Home-Based Writers Find Work, Fulfillment

Christine Durst and Michael Haaren
Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:00:00 -0700
Lifestyle

How does it feel to become a novelist after 30 years in a different profession? Where can you go to find writing jobs online? Who offers reliable advice on how to blog for money? In this week's column, it's all about The Writing Life.

FROM LAWYER TO NOVELIST
Updated: Wed Feb 04, 2015

How does it feel to become a novelist after 30 years in a different profession? Where can you go to find writing jobs online? Who offers reliable advice on how to blog for money? In this week's column, it's all about The Writing Life.

FROM LAWYER TO NOVELIST

When Ellen Dyke, author of the novel "Adam and Steve," retired from the law to explore other options, she didn't initially have writing in mind. But language is at the heart of the law, and she did enjoy that aspect of her work.

"I hadn't planned to transition from lawyer to writer," she told us via email. "For thirty years I practiced law, which meant that I spent a significant portion of every workday writing briefs, contracts, letters, memos, etc. The writing part of lawyering was actually the part I liked the best."

Every author follows a unique path into print. Dyke's decision was triggered by a daughter's request to write a legacy for Dyke's grandchildren.

"She wanted me to answer 100 pre-set questions about myself. I was uncomfortable with the rigidity of the format and the minutiae of the information it would elicit. Instead, I decided to write a novel that would communicate to our grandchildren a better understanding of who I am and what is important to me."

Because of her gender, race and mixed-race marriage, Dyke had encountered much bigotry and intolerance in her adult life. She wanted to share with her grandchildren some of the lessons those experiences had taught her. "Adam and Steve," which addresses the intolerance faced by a gay couple struggling to keep custody of their son, was the result.

"Specifically, I hoped the story would explain the importance of being tolerant of people different from themselves and of celebrating those differences," Dyke said.

Working from her townhome, Dyke had this advice to share with aspiring authors: "Write from your heart about something about which you feel passionate. Bring order to your jumble of thoughts before beginning your story. Remember to stay on course throughout the long journey to the end of your story. And most importantly, enjoy the journey. Otherwise, you'll miss the joy of creating in your impatience to get to the finish line." (For more on "Adam and Steve," see http://amzn.to/YkKwI4.)

WHERE TO FIND WRITING JOBS

Whether or not you decide to follow the author route, there are many writing jobs available online. They range from freelance journalism to blogging to editing and beyond. Here are just a few of the websites where you'll find legitimate leads and good advice to put you or keep you in The Writing Life.

—JournalismJobs.com: One of the key sites for freelance writers, JournalismJobs.com regularly offers fresh "work-from-anywhere" leads and career advice. To access the jobs, on the home page click on "View All Job Listings." On the next page, go to the drop-down menu under "Location" and select "Telecommute" toward the bottom of the list.

—Problogger.net: Run by veteran blogging guru Darren Rowse, this site offers a wide array of blogging and related jobs. Rowse also serves up a rich buffet of advice on how to build a money-making blog. To access the job board, go to http://jobs.problogger.net/.

—BloggingPro.com: Like Problogger, this site offers a variety of job leads. A recent sampling included web content writers, editors, tech news reporters, and many more. For details, go to http://www.bloggingpro.com/jobs/.