Write online ... for yourself.

Here's to 2008 and MMM*!

The past year as a WAHM was busy and enjoyable for me, despite finding it hard to juggle kids and work and home.

I started out the year primarily as an English grader and ended as an English grader, freelance writer and website owner. The freelance writing pays the best so far, the English grading is consistent and always available, and the website... well, it's a work in progress.

In 2008, I plan to transition to full-time freelance online writer and webmaster. I have found that writing online "for myself" pays far more than writing $11 articles for online content companies.

For example, Writer's Research Group pays $10-$11 for a 250-400 word original content article. Not bad pay, considering I could usually write 1-3 an hour. But then, at the end of October, I started writing those same articles for eHow. Several have earned more than $30 each already. Other have made far less. However, when I average it our and project the earnings over a year, they will make about $30-$40 each.

That's a lot better than $10, obviously, even if I have to wait several months or more to get to the amount I would have earned instantly by selling the pieces to Writer's Research Group.

My website, so far, has not made any money. But that's because I haven't asked it to. I have not begun to monetize the site, and won't, until I have enough traffic to warrant monetization. I'm building my site through Site Build It, following their proven success plan.



The first step is Content. That should say, content, content, content. The more I write, the easier it gets, but I still have nagging doubts about whether it "will work."

I hope, by December 2008, to have a success story of my own to share.

In 2008, I plan to:
~Add 3-5 pages to my website each week
~Update my blogs each week.
~Write 2-3 articles on eHow, Hub, Squidoo, a week.

I'd love to hear your WAHM goals for 2008!

*making more money

Increase Productivity: Go for a walk

Keep your sanity and recharge yourself with a daily walk. Just go, even if you have a pile of work that needs your attention and cranky kids who aren't listening. Bundle them up if it's cold, and get outside. The walk will do wonders for you and for them.
Today, the kids and I went on a short hike down our dirt and gravel road. We didn't quite make it to the lake, more because I was unsure about the hike back up a steep hill with a baby on my back than anything else.
The walk provided an opportunity to learn more about our environment, as we watched buzzards circling overhead and I explained that there was a dead animal in the vicinity. We discussed the leaves covering the forest floor, and the melted snow. My 4-year-old son commented on the neighbors' houses as we passed, listing the occupants he knew.
Yes, I left behind papers that needed grading and articles that begged to be written, but I returned with a peaceful spirit and a sleeping baby. The kids, their energy released, were content to play with Legos as I went back to the computer.

Work at Home Schedules: Do they work?

As a work at home mom (WAHM) with two preschoolers and a baby, I know first hand how hard the balancing act can be. And I know how much I need a good work at home schedule. As I type, I have my cranky 8-month-old baby in a carrier on my back. He's been fed and changed and is sleepy. It's time for his nap, but he can't fall asleep because of the noise being generated by his older brother and sister, who are happily sliding down the stairs on a blanket -- harmless enough, except for the loudness factor.

They are happily occupied, so I'd rather not redirect their energies at the moment (that approach has been known to backfire). At 4 and 3, respectively, my son and daughter have each other for constant companions and this works to my advantage--most of the time.

I've tried making work at home schedules. They usually begin with me arising at 5:30 to begin grading English papers for my first work at home job. These perfect work at home schedules also show a two-hour slot where everyone is napping (except me) and I am, in theory, able to get all of my writing done during those magic hours.

But in reality, my kids don't follow my work at home schedule. And if they are up in the middle of the night, I have a hard time following it too. (Why on earth did I set the alarm for 5 a.m.?! Snooze!)

I have learned that I can't force the perfect work at home schedule. Some days, everything clicks and it really happens. But more often than not, I have to fit my work in around children's needs (and they do come first, at least in my book), dinner prep and housekeeping (usually the first thing I let slide). I follow the flow of the day more than try to harness it into my Day Planner. I have a list of objectives, and try to accomplish the most important each day. But as yet, the perfect work at home schedule is not a reality...or maybe, in some way, it is, just not the way I'd expected.

And now the baby has fallen asleep, his head resting against the back of my neck. Time for me to get a few more papers graded. What's on your schedule?