So...What Is Off Topic?
Well, there’s a question I don’t get asked nearly often enough. In my mind I view something off topic as having absolutely nothing to do whatever with the current conversation or the content that currently exists in this corner of the website. In other words, if you had a stack of books on hiking and somewhere in that pile was one on jet propulsion…that would be off topic.
That is, of course, unless you intend to convert your backpack into some sort of jet pack that required rocket fuel to operate in order to, you know, jazz up an afternoon hike with the kids or that really annoying neighbor of yours who can’t stop talking about himself and the many things he has accomplished, in an attempt to just one-up the guy for being such a know-it-all jerk.
I mean, really, who hasn’t wanted someone to say to them, “Wow, George, you really got some amazing speed out of that energy bar you said you had just before we started this hike?” I have to admit some of my best work is inspired by Kodak moments just like I’m trying to paint here using only words, your and my imaginations and a poorly executed story outline that is only going to take form in the strings of words I can tap out on my keyboard with help from spell checking tools.
Are you getting a sense of what off topic could possibly mean? If you are, could you explain it to me so I know we’re on the same page? Okay, so we’ve established that in order to be off topic one must be able to discuss just about anything else than already exists on this website. If you even remotely knew anything about me, you’ll know the smart money is on me being able to reach that lofty goal in two or three sentences. My personal best is in the neighbourhood of five words, but that’s just me showing off and that doesn’t help me much here.
The reason why I can be off topic with the snap of a finger is because I’m a freelance writer. No, seriously. I write about a lot of really different things for people who don’t want to do it themselves. Some consider it an art form, others see it as a hobby and although I have built a home-based business around it, I sometimes find it hard to believe people will pay me to have so much fun. And by having fun I mean receiving online orders for sets of articles covering a wide spectrum of subject matter, spending time researching said topics, planning the articles and then writing the articles.
In the past month alone I learned far more than I ever needed to know about foot fungus, stereo equipment, how to train a dog to stop barking, how to potty train a child, which is the best make-up remover and the difference between wrinkle-free and wrinkle resistant. Trust me, this kind of knowledge makes me a pretty good catch because I’ll never run out of things to say to anyone who’ll listen. I may not be the hit at parties, but you can bet once I start talking about STD prevention, you won’t have to worry about me getting hit on at those parties, either.
The world of freelance isn’t just writing. In fact, whatever skill you have can possible be adapted for some kind of freelance job. Freelance employment is a viable alternative to those of us who aren’t interested in a regular nine-to-five grind. Typically I write my freelance material in the evening, in my home office in my pajamas. Since most of my clients are located overseas I don’t ever risk a surprise check-in by a nosy boss. The pace is usually up to me but the quicker I can turn around work, the quicker I get paid and offered more work.
If you ever worked as part of, or heard of a temp agency, freelance work is a lot like that minus the crowded car pooling trip into the city sharing a vehicle with that chatty one from down the hall, the guy who smells like day old beer and cigars and stringy-haired girl. Nothing beats not sharing the same space as any of those people, even in a nightmare if you asked me. Writing was what I focused my freelance career on but if you are handy with graphics, or if you’re one of those computer whiz kids or someone who is good with numbers, there are freelance jobs out there for you as well.
All you need to do is check the wonderful world of the inter-web for this stuff. You’ll have to be choosy as to what questions you ask your favourite super-highway search tool, but you will be amazed at what you’ll find. Just be sure to fit the word ‘freelance’ in your query somehow and follow the prompts you’ll get. You will find freelance work that can be just a part-time gig – like I’m doing – or you can start a whole new career on freelance work.
To find out more about my freelance business visit my website at www.looseink.ninja. Get the joke? Loose ink. I’m a writer. I’m a FREE-lance writer, you know, on the loose and wrecking havoc on websites around the world and in your town. If I have to explain it further I may have to get further off topic.
If freelance writing is the gig you think will get you interesting jobs and hours upon hours of fun and exciting research time then let me save you some work. In a little bit of my spare time I wrote and published an eBook on how to get your first online freelance writing job. My tips and shortcuts will save you the pain I went through figuring it out wishing someone had published an eBook on the subject to save me a ton of extra time figuring it all out. You can download it for $5.99US athttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013ZFDD1O. Good luck and if you decide to jump into the world of freelance work, you will love it and gain a great deal of personal satisfaction from doing something you’ll enjoy.
