I'm a Jordanian-American author and journalist with over two decades of experience. I have been published in the Washington Post, Nature, Elle, Esquire, among others. I'm also the recipient of the F. Scott Fitzgerald Award at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Award Literary Conference for my short story Ustaz Ali. I publish the weekly newsletter "The Writing Goldmine," in which I give tips on monetizing your writing and the content creation journey.
ππ» Hi friends,
One of the many reasons I love the creators' online community that I now call my tribe is their transparency when it comes to making income from their content creation.
They don't do it out of braggadocio but rather to inspire others and emphasize that earning a living from something you love is more than doable.
That's the overall spirit of this community. They are open, honest, positive, and want the best for their fellow creators.
One example is creator Zulie Rane, whom I discovered recently and became obsessed with her content.
For example, in this video, she does a live "Medium income reveal" in which she opens her Medium partner program profile and shows viewers that she earned over $2,000 in one month from writing on Medium. Not too shabby.
So I want to follow in these creators' footsteps and reveal how much I earn from some writing projects. While most of my writing income comes from writing in publications and providing content for brands, I still need to crack the code for making income from my essays.
I recently started publishing on Medium, and I was surprised that I made a few cents. Here is a screenshot showing me how much I made last month.
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I know it might be laughable for some, 16 cents is just pennies, but for me, it's a validation that being a content creator is the right choice. The road is long and hard but it takes passion, consistency, and belief in yourself.
Question to you: Are you willing to be completely open and transparent about your finances?β
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Meanwhile, building on my 25-year-experience of freelance writing, where I was published in top-tier publications such as The Washington Post, Elle, Esquire, Nature, Aljazeera, I'm running a free workshop on how to create a customized pitch that will grab the attention of editors and get you a byline in publications across the globe.
Sign up ππΌ here.
I hope you enjoy this week's installment of The Storyteller's Quest, and if you would like to support me as I keep sending this free newsletter, here is my tip jar.
Keep creating!
Natasha
I have been under the weather this week, so I did a lot of cuddling with my bestie while reading The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. This book is blowing my mind.
πΉ YouTube: This video by creator Casey Neistat titled "Do What you can't" really pumped me up and reemphasized my love for being a creator. "To my fellow creators, keep creating."
𧡠Thread: This writer is compiling a self-edit check list. The replies to her thread are a gem.
π Quote: This golden quote by Steven Pressfield in The War of Art really resonated with me: βItβs not the writing part that is hard. What's hard is sitting down to write.β
π Book: If you are looking for a fast-paced, edgy thriller, then I recommend The Wives by Tarryn Fisher which I have recently finished. The twist at the end was unexpected.
βπ» Freelance writing: This is a great essay by writer Kate Boogaard on how to raise your freelancing rates.
In the past week, I wrote the following essay:
Are you looking for a content writer for your company's blog or publication? Let's chat. Email me at: natasha@natashastynes.comβ
I I had a great time chatting with author Teri M Brown about her novel Sunflowers Beneath the Snow, which is told from the perspective of three Ukrainian women.
We discussed the following topics:
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βοΈ Who can tell the story?
βοΈ How current events can affect your book lunch plans.
βοΈ Self-publishing Vs. traditional publishing Vs. hybrid publishing.
πΉ Watch the interview below ππ½
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π§ And if you are on the go, and prefer to listen to the interview then I got your back. The interview is also available as a podcast on my channel Read and Write with Natasha here.
Are you looking for a writer for your company's blog or publication?
Do you need help with your digital media strategy?
Let's chat!
Email me at natasha@natashastynes.comβ
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If you would like to show your support for The Storyteller's Quest, you can leave your tip here. β
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I'm a Jordanian-American author and journalist with over two decades of experience. I have been published in the Washington Post, Nature, Elle, Esquire, among others. I'm also the recipient of the F. Scott Fitzgerald Award at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Award Literary Conference for my short story Ustaz Ali. I publish the weekly newsletter "The Writing Goldmine," in which I give tips on monetizing your writing and the content creation journey.
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