UPDATE: I’ve added my latest PowerPoint presentation – from April 2018 – for anyone interested in checking it out.

I hope the folks who joined me over the weekend for my freelance writing workshop will have the chance to check out some of my favorite freelance writing links and resources. I’ve also added my PowerPoint presentation for those who want to revisit my presentation.

Again, keep in mind that networking is the key to success and that having a venue to show off your writing is a must for editors looking to hire you. Good luck everyone!

Freelance Writing Workshop2018

2018 Freelance Writing Workshop Resources

Mediabistro

https://www.mediabistro.com/

One-stop shop for all things media with lots of industry information. You can find advice on how to pitch national and large regional publications and websites here, as well as information on who to pitch and when to pitch. You can also find a wide range of courses here, varying in commitment and price. Subscription needed to access some content.

Freelancers Union

https://www.freelancersunion.org/

The motto here is “Freelance isn’t free.” You will find lots of practical advice on the business-side of freelance writing, from information on how to claim freelance writing income on your taxes to what to do if a publication won’t pay you. I find the blog particularly helpful with short articles packed with advice from full-time freelancers.

NH Writers’ Project

http://www.nhwritersproject.org/

The state’s top organization for writers of all levels. Annual Writers’ Day event has lots of networking opportunities, as well as monthly Writers’ Night Out and book groups.

NH Creative Club

http://nhcreativeclub.org/

Commercial artists, communication and media professional networking group. Not a lot of writers, but many people who work in media, marketing and communications – all good people to know as you build your clips.

NH Media Makers

https://nhmediamakers.wordpress.com/

A group of largely Seacoast-area artists, designers and writers. The group meets the second Sunday of every month at 10am at Crackskulls in Newmarket, NH. Many of the members are involved in many projects, some that require writers.

Writers Market

http://www.writersmarket.com/

From their website: “WritersMarket.com lists more than 8,000 publishing opportunities, whether you write nonfiction, fiction, poetry, scripts or children’s books. Listings include contact information, submission preferences, payment rates, and more.”

The Billfold

https://thebillfold.com/search?q=writing

A blog about money and making a living in the gig economy. Nicole Dieker is a freelance writer who shares her experiences, as well as those of others in the writing business.

 

Over the summer, I interviewed Christine Elder, head of the family-owned liquor retailer chain, Blanchards Wine & Spirits, based in West Roxbury, Mass. The store was impressive, packing in an unimaginable number of wines, Boston-area craft spirits, craft beers and of course the usual selection of popular spirits from Tito’s to Tanqueray. Here’s my profile, as part of the 2016 Market Watch Leaders issue.

Blanchards Wines & Spirits Builds On A Family Legacy

Christine Elder knows how the Boston-area Blanchards Wines & Spirits operates, inside and out. She began working at the family business as a teenager, starting in the redemption center organizing bottles and cans, as regulated under Massachusetts’ deposit law. She’s been at the three-unit retailer full-time for the past 17 years, filling nearly every role along the way. Today, Elder serves as Blanchards’ principal.

Elder’s experience in the business has given her the ability to anticipate market shifts and adjust inventories accordingly. Whether it’s supplying hard-to-find beers from small craft brewers or offering tastings from a local distillery, she’s always thinking up ways to get new products into the hands of customers. “Our shoppers want high-quality products, but they want to discover them as well,” Elder says. “They want something interesting that’s within their budget, and they want to learn about what they’re buying.” For curating a selection that appeals to a wide array of consumers in a very competitive market, Christine Elder has been named a 2016 Market Watch Leader.

You can read the rest of the piece here.

 

This September, it will be one year since I first launched my storytelling series, Long Story Short. I had a lot of help in the beginning and could not have done it without the valuable input and advice of those at 3SArtspace. I certainly couldn’t have continued the series without the amazing people who have been brave enough to take the stage.

The plan is to continue the series for as long as 3S will have me, or as long as I can manage to do it. Here’s hoping the second year is as good as the first.