The Write Way.

Writers create language. (Photo by JIMG944 Flickr)

Writers, archeologists and common people in South America are, at this very instant, ressurecting a language that died in the 16th Century. Those Mayan people of South America are, as they save the old language, writing a new language. A new language, for writing and speaking, will evolve in the 21st Century.

I watched a PBS Nova special over the weekend, Cracking the Maya Code, (a nine minute exerpt is below). The depths of my reaction, from a writer’s perspective, surprised me. I’m not Mayan or of indigenous people of any sort. My ancestors are European. But watching the timeline PBS put together to illustrate the fall of Maya, the loss of their culture, and the extinction of their language, felt personal.

The Mayans had a robust, high tech society more than 2,000 years ago. Their libraries were as extensive as ours are today and yet, only four or five books survive. The Mayan culture, and more importantly, the Mayan language died when Europeans arrived as conquerers to destroy the libraries and force Mayan people to speak another language and embrace another culture. Death was the consequence of non-compliance.

That means an highly intelligent and articulate people made a cultural record, written and also handed from generation to generation, that was as important to them as ours is to us, today. They had science, math, theater, and literature. It’s gone. Wiped out with so few traces that it has taken more than five centuries to do repair and recovery.

For me, the thought of writers’ work being lost forever is abundantly sad. It’s as though all of the medical advances in modern times were to be wirped out. Or all technology disappears. Think about it. If European people had beent he victims, rather than the conquerors, the record of our history could have been destroyed. No bible, no Shakespere, no Davinci, no Bach or Beethoven.

The point underlined for me is how important the written record is. As long as there are people on the Earth, it’s urgent we learn from our mistakes and from our successes. Writers, in every discipline, are the people who provide the basis of that learning. Our work is important and is worth doing well. It’s worth preserving. In the 19th Century, scientists began to unlock the Mayan language – the process has been mesmerizing.

Modern Mayans who still people parts of South America are filled with wonder at the idea of recovering their language and whatever bits of their cultural roots are still here. Because their history was so thoroughly destroyed, the few stelae, books, and artifacts left provide a basis of interpreting the language – they will probably not recover it in total. My feeling is,  if they continue to teach it in their schools, which they are doing at this point, and encourage use of the old language, they will begin to fill in the blanks, thus evolving a new language as they struggle to ressurect the old one.

I wish them all the success in the world!

Read more:

Why is the freelance market flooded with wannabes?

Sell your writing on talk radio?

Visit us at WomenDaybyDay.com

Your brilliance moves you (photo by gaetan lee)

Ali Hale makes real money as a staff blogger, her primary revenue stream. Ali is a freelance writer and entrepreneur, in her 20s, carving out a solid living for herself. This Q&A interview will introduce you to Ali and her new ebook staff-blogging course. Further – you may gain some insight about parlaying one revenue stream, freelance writing into more – like making money by teaching others what you know.

Ali Hale

So, Ali – let’s do some quick bio before we talk about staff blogging. Give us a little personal/professional background?

I live in London, in the UK. I moved here in 2006 to start a technical support/testing job after graduating from university: it really wasn’t “me”, and after nearly two years of it, I left to start my own freelancing business, Aliventures, primarily providing writing services and also some website work for very small companies.

What is staff blogging — why is it hot?

Staff blogging is working as a staff writer — that means regular and paid — for a blog that you don’t own. It’s awesome because it’s easy to get into, it’s fun and immediate, the pay is fast and surprisingly good if you’re an efficient writer. You know exactly what you’ll be getting per post (unless you’re writing for a share of advertising revenue, which I don’t really recommend), and because you can write for multiple blogs at once, you’re not going to end up in a financial crisis if one of them shuts down.

Is that your main revenue stream or a part time thing?

Currently, it’s my biggest revenue stream, though I don’t work on it full time. I have a few other small jobs going on, and I’m taking an MA in Creative Writing at the moment, too.

What else do you do for a living?

Over the past few months, I’ve created websites. I’ve done some childminding, (a great way to get some stimulating human interaction in the day!) I’ve done various small writing and editing jobs for clients, one of whom contacted me after enjoying one of my staff blogging posts; and I’ve written the Staff Blogging Course, which I’m selling as an ebook.

How many hours do you spend staff blogging and how much recognition does it get for you as a writer? Is it like ghost writing?

The number of hours fluctuates a bit week to week – I’d say it’s probably ten hours a week, on average; that’s including writing posts and also the admin side (comments, invoicing, contacting editors).

