How You Can Make $25,000 a Year Writing (No Matter Where You Live)

Usually, I hate these books. You know, namby-pamby feel-good stuff. If you've got more books on "how to get published" than you do outlined novels or completed articles, then you're possibly just a loser & might want to keep the day job. I'm a writer, an author, & a freelance editor. This book (I have the 1987 edition) REALLY needs an editor. That said, there are very few books on the market that deal with actual writing for a living. Nowadays there's Bob Bly's book -- most folks don't know that, long before "Iron John" was a fad, he was making a darned good living writing speeches & such for corporate clients. Other than that, there's Webster Kuswa's "Sell Copy." This author pulls few punches (though she does try a little too hard in places to "lighten" her tone). She's darned clear that you've got to know how to write -- don't laugh; you'd be surprised -- and that most of your income will likely come from small & corporate publications, & that you will need to make a steady & growing list of contacts in order to not just ensure that income but to achieve the ultimate goal: more money, less work. If you can't do the work, or at least commit to learning how, then quit now. If you've got the drive, & can get the talent, that $25,000 is within your reach, & you might even make that goal in six months or less. Sure, it's a bit outdated. The previous reviewer didn't note that $25,000 went a bit farther in 1987 -- but it's still nothing to sneeze at, especially for a job that's so flexible & mobile. Plus, thanks to the Internet, all the researching & even interviewing that you need to do in order to be a successful freelancer is made simpler & faster -- okay, note that I don't say "easier," & that's the problem with most wannabee writers: abject laziness. (Oh, if I had a dime for every "author" I've reviewed who was sure that they will retire on their 35,000 word novel....) Look, this thing's cheap -- if you've read this far, you ought to buy yourself a copy! It was heavily produced for years by Writer's Digest, & also picked up by the Book of the Month Club. It'll never be collectible, so buy yourself a ratty copy that doesn't have penmarks or highlighting, then read it until the pages fall out. Get the newest edition you can find.