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[nnctales]

The Rise of the AI Economy: How to Earn with Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming industries and creating new opportunities across the professional landscape. While some fear job displacement due to automation, AI is also opening doors to exciting new career paths and income streams. This article explores various ways individuals can leverage AI to earn a living, catering to both technical and non-technical skillsets. 1.…

[pilotispunk]

All Access, Chapter 1

All Access Masterlist | Ko-Fi | A03 Link

Pairing: 70s rockstar! frankie morales x f! reader

Rating: 18+ (explicit, minors do not interact)

Word Count: 6.4K

Summary: It's 1975 and you're one of the rare women given the opportunity to write for Rolling Stone. When you get the opportunity of a lifetime to travel with the hottest band in the US, Triple Frontier, you're welcomed into their den of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. But what happens when you fall for their bass player and it becomes more than just a story?

Content: explicit drug use, heavy partying, triple frontier as rockstars, eventual smut, 1975 au

A/N: Thank you so so so much to my beta readers @heythere-mel, @proxima-writes, @nostalxgic, and @pedropascal-whore I am so insanely, eternally grateful you have no idea! Thank you to anyone who has been waiting for this story since it was just a random idea in 2022. I hope you all enjoy it and it makes you sing as loudly as Santiago.

TRIPLE FRONTIER: FROM BATTLEFIELDS TO CENTER STAGE

As the dust of the Vietnam War settles, a new sound emerges from its ashes. Four war veterans—Santiago, Benny, Will, and Frankie—unite under a new banner, Triple Frontier, capturing the soul of a generation seeking peace, love, and rock 'n' roll.

Triple Frontier's latest self-titled album strikes a chord with raw passion and unflinching honesty of their previous work. We can trace their meteoric rise in the music world back to their time serving together in the Vietnam War, an experience that has left an indelible mark on each member and seeps into every note they play.

At the forefront is Santiago Garcia, the charismatic lead singer with vocals matched only by his charm and stage presence; Behind Santiago, Benny Miller lets loose on the drums, laying down the heartbeat of their sound. Will, Benny's older brother on lead guitar, is the soul of the band. He's intuitive and artistic with the guitar akin to Robbie Robertson.

And then there's Francisco Morales on bass. The stoic backbone of the group, his basslines are more than just musical notes—they're lifelines. His bass weaves the music together like a thread that ties each member of the band.

Tom Davis, their manager, has been instrumental in their rise. A fellow vet, he understands their shared history and has transformed their raw, visceral tales into a finely-tuned musical odyssey. Speaking about their journey, Tom says, "These boys have stories that the world needs to hear. I'm just helping amplify their voices."

The band's name, Triple Frontier, references the tri-border area in Southeast Asia—a location many veterans from the Vietnam War will recognize.

Despite the weight of their past, or perhaps because of it, Triple Frontier brings a refreshing authenticity to the rock scene. Their music isn't just entertainment; it's a balm, a therapy, a reminder of the indomitable human spirit.

As they gear up for their nationwide tour, one thing's for certain: Triple Frontier is here to stay, and they're just getting started.

Despite your boss stating he just needed a simple puff piece about Triple Frontier, whenever you reread that review you couldn't help but feel a sense of pride when you saw your name in print in Rolling Stone. It wasn't the first time, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.

You were on the fast track to doing something big at Rolling Stone by the time you were thirty, you could just feel it. After freelance writing post graduation from college, you landed an entry-level job at the magazine. You knew what you were getting into, the long hours and the male-dominated office could be a lot at times, but you were living the dream as far as you were concerned. To write about music and make it your living was a gift you never wanted to take for granted.

It was a Tuesday afternoon and you were done at work surprisingly early. You lugged your 1969 Dodge home and immediately went to the back patio to light a joint. You slunk back in your chair, inhaling deeply from the joint, and watched the sun dip lower behind the tree line; the warm glow of the Los Angeles sunset never got old. As the smoke filled your lungs, you felt the day slowly dissipate.

The sound of your phone ringing jolted you out of your high-induced stupor but you heard your roommate Jenna flit across the house and yell "I'll get it!" before answering. You took another deep pull off the joint and exhaled, watching the smoke dance around the sky as it faded out.

You heard Jenna call your name from inside. You walked into the kitchen and saw her standing with the phone receiver in her hand, she was looking at you with an expectant expression.

"Who is it?" You asked.

"Some guy named Tom Davis? Sounds foxy." She grinned at you and wiggled her eyebrows. You rolled your eyes and swatted her away before taking the phone from her.

"Hello?"

"Hey! I hope you don't mind me calling you at home. Your work number was listed in the phone book, but I didn't know if you'd want to take this call in the office or not. Figured home was probably better."

You had talked to Tom a month back for the Triple Frontier article. You remembered him as a no-nonsense type of guy who didn't beat around the bush, so you knew even though he was calling you at home it wasn't for a dinner party.

"No, that's okay. What can I do for you? I hope the article came out okay?"

"That's actually why I'm calling, I wanted to thank you again for doing such a great job. The guys really loved it and the boss did too. And we've had some new interest in the band and they think an interview series might be a good way to build some buzz during the tour."

You felt excitement bubble up in your stomach. You didn't want to be presumptuous and assume this was an offer, but you also didn't want to say no.

"I'd love to write more about them! I'm not sure if you just want a song by song review or..."

Tom chuckled on the other end.

"Nah, nothing like that. I know this is actually last minute but we're playing a show at the Troubadour on Friday night and we'd love for you to come. I've already cleared it with your editor at Rolling Stone if you're game."

You tried not to sound too eager. Of course you knew about the Troubadour show, it had been sold out for months. You knew this wasn't an easy ticket to score or an opportunity that just falls into your lap like this.

"I would be an idiot to say no."

"That's what I like to hear! I'll be in touch with more details, but I'll have your ticket and backstage pass ready for you on Friday night."

"Awesome, thank you so much."

"Thank you, we'll talk soon!"

He hung up the phone. You stood in the kitchen with the receiver in your hand. You felt like someone had just punched you in the gut, you couldn't believe it. The Troubadour, backstage passes, exclusive interviews... it was the break you'd been waiting for.

This was real rock journalism, the rock journalism your mom cried over when you said you wanted to move out west and pursue this as a career.

Will Mom still think you're dabbling with the devil if your name is under the biggest story for Rolling Stone with the hottest band in the country?

-------------------------

By the time Friday night rolled around, you felt like you had a permanent case of butterflies in your stomach. It wasn't often you had the opportunity to attend a show and not write about it, so the fact that you had no other reason for going besides seeing the band was enough to set your nerves on fire. But meeting them?

You'd spent the whole week building scenarios in your head - Would these guys even take you seriously? Would they see you as just another fan? Were they even that interesting to interview, or were their music and looks all there was to them?

You shook the thoughts from your head as you walked up to the Troubadour. The line outside was already around the block and you could feel the energy from the crowd. You saw women with long hair down their backs in tight jeans and crochet tops, some men with hair even longer than theirs and dressed in flared pants and vibrant shirts. You could already smell the weed wafting off some people.

As you approached the bouncer at the back door, he glared at you, intimidating and unwavering.

"I'm here to pick up a press pass from Tom Davis." You tried to exude confidence, even though you felt the opposite. He arched his brow at you before reaching into his back pocket and pulling out a paper.

"Name."

You gave him your name and also added what you thought would cement your legitimacy. "I'm with Rolling Stone."

He looked over the paper before his eyes settled on your face.

"Right. This way."

The man turned and opened the door behind him, beckoning for you to follow.

Once inside, he led you through the dimly lit back corridors of the club. You were immediately welcomed into a heavy musk of smoke and sweat. You passed other roadies carrying guitars, amps, and microphones. You felt the excitement rising up again and you had to remind yourself to act cool.

He led you into a dressing room with a large group of people. Everyone had drinks in their hands and seemed to be chatting amongst themselves. The walls were covered in posters and various band members from over the years had scrawled their names on the walls where Tom was seated, reading over a sheet of paper.

"There she is! Good to see you." Tom immediately spotted you from the crowd, his tall and imposing figure stood up and made his way over to you. He was wearing a black leather jacket and his hair was pushed back with gel. He looked every bit the rocker, and you couldn't help but wonder if he always dressed like that. With the band but not in the band.

He reached into his back pocket to pull out a laminated press pass. "Here you go, this should get you access to whatever you need."

You took the press pass and held it up, smiling. You were still in shock.

"I can't thank you enough, Tom. This really is an honor."

Tom chuckled and clapped a hand on your shoulder. "Honor's ours. We're looking forward to the piece."

"Speaking of pieces, If you're gonna write about the band you might as well meet them. Come with me."

He started making his way toward the back of the room. As he passed, the people parted to let him through. You followed closely behind, trying to not lose him.

He led you towards a cluster of men in the corner. They were talking amongst themselves, beers in hand and laughing. You recognized Benny–the drummer–from the album cover, by his shaggy, dirty blonde hair. He was bouncing off the soles of his feet, drumsticks tucked in his belt loop, and was the center of the circle.

Will was leaning against the wall, his long blonde hair tucked in a bun. He had a cigarette dangling between his lips and a guitar pick in his hand, fiddling with it.

Next to Will, Santiago was sitting on a couch, his arm draped over the back with a glass tumbler in his other hand. His eyes shined as he was talking to the other boys, taking his hand to smooth out his jet-black hair.

It was true what every girl said - his pants were as tight as his voice.

And then there was Frankie.

He was standing next to Santiago, a beer bottle hanging loosely from his fingertips. He was leaning on his elbow on the wall behind Santiago, listening to Benny.

He was handsome. His brown hair was covered in his signature baseball cap, and the stubble along his jaw along with his mustache gave him a rugged look. You couldn't help but notice the muscles underneath his thin shirt. You could see his arms flexing underneath the material, his fingers wrapped tightly around the neck of his beer.

He was the first one to notice you, looking at you before he did Tom. His eyes were dark and unreadable, but you could tell he was assessing the situation.

"Boys," Tom boomed, "I want you to meet the writer from Rolling Stone."

Santiago and Will turned their heads in unison, but Frankie's eyes stayed fixed on you.

Santiago's smile broadened, and Will raised his eyebrow and nodded. Frankie's expression didn't change.

"Well, hey, welcome to the party." Santiago stood up and extended his hand. You reached out and took his, shaking it. His hand was soft and his grip was firm.

"Nice to meet you." You tried to sound confident.

