What the Press is saying about the book: Portable Writing.
Escapees Magazine, Sept/Oct, 2006: “Filled with personal anecdotes, her overviews of writing magazine articles, newsletters, news releases, columns, family histories, etc. are invaluable. They will inspire many potential marketing ideas in both beginning and experienced writers who will be motivated to try new writing avenues and ideas. Her enthusiasm for her chosen profession is contagious.
This is a real winner and one every writer or aspiring writer ought to have in their arsenal.”
Friday, September 08, 2006
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Articles in this month’s issue:
--Tips for writers: How to find great networking opportunities
--More tips for writers: Travel and get paid for it
--Traveling topics: Work camping
--On the road: Visit the real Old West in Oatman, AZ
===
TIPS FOR WRITERS:
NETWORKING FOR WRITERS:
Look for the best networking opportunities
If you’re looking for prospective clients to network with, you must attend meetings that emphasize exchanging business leads. Here are some ideas.
1. Business associations: If there is a home-based or small business group in your community, see if they focus on making business connections. Attend a few meetings to find out how it works. If I had attended only the first meeting of the Home Based Business Association in my county, I would have come away empty-handed. However, I did note that people made a point of meeting and greeting while enjoying snacks before and after the formal meeting. For best results, don’t eat while trying to talk with new acquaintances. Nothing like some brocoli between the teeth to influence prospective clients!
2. The local chamber of commerce always provides a place to network, but they may hold their meetings at some ungodly hour in the early morning or hold after-hours socials. While I belonged to the chamber for awhile, it didn’t fit my schedule to make the most of networking opportunities. That doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be great for others. Membership fees might be a little steep for beginning writers, but check it out for your business.
3. Leads clubs: Back in the mid-eighties and early nineties, there was an organization of business groups across the country called Leads Clubs that focused entirely on exchanging leads. At each meeting, everyone got up and introduced themselves and their business. There was time for socializing afterwards so that members could become acquainted with each other and exchange leads. And all members were encouraged to refer fellow club members to friends or business associates. This was the ideal situation for fostering business leads, and I got many from belonging. I don’t know if this association still exists as I haven’t seen mention of it in the paper for a long time, but you might want to start your own club specifically for this purpose. Call it something else, though, because it’s possible “Leads Club” was a trademarked name.
4. Form your own small group to meet weekly to share ideas, provide business help to each other, and exchange leads. This should consist of no more than four people that you admire and enjoy.
I belonged to two such groups. One consisted of four writers who met for lunch weekly for support and motivation. We all focused on different aspects of writing: one was a romance writer, one taught writing autobiographies to the elderly, one wrote magazine and newspaper articles and also produced histories of associations and communities. I was the only one who focused on producing a variety of projects for businesses plus getting articles published. If you’re a writer, you are going to need to get out of the house occasionally, and this provides an excellent opportunity to socialize and achieve some business goals.
What did we have to share? For starters, if we were having trouble with getting a sentence or word sequence just right, we took it to the group. If we needed encouragement or a swift kick in the behind, we got that from our peers. We also exchanged referrals. Some of us are still friends after all these years!
I also formed a group of business owners, again no more than four people. You want to make sure these are people who you respect for their knowledge of business and can trust with your business secrets. These will be your closest business confidantes, advisors and motivators. You’ll also trade referrals. My group became very close-knit friends, and without them my business would have never made it through those first, trying years.
5. Social and service groups: You might find some success by networking with these groups, but you’ll have to attend a meeting to determine what transpires, such as do they set aside time for introductions and business announcements? The Junior League is an example of a service and social organization, but it exists mainly for spouses of successful professionals to do charity work. While participating in activities with the wives of doctors and lawyers might net you an occasional business writing referral, the group is not geared towards business. On the other hand, an organization like Elks is a great place to meet and get to know other business owners.
6. If you want to get your work published, then go where editors and publishers congregate. Attend every writers conference you can find in your area. Sometimes small conferences will take place in nearby medium-size or large cities or at local colleges, and the public can attend. The big ones, like the Maui Writers Conference, are huge gatherings where the cream of the crop gathers to share industry news.
If you can afford it, this would probably be the place to go, but unless you walk in prepared to approach presenters and introduce yourself and your prospective book or project in a brief sentence (you only get a few seconds), you needn’t waste time trying to hook an assignment or sell a book. This conference attracts the most experienced writers and editors, so it’s a great educational opportunity even if you aren’t prepared to sell a work in progress. And you can still introduce yourself to editors that you can send query letters to later and mention that you met them at the conference. You can also meet other writers who may be willing to share information that will help give your career a boost.
When you arrive at a conference, or even beforehand if you get a chance, sign up for the workshops that will benefit you. Some time slots may not have anything you’re interested in, but one time a friend and I signed up for a romance writing presentation even though neither of us was interested in that genre. Still, the presenter became an interview subject for me, and we later became friends. Every experience is an opportunity for education, advancement or friendship if you look deep enough.
Make sure you separate “networking” from strictly social organizations before you commit your time. Determine who your clients are most likely to be and focus on finding ways to reach them. And there’s certainly nothing wrong with belonging to social and service groups—in fact they’re good and necessary, and provide many much-needed services to the underprivileged, sick and elderly in communities nationwide. However, to network successfully and build your business, you MUST ALSO join groups that focus on business networking.
So get out there. Walk up to other attendees, stick out your hand and say “Hi,” “Howdy,” or “Hi y’all,” or whatever is comfortable for you. Tell each person you greet your name and ask theirs, if they don’t volunteer it. You can always say something like, “Hi, I’m Mary Sunshine, what brings you to this meeting.” Some people are shy and at a loss for words at functions where they don’t know anyone, but everyone loves to talk about themselves. A friendly smile and a greeting will usually break the ice for them, and for you if you’re the hesitant one. If they don’t offer their name, say, “I’m sorry, I don’t believe I got your name. Do you have a business card?” You’ll soon be a pro at meeting and greeting, and at building your writing business. Trust me, once the referral ball starts rolling, you'll soon be running to keep up with the business of your dreams!
For an excellent article and different take on starting out as a writer and succeeding, and what she had to do to succeed, read Accountability by Robin Allen. Go to this link: www.writersweekly.com, August 16, 2006.
===
More Writing Tips . . .
Travel Writing
Travel and get paid for it!
While RVing is my choice for traveling and writing, it might not be yours. There are many writing opportunities for travel writers who roam the world as jet-setters. However, unless you know a publisher who is willing to pay you to hop around the globe or you already have lots of travel writing credits under your belt, it’s probably not going to happen for you for awhile. It is a goal worth pursuing though, if that’s your dream.
To get started in the travel writing field, concentrate on producing destination pieces and peddling them to magazines and newspapers. You should read other destination articles to see what type of information is included. Are articles written in first person (I was there and this is what I saw and did), or are they all third person. Some publications prefer one type over the other and you must know which they’ll buy before approaching them if you want to appear professional. And you do, don’t you?
It also helps if you can take great photos, but if you don’t, magazines can usually acquire them from stock image companies. Those are businesses that buy photos from a variety of sources and focus on collecting exceptional ones to offer for sale for publication. You can also get great photos from the local or state tourism office.
If you want to take your own pictures, buy a good camera with a telephoto lens. Digital photography is becoming more acceptable to magazines and newspapers, but those using higher grade paper still require slides. If you haven’t taken professional quality photos before, practice by taking several shots of each subject, including close-up and wide-angle. Make notes about what time of day you took each one, what camera setting you used, unless yours is a point and shoot camera, then study the photos to see which works best for telling a story. Take a class on photography. Or maybe you have a talented friend who will be willing to travel with you and take photos to illustrate your articles. Traveling with a friend is a lot more fun, anyway, than going it alone.
I have taken hundreds of slides, which I’ve saved in a file. Keep them in a plastic sleeve made for holding slides, and write with a felt tip pen what the subjects are on the top edge.
Now, I use a digital camera almost exclusively, and those photos have illustrated several of my published articles. Study the publications you want to write for to see what quality they use. Get a copy of their guidelines, which will tell you what they want.
Become a globe-trotting journalist, if you like, by building a portfolio of outstanding articles and photos. You can fly, cruise, drive, ride the rails or go at an even more leisurely pace by RV. I personally don’t like flying, especially now that restrictions are so tight, and it’s such a hassle and so time consuming to catch a flight. RVing is the ideal mode of transportation for me.
