When I got my first freelance writing gig, I faced a bunch of unknowns: how to write quickly and well online, how to get paid, how to write a pitch, what editors did, and even dumb stuff like how to do my taxes. After half a decade as a paid blogger and magazine freelancer, I've learned a lot. Everything I know about the art and science of freelance writing is in this book. Want to be a writer in the modern world? Please read this. It might even be a tax write-off.Praise for The Blogger Abides:"At the risk of empowering the competition, I wholeheartedly endorse this book. Blunt, honest and useful guidance for freelance writers."-David Wolman, contributing editor at Wired and author of The End of Money"Don't go telling your friends about this book. If it's too successful he'll stop writing for us. Panic attacks will follow."-Jason English, Editor-in-Chief, mentalfloss.com"The world needs this book, and I am glad it exists."-Ransom Riggs, New York Times Bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children"If you're thinking of finally getting serious about writing online—or are just curious about what pro blogging entails—buy this book. Higgins translates his wide-ranging career into unique insights on the business of wordsmithing today that you won't find anywhere else. Even if you consider yourself more of an ink-and-paper writer, The Blogger Abides will pay for itself many times over."-Karla Starr, contributor to The Atlantic, Slate, Popular ScienceTable of Contents:GETTING STARTEDChris Higgins, Surprisingly Successful WriterSo You Want to Be a Professional WriterGoing ProLiving SmallManaging a Day JobSuitable Day Jobs for a Freelance WriterDeveloping GoalsNoticing Good Content (“Curation”)Professional Winging It10,000 PagesHOW TO STRUCTURE YOUR WRITING LIFEYour Daily RoutineDaily GoalsTo-Do ListsFurther ReadingLET’S TALK BLOGSThe Value of a Post (in Dollars)The Value of Other Freelance WritingBite-Sized or Book-Length?Knowing Your AudienceMake Your Own Feature SeriesMining Nostalgia for Fun and ProfitI Did Not Know ThatToday in HistoryThe Wikipedia FormulaStealing (With Attribution) Mainly for ProfitComment BaitWhy I Hate InterviewsWHAT MAKES BLOGGING SPECIALStock and FlowConstant FeedbackHitting it BigThe Polaroid StoryThe Easter Island “Heads” Have BodiesHow Apple’s “1984” Ad Was Almost CanceledBUSINESS, BLAH BLAH BLAHHow Contracts WorkHow Taxes WorkHow Retirement Savings WorkHow to Write an InvoiceChoosing Your NameWhy You Should Have an LLCLawyers and AgentsOn Registering CopyrightsGetting Paid MoreHOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND NOT STALKEDSocial MediaHow to Write a Credits ListHaving a Personal WebsiteKeeping Your Private Bits PrivateTRADING UPTrading UpHow to Pitch MagazinesWhen and How to Say NoWhen to Quit Your Day JobBLOGGING 101: THE WRITING STUFFEquipment for WritingHow to Write HeadlinesMissing the LedeUsing Your VoiceWriting LessReferencing Yourself10 Amazing Reasons Why Lists SuckAsking for MoreAvoid Reblogging Your Own BlogNever Trust WikipediaThe UnmentionablesBlogger Disclosure LawsMetrics for SuccessBLOGGING 101: THE TECHNICAL STUFFWhy Writing HTML MattersBasic HTML for BloggersGiving CreditHow Links WorkWhy URL Shortening SucksDealing With Photographs and Other Image CopyrightsEmbedding VideoAfter the JumpUsing the Preview ButtonHow to Correct a StoryBLOGGING 101: THE INTERPERSONAL STUFFDealing With EditorsDealing With CommentsDealing With PublicistsAPPENDIX: COMMON WRITING MISTAKES TO AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE (AND CLICHES)Some General Grammar and Style GuidelinesFrequent OffendersInternet-Specific Examples of What Not to Do