side hustles – Page 12 – Take on Life After 50

Writing for Dollars

It’s the weekend and you’re too tired to do much more than watch TV and maybe get caught up on laundry. Wasn’t being an adult supposed to be easier?

We’ve all had the “I can’t wait to grow up” thought when we were young. No one to tell us what to do, or what time to go to bed at night. No more being told to eat our vegetables or there’ll be no dessert.

What happened to that wonderful vision we had? Where did it all go wrong?

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As kids we see adulthood as something glamorous, and it is in its own right. However, it also comes with huge responsibilities, more rules than we ever imagined, and we no longer get an allowance from our parents.

Some days we just want to be kids again. I know I have days like that.

But since we can’t turn back the clock that far (an hour yes, decades no) we must accept our fate and do what we can to more than just survive in this world.

Some have corporate jobs; others have public service jobs. Some love what they do; others not so much. And then there’s that group that enjoys their line of work, but they can’t quite afford to do the extras they’d like to. (This is the category I fit into.)

Enter the world of words and writing.

As a writer I can honestly say it’s one of the most rewarding side gigs to have. Whether you want to pursue it full-time or part-time, there is a place for you.

I write fiction for the most part, which is a nice little stream of passive income. I’m not popular enough in the fiction world to be able to make a living from my books though, and to be honest, I’m okay with that.

I have dabbled in writing for clients over the years but mostly through content mills. My piece of advice on them (content mills); be wary. You’ll never be paid what you’re worth as a writer and most will restrict your ability to advance or communicate directly with clients. I’m sure my articles have made clients hundreds if not thousands over the years, while my pay was single digit dollars.

It takes a lot of articles to make ends meet when writing for mere dollars. And time which could be better spent writing for clients who are willing to pay what you’re worth.

There is a better way, which I’m happy to have found. Granted I’m still learning some of the ropes, but I know I have what it takes.

As a writer I love the helping others aspect. I am not an extrovert and prefer not to do the salesy type writing. I would much rather inform and entertain (which is why I love writing fiction).

Not only that, I also don’t like being sold to. If I walk into a store and am greeted by a pushy salesperson, chances are high I’ll leave that store and not go back. Be helpful; not pushy.

And that is my focus with this website and my writing. To help others find their way in the writing world, even if they don’t think they can write. It’s an amazing way to earn some extra money or even replace an income where you’re trading time for dollars.

I have yet to hit the six-figure mark from my writing, but we all need start somewhere. My goal for 2020 is to surpass four-figures and with the guidance I have from some reputable advisors, I am confident I can do just that.

I have only dabbled in content marketing, but I am learning more about it all the time. And based on my research it is not only fun but also in high demand. I like to test my theories so am doing just that on my gardening site. It’s a relatively new site, but one which I am passionate about.

And at the end of the day, when I am earning a passive income from it, I’ll know I got it right.

To follow my journey as a content marketer and what it’s like to learn new skills on the downswing of a century, please follow this blog.

And to follow my journey as a gardener, please click here.

Thanks for reading. If you are interested in my writing services, let’s talk.

The Art of Versatility

Definition of Versatile: having ability in many different fields.

Do you excel in one field or can you manage being faced with different challenges?

I’ll be the first to admit it: I enjoy a little variety. It is perhaps the reason why I seem to have different things going on at any one time.

When it comes to adding to your bank account (or sock drawer) pursuing a part-time venture in something you don’t normally do is a good thing. Not only does it increase your bottom line, it also helps to avoid total burnout.

Can you imagine spending all day at your job as an accountant, then going home and spending another few hours doing books on the side? Not only would you spend your life working with numbers, the several hours seated at a desk each day is sure to have a negative impact on your health.

Depending on what your day-time job is and where you live, there are many options available to you. If you are at a desk all day and live in an urban area, perhaps you could earn a few extra dollars by walking dogs for people who work late.

Or if you’re a construction worker and look forward to some quiet time, perhaps a sideline business of selling bedding plants is more up your alley.

No matter what you choose, be sure it’s something you enjoy.

My job as a part-time library assistant has me inside for my entire shift, with a lot of that time spent at the computer or shelving books. When I get home, I don’t want to spend more hours at my computer. I like to crochet, read or spend time outside. And if I am on my computer it’s because I’m working on adding articles to my gardening website.

The subject of versatility leads to what your hobbies are. Are they something you can write about? Or share with others?

Getting older doesn’t have to mean staying “stuck” in the same routine. It means doing more of what you enjoy and even making a few extra dollars doing it.

By this point of life most people have had their hand in a variety of jobs, tasks and interests. I know that’s how it has been for me. One thing that hasn’t changed though is my ability to earn a little extra cash whenever I need it. Sometimes it has been by selling digital products I have created; other times it has been by providing a service (such as bookkeeping or childcare). And still other times it has been by operating farm equipment.

My point is no matter what you choose to do, make sure it’s something that’s going to give you what you want and expect.

As I get older, I value my time more and want to have more say in how I spend it. Being a writer (my superpower) gives me the flexibility, and having different interests gives me the versatility.

What’s your superpower?

Embracing Creativity

It’s funny how, as we get older, our priorities and interests change.

At this point in life, I am more about spending time with family and friends than taking on extra shifts at work, or burning the candle at both ends at home. I have to admit, I still do the latter occasionally but am getting better at knowing when enough is enough.

As an independent author and all around creative person, I find myself with several projects on the go at one time. I enjoy the flexibility I have to not only earn an income from my job as a library assistant, but also from my creative venues.

As I mentioned in my last post, I am fortunate enough to be able to have an Etsy Shop. It allows me to sell my crafts, patterns and even my digital products. And because I like my customers to enjoy a bargain every now and again, I select certain products to put on sale. I have added a 25% discount on a few select items until July 31, with one of them being my Pipestone Creek Romance Series. The boxed set is not available on any other platform, so for those who like to read a series start to finish, now’s the time to take advantage of it.

The older I get, the more I like to create. Whether it be with words, yarn or fabric, I embrace my creativity. There was a time when I was afraid to show others what I had made or written; now I just do what pleases me. If they like what I do, the compliments and even the sales will follow. If not, they will move on to something else. That used to bother me, but not anymore.

Creativity doesn’t just come in the form of crafts or writing. If you paint, you’re creative. If you like to design houses, you’re creative. If you like to garden, you’re creative. There are so many outlets to let your creativity come through. Sometimes the hardest part is letting yourself embrace it rather than deny yourself the pleasure.

I try to take time when I wake up to write my morning pages. I have found them to be a wonderful tool to work through a problem, or just wrap my head around a project I’m considering. I have been doing them for several months now, and have noticed more significant progress being made; both in my creativity and how I handle daily events. Between my bullet journal, morning pages and evening journaling I now have a better grasp on my projects, don’t feel so scatterbrained and am able to stay on task better.

My fauxdori has become my lifeline, as it contains my bullet journal, morning pages, brainstorming notebook and a notebook for whatever else I want to write down. Without it I don’t think I’d be as organized as I am now; perhaps the most organized I have ever been. Learning and adapting to change as a person ages is a good thing. And, it helps us embrace our creativity; whether we recognize it or not.

Are you a creative person? Where does your expertise lie?

Feel free to post your answers in the comment section below. Thanks for reading, and know that if you have any thoughts on being over half a century old, positivity helps.

Photo credit: Diane Ziomek 2019 Also used for Etsy listing.