One thing you might want to avoid is being comped for a room, meals, or airline tickets while you’re traveling. It can cloud your report and might be construed as a bribe to write a flattering review of your destination. Some magazines won’t accept articles if you’ve received free travel, room and board. On the other hand, if you can find magazines or newspapers that don’t care how you got your information, then you can probably build enough publishing credits to convince resorts, etc. to comp all of your expenses. This is one of those ethics dilemmas that sidetrack many a well-intentioned writer.
Even if you never accept compensation from the people and places you’re writing about, you’ll still be offered small gifts from time to time. I have always refused comps, but there have been times when I’ve become friends with an interviewee and after an article is published, they have offered a small gift, such as a musician’s CD or tickets to a show they’re performing in, or a book from a writer. If the article is already in print and I have an ongoing relationship with the person, I have accepted small token objects on a few occasions. And if there’s any way I can get free publicity for a writer’s book or a muscian's CD, I make sure to do it.
You’ll have to decide how you want to handle ethical questions like this on your own. Be aware that if you get an assignment from a magazine, and they’re paying you for your travel, expenses, and for your time, then there’s no question that you should not accept comps under any circumstances. If you can build a reputation as a great writer whose articles are factual and untainted, you’ll have expense paid vacations for as long as you want to write and travel. If editors from most magazines know you have a reputation for accepting comps, you’ll definitely not win new assignments from them, but you still might become the darling of resorts, etc. and receive free vacations if you’re getting publicity for them in other magazines. See the dilemma?
===
For more information on travel writing as a career, check Amazon.com for titles that match this field. Check www.writersmarket.com for market information for placing your articles and books.
====================
Traveling topics:
Working while RVing
Pay for your travel with jobs on the road
In a previous issue, I mentioned work camping for those who want to earn extra income while traveling. There are reasons why you, as a writer, might want to do this and reasons why you might choose not to do it.
Why you might want to work camp
If you are a new writer who doesn’t have a published track record or enough clients to keep your coffers filled, then you might want to explore working while traveling. There are other benefits besides money. You’ll learn a great deal about the region you’re visiting and will probably find new topics to write about. You might even meet new business clients if you do business writing.
Work camping at RV parks
The RVing world is filled with RV resorts that need workers to help out during their busy season. These resorts and campgrounds actively recruit workers to help out during the summer (or winter in the South).
Some parks offer a free campsite in exchange for a few hours work each week. Often, they prefer couples to fill two jobs, but if you offer to work more hours, they might accept one person. Most parks will ask that you commit to anywhere from two months to an entire season.
If you’re interested in pursuing this route, always check monthly rates at nearby RV parks and divide that by the State minimum wage. In other words, if the minimum wage is $7.00 per hour in that State and average monthly site rents for $350, then you should not be required to work more than 50 hours per month. If the park hired locals to work, they’d have to pay minimum wage, and maybe add some benefits. Don’t sign on to work for less!
Some RV parks will offer a free site, plus salary. Again, make sure you’re getting a fair shake. Most RV park owners are honest and value the RVers who work for them, but some are not above trying to get slave labor from people they perceive as already well-off or they wouldn’t be traveling. It doesn’t matter if you’ve won the lottery and don’t need a penny. If you want to work just to keep busy, you can always volunteer at a national or state park. But if you want to work for a regular RV park because of the social activities offered, demand a fair wage.
Other work options
Another likely spot to find work is at places like Disneyland, Disney World, Six Flags, Silver Dollar City, and many others across the country. These don’t usually provide RV sites or housing, but they do offer a fair wage and you can find a nearby RV Park to stay in. There’s usually a time commitment required.
Many of the national parks hire temporary workers during their busy season. Yellowstone, Grand Canyon and many of their concessionaires provide jobs in their shops, or at their inns. They usually provide housing and a salary since they’re most often located in remote areas. These places also insist on a time commitment.
Temporary agencies are always an option for traveling workers. Sign up with one that hires people with your skills, then arrange to sign on wherever you visit. Many of the jobs they offer will require some commitment of time, but it might vary from a week to several months.
Why you may not want to work camp
The main reason I can think of for not working is that you sometimes end up toiling away more hours than you’d planned, and suddenly you don’t have time to write, or you’re too tired. Don’t forget your writing goals. If you can achieve a balance that allows you to write and to earn income on the side, then this is a great way to expand your knowledge and pocketbook.
If you choose to go this route, perhaps you’re traveling with a spouse or partner who can work while you write. We met a young couple in Massachusetts one summer who return to the same park every year. He works for a nearby nursery while she attends to her own agenda. Finding a place to return to every year is a great option for earning income, but it does limit your travel options. If you are traveling to see the country, then you might get caught in a rut returning to the same place each year and not get to travel as much as you’d planned.
Check the back of RV magazines to locate job opportunities. A great source for jobs for RVers is Workamper News, http://www.workampernews.com. Their magazine lists hundreds of jobs that you can apply to for seasonal work.
Always question carefully any owner you contact about the job, wages, etc. If you travel cross country to take a job with a park you’ve never visited, you run the risk of landing a terrible job with a boss from hell. Try to find out as much as you can before you make the journey. If you’ve found a place you adore, check to see if they need employees. That way, you’ll know the owners and their personalities, and you’ll know whether you enjoy the RV park.
We once took a job that we didn’t check thoroughly enough beforehand. We traveled about 800 miles, and when we arrived we didn’t like the look of the park or the neighborhood. Too late, though, because the owner had spotted us and had rushed out to welcome us. As a result, we ended up spending a few months in a miserable location working for the witch from hell. And, instead of working 3 days on and 4 off, then the reverse for the next week as I had been told--once I arrived there, I found out I was on duty 24 hours a day for those days I worked. That meant I was answering calls as late as midnight and as early as 3 a.m. from sadistic RVers wanting to make reservations at those hours, and getting up at 5 a.m. to return key deposits to those early bird RVers who insisted they had to get on the road by that time. To say I was a cranky camper was an understatement. Don’t let yourself get in a similar situation.
Whatever you decide, remember to enjoy your journey since this is your only chance to get this life right. Don’t waste it doing work you don’t like in a place you can’t stand for people you wouldn’t even waste time with if you weren’t working for them. There are too many special places and friendly people across the U.S. to get stuck with the small percentage of idiots and oddballs who inhabit this country.
===
On the road . . . Backroads of northern AZ
(For the next few issues, I’ll write about small, must-see towns in Arizona and the American South.)
Most visitors to Arizona skip the backroads, small towns, and historical, quaint and offbeat sites scattered around the state. Instead, they head for Phoenix, then maybe take a side trip to the Grand Canyon. Those visitors miss the real west full of quirky little places that offer their own charms and delights.
Sections of old Route 66 are still in use in Arizona, and along one narrow, winding strip of this historic roadway west of Kingman lies the rough and tumble ghost town of Oatman. Take it from me, this is not your typical, sanitized, old-west tourist town! Except for a few shops, what you see now is just like it has always been, including dirt sidewalks and weathered buildings. Even the burros that roam the main drag are descendants of those that were tamed and used for gold mining operations back in the early 1900s.
Oatman has had only one brief flirtation with the spotlight when Clark Gable and Carol Lombard honeymooned here. Still, the town is an original, and should be on the must-see list of everyone who likes quaint, out of the way places.
Weekends are best for visiting, when dancing to western music and staged gunfights draw tourists to town.
One warning: Some of the curves on the drive from Kingman to Oatman will make your hair stand on end, so it’s best to leave your RV in Kingman and make the short trip in your dinghy or tow vehicle.
(This is an excerpt from an article that I wrote in 1996 for a now-defunct magazine.)
===================
You are free to reprint articles from this newsletter for your own publication as long as you credit the author, as follows: Article by Kay Kennedy, author of "Portable Writing: the Secret to Living Your Dreams with 25 Projects to Fund Your Freedom." Web Site at http://www.kennedyk.com
====================
Readers: Also check out my blog site at http://freelancewriter.booklocker.com/ for more articles.
====================
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Read what the press is saying about Portable Writing
The following is excerpted from a review of Portable Writing that appeared in RV Lifestyles ezine July 27, 2006.
“RVer Kay Kennedy's new book, Portable Writing: The Secret to Living Your Dream, opens a whole new vista of discovering lucrative writing projects.”