"You've already met Tom, obviously," he gestured towards Tom, who smiled at you, "and this is Will and Benny, and that's Frankie."

Benny smiled at you, and Frankie's eyes flickered over to Santiago as he said his name, but he didn't speak. You had a feeling this was his way of letting everyone else talk.

"Nice to meet you all, I'm a huge fan." You offered them a friendly smile.

Benny spoke up, "Well then, I like you already. You'll make us look good!"

Tom looked down at his watch and then snapped up at the guys. "Shit–we have ten minutes before showtime, you guys need to get down to the stage."

They started moving and shuffling: Will stubbed his cigarette out in the ashtray, Benny put down his beer, and Santiago tossed back his drink. Frankie had disappeared into the crowd, leaving you to watch them all go by.

Tom turned back to you, "What are you doing? You're going down with us. ‘Can't write about the show if you aren't there."

You felt the rush of adrenaline surge through your body. Your face broke out into a huge grin.

"Yeah, right. Okay."

Tom smiled and turned, heading for the door. You followed him, trying to keep up with his strides. Backstage was a flurry of activity and you felt like you were on a hamster wheel trying to stay out of the way. You couldn't help but stare at the scene before you, the lights and the sounds, the smell.

After navigating through the throng of people and equipment, you found yourself on the side of the stage, the lights dim and the sound of the audience humming through the floorboards. While Tom had stopped to talk with one of the lighting guys, you could see the boys getting into their instruments and tuning up.

You looked over and saw Frankie. He had taken off his hat and was carding his hand through his thick hair. His mouth was turned down into a frown, but you could see the glimmer of his eyes.

He looked up at you. Your breath hitched and you could feel your cheeks start to burn. He held your gaze for a moment before turning away and putting his hat back on.

Suddenly, the lights dimmed and the audience erupted in cheers. The guys, including Tom, went into a huddle and you slowly inched yourself closer, not wanting to miss this moment.

You heard Benny shout, "Let's get it done tonight, boys! Let's give the fans what they came for."

You could see Santiago's grin spread across his face, "This is our mission. Our job. Our purpose."

Tom placed his hand into the middle, "I'm proud of you, boys. Now, let's go fucking rock this shit."

They put their hands together and Santiago began to sing "Stop, hey, what's that sound..."

Like a ritual, the rest of the men in the circle sang "Everybody look what's going down."

With that, the boys dispersed and you felt so lucky to be in that moment. You feel their connection, their comradery, their love.

You saw Tom pat Benny on the back. "Showtime!" he boomed. Benny ran onto the stage and the crowd roared. You could hear the clatter of sticks in the air as Benny hit the cymbal to start playing their song "Echoes".

The rest of the guys filed onto the stage and you were immediately struck by the sheer energy radiating off the crowd. They were cheering, clapping, dancing. There was so much movement and excitement and you felt the hairs on your arms stand up.

The band started their set with a bang. You watched as Santiago worked the crowd, his voice smooth and strong. He walked slowly, confidently, swaying with every step. The crowd was eating out of the palm of his hand.

You'd never experienced a concert like this, being able to watch from the sidelines and take in everything. The lights, the sound, the way the crowd responded.

Your eyes drifted to Frankie. He was focused and precise with his guitar, his hands moving effortlessly across the strings. You watched the muscles in his arms flex and strain as he played along with the concentration in his eyes.

The rest of the concert flew by. Before you knew it, the band was finishing up their final song, and the crowd was going crazy. You watched as Santiago, Frankie, Benny, and Will took their final bows.

The audience screamed. Santiago leaned over and spoke into the microphone, "Los Angeles, thank you. We love you! Goodnight!"

And with that, the lights dimmed and the guys filed off stage. Tom turned and motioned for you to follow as he led you to a different area where the guys were drinking bottles of water and catching their breath.

Benny was sweating, his face flushed red. "Man, we really fucking killed it."

Santiago grinned, wiping his brow. "You bet your ass we did. That was one of the best shows we've done."

Frankie was leaning against the wall, a bottle of water in his hand. He was drinking it slowly, his eyes looking up and meeting yours.

Will looked over at you and gave you a wink. "Did you enjoy the show?"

"Oh my god, yes. That was incredible." You were trying to be professional, but your excitement was starting to show through, an excitement that Santiago could start to see through.

Santiago clapped his hands together. "Excellent. Now that we've broken your legs, I think it's time for the afterparty. Are you coming with us?"

"The afterparty?"

"Of course," Tom chimed in, "you don't have to go, but it might give you some time to chat with the guys more and get some quotes. These things tend to be a good time so I can also book you a room, on us. It's at the Chateau Marmont."

"Holy shit."

"That's the spirit." Santiago winked.

You hesitated, knowing how big a decision this was. The idea of the afterparty excited you, but it was also a chance to spend more time with these guys. To talk to them one-on-one and maybe get some insights that would really sell the article.

You took a deep breath and looked around the room, at the guys waiting expectantly.

"Alright, count me in."

You could have sworn you saw Frankie's lip twitch up into a smile.

-------------------------

The afterparty was at a bungalow at the Chateau Marmont and it was a mess of people, noise, and debauchery. You tried to take it all in but you just couldn't. There was too much happening at once.

You found a bar top to sit at, watching the scene unfold. Santiago was at the piano playing some old jazz tunes and laughing with gorgeous women surrounding him. Tom was chatting up some record exec, a scotch in his hand. You even saw Benny and Will having an impromptu arm wrestling match in the corner. Frankie so far wasn't anywhere to be found.

The music, the lights, the alcohol. All of it was almost overwhelming and you were starting to wonder why you decided to come.

This world of excess and debauchery was so foreign to you, a far cry from the quiet solitude of your apartment where you usually did your writing. You've been to parties but nothing like this. You thought about your male coworkers at Rolling Stone, who seemed to fit seamlessly into the rock and roll lifestyle, effortlessly bonding with their subjects over shared experiences and unspoken understandings.

You focused on scribbling notes in your notebook, trying to make sense of the chaos around you and organize your thoughts about the concert. The more you wrote, the more your head cleared, and you found yourself able to better compartmentalize everything you'd experienced.

As you were finishing up your notes, you felt a tap on your shoulder.

"Hey."

You turned and saw Santiago standing behind you. He had a bottle of Jack Daniels in his hand and his eyes were slightly bloodshot.

"Hey." You replied.

He moved to stand beside you, looking at the party in front of you.

"What are you doing over here by yourself? Having fun?" He asked, taking a swig of the whiskey.

You shrugged, "I guess I just wanted to take everything in, get a feel of the scene. "

"Through your notepad?" He asked, gesturing towards your notes.

"Yeah, uh, it's easier for me to write things down."

"Ah," he took another swig, "can I ask you a question?"

You looked up at him. He was staring down at you, a smirk on his face.

"Sure."

"Why do you wanna write a story about us?"

It wasn't the question you were expecting. You had prepared for a list of generic questions like how you got into writing and your favorite bands, but this one caught you off guard.

"Because..." You hesitated, not sure how to answer, "...because I think you guys are cool."

Santiago smirked, leaning in.

"Cool? That's it?"

"Yeah," you said, feeling slightly defensive. "I think you guys have something special."

He chuckled to himself, taking a joint from a walking passerby, and taking a hit. "That's what they all say."

"All who?"

"People, the press. They all want to write a story about the cool, rebellious, rock and roll band, but the thing is, no one ever actually gets it."

"Maybe because the people who write about you are only interested in the glamorous lifestyle and not the reality of it."

He cocked his eyebrow.

"The reality?"

"Yeah," you said, closing your notebook. "I don't want to write a story about what I see here. This is a party, a show. It's not what's real."

Santiago studied you for a moment, and you felt the tension in the air between you. It was as if he was trying to read you, to figure out what made you tick.

"I'm here to witness the magic, the brotherhood. You can feel the bond between you guys: it's real, it's tangible, it's magnetic. People come to see your shows to see it. Shit, people come to the Chateau Marmont at 1 AM to see it. People want more."

You met his gaze, unwavering. You weren't going to back down.

He laughed, taking a step back. "Okay, okay. I believe you."

You smiled, relieved.

"But I'm gonna let you in on a little secret…Tom? He's over the moon, hunky fuckin' dory that you're writing this piece, but the truth is? We're a little skeptical, a little worried. We wanna look good but we also don't want this to be a puff piece. You've convinced me though, I believe you when you say you wanna do something different. So here's the deal - if you want the real story, the one that matters, you need to prove it."

You swallowed.

"And how do I do that?"

He smirked, gesturing to the crowd. "Come hang with us, chill out, see how we are when it's just us. If you can do that, I'll tell you whatever you wanna know. If you wanna get to know the real us, you gotta dive in."

Santiago offered you the joint, and you took it from him, putting it to your lips and inhaling.

He grinned. "Welcome to the team."

You hesitated for a moment. You wanted to get the real story, the one that mattered, but you were afraid. What if you didn't fit in? What if the guys didn't like you?

But Santiago had a point. You needed to prove yourself, and what better way than by actually hanging out with the band?

So you sucked it up, took a long drag off the joint, and threw caution to the wind.

----------------------------------

You weren't sure how much time had passed, but the party was still in full swing. The doubts and fears that plagued you had floated away along with your sobriety. Santiago had been a great host, introducing you to people, making sure you had a drink in your hand, and keeping the conversation going. You'd lost track of how many drinks you'd had, but you were feeling good.

He'd also gotten you better acquainted with Will and Benny. Will was reserved but he was incredibly knowledgeable about music, and you spent most of your conversation talking about some of the more obscure bands you both liked in common. With Benny, he was the life of the party. He had an infectious smile and was quick to laugh.

Frankie was another story entirely.

Frankie had eventually been found at the party but he'd stayed off to the side, talking quietly with a group of people, occasionally smoking a cigarette or sipping from a glass. You watched him throughout the night.

He'd glance at you from time to time, his eyes dark and unreadable. His gaze would linger, sending shivers down your spine. You would try to catch his eye, but he'd look away before you could make contact.

A model that you recognized from a cover of Cosmopolitan pulled out a baggie of coke and offered some to everyone at the table. You politely declined and headed for the bathroom.

You walked around the hallway and saw a few sets of doors. You opened a door to see Tom sitting on the bed, the phone cord stretched across the room.

"Of course I'm thinking about this damn offer, it's all I can think about. Fuck, I just don't know if this is the right move. If I had another band under my roster the boys would kill me, but the money they're offering? It's the kind of money we can't turn down."

