ds and dd. I take care of a 10-acre farm with sheep, goats, chickens, bees and vegetable gardens, and keep a pretty traditional, Old World sort of home, often on my own while dh travels the world for his job. I have a part time gig as a writer for an ad agency, where I write copy for everything from consumer packaging to Web content. And in what spare time I can shave off the edges (mostly in winter), I try to write fiction and poetry.

I find inspiration on this thread and it keeps me working, however slowly, toward my writing goals. I especially love to read about the mamas here who are publishing! I LOVE LOVE LOVE seeing success and the joy it brings.

Off to write some notes...
post #3 of 45
9/5/10 at 8:12am
Thanks for starting the new thread!! I got a BFP on Friday (unplanned but not unexpected if that makes any sense.) So my goal this month is to continue writing as much as I have been w/o letting the exhaustion of pregnancy put me behind. I need the cash more than every right now!! I have to pay for the MW, and we're going to be buying a minivan, since this is baby number three for us. My goal is two content stories a day; each one of those gives me $15 each, and I also write restaurant reviews for our local paper. I have three this month, and I have two done already, so yeah for that! I also got an assignment from out local moms mag. This will be my second time writing for them. I got great feedback from the editor last time, and she must've thought I did ok, since she assigned me another story. That will give me an extra $125 from my Gannett check this month (my reviews are also with Gannett) so I'm super pumped.

Happy September, mamas!!
post #4 of 45
9/5/10 at 7:17pm
Erin, cool that you joined Guru. let me know if you have any questions. i've been there a few years. and i noticed you're in Bellevue - i'm in Shoreline! hi from across the lake!

KatieDid - congrats on the BFP!!! those sound like great writing goals. my writing paid for our midwife, too.

do you guys reintroduce every month? i just joined you last month. anyway, i'm Joy. i have a 4.5 year old DD and 4 month old DS. i'm a playwright by training but have fallen into ghostwriting mostly children's fiction in recent years. i also have some ongoing web copy clients. i'm lucky that my DH gets home from work around 3:00 each day and takes over with DD, giving me time to write. this time is more broken up, since DS came along, but i still get some good chunks with him wrapped into a baby carrier.

is anyone thinking of doing NaNoWriMo? finances are such that i really have to focus on the paying work. but i'm still considering it ...
post #5 of 45
9/5/10 at 7:46pm
:sigh I really need some paying work- and this is what I want to do- but writing is NOT fast cash, YK?

I applied at Humanrewriter,com, and passed the qualification test- and went on to complete the written test, but never heard anything back. I felt good about the work I did, and had such fun doing it, When I am NOT writing, I always am shocked by the charge I get when I return to it.

I got my samples blog underway- although WAAYY too much of it is religious stuff. I'll link it if anybody want to read up.

My other blog is going well. I just need to keep head until I find something I guess! I am going to check out guru.com next.
post #6 of 45
9/5/10 at 11:12pm
Ok, for an intro... I'm Erin. I'm current a SAHM to a 4.5 year old DD and 10 month old DS. I used to WOTH FT but I got laid off during my pregnancy, and I'm still trying to figure out how I can keep 2 kids happy, the house from dissolving into a trashheap, and manage to make a bit of money on the side. I would get a LOT more done if DS would nap in his own crib on a regular basis.

I write science fiction and fantasy, and have a 98%-finished novel that I drafted during NaNoWriMo in 2008. I have an editor's business card burning a hole in my wallet and just need to re-revise (for like the 5th time) my final chapter.

jooj -- Thanks for the thread. I am in awe that you manage 2 kids and a farm while your DH is away... and still manage to write.

Katie -- Wow, congrats!! I found it tough to keep up the writing during my pregnancy, but I was super-nauseated for the first half of it.

Joy -- I put in a couple proposals for work today, but I might have to PM you eventually for advice. I talked to someone on the phone this morning about ghostwriting her novel -- it's NMS for reading but would be a breeze to write, I think -- except of course the sticky issue of how much to pay. There are sooo many jobs that don't offer enough money to even bother with, it's a bit depressing.