It’s definitely helped me to get my name known in the blogosphere, though I doubt more traditional, mainstream outlets (like newspapers and magazines) would pay much attention because of that. All the blogs I write for put my name on my posts, and most have an “authors” page with more information about me and the other staff bloggers. Dumb Little Man give me a full bio on every post, and I get good traffic to my business website, AliVentures,  from there. So no, it’s not like ghost writing (though I’ve done a bit of that too).

What made you decide to write a course? What background do you have in training?

One of the things I did enjoy about my technical support/testing job was that I was in charge of company documentation, so I got to write lots of user guides. The subject matter wasn’t exactly thrilling, but I enjoyed breaking down instructions into an easy-to-understand format.

In my second year with the company, I did a number of presentations and also ran a couple of full-day training sessions. I really enjoyed these (after I got over my initial nerves!) and used to prepare sheets of exercises to get people interacting with the software and trying out what they’d learnt. I’ve included exercises and handouts with the Staff Blogging Course, and had a lot of fun putting those together too.

I usually work alone, though my boyfriend helps with any graphic design when I’m doing website work — he’s got a real eye for it whereas I’m definitely a “words” person!

What kind of writer might be successful at staff blogging?

Ideally, you’ll want to have had some experience blogging — it doesn’t need to be in a “ProBlogger” way, but a familiarity with blogging software and writing for the internet in general will be a big plus. I recommend in the first unit of the Staff Blogging Course that would-be staff bloggers set up their own blog, so they have somewhere to build up a few samples of online pieces.

Is the compensation based on pay per click like Examiner.com or AssociatedContent or is it flat rate or hourly?

It varies depending on the blog, but all the blogs I’ve written for pay per post. Dumb Little Man even gives an extra bonus to authors who get the most traffic to a single post in a given month. I’m wary of writing for a share of advertising revenue, as this doesn’t give you much certainty over income, and can lead to very low incomes. A few blogs do pay hourly, but these tend to be the exception rather than the rule.

What kinds of companies or entities use staff bloggers? Is the demand healthy?

I’ve noticed IT companies increasingly advertising for staff bloggers, including PCWorld and similar. I’ve also written for a magazine with a blog, who paid very well, but that was on a one-off rather than regular basis. Most of the blogs who use staff bloggers are large blogs with a readership of 10,000+ and who are run by an editor (often not the owner), though some are much smaller in terms of readership and are using a blog to supplement their main website.

Demand seems very healthy to me; despite the credit crunch, I’ve had new jobs coming in from new start-up blogs, or from blogs who’ve become big enough to hire writers.

How much fun are you having?

Loads! The best thing is when I get an email from a reader who’s found one of my posts particularly helpful or useful — that’s always lovely. I love staff blogging because it lets me get my writing in front of a huge audience, and there’s a definite writerly thrill in being read!

What’s your best advice to writers in today’s challenging marketplace?

Don’t get stuck in a rut. Keep looking for new places you can write for, rather than assuming that current jobs will be around forever. Eighteen months ago, I had no clue that staff blogging even existed. I’m sure there are other writing areas now that I’m not aware of, too! Be proactive, and don’t be afraid to put out the word that you’re looking for jobs — you could be just the writer who someone needs.

What’s your last best project and what’s your next?

Great question! I think the Staff Blogging Course is my current “best” project, because it was a lot of fun to do, and I’ve learnt to be a bit brave about putting the word out — leading to an interview with Daily Blog Tips, a guest post on ProBlogger and a review on Freelance Folder.

My next project … I’m working on revamping the Aliventures site completely and turning it into a blog, not a business site. I’ve got enough staff blogging and other things going on at present that I’ve stopped taking on new website work completely, so the site really does need an overhaul.

Where can writers find you and your work?

You can find the list of blogs I write for, or have written for, with links to each, at AliVentures. The blog I probably enjoy writing for most, where I have a post or two up each week, is Dumb Little Man.

Thanks so much, Maryan, hopefully my answers will help your readers with their own freelance writing or writing businesses.

Note to readers: I’m taking Ali’s staff blogging course and will have a review of it for you very soon.  –mkp

Gotta sell my writing...

The freelance writing business is inundated with new contenders, flooded with wannabes. There are specific reasons why people from different fields turn to freelance writing for their bread. The economy has tanked; no news there. Thousands of people were unceremoniously dumped from long-time careers.

