The faith economy’s annual worth is $1.2 trillion. Much of this is due to writing. Christian writers contribute to the writing world in many ways, a few of which are via personal blogs, journalism, and writing faith-based books.

Contributing to Christian publications can be a fulfilling way to use your talents. In addition, if you’re hoping to transition out of your traditional 9-5 job, there are specific ways you can pursue full-time Christian writing work. In this article, I first define Christian writing work and then dive into five concrete steps you can take to get started. 

Christian Writing Work Defined 

Christian writing work centers on writing, drafting, and editing Christian copy for online or print publication. Whether you naturally gravitate toward online journalism or writing faith-based books, if you want to jump into Christian writing work, there is a place for you.

It takes writers of all backgrounds and talents to create a well-rounded market. In fact, there are many names you may recognize that make a living in Christian writing and whose work spans a plethora of genres and writing styles.

You may know Jerry B. Jenkins’ name from his well-known series, Left Behind. Katelyn Beaty is also a Christian writer, but she steers clear of fiction, taking a more journalistic approach. John Piper’s Christian writing work spans the continents in both book and digital form.

So wherever you find yourself, below are five ways you can get a foot in the door of Christian writing work.

6 Options To Get Started

Breaking into any industry can feel intimidating, especially if you don’t know where to start. The good news is there are many different roads you can take to begin Christian writing work. No one option is better than another, it simply depends on what’s best for you and your writing goals. 

1. Freelancing

Freelancing is a great first step into Christian writing work due to its availability to writers at various stages in their journey. If you are first starting out, you may want to create a simple website and list your services. This way, when you query potential clients, your website adds legitimacy to your request. 

There are also many blogs that hire freelancers and pay per word. Other publications pay per article. For instance, Chicken Soup For The Soul reportedly pays $250 per 1,200-word article, as well as free copies of the book itself. 

Christian writing work may feel difficult to get into, but once you send your first query, you’ve taken that first step. Freelancing is an extremely nonthreatening way to test the waters.

2. Start Your Own Blog

In an era of influencers, blogging is another opportunity to make a dent with Christian writing work. Sadie Robertson Huff (Duck Dynasty) is a celebrity influencer who uses blogging to reach her audience. Sarah Young (Jesus Calling) includes a blog on her author website.

You don’t need to have sold 30 million copies of your book to start a blog, however. In fact, both Sadie and Sarah lacked a writing platform earlier on.  While you can always query established bloggers and ask to guest blog, starting your own blog is a way to get started in Christian writing work. This low investment with potential for high influence is a nearly fail-proof way to get started. 

Don’t forget to blog regularly, whether a month or once a week, so your growing audience knows what to expect from you. As your audience list grows, your opportunity to monetize your blog will increase as well. 

3. Submitting to Paid Publications

Billy Graham started the vision behind the now well-known magazine, Christianity Today. This publication allows freelancers to query ideas, and if accepted, pays them for their article. There are many more paid publications you can check into as you pursue Christian writing work, and here are a few tips for doing so:

• Query simultaneously
• Send you best ideas
• Include a few important credentials 
• Be brief but efficient 
• Track your progress 

A simple Excel spreadsheet or even a good notebook can help you document the responses you receive and the dates you queried which publications. 

4. Writing A Faith Book

Sharing your story or writing on faith-based topics is another great way to get into Christian writing work. You can choose to traditionally publish or self-publish your book and even launch a speaking career if your book does well. 

Authors often use books as the launching pad for their career, pulling quotes for social media, specific topics for speaking events, and even building entire online courses to go with the book.  

5. Christian Journalism 

For those with a more journalistic mindset, Christian journalism can be an exciting niche to tap into. You can offer your work in book form with the help of a publisher of Christian books, host a podcast, or craft research articles on the current topics in Christianity. 

There are so many ways to use journalism in Christian writing work, and many people are paving the way forward in this area. If you have a background in journalism or are currently studying this writing form, you may want to explore the possibilities in this niche. 

6. Working With Authors

With millions of books published annually you can rest assured that ghost writers and editors are needed. Working with authors provides writers with a unique look at individual stories, provides a behind-the-curtain glimpse at authors’ lives, and can add credibility to their own Christian writing work. 

If you are interested in working with an author, whether editing their manuscript or helping them write it, you can start in a few ways:

• Sit down with an editor and ask for advice 
• Look for editing jobs at Christian publishing houses 
• Add this service to your website and begin freelance editing

Working with authors is one way many well-established writers got into the business, and is a opportunity you can benefit from as well.

Your New Day Job in Christian Writing Work

Getting into Christian writing work is an exciting prospect. If you are a person of faith, pursuing this type of work is not only a helpful transition into a new career path, but distinctly fulfilling as well. 

Here comes the hard part. How do you take the above opportunities and translate them into steps you can take today? Below are a few possibilities that you can pursue with little time investment and zero financial investment: 

• Build a free website with a template 
• Email Christian writers in your network asking for advice
• Browse the above links for paid freelance work
• Follow this step-by-step process to write your book

Remember that just like any career shift, solidifying yourself in the industry takes time. Use your credentials to establish your credibility and keep in mind that slow and steady, over time, can yield great results. 

Before I leave you to get started, here is a simple mindset tip to focus on as you begin your journey: Treat your pursuit of Christian writing work like the day job you one day want it to be. Prioritize it, give it your all, and pursue it relentlessly. Best wishes out there! 

If you write for a living, hope to take your freelance side hustle to the next level, or are interested in simply learning a bit more about AI, then keep reading.

You may have questions such as:

• Will AI take over my writing job? 
• Can I use AI to write my next book?
• What are the ethics involved in using AI?

Like all forms of artificial intelligence, with ChatGPT comes benefits and uses, and also a number of things to avoid.  

What Is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is a large language model with chat functionality. A form of artificial intelligence, it uses its name to explain its function: The first part, chat, references that it is a chatbot. GPT represents its functionality—Generative Pre-trained Transformer. 

“ChatGPT is a sibling model to InstructGPT, which is trained to follow an instruction in a prompt and provide a detailed response.”

