Oh, Please. Check Your Links.

Ok, here's my tip of the day, week, millennium.

If you are going to blog and have links for other bloggers to pick up jobs or that offer great opportunities for other writers, do us all a favor and CHECK YOUR LINKS.

Yeah, I yelled that.

Just stopped by a blog which will remain nameless (no it's not deb's, i don't want to be torched and killed) and nearly every link in one post to some sites that offer jobs went to broken sites, empty sites, or whatnot.

A good blog or website checks links occasionally and doesn't post without first checking the links. The ones I am referring to had been just placed to sites that have been dead for months, in some cases years. I know this because I visited the sites when they were still open.

So...take the time to check your sources before cutting and pasting links from an article you read. Can save you some grief and not waste your readers' time.

Excited!

I heard back from Western New York Family magazine today and my article about my daughter and her special needs will be in the April 2008 Special Needs Child pull out. The pull out is like another magazing inside of the WNY Family. Amber will be the feature child! If I can get a great shot of her before it goes to print, she might even get on the cover!

I will also be writing a submission for the Halloween edition for this year. I really hope she likes it as much as this one.

I've been thinking about what tips I can put in this post for writers who are trying to break into print. I have two.

1. Don't ignore your local magazines or papers. Some have a large circulation and pay well. Plus, a clip is a clip.

2. Never quit. That is my mantra. Learn all you can, then never give up on sending out queries. You are better than you think and someone will notice that.

Get Started Freelancing.

I'm not an expert on writing, I just know how to find places to break into the field. I have found so many tips on Absolute Write that I wanted to share. Here is a link that will take you directly to the Freelance Writing section. You might want to check out the forums, that is where I have met a ton of great writers who also share experiences and ideas.

On the forums you can find leads, advice, and support. I have joined the Monthly 'Just Hit Send' Challenges and it has really given me the confidence to strive harder. Without the folks in that circle, I would not be as confident as now. Yes, the ook I spoke about in my previous post boosted my morale, but those guys at the Absolute Write Water Cooler have my eternal gratitude.

There is nothing like joining up with other writers to really expand your horizons. So my second tip on getting started in the world of freelancing or writing in general is to find a forum or join a writer's group offline if possible. I highly recommend the Absolute Write Water Cooler for the best groups of writers anywhere.

And if you join up, let me know! My handle is SouthernFriedJulie, drop me a PM!