Newest Project: Skirts and Scuffs

About a week ago Jenn Escalona asked me if I would be interested in telling her readers a little about my new niche of NASCAR writing. It was while answering these questions for her that I figured out how to differentiate myself from the endless sea of writers covering the sport. 

What if I were to launch a new site that allowed women from all walks of life and backgrounds with racing the opportunity to voice their opinions and be heard? What if one site existed that would give women fans and writers covering the sport of NASCAR a place to shine? That's where the idea for Skirts and Scuffs came from.

On a whim I sent out a message to my Twitter followers and within minutes my email was filling up with requests for additional information. I had no idea the idea would be as popular as it has become. In just under a week Skirts and Scuffs has had 12 writers officially join the team and another 10-15 that are highly interested but have yet to get their bio information back to me. At this rate I'm going to have little choice but to take on someone to help me out. I'm not complaining...I know just the person. 

I know most of you who are reading this are saying, "Oh God, not another post about NASCAR. Does this girl ever talk about anything else." Sorry folks. I really don't. At least not lately. I'm super excited about this venture and hope it takes off the way I want it to. I can't find anything else like it on the web and since I am allowing writers of all different skills and background to become part of the site it's going to be an awesome opportunity for everyone to get noticed and voice their opinions. 

Though the site is functional at this point I'm not going to start really promoting it until the start of the 2010 season, but writers can begin posting whenever they like. 

I'm not going backwards, I swear!

Before I became a writer I worked in retail. I might be one of only a handful of people who actually enjoy working retail, but for some reason I love it. I got a little hot headed and quit my job when things didn't exactly go my way. Not the smartest move I have ever made, but sometimes I let my emotions get the best of me. 

Anyway, for a while now I have been considering going back to a part time position in retail. I miss the face to face interaction with people and I miss knowing exactly how much to expect from each and every paycheck. The insurance and discount that come with the job don't hurt either. That's why I have decided to once again join the world of retail.

Yolander, stop yelling at me. I can hear you all the way in Kentucky. I'm not giving up on my freelancing career but I'm not sure how many more soul crushing days I can spend writing about things I don't care about. There has to come a point when you say enough is enough and start looking at the long term. If I continue down the road of writing for content mills mostly while simultaneously trying to establish myself as a NASCAR writer I'm going to get burnt out before the fun even begins. 

I'm sure some of you are reading this and think I have lost my mind. Truth is I may have lost my mind but it's my mind and my life to live and frankly I'm not happy with the way it's going right now. It's lonely working from home and it's getting to the point that it's becoming a Chore to write...I don't want it to be a chore. 

I want to write about things that interest me and things that inspire me. I want to write because it's fun and I enjoy the topic. Not because I'm afraid they will come and turn the lights off if I don't write. Does that make sense? 

I'm not giving up on writing and yes I will still be available to take on more work. I'm just going to be more selective in what I write. Actually I think going back into the world of cash registers and complaining customers will be good for me. It will force me to keep a schedule and stop putting off writing projects until the last minute. If I go back and realize I made a mistake I know there will be plenty of writing jobs waiting for me and that I won't have to start from scratch like I did the first time around trying to scrounge up clients and pimping myself out like a cheap hooker. 

So, what do you think? Am I crazy thinking I can balance writing with a part time job? Am I hurting my chances of becoming successful in my niche if I go back to work? Honestly, tell me how you feel....that means you too Yo. 

Twice a Week Payments from Demand

I know there are a lot of Demand Studios writers out there who will be pleased to hear that Demand is making a change to their payment schedule. It was just announced on the DS Blog that payments will start occurring twice per week.


Here is what the new pay schedule will look like:

All articles approved between Thursday and 11.59 p.m. PST Sundays will be paid out on Tuesdays.

All articles approved between Monday and 11.59 p.m. PST Wednesdays will be paid out on Fridays as usual.


I like this! You?

Sunday Self Promotion Vol. 2

Last week I launched the Sunday Self Promotion thread and it it wasn't all I hoped it would be. Hopefully this week we will get some more interest.

It's okay to toot your horn everyone once in a while, right? You've got to promote yourself if you want to have any chance of being successful, at least that's what I'm finding out.

I invite any of you reading this to post links to some of your best work completed in the last 7 days in the comments section below. If you comment with your links I'll do my best to check them all out. If I find something I really enjoyed reading I'll promote the heck out of it. I don't care if it's about aliens attacking the planet next week or how you spent your summer vacation. You can submit anything.

Like I said the other day: As writers we have to promote ourselves...if not we will get swallowed by the competition.

What's Katy Been Working On? 

