6 Ways to Find Time to Write for Yourself

I was 12-years-old when I decided I was going to be a writer. Once that decision was made, I wrote constantly. I scribbled lines of (truly terrible) poetry on scraps of paper and filled journals with short stories. I was going to be a writer and if my writing professors and Ernest Hemingway were to be believed, the best way to be a writer was to write every day. So I did. And it was good. It was satisfying just to put pen to paper, even if I was the only one who would ever read the words.

But then real life starts. And real life is busy. Who has the time and motivation to write for themselves when there’s the cooking and cleaning, the kids and the myriad of other tasks and relationships that fill up the free time in our days? Writing for yourself is especially hard if you spend all day writing or editing for a living. I miss it though. I have all sorts of ideas and I think about it all of the time, but actually sitting down and writing something completely for my own enjoyment doesn’t come easy.

Favorite ‘Active’ Author

Not only are the following 12 authors pulling in some serious cash, they’re also (most likely) responsible for that book you simply “can’t put down.” Out of the dozen familiar names and faces, which author is your favorite?   

Featured Contributor: Eric Bank

Based in Chicago, Eric Bank has been writing business-related articles since 1985, and science articles since 2010. His articles have appeared in “PC Magazine” and on numerous websites.

School: New York University, DePaul University
Degree: BA Biology, MBA, MS Finance
Approved Sections: Business & Finance, Science

A day in the life of Eric Bank, summarized in a Tweet:

Why so serious? Your go-to head shot [above] looks like you’re peering into the fabrication of life. Would your friends describe you as funny? I’m told that I don’t photograph well–must be something wrong with modern lenses. I’m funny in a dry way, though a shot of whiskey loosens me up.

10 Ways to Tell You Were Meant to be a Professional Wordsmith

Some people can pursue a career that pays the bills – even if they’re not in love with what they do. I, on the other hand, need to be absolutely passionate about my 9-to-5 gig in order to thrive in it. The good thing about writing and editing is that I can build upon my skillset anywhere – whether it’s glancing at a newspaper and subconsciously noticing typos or feeling that must-need-to-know-now urge to Google a word that I don’t know. Even if my paycheck isn’t as high as a doctor’s, I wouldn’t trade my career for the world. Why? Because I live and breathe editing.

As a nod to what all of us – in-house editors and freelance contributors alike – do at Demand, I’ve compiled a list of 10 ways to tell we were destined to pursue our careers in writing and editing:

Featured Contributor: Karren Doll Tolliver

School: Mississippi University for Women, Columbus, MS
Degree: English
Approved Sections: Fitness & Well-being; Food & Drink; Garden; Technology; Travel

A day in the life of Karren, summarized in a Tweet:

Sounds busy! By the way, I’m digging your name, Karren Doll Tolliver. Did you have a nickname growing up? Well, first of all my middle name, Doll, is actually my maiden name. I really didn’t have a nickname growing up, but my college friends gave me the nickname Double-R because of the two R’s in my first name. There was another Karen in the group; she was Single-R.

Stuck in a Creative Rut? Here’s what I do!

A common condition afflicting (steadily working) creative people is the feeling that they’re stuck doing the same thing day in and day out. That’s particularly an issue when they work at a volume similar to the amount we do at Demand Studios. Now, there are any number of tricks and exercises we’ve all picked up in our various creative writing or journalism classes to help us with the technical problems. But I’m focusing on what I do to regain my mental edge when I’m worn out from work that’s begun to feel repetitive.

The Book is Mightier Than the Kindle?!

Aside from being the Studio’s Community Specialist, the most fulfilling and awe-inspiring position I’ve held throughout my career was when I worked for a magazine in San Francisco. That magazine? Electronic Gaming Monthly. Imagine being an integral part of an editorial team, collaborating over design aspects and writing articles that appeared nationwide … in print! It certainly was a dream job of mine (at the time), and a stepping stone that propelled my career.

Top 6 Vacation Destinations (So Far) — Blake Guthrie

Blake Guthrie is a Studio contributor (writer). His articles have been featured in a variety of publications, including the “Atlanta Journal-Constitution” and “Creative Loafing.” He earned a Bachelor of Arts in mass communications from Auburn University.

Blake Guthrie happens to be an accomplished traveler; his presence has graced many different parts of the world. The following 6 locales are Blake’s top picks, the cream of the crop. Each location includes a recommended place to stay, a must do and trivial fun facts!

Lucky Break — How I Became an Editor

By: Tim Edmundson

Demand Media Studios – a place I’ve called home for nearly four years. But, I’ve been associated with the Demand Media brand for over five years. That’s right, I started with the company in a much different capacity – I was an office admin. Well technically I wasn’t an office admin; my title was Facilities Coordinator but no one actually knows what that is (I learned this when telling people what it was I did for a living) so I just started saying office admin.

17 Trivial Facts about the English Language

Are you eager to wow your friends/colleagues with trivial knowledge regarding the English language? Are you an up-and-coming Jeopardy candidate? Do you routinely attend trivia nights at your local pub? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then this is the blog post for you.

Prepare for the onslaught of praise that is sure to ensue after regurgitating these facts.

Sources

• Did You Knows
• Huffington Post — Paul Anthony Jones