Freelance writing

It's been a long time, but I used to write articles/commentaries on topical themes for newspapers. I've been published in the Los Angeles Times and the San Diego Union-Tribune, as well as the Portland Oregonian and our local paper. Back then, I simply submitted pieces on spec and sometimes I even got paid for them. I've never been able to make a living at it, but if I had the choice of throwing all my energies into my writing and getting somewhere with it, I'd quit nursing altogether.

Getting started here was a good move. Save all of your articles on a removable drive and print out hard copies, too. A portfolio is a handy thing to have if you ever have the occasion to show a publisher samples of your work (and I have). And if you're seriously considering writing as a career, a good resource is the Writer's Market, which is updated every year and displays literally thousands of print and online publications and their submission guidelines. The vast majority do NOT accept unsolicited morificecripts; you have to contact the editor with information about the piece, and if you're lucky they'll accept it "on speculation" (meaning you don't get paid for it unless they choose to publish it).

If you're like me, you'll pile up a stack of rejection letters/e-mails before you actually sell an article, but when you do......well, it's almost better than chocolate!