“I highly recommend Portable Writing to you as a way to combine your love of traveling, writing, and adding income to your journeys. Visit Kay Kennedy at http://www.kennedyk.com.”
To read more articles about writing and RVing, subscribe to the monthly newsletter: Portable Writing Newsletter. Send an e-mail with the word “subscribe” to travelingwriter@kennedyk.com. You'll also find more articles on writing at http://www.portablewritingnewsletter.blogspot.com.
The following is excerpted from a review of Portable Writing that appeared in RV Lifestyles ezine July 27, 2006.
“RVer Kay Kennedy's new book, Portable Writing: The Secret to Living Your Dream, opens a whole new vista of discovering lucrative writing projects.”
“I highly recommend Portable Writing to you as a way to combine your love of traveling, writing, and adding income to your journeys. Visit Kay Kennedy at http://www.kennedyk.com.”
To read more articles about writing and RVing, subscribe to the monthly newsletter: Portable Writing Newsletter. Send an e-mail with the word “subscribe” to travelingwriter@kennedyk.com. You'll also find more articles on writing at http://www.portablewritingnewsletter.blogspot.com.
KAY KENNEDY
Profile: I have been a freelance writer since 1986, and started traveling in an RV in 1992. Since then, I've been all over the country--to some places more than once.
I was editor of two newsletters, including Home Office Opportunities (home businesses) and Rolling Ventures (people earning income while traveling). Hundreds of my articles have appeared in dozens of magazines and newspapers and I have had two books published, including Make Room for Success: A guide for planning and setting up an office in your home or on the road, and my newest one, Portable Writing (read about it below). I was a columnist for the Pierce County Business Examiner writing business profiles and feature articles for two years while we lived in the Pacific Northwest, and have produced hundreds of projects for businesses and corporations.
Traveling has been the best decision we've ever made. We can travel when we want, stay put when we choose, and enjoy a lifestyle that offers adventure, joy, and friendship, and a chance to visit family and friends whenever we choose.
This is a beautiful country and I'll try to document some of the lovely spots in articles and photos in this newsletter, but meanwhile, here's a photo of me. Look for upcoming segments with features on tourist sites along Interstate 40 heading east from Arizona. I'll also cover some topics besides writing and RVing, such as work camping while traveling. I'll also cover alternatives to buying an RV if that's how you would like to travel.
If you haven't read the book PORTABLE WRITING, here's what you'll find inside: Learn how to make money no matter where you live or travel with 25 different projects, including several types of newsletters that can be marketed to businesses, plus subscription and advertising projects. You'll also find information on writing for publication. You'll find some unique projects that you've probably never considered, even if you're already making money writing.
Find out why this business is well-suited to military and corporate spouses who must move often, retirees who are looking for something fulfilling and to add income, plus anyone, young or old, who wants to live life under their own terms. The book is based on twenty years experience. Believe me, if I had known about writing at age twenty, I'd have done it much sooner! There are four bonus chapters that focus on writing while RVing.
Become a well-paid writer with these step-by-step instructions to success. Read Portable Writing and take the mystery out of making money. Suitable for all ages, and no advanced degree required. Find out how those with limited education sometimes make it big in the writing field. No matter what your background or education, you can do it, too! Available in paperback--$16.95, or as an ebook--$9.95. To read a two-chapter excerpt from the book or to order, go to http://www.booklocker.com/books/2461.html.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Newsletter: August, 2006
Articles in this month’s issue:
-- Tips for Writers: Getting Published, part 2
-- Traveling Topics: Make Money Writing While Traveling
-- On the Road: Read about the big RV gathering each winter in Quartzsite, AZ
-- Quartzsite’s unusual characters
-- Quartzsite area attractions
-- Volunteer on a houseboat
-- Read a review of the book, Taking the Mystery Out of RV Writing.
TIPS FOR WRITERS:
Get published (#2 in a series of career opportunities)
Pitching your ideas to a magazine editor
To get articles published in a magazine, you have to get the editor’s attention. There are some instances where you can send in the entire article, but in most cases, the editor expects a query letter. What is a query letter, you ask?
A query letter basically outlines what you plan to write about and how you intend to cover it—but it’s much more than that. It is your introduction to the editor if you’ve never written for this magazine before. You need to make it the best darned letter you ever wrote if you want to impress an editor.
First, you might start with a strong sentence that opens your article. This is why you should have done a basic outline of what you propose to write. If you don’t have a good opening sentence yet, then write something that captures the essence of your proposed article. Sometimes I can’t come up with a great opening until after I finish an article. Then when I look through it, I find the perfect idea for the opening sentence.
In the next paragraph tell the editor how you plan to handle the article. Will you interview experts, and if so, which ones. If it’s a travel destination piece, how will your article be different from all the others that can be found in any travel magazine? Sure, you want to write about Disneyland, but what makes your presentation different. Depending on the magazine you’re approaching, it might be a piece on the best rides for kids, or what would interest an elderly parent in the park. Your article must be different from the usual.
Next, let the editor know why you’re the best person to write the article and why the magazine’s readers would be interested. This section might include your previous writing credits. If this is your first time out, then let your writing ability speak for itself. No, don’t tell the editor you’re a great writer because you made straight A’s in high school English and your teacher told you that you were the best. That’s not going to fly.
You’ve got to make your letter sing to the editor. Make sure your grammar is as good as it gets. I can’t tell you how many letters editors get from hopeful submitters that are full of typos and grammatical errors. Those go in the wastebasket immediately, but the editor definitely notices your name and remembers it. Read your letter over again and again until you’re sure it’s perfect; that you haven’t been redundant; and that sentences are short and to the point.
When is a query letter not necessary? If you write humor articles, it’s hard to get the humorous aspects across in a letter. So write the article and send it in with a short note explaining that you’re enclosing a humor article on “Title” and you think it will appeal to readers because… Your article will have to stand on its on.
Privacy is a major concern for this newsletter. You can be sure that your e-mail address and name are never shared with any business or Web site.
========================
Traveling topics:
Working while RVing
Make money writing while traveling
When I first hit the road in 1992, I was publisher of a subscription newsletter and was also producing newsletters for several corporate clients. In addition, I was writing for some magazines that expected regular contributions from me. Here’s how things went those first few months:
After a month on the road, the motorhome broke down and it took three weeks to get it going again. Meanwhile, I had deadlines that had to be met. We stayed with friends during the time the RV was being worked on except for a few occasions when we returned for a day or two and asked the repair shop to hook us up to electricity so I could operate the computer. It wasn’t easy, but I managed to meet the deadlines.
Next, we had arranged to share a booth at Quartzsite with our mail forwarding service, so we spent three weeks there. One problem reared its ugly head quickly—unreliable electrical service. So I worked when I could and shut down when there was no way to keep going. We immediately purchased an inverter with plans to go solar, but we didn’t have solar panels yet, and besides, the desert had one of those rare rainy winters so there wasn’t a lot of sun. Still, I met my deadlines.
What was the worst part of this? No, FUN, that’s what! Stress filled my life for approximately three months until I could find a good location to work. Then that summer we decided to spend a month in Branson, MO to see what all the hoopla was about. And what do you know. We ran into more electrical problems. Branson had grown so much, so fast, that their electric grid wasn’t dependable.
I eventually had to turn my corporate clients over to someone else because I was having anxiety attacks trying to keep up. And, in 1994 I sold the subscription newsletter.
Did that mean I quit earning my living as a traveling writer? No way! I still wrote articles, plus I learned how to focus my business writing on projects that could be produced quickly, and we learned to plan our travels better. We were slow learners, but that didn’t stop me! It just slowed me down a bit.
We found a lot of places that really appealed to us, and spent several months at those locales. That gave me time to find new clients for projects like brochures, sales literature, letters, one-time newsletters and other short-term jobs. I even went to work for a publisher as a writer for a few months until 14 degree temperatures drove us back to Arizona. We have one firm rule about RVing. We don’t do winters!
We started RVing in the dark ages of technology, but today it’s so much easier to work anywhere because of the Internet and other advances. Back then, no cellular service provided nationwide coverage and the Internet wasn’t available to everyone. Now I have a laptop computer, broadband Internet and a reliable cellular phone, all of which make life much simpler for a writer.
We also found opportunities to work in RV parks. I’ll talk more about the pros and cons of doing that if you’re trying to also succeed as a freelance writer in the next issue. It is definitely a way to add to your income or stay for free, especially if you have a partner who can work the parks while you write.