OpenAI

Due to its chatbot capabilities, OpenAI states that you can expect ChatGPT to:

• Answer follow-up questions
• Admit its mistakes
• Challenge incorrect premises
• Reject inappropriate requests

Now that you have a brief overview of what it is, it’s time to dive into its benefits. If you can’t articulate the positives of using ChatGPT, it will be difficult to discover how to use ChatGPT as a freelancer. 

The Benefits of ChatGPT 

If you’ve ever used chat boxes for simple tasks like making a return or trying to find an answer to a question, you may have grown frustrated with the lack of capabilities in some chat systems. This is where the benefits of ChatGPT come in. 

During its design process, it was tested with humans and created to provide conversational answers to normal, every day communication styles. The more touchpoints it has, the more efficient it becomes.

Think of it like trying out speech-to-text software. At first, you may have to go through and edit copious amounts of words. But, as the software learns how you speak, it picks up on your words that much better. ChatGPT is similar in that the more it is used, the better it becomes. If you’re wondering how to use ChatGPT as a freelancer, you may want to simply give it some time. 

Additionally, rather than ask a chatbot a question and have to choose from a few predetermined answers, ChatGPT was designed to respond to natural, written conversation. This makes using ChatGPT that much simpler, streamlined, and natural. 

Various Uses

Depending on your goals, ChatGPT has a variety of capabilities. While not limited to the following, below is a brief list to get you started.

Use ChatGPT as a Search Engine 

The phrase “Google it” is basically a verb, and now ChatGPT provides its own search engine functions. While Google will present you with a variety of websites to find your answer on, ChatGPT gives you the answer itself. 

Let ChatGPT Draft Your Articles 

In addition to providing you with answers to your search engine queries, this large language model also has the capacity to draft content for you. Notice the keyword draft content. While it may feel like using ChatGPT is an efficient way to write your long-form articles, it’s unlikely to be as effective as your own writing. 

Update Your Resume or CV

Choosing how to use ChatGPT as a freelancer may start with letting it create your next resume or even cover letter. This feature is argued as one of its most useful functions. Rather than stare at the blinking cursor and wonder how to start, ChatGPT can create your first draft. 

How To Use ChatGPT As A Freelancer | Things To Avoid 

While there are many helpful functions of ChatGPT, particularly when it comes to how to use ChatGPT as a freelancer, there are specific aspects you should be wary of, and perhaps avoid altogether. In a technical feature article, Ben Lutkevich describes language modeling as the following: 

“The use of various statistical and probabilistic techniques to determine the probability of a given sequence of words occurring in a sentence. Language models analyze bodies of text data to provide a basis for their word predictions.”

Ben Lutkevich

Let’s break this thought down into a few key takeaways.

“Determine the probability of a given sequence of words…”

ChatGPT relies on determining the probability of verbiage from the previously established rules based on the contexts it knows. For instance, the word you often follows the word thank. This sequence, thank you, is an established rule.

But what if you want to create unique verbiage or provide information that is dissimilar to what is already established? When deciding how to use ChatGPT as a freelancer, it’s crucial to note that it determines “the probability of a given sequence of words” (emphasis added). 

Avoid relying solely on ChatGPT for facts, grammar, and always remember it has a limited context. 

“Analyze bodies of text data to provide a basis for their word predictions…” 

In addition, if you want to know how to use ChatGPT as a freelancer in a way that helps, rather than hinders, your credibility, understanding where it draws its information from is a must. 

Unlike heading down to your local library, the bodies of text that ChatGPT indexes are restricted to copy previously published on the Internet. It’s common knowledge that not everything you read online is fact, and this applies to ChatGPT just as it does other platforms, softwares, and general Internet usage.

When deciding how to use ChatGPT as a freelancer, one of your first choices should be to always double check your facts. But more than just fact checking, creating original content can be difficult using ChatGPT. 

Yes, depending on how you phrase your requests or prompts, your answers will likely look somewhat different than the responses others receive. However, all users draw from the same body of text data. Every answer comes from the same pool.

If you’re looking for original work with a unique foundation, you may want to draft your own copy. 

Next Steps: How To Use ChatGPT As A Freelancer, Positively

Never underestimate the power of being forthright when it comes to your freelance work. If you want to use ChatGPT to create a long-form article for a client, or they hired you to write their cover letter and resume, you will likely want to mention your intentions. 

ChatGPT is a great place to brainstorm content, create outlines, and sometimes, use it as a base for your rough drafts. That said, if a client hires you to create original content for their company, if you decide to use AI, it’s crucial to proceed with caution. 

• Recognize that ChatGPT pulls data from previously published sources
• Understand that ChatGPT needs fact-checked  
• Always, always, always edit 

As you move forward with how to use ChatGPT as a freelancer, don’t be afraid of using this resource to help create content more efficiently. At the same time, do be wary of its effectiveness. 

If you’re a freelancer, you write for human readers who desire quality content that is fact-checked, original, and thoughtfully created. If ChatGPT can be a stepping stone in helping you get there, you’ve just added another tool to your freelancer toolkit!

Did you know the spark behind some of the best travel blogs today started in the 1700s?

That’s right, travel writing rose to popularity with the use of paper, long before the age of online blogs and social media. Today, travel blogs document the world through the eyes of individuals, couples, and families. 

But why is this form of blogging so popular? How can joing the ranks of the best travel blogs impact you and your writing? You might be surprised at the diversity of travel blogs, where people go, why they travel, and their purpose behind their globetrotting. 

Best Travel Blogs and Their Rise To Popularity

With work moving online, especially in the last three years, writers are free to travel the world. Some of the best travel blogs are powerful in several key ways, not least of which is their capacity to record events taking place around the world. 

What makes the best travel blogs so beloved is multifaceted, but a few reasons behind the art of travel blogs are the following: 

• Provide followers a personalized look around the world
• Create another form of education for viewers 
• Teach about cultures, individuals, and historical landmarks 

However, travel blogging is also a great side hustle that you can turn into a lucrative career. Once you build up a following, you can transition from working to travel into traveling to work. Let’s take a look at some of the best travel blogs.

