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BREAKING DOWN YOUR BARRIERS
by Cynthia MacGregor
What is it you write? The majority of writers can answer this
question quickly. “I write novels.” “I write web copy.” “I
write textbooks.” “I write press releases for a living, and
on weekends I’m working on a biography of Eleanor Roosevelt.”
I find myself frequently pushing my “envelope,” breaking down
my barriers. Much of this happens for economic reasons: A
chance to make money comes along and involves a type of writing
I’ve not tried before. Sometimes it occurs just because I like
to challenge myself.
Some years ago I spotted an ad from a publisher soliciting
romance novels featuring Rubenesque heroines. I don’t even
read romance novels; I had certainly never attempted to write
one. But here was a publisher actively soliciting submissions.
It was too tempting to pass up. I wrote and placed three with
the (now-defunct) publisher, and not only made a little money
but also expanded my comfort zone.
Around that same time, a business contact who worked in audio
and video production was asked by a flight school to produce a
short promotional film. The producer asked me if I could handle
writing the script. A script? I gulped three times, bravely said,
“Sure!”…and did it. It led to another assignment, a script for a
different aviation-related company. Both clients were pleased.
I was pleased too…not just with the money but with my ability to
break out of my comfort zone even further.
Just a couple of weeks ago, I got a hit off my CraigsList ad:
A new company producing short writings for schools was seeking
writers, preferably with a teaching background. Science was one
of my worst subjects in school, but I was assured that all the
info I needed would be provided for me. After forthrightly
stating that I’m not a licensed/certified teacher, I told him of
my experience teaching creative writing to junior high school
students for two years as part of a special program and of my
years of teaching adult courses in creative writing (also in
public speaking and cooking). I’m now writing ten science pieces
a week for this company, under a contract due to last three and
a half months, the scheduled end date of the project. They tell
me that all the work I’ve turned in so far is “Perfect!” (their
word, their exclamation point). The money’s decent too.
Though I have 54 published conventional books to my credit and
over 50 e-books, much of my writing income derives from work
other than on books or articles. As a full-time freelancer, I
write almost anything from web copy to catalog copy to sales
letters to ads, and I edit books and other materials. But the
current Recession has seriously sliced into my income. Inquiries
from clients are becoming almost as scarce as igloos at the
Equator. And the fact that my Significant Other’s income (he’s
an eBay merchant) has also taken a major hit isn’t helping any.
All the more reason to push the envelope and extend my sights
beyond my usual boundaries.
For that reason, I recently started work on an erotic e-novel
that is nothing I really wanted to write, nothing I feel proud
of, and certainly nothing that will go out with my real name on
it. But it has the potential to bring in some money.
What are you used to writing? Now, what are you capable of
writing? If you push yourself, if you expand your boundaries,
if you look beyond your usual opportunities, you might surprise
yourself.
You might find new ways to earn money, too.
BIO
Full-time freelance writer/editor Cynthia MacGregor has 54
conventionally published books and over 50 e-books to her
credit and also writes “anything from web copy to articles
to ads.” Her website is
www.cynthiamacgregor.com , and her
email is
Cynthia@cynthiamacgregor.com.
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