====================================
TRUE GRIT: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area has a second volunteer houseboat program. GRIT stands for Graffiti Removal and Intervention Team. Teams of four volunteers go out on the "True GRIT" houseboat for 5, 7 or 10 days and remove non-historical graffiti from canyon walls and rocks faces within the park. See http://www.nps.gov/glca/grit/grithome.htm for more information.
Reprinted from "RV Lifestyles" a free ezine featuring tips and resources about the RV lifestyle. Visit http://www.rvhometown.com/ for subscription information, back issues, and more RV information.
==========
On the road . . . Quartzsite, Arizona
Almost every RVer has heard of Quartzsite, but if you haven’t been there during January and February, you’ve missed what has to be the biggest flea market this side of anywhere. Hundreds of booths fill shows scattered along the two-mile stretches of roadway on either side of Interstate 10. You’ll find more booths tucked in among businesses and outside RVs, which park helter-skelter throughout the surrounding desert.
You’ll find everything at Quartzsite, including: RVs and everything related to the RV lifestyle; handcrafted items for every imaginable use; gems, rocks and minerals; jewelry at wholesale prices; tools; antiques; metal detectors and a million other things you can’t possibly live without. You’ll also find merchandise that is unusual, to say the least, and can probably find plenty that’s illegal.
Stay in an RV park or pick your own spot in the desert, where you’ll see million-dollar motorhomes parked amidst RVs in every price range, including tiny campers, home-built wood-shingled sheds on truck beds, and ancient, beat-up school buses.
While Quartzsite is busiest during the show season, the LaPosa Long Term Visitor Area nearby is home to hundreds of snowbirds throughout the winter season. Many RVers seek solitude and serenity while others circle together to form tiny, close-knit, albeit temporary, communities. Some like exploring the desert searching for gems and rocks, others enjoy kicking back to soak up the sun and view the scenery, including gazing upon glorious sunsets.
Be sure to bring your walking shoes and a warm jacket in case it turns cold. You’ll need a vehicle of some sort to travel back and forth to the main show area if you park in the desert. If you plan to drive between shows, though, be prepared to make no better time than if you were walking. We usually park the car at one end of the main drag and walk the two miles down to the end, cross the freeway, and return on the other side after a full day of shopping. Tiring, but then, who cares when you’ve got a world of shopping to explore!
==========
Unusual Characters call Quartzsite Home
Even without the addition of hordes of visitors this time of year, Quartzsite has its own cast of unusual characters who call this small town home. You can expect to be surprised at times.
My husband entered a bookstore in a tent on the main drag one day while I browsed some newspaper stands outside. I felt more than saw that someone had come up just a few feet from me on my right, so I cast a sideways glance to see if my husband was ready to leave. Instead of him, I saw bare legs. Very, very tan bare legs. This was January, mind you. I thought, surely this person had on deerskin britches, but they would have had to have been skin tight! I decided to get back in the car where I could get a better look without being obvious.
Well, it was a sight! This guy didn’t have pants on at all. He wore a hat and a hooded sweatshirt, but no pants. About that time, Joe walked up behind him to ask a question and I saw his head jerk back, and then he turned to grimace at me. I burst out laughing.
Turns out the fellow had a string bikini thing on, but you couldn’t tell from the side. He’s lived in Quartzsite and owned the bookstore for several years. He’s a nudist who has told reporters that he often wanders the desert in his altogether. (I spotted an article prominently featuring him in the Phoenix paper.) Well, I was certainly relieved that we hadn’t run into him while we were out exploring the desert on foot! Let’s say we’ve learned to expect the unexpected in Quartzsite.
QUARTZSITE AREA ATTRACTIONS
While you visit Quartzsite, be sure to take side trips to see the ancient Indian Intaglios that mystify even the archeologists. Although some figures measure up to 180 feet, the intaglios (now called geoglyphs) are virtually unrecognizable from ground level. For that reason as well as to prevent vandalism, many of the 250 that have been discovered throughout Arizona and California have been fenced.
The nearest one to Quartzsite is the Bouse Fisherman Intaglio located on Hwy. 72 northeast of Quartzsite. It appears that these ancient artworks were designed to be viewed from the sky, but of course, air travel wasn’t possible by humans back then. They are amazing to see, considering the artist(s) could never have viewed the complete design from the ground, or presumably, from the sky.
==========
Read the book, PORTABLE WRITING: The Secret to Living Your Dreams with 25 Projects to Fund Your Freedom is now available at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble Bookstore.
==========
RV TRAVEL MAGAZINE published by Chuck Woodbury is a new print RV travel magazine that is distributed quarterly. Chuck is one of my favorite writers, so his magazine should provide more of the same sharp, smart writing that his readers have come to expect over the years. One year's subscription costs $9.95. Learn more at http://rvbookstore.com/shop/detail.aspx?p=869&m=2
==========
BOOK REVIEW
Taking the Mystery Out of RV Writing by Jaimie Hall and Alice Zyetz. This book clearly explains the process of writing, from forming an idea to submitting a finished manuscript. The book also includes lots of helpful tips from other published writers, editors and writing instructors, along with a sample query letter and book proposal. I particularly loved the exercises and checklists to help writers get their writing projects organized. This is a “must read” for new writers!
Taking the Mystery Out of RV Writing is available as an ebook or on CD. Visit Jaimie and Alice’s Web site at http://www.rvhometown.com/.
Articles in this month’s issue:
-- Tips for Writers: Getting Published, part 2
-- Traveling Topics: Make Money Writing While Traveling
-- On the Road: Read about the big RV gathering each winter in Quartzsite, AZ
-- Quartzsite’s unusual characters
-- Quartzsite area attractions
-- Volunteer on a houseboat
-- Read a review of the book, Taking the Mystery Out of RV Writing.
TIPS FOR WRITERS:
Get published (#2 in a series of career opportunities)
Pitching your ideas to a magazine editor
To get articles published in a magazine, you have to get the editor’s attention. There are some instances where you can send in the entire article, but in most cases, the editor expects a query letter. What is a query letter, you ask?
A query letter basically outlines what you plan to write about and how you intend to cover it—but it’s much more than that. It is your introduction to the editor if you’ve never written for this magazine before. You need to make it the best darned letter you ever wrote if you want to impress an editor.
First, you might start with a strong sentence that opens your article. This is why you should have done a basic outline of what you propose to write. If you don’t have a good opening sentence yet, then write something that captures the essence of your proposed article. Sometimes I can’t come up with a great opening until after I finish an article. Then when I look through it, I find the perfect idea for the opening sentence.
In the next paragraph tell the editor how you plan to handle the article. Will you interview experts, and if so, which ones. If it’s a travel destination piece, how will your article be different from all the others that can be found in any travel magazine? Sure, you want to write about Disneyland, but what makes your presentation different. Depending on the magazine you’re approaching, it might be a piece on the best rides for kids, or what would interest an elderly parent in the park. Your article must be different from the usual.
Next, let the editor know why you’re the best person to write the article and why the magazine’s readers would be interested. This section might include your previous writing credits. If this is your first time out, then let your writing ability speak for itself. No, don’t tell the editor you’re a great writer because you made straight A’s in high school English and your teacher told you that you were the best. That’s not going to fly.
You’ve got to make your letter sing to the editor. Make sure your grammar is as good as it gets. I can’t tell you how many letters editors get from hopeful submitters that are full of typos and grammatical errors. Those go in the wastebasket immediately, but the editor definitely notices your name and remembers it. Read your letter over again and again until you’re sure it’s perfect; that you haven’t been redundant; and that sentences are short and to the point.
When is a query letter not necessary? If you write humor articles, it’s hard to get the humorous aspects across in a letter. So write the article and send it in with a short note explaining that you’re enclosing a humor article on “Title” and you think it will appeal to readers because… Your article will have to stand on its on.
Privacy is a major concern for this newsletter. You can be sure that your e-mail address and name are never shared with any business or Web site.
========================
Traveling topics:
Working while RVing
Make money writing while traveling
When I first hit the road in 1992, I was publisher of a subscription newsletter and was also producing newsletters for several corporate clients. In addition, I was writing for some magazines that expected regular contributions from me. Here’s how things went those first few months:
After a month on the road, the motorhome broke down and it took three weeks to get it going again. Meanwhile, I had deadlines that had to be met. We stayed with friends during the time the RV was being worked on except for a few occasions when we returned for a day or two and asked the repair shop to hook us up to electricity so I could operate the computer. It wasn’t easy, but I managed to meet the deadlines.