You tried to back out of the room quietly, but sobriety be damned, the heel of your shoe clicked loudly on the hardwood floor as you tripped. Tom turned, his eyebrows raised and his expression a mixture of surprise and concern.

You mouthed an apology and quickly made your way out of the room. Humiliation and embarrassment flooding through you, you decided you needed some air.

You made your way outside, the cool air hitting your face. You inhaled deeply, trying to clear your mind and slow your racing heart. You only had a bit of context but you knew that wasn't a conversation you were supposed to hear.

You sat down on the ground, resting your head against the wall. You could feel your body relax, the tension easing from your shoulders.

As you closed your eyes, the events of the evening replayed in your head. The music, the energy, the excitement.

Suddenly, you felt someone sit next to you. You looked over and saw Frankie, his expression still unreadable.

"Hey."

"Hi." You tried to sound casual, hoping the high pitch in your voice didn't sell you out.

He lit a cigarette, taking a long drag and exhaling slowly. The smoke curled in the air, dancing in the breeze.

You sat in silence for a moment, watching the smoke drift away, trying to distract yourself from the man in front of you.

"Having fun?" Frankie's voice was low and husky, his question caught you off guard. "What do you think of all of this so far?"

"It's definitely not what I'm used to."

He chuckled, and you couldn't help but smile. He took another cigarette from the carton, offering one to you.

You took the cigarette from him and he lit it, the flame flickering in the darkness. You felt the smoke fill your lungs.

"What are you used to then?" He asked, his eyes locked on yours.

"Lighting a joint at the end of a long day, writing a draft for an article, and throwing it in the trash. Sitting at home alone and wondering if I'm ever gonna break out."

Frankie smiled. "We're not what you expected, huh?"

You laughed, shaking your head. "Not at all."

You took another drag of the cigarette. The combination of weed, whiskey, and nicotine was making your head spin, and you couldn't stop the giggle that escaped your lips.

Frankie smirked.

"Lightweight."

You nodded, leaning your head against the wall. You looked over at Frankie, his profile illuminated by the moonlight. He was handsome, his jawline sharp and his lips full. His hair was tousled under his hat and his stubble was perfectly trimmed. You could see the muscles in his arms flex as he brought the cigarette to his mouth, and you felt your breath hitch.

You looked away, feeling a blush creep up your neck. You weren't sure if it was the alcohol, the drugs, or his presence that was making you feel so flustered.

"What are you doing out here anyways?" You asked, trying to distract yourself from the butterflies in your stomach.

Frankie shrugged, the corners of his mouth twitching. "I could ask you the same question."

You laughed, the alcohol and weed finally settling in.

"I was feeling a bit overwhelmed, I needed some fresh air."

Frankie nodded, understanding. "I'm not really one for big parties."

"Is that why you weren't around earlier?"

He gave you a curious look. "You really are quite the observant reporter."

You grinned. "I'm a professional."

He smirked, your gaze turning back to the sky. You couldn't help but feel his eyes linger on your skin, you felt like you were burning up.

"I'm just not a huge fan of the crowds. I like the music, the shows, but the parties are sometimes too much."

"I can understand that."

"Can you?"

You looked at him, surprised by his question. "Of course."

He raised his eyebrow. "How so?"

You shrugged. "I've had my share of experiences. Not quite like this, but enough that I get it. Sometimes I'd rather just sit back with a joint and observe it all."

Frankie's lips twitched into a small smile. "Me too."

You couldn't help but smile back. He seemed much less guarded now.

You took another drag of your cigarette; the smoke swirling around the two of you.

"Can I ask you a question?"

Frankie glanced at you, the corner of his mouth twitching again.

"Sure."

"What brought you into music? How'd you end up here?"

He considered your question for a moment, tapping the ashes of his cigarette.

"Well, I just always loved music. I was a quiet kid and my parents weren't around a lot. Santi moved to Miami when we were eight and we just immediately hit it off. Whatever he did, I did. If he joined the baseball team, I joined the baseball team. And then he started playing guitar. We'd sit in his garage for hours and play. I never knew I wanted to be a musician until then. It just felt right."

He paused, taking a long drag of his cigarette.

"How'd you get into journalism?"

You froze. The truth was, you had no idea. You just always felt drawn to writing. You had a knack for it and it came easily to you. You never had any grand plan or vision, it was more like a calling.

"I guess I just felt called to it. I was always writing stories as a kid and then I wanted to write about real people and real stories."

He studied you, his eyes searching yours.

"So far, do you like my story?"

You grinned, "I don't know your story yet."

He smiled, exposing a dimple as you felt your heart skip a beat.

"It's been a long time since I've actually talked to someone like this."

"Me too."

There was a moment of comfortable silence. You could hear the sounds of the city around you, the cars honking, the music and laughter drifting from inside. Suddenly, you heard the door open and Tom stepped out.

"Some chick from Apple Records just threw up on my Italian boots. This is a disaster."

Frankie rolled his eyes. "You've had worse, Tom."

Tom groaned. "I'm gonna call it a night. You guys have that radio station interview tomorrow and I need to get ready for it in the morning."

"I should probably get some sleep too." Frankie stretched out and yawned, his shirt riding up and exposing a strip of skin above the waistband of his jeans.

You felt your mouth go dry and quickly looked away.

"Did you get the room key I left for you?" Tom asked you. "We rented out the whole second floor, so you've got your pick of rooms."

"Yeah, thanks." You dug into your back pocket, pulling out the key.

"I gotta clean this shit up so I'll see you guys in the morning."

He retreated away from the cottage, leaving you and Frankie alone once more.

You stood, dusting off the back of your pants. "I guess I should get some sleep, I'm pretty wasted."

"I'm heading up myself, so I can walk you to your hotel room."

"Oh, okay." You said in a high-pitched tone.

"Unless you don't want me to."

"No! No, I want you to, I just wasn't sure if you wanted to say goodnight to the guys?"

"They're honestly too fucked up to remember anything right now. Besides, I'd rather make sure you get there safe."

You blushed, the alcohol and weed still affecting you. "Thanks."

You and Frankie made your way back into the main building, the party still raging on from the cottage nearby. While you walked through the halls and into the elevator, you marveled at the luxury of the famous chateau. You'd heard so many stories but to say you'd gone to a party there, even for a couple of hours, was something you’d never forget.

The two of you got into the elevator, and you were acutely aware of Frankie's presence. He was tall–at least a foot taller than you–and his shoulders were broad and muscular. You could smell his scent, a mixture of spice, nicotine, and citrus.

The both of you got off on the second floor, walking silently down the hallway. The hotel was dark and quiet; it was as if the rest of the world had faded away.

You reached your room, fumbling with the key and unlocking the door.

"This is me."

Frankie nodded. "Good night."

You stepped into the room and turned around, watching as he walked away.

"Good night."

You watched him disappear around the corner, the butterflies in your stomach erupting again.

Once the door had shut behind you, you exhaled a breath you didn't realize you were holding. You were still buzzing from the alcohol and the pot but there was something else, an energy that you hadn't felt before.

You stripped off your clothes, letting them pool on the floor, and crawled into the bed. As you drifted off, you felt yourself smile.

-------------------------

You were jolted awake by the shrill ring of the hotel telephone. Before you could even think, your head was already pounding from last night and its excess. You squinted at the clock next to you, the bold white words focusing on 9:30 AM.

"Hello?" Your voice was hoarse and still heavy with sleep.

"Morning! It's Tom." Tom sounded surprisingly chipper given last night's circumstances with his Italian shoes. Not one to beat around the bush, he started, "I have a proposition for you."

You were instantly alert, sitting up straight in the bed. "Oh yeah? What's that?"

"I had a long talk with Santiago this morning. About you."

You swallowed nervously. You knew that whatever it was, it couldn't be good.

"Okay.."

"He told me that you really want to tell the real story of the band, that you want to get to the bottom of who we are."

You paused, considering your words carefully.

"That's correct. I think there's more to your story, more than meets the eye."

"That's exactly what I thought, which is why I have an offer for you."

You held your breath. You didn't want to seem eager but you couldn't help the excitement building inside of you.

"I'm listening."

"Rolling Stone wants an in-depth piece, right? Well, what better way to get that than by joining us on tour?"

Your heart skipped a beat as his words sunk in.

"You mean..go on tour with you guys? Be a part of the band?"

"It's the only way to really understand us, right? Get into our world, our culture, and experience it for yourself. I already pitched it to your editor and he said as long as the label pays for expenses and you're game, he's game."

You were astounded at the things that Tom Davis could get done before noon.

"But..how would that work? Where would I stay? I don't have any experience touring or writing on the road."

You took a deep breath, processing everything Tom had just told you. "I'd be lying if I said that this wasn't an incredible offer."

"An incredible offer you can't refuse?"

You couldn't help but smile, the adrenaline coursing through your veins. "An incredible offer I can't refuse."

Tom let out a hearty laugh, "That's what I like to hear! Look, we've already discussed it amongst ourselves, and as for accommodations, we're a tight-knit group, we always look out for one another. You'll have a place to crash every night, always a nice hotel to stay in."

Your mind was racing with possibilities. The chance to immerse yourself in their world, to witness their artistry up close and personal—it was an opportunity unlike any other. "What about interviews? Will I have unrestricted access?"

Tom nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely. We want this to be as authentic as possible. You'll have full access to everyone in the band, backstage, on the bus, wherever we go. Just promise me one thing."

"What's that?"

"Promise me you won't hold back. We want the real story, the gritty details, the highs and lows of life on the road. Don't sugarcoat anything."

You nodded with determination. "I promise, Tom. I'll give it my all."

"Good," he said with a satisfied smile. "I have a feeling you're going to fit right in."

As you pressed down on the end call button, a surge of adrenaline shot through your veins. This was it - the opportunity to delve deep into the core of the band and capture their raw energy in words for all to experience. Just thinking about it made your heart race, and as you thought of Frankie, you felt an unfamiliar warmth in your belly.

You'd have a new adventure ahead of you, one that would change your life forever.

[femmefatalevibe]

Hey! I work as a freelance content writer/copywriter as well. I had to stop working because of academic pressure, but the pay in my country is peanuts, and I have always wanted to expand globally. I would really appreciate it if you could share some tips on how you started getting clients and how did you build your agency? Thanks!!