The Shooting Star 

Shivya Nath is an award-winning traveler who writes about sustainable travel, conscious living, veganism, and climate change. Her blog brings in thousands of views on a monthly basis. Shivya’s blog is a personal one, so while she does not seem to accept guest posts, she’s a great blogger to learn from.

Joshua Berman

This blog stands out among travel blogs for its rich content, niché, and adventurous focus. With a variety of posts and focuses, Joshua keeps a content-heavy blog with numerous resources. If you’re looking to get your foot in the door, you may want to inquire if he accepts guest posts. 

Hike and Dine

Do you love travel blogs that focus on the beauty of nature but also the deliciousness of food? Do you have an experience you’d love to share with a large audience? Contact Hike and Dine and share your story!

Notes from the Road

This personal blog shares not just well-crafted notes from the road of travel but artistic photography that draws you into the traveling experience. 

Under The Overpass

An entirely different form of travel, Mike Yankoski shares his story through handwritten journal entries recorded during the time he chose to spend homeless. This travel blog is far from glamorous but deeply inspiring.

Uncornered Market

This husband and wife team joins together to bring you a variety of experiences and resources. Running a career with a variety of offerings, they may be open to a guest blog, provided you share why your contribution could benefit their site. 

My Family Travels

This family travel website hosts a variety of posts from various bloggers. If you’re looking to up the number of travel blogs you’ve written for, contact this highly detailed travel team.

Adventurous Kate

With 83 countries under her belt and adventuring to all seven continents, Kate brings a bold flare to travel blogs. If you’re a female traveling solo, you may be able to contribute to her articles.

Nomad Flag

Keith has more than 25 years of travel experience. Seeking to learn from established travel blogs? Look no further than the Nomad Flag.

An English Travel Writer

Jenny shares her English travel experiences with a friendly voice and photos that bring her experiences to life.

Nomadic Matt

Matt teaches travelers how to travel smart and cheap and even offers a blogging training program.

Oneika the Traveller

This Emmy Award-winning journalist is a self-proclaimed perpetual explorer. An on-camera host for Travel Channel and NBC, she has set foot in 120 countries. 

Globe Trotting

Travel blogs targeting families can be a huge help to young parents. Need advice on how to take your next adventure? Check out Globe Trotting!

Travis Levius

A luxury travel journalist, Travis’s travel blogs will take you on otherworldly adventures across the globe. 

The Incidental Tourist 

Dawn’s blog offers extensive travel resources. She also invites you to contact her for potential collaborations. 

Lydia Scapes

Looking for some adventure travel, specifically climbing? Lydia has you covered from tips on staying in Rome to climbing gear you shouldn’t go without. 

O. Christine

O. Christine is an established travel blogger who partners with brands. While she does not accept guest posts, she does offer ways to work together. 

Wild Blue Family

Wild Blue is a family-run travel blog who calls Hawaii their base camp. The parents’ first date was a hike, so joining the ranks of travel blogs is a natural next step. They do accept sponsored posts.

Where the Kids Roam

One of many family travel blogs, this one is run by the father who writes in a quirky, yet enlightening, voice.

Meet Me Here

Paul focuses on experiencing the world through taste and helping others travel. While most travel blogs center around the blogger’s travels, Paul’s focus is helping his readers experience the delights of Georgia. 

Intrepid Times

If you’d like to submit your work to an already established travel writing blog, or enter a competition, Intrepid Times is for you. They also offer a writing internship. 

Travel Writing World

This award-winning travel writing podcast and website also offers podcast interviews, author profiles, articles, and book reviews. If you fit one of these categories, you may want to reach out about a potential collaboration. 

Wanderlust Marriage

This couple met in Brugge, Belgium in 2002. They were simply solo, post-college backpackers heading to the same location—Amsterdam. Fast forward and they now help travelers create the best experiences, memories, and budget-friendly trips.

How To Break Into the Travel Blogs Niché

After viewing so many phenomenal travel blogs, you may feel the slow dread of Imposter Syndrome creeping up. Instead of focusing on the places you haven’t traveled, focus on the places you have been, even if it’s only the town you were born in. Meet Me Here is a great example of how to build travel blogs out of a single location. Hike and Dine’s niché focuses on its two most-loved activities.

If you’re unsure how to break in, ask yourself the following: 

• What do I particularly gravitate to?
• How does travel add a new angle?
• What travel blogs should I learn from?
• What ones could I learn to build ideas from?

Travel blogs differ in a variety of ways, each bringing their unique angle to the experience of travel. Whether you love rock climbing or a glass of wine after a day hike, you can find your niché among travel bloggers. 

Don’t forget that travel blogs do not usually begin as an award-winning site. It takes time to build your credibility and following, but with persistence in the right direction, you can do so.

Don’t forget to enjoy the journey, pun intended, and let us know where you travel to!

Testimonials for writers are a crucial factor in creating a word of mouth buzz that can boost your book sales or service referrals.

Whether you want to put more books into the hands of readers or offer writing services, great testimonials can be a positive influence on your goals. 

While you’ve likely heard of endorsements, and maybe even have some, testimonials are a bit different.

In this article, we’ll talk about the different facets of testimonials for writers. If you’re ready for a career boost, read on!

What Are Testimonials for Writers?

Testimonials for writers are a third-party review of you and your work. While they’re often shared through a written statement, testimonials can take various forms such as:

• Short video statements 
• Quotes posted on website
• Social media posts 
• Interviews

How Testimonials Help Writers

Whether you ask clients to write up a brief endorsement, share about their experience on social media, or engage in an interview, testimonials are foundational for building credibility. 

If testimonials for writers are such a crucial factor, how do they actually contribute to your ongoing success? There are many ways testimonials help, but below are the top three reasons you should start collecting them today.

Personalize Your Audience

Consider the following situation: You launched your book a year ago and have some traction. You wish you had more reviews, but you’re happy with your growing platform and newfound traffic to your author website. 

What if when potential readers come to your site, testimonials greeted them on your home page? As soon as your site loads, they see real readers who love your book and want to share how much they enjoyed it. In this way, testimonials personalize your audience.

