30 Magazine Submissions in 30 Days June Day 9 30Submissions30Days

Here is the post that started it all! I suggest you go check it out first before you take on the challenge. You can start the challenge at any time and each days post leads to the next day! Here is yesterdays post, #8.

Here is the piece I am sending out for today, which is a Tuesday. Its also a reprint like Ive been sending and is an evergreen piece. Instead of sending my reprints once and then never again, I think sending them annually is smarter. Editors change, publications come and go, opinions and magazine space change.

I suggest you get a good system down that works for you. I use Excel and in one tab have all the publications and what they have used of mine (so Im not sending a magazine something theyve already used and wasting their time), in another tab I have it arranged by article so I can see when each was published and how it did, another tab for financial stuff like invoice numbers and amounts, and another tab for my submissions plan.

So here is my offering to the magazine gods today, and Ill keep you updated on how it fares. Its already been used 9 times and made almost $300 but I havent pitched it again as a reprint in THREE YEARS! Why would I sit on something that sold so well one year? ARGH!

#9 Teen Dating: How Young is Too Young?

And here is your #9 tip/step/help for the month:

Know your terminology. A query goes to national magazines and gives a teaser of what you will write. A submission is what you send to the regionals ... in full. Worried about someone stealing your work? Keep on top of it by Googling your name, setting up Google alerts and checking Issuu.com monthly and send out invoices when you find your work has been used.

If you want to dust off your ideas and take the challenge with me sometime this summer, comment below and get my book here on Amazon as an ebook or as a print book. My book not only has all the markets you need with contact and pay information, but also embellishes on the tips Im going to be giving you this month to get you going. I recommend the print version (I make the same amount of money either way pretty much) because you are going to want to make notes, cross things out, highlight publications youve worked with, etc.

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9 What You Actually Need to Get Started

 

1973 White Road Commander

View my Other Posts:

A Holiday Wish
Blogs, Forums and Other Resources
Texting Ban
The Way it Was - A Short History of Trucking

Pro and Cons of Being an Owner Operator

FAQ for the Owner Operator
Pictures
Anti-Idling Regulations
Definitions and Industry Terms
Blackrock Auxiliary Power Unit (APU)
Interactive Cost per Mile (CPM) Calculator Spreadsheet
Privacy Policy
1) Owner Operator 411 – Welcome
2) Income and Expenses
3) Financing and Credit
4) Operating Authority or Leasing?
5) Equipment
6) How To Do Bookkeeping and Other Necessary Paperwork
7) What You Need to Know About Loadboards
8) Companies That Lease Beginning Owner Operators
10) Truck Driving Schools

OK. You have done all of your research, and decided you really do want to become an owner operator.

Hopefully, you have:

• Read this entire blog
• Talked with other owner operators, especially at the company you want to lease on to.
• Run a "What If" with the Interactive Cost Per Mile Calculator and found you really could make a profit.  Not just a profit, but enough income to pay all of your expenses and to have enough to live on, too.  (Dont forget, you also need to save enough to cover repairs or a major breakdown and enough to live on while you are getting the work done.)
• Made a business plan.
• Gotten your family to support you.  You would be surprised how many people quit driving a truck because their family doesnt like for them to be away from home.
• Decided what kind of entity you want to have.
• Decided what you will be hauling so you can spec your equipment properly?
  Have you found a truck?  Do you need a trailer too?  If you are leasing to a company, many of them have requirements as to how old of truck they will lease.  Be sure to check it out before you buy.
• Made sure your equipment will pass a DOT, state and company inspection.
• Talked with a loan officer at the bank, credit union, or loan company that will financing your equipment to see what information they require, and to see if you can even get financing for your equipment?
• Figured out how you are going to get your Commercial Drivers License (CDL).  Will you be going to a truck driving school?  If not, do you know how you are going to take a road test?
• Found an accountant or tax professional and got a list of what you need to keep track of before you start buying equipment.
• Check out Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) for vast amounts of information.  As before, I recommend that if you do become an owner operator, that you join OOIDA (non owner operators can join, too).

I would advise you to get your CDL first.  If you cant pass your tests, it would be a shame if you had already bought a truck and/or trailer.  Then you would be stuck with having to try to sell them.  Now is not a good time to try to sell your equipment.

You do not have to go to a school to get a CDL.


You do have to take both a written test and a (skills) road test. If you can pass both, then you will be issued a license.


A word of CAUTION, however,  I know you can rent trucks in some states, but in my state that is not possible. I know of no place (and I have looked) where you can rent a truck to take a road test.


Also, we tried to loan our truck to a friend to take his test in, and examiner giving the test wouldnt let him use our truck because he wasnt listed on our insurance. Dont forget, you have to take your road test in the "type of vehicle" you will be operating. In other words, you have to have a "Class A" type vehicle to get a Class A license.


In my state you must supply your own vehicle" and pay the road test examiner $75.00.


Also (any state) before you can even apply for a permit, you must have a long form DOT physical.  Cost depends on the doctor.