Hi love! Some high-level tips are below:

Intern/Apply to remote internships to get clips/experience

Create an Upwork account to get entry-level work/testimonials to get some client portfolio work and to help build your professional reputation

Always be on the lookout for leads, do your research, and craft a thoughtful/useful pitch for the client/publisher. Send work samples/share how you can help them. Follow up – remember rejection is part of the job, it's a numbers game

Start your own blog to show off your skills/build credibility in the writing world/your field

Save all of your quality-work to use in your portfolio. Always have a portfolio ready in PDF format and as a direct link that's mobile-friendly available when pitching clients

Utilize LinkedIn, your university connections, build your network, request informational interviews, and don't be shy to ask for letters of recommendation or referrals

When you do get a client whose honest and integral, show up and do your best work and submit it on time. If you can't for whatever reason, request an extension/notify them of the delay ahead of time

Perfect your craft, continuously read about your industry, and sharpen your skills. Show up with a business owner, not employee, mindset. This might be different when you're doing contract work for an agency where they might have their own contracts, set a budget, etc. But, when working with smaller, independent clients, ensure you have your rates, terms, general business practices, contracts (see a lawyer about this one), onboarding process, client questionnaire, payment method, etc., all set up for your client to acclimate to when you're ready to sign them. Remember, your clients are your customers, not your employers. It is a partnership, not an unequal power dynamic – you are the talent, not the direct report.

Hope this helps xx

[billioneera]

Easy and simple strategies to make $8000 online as a beginner

Copy AI can be a useful tool for email marketers looking to improve their email campaigns and potentially increase their earnings. Here are some tips for using Copy AI to write more engaging emails and make $8000:

Use Copy AI to generate email subject lines: The subject line is the first thing your subscribers see, and it can make or break your email open rates. You can use Copy AI to generate subject lines that are catchy, engaging, and relevant to your audience. Simply input your topic or keywords, and the tool will generate multiple subject line options that you can use in your email campaigns.

Use Copy AI to create email content: Once you have your subject line, you can use Copy AI to create the content for your email. Simply input your topic or keywords, and the tool will generate email content that you can edit, customize, and personalize as needed. This can help you to save time and create high-quality email content that resonates with your audience.

Use Copy AI to test your email campaigns: Copy AI also has a feature called "Smart A/B Testing," which can help you to optimize your email campaigns and improve your results. You can use this feature to test different subject lines, email content, and calls to action, and see which ones perform best with your audience. This can help you to improve your email open rates, click-through rates, and ultimately, your conversions.

Skyrocket Your Income with COPYAI for free . Claim free account No credit card required

To potentially make $8000, you can offer your email marketing services to clients on freelance platforms like Upwork or Fiverr. With the help of Copy AI, you can write more engaging emails, improve your results, and increase your earnings. Additionally, you can also use these skills to create your own email campaigns and promote your own products or services.

[thecatsgravewrites]

S.R. Nickoloff Warren | she/they | 23

𖤓 Leo ☾ Capricorn ⇈ Sagittarius 📌 Brooklyn, NY 💻 My website

ABOUT ME: A recent graduate of New York University, I spend my time applying my English, Creative Writing, and Animal Studies degree to my everyday life through conscious practices and non-stop writing. When I'm not writing, I enjoy reading, rock climbing, and film photography.

I'm an experienced freelance editor who provides proofreading, line editing, structural editing, copy editing, and revision and suggestion services for all kinds of writing. Please reach out directly if you would like to see samples of my work.

RATE

(Each bundle includes one consultation) Under 1k words – $25 with 3 day turnaround 1k-5k words – $50 with 5 day turnaround 5k-10k words – $100 with up to 2 week turnaround Additional words exceeding 10k – $0.20/word with negotiable turnaround Additional consultations – $10/ea Faster turnaround – $10/day

You Never Die

CW: Death A poem about grief and the denial of loss published by new words {press} in a collection including various artists.

My Body Remembers You

CW: Sexual assault A poem about sexual assault published by Written Tales in the Human Experience edition including various artists.

Mother Tongue

A poem about language and culture published by Brandon Cohen in Letting Go: A Community Zine including various artists which raised over $1,000 for abortion resources.

West 10th: 14th Edition

A collection of poetry, prose, and art curated by myself and a team of talented editors.

Various Works

Various articles published by Honeysuckle Magazine under the name Sophia Nickoloff Warren spanning the topics of cannabis, racial politics, and environmental activism.

Various Works

Various reviews published by Quarantine Content (The Q) under the name Sophia Nickoloff Warren which focused on art by and for underrepresented communities.

Bad Weather (#wip: bad weather)

A multi-generational coming-of-age short story collection studying the concepts of love, art, and grief.

[audioroleplayconfessions]

Can we please stop using Redacted as the gold-standard example of lore and story-based channels? He always gets mentioned when that kind of content gets brought up to the point that he's like the ambassador of story-based audio roleplay.

He's really not? His stories are clunky and cluttered and he wastes tons of time. Most of his audios are a bunch of nothing, repetition, and other bullshit to drag out the time for AdSense revenue. He would never make it as an author or a screenwriter writing like that. He uses all of the popular supernatural tropes (vampire, werewolf, spellcaster, etc) without hardly exploring them as plot themes.

Freelancer is one of the worst things I have ever heard from a writing perspective. The first ten episodes are just the listener standing around doing nothing and getting the (very generic) lore explained to them. The plot takes FOREVER to kick in, and when it does it's not that interesting, especially compared to what other people have been able to accomplish in much less time. He is so in love with his own lore that he'd rather waste hours upon hours lore dumping with 20 characters that sound vaguely different from one another than actually tell a story. Redacted will literally spend an hour explaining daemons and elemental magic only to have that build up to an episode where you spend half an hour baking cookies and decorating with a werewolf.

Redacted is just so profoundly mediocre to the point that I think his fans haven't actually bothered trying to listen to other channels that tell stories. I hate him, I'm sorry. He's so over-praised and over-rated as a writer that it's annoying just hearing his name.

.

[romirola]

Bound Together: A Redactedverse Tangled AU

It’s here! The long-awaited (often-teased) RedactedASMR Tangled AU fanfic I’ve been working on for the last two months is here! I cannot tell you how absolutely ecstatic I am to share this one with you. It is my hope that you will have as much fun reading as I did writing. A big thank you to @witchbinchstories for her initial post floating the possibility of a Redactedverse Tangled AU at this blog post and allowing me to rethink her original idea so that Milo could fill Rapunzel’s role and Sweetheart could fill Flynn/Eugene’s. Additionally, I’d like to thank @dominimoonbeamn for being so very supportive as I drafted the fic and graciously contributing an idea that appears in Chapter 9 of this story. Follow these talented creators for more fun Redacted content!

CLICK HERE TO READ CHAPTER 1 OF BOUND TOGETHER ON A03!

Find more details about the story below the cut. 

Rating: T

WC: ~45K over 11 chapters

Characters: Milo, Sweetheart, Aggro, Vega, David, Asher, Marie, Blake, Gavin, Vincent, Lovely, Sam, Darling, Damien, Huxley, Lasko, Avior, Starlight, Camelopardalis, Freelancer, Caelum, Angel, Babe, Kody, Warden, Elliott, Sunshine, Adam, Geordi, Cutie, Christian

Pairings: Milo/Sweetheart, David/Angel, Asher/Babe, Gavin/Freelancer, Vincent/Lovely, Sam/Darling, Damien/Huxley, Avior/Starlight, Elliott/Sunshine, Geordi/Cutie

Summary: Milo longs to leave his hidden tower for just one day to celebrate the upcoming solstice festival in the Kingdom of Dahlia, even if, according to his father, Vega, the only place Milo is safe is inside his tower and away from the society that hates him. When a fugitive stealth finds their way into Milo’s home, he realizes that this is finally his opportunity to sneak out of the tower for a day to attend Dahlia’s solstice festival. The last thing the stealth wants to do is play tour guide to Milo and his annoying cat, but once Milo holds their knapsack and its precious contents hostage, they reluctantly agree. Anything to appease Milo, retrieve their knapsack, and be on their way. During the adventure, Milo and Sweetheart meet a cast of friends and foes, uncover dark but magical secrets, and begin to see each other in a new light. Soon enough, they realize that if they want to make their respective dreams a reality (or just to survive), they need each other more than they ever thought possible. 

Tags: AU, Fairytale, Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers, Romance, Love, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Suspense, Adventure, Fluff, Friendship, Humor, Banter, Trust, Trigger Warning: Emotional Manipulation, Fainting, Panic Attack, Support, Trigger Warning: Nonconsensual Magical Paralysis and Control, Betrayal,  Rescues, Found Family, Justice, Bravery, Kidnapping, CloseKnit, Bigotry, Wolf Hunt, Grief, Healing Magic, Hope, Happy Ending, All Listener Characters are Gender-Neutral

Thanks to everyone who encouraged this fic as I teased and talked about it here on tumblr! As requested, I am tagging @sri-rachaa for all Tangled AU-related posts and updates. I plan to reblog this post as I post chapters. (If you would like to be tagged, too, please let me know and I will!)

[dhanusagar]

What is Digital marketing and how can we earn from it?

According to me I can offer valuable insights into the field and lucrative earning opportunities. Digital marketing involves promoting products, services, or brands through various online channels, including websites, social media, search engines, email, and mobile apps. Here are some strategies and examples that are working well for freelancers in the digital marketing industry:

Content Creation and Marketing: Content remains king in digital marketing, and freelancers can capitalize on this by offering content creation services such as blog writing, article writing, video production, and infographic design. High-quality, engaging content helps businesses attract and retain customers while improving their search engine rankings.

Example: A freelance writer specializing in technology creates informative blog posts and whitepapers for software companies, helping them establish thought leadership in their industry and drive organic traffic to their website.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO): SEO is essential for businesses to improve their visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs) and drive organic traffic to their websites. Freelancers can offer SEO services such as keyword research, on-page optimization, link building, and SEO audits to help clients rank higher in search engine rankings.

Example: An SEO specialist helps a local bakery optimize its website for relevant keywords such as "best cakes in [city]," resulting in increased online visibility and more foot traffic to the bakery.

Social Media Management: Many businesses struggle to effectively manage their social media presence. Freelancers can offer social media management services, including content creation, posting schedules, community engagement, and paid advertising campaigns, to help clients grow their social media following and drive engagement.

Example: A freelance social media manager helps a small business owner create and curate engaging content for their Instagram account, increasing brand awareness and attracting new customers.

