augmenting the author’s income stream
I’ve been a freelance writer since 1993. Although freelancing is challenging, and you have to weather the storms of either too much work at once or the dry spells when you have virtually nothing on the go, if you plan ahead, you’ll get by.
But for the past year, I’ve pretty much been making my income from book sales and from speaking events that I’m able to arrange. The best scenario is when you can combine the two and sell books at your speaking events.
My most recent speaking gig was at the Black Ink Writers’ ReCon Retreat & Conference held October 24-26, 2014, in Selkirk, Manitoba. The photo above shows me (second from the right in the back row) along with the organizers and some of the attendees to the banquet, where I gave the keynote talk on the subject of crowdfunding. Hats off to Tyra Heinrichs, Ishbel Moore, and Richard Koreen for putting together a wonderful event.
Last week, I was a judge at the Puerto Viejo Chocolate Festival in Costa Rica (the reason this blog post is late!) If you’re interested in how that went, be sure to subscribe to my chocolate travel blog for a string of posts I’ll be uploading about this funky up-and-coming chocolate destination.
My next speaking gig will be November 19th in Kingston, Ontario, where I’ll be giving a chocolate chat to celebrate the opening of Sugar Swan, a new chocolate shop in Kingston. I’ll receive an honorarium for that via the Canada Council National Public Readings Program administered via the Writers Union of Canada.
And then I’m off to Miami, Florida, where I’ll be presented with my Readers’ Favorite award for Chocolatour and will visit with some Miami-based chocolate makers. Before I leave, I must complete a freelance article on the fabulous chocolate of London, England, for the CAA magazine.
That’s a month in the life of this freelance writer. What kind of writing do you do, and how do you supplement and augment your income with activities related to your writing and area of expertise? I look forward to hearing your insights and will post again soon to catch up on the regular posting schedule for this blog. Cheers!
I can so relate to all that you have been doing. You have been a very busy girl and the results have shown it. I think it’s awesome that you have combined theses two things and you’ve made it work… kudos to you. You are my hero and my inspiration. 🙂
Thx so much, Susan. You have been an inspiration to me as well. 🙂 That’s what’s so wonderful about the expanded world we live in. We can meet virtually, help one another virtually, and as in our case, take that one step further into the the real world where we have become ‘real’ friends. I am extremely grateful to LinkedIn for that.
Doreen,
It’s no wonder that you’re a successful writer. You work so hard at promoting yourself. You really are an inspiration. Thanks for sharing.
Thx so much, Sherryl. I couldn’t do it all without your tech help! You’ve saved my hide on many occasions throughout this amazing journey. Thx so much for being a friend and supporter of Chocolatour and my work as a professional writer.
Talk about busy Doreen!! I’m exhausted just reading about your schedule. But also in awe that not only do you do so much, but that you have so many arrows in your quiver. it’s really a testament to your freelance spirit that you can combine the different pieces of the puzzle and make it work into the life of a freelance writer. Much kudos to you. I hope you’ll post some pics from your award ceremony. Great achievement’s need to be seen and shouted from the rooftops!!
I agree 100% with what A.K. said! You have the energy of a whirling dervish. (In a good way.)
Thanks, Linda. Being a social person, I feed off the energy of others I interact with at these events. I could NEVER be a writer who works in solitude during the research stage. The writing process is solitary enough for me!
Thanks so much, AK. I really appreciate the support you have shown for my work. It’s so wonderful how we can create such meaningful friendships online, that with hope, turn into lasting friendships in the ‘real world.’
Indeed, I hope to do a post about the Readers’ Favorite Awards Ceremony. I believe it will the highlight of my writing career — to date!