Lawyers, mechanics, artists, actors, copy editors, plumbers, managers, marketers, teachers and you name it, are out looking for gigs. They can’t go get another job – jobs are scarce as long-winded diatribes on Twitter.

The unemployed masses invariably see the light and exclaim, “Eureka! I loved writing in high school (or college, or grad school or kindergarten) and I’ll pop open my lap top, dash off a great story and sell my writing.”

Unemployed Pulitzer winners hunch over morning papers. These wordsmiths slurp inky coffee, and sob for want of a place to write their salient points. There are editors out of work and Kindle is trying to choke the newspaper industry.

Wait! It isn’t impossible to find work as a writer. I hear from established writers, freelance and otherwise, that their work load is creeping up – as is mine. But to play, you must be able to present yourself as a professional. Know how to submit an article.

You have to know grammar, punctuation, and spelling. You need a stable of sources – people in the know willing to tip secrets into your cup of knowledge. You have to know who’s got assignments to divvie among freelancers and what makes those editors happy.

Most of all, you have to know how to meet a freaking deadline. One print pub I work for contracted a batch of rookies to freelance for new spinoffs. Over three months, the editor had to send threatening bulk emails, “If y’all don’t get your work in by deadline next month, it won’t run and you won’t get paid.”

My best advice, if you want to be a freelancer – take classes like the ones from StoryStudio in Chicago . Develop a specialty and a strategy. Build clips by taking grunt jobs. Take the business seriously. Learn that June 1 deadline means June 1, even in parallel universes. Read what you write — before you try to submit it. And know, for heaven’s sake, KNOW the difference between its and it’s!

More?

Renowned author Sara Paretsky talks about the writing life

How writers make money on the web

All star mystery writer Sara Paretsky, talked with me about writing and about her career. This author of the wildly popular V.I.Warshawski series spoke forthrightly about the challenges of a writing career, especially in today’s economic downturn.

Sara Paretsky says, about her bold woman detective, V.I. Warshawski,

She is the quintessential urban woman. She grew up in the shadow of the steel mills on Chicago’s Southeast side and knows her way around every alley. She’s a street fighter, a singer, a bit of a clothes horse, and a woman of great intensity and passion.

Chatting with Paretsky, it’s obvious she isn’t her character and isn’t conflicted about that.

My favorite anecdote from our conversation goes like this:

Sara, how did you develop your unique writing voice? Is V.I. channelling you?

“It didn’t happen overnight. When I was struggling to come up with a character, I tried different appoaches and got nowhere. When I worked at CNA Insurance, part of the first generation of women in management in large numbers, I worked with a guy who, to put it kindly, had issues where women were concerned.

In October 1979, we were working an event in Grant Park. A dreary day. This man was going on. My lips were saying, “Gosh! Heck of an idea!” But the balloon over my head was saying unprintables. I suddenly thought: That’s my character! She says what’s in the balloon, not worrying about getting fired.”

I grew up in Kansas, a good girl. She didn’t. So her edgy voice is the part of me I hide. In some ways, it’s a crutch. I’ll be in a situation where I’ll think: A stronger, more courageous person than me would say something. But I can’t. I know later I’ll let her say it in a book for me.”

On getting started as a writer

Sara, like many writers, began her love affair with words as a child. Early in her career she craved writing, but settled for business writing for a major insurance company. Still, she couldn’t shake the private dream of publication, particularly in short stories.

“I’ve always loved detective fiction and wanted to create a woman detective. It was getting to the right time for strong women; for women to take a step forward. That was on my mind. The women’s movement was at its peak. There were characters like Nicole Hollander’s Sylvia.  Sylvia began a year before V.I.– I was about to find a niche that hadn’t existed, and people were hungry for it.”

Sara enrolled in a detective-fiction writing class at Northwestern University’s Chicago extension.

Kathleen Turner as Detective V. I. Warshawski

Her V.I. storyline was right there, but she didn’t know how to pull it together. Later, her instructor introduced her to a literary agent and the rest, Sara says, was very slow history. She became an overnight success — in 30 years.

Sara Paretsky said she’s lucky to have begun when books were marketed through small, independent bookstores. Successful sales were counted in terms of thousands of copies rather than tens of thousands. Her fan base built slowly over time. That kind of audience stays loyal — has legs.

She certainly had to market herself and her work, but the world was ready for her and she was eager, ready to deal with booksignings, public speaking engagements, book tours, a tiring road.