Create Authentic Hype

With so many marketing resources today, almost anyone can create a good deal of buzz around their product or service. However, testimonials for writers take this buzz to an authentic level. Yes, people have used the word authentic so much that it’s a buzz word all on it’s own, but this is because individuals appreciate authentic reviews. 

The more testimonials you have from readers with names and lives, the more authentic your hype will be. What usually makes you want to purchase a new book more: The author tweeting how awesome their book is, or a reader telling you they couldn’t put it down?

Provide Resources

Particularly if you offer paid services such as editing or marketing, potential clients want to know you’ve been vetted and are worth the price point. Testimonials, for writers in particular, are a helpful way to provide the credibility future clients need.

If individuals can see a list of clients you’ve helped, look them up, and perhaps even reach out to them for a referral, they will feel much safer hiring you.

How To Get Testimonials

If testimonials for writers are this important, the next question to answer is how to get them. Your first testimonials will likely be the most difficult, but don’t worry. With a few well-crafted sentences you’ll be well on your way. 

Offer the possibility to current clients 

Many clients are focused on their project and getting it done well. Leaving testimonials for writers is simply not top of mind. When I’ve asked for testimonials, I’ve found offering the possibility to a client is all they need to write a review. Most clients are happy to help but don’t realize how much power their few sentences wield. 

Ask for testimonials from previous clients 

If you have worked for clients in the past but didn’t realize the value in testimonials for writers, a simple email can help you. Write up a brief template thanking the client for working with you. Ask them to write a sentence or two of review if they enjoyed the collaboration and are comfortable. 

Write a draft to send to clients 

If you work with bigger name clients who may not have time to craft their own testimonial, you can treat testimonials similarly to blurbs. Write a sentence or two describing how you imagine the client felt about their experience working with you. 

Then follow a few steps: Email them asking for a testimonial. Include that you wrote an outline to make it easier for them. Allow them to edit as they see fit.

Tip: You can legitimize testimonials by including first and last names if possible, or first name and last initial. Asking for clients to include where they work or what they are known for is also a helpful way to add detail that builds rapport. 

Examples from Real Writer Websites

What about writers who have done this well? Let’s start with the bestselling author of Atomic Habits, James Clear. When you visit the book page on his website you immediately see a sentence or two of testimonials from other professionals.

Clear highlights Mark Manson’s testimonial, another bestselling author. He also includes one from Arianna Huffington, Founder of Huffington Post and Thrive Global. 

Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic has inspired creatives in innumerable ways. Despite the massive success of her book, she too includes a testimonial on her book page. 

If you’re not a bestselling author yet or offer services, testimonials are still tremendously helpful in your success. The freelancer behind Hear Ye Writing includes numerous testimonials on her website.  

Testimonials For Writers: Parting Tips 

While there is no right or wrong way to include testimonials, there are a few steps you can take to help them stand out. Testimonials that include the following will help legitimate both your testimonials and your product or service: 

• First and last name of client
• The client’s credibility 
• Where they work 

Consider the following testimonial examples: 

Example one: “I loved working with Jane Smith. Her turnaround time was impeccable and her quality was just what I was looking for.” 

Example two: “I loved working with Jane. Her turnaround time was impeccable and her quality was just what I was looking for.” —John Smith, CEO of Fake Business Name and author of Book Title

Do you see how adding these three small factors levels up the testimonial? Always be sure to ask clients if they are comfortable for you to include their name and credentials prior to posting. 

Additionally, if you write a template testimonial for past clients, receive the okay before publishing it live on your website. 

For Those Starting From Scratch 

If you’re just getting started and haven’t worked with clients before, there is still a place for you. Testimonials for writers can apply to unpaid coaching services, feedback, beta reading, and more. When posting these type of testimonials, be clear about what you offered. 

For instance, if someone from your writing community asks you to beta read their book, consider asking for a testimonial. Use the template below to inspire your request: 

“I’m a new writer and asked [your name] to beta read my book. He was more than happy to provide great feedback. I’m thankful for his insight on my manuscript!”  

It can feel intimidating to start out, but take your first step boldly. The first request is usually the most difficult. It only gets easier! 

If you prefer writing outlines and drafts by hand, you may have experienced a writer’s callus before. Also known as nerd bump or writer’s bump, these calluses are caused by repeated use of a writing utensil.

Disclaimer: This is a writing blog and we do not offer professional medical advice. If you’re dealing with writer’s callus or some other condition please consult your doctor for the best course of treatment.

What is a Writer’s Callus?

According to Healthline, “writer’s callus is an area of accumulated dead skin cells that form as a result of repeated friction against your finger.” If you primarily type rather than use a pen or pencil, this type of callus may not be a problem. However, if you do find yourself writing longform for stretches of time, then this is something to watch for! 

Think of a writer’s callus as similar to a blister forming on your foot after wearing new shoes for a while. Your skin isn’t used to the friction and as a protection measure, your body forms a blister. A writer’s callus forms on your hand for the same reason—your body is protecting that part of your hand from damage by forming a bump.

Where Can Writer’s Calluses Occur?

Musicians who play stringed instruments often experience calluses on their hands. Guitarists and violinists frequently build calluses where their fingers press against the strings.

If you engage in strength training, you can probably feel the calluses on the soft skin on the underside of your knuckles where you regularly grip your weights. 

A writer’s callus can occur on your hand wherever your writing utensil rubs repeatedly. Where the callus appears depends on how you hold your writing utensil. Some people hold their pen or pencil between their index and middle finger while others rest it against their ring finger.

How to Prevent a Writer’s Callus

There are many ways you can work to prevent a writer’s callus before it starts. Here are a few common suggestions to try.

Wear Gloves While Writing

Lightweight cotton gloves add a layer between your pen and your hand, reducing the friction created from writing. People often wear gloves while raking leaves or lifting weights for this reason, so why not try it for writing as well?

Take Short Breaks

Short breaks are helpful for many reasons, and one reason is it gives your hands a break. While it’s easy to get into the zone and not want to break the spell, it’s a good idea to take regular breaks to move around, stretch, refill your drink, and then get back to work. 

