Parrot Diapers and Other Tales: Online Freelance Writing

One of the second-most common questions we get asked is about our work. Armando’s told you about his film work, so it’s probably time I explain what it is I actually do.

I write online. I write for several people/sites/what-have-yous, which I’ve been doing for awhile. I first got into freelance writing as a lark, something different to do when I wasn’t teaching. Now, it’s an official* job title.

To the more specific: ‘Write on these topics, five articles each: cats, dogs, debt consolidation, kissing, penis.’ To the way-more specific: ‘5.5 articles on cars, with titles to be approved by me- write for an international audience (translation: dumb your language down, dummy) and I need them by yesterday.’

I also write for other places, and lately I’ve been publishing some articles on ESL (English as a Second Language) and travel. Mainly because I think I might know a little about each… but that could be me being a back-slapper.

The most unbelievable writing jobs I’ve done as a freelancer: writing for a pet shop to promote their new line of parrot diapers.

Writing 20 articles on limo services in the Nyack, New York area. (Seriously, how many adjectives can you use for describing the same car service differently?) And instructions on using a Ouija board. To name a few.

My research skills have become honed, thanks to this work. I also get a kick out of the learning aspect.

For instance, did you know that: there’s a Vamp facelift that uses your own blood to (not making this up)‘regenerate?’ Or that there’s a Penis Museum in Iceland? Or that one of the hottest trends* is to put a muzzle on your dog to make it look like a duck?

My dream: to publish my one-offs/one+ liners; my poetry; my short stories. Three very different little books. There’s just one catch: you have to ask for money.