Articles are Easier to Sell Than Fiction

Thousands, maybe millions of writers are sitting at their computers this very moment, trying to become the next best-selling novelist. (Count me in that group.) Unfortunately, most of us will never reach that goal.

We dream of having fame and fortune, being able to travel the world, and of never having to worry about finances again. For most of us, the expenses of buying printer cartridges alone far surpass any financial rewards from our writing, but that doesn't have to continue being true.

By switching to article writing, although you won't be as likely to experience the fame of a best-selling novelist, you are much more likely to see a little, or possibly more than a little cash start trickling into your pocket.

"But where can I find ideas," you might be asking.

That's simple. Look around you. Just the other day, I sat at my computer and generated my own list of article ideas that should keep me busy for the rest of the summer by asking questions that other people might ask. "How Can I Get Rid of the Slugs in My Garden?" "When is the Best Time to Start Potty Training Your Baby? "Why Does a Cat Meow?" There is no end to the list you could make if you put your mind to it.

If you are still having trouble, round up a copy of Frank Dickson's book, "1001 Article Ideas,"

pictured above, and you won't have a spare minute for the next year or more. The book has been around for a while but you can order it here 1001 Article Ideas if you can't find it locally.

If Frank's book takes care of your problem with finding ideas, you may want to dive in a little deeper and find out how you can actually make a living writing from home.

My favorite books on this subject are both written by Peter Bowerman and are titled, The Well-Fed Writer, and The Well-Fed Writer-Back for Seconds. Either book is well worth the small investment, and should give you all the information you will ever need to set up and succeed at writing from home.

The books are not expensive, but if you are tight for cash, put them on your want-list for your next birthday and save your family the trouble of wondering what to get you for a gift. Santa Claus drops off the new Writers' Digest for me every year and I can't tell you how much it is appreciated.