The Rules:

1. On your blog, write a fable (a short story with a morality message) that is appropriate for your blog’s audience.

2. The story must be written by you.
3. The story must be no more than 300 words.
4. To enter, leave a comment on this post with a link to your entry.
5. You may link to this site (i.e. to explain why the heck your very serious finance blog now has a story about animals on it), but a link is not required.
6. Everyone is eligible whether you’re related to me or have worked for me or not!

Entry deadline:

Tuesday night, November 25th at 11:59 pm (your time).

The winner will be announced (and paid) by Friday night, November 28th.

The Prize:

One winner will receive $250 USD.

Your choice of payment via Paypal or Amazon gift certificate (Christmas shopping money, woohoo!).

Everyone who enters will receive a link to their fable.

Who’s the Judge?

Just me. I’m not too picky about whether a story fits the exact definition of a fable, but I want to see a worthwhile message.

(If this works well, I’ll see about finding a panel of judges for future contests.)

Who’s Sponsoring This Shindig and Why?

That’s me too!

I’ve seen tons of contests around the blogosphere, and they usually want me to sign up for feeds, leave a bajillion comments on the blog, or spam my friends with links to said blog. But, but, but… I want to write!

This is my chance to run the kind of contest I’d like to enter.

This is a contest is for the writers out there… Fable on!

Post from: Writing for Your Wealth

$250 Writing/Blogging Contest — Write a Fable for Your Blog and Win!

They were articulate, insightful, engaging, informative, helpful, and lots of other aspire-worthy adjectives to boot.

I came away with the feeling of… who am I to be blogging and trying to tell people what to do? I’m not as smart as these real writers.

How could I possibly make a living writing, when I am not that educated, not that experienced, and not that smart?

Then I remembered I’m already making a living, a good living thank you very much, as a writer. My websites don’t get mentioned by important newspapers or magazines (though once I got a link from a library, *strut*), but I enjoy working on them, and they do their job:

They allow me to make a comfortable living while working part time.

So, what, you may be asking, is the point of this post?

I wanted to share my feelings with you so you’ll know that many people feel they’re not good enough, or smart enough to succeed as writers.

It’s not uncommon to feel a little inadequate when reading blogs by talented and experienced people.

It’s also not uncommon to doubt yourself and your methods when you read posts by respected bloggers about how you can’t make decent money from blogging, or it’s too late for new bloggers to jump in and get noticed, or it’s pure luck if someone makes it online, or *insert other piece of pithy advice that mauls your dreams.*

When everyone seems so sure of what they’re talking about, it’s hard to feel like little old you has a chance to make it as a writer.

Here’s what I’ve learned though:

You don’t have to be the most educated or have the highest IQ to make a living from your words. A lot of people with middle-of-the-road talent make it. Some people with mediocre talent make it. Some make it really big.

Why?

Because they want it more than others, often more than naturally gifted or highly educated people. They’re driven by “constructive discontent.” They’re willing to work toward their goals every day. They keep their minds open and remain teachable. They don’t give up.

If you have something to say and can write well enough to communicate your message (and everything in the previous paragraph describes you) then you can make a living as a writer.

Oh, and by the way… the best way to get yourself out of a feelings-of-inadequacy funk is to read the work of someone who has made it and whose writing sucks by your standards.

Post from: Writing for Your Wealth

Are You Smart Enough to Make a Living as a Writer?

Few authors make it big with their first book (few authors even succeed in selling their first book), and few bloggers get floods of visitors their first month, or even their first year. As with most pursuits in life, the journey to financial independence as a writer is rarely a swift one.

And that can be discouraging.

It’s hard to keep writing when you’re getting pennies a day–or less–for your work. Fortunately, we writers usually enjoy what we do, and we tend to continue working at creating our visions even when money is elusive. But if you’re here, reading this blog, chances are you’re interested in building wealth with your words.

The key is to make sure you’re working on projects that are potentially profitable (make sure there’s an audience out there that needs what you’re providing), and then apply the Daffodil Principle.

Have you heard of that one?

If not, you may want to take a minute to read the story.

A beautiful garden isn’t created in a day, and neither is financial freedom.

You can’t let yourself get discouraged. The blogosphere is littered with abandoned blogs, some abandoned right on the cusp of taking off and becoming popular and profitable. Hard drives around the world are littered with abandoned books and novels (I’ve certainly got my share of half-finished stories withering under layers of virtual dust), some that doubtlessly had potential to be money makers, if only their authors had finished the process.

The writers who succeed at crafting long-term, wealth-creating assets are the ones who keep working, bit by bit, day by day. You don’t create financial independence overnight, and legacies aren’t made on the fly.

Don’t worry about time that has been wasted in the past. Look toward the future, and promise yourself you’ll work every day, even if it’s for a short while. Continually make progress toward your goal, and financial independence will happen.

Start today.

Post from: Writing for Your Wealth

Apply the Daffodil Principle to Your Writing