Monthly Archives: August 2010
Reasons to Stop Drinking Soda – Part 1
As I sit here sipping a Black Cherry Wishniak soda from Stewarts, I feel a moment of guilt. This glass bottle of goodness sure is tasty but, in my heart of hearts, I know I shouldn’t be drinking it. While I have made incredible strides in my quest to cut caffeine and soda from my diet, I haven’t yet won the battle. I happened to be sorting through some old work and happened to come across an article I wrote about a year ago about the reasons one should eliminate soda from his or her diet. Perhaps they’ll motivate you as well.
Some people love a huge cup of coffee in the morning – others drink soda instead. Soda, unfortunately, is incredibly detrimental to your body and overall health. It can damage your bones and destroy your stomach, leaving you with a number of side effects that will leave you ruing the day you had your last glass. Most people don’t realize just how bad soda can be. Here are a few things to consider.
Soda is Definitely Addictive
Do you drink soda every single day? If so, try to go a day without it. You’ll probably feel tired, lethargic, headachy, and – if you’re particularly unlucky – anxious. The caffeine content is what makes it addictive and – yes- caffeine is very strong. Don’t try to quit cold-turkey if you consume a lot of soda daily. Wean yourself off to help avoid headaches and other complications.
Soda Consumption Leads to Dehydration
There are two main reasons for soda causing dehydration. First, the caffeine in your soda will act as a diuretic, leading you to use the bathroom more often. Second, soda contains sodium (aka salt), which will make you feel thirstier. Most people, when thirsty, will grab a second glass of soda instead of a glass of water, making the process even worse. Soda cannot replace water in terms of hydration. As a matter of fact, for each glass you drink, you need to ADD that much extra water to your daily intake.
Soda will Weaken Your Bones
You read that right. Caffeine and phosphoric acid, both major ingredients in soda, can leech calcium from your bones. Because caffeine causes you to urinate more frequently, your body won’t have as much time to process nutrients from your food before you eliminate it. Eventually, excess soda consumption may lead to the development of diseases caused by malnutrition, arthritis, osteoporosis, and other bone-weakening diseases.
Still not convinced? Check back next week for 4 more reasons you need to cut soda from your diet. Trust me. It’s worth the effort.
Writing with Suite101
Around this time last year I found myself filling out an application to become a writer at Suite101.com. I was hesitant, as the site doesn’t pay writers upfront for the work they do. Like so many other sites, writers are paid based on royalties generated by the advertisements on their article pages.
What sets Suite101 apart from so many other content-driven sights, however, is the publication process. Before I was accepted as a writer, I had to complete an application and submit a sample. Upon acceptance, I had to read and complete a contract, giving Suite101 exclusive rights to my work (for the first year only), and promising to write at least 10 articles every 3 months.
Due to some personal issues, I wasn’t able to keep up with my Suite101 obligations. I asked to have my account put on hold and just last month asked Suite101 to reactivate my account (you can do this without reapplying).
This is what I really want to say about Suite101. Many writers hesitate to write for sites that pay based on page views or advertising revenue because they don’t know if they’ll get any compensation for the work they do. I can safely tell you that, with only 5 articles in the system, I have generated more than 9,000 page views and have earned almost $40 in royalties. These numbers reflect a three month period but, taking the # of articles I have in their system into consideration, as well as the fact that I did NO marketing, I have to assume I’m not off to a bad start at all.
You also get tips and constructive criticism from editors, who will review all of your articles as you publish them. Between them and the writer forums, you’ll find lots of information about how to write for the online world.
Are you a writer struggling to get started? If you don’t have your own blog, setting up an account on a site like Suite101 is a great way to publish some work, get a decent amount of distribution, and have your name and byline appear online. Interested in creating a Suite101 account (yes, that’s my affiliate link), then please check it out. You won’t be sorry, and, at the very least, you’ll have an outlet for work that other sites don’t want.
Good luck!
Why Writers Need to Blog
I’ve had the fortunate experience of working with some incredible writers and bloggers over the past few months. Some were seasoned full-time freelancers and others were a little bit new to the game. Almost everyone I meet, however, at some point gets around to asking for advice on how to get started in either a) writing or b) making money online.
It’s a question I’m glad to answer. I usually share information on freelance job boards I’ve worked on, or I talk about other sites where I’ve submitted articles for pay. These are all things and sites I’ll get around to talking about on this blog as well. What I’d like to talk about today, though, is blogging.
I am a firm believer in the idea that everyone who wants to write for a living should have a personal blog.
Why?
A blog is like a business card. A blog will allow you to showcase your talents while allowing you to market yourself and your writing as a business. Your blog will allow you to establish yourself as an expert in your chosen field, and your blog will help you to stay connected with the public (or your family, or your friends, or your potential customers). If your blog becomes popular, you’ll be able to monetize it and earn a little bit of extra money on the side. The content on your blog is your own and, if constructed properly, can be used as your sample portfolio when bidding on projects as well.
Now don’t panic.
Creating a blog doesn’t need to be a complicated process. While many experts believe that a person or business attempting to build a brand should have a personal domain, not everyone has the time or money to pay for hosting upfront. You can easily start a free blog on Blogger or WordPress with no problem.
If you do have a few extra dollars to spend, go ahead and register your own domain (at around $10 per year), and purchase some cheap hosting (think $5 – $10 per month depending on the plan you choose). Building a blog of your own, on your own domain, can be incredibly beneficial as well. You’ll have more wiggle room when it comes to customizations, layouts, and future changes.
In the end, it’s all about credibility. Can you really market yourself to a potential client as a “blogger” if you don’t have a blog of your own to share? I’ve worked on plenty of blogs. My problem? I’ve been a ghostwriter, which means my name wasn’t attached to a significant amount of my work. Without my own blog, I’d have nothing to show for myself.
Go figure.
Confused? Don’t be. You don’t have to be an expert on any one topic to blog. Just find a place, write, and publish. You’ll end up with a great online portfolio – and you’ll be doing something that will allow you to grow as a writer – in your own style and on your own terms. That alone is worth the effort.
