Opps-Hunt…
Try giving a fancy or catchy name to “spent 2-hours yesterday evening going through every possible magazines in SACC Mall for writing opportunities”; hence “Opps-Hunt”.
It all began with money. Yeah… Those little “RMs” and dollar signs. The laptop needs really high maintenance and I find it high time to change it. Considering I got it around the Chinese New Year 2007, less than a year. The screen gives weird “images” and “graphics” including one which looks like an ancient treasure map and strips/columns. The laptop is sensitive to any movement on the ground which would change the display all together to got knows what. During start-ups, the eerie green glow comes up – as if trying to haunt me. Not from a wealthy background who can afford a laptop every other year (this is my second laptop), I needed to look for extra income and sources other than my Mom and Stepdad or any relatives. Some might ask, how about your dad? I’d rather spend the energy and time talking to an Auto-Teller Machine instead. Loans are out of the question: there are other people who need it more than I do.
MONEY-MAKING IDEA
I knew I needed money and I needed money fast: laptop destruction set as count down. Since I enjoy writing and have a fair command of English, I was thinking “why not write?” The train of thought began with providing translation and copy-writing services. English-Malay-Iban translations. Copy-writing? I still need to read up further on the subject but from what I got, it’s basically writing things clients need but could not do. What projects can I attempt? Brochures, feature articles, manuals, reports and the like I guess. I couldn’t do website (design) as I lack any skills in that area and I am not creative enough for posters.
I also contemplated the idea for proofreading services for students. The logic: dissertations and final year papers are mostly done in English. Other than the jargon, the basics of grammar comes to play.
Besides this, as “side income”, I decided to write to magazines, periodicals and journals. From there and thanks to problematic WiFi, the hunt for writing opportunities begin.
OPPS-HUNTING WE WILL GO…
Since the WiFi services around SACC Mall was down, the other alternative I had was MPH Bookstore. That’s where I opened up all the “popular” magazines and journals, looking for opportunities to write. From Dewan Siswa, Dewan Pelajar, Dewan Ekonomi to Cosmopolitan and FHM to BusinessManagement, Off the Edgeand the like. The genre I’m interested in is unavailable. I did not open the sports mags which would just be a “job” for me. Mastika, Manga and the liek just turn me off: if I’m going to be a freelance writer, I’m going to need to build a credible background.
Personally I enjoy reading and writing academic skills and personal financefor teens and higher education/IPT students. Students perception on current issues thrills me! I gain satisfaction in writing articles on complex and “far-fetched” topics which would be comprehensible for those around my age. Youths, in my view, just needs something to help them relate with issues surrounding them. Common problems faced by university students are virtually untouched.
As a Law student in UiTM, like my peers, I enjoy access to a large collection of resources and expertise. Learning the law is one thing but to not apply it is just wasting the knowledge. Business and accountancy students learn about contract law but cannot relate. Guys, when you rent a room or a house, you sign a “contract“. You buy something from a store, it’s a basic contract. Sharing information is the best gift a friend can give another. Why not use the resources I have and share it through writing?
THE OUTCOME
Taking a big-step is always scary; after that would be easier. I’ve laid the plans before two of my friends – a form of “vetting” if you may. Seems to me that there is no reason not to try. Relatively low cost, flexible and viable. The hunt continues…
Aldric,
It is good that you have interest in writing. But if you are planning to take up writing for a freelance career for the purpose of generating income (as you said you needed money and you needed it fast), than I should tell you that being a freelance writer does not guarantee both. It does not guarantee any large sum of money, and even if you get paid, it does not guarantee that you get paid fast.
As a fact, being a freelance writer, you will only get paid minimally. For an article or a short story of 2000 words, the pay is approximately between RM100-250. And you should also bare in mind that it takes months before your article is published, from the date you posted it to the publisher – and plus another few weeks or perhaps months before the cheque arrives at your home.
Please don not think I am trying to discourage you. No, that is not it. Instead, what I am trying to tell you is that, it is better for you to take up freelance writing not for the sake of money, but for the mere fact that you enjoy doing it. Because if you write for money, I am afraid, sooner or later, you might get bored and abandon the whole idea when you discover that in fact, there is no money in it.
I think it is a great idea that you have, about the iban-malay translation thingy. That is actually a specialty that you have compared to the others, and so you should make full use of it. I heard that the publisher, PTS, is looking for translators for Iban-Malay-Iban. So why don’t you give it a try! Here I give you the address of the advertisment:
http://universitipts.com/index.php/site/comments/dicari_penterjemah_melayu_iban_dan_melayu_kadazan/
And you should also know that most of the time, translating pays better than writing (I mean freelance). Hehe..
Aidil,
I have to agree with you: being a freelance writer is not as glamorous as it may sound. “Traditional” freelance writing isn’t as glamorous or high paying as people might expect (Robert Bly, Secrets of a Freelance Writer). The challenges, especially for a rookie, are tremendous and many have failed in their pursuit. Based on my readings, I cannot agree more on the issue of payment.
The distinction between “discouragement” and “advice” is clear. I appreciate it if someone could remind me of the realities of writing. Besides, the one giving the advice in this case has experience *winks*.
Checked out the website you suggest and applied for it. Looking forward to a reply – if any. Hehehe…
Writing is a challenging career, especially if it’s the traditional approach. I’m also considering copy writing. Besides, I wont hide the fact that I have terrible, is any, fiction writing skills.
Thanks for the comment and advice. Really appreciate it.