American Girl
Appleseeds
Babybug
Boys' Life
Boys' Quest
Calliope
Cicada
Cricket
Guide
Highlights
The Kids' Ark
Ladybug
My Light Magazine for Catholic Children
Nature Friend
Odyssey
Pockets
Primary Treasure
Shine Brightly
Did you know you could be paid to blog? That's right, blogging can be a nice source of extra income for a writer. Plus, blogging helps establish credibility in your area of expertise. If you are interested in reaching professional blogging status, check out the following websites, but use caution. Not all of the blogs listed are Christian in nature, and some of those that appear to be Christian are actually looking to take advantage of the generous hearts of God's people. Put those research skills to the test before applying for any blogging job to ensure you don't find yourself in a sticky situation.
ProBlogger - Website listing paying blogging jobs
Elance - Freelancing website that allows writers to bid on blogging jobs among others
ifreelance - Another option for bidding on freelance blogging jobs
If you're like me when I started out writing nonfiction articles, the thought of citing sources brought me back to the boring days of high school reports. I wondered if I could remember the proper layout and which style to use. Finally, I stumbled upon a website that does the work for you!
Easybib.com lets you pick the source, fill in a few fields, and produces a bibliography for you. It's a valuable time saver. Some style formats are considered premium and require a fee, but I've found that the free MLA format does the trick just fine, and with three kids in the house, every extra minute counts. Enjoy!
I had the pleasure of connecting with John & Belinda McBade over the course of the last couple of weeks for a project I'm working on with MissionsLaunch.com. They had some fascinating stories to share. I have to admit I learned quite a bit. I didn't realize how great the need is in Japan.
If you would like to learn more about the McBades, and their ministries, check them out on the web at www.mcbade.com or www.gracejapan.com. Please join me in prayer for John and Belinda, and all of those dedicating their lives to reaching the world for Christ.
It may seem overwhelming to add a blog to your To Do list. With work and families, it's hard to squeeze anything else into the day. If you are a writer, then blogging is well worth the time investment. Here are 5 reasons why you should blog:
- Blogging keeps your writing fresh. We've all heard the saying practice makes perfect. When it comes to our writing, this is sound advice. The more you write, the better writer you will become. Blogging gives us another venue to perfect our craft.
- A well kept blog will help you market yourself. Creating a blog will help you market and sell your writing skills to potential editors and clients.
- Establish your expertise in a field of interest through your blog. A blog is a great venue to show off what you know, and how well you can communicate on the subject.
- Earn extra income blogging. Blogging can be a great means of extra income for freelancers. There are lots of websites that are looking for writers to keep their blog content fresh. Try the ProBlogger Job Board, but be aware that these jobs aren't necessarily Christian in nature. Keep your eye out for suitable topics.
- Bring glory to God through your blog. A blog is yet another means that we can use our God-given gift for words to bring glory to Jesus and help spread the gospel. For more info, check out the Boundless Webzine article Blogging to Worship God by Bob Kauflin.
Yesterday I connected with Lucy Rosen, a business woman and entrepreneur. Lucy is the President of The Business Development Group, Inc., a leading marketing, public relations and business development firm based in New York. She is also the president and founder of Women on the Fast Track, an international networking organization for women in business.
Lucy is great to work with, willing to help out and quick to respond. I learned a little something too, business networking isn't just about making self-serving connections, it's about helping people out.
Hmm... networking for Christ, now there's an idea I'm on board with!
You can reach Lucy through her websites:
Last night my husband walked through the door with my 9-year-old step-daughter, M, who was proudly displaying the hard-earned A+ on a report on Bald Eagles. Baby G., now nearly 1 1/2, was so overcome with excitement at the sight of M. that she dropped to the floor in a rolling heap of squeals and giggles. But for the potatoes in the oven, I might have joined her.
