DO YOU MAKE ANY MONEY WRITING?

If you haven't been asked this question, you will. Family, especially, are noted for asking if the time you invest in your work is worth the money derived from it. It's as if you are choosing to make what you do. It's as if you are too stupid to walk away when it's the last thing you want to do.

So, let's empower you a bit. 

The next time someone brings this question up, turn it around. Ask what they make in their job. Then ask if it's the best they can make. Ask if they feel shortchanged. And when they say they deserve to make more, ask them why they aren't hunting for another job. Then ask if the time they spend on their job is worth the money derived from it. Why are they working that job if they aren't being compensated properly?  

Chances are, they'll tell you they have no choice. They need the work. They need the money. They hope to make more. They haven't been able to find other work. They'd leave if they could. Whatever the excuse, they will say the last thing they can do is quit. So, chances are they'll also add that they sure wish they could leave because they hate their situation, hate the boss, hate the grind. How do I know? Because 80 percent of people in the world hate their job.

That's when you say that you don't make what you'd like to make either, but heaven forbid you have to quit because you love it so much. As a matter of fact, you are thrilled to be doing something you intensely enjoy, and it helps compensate for not making more money. On those days you feel you haven't been paid enough, you still smile because thank goodness you are working in a profession you adore. That alone makes it all worthwhile.

And then you add . . . you hope you never have to retire from it.

That'll shut them up.


GIVEAWAY:

Murder on Edisto is now in audio! And I have some review copies to giveaway. They would be downloadable via Audible and as I said, these are being distributed in hopes for a review. Reply via email to [email protected] with your expressed desire to listen to Murder on Edisto, and at least three lucky readers will be selected. Deadline Monday night with the giveaway done Tuesday, February 23. Thanks!

Is Your Website Accessible?

By Devyani Borade

"Build a platform!" urge publishing gurus. "Establish an online presence!" You dutifully obey. Facebook? On it. Twitter? Rule it. Website? Of course, and it rocks! But did you know you might be restricting an entire group of users and customers from accessing your website and hence, from reaching you? This group consists of people with disabilities.

The US Census Bureau states nearly 57 million people, that's 19 percent of civilians, have a disability. You may have a family member or friend, know a neighbour or student who is disabled. Imagine them trying to do a basic search online that you take for granted. These same people are also doing exactly what the rest of us are: working, enjoying food and drink, leisure and relaxation, sport and adventure. So why should they be prevented from utilising something as normal and taken-for-granted as a website?

What is accessibility?

Accessibility describes the degree to which a product, service, or environment is available to people. The more the number of people who can use it, the higher its accessibility. Correctly designed and developed websites empower everyone to have equal access to information and services.

Examples of accessibility include:

• Providing text descriptions of images with meaningful links helps blind users using text-to-speech software or text-to-Braille hardware to read the content.

• Enabling text and images to enlarge helps users with poor eyesight. 

• Underlining and highlighting hyperlinks helps colour blind users notice them.

• Making action areas, like hyperlinks and buttons, large; and enabling keyboard navigation of menus helps users who can't control a mouse with precision or can't keep their hands steady.

• Captioning videos or providing sign language versions helps the deaf.

• Avoiding excessive flashing, flickering and special effects considers users prone to seizures.

• Writing content in plain language and illustrating with diagrams helps users with dyslexia and learning difficulties understand better.

Is your website accessible enough?

There are a number of options online to help you find out. A one-click website accessibility audit like http://wave.webaim.org/ is a system test that can identify accessibility problems and provide guidance on remedial steps. A list of other automated tools available to evaluate website features can be found here:
http://www.w3.org/WAI/ER/tools/index.html. These tools don't test everything, but can provide a good idea of the extent of your website's accessibility. 

Must I make my website accessible?

While accessibility is not required by law for non-government websites, a basic level of accessibility is recommended for all websites, especially if your business is heavily dependent on online traffic and relies on direct interaction with end users. However, don't go overboard with corrective measures, because you might end up making the website difficult to use for majority of people! Use common sense in deciding what to address.

Your website is your showcase to the world, your online home. You're proud of it and have invested time and resources in making it useful, relevant and dynamic. You want everybody who's anybody to visit it. 

Follow the four principles of accessibility explained in simple English at http://devyaniborade.blogspot.com/p/principles-of-web-accessibility.html
to make your website more accessible to all.

Bio:
Devyani Borade writes on the humour and pathos of everyday life. Her articles on the craft, business and heart of writing have been accepted/published by nearly all writing-related magazines in the USA and UK. As a software tester, she has first-hand experience testing websites for accessibility issues. Visit her blog Verbolatry at http://devyaniborade.blogspot.com to contact her and read her other work.

 

 

GREAT RIVERS WRITERS RETREAT
http://www.mwcqc.org/contests/writers-retreat/
The Great River Writers Retreat winner is selected from an applicant pool of writers from Iowa and Illinois across multiple genres, and allows the winner to spend a week working on a specific writing project they have underway. The winning Iowa or Illinois writer will receive a seven-day/six-night residency, from September 3 through 9, 2016, at the Benet House Retreat Center in Rock Island, Illinois, a travel stipend, and an invitation to read to the literary community of the Quad Cities. The public reading of their original work will take place on September 7, 2015 at the Midwest Writing Center at 7 p.m. 