My DD is also 4.5 -- DS is 10 months... maybe we should get together sometime.

Heidi -- I've never heard of humanewriter... guess if I run into it I'll have to be wary. Are you interested in writing short articles? I'm finding the pay is ok if I work fast.
post #7 of 45
9/6/10 at 11:01pm
Hi Erin! It's Human Rewriter.com

http://www.humanrewriter.com/jobs/ They said it might takwe a while to hear back.
post #8 of 45
9/7/10 at 11:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aufilia View Post
I would get a LOT more done if DS would nap in his own crib on a regular basis.

Joy -- I put in a couple proposals for work today, but I might have to PM you eventually for advice. I talked to someone on the phone this morning about ghostwriting her novel

My DD is also 4.5 -- DS is 10 months... maybe we should get together sometime.
i hear that. my DS ONLY naps in a baby carrier. i can write fine like that. but the house is a disaster. (not that i was much of a housekeeper pre-kids. )

that's awesome that you got a phone interview right away. have you heard from the client again?

i'd love to get together. DD doesn't go to preschool, so we're really open.
post #9 of 45
9/8/10 at 1:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JoyMC View Post
i hear that. my DS ONLY naps in a baby carrier. i can write fine like that. but the house is a disaster. (not that i was much of a housekeeper pre-kids. )

that's awesome that you got a phone interview right away. have you heard from the client again?

i'd love to get together. DD doesn't go to preschool, so we're really open.
My house is a perpetual mess, too. Most days I'm pretty sure it's only as clean as it is because otherwise DS would eat something harmful off the carpet.

Haven't heard back from the client. I sent her a followup message on Guru after we talked, but nada so far. She didn't like my proposed rate of 2-cents-per-word, but I was only really willing to go that low in the first place because I'm new to the site and need some work history there. Blah.

DD goes to morning preschool Monday through Thursday and naps in the early afternoon. Fridays are usually more open, except this week, just to trip me up, we have preschool Friday morning.

Heidi -- Oooh, I totally misread that. Interesting. It looks like it would pay ok and the work sounds fine, though past employees seem to be down on them for randomly canning people when the workload is light. Would you please keep us updated with your experience? I might be interested if it goes well for you.

Has anybody tried elance.com? I registered tonight, though for some reason their signup system decided I live in Canada and thus won't let me actually bid for jobs until I prove I live in the US. It appears to be similar to Guru.com, but if it works as they describe, it seems like providers have a lower chance of getting stiffed by clients.


I'm itching to commit fiction today but I've been far, far too busy with trying to make money and trying to sew some therapy weight vests for DD before preschool starts again on Thursday. Only making mediocre progress on both goals, and tomorrow I have to take her to get a haircut, take her to occupational therapy, and then we have an afternoon playdate.
post #10 of 45
9/8/10 at 3:34pm
Hi all. I've been on and off the mothering forums about WAHM, writing and Suite 101. Now that DD1 is off to school I am hoping to accomplish some writing during DD2 naps and preschool 2x/wk. I love that many of you mention your housecleaning skills and that I am not alone in my lack of cleaning!!! Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I should be cleaning right now...

I wrote on Suite101 in the spring and need to bump it up before I get kicked off. I also just took a position as copy editor for a quarterly nutrition newsletter. Wish it were monthly and I could stop job searching. Still need to find other ways to write about nutrition. As a registered dietitian, it's what I love and hope I can build an online presence about.

Happy to be chatting with you all!
post #11 of 45
9/8/10 at 3:54pm
So far so good this week w/ keeping up the writing, despite pregnancy-related tiredness (though it's not too bad yet).
Round 2, I write for Demand, which I believe is similar to Suite 101, and they just rolled out a new program for longer, more in-depth feature articles, and one of the areas for which they're hiring is nutrition. It might be worth looking into.
post #12 of 45
9/8/10 at 4:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aufilia View Post
Haven't heard back from the client. I sent her a followup message on Guru after we talked, but nada so far. She didn't like my proposed rate of 2-cents-per-word, but I was only really willing to go that low in the first place because I'm new to the site and need some work history there. Blah.