Treat Writing Like a Job

If you don’t yet write full time, try to treat it as if you do. Think about how a day job works—you have regular breaks scheduled throughout the shift, a lunch break, and a quitting time. There’s space between working and not working. There are two full days off each week. Having a schedule for writing (with planned breaks and time off) can also help in preventing calluses from forming.  

Set Aside Your Favorite Pen

Drastic, I know. Most of us have a favorite writing utensil. Whether it’s a pen we think makes our handwriting look better, or a type of ink that doesn’t smear (I’m talking to you, lefties!), writers are notorious for keeping favorites close. However, switching up the type of pen you’re using to write throughout the day can actually help slow or prevent the form of calluses.  Just something to consider.

Mix it Up

If you’re on deadline or have high daily word count goals, then it may be prudent to plan for many writing methods. For example, plan to write freehand for your first block of writing, use speak-to-text software for your second block, typing into a computer for your third block, etc.

I Have a Writer’s Callus, Now What?

Once you have a callus, there are a few things you can do to treat it according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association.

• Soak in warm water 
• File with a pumice stone
• Moisturize

Keep in mind that your callus has formed because your body is trying to protect the skin underneath it from the pressure of your pen. If you are going to continue writing by hand then you may want to keep the callus until you’re ready to take a longer break. 

I say, if you have a writer’s callus then wear it as a badge of honor! It shows that you’re dedicated to your craft.

Commitment to a dream is often the difference between seeing that dream come to fruition, or watching that dream remain dormant. If it takes a few calluses to push your dream into reality, it’s well worth it.

Happy writing, and don’t forget to change up your routine every now and then!

When you sit down to brainstorm your next book, you may not ponder the accusative case and how it could influence your story. However, the accusative case is a hidden gem for great writing. Who knew English class could help you up your chances at hitting that bestseller list? 

In this article, we’ll review what accusative case is as well as when you should use it and when you shouldn’t. Examples are included especially for visual learners. 

What is Accusative Case?

Accusative case is used to indicate direct receivers of an action. If you were to label the following sentence, ask yourself which word is receiving the action: I wrote a novel. 

I is the subject. Wrote is the verb. A novel is the direct object, or the part of the sentence receiving the action.

A tip for finding direct objects is to ask “what?” after the verb. 

• I made scones for a snack
• She ran five miles
• He studied history.

Can you find the direct objects? Alright, now that our brief review is over, let’s discuss when to use the accusative case in your writing. 

When to Use Accusative Case

Whether you write fiction or nonfiction books, chances are high that you use the accusative case throughout your chapters. In fact, you are bound to include the following in your work-in-progress:

• Active voice
• Passive writing
• Fragments
• Run-on sentences 
• Accusative case 
• Various points of view 

Each of the above points is an important part of the English language. As students, we learned how to define each part. Now that we are writers, it’s crucial to learn how to apply these foundational principles to our writing.

When used with purpose, the various elements of the English language (such as the accusative case, can greatly influence your writing). So when should you use it? 

Let’s say that you want to specify what’s going on in a particular scene of your novel. Consider our tip—asking “what?”—when trying to find the accusative case. 

Now write your scene. After you finish your first draft, read through it once more. Can you answer the question with clarity? Could your readers? If the answer is yes, you’ve likely used the accusative case just as it’s intended to be! 

When Not to Use Accusative Case

What if you write thrillers or are sharing your memoir? Maybe you don’t want to directly answer the question. Perhaps you want to leave your readers hanging just enough so they turn the page to find out for themselves. 

If you find yourself in this situation, you should pay close attention to the accusative case in your writing. For instance, consider the following sentence: After so long, I truly hoped that… 

This sentence is a fragment and does not answer the “what” question. This style should be used sparingly, but it does have its place in modern writing. 

Now that you have a grasp of the accusative case and a few ideas on when to use it versus when not to use it, let’s get into some concrete examples. 

Examples of Accusative Case: Used and Cut Out

For these examples, we’ll look at some published works. The originals will be noted and the changes I make for sake of example will also be clear. 

We Were Liars

E. Lockhart’s New York Times bestseller includes the following on page one: “It doesn’t matter if one of us is desperately, desperately in love. So much in love that equally desperate measures must be taken. We are Sinclairs. No one is needy. No one is wrong. We live, at least in the summertime, on a private island off the coast of Massachusetts.” 

This first page includes great scene setting, backstory, and a fantastic set-up to the rest of the story. However, what if I changed it, cutting out:

• Some of the description 
• Some of the answers to “why” 
• Some of the scene-setting

With my edits in place, look at the following (my version):

“It doesn’t matter if one of us is desperately, well… We are Sinclairs. No one is needy. No one is wrong. We live, at least in the summertime, on a private island off the coast of—actually, nevermind where we live.” 

Notice how the tone changes, and the narrator takes on completely different characteristics. Suddenly, whoever is speaking seems a bit secretive, even untrustworthy. Pay attention to how you can cut the accusative case from your writing when you need a certain level of ambiguity. 

The One Thing

“After these experiences, I looked back at my success and failures and discovered an interesting pattern. Where I’d had huge success, I had narrowed my concentration to one thing, and where my success varied, my focus had too.” 

Gary Keller (with Jay Papasan) wrote this Wall Street Journal bestseller. One reason I believe the book did so well, and continues to sell today, is due to Keller’s straightforward answers. 

Rather than state that he had experiences, discovered a pattern, and then moving on, he shares his secret. He answers the question “what” with precise, researched, simple yet extraordinary results. Let’s break these few sentences down.

• “After (what?)
• these experiences, 
• I looked back at (what?)
• my success and failures 
• and discovered (what?)
• an interesting pattern. 
• Where I’d had (what?)
• huge success, 
• I had narrowed (what?)
• my concentration to (what?)
• one thing” 

Notice just how clear he is in two simple sentences. Six times he answers his readers’ potential questions with a straightforward answer. 