Email Marketing: Email marketing remains one of the most effective ways to nurture leads, promote products or services, and maintain customer relationships. Freelancers can offer email marketing services such as email campaign creation, list segmentation, A/B testing, and performance tracking to help clients generate leads and drive sales.

Example: An email marketing freelancer designs and implements a series of automated email campaigns for an e-commerce retailer, resulting in higher open rates, click-through rates, and conversions.

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising: PPC advertising allows businesses to reach their target audience through targeted ads on search engines and social media platforms. Freelancers can offer PPC management services, including keyword research, ad creation, bid management, and performance tracking, to help clients maximize their return on investment (ROI) from PPC campaigns.

Example: A freelance PPC specialist helps a startup company launch and optimize Google Ads campaigns, driving qualified traffic to their website and increasing sales leads.

Affiliate Marketing: Freelancers can participate in affiliate marketing programs to earn commissions by promoting products or services through their website, blog, or social media channels. By partnering with companies as affiliates, freelancers can monetize their online presence and audience.

Example: A freelance blogger writes product reviews and tutorials on their website and includes affiliate links to recommended products, earning commissions for every sale generated through their affiliate links.

Ready to take your digital marketing skills to the next level? Enroll now in our comprehensive free online masterclass and unlock the secrets to success in the ever-evolving world of digital marketing.

[audreyshura]

Unveiling the Power of Caktus AI Writer

In the ever-evolving landscape of content creation, efficiency and quality are paramount. Enter Caktus AI Writer, a groundbreaking platform that harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to revolutionize the way we generate content. But what exactly is Caktus AI Writer, and how does it redefine the content creation process? Let's delve into its features, functionalities, and the transformative impact it offers.

Introduction:

Caktus AI Writer represents a cutting-edge solution for businesses and content creators seeking to streamline their content creation workflows. Powered by advanced natural language processing (NLP) algorithms, Caktus AI Writer empowers users to generate high-quality, engaging content in a fraction of the time it would traditionally take. But its capabilities extend far beyond mere efficiency. Let's explore what sets Caktus AI Writer apart from other content generation tools.

AI-Powered Content Generation:

At the core of Caktus AI Writer's functionality lies its sophisticated AI algorithms, which have been trained on vast amounts of diverse content to ensure accuracy and relevance. Using state-of-the-art NLP techniques, Caktus AI Writer analyzes input prompts and generates coherent, contextually relevant content that meets the user's specifications. Whether it's blog posts, product descriptions, or social media captions, Caktus AI Writer delivers content that resonates with audiences and drives engagement.

Versatility and Customization:

One of the key strengths of Caktus AI Writer is its versatility and customization options. Users have the flexibility to define the tone, style, and structure of the content they need, ensuring that it aligns seamlessly with their brand voice and messaging. Whether you're aiming for a formal and authoritative tone or a conversational and friendly approach, Caktus AI Writer adapts to suit your requirements, delivering content that reflects your unique identity.

Enhanced Productivity and Efficiency:

By automating the content generation process, Caktus AI Writer enables businesses and content creators to significantly increase their productivity and efficiency. Tasks that once required hours of research and writing can now be completed in a matter of minutes, freeing up valuable time and resources to focus on other strategic initiatives. Whether you're a small business owner, a marketing agency, or a freelance writer, Caktus AI Writer empowers you to accomplish more in less time, without compromising on quality.

Data-Driven Insights and Optimization:

In addition to content generation, Caktus AI Writer provides valuable data-driven insights to help users optimize their content strategies. By analyzing performance metrics such as engagement rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates, Caktus AI Writer offers actionable recommendations for improving content effectiveness and maximizing ROI. This iterative approach ensures that users can continuously refine and enhance their content strategies to achieve their business objectives.

Benefit of Cuktus AI writer

Caktus AI Writer offers a myriad of benefits that can revolutionize the way businesses and content creators approach content creation:

Time Efficiency: One of the primary benefits of Caktus AI Writer is its ability to generate high-quality content in a fraction of the time it would take manually. By automating the writing process, Caktus AI Writer frees up valuable time for users to focus on other strategic tasks, such as marketing, customer engagement, or product development.

Increased Productivity: With Caktus AI Writer, users can significantly increase their productivity by generating content at scale. Whether it's blog posts, product descriptions, social media content, or marketing copy, Caktus AI Writer enables users to produce a large volume of content quickly and efficiently, without sacrificing quality.

Consistency: Caktus AI Writer ensures consistency in tone, style, and messaging across all content pieces. This consistency is crucial for maintaining brand identity and establishing trust with audiences. By adhering to predefined guidelines and specifications, Caktus AI Writer helps businesses maintain a cohesive and professional image.

Versatility: Caktus AI Writer is incredibly versatile and can be used across various industries and content types. Whether you're a marketing agency, e-commerce store, blogger, or freelance writer, Caktus AI Writer adapts to suit your specific needs and requirements. From technical writing to creative storytelling, Caktus AI Writer covers a wide range of content genres and styles.

Cost-Effectiveness: Compared to hiring a team of writers or outsourcing content creation, using Caktus AI Writer can be a cost-effective solution for businesses. With affordable pricing plans and the ability to generate content quickly and efficiently, Caktus AI Writer offers a compelling return on investment for businesses of all sizes.

AI-Powered Optimization: Caktus AI Writer leverages artificial intelligence and natural language processing to continuously optimize content based on performance metrics and user feedback. By analyzing data such as engagement rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates, Caktus AI Writer provides actionable insights to help users refine their content strategies and achieve better results over time.

Streamlined Workflow: Integrating Caktus AI Writer into existing workflows streamlines the content creation process from start to finish. From generating ideas and outlines to writing and editing content, Caktus AI Writer simplifies each step, enabling users to produce high-quality content more efficiently and effectively.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Caktus AI Writer represents a game-changer in the realm of content creation. With its AI-powered capabilities, versatility, and productivity-enhancing features, Caktus AI Writer empowers businesses and content creators to elevate their content strategies and achieve unparalleled success in today's competitive landscape. Whether you're looking to scale your content production, optimize your marketing efforts, or simply save time and resources, Caktus AI Writer is your ultimate ally in driving meaningful results and unlocking new opportunities for growth.

[shizucheese]

Hey everyone! So I hadn't posted about this previously because I was working out the logistics and getting all of my ducks in a row, but I lost my job at the end of January and I decided to take it as a wake up call that instead of continuing down the path of working a mindless corporate job just for the sake of a paycheck and benefits, I should actually put that degree I worked so hard for to good use and and do something that I'm actually passionate about.

So, Writers of Tumblr, do you have a book or short story you're looking to get published? DMs of Tumblr, do you have homebrew content you're planning on publishing on DM's guild, Patreon or elsewhere? I am a freelance editor available to hire!

My Qualifications: BA in Creative Writing from Knox College

Poynter ACES Certificate in Editing from the Poynter Institute for Media Studies. My Services and Rates:

Proofreading: $10.00/ 1,000 words (or $0.01/ word)

Combing through your work to check and correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.

Copyediting: $15.00/ 1,000 words (or $0.015/ word)

Combing through your work to check and correct spelling, grammar and punctuation

Ensuring tone is consistent throughout your work

Ensuring that your work complies with the style guide you designate

Fact checking

Developmental/ Content Editing: $20.00/ 1,000 words (or $0.02/ word)

Feedback on narrative structure, characterization and world building

Notes on dialog, voice and tone

Highlighting any plot holes

Creation of a style sheet to ensure the spellings of names and locations in your story are consistent, as well as any other word use that might be unique to your story.

If you're interested in making use of my services, please dm me!

If you don't have anything that needs editing right now, or you're not a writer, but still want to help, I'd really appreciate it if you could signal boost this. It would really mean the world to me. Thanks so much everyone!

[itscritiquegeek]

A rant for freelance writers

My fellow writers, you are being grossly underpaid. I’ve been freelance writing intermittently for over a decade, and during that time the rate for freelance writing has dropped. Yes, you read that correctly. Dropped. 

I’ve returned to freelance writing during the pandemic because I need the schedule flexibility and work from home perks (thank you, health issues). I was offered a role that paid $10 per article. Yes. $10. I have over a decade of experience and have worked with some pretty big company names, and yet I was offered the same rate I was given as a new college grad with literally no experience a decade ago - and that was considered painfully low back then. In 2013 I made $10/article, but by 2014 I was making $50-$75/article. By 2015 I was averaging $100 per assignment. 

Needless to say, I declined the $10 role. 

Content farming websites like Comic Book Resources, ScreenRant - basically every publication under Valnet, amongst others - are taking advantage of you. Here are the rates I was told for an entertainment writer role at CBR. Again. I’ve been doing this for over 10 years and have a Master’s degree.  “The compensation rates for this position are based on a combination of rates for pay-per-post (PPP) and pay-per-view (PPV).  PPV rates are applied after every 1,000 views. News: $10 ($10 PPP) + $0.33 per 1k views Flash News: $5 ($5 PPP) + $0.25 per 1k views”  When pressed for the average views per article, I was told anywhere between 2,000 to 200,000. Which means you can be earning as little as $10.66 per article, while $76/per is the top end. I made $75/article in 2014 with just over a year of experience. The math ain’t mathing.  This issue isn’t exclusive to Valnet, either. Time and time again I’m seeing roles for writers listed at minimum wage. Some of the higher paying ones are still only offering $25 an hour regardless of experience level. Yet they receive hundreds, if not thousands of applicants. 

We can argue that this is just another symptom of wage stagnation, inflation, the recession we’re in that may or may not be manufactured. But, I worry that the rise of AI has led to the devaluation of the writer, much as it threatens the digital artist. Why pay actual humans what an AI will do for free? Just plug in the topic and some old articles and watch as your content is repurposed into something fresh. No one will be able to tell. 

In the age of AI everything, the economy has come to undervalue good writers. Our creativity. Our humanity. 

I do not have a solution here, except to suggest that folks fucking stop working for Valnet because they’re exploitative. Even then, I don’t hold it against you if you do work for them. As I sit here filling out applications for roles that pay far less than my ending wage at my last position, I’m forced to swallow my pride simply because times are tough. Jobs are harder to come by, even though ‘everyone is hiring’. The longterm effects of COVID are real, and limiting.  I have no solution, but I want you all to know that you deserve better. Your time and expertise have value. Writing is hard. 

You deserve fair compensation. 