“I’d go anywhere. Any library, community group, or club looking for a speaker. I’d be there. I’d meet with people. I was published in too small a way for the publisher to care about marketing,” Sara recalls.

She encourages up-and-coming and new writers to keep feet planted on terra firma, especially when forming expectations about how fast and how far a book or written work might go. In today’s economy, marketing is essential and knowing how to market your work effectively is critical to success or failure, she’ll tell you.

How to get your writing out in front of the crowd

I asked Sara what a writer’s best tools might look like. She feels that in the end, it’s about carving out time you need to get inside yourself enough to really consider what you’re doing and what it means to you. You have to feel it to portray it.

“Herman Melville talked about the green grass-growing place you need to become really connected to your unconscious mind. That gets you insight you need to go forward. When we spend too much time managing things by phone, the Internet, wherever, without allowing quiet time, we’re killing the source of our creativity,” Sara said. “America is a culture where, if you don’t look like you’re working, there’s something wrong with you. Especially true for women. Put that aside. Sit staring into space. That’s where we go when were doing groundwork and getting prepared.”

That doesn’t mean a writer in the business of writing needn’t attend to business. Sara has a personal blog where she talks about the writing life.  Her website keeps her connected to her audience.  She makes public appearances, and though she recently hired a publicist, she makes sure that she’s accessible to her public.

Sara Paretsky outside the writing life

Writing is her passion and her business. Always, she’s either planning, writing, or promoting a book. She makes herself write every day. Even in bouts of thinker’s block, she wants to be at the keyboard when the logjam breaks. But like all worker bees, she needs down time to connect with family and her community. Sara came to Chicago in the summer of 1966 to do community service work in the City’s South Side nieghborhoods. That, she says, is what made the City her home. The fury over open housing and ethnic neighborhoods marked her, changed her life.

Now, she nurtures organizations that support girls and women in the arts, letters, and sciences. She has endowed scholarships at the University of Kansas and mentored students in Chicago’s inner city schools. Sara created Sisters in Crime,  an advocacy organization for women in the mystery writing world. She founded, Sisters for Science in Chicago, supporting programs for school-age girls and Girls in the Game to give at-risk girls a place to run off pent up energy.

Internationally acclaimed writer Sara Paretsky is a brilliant, thinking woman – a pleasure to talk with. She’s due to release her latest V.I.Warshawski novel, Hardball, this fall. Get a sneak peek at the book on her website.  (Photo above, of Sara Paretsky, is by Steven Gross.)

Read more about Sara at Chicago Freelance Examiner

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Writers must help people remember

If you write about history and have an interest in the Holocaust, there is an amazing archive resource available FREE. Miles of documentation are available for reference and research – the project, instituted by the Red Cross, is the International Tracing Service (ITS) in Bad Arolsen, Germany. These resources were amassed by Hitler’s regime but were siezed by Allied forces. Digital versions of the archives are finally available for general use.

There is no archive like it, at least as far as size is concerned, in the world. You can find information about almost 20 million Holocaust victims in this treasure. Originally, the material was part of a huge conglomerate of personal belongings, documents, and other valuables that had to be sorted and preserved after the liberation of concentration camps. Anne Frank, or Annaliese Marie Frank’s journey from Amsterdam to death at Bergen Belsen is part of it.  The documents are all in German, but are translated to English.

After half a century, these documents and artifacts are being assembled, cataloged, classified and compiled by the ITS

Soon, the generation of people who survived these camps will be gone and it’s an important task of other writers to carry the traditions, truthfully, into perpetuity. Mankind simply doesn’t dare forget lists of people who toiled in Oskar Schindler‘s factories. We can’t discard the horror of a birthday gift to Adolph Hitler – the murder of a human being each hour of the day — to celebrate.

This is an invaluable resource containing material that is not available anywhere else on Earth. Families of victims may write in and request information via postal or email. The ITS website provides complete information about how the service can be accessed, what kind of data is there, and what is needed in order to complete a request for information. Press related resources are available,  as are descriptions of research topics and good scientific guidelines for research.

If nothing else, browsing the ITS site gives an insight into feelings surrounding this tragic part of history. There are unlimited story ideas here. 60 Minutes reported on the ITS and the first Holocaust survivors to have visited the archive. (15 min video)

May I suggest you also read:

1. Holocaust Memorial Day Trust - a very important and robust web resource
2. Steps to becoming an expert on any topic
3. How ebooks and e-readers will help you sell your writing
4. Excellent empowerment site for women – WomenDaybyDay.com