In today’s age of clickbait and need for views, followers, and likes, it’s easy to walk around the answer or to literally cut the accusative case from our answers. For nonfiction especially, it’s vital to provide your readers with the answers they opened your book looking for. 

One Parting Tip

Have you ever clicked a video on YouTube and had to wait for an ad that goes for several minutes? You have the Skip Ahead button, but their opening got you hooked. Oftentimes, these ads target a need of their ideal customer (likely you, a creative writer or freelance writer) and draw you into a narrative. 

By the end of the video, they’ve stated your need, or pain point, in a variety of ways but they never provided you with the answer. This is frequently because they want you to respond to their call to action at the end. For ads, this is the norm and acceptable.

In writing, this leaves readers hanging. As a writer, your call to action is to keep readers turning pages. As you tread the line between asking enough questions and providing the sufficient amount of answers, remember the accusative case.

If your readers can’t answer their questions at different points throughout your story, they will likely close your book. Yes, include setups and leave them hanging, but don’t forget to include payoffs too. And at the end of your book, fiction or nonfiction, include a resounding, satisfying, question-answering ending. 

This will leave your readers satisfied and eager for more—two factors important for writing success! 

Becoming an audiobook narrator can open an array of opportunities and take you places you haven’t considered possible. For example, imagine narrating for one of your favorite authors or being paid to read books aloud!

If you dream of working as an audiobook narrator you’ve come to the right place. In this article we’ll cover the equipment you need to do the job and review five key skills to develop as you begin your journey. Lastly, you’ll find options for finding your first audiobook narrator job. Let’s get going! 

Equipment Needed

When deciding to become an audiobook narrator it’s crucial to determine if you want to work as a freelancer or for an audiobook publisher. If you work for a publisher, they should provide much of the equipment necessary. All you need to be responsible for is being prepared to narrate. 

If you decide to work as a narrator as an independent contractor, then creating an industry standard recording room is crucial to ensure quality. Here are a few of the basics:

• Microphone and laptop
• Sound booth and workstation
• Stand for the device or pages from which you will be reading

When creating your sound booth make sure that outside noise such as traffic cannot be heard in your recordings. For more in-depth information, read the article, how to record an audiobook on your specific budget. 

Audiobook Narrator: 5 Skills Needed

Now that you know some of the equipment you will need, it’s time to discuss the soft skills that help set you apart from other audiobook narrators. 

Public Speaking

Public speaking is often viewed as a “public” career—after all, it is in the name. However, public speaking is an immeasurably helpful training ground for the private career of audiobook narration. 

The more opportunity you have to speak in public, the better you will be able to articulate your words under pressure. 

Voice, Tone, Inflection

Just as the speaking voice, chosen tone, and the various inflections you choose impact how others perceive you in conversation, the same is true for audiobook narration. 

Imagine reading a thriller in a happy, comedic tone. Your voice would not reflect the content you are reading. Mastering these three aspects is crucial to lasting success as an audiobook narrator. 

Acting Classes 

With the idea of inflection in mind, think back to the last time you heard someone read aloud. Did they impersonate the characters they read with their tone? If they were reading a narrative, did they speak softly in appropriate parts and raise their voice in others? 

As much as acting is about gestures and facial expression, much of the subtext in our favorite movies comes from tone. Consider the following dialogue: 

“I would love to take you on a date tomorrow evening.”
“Would you?”
“Well yes, of course.” 

These three lines could be read as a joke, sarcasm, or genuine. Audiobook narration is acting without facial expression. 

Self-Awareness

I took a speech class in college and the feedback I received most was to slow down my speeches. I talked too fast and although people enjoyed my content, they struggled to understand me because of my pacing. 

Self-awareness is a valuable asset, particularly for audiobook narrators. If you are aware you are speaking too fast, too slow, or not adding enough inflection then you can make the necessary changes. 

Research Skills 

Have you ever been reading and stumbled across an unfamiliar word? This is an audiobook narrator’s nightmare. Honing your research skills can help you proactively avoid these issues. When choosing to become an audiobook narrator, invest in educating yourself on a myriad of topics, particularly concerning the genre you would like to record. 

Even if you plan to be an audiobook narrator for sports memoirs, familiarizing yourself with a variety of topics will help your recording process run smoothly. You never know what illustrations or examples a writer may use!

Platforms to Find Narration Jobs

Now comes the fun part—finding your first audiobook narrator job. There are many ways to land your first job, paid or unpaid, and every session you book helps equip you for your future as well.

Reading for Children

Volunteering to read at a school, local library, or even if you babysit young children, all act as a platform to find jobs. Libraries can be a particularly helpful place to practice reading due to the type of people who come in: 

• Aspiring writers
• Published authors
• Readers

You never know who you may meet and network with.

Reading for the Visually Impaired 

Reading for the visually impaired or blind is a great way to help your community while at the same time gaining invaluable practice for your dream job. When reading for those visually impaired, how you use your inflection and tone will dramatically influence how they experience the story. 

Search for Online Writing Groups 

For your first paid job, you may want to start by researching online writing communities. Facebook, Twitter, and Medium are a few places to start your search. If you have your own recording equipment, you can offer your services to these writing groups. 

Offer Your Services to a Self-Publishing Company

If you hope to bring in more steady work as an audiobook narrator, you might want to consider reaching out to self-publishing companies and querying your services to them. When querying, be sure you have an updated website for future clients to contact you, or at the very least, a Facebook page describing your services. 

Take Advantage of Online Job Sites

Open to your favorite job site and type in the keyword audiobook or audiobook narrator. Sometimes landing your first job is all it takes to start you on the path to booking yourself on a regular basis. If a job site helps you in this journey, all the better! 

Next Step: Spend More Time on Your Phone (really!)

Now that you have concrete steps to improve your speaking voice and you know places to look for jobs, it’s time to practice. 

If you have a smartphone, open your recording app and begin reading one of your favorite stories. After you read for several minutes (enough time to get comfortable), play your audio and review it. 

Take notes on what you did well and areas you could improve. Create your own constructive criticism by asking the following questions: 

• Was my voice monotonous or did I use inflection? 
• What speed did I speak? Too fast, too slow, or just right?
• Did I stumble over anything? 