Next, we had arranged to share a booth at Quartzsite with our mail forwarding service, so we spent three weeks there. One problem reared its ugly head quickly—unreliable electrical service. So I worked when I could and shut down when there was no way to keep going. We immediately purchased an inverter with plans to go solar, but we didn’t have solar panels yet, and besides, the desert had one of those rare rainy winters so there wasn’t a lot of sun. Still, I met my deadlines.
What was the worst part of this? No, FUN, that’s what! Stress filled my life for approximately three months until I could find a good location to work. Then that summer we decided to spend a month in Branson, MO to see what all the hoopla was about. And what do you know. We ran into more electrical problems. Branson had grown so much, so fast, that their electric grid wasn’t dependable.
I eventually had to turn my corporate clients over to someone else because I was having anxiety attacks trying to keep up. And, in 1994 I sold the subscription newsletter.
Did that mean I quit earning my living as a traveling writer? No way! I still wrote articles, plus I learned how to focus my business writing on projects that could be produced quickly, and we learned to plan our travels better. We were slow learners, but that didn’t stop me! It just slowed me down a bit.
We found a lot of places that really appealed to us, and spent several months at those locales. That gave me time to find new clients for projects like brochures, sales literature, letters, one-time newsletters and other short-term jobs. I even went to work for a publisher as a writer for a few months until 14 degree temperatures drove us back to Arizona. We have one firm rule about RVing. We don’t do winters!
We started RVing in the dark ages of technology, but today it’s so much easier to work anywhere because of the Internet and other advances. Back then, no cellular service provided nationwide coverage and the Internet wasn’t available to everyone. Now I have a laptop computer, broadband Internet and a reliable cellular phone, all of which make life much simpler for a writer.
We also found opportunities to work in RV parks. I’ll talk more about the pros and cons of doing that if you’re trying to also succeed as a freelance writer in the next issue. It is definitely a way to add to your income or stay for free, especially if you have a partner who can work the parks while you write.
====================================
TRUE GRIT: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area has a second volunteer houseboat program. GRIT stands for Graffiti Removal and Intervention Team. Teams of four volunteers go out on the "True GRIT" houseboat for 5, 7 or 10 days and remove non-historical graffiti from canyon walls and rocks faces within the park. See http://www.nps.gov/glca/grit/grithome.htm for more information.
Reprinted from "RV Lifestyles" a free ezine featuring tips and resources about the RV lifestyle. Visit http://www.rvhometown.com/ for subscription information, back issues, and more RV information.
==========
On the road . . . Quartzsite, Arizona
Almost every RVer has heard of Quartzsite, but if you haven’t been there during January and February, you’ve missed what has to be the biggest flea market this side of anywhere. Hundreds of booths fill shows scattered along the two-mile stretches of roadway on either side of Interstate 10. You’ll find more booths tucked in among businesses and outside RVs, which park helter-skelter throughout the surrounding desert.
You’ll find everything at Quartzsite, including: RVs and everything related to the RV lifestyle; handcrafted items for every imaginable use; gems, rocks and minerals; jewelry at wholesale prices; tools; antiques; metal detectors and a million other things you can’t possibly live without. You’ll also find merchandise that is unusual, to say the least, and can probably find plenty that’s illegal.
Stay in an RV park or pick your own spot in the desert, where you’ll see million-dollar motorhomes parked amidst RVs in every price range, including tiny campers, home-built wood-shingled sheds on truck beds, and ancient, beat-up school buses.
While Quartzsite is busiest during the show season, the LaPosa Long Term Visitor Area nearby is home to hundreds of snowbirds throughout the winter season. Many RVers seek solitude and serenity while others circle together to form tiny, close-knit, albeit temporary, communities. Some like exploring the desert searching for gems and rocks, others enjoy kicking back to soak up the sun and view the scenery, including gazing upon glorious sunsets.
Be sure to bring your walking shoes and a warm jacket in case it turns cold. You’ll need a vehicle of some sort to travel back and forth to the main show area if you park in the desert. If you plan to drive between shows, though, be prepared to make no better time than if you were walking. We usually park the car at one end of the main drag and walk the two miles down to the end, cross the freeway, and return on the other side after a full day of shopping. Tiring, but then, who cares when you’ve got a world of shopping to explore!
==========
Unusual Characters call Quartzsite Home
Even without the addition of hordes of visitors this time of year, Quartzsite has its own cast of unusual characters who call this small town home. You can expect to be surprised at times.
My husband entered a bookstore in a tent on the main drag one day while I browsed some newspaper stands outside. I felt more than saw that someone had come up just a few feet from me on my right, so I cast a sideways glance to see if my husband was ready to leave. Instead of him, I saw bare legs. Very, very tan bare legs. This was January, mind you. I thought, surely this person had on deerskin britches, but they would have had to have been skin tight! I decided to get back in the car where I could get a better look without being obvious.
Well, it was a sight! This guy didn’t have pants on at all. He wore a hat and a hooded sweatshirt, but no pants. About that time, Joe walked up behind him to ask a question and I saw his head jerk back, and then he turned to grimace at me. I burst out laughing.
Turns out the fellow had a string bikini thing on, but you couldn’t tell from the side. He’s lived in Quartzsite and owned the bookstore for several years. He’s a nudist who has told reporters that he often wanders the desert in his altogether. (I spotted an article prominently featuring him in the Phoenix paper.) Well, I was certainly relieved that we hadn’t run into him while we were out exploring the desert on foot! Let’s say we’ve learned to expect the unexpected in Quartzsite.
QUARTZSITE AREA ATTRACTIONS
While you visit Quartzsite, be sure to take side trips to see the ancient Indian Intaglios that mystify even the archeologists. Although some figures measure up to 180 feet, the intaglios (now called geoglyphs) are virtually unrecognizable from ground level. For that reason as well as to prevent vandalism, many of the 250 that have been discovered throughout Arizona and California have been fenced.
The nearest one to Quartzsite is the Bouse Fisherman Intaglio located on Hwy. 72 northeast of Quartzsite. It appears that these ancient artworks were designed to be viewed from the sky, but of course, air travel wasn’t possible by humans back then. They are amazing to see, considering the artist(s) could never have viewed the complete design from the ground, or presumably, from the sky.
==========
Read the book, PORTABLE WRITING: The Secret to Living Your Dreams with 25 Projects to Fund Your Freedom is now available at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble Bookstore.
==========
RV TRAVEL MAGAZINE published by Chuck Woodbury is a new print RV travel magazine that is distributed quarterly. Chuck is one of my favorite writers, so his magazine should provide more of the same sharp, smart writing that his readers have come to expect over the years. One year's subscription costs $9.95. Learn more at http://rvbookstore.com/shop/detail.aspx?p=869&m=2
==========
BOOK REVIEW
Taking the Mystery Out of RV Writing by Jaimie Hall and Alice Zyetz. This book clearly explains the process of writing, from forming an idea to submitting a finished manuscript. The book also includes lots of helpful tips from other published writers, editors and writing instructors, along with a sample query letter and book proposal. I particularly loved the exercises and checklists to help writers get their writing projects organized. This is a “must read” for new writers!
Taking the Mystery Out of RV Writing is available as an ebook or on CD. Visit Jaimie and Alice’s Web site at http://www.rvhometown.com/.
Newsletter: July, 2006
Plan your writing career
Getting published (first in a series of career opportunities)
Where do you want your writing career to go? How far do you want it to take you? You do have a plan, don’t you? Maybe you’re hoping to have your first article published, or perhaps you’re already a published writer but would like to produce a non-fiction book or a novel. Or could it be that you really want to use your skills to make loads of money, so plan to write for businesses. Might you want to do all three? Since each of you reading this probably has different goals, I’ll cover all of these very different types of projects in future issues.
This time, I’d like to talk about getting your first article published. How many magazines do you read each month? Yes, you must be a reader if you ever hope to get published! You must know what type of articles a particular editor normally uses; what type of writing they prefer (conversational, technical or literary); and who their readers are. Naturally, some publications are fairly easy to figure out, especially if it’s a men’s or women’s magazine, but do you know what age group it is targeting? If you write an article directed to young singles but the magazine clearly appeals to married men or women with families, you’ll never get it published. So, study advertisements throughout the magazine. Who are they targeting? Advertisers don’t waste their big bucks trying to reach the wrong market. You shouldn’t waste your time, either.