Has anybody tried elance.com? It appears to be similar to Guru.com, but if it works as they describe, it seems like providers have a lower chance of getting stiffed by clients.
wow, .02/word is inSANEly low for ghostwriting. she's not a serious client, if she balked at that.

i've done elance.com; i hated them. because it's cheaper than Guru, i think it attracts less serious freelancers, which drives the prices down, which makes it impossible to get decent work. at least, that was my experience. w/Guru's Escrow & Arbitration services, it's pretty much impossible to get screwed by a client.
post #13 of 45
9/8/10 at 10:34pm
Hi ladies-I hope you don't mind if I tag along with your thread! I am just getting started writing for Demand and hoping this is the beginning of my writing career, although I am not sure what the next step is I also work PT as a medical transcriptionist, but would love to actually make money doing something I love-i.e. writing. First, I have to become a little more confidnet in my skills-others tell me I am a good writer, but I have to start feeling it!
post #14 of 45
9/8/10 at 11:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by katiedidbug View Post
Round 2, I write for Demand, which I believe is similar to Suite 101, and they just rolled out a new program for longer, more in-depth feature articles, and one of the areas for which they're hiring is nutrition. It might be worth looking into.
Thanks Katiedidbug. I have been considering it, maybe your suggestion will prompt me...
post #15 of 45
9/9/10 at 2:26pm
Hi, I'm Lisa (hence the creative forum name) and I have 6 girls. My oldest two are in school this year for the first time ever and I'm finding suddenly I have less time to work (90 minutes of driving each day and no one to help me make lunch for the 4 younger ones).

SO I haven't gotten much work done this week

Luckily, my Suite101 check from August will be big. I also write for Demand Studios. They're very different and I love them both for different reasons (fast cash vs forever-residual income)

I also ghost-blog for a few local companies and manage their online presence (social networking, consumer reviews, online profiles, etc)

I'm happy to see so many Washington State mamas here. I love the idea of having real-life friends who understand my job! Unfortunately, I don't get out much

I forgot to say I'm also a full time online college student, I'm double-majoring in Journalism and pre-law.

What the heck am I doing hanging out on the forums today? Goodbye ladies, I love just knowing you are here
post #16 of 45
9/9/10 at 3:37pm
Hi all. I'm Jenny, and reading what you all do is making me feel downright lazy! Lisa, OMG, six girls! I have a hard enough time fitting in my writing hobby (still calling it that until I earn $$$) in between getting the younger kids to school and soccer, helping the oldest with various issues, walking the dog, and washing laundry and dishes...

I write fiction - short stories, occasionally poetry, and one novel, the 4th revision of which is heading out to my readers tomorrow!


I'm really scared to put it out there, even just for my three (long distance) readers. What if it's the suckiest thing ever written?

I've been a SAHM for six years, but now that the littlest is 3.5, I'm about to start applying for outside work (as a librarian). Since I'm only interested in fiction, the writing will remain a hobby until those $$$$ best-seller checks start rolling in...
post #17 of 45
9/9/10 at 10:56pm
WOW! Everyone here is a total Super Mom farms, writing gigs, new baby, new jobs, writing goals...loved reading everyone's intros

I'm editing my novel and writing for my two blogs in the AM before work comes knocking at my door - I do childcare in my home . Although I haven't blogged in a few months. Summer. But I did edit my chapters! I want to finish my novel and then start sending it out. This is edit #5,6,7,8, 16....I've lost count. This is my last go around and then I'm sending it out. Got a list of agents ready and waiting! I'm hoping to be done by Christmas...that's about half a year longer than my goal, but I didn't really know what editing was when I made it. I do now, oh do I!

Writer demon of the week
I'm being visited by an old writer demon - the one that keeps telling me that what my book is about is NOT anything that anyone else but me will want to read or find interesting...

I'm not sure what to call this one, but it's a doozy. So much so that I feel like I'm wasting my time. And I want to quit...isn't that sad?