During your practice sessions, don’t worry if you hear background noise. The purpose is to pay attention to your strengths and weaknesses. The more you listen to your audiobook narration practice sessions, the more self-awareness you instill. 

It may feel like a waste of time to read into your phone (or whatever recording device you have), but even just a few minutes of practice in a stress-free environment can draw your attention to nuances you may have otherwise missed. 

The key is consistency over time. Rather than cram three hours of reading in over the weekend, try to practice for five or ten minutes a day. Track your progress, and let us know when you book your first audiobook narrator job!

Have you ever laughed at a scene in a book, movie, or play and wondered why it hit you so well? Satire is a unique form of communicating, often via the written word, but it isn’t just about getting laughs.

While you’ve likely seen comedians use it in their jokes or satire used on talk shows, writers can use this form of writing to prove a point—often at another person’s expense.

Used well, this is a powerful form of communication. Comedy can break down barriers that otherwise could not be breached. If you want to communicate a truth that may not be easy for your audience to receive, satire may be a great way to approach the situation.

In this article, I discuss the definition, when to use it, and I provide many examples for your convenience. Ready to get started?

What Is Satire?

Satire is a genre unto itself, spanning the visual and performing arts as well as literature. The purpose of satire is often to teach a difficult truth or give constructive criticism, and use humor to do so. If you’ve ever found yourself laughing through a movie but walking away contemplative, you’ve likely experienced the effects of satire.

Today, the use of sarcasm could be considered a lower form of satire. Oftentimes, there is a bit of truth in every sarcastic comment. Just as we must be careful with our use of sarcasm, satire is a powerful genre that must be wielded with caution.

So, how do you know when it’s time to use this powerful form of writing? What are some questions to consider before employing satire into your next writing project?

When To Write With It?

Grammarly says to “use satire when you feel strongly about a particular situation, especially one you believe is being mishandled.” 

They go on to say that “since satire makes use of literary devices like humor, hyperbole, and irony, it is read in a less serious way than a formal complaint or manifesto.” Let’s look at the following two instances.

Use It To Write An Opinion Piece 

Let’s imagine for a moment that you are a well-known blogger. You have a good following, people respect what you have to say, and you want to share your opinion on a certain aspect of the publishing industry.

However, you want to present your opinion in a way that is received well. With so many views on publishing, this could be difficult. This is where satire could come in handy. 

Write a short story presenting your opinion, publish it to your blog, and give subscribers a good laugh while also sharing your opinion.

Use It To Share Your Perspective  

A second way to use satire is to share your perspective on a particular topic. While satire is often used to prove a point at the expense of the opposite party, it is possible to write your satire piece in a way that shares your perspective in a funny, yet pointed, manner.

Never underestimate the power of getting a laugh while also instilling a truth. Used with thoughtfulness, this genre can allow you to share your perspective in a way that can be well received. 

Examples 

Here is a list of twenty-one examples of this sub-genre:

#1 – The Onion

A newspaper based on satire, The Onion provides both satirical stories and headlines, all with a focus on humor.

#2 – Hard Times, Charles Dickens

Known as one of the best of his satirical works, Dickens’ book looks at English society, economy, and social inequality. 

#3 – Catch-22, Joseph Heller

If you’ve ever used the phrase “It’s just a catch-22,” you have Joseph Heller to thank. This book takes a look at war, what it takes to serve, and how absurd it is when you look at it through the this genre. 

#4 – The Catcher In The Rye, J. D. Salinger

This 1951 work was originally published over the course of a year, and serialized, but later published as a complete novel that addresses the shallowness of society. 

#5 – The Lorax, Dr. Seuss

Leave it to a children’s book to discuss topics such as the state of the planet! 

#6 – War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy

Also originally published serially, this book takes a satirical look at historical figures. Tolstoy employs satire to help him reveal the faults of others, especially well-known names.

#7 – A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens

Leave it to Dickens to take a satirical form to criticizing the justice system. 

#8 – “Charles,” Shirley Jackson

If you’re a parent, this one may hit home. It’s easy to overlook our family’s issues and criticize others. Jackson reveals this truth with a satirical art.

#9 – “The Toxic Donut,” Terry Bisson

Bisson pulls back the curtain on consumerism, something most of us likely struggle with. Thankfully, the use of humor can help us take in the lesson.

#10 – “Happy Endings,” Margaret Atwood

We see you, Atwood. Fallen in love with fairy tales yet? Well, Atwood presents different aspects of life’s reality through satire. 

#11 – “Partying Is Such Sweet Sorrow,” Lori Romero

The title itself makes you laugh. Just keep reading!

#12 – Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes

Seventeenth century Old Spain…add a satirical spin, and you have Don Quixote.

#13 – The House of God, Samuel Shem

A great book for medical students just starting out. Dive into the worst of situations with amazing, underlying satire. 

#14 – Animal Farm, George Orwell

An “Aesopian masterpiece,” according to Publishers Weekly, and a satirical publishing journey to back it up, this short book is well-known for a reason.

#15 – Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll 

It may have been written for kids but look deeper for a satirical take on the political and judicial landscape of Victorian England.

#16 – “Excerpts from Roughing It,” Mark Twain

The narrator of this piece takes you through his career choices and why he made them—with some necessary satire! 

#17 – “The Nose,” Nikolai Gogol

Gogol’s short story uses satire to reveal others’ vices, which is never an easy task.

#18 – A Modest Proposal, Jonathan Swift 

Swift covers the heavy topics of famine and oppression, both experienced by the Irish.

#19 – “Dragon, Dragon,” John Gardner

This short story, aimed at middle school students, uses satire to teach the importance of wisdom.

#20 – “Southpaw,” Judith Viorst

An ever more ridiculous communication chain between two friends teaches lessons about equality. 

#21 – “Us and Them,” David Sedaris 

Have you ever noticed that judgemental people show their worst side? Sedaris teaches this lesson through his essay about neighbors. 