[waywardnerd67]

Replay Life Chap 13 - ScoobyNatural

Title: Replay Life - S13E16 Scoobynatural Summary: Jensen invites Jared and Misha’s families to his house to surprise (Y/N) for her birthday. They do an outdoor screening of one of the best episodes of Supernatural ever. Main Characters: Jensen Ackles, Reader Other Characters: Jared Padalecki, Misha Collins, Padalecki Family, Collins Family Pairing: None Rating: E - Everyone Warnings: Fluff Word Count: 3892 A/N:

Check Out: Replay Life Masterlist

Three weeks had gone by since Jensen had sat across from Gen Padalecki asking her to help him ask (Y/N) out. Twenty-one days filled with conventions and meetings keeping him from being in Austin. (Y/N) was equally busy as she began to take on clients for freelance editing and ghostwriting. On the rare occasion Jensen was home, she would be working until the early morning hours on a deadline. The only silver lining was seeing the woman he loved most genuinely happy.

Jensen was leaning against the doorframe of (Y/N)’s office watching her in her element. Hair up in a messy bun with a red pen sticking out of it. Large wireless headphones covered her ears knowing her favorite writing playlist was blaring into them. One of his ‘borrowed’ Dean flannels draped over her shoulders and a pair of yoga pants covering her legs like a second skin. Her glasses were hanging off the edge of her nose as her eyes scrolled across her screen. Her delicate fingers flowing over her keyboard as waves of words appeared on the screen.

Even half crazed, sleep deprived, caffeine wired, (Y/N) was still the most beautiful woman in the world. Jensen waited until her fingers stopped dancing on the keys and she leaned back in her chair to speak.

“How’s it going, pretty girl?”

She spun her chair around, letting out a long yawn, “Almost finished… a couple thousand words more and then I’ll officially be on my birthday hiatus.”

“That’s amazing. Is there anything I can do for you or get you?” Her smile made his knees wobble.

“Could you sit here with me and make sure I don’t pass out from exhaustion?”

Jensen nodded, taking his spot on the floor beside her desk. She turned off her headphones and music began to fill the room. He chuckled before singing along to her favorite Zeppelin song. He watched her shoulders relax and her eyes focused on the screen once more. For the next hour or so, Jensen sat there watching her work and singing along to her playlist. When she finally turned off her computer, he stood and scooped her up into his arms.

Her eyes were already half closed as he carried her upstairs to her room. He had made it to the top landing when she mumbled wanting to sleep next to him. He continued to his room where she was fast asleep when he laid her on the bed. Jensen slid beneath the cover behind her and slipped his arm around her waist and drew her close to him.

“(Y/N)?” He asked softly, “Pretty girl?”

Her breathing was steady and calm as exhaustion had its hold on her. He moved a few strands of her from her face before pressing his lips against her shoulder. Feeling her sigh contently, his heart began to thump wildly in his chest as a whispered confession began to flow from his lips.

“I love you. I know you know that, but I mean it differently. I’m in love with you and have been for a long time. When I think of my life after fame, after movies and tv all I can think about is you. Coming home to you, spending our golden years together, making love to you whenever possible.”

Jensen felt her move slightly and shut his mouth tightly. After several agonizing minutes, he felt her breathing settle back into a steady rhythm again.

“I’m scared shitless to cross this line with you. I’m scared I’m not good enough for you. I’m scared you will get fed up with my crazy life and I’ll lose you forever. I’ll lose the woman I love and my best friend. It’s getting harder being around you and not acting on my feelings. I want to kiss you silly. I want to yell out from the rooftops that you're mine and I’m yours. I want to wine and dine you or chill with you on the couch.”

He nuzzled his nose into her hair as a wayward tear fell down his cheek, “I want to be your entire world because you’re mine. You’re the light in the darkness. You’re everything that is good when life is a shitshow. I love you so much my heart hurts. And I’m too much of a coward to tell you this when you're awake.”

He froze when (Y/N) turned towards him. His heart was hammering against his chest, fearing she had finally heard every single word of his love confession. However, what happened next was way worse than her hearing his confession.

(Y/N)’s leg slipped between his and her thigh rested firmly against his semi-hard length. Jensen sucked in a breath as her arm slipped around his waist and her face nuzzled into his chest. A soft moan breathed through her lips as her hips pushed forward against him. He grunted uncomfortably as he tried to reel back the desire running rampant in his body.

Looking down at her peaceful face and relaxed body cradled against his, Jensen managed to wrap his arms around her and adjust to a more comfortable position. When he finally fell asleep his dreams were filled with him and (Y/N) in many different compromising positions.

After that night, (Y/N) never mentioned hearing his confession. She had only commented on it being the best night of sleep she had ever gotten. The next few days were filled with (Y/N) hanging out with her group of girlfriends for her birthday which he was thankful for as he planned a surprise birthday party for her. They had planned on watching the next episode in their rewatch which was one of the best episodes in his opinion of Supernatural. It was also one of the only episodes that Jared and Misha’s kids could watch. Jensen reached out to them both about bringing their families to his house that Saturday for a Scoobynatural watch party for (Y/N)’s birthday.

Jensen was running around making sure everything was set up in the backyard for the watch party. He had his manager reach out to (Y/N)’s friends about coming over and Kit had volunteered to keep her busy before the big reveal. He had warned Jared and Misha about them before they arrived. He was pleasantly surprised when they arrived they had all kept their cool and mingled among their families. He had decided to trust Kit with his number and she texted him when they were pulling into the driveway.

“She’s here! Everyone hide!” He called out.

Watching as (Y/N) led Kit out through their back door hearing her talk about their house, “Jensen takes a lot of pride in keeping up with the yard work whenever he’s home. Personally, I just love watching him…”

“SURPRISE!” Everyone yelled.

Jensen cursed all of them wanting to hear what (Y/N) was about to say. However, seeing the shock registering on her face as she looked at everyone around her. The Padaleckis’, The Collins’ and her best friends surrounded her with love and birthday wishes. Jensen could see her wiping tears from her eyes in between hugging everyone. A soft nudge came from his right side as he saw Gen standing beside him.

“You did good. Now man up and ask her tonight once everyone is gone.”

She didn’t stay around for a response as she walked over to (Y/N) with her arms wide open. He knew Gen was right and this was the perfect opportunity for him to ask her. Something deep down was keeping him anchored in his spot as her best friend and nothing more. He shook his head just in time to see (Y/N) rushing over to him and jumping into his arms.

“Jay, this is amazing! I… I don’t know how to thank you for all of this.”

“No need to thank me.” He hugged her tightly whispering, “Happy birthday, pretty girl.”

(Y/N) leaned back slightly before pressing his lips to his cheek, “Thank you, handsome.”

Jensen and Jared manned the grill while Gen and Kit were making drinks for everyone. Misha, (Y/N) and a few of the other girls were running around with the kids. Jensen took a moment to take in everything around him. (Y/N) was carrying Odette as West and Tom ran circles around her. Her laughter filled the air and cut through a layer of the tether keeping him from crossing the invisible line between them.

“When are you going to lock that down?” Jared asked, bringing Jensen back to reality.

“It’s complicated.”

Jared chuckled, “To quote Dean Winchester, ‘Game of Thrones is complicated. Shower sex that's complicated. This ain't complicated. You're problem ain't asking her, it's you.’ So, what’s stopping you? Really?”

Jensen couldn’t help but laugh at him quoting his character, but it quickly faded knowing Jared was right. Acknowledging that he was keeping himself back from having happiness pissed him off.

“I don’t know. I want everything to be perfect for her because she has had some shitty, god awful times in her life. I want to be with her so badly it hurts.”

“Okay. Again, what’s stopping you?”

Jensen bit his lip flipping the burgers as Misha joined their conversation, “You guys look like you’re about to punch one another. What’s going on?”

“I asked Ackles when he was going to finally have the balls to lock down a date with (Y/N).”

Jensen was going to glare at him, but Misha beat him to it, “That’s a big risk for him to take. Not that I’m not for it because I am.”

Misha looked over at him, his narrowed eyes softening, “It’s hard risking a friendship that has been in your life since forever. The ‘what ifs’ filling your mind with doubt and convincing you that it’s better for everyone that you keep going as you’ve always done.”

He was stunned to hear his knotted feelings laid out so perfectly by his friend, “How did you…”

“Been there. Done that.” Misha squeezed his shoulder, “My honest and humble opinion if you want it.”

Jensen nodded.

“I believe the risk will be worth it in the end. (Y/N) loves you and more than just her best friend. You two are meant to be and I cannot wait to be witness to your love blossoming for one another.”

He turned to Misha and pulled him into a hug, “Thanks Mish.”

“Anytime.” He held him tightly for a moment, “Now hurry up with the food or the kids will start to riot.”

The three of them laughed and soon everyone was grabbing their plates to head towards the inflatable projector screen. Jensen escorted (Y/N) to her special birthday throne where her friends were all sitting. Once everyone was settled, he started the episode.

Sam is reading a book in the Bunker. Dean walks into the room behind him.

“Hey, what are you doin'?”

Sam glances up, “Uh, research.”

“Okay.”

Sam continues looking through the book, “You know, it's the strangest thing. I-I can't find anything on a-a cursed object that actually physically attacks people.”

“Dude, it's over. All right? Be like Elsa -- Let it go.” Dean smirks.

Sam turns around in his chair and looks at Dean incredulously, “Be like Elsa?”

Dean nodded,  “Ah? Right? Come here. I need to show you something. It's important. Come on.”

Sam and Dean enter a dark room, “Behold,” Dean turns on the light “... the Dean-cave. Or Fortress of Dean-a-tude. Just -- still trying to figure that one out.”

Dean walks Sam through the room, pointing out all the 'amenities'.

“We got Foosball. We've got jukebox -- all vinyl, obviously. Double La-Z-Boy recliners. And, of course, the bar. Still a work-in-progress. It's gonna have a kegger because...Well, it's gonna. And finally... the pièce de résistance.”

Dean points a remote at the television from the pawn shop.

Sam holds up his hand, “Okay, hold on, hold on. When did you have time to do all this?”

“When it's important, you make time, Sammy.”

Sam rolls his eyes, “Wh–”

“Let's give this bad boy a test run, huh?” Dean cuts off Sam.

♪ Dun, dun ♪

♪ Dun... ♪

Dean turns the television on. Purple sparks emanate from it and there is a purple swirling pattern on the screen.

♪ Dun, Na! ♪

“What the hell?” Sam asked, staring at the TV.

