Kern Carter's Blog, page 150

Freelance Writers — This Is For You

A roundup of the top freelance content on CRY.

Freelancers, we know how tough it can be to earn any kind of significant income when you’re just getting started. Even if you’ve been in the game for a little while, finding clients and closing deals can be a challenge.

That’s why we’ve created so much content around ways you can get better as a freelancer. We’ve spoken about how much to charge, how to find clients and even touched on making sure you’re putting your energy in the right place.

Check out some of the top freelance writer content on CRY:

FREELANCE WRITERS, THIS IS THE MINIMUM YOU SHOULD BE CHARGING

I WRITE FOR A LIVING, DOESN’T MEAN YOU SHOULD

WHAT ARE YOU REALLY TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH YOUR WRITING?

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A WRITER TO MAKE A LIVING WRITING

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Don’t forget to follow CRY on Instagram @wecrydeep

Freelance Writers — This Is For You was originally published in C.R.Y on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Keep the submissions coming — open call for one more week

We usually do specific writing prompts based on topics we care about or think will generate some thoughtful pieces, but we love the submissions we’ve gotten since our last open call so we’re doing it again.

For the next week, keep your submissions coming. As long as your story relates to creativity in some way, we’ll consider it.

A few things to keep in mind:

If you’re already a writer for CRY, all you need to do is submit as usual.If you’re not a writer for CRY and would like to submit, reply or comment and I’ll add you as a writer.If you need more details on what kind of content we typically publish, read CRY’s Submission Guidelines here.We don’t publish every piece we receive. If your piece hasn’t been published after three days, you can assume we won’t be using it.

We’ll get back to the prompts near the end of this month. Till then, submit away!

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Keep the submissions coming — open call for one more week was originally published in C.R.Y on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Author Heather Wood on accepting your impact if you’re not a bestseller

Heather also talks about her key to connecting with readers.

Continue reading on C.R.Y »

Should access to books be essential?

I’ve tried to ponder this question without the inherent bias of a writer. Still, my answer is a resounding yes. During the quarantine, the world has been reawakened to the power of arts (we already knew this). Can you imagine how we would’ve coped without virtual concerts, music or streaming movies, TV shows and documentaries?

But we need to add books to that list. With the extra time at home, the sales of classic books have increased. Yet without access to books being a priority, that has left us to the mercy of Amazon which deprioritized the shipment of books which, in turn, has hurt midlevel and indie authors.

If indie bookstores were able to stay open, this would certainly be a different story. They would’ve had their time to shine and show their true value by supporting their local communities. More than that, reading is so essential to the imagination. It’s a way to escape to different worlds or soak up information in creative ways. It opens our minds and moves us in ways unique to other forms of art.

That's my opinion. What do you think?

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MORE FROM CRY

Have you read my novel BEAUTY SCARS ? It’s about two teenagers named Treasure and Justin only see each other through their dreams. When fate finally brings them together in real life, their love flourishes, but not without discoveries that threaten to tear them apart.

Should access to books be essential? was originally published in C.R.Y on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Here’s what you missed this week on CRY

This week featured three different stories from three completely different perspectives. One artist told a story of how he sold his first painting for $200 and that gallery turned around and sold it for $10,000. Wild!

CRY contributor Johanny Ortega penned this beautiful piece about finding her courage and truth as a writer. It’s an absolute MUST READ. Then we spoke to Kodamilo, who is an indie musician based in Florida who gets real about what it means to be independent.

Check out all three stories below:

He sold it for $200, they sold it for $10,000 — Artist Michael Hugue talks the business of artI Couldn’t Write One True Sentence, Now I Can — Johanny OrtegaSinger/Songwriter Kodamilo says making music is only half the battle

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Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @wecrydeep. The CRY community is growing, growing, growing and we’re all so excited!

Here’s what you missed this week on CRY was originally published in C.R.Y on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Embrace the hard times

— a self-affirmation: the possibility of unprecedented creationsphoto by marz20k

For creatives who are going through hard times and yearn for life to get better:

Maybe I feel upset, or stressed, or angry, or lost, or conflicted, or hopeless, or empty…

Maybe I am in a desperate situation, or in a position where I can’t control the seemingly deteriorating circumstances, or I’ve lost all of those I care for…

Maybe I believe that nothing will return to normal, or that there is no way out…

and that is okay.

Although matters are not at their best and might not be for a while…

that does not mean I shouldn’t utilize this opportunity —

the opportunity to create.

Expression through means of creation.

The hard times can lead to meaningful creations — if I allow myself to do so. The hard times can lead to creations that not only enrich myself but also console and uplift those who need it — if I allow myself to do so. The hard times can lead to my most fulfilling and authentic creations — if I allow myself to do so.

The hard times lead to creations that would not have otherwise been created — if I allow myself to do so.

So, I will embrace the hard times.

I will allow myself to do so.

Embrace the hard times — it can possibly lead to unprecedented creations.

Embrace the hard times was originally published in C.R.Y on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

So you want to be a ghostwriter?

OK, let me tell you what it takes to make money ghostwriting stories.

Continue reading on C.R.Y »

Singer/Songwriter Kodamilo says making music is only half the battle

This artist keeps it real about being fully independent.

Continue reading on C.R.Y »

Writers — we have a lot to learn from this group

I’ve said many times that indie writers can learn a lot from indie musicians. Independent musicians have found a way to make a living off their music without needing the backing of a big label, which is equivalent to a publisher in the writing world.

CRY has featured several musicians in our publication for this very reason. They have insights that are valuable for writers on how to maneuver their careers.

Here are some of the musicians we’ve featured:

HOW SINGER JAMIE ROSE GETS MILLIONS OF STREAMS AS AN INDEPENDENT ARTIST THE BEAMISH BROTHERS DISCUSS THE PROCESS OF PITCHING MUSIC THIS IS HOW INDIE MUSICIAN ROSIE MONDAY GREW HER AUDIENCE INDIE MUSICIAN YUNG CUDII DISCUSSES HOW HE BUILDS HIS FANBASE

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Follow CRY on Instagram @wecrydeep

Writers — we have a lot to learn from this group was originally published in C.R.Y on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

He sold it for $200 — They sold it for $10,000: Artist Michael Hugue talks the business of art

And what skill every artist should have to enhance their brand.

Continue reading on C.R.Y »