The driver I usually write about for Examiner.com didn't make the Sprint Cup Chase (for those of you who don't know or care the Chase is NASCAR's version of the playoffs) but that's okay. I'm over the yelling and screaming. Anyway, Examiner is providing comprehensive coverage of the 12 drivers who made it into the "playoffs" and I got selected to write one of the section. That means in addition to the regular stuff I post about Kyle Busch I'll also be writing about his older brother Kurt for the next 10 weeks. Yay me!

I know you all don't like reading about NASCAR but can you at least click on the links and make me feel like someone cares? Thanks guys.

• Despite Issues on pit road Kurt Busch finishes sixth at Loudon 
• Kyle Busch makes it three in a row at New Hampshire
• Which cost Kyle Busch the Chase? Overextension or fierce competition?

Like what you see? Stumble it, digg it, tweet it....pass it on to your NASCAR loving friends.

Don't forget to leave your links below.

Does Your Writing Reflect Your Mood?

I can tell a huge difference in the quality of my writing when I am in a good mood. The words seem to flow better and my productivity seems to skyrocket. I am more apt to come up with creative titles and I feel better about my work when I'm happy.

When things aren't going my way I feel like just shoving my computer in the corner and saying the hell with it. The quality of my work suffers.

Being in a good mood also doesn't hurt my marriage. Since my husband, Ryan works from home too we don't get a lot of time apart. That means when Katy is in a bad mood the whole house is in a bad mood. I'm not easy to live with when I am unhappy. Thankfully I've been happy lately.

Does your writing reflect your mood? Are you a better writer when you are happy? I want to know what your mood says about your writing.

Do You Have A Plan?

Did you choose writing or did it choose you? Did you start your writing career because you wanted to express yourself or because you thought it would be an easy way to make some money? Did you set out with a plan or are you playing it by ear?

How's that working out for you? Are you seeing your client list grow? Are your articles getting picked up by more sites all the time or are you just treading water hoping it will get better next week or next month?

Are your arms getting tired yet? Mine are. I'll be the first to admit that I chose writing because it seemed like an easy career. What I didn't take into account was that it was actually going to be work. That I was actually going to have to promote myself and become a lover of all things social networking related. Talk about a wake up call.

What was your wake up call? Are you still waiting for the phone to ring? Do have a plan? Are you planning on writing long term or are you just using this to bide time until you find a "real job?" I want to know.

Share your story.

Don't forget to keep track of the interesting stuff you write each week. Each Sunday I'll be posting my best stuff and giving you an opportunity to share your work as well.

Sunday Self Promotion Vol 1

It's okay to toot your horn everyone once in a while, right? You've got to promote yourself if you want to have any chance of being successful, at least that's what I'm finding out.

One of the new features I will be adding is the Sunday Self Promotion. Each Sunday I will post links to some of the projects I've worked on over the last 7 days. If you get a chance check them out.

I invite any of you reading this to post links to some of your best work in the comments section below. If you comment with your links I'll do my best to check them all out. If I find something I really enjoyed reading I'll promote the heck out of it. I don't care if it's about aliens attacking the planet next week or how you spent your summer vacation. You can submit anything.

Like I said the other day: As writers we have to promote ourselves...if not we will get swallowed by the competition.

What's Katy Been Working On?

It was a huge week for NASCAR as the final race before the series "playoffs" began. Yeah, all these links are about NASCAR and most focus on one driver. I'm not being biased it's my job to focus on him...at least for the most part.

• NASCAR Sprint Cup Richmond, VA - 5th place finish not enough for Kyle Busch
• Richmond holds key to Busch and Vickers season
• NASCAR Nationwide Series Richmond, VA - 3rd place finish doesn't satisfy Kyle Busch
• Kyle Busch remarks on 2009 season
• Your Driver Didn't Make the Chase? What now?
  

Submit your links, tell your friends and let's have some fun with this. You can also submit links to your portfolio if you'd like.

What's Promotion Got to Do With It?

Are you kidding me? Promotion's got everything to do with it! How are people going to see your work if you don't promote the hell out of it? It's not like most of the general population is searching for the topic covered in your most recent post, especially when there are hundred of other page out there offering similar information.

I'm finding self promotion more and more important as I begin to focus my efforts on NASCAR writing. I'm a twitter fiend, my facebook profile is becoming an advertisement for my work, and I'm getting noticed by other websites. I must be doing something right.

I know Twitter and Facebook are all over the place these days but it's for a reason...they rock! You might not think it's your thing but once you see the power of it you'll become addicted. Like I said. If you don't promote yourself you will get swallowed by the competition.