Once you’ve determined what type of people are buying the magazine, read the articles to see whether they’re chatty or extremely technical. Does the magazine use only literary pieces? Now you know how to focus your writing. Then study the types of articles used. Do they show readers how to save money, spend money, enjoy retirement, raise children, take care of elderly parents, start a business? Or does it cover a variety of subjects, but mostly short pieces that provide an overview of the topic. Do most of the articles provide detailed instructions for specific types of projects (crafts, home repair, etc.)? Does it offer personality or business profiles, and if so, what types of people are being interviewed?
After you’ve studied the magazines for content, focus and target audience, you’re finally ready to write a query letter to the editor offering your idea in a snappy format that will get attention and showcase your writing skills. We’ll cover query letters in next month’s issue, but in the meantime, study some magazines and come up with some ideas for articles. Get your ideas down on paper with an outline of how you propose to write your article. Prepare to launch!
Where there’s a dream, there’s a way?
Millions have it all figured out. You can do it too.
Traveling. That is the dream of so many people who never manage to get around to it. Some never seem to have enough money to simply take off and see the country (or world).
Travel can be accomplished in so many different ways. Some people take a cruise on an ocean liner each year. Others want to own their own yacht and see the world. Most people like to fly to their destination, maybe rent a car to see the sights or join a tour group once they get there. Some people seem to think there’s safety in numbers, so they always travel with a group.
Others travel in their car or a rented car to destinations on this continent, and stay with friends or family, or in inns, motels or hotels every night. Some venture into Canada, Mexico and beyond to Central America. Many travelers are rediscovering the magic of the rails and taking scenic trips through North America and Mexico.
Okay, so you know about all these ways to get there. You may have even traveled some of these routes. You just want to know how you can do more of it.
Writing offers possibilities to travel more and earn income while you’re on the move. If money isn’t the object, then writing provides a means of keeping friends and family informed about your adventures and a way to keep a record of your travels. You can always write a book that provides an armchair adventure for those who can’t travel.
I’ve known people who owned a not-so-large sailboat and traveled along the coasts and inland waters of the Northwest. We had a 21-foot sailboat and considered cruising the inland waters of Washington and Canada, but neither of us relished the thought of being tossed around at sea in a storm. Other wanderers, like my favorite writer, William Least-Heat Moon, hopped in a van and traversed the country in search of adventure and great stories to tell. His book, Blue Highways, was a best-seller, as was John Steinbeck’s Travels With Charley, which he wrote while traveling in a small truck camper with his standard poodle, Charley.
If you want to travel but money is a problem, then you have to start planning ahead of time on which way you want to go. We planned for years (literally). Now, many people we meet while RVing have sold the home they bought thirty years ago for as much as twenty times the price they paid, and plunked down the profit on a brand-new, fancy RV. Others have scraped up enough for a down-payment on a basic RV and plan to earn money while they’re traveling to pay for their adventure. We’re somewhere between the two extremes.
I planned my writing business so that it would earn income on the go because we needed it. We weren’t born with a silver spoon in our mouths, we didn’t inherit anything and we didn’t own a home that had increased enough to invest the proceeds and live off them. And we didn’t buy a brand new RV, and it’s definitely nothing fancy. I’ll tell more about how RVing and working has turned out next month.
Plan your writing career
Getting published (first in a series of career opportunities)
Where do you want your writing career to go? How far do you want it to take you? You do have a plan, don’t you? Maybe you’re hoping to have your first article published, or perhaps you’re already a published writer but would like to produce a non-fiction book or a novel. Or could it be that you really want to use your skills to make loads of money, so plan to write for businesses. Might you want to do all three? Since each of you reading this probably has different goals, I’ll cover all of these very different types of projects in future issues.
This time, I’d like to talk about getting your first article published. How many magazines do you read each month? Yes, you must be a reader if you ever hope to get published! You must know what type of articles a particular editor normally uses; what type of writing they prefer (conversational, technical or literary); and who their readers are. Naturally, some publications are fairly easy to figure out, especially if it’s a men’s or women’s magazine, but do you know what age group it is targeting? If you write an article directed to young singles but the magazine clearly appeals to married men or women with families, you’ll never get it published. So, study advertisements throughout the magazine. Who are they targeting? Advertisers don’t waste their big bucks trying to reach the wrong market. You shouldn’t waste your time, either.
Once you’ve determined what type of people are buying the magazine, read the articles to see whether they’re chatty or extremely technical. Does the magazine use only literary pieces? Now you know how to focus your writing. Then study the types of articles used. Do they show readers how to save money, spend money, enjoy retirement, raise children, take care of elderly parents, start a business? Or does it cover a variety of subjects, but mostly short pieces that provide an overview of the topic. Do most of the articles provide detailed instructions for specific types of projects (crafts, home repair, etc.)? Does it offer personality or business profiles, and if so, what types of people are being interviewed?
After you’ve studied the magazines for content, focus and target audience, you’re finally ready to write a query letter to the editor offering your idea in a snappy format that will get attention and showcase your writing skills. We’ll cover query letters in next month’s issue, but in the meantime, study some magazines and come up with some ideas for articles. Get your ideas down on paper with an outline of how you propose to write your article. Prepare to launch!
Where there’s a dream, there’s a way?
Millions have it all figured out. You can do it too.
Traveling. That is the dream of so many people who never manage to get around to it. Some never seem to have enough money to simply take off and see the country (or world).
Travel can be accomplished in so many different ways. Some people take a cruise on an ocean liner each year. Others want to own their own yacht and see the world. Most people like to fly to their destination, maybe rent a car to see the sights or join a tour group once they get there. Some people seem to think there’s safety in numbers, so they always travel with a group.
Others travel in their car or a rented car to destinations on this continent, and stay with friends or family, or in inns, motels or hotels every night. Some venture into Canada, Mexico and beyond to Central America. Many travelers are rediscovering the magic of the rails and taking scenic trips through North America and Mexico.
Okay, so you know about all these ways to get there. You may have even traveled some of these routes. You just want to know how you can do more of it.
Writing offers possibilities to travel more and earn income while you’re on the move. If money isn’t the object, then writing provides a means of keeping friends and family informed about your adventures and a way to keep a record of your travels. You can always write a book that provides an armchair adventure for those who can’t travel.
I’ve known people who owned a not-so-large sailboat and traveled along the coasts and inland waters of the Northwest. We had a 21-foot sailboat and considered cruising the inland waters of Washington and Canada, but neither of us relished the thought of being tossed around at sea in a storm. Other wanderers, like my favorite writer, William Least-Heat Moon, hopped in a van and traversed the country in search of adventure and great stories to tell. His book, Blue Highways, was a best-seller, as was John Steinbeck’s Travels With Charley, which he wrote while traveling in a small truck camper with his standard poodle, Charley.
If you want to travel but money is a problem, then you have to start planning ahead of time on which way you want to go. We planned for years (literally). Now, many people we meet while RVing have sold the home they bought thirty years ago for as much as twenty times the price they paid, and plunked down the profit on a brand-new, fancy RV. Others have scraped up enough for a down-payment on a basic RV and plan to earn money while they’re traveling to pay for their adventure. We’re somewhere between the two extremes.
I planned my writing business so that it would earn income on the go because we needed it. We weren’t born with a silver spoon in our mouths, we didn’t inherit anything and we didn’t own a home that had increased enough to invest the proceeds and live off them. And we didn’t buy a brand new RV, and it’s definitely nothing fancy. I’ll tell more about how RVing and working has turned out next month.
Newsletter: June, 2006
Live Your Dreams as a Writer:
Do what you love and love what you do!
“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to reach my destination.”
This is similar to a quote I found on a roll of paper towels, of all places. This little saying can apply to life as a writer and as an RVer. If something isn’t working, adjust your focus. Come up with new ideas. Maybe even change your attitude. If you think you can’t do something, you can’t. So I’ve found it beneficial to have a “can do” attitude. If life throws me curve balls, I switch positions. If all I get is lemons, I make lemonade. Okay, enough with clichés. You get the idea.