A purple beam shoots out of the screen, engulfing them. The boys disappear, and the purple beam drops them into the woods at night, in an alternate, cartoon universe.

Jensen was standing in the back behind everyone chuckling. All the kids were on a large blanket in front with their eyes locked onto the screen. Misha sat with his daughter, Maison, on one of the large Lovesacs. Jared and Gen were curled up on another Lovesac giggling like teenagers. As Jensen scanned over (Y/N)’s friends he noticed she was not sitting in her favorite chair.

Suddenly, he felt someone from behind him slip their arms around him. Seeing (Y/N)’s hands clasp in front of him, he let out a sigh of relief. Her head rested in between his shoulder blades.

“Why aren’t you sitting with your friends?” He whispered.

(Y/N) lifted his arm and placed it around her shoulders. He instinctively pulled her into his side and hugged her.

“I’m missing one and I can’t enjoy the episode without him.”

She looked up at him smiling and without a second thought he kissed her. Her body relaxed against his and another tether snapped free allowing him a single positive thought. Things between them could actually work out.

“Lead the way, birthday girl.” He whispered, watching her eyes flutter open.  

Sam looked around, “Dean? What just…”

They look at each other simultaneously saying, “Aah! You're a cartoon! Aah! I'm a cartoon! Aah! I’m a cartoon! Aah! You’re a cartoon!”

“Uh, is -- is this...Okay, okay, okay. This is a dream. It's gotta be a –” Sam rambles.

Dean slaps Sam across the face, leaving a huge handprint on his face.

“Dude!” Sam shakes his head and his face goes back to normal.

“It's not a dream. Holy crap.”

Sam tried to make sense of what happened, “This is, uh... You saw that light. Did we just get sucked into the TV?”

“Or maybe this is an angel thing. Or -- or the Trickster.” Dean suggests.

Sam shakes his head, “No, he's dead.”

“Or is he?”

“Dean, what the hell?”

“I don't know, Sam. I…” Dean looks off, past Sam, “Whoa.”

The Impala is parked in a clearing nearby.

Sam looks curiously at the car, “Uh...How did the car get here?”

“I had the keys in my pocket? Or maybe -- Wait, seriously? That's what's bumping you about this? Okay, look, are we animated? Yes. Is it weird? Yes.”

“It's beyond weird.”

Dean continues, “Well, and "beyond weird" is kind of our thing. So whatever happened, we'll figure it out. This is a case, so let's work it.”

Sam asks, “How?”

Dean looks at his Baby, “Same as always. We drive.”

The Impala drives down the road as rock music plays.

(Y/N) was snuggled into Jensen side as everyone was chuckling at the episode. He felt her shiver and grabbed her blanket from the back of the chair. He covered her as she wrapped her around his waist, resting her head on his chest.

“Uh, uh, I'm Dean. My brother, Sam. Mind if we join you?”

The gang looks at Dean like he's crazy then Fred smiles, “Of course not! There's plenty of room. I'm Fred. This is Velma, Shaggy, Scooby, and –”

Dean slides into the booth, “Daphne.”

“Hmm?”

Dean grabs Daphne's hand and kisses it, “Enchanté.”

“Hmm.” She looks unphased by his gesture.

“Girlfriend missed a prime opportunity and all because of Fred.” (Y/N) scoffed.

“Not a Fred fan?” Jensen teased.

She sat up shaking her head, “Dean Winchester or Fred? I’m going with Dean all day, everyday and twice on Sundays. He’s my man.”

Jensen heard Jared cough and glanced over to see him mouthing, “I told you so.”

He rolled his eyes, continuing to watch the episode.

Sam is kneeling beside the bed, “Dean, this isn't a dummy. This is blood.”

He holds his hand up to show that it's covered in blood. He pulls the blanket off of Cousin Simple and there are several pools of blood around his body.

“He's -- he's dead. Like -- like, really, actually dead.”

Velma calls out, “Jinkies!”

“Jeepers!” Daphne follows with.

“Zoinks!” Shaggy shakily.

Scooby looks down at the body, “Ruh-roh!”

“Son of a-”

All the adults began to cough loudly to cover up the last word of Dean’s line. (Y/N)’s laughter filled the air as all the kids groaned.

When the next dead body was revealed, Shep climbed up to snuggle in between him and (Y/N). She wrapped her arms around him, never taking her eyes off the screen and Jensen from that point never took his eyes off her. He never thought about kids but suddenly the only image in his mind was (Y/N) barefoot and pregnant. He wanted that. Desperately.

“Great working with you, Velma.” Sam said, holding his hand out to her.

“You, too, Sam.” Velma grabs Sam and dips him into a kiss, “Mmm. Mwah. Those shoulders. Jinkies!

She raises her arms triumphantly as she leaves the room with the rest of the Scooby gang.

Dean huffs, “Shoulda known Velma was good to go. Gah! It's always the quiet ones.”

(Y/N) leaned in towards him careful not to wake Shep who fell asleep, “Yeah handsome, it’s the quiet one you have to go for.”

She chuckled, giving him a wink then turning her eyes back towards the screen. For a moment, panic struck Jensen that maybe he had been mistaken. Maybe, (Y/N) had heard everything he told her while she was sleeping. The thought made his stomach churn.

Quickly, he stood up as (Y/N) carried Shep inside, “For anyone who may have had too much wine, whiskey or beer, please feel free to crash here. We have plenty of room. Kiddos can sleep down in the rec room and there are guest’s rooms throughout the house.”

“Ackles, do you mind if the kids stay here…” Jared wiggled his eyebrows towards his wife who was carrying Odette inside with a sleepy Tom following her.

Jensen nodded, “Sure. Enjoy a kid free night.”

Jared hugged him, “Thank you. You’re the best.”

He could hear (Y/N) laughing as Jared rushed Gen to say goodnight to their kids. Jensen helped Misha with West and Maison putting them on the makeshift, couch cushion bed with the Padalecki kids.

“I’ll sleep down here with all of them so you don’t have to worry about it.” Misha patted his shoulder before heading towards the couch that still had cushions on it.

When Jensen walked upstairs, he found (Y/N)’s friends all in front of the TV with another bottle of wine passing between them.

He chuckled to himself before calling out to them, “Goodnight ladies.”

“Goodnight Jensen.”

“Sweet dreams.”

“Feel free to come snuggle any time tonight.”

They all fell into a fit of giggles as he walked upstairs to his room chuckling to himself. Opening his door, he was surprised to find (Y/N) standing next to the bed staring down at her feet. His mind immediately went to something being wrong and closed the distance between them with two long strides.

“Is everything okay?” He lifted her chin so he could see her eyes.

Jensen sucked in a breath seeing her normally bright eyes darkened. The next thing he knew, her lips were smashed against his and her hands were up in his hair. His body reacted without paying any attention to his mind. His hands slipped beneath her legs and lifted them to wrap around his waist. Turning them around, Jensen sat on the bed while (Y/N) pushed his plaid shirt down his arms. Tossing it to the side his hands cupped either side of her face and his mind finally pierced through the desire flooding it.

“Pretty girl…” She kissed him again before he pulled away, “We can’t…”

Her body froze and guilt chilled his body to his bones. Her wide eyes stared into his eyes and she scrambled off his lap.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have. I… I…” Tears began streaming down her face, “I must have dreamed it.”

He pulled her to stand between his legs, “Dream what?”

“Nothing. It’s nothing. I should go downstairs.”

She tried to step away from him, but Jensen pulled her back again this time wrapping his arms around her.

“Tell me, please.”

(Y/N)’s eyes were shining with fresh tears as her lip trembled. His heart began to crack knowing he was the reason she was crying.

“The other night, I thought I heard you… it doesn't matter Jensen. You obviously don’t want this and I must have been having a sleep deprivation dream.”

This time, he froze. She had heard him and now was his chance.

“Please… just tell me what you heard.” He begged, needing to know once and for all.

(Y/N) sighed averting her eyes to anywhere but on him, “I thought I heard you say that you loved me. That you were in love with me. That you wanted… wanted to…”

He gently pulled her chin towards him so their eyes could meet, “Make love to you.”

Her eyes widened, “S-So, I did hear you say that?”

“Yes.” He pulled her onto his lap again, wrapping his arms tightly around her, “I want nothing more than to make love to you. Right now, it’s taking every bit of my willpower to not give in to my body.”

The corner of her lips curled slightly as she chewed on her bottom lip, “Then what’s stopping you?”

Jensen pressed his head against hers gritting his teeth, “You’re too important to me to not do everything right. You deserve nothing less than perfect. Tonight is damn close to that, I don’t want our house to be filled with people the first time we make love. I don’t want to worry about one of the kids or your friends walking in.”

“Yeah, that could be awkward.” She chuckled, “But Jensen, if we keep waiting for the perfect moment then we might miss the chance of seeing how perfect we could be together. Between your schedule and my deadline schedule, we have to seize the moment we have. Risk the chance of traumatizing the kids or making my friends insanely jealous.”

Now it was his turn to chuckle, “So what are you saying, pretty girl?”

She stood from his lap, taking his hands and sliding them beneath her shirt. Her soft skin beneath his fingertips wiped out what little willpower he had remaining.

“I’m saying, I’m in love with you too. I’m saying, I want this. I want us. I’m asking you to please take away all the invisible scars left behind by every douchebag and asshole that broke my heart. I want to feel again and only you can make that possible.”

Without another word, Jensen jumped head first into oblivion of love and desire.

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[femmefatalevibe]

Hello dear! May I ask if you have any advice on how to make money at a very young age? 😓😓 I'm a teenager, and I already want to be financially stable, but I don't know where to start this journey. It's okay if you don't have any. Have a great day <33 ☺️🤗

Hi love! I would say gain a digital-based skill – such as freelance writing, social media management, content creation, coding, etc., to create a self-made portfolio, and pitch yourself to potential clients at an entry level. As you gain experience and professional work samples/accomplishments, you can increase your rates and dive into how to best organize your offerings into packages, retainers, etc. This process can take a few months to a few years, or be a small side hustle/passion project until you can obtain a more "stable" traditional job from an employer.

Financial stability can be really tough, so work your way up in milestones to avoid burning out due to an expectation gap in your earnings/your time and experience working. Keep an abundance mindset, but celebrate every win – from your first $50 to $1,000 made and beyond.

I don't know how old you are, so make sure you're covered legally and have a parent or trusted guardian in the loop if you're under 16-18 (I don't know your specific situation, field choice, work arrangement, or country you live in, so I'm going with this age range).

