Writing For Money

I recently began writing on a "How To" Website that allows members to write articles just about anything. I was a little skeptical at first but when I saw my first earnings of .04 cents I was hooked. Does that make me a professional writer now that I have earned money for my writing? My amateur writing status which consisted of writing papers for school and reports for work is a thing of the past. I have now earned almost $30.00 from writing articles about things I know best; my favorite recipes; and about being green (a long-time passion of mine that has finally become vogue).

I am going to be checking out some more freelance writing sites and will most likely be writing about them. I am also testing the waters as far as selling some of my photos.

Clarion Autumn Leaf Festival - Auto Show

Whenever I get the chance, I like to practice my photography. This one was taken with my Canon PowerShot G1, during the Autumn Leaf Festival (ALF) in Clarion, Pennsylvania. I always enjoy the ALF Car Show held on the first Sunday of the festival. The Saturday following is the ALF Parade and homecoming game for Clarion University.

This year the "Autorama" is scheduled for Sunday, September 30. The cars line up all down the main street in Clarion. There are carnival rides near the courthouse and food concessions across the street from the courthouse. The following website gives a list of events throughout the weekend.

There is also an art contest, I have never entered anything in this contest, but my mother has.

There is a lot more information on the ALF, which can be found on this site, http://www.autumnleafclarionpa.com/

There is a list of events, dates and contact information. The ALF is really quite an amazing festival. Check it out.

Amateur Photographer Want-a-be

As a want-a-be amateur photographer, one of my items on my to-do-list is to enter a photograph into some type of photography contest. It has been on my list for years, so why haven't I done anything about it. Is it that I don't have time,or that I don't think any of my photos are good enough to enter.

Well the time thing will never go away, I am a mother of three and a wife of one, and I currently work a full-time job. Is it that I have so many interests that I am always stuck in the which one will I do mode. Or is that my photos are just not good enough, then I'll never know until I try. This is me justifying why I should or should not enter a contest (I tend to over analyze many things). I have decided to enter a contest, now I need to find one to enter that in some way or another does not want $$$ to enter (that would be another reason for my procrastination, we don't currently have alot of money floating around for good photography equipment - I am using a Sony Cybershot DSC-W30). Don't get me wrong, this is a great little camera, it'll fit in the pocket of your shirt and is easy enough for my three year old daughter to use. I might have to write about that later.

Ah-hah that could be it, I may be on to something. Procrastination, I mean; I wonder if that is my affliction all these years I was blaming it on something else. Now that I have come up with a diagnosis I can work on fixing the problem. You know what they say about doctors making their own diagnosis. Anyway I am off to enter a contest, will write later on my success.