How can you apply this quote to your life as a writer? If you’re determined to create articles but can’t get them published, find another way to use your talents. One way is to start a subscription newsletter. You’ll be the publisher and you can get as much exposure as you’re willing to search out. Use news releases to garner publicity for your publication. Tell everyone you know about it. Find a way to make it successful. Sometimes this little change in direction will spur your energy while it builds skills that will help you achieve your goal of getting published.
If it’s the high cost of fuel that’s got you in a blue mood because you can’t afford to travel, take a short trip to seek new surroundings for a few days. Even small journeys can recharge your batteries.
Life isn’t about the big things that happen, like long vacations or huge successes as a writer. Sometimes, it’s the little accomplishments that happen over and over that will renew your strength and build your confidence.
Life IS a journey. Make sure you enjoy every minute of it.
Do what you love and love what you do!
“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to reach my destination.”
This is similar to a quote I found on a roll of paper towels, of all places. This little saying can apply to life as a writer and as an RVer. If something isn’t working, adjust your focus. Come up with new ideas. Maybe even change your attitude. If you think you can’t do something, you can’t. So I’ve found it beneficial to have a “can do” attitude. If life throws me curve balls, I switch positions. If all I get is lemons, I make lemonade. Okay, enough with clichés. You get the idea.
How can you apply this quote to your life as a writer? If you’re determined to create articles but can’t get them published, find another way to use your talents. One way is to start a subscription newsletter. You’ll be the publisher and you can get as much exposure as you’re willing to search out. Use news releases to garner publicity for your publication. Tell everyone you know about it. Find a way to make it successful. Sometimes this little change in direction will spur your energy while it builds skills that will help you achieve your goal of getting published.
If it’s the high cost of fuel that’s got you in a blue mood because you can’t afford to travel, take a short trip to seek new surroundings for a few days. Even small journeys can recharge your batteries.
Life isn’t about the big things that happen, like long vacations or huge successes as a writer. Sometimes, it’s the little accomplishments that happen over and over that will renew your strength and build your confidence.
Life IS a journey. Make sure you enjoy every minute of it.
Keep in Touch on the Road
Cellular and wireless Internet service
Thirteen years ago the Internet didn’t exist for the average person. But cellular phone service did, so we tried several different providers before we discovered one we could use almost anywhere in the U.S. which offered nationwide free long distance and enough free minutes to fit our needs. Wow! Suddenly we were living in the modern world. That year and the next we traveled throughout the West with no problems. I used a mobile kit with the desktop computer to connect to the Internet, but I still used libraries for serious work since transfers on the mobile kit happened at the speed of a glacier.
I finally entered the Internet age when Verizon introduced broadband and nationwide Internet service. I bought a laptop and an “air card” to insert into it and experienced my first fast connection from the comfort of the RV. So far, service has been great. Sprint provides a similar service. An Escapees Club RVer survey showed that Cingular is one of the most reliable providers, so you might also check them for a wireless Internet connection. (Note: not all services work everywhere, so talk to other RVers who travel the areas you plan to traverse before signing on.)
We’ve also tried Wi-Fi, but there’s still a problem with provider sharing so if you pay for a month and travel you might not find another “hot spot” for your provider. Still, it’s a great way to access the Internet and you can sign up for the amount of time you need. We’ve tried Tengo at some RV parks and you can get a list of “hot spots” and plan your travels accordingly. I’m sure other Wi-Fi providers service RV parks, but we haven’t tried them. Some municipalities are setting up free Wi-Fi service and truck stops offer it for a fee.
So, how should you access the Internet on the road? First, determine your needs. Do you want continuous access or do you only want to exchange occasional e-mails with friends and family? Many RV parks offer Internet and telephone service at each site while others provide a comfortable place to hook-up your laptop in the office or clubhouse. Or for e-mails only, purchase MailStation® which you hold up to a phone.
Another method of logging on is with a satellite provider. I haven’t tried it, but we do have satellite TV and if we’re parked under trees or they block our view of the sky and the wind is blowing, we lose the signal. Talk to other RVers who use this service before deciding whether it will work for you.
One thing’s for sure: in thirteen years, we’ve come a long way baby!
Cellular and wireless Internet service
Thirteen years ago the Internet didn’t exist for the average person. But cellular phone service did, so we tried several different providers before we discovered one we could use almost anywhere in the U.S. which offered nationwide free long distance and enough free minutes to fit our needs. Wow! Suddenly we were living in the modern world. That year and the next we traveled throughout the West with no problems. I used a mobile kit with the desktop computer to connect to the Internet, but I still used libraries for serious work since transfers on the mobile kit happened at the speed of a glacier.
I finally entered the Internet age when Verizon introduced broadband and nationwide Internet service. I bought a laptop and an “air card” to insert into it and experienced my first fast connection from the comfort of the RV. So far, service has been great. Sprint provides a similar service. An Escapees Club RVer survey showed that Cingular is one of the most reliable providers, so you might also check them for a wireless Internet connection. (Note: not all services work everywhere, so talk to other RVers who travel the areas you plan to traverse before signing on.)
We’ve also tried Wi-Fi, but there’s still a problem with provider sharing so if you pay for a month and travel you might not find another “hot spot” for your provider. Still, it’s a great way to access the Internet and you can sign up for the amount of time you need. We’ve tried Tengo at some RV parks and you can get a list of “hot spots” and plan your travels accordingly. I’m sure other Wi-Fi providers service RV parks, but we haven’t tried them. Some municipalities are setting up free Wi-Fi service and truck stops offer it for a fee.
So, how should you access the Internet on the road? First, determine your needs. Do you want continuous access or do you only want to exchange occasional e-mails with friends and family? Many RV parks offer Internet and telephone service at each site while others provide a comfortable place to hook-up your laptop in the office or clubhouse. Or for e-mails only, purchase MailStation® which you hold up to a phone.
Another method of logging on is with a satellite provider. I haven’t tried it, but we do have satellite TV and if we’re parked under trees or they block our view of the sky and the wind is blowing, we lose the signal. Talk to other RVers who use this service before deciding whether it will work for you.
One thing’s for sure: in thirteen years, we’ve come a long way baby!
Newsletter: May, 2006
To write: that was my dream. To make enough money to travel: that was my goal.
So what are your dreams and goals? Are you a writer who doesn’t earn enough income support the family? Or, do you wish you could become a writer but don’t know how to start? Maybe you’re already writing for a living and make plenty of money, but you’d just like some new ideas to stimulate you and provide excitement to your career.
I wrote the book, Portable Writing as an answer to all of the above dilemmas. I once was that person dreaming of writing. And for awhile, I was that writer not making enough income churning out articles for magazines and newspapers. Yeah, I was seeing my name in print, but that doesn’t necessarily put food on the table.
Then an old friend called and asked if I could write some promotional materials for her business. Another asked if I could write an article about her business for the paper. Step by step and brick by brick, my business grew as more and more clients asked for my help writing effective business correspondence.
Soon, I was asked to not only write, but to create newsletters and brochures. So I bought a computer with graphics capabilities and desktop publishing software, and began to spend my spare time learning to use them. I applied the same methods to mastering those skills as I did to learning to write. I read everything I could find on the subject and asked advice from everyone who knew anything about the field. Once I began providing both writing and DTP services, my business exploded.
My message to you is that you can do everything I did, and probably better than I ever could. None of what I’ve done requires any special talent or education. I grew believing that I could succeed at anything I put my mind to – and that anyone else can, too. Of course, that didn’t mean I could become a Nobel prize-winning scientist or mathematician. But if I had been even remotely interested in either, I have no doubt that I could have succeeded.
If you want to be a successful writer, if you want to make lots of money creating words that people will read, you can do it if you really try. You might be one of those lucky people who has a book idea, writes it, gets a publishing contract paying a huge advance, and hits the best seller list immediately. You might, but you probably won’t.
Learn your craft, work hard and read Portable Writing to discover 25 projects that will propel you towards your goal. It took me twenty years to learn what I know, but you can do it much faster – within weeks – if you put into practice everything I’ve shared in Portable Writing. Go for it!
For a complete instruction book on writing with projects that make money no matter where you live or roam, be sure to read my new book, Portable Writing: the Secret to Living Your Dreams with 25 Projects to Fund Your Freedom. In it, I give detailed instructions for how to create twenty-five different projects along with showing how to market your skills.