Dinner was filled with talk of Bald Eagles: Stories of various family sightings, and culminated with a fantastic tale spun by 2-year-old A. She had not only seen a bald eagle like the faded bird on the antique highchair she often uses, but it had swooped down over the young tree in our backyard, scratched her cheek with its sharp talons, then soared off over a mountain. An even more amazing feat considering our home is nestled in the flatlands of the Great Plains. She concluded that it had continued on a journey, "around the whole world." Later she confessed to M. that she had seen the big bird in a dream.
Storytelling is a wonderful part of the human experience, and one we are so often tempted to let go of in the midst of our busy world. If for the richness it brings to the family table alone, I plan to hold on with all I've got.
For a little story telling inspiration, check out Newberry Honor winner and Calvin College Prof. Gary Schmidt's lecture Of Duchesses and Sin Eaters: The Pattern of Story.
Labels: inspiration, links
Looking for a way to honor God with your writing? Try writing devotions. It's a wonderful way to strengthen your faith while helping others do the same.
The Revwriter Resource
Monthly e-newsletter. $10 per devotion. Query first.
The Upper Room
Pays $25 per meditation upon publication.
The Secret Place
$20 per devotion.
The Vision
Payment depends on quality and length. 350 - 400 words per devotion.
Dream of seeing your byline in a magazine that honors Christ? Here are some paying Christian magazine's writer's guidelines.
Bible Advocate
$25 per printed magazine page, up to $55 for print & electronic rights. $25-$50 for online articles, $20 for poetry.
Campus Life Christian College Guides
Magazine related to the Christian College experience. 20 cents to 25 cents per word.
The Chrisitian Century
$125 per feature article, also accepts poetry, artwork and photographs.
Ignite Your Faith
Humor, fiction, and information for teens considering a Christian college. 20 cents to 25 cents per word.
Marriage Partnership
Practical how-to pieces; interviews with experts; humorous articles; true-life, dramatic stories of couples dealing with major life challenges; thoughtful essays; and couple profiles. 5-10 cents per printed word.
Nature's Friend
Family friendly nature magazine from a creationist point of view. Target audience ages 6 - 14. 5 cents per edited word for first rights, 3 cents per edited word for reprints.
On Mission
Print and online magazine dedicated to helping readers and churches in the areas of personal evangelism, church planting, and missions. 25 cents per word for first rights.
Today's Chrisitian
Payment is made upon acceptance for original material; upon publication for reprint material.
Today's Chrisitian Woman
How-to articles, personal essays, reportage, humor, profiles, and first-person narratives. 20 cents per printed word.
For the working mother on a budget, flexibility is a must, and free is exactly the right price. There is no shortage of options when it comes to online writing courses. You can find courses covering nearly every genre imaginable, and some you may not even have heard about! Most of these courses come hand-in-hand with a hefty fee that may leave your wallet a little too light for comfort. Whether you are looking to spruce up your grammar, or dig into the effects of media on our social climate, here are a couple of sites that are sure to satisfy:
News University - interactive, inexpensive courses (many of which are free) for journalists at all levels of experience and in all types of media.
MITOpenCourseware - free course materials from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Poetry Resources
The Poetry Society of America
The Library of Congress Poetry Home Page
RhymeZone Rhyming Dictionary
Online Rhyming Dictionary for Poets and Songwriters
Glossary of Poetic Terms
Writer's Resources
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary and Thesauras
Writer's Market
Absolute Write
Christian Writer's Marketplace
BibleGateway.com
Whether you are looking for a quote, expert advice, or to polish up your grammar, you'll find a useful reference right here:
Looking for an expert for an article, book or blog? Profnet.com will connect you with an expert in your field of interest.
Infoplease.com provides a wealth of reference information through almanacs, an encyclopedia, a dictionary and an atlas, as well as other fun features.
If you need statistics, nilesonline.com offers a variety of useful links.
Bartleby.com publishes books and offers free access to their site. Search through references, or find applicable quotations for your writing needs.
You'll also find The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. on Bartleby.com. A must have grammatical reference for any serious writer.
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