That is, of course, unless you intend to convert your backpack into some sort of jet pack that required rocket fuel to operate in order to, you know, jazz up an afternoon hike with the kids or that really annoying neighbor of yours who can’t stop talking about himself and the many things he has accomplished, in an attempt to just one-up the guy for being such a know-it-all jerk.
I mean, really, who hasn’t wanted someone to say to them, “Wow, George, you really got some amazing speed out of that energy bar you said you had just before we started this hike?” I have to admit some of my best work is inspired by Kodak moments just like I’m trying to paint here using only words, your and my imaginations and a poorly executed story outline that is only going to take form in the strings of words I can tap out on my keyboard with help from spell checking tools.
Are you getting a sense of what off topic could possibly mean? If you are, could you explain it to me so I know we’re on the same page? Okay, so we’ve established that in order to be off topic one must be able to discuss just about anything else than already exists on this website. If you even remotely knew anything about me, you’ll know the smart money is on me being able to reach that lofty goal in two or three sentences. My personal best is in the neighbourhood of five words, but that’s just me showing off and that doesn’t help me much here.
The reason why I can be off topic with the snap of a finger is because I’m a freelance writer. No, seriously. I write about a lot of really different things for people who don’t want to do it themselves. Some consider it an art form, others see it as a hobby and although I have built a home-based business around it, I sometimes find it hard to believe people will pay me to have so much fun. And by having fun I mean receiving online orders for sets of articles covering a wide spectrum of subject matter, spending time researching said topics, planning the articles and then writing the articles.
In the past month alone I learned far more than I ever needed to know about foot fungus, stereo equipment, how to train a dog to stop barking, how to potty train a child, which is the best make-up remover and the difference between wrinkle-free and wrinkle resistant. Trust me, this kind of knowledge makes me a pretty good catch because I’ll never run out of things to say to anyone who’ll listen. I may not be the hit at parties, but you can bet once I start talking about STD prevention, you won’t have to worry about me getting hit on at those parties, either.
The world of freelance isn’t just writing. In fact, whatever skill you have can possible be adapted for some kind of freelance job. Freelance employment is a viable alternative to those of us who aren’t interested in a regular nine-to-five grind. Typically I write my freelance material in the evening, in my home office in my pajamas. Since most of my clients are located overseas I don’t ever risk a surprise check-in by a nosy boss. The pace is usually up to me but the quicker I can turn around work, the quicker I get paid and offered more work.
If you ever worked as part of, or heard of a temp agency, freelance work is a lot like that minus the crowded car pooling trip into the city sharing a vehicle with that chatty one from down the hall, the guy who smells like day old beer and cigars and stringy-haired girl. Nothing beats not sharing the same space as any of those people, even in a nightmare if you asked me. Writing was what I focused my freelance career on but if you are handy with graphics, or if you’re one of those computer whiz kids or someone who is good with numbers, there are freelance jobs out there for you as well.
All you need to do is check the wonderful world of the inter-web for this stuff. You’ll have to be choosy as to what questions you ask your favourite super-highway search tool, but you will be amazed at what you’ll find. Just be sure to fit the word ‘freelance’ in your query somehow and follow the prompts you’ll get. You will find freelance work that can be just a part-time gig – like I’m doing – or you can start a whole new career on freelance work.
To find out more about my freelance business visit my website at www.looseink.ninja. Get the joke? Loose ink. I’m a writer. I’m a FREE-lance writer, you know, on the loose and wrecking havoc on websites around the world and in your town. If I have to explain it further I may have to get further off topic.
If freelance writing is the gig you think will get you interesting jobs and hours upon hours of fun and exciting research time then let me save you some work. In a little bit of my spare time I wrote and published an eBook on how to get your first online freelance writing job. My tips and shortcuts will save you the pain I went through figuring it out wishing someone had published an eBook on the subject to save me a ton of extra time figuring it all out. You can download it for $5.99US athttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013ZFDD1O. Good luck and if you decide to jump into the world of freelance work, you will love it and gain a great deal of personal satisfaction from doing something you’ll enjoy.