I've been using these projects to earn a living as a writer for twenty years. My articles have appeared in dozens of magazines and newspapers across the country, and two books have been published. I also have created writing projects such as newsletters, brochures and dozens of other materials for business and corporations during the past twenty years.
In the book, I tell about how to get published as well as produce projects for businesses and corporations. At least two projects are included in the book that have never before been revealed to readers. You can learn more about the book by going to my Web site, http://www.kennedyk.com, then clicking on the book image to read a two-chapter excerpt and get ordering information.
If you've always wanted to make money writing, but didn't know where to start, this book takes you by the hand and leads you through the process. If you're already writing, but not making money, here's where you'll learn exactly how to do it.
The Ups & Downs of RVing
(with the high price of gas)
The price of gas seems to be slowing the travel industry down, but I doubt that it will bring trips to a screeching halt. Why not? Well, most who take a yearly vacation plan and save money all year for that great escape. For those traveling in RVs that get a measly 6-10 gallons per mile, they might elect to stay in one place longer and take shorter trips, but most will still hit the road occasionally.
Just how many miles do RVers travel each year? Certainly not as many as a vehicle that is used for daily commutes. While the typical vehicle in Arizona (for instance) is driven an average 20,000 -25,000 miles per year, the typical RVer travels less than 6,000 miles per year. We’re full-time RVers and have put 20,000 miles on our rig since 1998, when we bought it. So we’ve averaged 2500 miles per year. I suspect most RVers come closer to that figure than the 6,000 miles quoted by RV industry sources. Our usual trip averages about 3000 miles, roundtrip. However, sometimes we only drive about 400 miles in a year for a change of scenery or to find cooler (or warmer) temperatures.
So before you decide RVing is too expensive for you or that RVs waste gas, consider this. We’re considering making a 3000 mile trip this summer and fall. In the RV, gas will cost close to $1500, but lodging will run approximately $350 per month for the three months we plan to travel. Fuel costs would be about the same if we were driving a SUV or large truck on vacation, which get about the same mileage as our RV.
By car, our gas will only run about $400, but if we travel for three months, motels will run about $70.00 per night, or a whopping $6,300.00. And restaurant meals could easily cost $100 per day or more, totaling $9,000. Even eliminating housing and meal costs for those few days we might spend with friends or relatives, the cost of taking our hosts out to eat dinner could easily run $100.00 or more each time we do it.
A total cost of $2,550 by RV plus groceries (which I’d buy anyway) versus $15,700 in the car. Easy to see why I’m sold on RVing from an economical standpoint. Plus, we get to sleep in our own bed every night!
To keep mileage down on the RV, we tow a car that gets 30-35 miles per gallon and use it for errands and short trips. This saves gas and is a lot more environmentally friendly than a large vehicle that is used for everything, including commutes and leisure pursuits.
So, if you’ve wanted to travel by RV, don’t hesitate because of cost concerns. You can conserve gas, save money and still have a great time!
Live Your Dreams as a Writer
If I could do it, you can too!
If I could do it, you can too!
To write: that was my dream. To make enough money to travel: that was my goal.
So what are your dreams and goals? Are you a writer who doesn’t earn enough income support the family? Or, do you wish you could become a writer but don’t know how to start? Maybe you’re already writing for a living and make plenty of money, but you’d just like some new ideas to stimulate you and provide excitement to your career.
I wrote the book, Portable Writing as an answer to all of the above dilemmas. I once was that person dreaming of writing. And for awhile, I was that writer not making enough income churning out articles for magazines and newspapers. Yeah, I was seeing my name in print, but that doesn’t necessarily put food on the table.
Then an old friend called and asked if I could write some promotional materials for her business. Another asked if I could write an article about her business for the paper. Step by step and brick by brick, my business grew as more and more clients asked for my help writing effective business correspondence.
Soon, I was asked to not only write, but to create newsletters and brochures. So I bought a computer with graphics capabilities and desktop publishing software, and began to spend my spare time learning to use them. I applied the same methods to mastering those skills as I did to learning to write. I read everything I could find on the subject and asked advice from everyone who knew anything about the field. Once I began providing both writing and DTP services, my business exploded.
My message to you is that you can do everything I did, and probably better than I ever could. None of what I’ve done requires any special talent or education. I grew believing that I could succeed at anything I put my mind to – and that anyone else can, too. Of course, that didn’t mean I could become a Nobel prize-winning scientist or mathematician. But if I had been even remotely interested in either, I have no doubt that I could have succeeded.
If you want to be a successful writer, if you want to make lots of money creating words that people will read, you can do it if you really try. You might be one of those lucky people who has a book idea, writes it, gets a publishing contract paying a huge advance, and hits the best seller list immediately. You might, but you probably won’t.
Learn your craft, work hard and read Portable Writing to discover 25 projects that will propel you towards your goal. It took me twenty years to learn what I know, but you can do it much faster – within weeks – if you put into practice everything I’ve shared in Portable Writing. Go for it!
==========
Book: Portable Writing
For a complete instruction book on writing with projects that make money no matter where you live or roam, be sure to read my new book, Portable Writing: the Secret to Living Your Dreams with 25 Projects to Fund Your Freedom. In it, I give detailed instructions for how to create twenty-five different projects along with showing how to market your skills.
I've been using these projects to earn a living as a writer for twenty years. My articles have appeared in dozens of magazines and newspapers across the country, and two books have been published. I also have created writing projects such as newsletters, brochures and dozens of other materials for business and corporations during the past twenty years.
In the book, I tell about how to get published as well as produce projects for businesses and corporations. At least two projects are included in the book that have never before been revealed to readers. You can learn more about the book by going to my Web site, http://www.kennedyk.com, then clicking on the book image to read a two-chapter excerpt and get ordering information.
If you've always wanted to make money writing, but didn't know where to start, this book takes you by the hand and leads you through the process. If you're already writing, but not making money, here's where you'll learn exactly how to do it.
==========
An article about my RV lifestyle and the book, Portable Writing appeared in the Spokane Spokesman Review on June 3, 2006. Also, Portable Writing is now available on Amazon.com
An article about my RV lifestyle and the book, Portable Writing appeared in the Spokane Spokesman Review on June 3, 2006. Also, Portable Writing is now available on Amazon.com
The Ups & Downs of RVing
(with the high price of gas)
The price of gas seems to be slowing the travel industry down, but I doubt that it will bring trips to a screeching halt. Why not? Well, most who take a yearly vacation plan and save money all year for that great escape. For those traveling in RVs that get a measly 6-10 gallons per mile, they might elect to stay in one place longer and take shorter trips, but most will still hit the road occasionally.
Just how many miles do RVers travel each year? Certainly not as many as a vehicle that is used for daily commutes. While the typical vehicle in Arizona (for instance) is driven an average 20,000 -25,000 miles per year, the typical RVer travels less than 6,000 miles per year. We’re full-time RVers and have put 20,000 miles on our rig since 1998, when we bought it. So we’ve averaged 2500 miles per year. I suspect most RVers come closer to that figure than the 6,000 miles quoted by RV industry sources. Our usual trip averages about 3000 miles, roundtrip. However, sometimes we only drive about 400 miles in a year for a change of scenery or to find cooler (or warmer) temperatures.
So before you decide RVing is too expensive for you or that RVs waste gas, consider this. We’re considering making a 3000 mile trip this summer and fall. In the RV, gas will cost close to $1500, but lodging will run approximately $350 per month for the three months we plan to travel. Fuel costs would be about the same if we were driving a SUV or large truck on vacation, which get about the same mileage as our RV.
By car, our gas will only run about $400, but if we travel for three months, motels will run about $70.00 per night, or a whopping $6,300.00. And restaurant meals could easily cost $100 per day or more, totaling $9,000. Even eliminating housing and meal costs for those few days we might spend with friends or relatives, the cost of taking our hosts out to eat dinner could easily run $100.00 or more each time we do it.
A total cost of $2,550 by RV plus groceries (which I’d buy anyway) versus $15,700 in the car. Easy to see why I’m sold on RVing from an economical standpoint. Plus, we get to sleep in our own bed every night!
To keep mileage down on the RV, we tow a car that gets 30-35 miles per gallon and use it for errands and short trips. This saves gas and is a lot more environmentally friendly than a large vehicle that is used for everything, including commutes and leisure pursuits.
So, if you’ve wanted to travel by RV, don’t hesitate because of cost concerns. You can conserve gas, save money and still have a great time!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