Hope this helps xx

[tastesoftamriel]

Need your work edited and proofread? Can't seem to break out of those nasty writing habits? Just looking to add some oomph to that pesky fanfic that's been sitting in your drafts for two years? I'm here to help! Message me for more information and let's make 2023 the year you hit all your writing goals! ~Tal

Editing FAQ:

*Why are your prices so high?

-I am a trained social anthropologist who holds a BA with First Class Honours, and an MA with Distinction (top grades in the UK university system). I am a published author, and edit professionally for The Three Little Sisters LLC. Academic writers for those within my education range make at least £125 an hour, which make my rates significantly cheaper than other freelancers you might find out there.

*How do you organise your rates?

-Depending on the project, I tend to work at about six to ten pages per hour, as I go through meticulously and tidy up spelling and grammatical errors, suggest rewrites, and even do backup research. My rates will therefore vary from project to project; for example, a 60 page novella ranges from £300-400, shorter stories from £120, and academic essays from £180-250. Of course, I negotiate all my prices with my clients beforehand, to make sure that this is something that they can afford. On request, I'm also happy to negotiate payment plans to something more affordable and suited to my clients' needs.

*What won't you edit?

-I am happy to take on most projects, including those containing NSFW content, but will not touch graded academic work (like school and university essays and theses unless they have already been submitted and graded). For personal reasons, I am also unable to work with any graphic content that focuses on child and/or sexual abuse.

*How do you accept payment?

-I take all payment through PayPal. I generally ask for a 50% deposit before I begin, and the other 50% on delivery of the final work. Due to the ridiculous interest, I kindly ask that payments are made for 'family and friends' (I will be your best friend by the end of the editing process, so don't worry). 

*What is your work process like?

-I firstly discuss with clients what they would like from me and what they hope to achieve from my services. When we have reached an agreement, I will create a folder in Google Docs that both the client and I have access to. During the editing process, clients can look at, but not make any changes to the documents (this disrupts my workflow and makes things confusing as I go through every document at least twice).

Over the editing period, I will make detailed timestamped comments with explanations. Every day, I will make a new document copied from the previous one to track my progress. Once I'm done, I will send through a final copy that the client can download and edit freely, and accept the final payment. I am available for further advice and questions after this final payment at no additional cost.

*How long does it take for you to edit?

-To avoid burnout, I tend to work between one to three hours a day (give or take, depending on my energy levels as I suffer from mental conditions that make concentration difficult at times). As such, I can knock over a 175 page novel in about a week to ten days, an essay in two days, and a short story in one day. These are approximations, and I keep clients updated every step of the way about my progress!

*Sounds great! How do we get started?

-You can contact me directly via DM, or email me at Natalia.L.academic@gmail.com for more information. I'm happy to answer all your questions and work on YOUR terms!

[freelancewrit]

Navigating the Digital Odyssey: The Bounty of Freelance Writing

In the ever-evolving landscape of contemporary business, where the internet commands attention, the craft of creating compelling content has risen to unprecedented importance. Traditional job markets, grappling with challenges of innovation and heightened productivity leading to a scarcity of opportunities, have paved the way for a promising avenue—freelance writing.

Global Demand for Wordsmiths

The internet, a universal connector, has obliterated geographical boundaries for writers. With a dependable internet connection, wordsmiths can now ply their trade from any corner of the world, sparking an escalating demand for skilled content creators. Whether you're a seasoned writer or someone venturing into a new career path, the freelance writing domain unfolds expansive opportunities.

Embark on a Journey of Opportunities - Click Here!

Quality Content: The Pillar of Online Presence

In the digital realm, where visibility is paramount, securing a coveted spot on the first page of search engine results is the lifeline for businesses. Companies failing to secure a position among the top 10 results, especially on platforms like Google, risk fading into obscurity. Skilled writers play an indispensable role. Businesses are willing to invest significantly in well-crafted articles—ranging from $10 to $50—and even more for press releases, e-books, or monthly newsletters. Quality content stands as the gateway to elevating a company among the coveted top search results.

Embarking on a Freelance Writing Expedition

The journey to becoming a freelance writer offers diverse avenues, from showcasing skills on dedicated websites to interning with SEO firms. Aspiring writers seeking internships should align themselves with top-tier SEO companies, unlocking not only ample work opportunities but also potential full-time positions. These experiences offer invaluable training in crafting articles optimized for search engines—a skill paramount for success in the dynamic realm of online writing.

Passion as the Wind in Your Sails

A triumphant writing career requires an authentic passion and flair for the craft. Freelance writing beckons with the promise of not just earning a livelihood but reveling in the freedom to work from any corner of the globe. Armed with just an internet connection, writers can upload articles and receive payments online, offering the flexibility to sustain a modest living while exploring the world.

Setting Sail on Your Writing Odyssey

For those embarking on their writing journey, practice becomes the crucible for success. Offering to write articles for free, crafting reviews of daily experiences, or initiating a blog becomes pivotal in honing writing skills. Seeking feedback from peers and family offers invaluable insights to refine one's professional journey.

The Prolific Writer's Code

To achieve prolificacy, aspiring writers should set their sights on producing a minimum of five articles per day. Crafting reviews—whether on food, movies, or books—serves as excellent practice to advance and refine writing skills. Collating opinions from close circles and iteratively refining work based on feedback contributes to a perpetual state of improvement.

Delivering Facts, Not Opinions

Maintaining objectivity and delivering factual information are non-negotiable in freelance writing. Reserve personal opinions unless explicitly instructed otherwise. Leverage resources such as Google, Wikipedia, and personal knowledge to deliver content that seamlessly aligns with the project at hand.

Navigating the Vast Freelance Writing Expanse

While securing freelance writing gigs may be straightforward, the initial pay might not be lucrative. Platforms like iWriter, Fiverr, Textbroker, and Contentwriters.com serve as launchpads, offering opportunities to commence the journey with pay scaling from $3.00 to $35.00 per article based on performance ratings over time.

The Art of Research and Expertise

Thorough research and an in-depth understanding of the topic distinguish a good article from an outstanding one. As writers accumulate experience and knowledge, projects become more efficient, paving the way for increased earnings.

The Liberation of Online Work

Working online liberates individuals from the daily commute, office politics, and grants the flexibility to spend more quality time with family. The ability to set one's working hours and choose any location further enhances the allure of freelance writing as a career choice.

In a world where online presence is the lifeblood of businesses, skilled content writers have become indispensable architects of a company's online visibility. Embracing this shift offers not just a career but a lifestyle, combining passion, freedom, and the opportunity to make a substantial impact on businesses worldwide.

[outlikethat]

fic stats game

Rules: Give us the links to your fics with the most hits, second most kudos, third most bookmarks, fourth most comments, fifth most words, and your fic with the least amount of words.

Open tag accepted from @runawaymarbles

Being as I’m primarily a podficcer, I’ll arbitrarily use slightly different metrics for some of these.

Most hits: The MOST most hits (not counting Crown of Thorns, which I won’t, because it’s a multivoice juggernaut) is tentacular Good Omens fx-fest Pale Tendrils, by Anonymous. Understandable — come for the tentacles, stay for the witty writing and my unabashedly gleeful porn-formance. However, the secondmost hits is more interesting, because what the fuck. The hits on Only the Third Story in this Forsaken Fandom Whose Title Does Not Begin With If, by seekingferret, have been steadily climbing since I posted it — without at all a corresponding number of kudos, and no comments. It’s a highly meta If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler / 1/0 / 2666 by Robert Bolano Yuletide story, and while I like it a lot, I do not know what this unprecedented click rate means, at all. At first I thought it was bots, but I locked it down and the steady hits — sometimes ten or more per day — continued. Yeah, I dunno. Couldn’t happen to a more apt bunch of fandoms though.

Second-most kudos: What a Way to Make a Living, by attheborder, a Good Omens story in which Crowley, at a loss without his hellish assignments from Downstairs, becomes an Uber driver. Or, what if Crowley had ADHD? Includes “freelance chickens”, one of the most difficult phrases I’ve ever tried to record coherently.

Third-most words: Well, I thought I could go for “third longest,” and then realised that (because, unlike some podficcers, I don’t keep a detailed spreadsheet of my creations with word count, finished length, and a whole lot of other fascinating statistics, and AO3 doesn’t helpfully sort by podfic length tag) this was more work than I was willing to go to, especially on my phone, since I don’t feel like crossing the room and sitting in my office chair again to use the real computer.

So, third longest, ish, maybe, since Sansûkh isn’t finished yet (and anyway, I’m only counting multivoice and group projects when I feel like it, but also this is one of the times, kind of) is Once There Was, Once There Wasn’t, 2022’s Pod Together project from The Sentient Hive. This is a queer playable interactive game inspired by fairytales from around the world, with four different interlinked storylines. Hive projects are some of my favourite things to work on; most of what I did for this one was art, but I also read the Witch. This is approximately 6-7 hours of content. You can read the stories and listen to the audio on AO3, or play the complete, gamified Twine version with interactive puzzles on itch.io.

Fourth-most comments: Good Omens again (surprise surprise), equestrianstatue’s A Kind of Magic. Another very funny piece, because I have a Brand, with some of my personal favourite cover art — the idea for it made me laugh out loud when it occurred to me, and I still think it’s very funny. In a graphic design kind of way.

Fifth-most words: Hm. The sort-by-length thing just isn’t on, is it? Howbout first thing from the bottom with five comments? That might get us into some of the more obscure delights at the bottom of my catalogue… oh. ahahahaha! Not a podfic! This ancient and breathless little number, A Gamble in Darkness, is the backgrounder I wrote for my Toreador character back when I played in a vampire LARP. Well, it does have a few nice turns of phrase floating in the sea of purple prose.

The first-from-the-bottom podfic with five comments is He Who Is Made of Iron, a gently atmospheric Queen’s Thief piece mostly about tea by EternalLibrary. I recorded this very quickly during a rainstorm; it’s an unadorned and simple reading of a nice little story.

Fewest words: An obvious one — it has no words at all. (🌚🦋) 🧑🏫 is the all-emoji translation of Don Marquis’ the lesson of the moth, in collaboration with @olive2read. Includes text-to-speech audio for the full absurdist experience! This one is another personal favourite.

I’ll continue with tagging anyone who wants to do it. heck, if you do have a spreadsheet, use different stats!