No more living in a chilly Parisian garret dining on stale baguettes and undrinkable plonk. You, the modern day writer, CAN make a living at your craft, you just need to be resourceful and learn to mine your already developed abilities and resources (writing and otherwise) that you can turn into money-making ventures. Early in my writing career I started making a living using my writing skills in various ways, and I've listed ten below.

1. Write press releases for businesses.
   
   
2. Write book proposals for people who have good ideas but can't write. If they like your book proposal, they will more than likely hire you to ghost write the book for them. Believe me--there are a lot of published authors who didn't write their book!
   
   
3. Write the text for web sites. Small businesses need help with this endeavor.
   
   
4. Do guidebook research. Researchers often make more money than the editor of the guidebook who is just looking for an author's credit.
   
   
5. Write ad copy. Send exciting samples to companies large and small.
   
   
6. Create the small blurbs (usually less than 100 words) that run in the "departments" section of magazines. Many times this is the best way to begin a relationship with a publication. Call the editor and ask how you can submit material.
   
   
7. Sell reprints of your already published works to get maximum income from one article.
   
   
8. Call the newspapers in your area and see if they need a writer who will produce local features on spec.
   
   
9. Promote yourself as an assistant to a professional writer who might be overwhelmed with projects and paperwork. This way you learn the ropes from the inside. In order to offer services, you will need to develop your skills.
   
   
10. Practice pithy prose in a medium that affects people's lives: Get a job in a fortune cookie factory writing the messages. Think of all the perks!
    

How do you find these jobs? Advertise on networking sites like www.craigslist.com. Post flyers advertising your services. What to charge? Make sure to set an hourly fee that matches your skill level. Are you still on training wheels? If so, your rate must reflect that. Join writer's organizations that post jobs available (look under Links to the WWW for listings). Be persistent in your hunt for writing gigs and your determination will pay off in cash dividends.