Satire: The Old, New Communication Tactic 

Satire has been in existence since around 430 BC. Playwright Aristophanes used his storytelling talent to mock the popular convents, and leaders, of Athens. Satire is now a sub-genre of Aristophanes’ work. 

This sub-genre is a popular way to teach lessons and communicate opinions without starting arguments. If you want to work satire into your next writing project, take a few hours over the next week to really look through the above examples.

Learn what you love about satire, what you don’t love, and how to employ what you’ve learned to better communicate to your readers. Enjoy trying your hand at this genre! 

If you’ve ever wondered what exactly qualifies as passive voice misuse you’ve come to the right place. Passive voice is an issue many new writers face. In fact, I didn’t know there was a “right way” to write until I was in college.

As a new writer, I thought great writing came down to the idea and the adjectives used to describe that idea. Point-of-view, voice, and tense were not major factors in my writing. Thankfully, once I began training in creative writing I quickly learned that I had a lot to study. 

Passive voice misuse can set writers apart as novices or as experts who know how to wield writing rules with power. In this article, I define what passive voice misuse is, why it’s a no-no for new writers, and give four steps to fix passive voice misuse. Let’s get right into it! 

Defining Passive Voice Misuse 

While there is a time and place for this type of voice, passive voice misuse occurs when the subject should be performing the action. 

Passive voice is simply when the subject of a sentence is acted on by the verb. Can you spot the use of passive voice in the previous sentence? You can make a sentence active by focusing on the subject as the one doing the action. 

Passive: Passive voice is simply when the subject of a sentence is acted on by the verb.

Active: Passive voice is simply when the verb acts on the subject of a sentence.

In this active sentence, the verb is doing the action rather than the subject being acted upon. Many writers unconsciously use passive voice throughout their stories. 

Why Passive Voice Is A No-No

The reason writers frown on passive voice is due to its unnecessary wordiness and lack of clarity. For newer writers, writing to just “get the story down” is perfectly acceptable. However, passive voice easily creeps in. Several issues can result: 

• Protagonists feel reactive 
• Confusion overrides clarity
• The writing lacks strength 

It’s easy to write passively. It takes forethought to write in an active voice. So how do we fix this issue?  

4 Steps To Fix Your Voice

One of the best ways to combat passive voice is to simply change your mindset in writing. If the mindset shift doesn’t work, there are some concrete steps you can take to further help. Let’s start with a mindset shift.

Move Action Forward With Purpose

At the core of writing lies an advancement of the plot. Consider the classic example of the hero’s journey: The protagonist sets off on a journey (literal or figurative) with an endpoint, or goal, in mind.

Whether it’s Frodo Baggins taking literal steps toward Mordor or Peter Rabbit hopping out of the garden and toward home just in time, these beloved characters feature a proactive mindset. 

Personalize this mindset by focusing on the end of your story and proactively, rather than reactively, writing toward it. 

Simple lines such as the following take on an entirely new meaning. For instance:

Example 1: Professional figure skating was her dream. The Olympics was a real possibility if she put in the work. 

Example 2: She dreamed of professional figure skating, and if she put in the work, she could make it to the Olympics.

In the first example the reader passively takes in information. In the second, there is a sense of urgency. The protagonist is the one proactively dreaming. 

Create An Active Protagonist 

Your mindset also plays a role in how you describe your protagonist. Look through the following list and ask yourself how your protagonist would act or speak in the following situations: 

• Planning a beach day but waking up to rain
• Responding to a breakup 
• Getting rear-ended 
• Pursuing their dream job
• Spotting a lost child

In the first three examples, outside circumstances impact the protagonist: Rain, being broken up with, and someone hitting their car. The last two feature the protagonist as proactive, or with the possibility of being proactive. How you write them is imperative:

• “It’s raining. I’ll go study at a coffee shop” Or, “It’s raining. I’ll have to stay in today.”
• “He broke up with me. I’ll cancel my plans.” Or, “He broke up with me. I’ll go home and process.”
• “That child looks lost. I wonder if his parents are around.” Or, “That child looks lost. I’ll go see if I can help.”

Same situation, similar responses, but one features a passive protagonist and the other a proactive one. 

Cut Being Verbs

If the mindset shift isn’t quite doing it for you, try this concrete step: In point number two, look at the subtle difference in how I could write the opening sentence. In the sentence I used, I excluded being verbs. In the second example, I include being verbs.

Sentence 1: Your mindset also plays a role in how you describe your protagonist. 

Sentence 2: Your mindset can also be influenced by how you describe your protagonist. 

In the first sentence, the subject (mindset) leads the sentence actively (plays a role). In the second one, the subject is acted on by the verb. 

In the same way, if your protagonist must complete a task, how can you shift the focus from their response to circumstances to them impacting circumstances? Frodo makes the active choice to take the ring to Mordor, even though he appears to be the least equipped out of the nine. 

Imagine Tolkien writing The Lord of the Rings passively. Instead of the iconic line, “I will take the ring. I will take the ring to Mordor!” We could read, “The ring will be carried by me. The ring will be carried by me to Mordor.” This is the difference between writing actively and passively.

Try Present Tense

If you’re willing to take action steps even further, I’ve found present tense as a shortcut to learning the power of active voice. In fact, I wrote an entire manuscript in present tense rather than past tense because I felt so stuck in my habit of passive voice misuse. 

Past tense: I was going home when I was followed by a black car.

Present tense: On my way home, I notice a black car following me. 

For some reason, this shift dramatically helped me.

Caveat: Know The Rules So You Know When To Break Them

Now that we discussed several cons to passive voice misuse and how to combat it, it’s crucial to remember that there is a time and place to break writing rules. 

Passive tense is not always, forevermore, and with no excuses, a no. For new writers, studying writing tips and how to write actively will aid their learning curve. However, writing passively is not always bad. 

Learning how to write in an active voice helps you avoid passive voice misuse while also teaching you when you can use it. 

Think of a painter: They know the brushes and what they are intended for, but sometimes they may choose a different brush, one that isn’t intended for a specific style, to help present their painting in a more nuanced way. 

The same is true for tense. Learn the rules, and then enjoy (occasionally) breaking them!