Writing Gigs

 

It is nice when you are offered many opportunities to share your creative talent with the world.  For most writers they have to search out opportunity instead of it knocking on their door.  The task of finding a great fit for a writer’s talent can be simple but it is when you are looking for compensation that it gets more difficult.

Is it better to have a list full of gigs or only a select few that are paying you?  This question alone could be a continuous debate.  The writer wants to get exposure but they also would like to be compensated for the work they contribute.

What is a new writer to do?

Some of the recent common places to find opportunities are on craigslist, social media and writer groups.  These can vary in venue such as magazines, newsletters, blogs, collectives, etc.  It is up to the writer to decide what they aspire to be connected with.  With finding gigs in these places most of the ads are stating that no compensation is offered.  Even more detailed is the fact that the work created can only be used on that venue and is no longer ownership of the writer.  It makes a lot of things to consider when securing the right gig. 

To find the paying gig that is a dream come true research is needed.  It is essential to decide the venue, genre, etc that a writer wants to contribute to.  Once that is listed then a writer can go through a google search engine, ads posted on various websites and other writers to find venues that meet the criteria.  The research can be longer than the other arena because it is a longer process to be considered for paying positions.  A writer has to show past work, give specific samples and references.  If the writer can complete the research, go through the selection process plus be approved it can be a successful venture in many different ways.

It all comes down to what the writer wants and is willing to put time into.  These are the things that the English teacher neglected to share with the writer in the very beginning.  It is a creative career but you have to do the work to see that goals are met.

It is best to never let the written word talent go to waste.  Sometimes just being respected and known in many different venues can gain the exposure needed to be seen by the ultimate gig.

 

Carla Thorpe is the author of commentary works, poems and short stories. Her work can be seen in Stylistic Newspaper, Brown Gurl Online Magazine and other online publications. Carla is currently working on her first book titled “Her Own” due to publish in 2010. She resides in Northern Virginia not too far from her hometown Capitol Heights, Maryland.