Commissions drying up so I started a blog: How we've got on so far

ARE you being told there's no budget for UK travel features? So ran a recent question on the Journobiz forum.

The answer from the forum's resident travel writers was pretty much a resounding "yes."

In February 2008, I reported the following for Press Gazette: What were the chances of building a career in this competitive field for anyone who fancied it?

Author, journalist and trainer Dea Birkett said:

Forget it. The biggest misconception about travel writing is that it’s an easy way to make a living. You have to do other things to pay the mortgage.

'The most important thing? Learn multi media' - advice from freelance radio journalist

RENE Gutel is a freelance radio reporter based in Phoenix, Arizona. Here, she discusses her passion for her job, what she does day to day and her advice to those wanting to join her.

You can see how Rene helped report Barack Obama's inauguration here. It's an excellent interview and one that I hope may be useful to aspiring journalists, whatever medium they are hoping to work in.

And isn't it great to see such excitement about your work shine through?

Check out more interviews with journalists here.

"If you're related to a Coren, leave now...' freelance's video parodies subs and 'precious' writer

JUST in case this has passed you by, I hope you may enjoy the following, from Paul Oswell. It's already been blogged about here, there and everywhere, but for anyone who's embarking on a freelance writing career and wonders what it is a sub does exactly, it's enlightening...

Does writing about writer's block kill writer's block?

NO, I'm not sure I get it either. Do you have to be filled with hate to write? Is contentment a bar to creativity? I wouldn't say so but then I am a 'glass half full' type these days. Still, see what you make of this...

Author's YouTube video helps make it all 'worth it'

I LIKED this video from Leicestershire writer Jeanette McCarthy. It has had the desired effect as I now want to read the book.

Abandoned

But how did Jeanette go about making such a film, and has it been an experience she'd recommend?

YouTube video from Forward Press on self publishing

SO JK Rowling only had an initial print run of 500? Wowser. I hope this video, from the publishers of my latest book, may be interesting to those who are weighing up self publishing.

See also: June Austin on self publishing.

John Yamrus reading his poetry: "Consistency is key"

JOHN Yamrus is a member at My Writers Circle and his poetry posted there made me laugh so much I bought his latest book, Shoot the Moon. Check out the video above to hear him reading some of his work - especially some with a worthwhile message for aspiring writers.

Shoot the Moon on Amazon

YouTube video launches student blogger's TV career!

IF any wannabe journalists are still labouring under the misapprehension that getting to grips with all this new meeja malarkey is a waste of time, then take a look at the chain of events unleashed by Dave Lee's cheeky video about the BBC lagging behind Sky on covering last week's earthquake.

Me being a miserable old bugger, I have asked Dave what's so incisive about shouting "stupid bitch" or is it "bint" at a TV newsreader but hey, Sky seemed to like it! As did the blogosphere.

I feel like someone's granny watching Jackass!

Intriguing new YouTube video to promote Andrew Crofts novel

ANDREW Crofts is an old friend of Freelancewritingtips.com so I was chuffed to see news of his novel set to be published this autumn.

I haven't got the longest attention span in the world and am averse to some of the drivel that passes for trailers connected to so-called 'chick-lit' (PS I Love You, anyone?) so was much relieved to find that I thought his video was cracking. (Even as good, if not better than this one.)

Because you're worth it...Pay the writer YouTube video

WITH thanks to the JournoBiz member who shared this and the one who responded with: "Yes! Yes! Yes!"