SOZOPOL FICTION SEMINARS 2016: EXPLORE YOUR WRITING ON THE BEAUTIFUL BLACK SEA COAST
http://ekf.bg/sozopol/page/44
Scholarships covering tuition, room and board, in-country transportation, and 50 percent of international travel expenses will be provided to ten writers. Deadline March 1, 2016. Seminars take place June 9-13, 2016 in Sozopol, Bulgaria.



NYC EMERGING WRITERS FELLOWSHIP
http://www.centerforfiction.org/forwriters/grants-and-awards/
This program is generously funded by a grant from the Jerome Foundation, matched by additional funds from individuals. We will be selecting between nine and fifteen writers in 2016 and during the one-year fellowship period grantees will receive: a grant of $5,000, the option to engage in a mentorship with a selected freelance editor, and the opportunity to meet with agents who represent new writers. Deadline February 29, 2016. Applicants must be current residents of one of the five boroughs, and must remain in New York City for the entire year of the fellowship. 



NEBRASKA GRANTS
http://www.artscouncil.nebraska.gov/grants/
Applications for the following grant categories are due Tuesday, March 1, at midnight. These applications should be for projects that will take place between July 1, 2016, and June 30, 2017. Several types of grants available. For Nebraska residents only.

STAFF WRITER
https://www.journalismjobs.com/job-listings/1627755
For Washingtonian Magazine. Washingtonian is looking for an aggressive, resourceful reporter with a knack for writing narrative to work as a full-time staff writer at the magazine. To apply, please send your résumé and 10 clips to [email protected]. 

 

________________________________________________________________





IMMERSION WRITING ON RANCH IN WYOMING

Authors Janet Hubbard (Vengeance in the Vineyard series, Poisoned Pen Press; creator of writing program, Closet Writers Ink in Vermont) and Tina Welling (Writing Wild most recent book, in addition to  three novels published by Penquin Group;  faculty member at Jackson Hole Writers Conference) ) invite you to join them at the magnificent Willow Creek Ranch in eastern Wyoming (airport, Casper) June 12th-18th, where two writing workshops a day are offered, along with individual mentoring.

Lodging, three meals a day, comfortable camping at the Hole-in-the-Wall one night, and horseback riding (if desired) are included in the $1,400 price ($1,200 if sign up before April 1st).

www.janethubbard.com







GET WEBSITES THAT ROCK, BOOK COVERS THAT SIZZLE

Shaila Abdullah has over a decade of experience designing websites for authors. Being an award-winning author herself, she understands the industry, and will provide you with a content management website that reflects your unique style, genre, and personality. Other design services such as book covers & interiors, marketing materials, and email campaigns (newsletters, announcements, etc.) also available.

MENTION THIS AD AND GET 10% OFF (NEW CLIENTS ONLY)
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E-mail Shaila: [email protected]
View portfolio: http://myhouseofdesign.com/authors/
Services for authors: http://myhouseofdesign.com/services-for-authors/

"Superb work, excellent customer service. Just marvelous overall.” —C. Hope Clark, author, founder of FundsforWriters, http://chopeclark.com  | http://www.fundsforwriters.com

"The site captures my spirit and passion, and it honors my dream since childhood." —Lyn Fairchild Hawks, author, http://lynhawks.com/

"Shaila is a terrific designer, highly professional and extremely creative and delivers amazing results. Her sense of humor and positive spirit has made the whole process of developing and launching my web site a pleasure. –James Hutchison, playwright, http://jameshutchison.ca/

"Her suggestions, insight, and artistic talent made the final product much better than what I’d envisioned on my own.” —Jacqueline Adams, writer, http://jacqueline-adams.com/

Other websites:
http://sbalexander.com/
http://lisakwinkler.com/
http://kbhyde.com/
http://musingsbymccoy.com/








NONFICTION WRITERS CONFERENCE

The 6th annual Nonfiction Writers Conference returns May 4-6, 2016. This event is completely
virtual—no travel required! Pull up a seat on your couch and join us as 15 top speakers cover
how to publish, promote, and profit with nonfiction books! Details and registration:
NonfictionWritersConference.com.  Click here to view more details












Write Naked is a writing life cut open, run by full-time writer Tara Lynne Groth. The blog features PAID guest contributors in publishing, freelancing, and more.

Write Naked's subscriber base doubled in 2014, and now enjoys approximately 900 followers. More than 32,500 unique visitors explored the site in 2015. Write Naked welcomes sponsors. Get exposure for your writing event, book, publishing service, and more through sponsored content, social media mentions, and a newsletter for writers.

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Click here to visit Book Design Templates.- Instead of trying to decide what your books should look like, we've made all the decisions for you. Just follow our friendly instructional guide, pour in your text and your book will be ready to go. All your styles and formatting needs are coded into our templates for easy use. Enthusiastically endorsed by Hope!
 









A new software program automates scheduling and tracking tasks for book projects, particularly great for indie authors. It's called Book Planner, another Joel Friedlander product, so that alone sells me on it. ~Hope







 


 

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