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Original poster

**feeling like I could earn more £ doing something...how do you get to be a writer/what could I do?**

11 replies

JoanWilder · 03/10/2007 15:12

I am a part time retailer,
but am feeling more and more adrift, like my career has vanished and Im just putting in the hours.

What could I do from home?

strengths

creative writing
organised
selling ( but dont really want this as a second career too...)

How can you get work as a freelance writer?

Ideas please MNutters!

OP posts:
Original poster
JoanWilder · 03/10/2007 15:32

what is the 'greasy palm' website all about? cash for filling in surveys?

OP posts:
mistlethrush · 03/10/2007 15:36

I love doing Pampered Chef - fantastic kitchenware, probably about £15 - £20 per hour, lots of support, and potential to make this bring in a really good wage in time.

Let me know if you want any more info

Original poster
JoanWilder · 03/10/2007 20:53

is there an initial £ to pay? contract to sign? can you drop it all ? how tied in to it are you?

OP posts:
mistlethrush · 04/10/2007 09:41

You can start for as little as £50 if you host a show and put some of your 'host benefits' towards the starter kit - but it only costs £90. In order to get your kit you need to have 6 shows booked (can include a home show of your own). After 6 shows you can stop and keep your kit (worth £340), but you will hopefully have made at least £300 as well. In order to maintain your 'Consultant' status you need to submit at least one show every two months.

I hope that this shows you how flexible it is.

If you would like me to send you some more details, let me know a contact no or email or something - I will not hassle you! Just want to provide you with any information you might require.

Original poster
JoanWilder · 04/10/2007 16:32

Is that pampered chef all you do? or do you work too?

OP posts:
mistlethrush · 04/10/2007 22:58

I do work as well - but some of my friends in Pampered Chef have given up their 'normal' jobs and just do Pampered Chef as it has the potential to provide a very good salary (there is one person who used to work in a high powered london job and now makes the same salary.

The person that recruited me was looking for something that would allow her to still be a 'stay at home mum' but have some time to herself and hope to make some money as well. She now often has a commission of £1000 - 1,500 per month.

I did 5 shows (ie 5 evenings) in July and got £320. (I'm currently working my own business up from a rather quite time as I hadn't been wanting to do too much for a bit - it just proves how flexible it is as a job, that you can have quiet periods when you need them, but get busier when you want to)

mistlethrush · 04/10/2007 23:02

I should say, I work part-time - personally I find my professional job very rewarding and do not (at the present at least) want to give it up, but we really needed some additioanl cash to make-up for me only working part-time, particularly when you take nursery fees into account. Ds now 2.5 and he loves nursery, but we spend 1.5 days during the working week together and have a great time, including swimming lessons and music lessons - if I wasn't bringing in a little additional money, I am not sure that we would be able to afford for us to do these.

louloutoo · 06/10/2007 15:10

Hi. I sell Barefoot books, which works in a similar way to pampered chef. Take a look at www.mybarefootbooks.com/louisewhite for more info. You can sell through home parties, your local toddler group, schools, fairs. A friend of mine has started yoga classes for children, through a company called Tattibumpkin. She fits this in around her 4 year old child. This one is expensive to set up though you need to go a course to train first and this costs about £300.

vacua · 06/10/2007 15:15

I write, non-fiction mainly but I'm working on something more interesting. If you research your market, get yourself representation (my agent really earns her keep) and knuckle down - maybe do an MA in creative writing? Andrew Motion's is supposed to be good, or UEA or Birkbeck or similar might be worth a look.

vacua · 06/10/2007 15:16

And for more regular income I walk and work with dogs, am on my own and stay afloat ok with 3 children. Good luck.

Original poster
JoanWilder · 13/10/2007 21:04

Vacua...

if you dont mind I have a few further questions...

I have an English degree, which included language so I don't think further education is the answer,
How did you 'start out' writing?
did you submit an article to a magazine, for example, or win a competition, or did you apply for a job?
There seem to be millions of writers offering their services on the web, how the heck did you beat off all that competition?

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