Then solutions to most problems are found in the most simplest of answers. Freelance writers, novelists, and work at home business people are faced with the same challenges. It is easy to start. The problems come about a month or two later when none of the grand ideals and theories are producing the desired results. Then doubt sets in. That leads to panic, and poor choices, which sabotages our opportunities

How Much to Charge?
The first obstacle to success is the unrealistic belief that we do not need to start at the bottom. If magazines are paying $1.00 a word, then we shouldn’t need to write for less than .50 cents. This belief is rationalized by labeling all publications paying less under the title of scams. After justifying this belief, the writer then sits down and waits until a publication offers them a lucrative assignment. In truth, most writers are paid .01 - .10 an article.

At the same time, another writer is pumping out 10 articles, 500 words long, for $5.00 each, and bringing home $200 - 2500.00 a month. The only difference between these two freelance writers is that one values their pride while the other values their ego.

However, a long term look at this situation shows the first writer still waiting, while the second writer has built a nice list of publications that trust their work, and established themselves as a guru, industry expert, or even know-it-all. Five years down the road, both writers are making $0.50 - $1.00 a word, but the fist is still making $5 - 10 000 a year while the second is making $50 - 100 000.00 a year.

Continue Learning
Professionals that work for major companies are always upgrading their education. They enroll in seminars, take courses, and attend conferences. Work at home business people, and freelance writers often tell me that they are too busy writing to take courses or learn. This is a catch 22 situation. "The reason why people think they do not need to learn is because they do not know what they do not know."

Establish an Image
I often hear writers tell me they cannot write an article in less than thirty minutes. They claim they are unable to write more than thirty or forty articles a week. The reason why they cannot write good articles in less than an hour is because they do not focus on one topic. Knowing one topic, and becoming an industry professional, makes writing easier.

After spending a few years in the publishing industry, I have come to learn that you can write a thousand articles on one topic and sell them all - more than once. Resell Rights and Serial Rights are terms that refer to selling an article more than once. Never sell all rights. Just sell the first, second and third Serial rights. This brings us back to our first obstacle, fear of selling for too little. Many publishers who pay $0.10 or less a word are not expecting the first serial rights, or even the second and third. They are looking for articles that have been sold several times and that will serve their purposes.