Best way to defeat this demon is to keep writing and editing and just do it. What I keep telling it/myself is - so what? as long as I enjoy writing, so what if I'm the only person who will ever read it. If need be, I'll self publish it so I can put it on my bookshelf. I'm doing this for me, so really, if it's just me who likes it, that's a 100% satisfied customer! And then the demon shuts up. The End.
post #18 of 45
9/11/10 at 9:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MommyHawk View Post

Writer demon of the week
I'm being visited by an old writer demon - the one that keeps telling me that what my book is about is NOT anything that anyone else but me will want to read or find interesting...
Your demon of the week is my main demon. I've only read two books - ever- which remind me of my subject matter, and that makes me think the reason it hasn't been written more frequently is because there are perhaps 7 or 8 people besides me who are drawn to it. And even if people are interested enough to read the book, I can't see them loving the subject and characters the way I do.

I also keep writing and revising. What else can one do?
post #19 of 45
9/12/10 at 1:40pm
Hi, guys. I'm a blogger, blogging about making and saving money, so I think I fit here!

I'm "Penny", a stay at home mom to 2 kiddos, nearly 5 year old Peanut and 2 year old Sweet Pea. I'm also a full time student starting next week! My husband has a small business and we took a serious pay cut to keep it afloat. Without any kind of back up plan in place, I decided to save a quarter of our income for an emergency fund this year, hence The Saved Quarter! I've been doing a lot of little projects to make extra money and have recently started making a little with the blog itself, which is exciting! I'm officially writing for money!

I'd like to start writing for money outside of the blog, maybe with one of the article services, but I'm not sure how to get started and what to expect. Does anyone know of a good getting started guide?
post #20 of 45
9/13/10 at 1:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JoyMC View Post
wow, .02/word is inSANEly low for ghostwriting. she's not a serious client, if she balked at that.
I know, it's pathetic; even Demand adds up to about 3 cents per word most of the time. But I need to get someone to take a chance on a newbie ghostwriter and her project sounded easy-peasy (as much as any novel writing project might be!).

Quote:
Originally Posted by lisarussell View Post
Hi, I'm Lisa (hence the creative forum name) and I have 6 girls. My oldest two are in school this year for the first time ever and I'm finding suddenly I have less time to work (90 minutes of driving each day and no one to help me make lunch for the 4 younger ones).
OMG, how do you get anything done with 4 kids under school-age?? I have just 2 (though the youngest is 10mo, and very time consuming!) and I feel like I am always 25 steps behind.

Where in WA are you at, if you don't mind sharing?

Quote:
Originally Posted by JennyClaire View Post
I write fiction - short stories, occasionally poetry, and one novel, the 4th revision of which is heading out to my readers tomorrow!

I'm really scared to put it out there, even just for my three (long distance) readers. What if it's the suckiest thing ever written?
It's hard to share your work, even if you feel like that's your goal in life. I understand where you're coming from, only writing fiction. I would totally concentrate on fiction only if I could afford it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by MommyHawk View Post
But I did edit my chapters! I want to finish my novel and then start sending it out. This is edit #5,6,7,8, 16....I've lost count. This is my last go around and then I'm sending it out. Got a list of agents ready and waiting! I'm hoping to be done by Christmas...that's about half a year longer than my goal, but I didn't really know what editing was when I made it. I do now, oh do I!
Go you! I'm like a year behind on sending mine out (though I did sent it to 5 or 6 agents right before DS was born, but it hasn't gone anywhere since he showed up).

Quote:
Originally Posted by TheSavedQuarter View Post
I'd like to start writing for money outside of the blog, maybe with one of the article services, but I'm not sure how to get started and what to expect. Does anyone know of a good getting started guide?
There must be one somewhere, but I have no idea. I've just sort of jumped into multiple opportunities (in desperation). I like the predictability of the Demand articles, and the flexibility; but I would like to pick up a ghostwriting gig from Guru or eLance, something that's longer and more creative.
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