Business Writing for Cash in a Bad Economy

Is this economy chewing down your income along with many others of us?

Why not look toward Writing for Business to earn more cash. It is easier than you may think. Outlined here are eight simple easy rules.

1. Types Of Business Writing

During my writing experiences which have included all manner of topics I’ve found it necessary to change with the public’s tide of interest. Today that is business, especially small businesses. Writing is indeed a business.

This past week, ten new members joined our local Writers Guild workshop hosted by Barnes & Noble. Three were laid off from their full time jobs over one year ago. Another, the wife of a CEO whose company went under has found herself in need of generating family income. Five were let go this year.

All ended up at home, struggling on unemployment about to expire and in need of finding a way to make some money. Each had turned to their computer and decided to write for profit. You can too. Subjects available are virtually endless.

2. Special Issues

Addressing special needs becomes a light at the beginning of a dark tunnel. It is not however a totally limited audience. They can each reach for new goals from where they are beginning today. One man is humorist author Dave Barry reinvented. One woman already had a publisher for her “living with bipolar” book. Another works for a San Diego publisher. Yet another is doing Vietnamese Recipes on her way to a marketable Asian cook book.

Whatever your bent, go for it. Each of us knows a lot about something. Old sage advice to Writers is, “Write what you know.”

New Jobs

3. Every day’s a Holiday

In the everyday life world, ‘special days’ abound. Holiday information is always welcome. Relying on it, we as writers can be timely throughout the year. Recipes rich in necessary vitamins are extremely acceptable when fixing health foods at Easter, St. Patrick Day, October Fest, and of course New Year celebrations. These seasonal events often demand more than special occasion meals, they encompass traditions, ways to celebrate.

Magazines, Newspapers and even Websites need all the unique info they can get. Holiday tips and tricks jazz up any calendar. Fun and food preparation issues are just as reader-welcome in May as November. Low-calorie dishes, of any type that encourage readers to improve their bodies are a buying publisher’s dream.

When you are submitting, do remember Magazines need fairly long lead times. Most plan 3 months ahead of publishing dates, but local newspapers are a quick market.

4. Experiment With Or Develop Your Own Trends

Editors depend on us as Writers to come up with fresh new ideas. These are the birth of trends in the publishing world. If you have family who brought a way of doing something from the old country generations ago, it’s new to the rest of us and we’d like to be aware of it. Maybe there is a way you can incorporate your old-world fun so it blends with a new twist. Perhaps your family has great ways to add ever popular chocolate to each season. That makes an excellent article for Easter, Valentines Day, and even Christmas.

5. Notebook Help With Research

It is smart to keep a loose leaf notebook you can always add to. Accurate records of places you submit offers to and when should be kept track of. After all it’s your business now. That way you also have at hand data you need as you add articles to your content library. Having records of your activity available at a glance can be outstanding ways to organize activity. The benefit of loose-leaf is being able to reorganize as you change pace means you can alter book entries, organizing your written works by date or category. If you know how to use a spreadsheet, that gives you even more control.

6. Know The Markets

Publishers have unique needs and each is uncommonly different. If you develop simple-to-use or explain how-to articles, look to markets that focus on those subjects. There is usually demand for things like gourmet recipes. Many Gourmet magazines reach out to other areas and people at all levels of income. Today with the economy in the doldrums, shopping deals are in greater demand.

Don’t overlook what parents want their children to learn from publications like Children’s Highlights, Jack and Jill, Clubhouse, plus other publications who love happy-healthy articles for children. Good family camp-out ideas are much sought after, especially during summer vacation months. Those camping publications make excellent sources for Writer revenue.

7. Read More, Study Ads

It pays to be in the know. Read ads and watch for coupons so you can stay abreast of what the public is interested in. Marketers pay a lot for research before printing up offers. Smart Writers take advantage of those efforts without themselves incurring extra costs. Today’s sales are next week’s reading material. You need to know what publishers are buying, also what they are not, depending on price. After all, publishers need to sell, they are on a budget too.

8. Pay Special Attention To What Moves

Popular topics are the heart of many publishers. Magazine editors know this. You may notice that today’s public interests make fantastic ad copy. Good reads makes advertisement copy. Ads always surround trends. Magazines rely on descriptions as well as photos. I frequently take my notebook with me when going shopping or to restaurants. By jotting down info seen in stores or on menus using phrases like, “Delicate tender garden carrots in velvety butter sauce,” or, “Extra double discount prices today.” I come away with words to create fine text pieces for readers. These are the things that keep writers in touch with ways an industry reaches the public. Writers can capitalize on that.

So, do consider the food market as a good means of generating Writer revenue. Is there a better way to pick up extra income?

Claudia Strasbaugh was a freelance writer who founded Scripps Ranch/Mira Mesa Writer’s Guild, was head writer for the weekly TV show “Kill ‘EM With Comedy,” plus California Bureau Chief for National Lotto World Magazine. Claudia also ran a nonprofit called Dinner On A Dollar. Sadly, Claudia passed away in 2015, but we are pleased to display her writing works.