Dont forget, if you are applying for your own authority, you have to have a drug and alcohol program in place.  You will be required to have pre-employment  drug testing before you begin to operate your truck.  If you are leasing your truck to a company, they will do handle the drug and alcohol testing.

After you decide what type of entity you will become (sole proprietor, partnership, LLC, corporation, etc.) you may have to get an Employers Identification Number (EIN), also called a Federal Employers Identification Number (FEIN).  Its FREE! and will be issued immediately if you apply online. If you will be a sole proprietor, your EIN will be your social security number, unless you will be hiring employees (including family members), then you will need an EIN.  All others will have to file a IRS Form SS4, or file online at Employer ID Number (EIN).  See: 6) How to Do Bookkeeping and Other Necessary Paperwork Permits and Taxes for more information about sole proprietorships, partnerships, spousal partnerships, employees,and more.

After you get your federal EIN, you will have to apply for a business license with your home state.  (If you are going to be a sole proprietor, you will apply using your social security number, unless you will have employees - then you need an EIN.)  You may also have to apply for a business license with your county (parish), and/or city.  If you are going to be a LLC (limited liability company or LLP (limited liability partnership) the you will also need to have liability insurance.

Are you going to be leasing to a company or getting your own authority?  In some states you will need a USDOT number before you can get your license plates.   ** This requirement is being phased out by September 1, 2012.  Since it is until effect until then, I am not sure if you would be required to have it at this time or not.  Check with you state registration office. **  If you are applying for your own authority, you have to have a USDOT number.

Will you be operating intrastate or interstate? (intrastate is within one state only, interstate is operating in more than one state).

Will you be hauling hazardous materials (hazmat)?  Then you need a hazmat endorsement (any state).  You will also need to have a background check and be fingerprinted and get a Hazmat Endorsement Threat Assessment.  Go to Transportation Security Administration for details.  Cost is $89.25.  It is valid for 5 years, unless you transfer (to another state), upgrade (add endorsements), or renew a license, then you need to go through (and pay) all of this again.

If you will be loading or unloading at ports, you will need a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).  You can get information about this at Department of Homeland Security - TWIC.  The cost is $132.50 and is valid for 5 years.


If you plan to operate in Canada or Mexico, you will also need a passport.  United States government passport information. Cost is $120.00

The answer to each of these questions determines what you need to apply for.  Go to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) registration and licensing for a matrix (list) of the required forms, and to apply online.

You will, of course, need license plates for your tractor and your trailer (if you are purchasing both).  Contact your state Department of Motor Vehicles to find out how to apply.  Unless you are applying for license plates within 30 days of your purchase of your tractor, you will need a copy of IRS Form 2290, Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax Return, showing you paid your road use taxes. This is an annual fee.  It is  $550.00 a year for an 80,000 pound vehicle (except logging.)

The type of trucking insurance you need will depend on whether you are leased to a company or have your own operating authority, what type of goods you will be hauling, and whether your equipment is financed or paid for.  Be sure to read all of the pages at the FMCSA website.  Join OOIDA ($45 a year) and they will give you all the help you need to decide what kind of insurance you need.  You can even purchase it from them.  Just as with your personal vehicle insurance, your driving record, type of vehicle and the company you buy from will determine the cost

If you are leasing your truck to a company, you may also be required to be fingerprinted, buy Occupational Accident Insurance, and/or Workers Compensation Insurance.

I know that everyone reading this wanted a nice, neat little list of what you need and how to get it, and how much it would cost.  As you can see, however, there are so many variables, it is impossible for me to tell you exactly what you need.  In addition to the federal requirements, each state has their own rules.

The costs are also impossible to calculate without knowing exactly who, what, where, why and how, but here is a rough list:

• Money to pay for a truck driving school, if you are going to go to one
• Down payment(s) for your equipment.
• Licenses
• Permits
• Insurance
• Enough money to operate until you get your first settlement check
• Enough money to live on until you get your first settlement check.  I would recommend having enough for at least 2-6 months 
• Money put up for breakdowns (it could happen on your first trip)

If you need to buy products (training manuals or safety and compliance tools), J. J. Keller is a good source for safety and regulatory compliance products and services that help you increase safety awareness, reduce risk, follow best practices, and stay current with changing regulations.  They are used by most of the large trucking companies.

I hope this has helped you.  I would be interested in your comments.  Let me know if you think this has been useful.  If you need information about something I didnt cover, let me know, and I will update this.

Read my other posts for details and resources for of some of the information in this post.

Be sure to subscribe to this blog to get the latest information, as I keep updating this site.

I am sorry I have to do this, but due to spam "comments"  I feel I need to moderate comments from now on.

I am sorry for any inconvenience this may cause to my legitimate commenters.

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How Can I Find Proofreading Jobs Here are 9 Places to Get You Started!

Im going to freak you out here.

If my kids were in school and I didnt care how my house looked or what anyone ate, I could easily make $5,000 per month proofreading (dont forget to take taxes out of that at the end of the year and its not as much as it seems like but still a lovely income from home).

I have had INSANE months where I was able to make close to $2,000 proofreading in a month but I wanted to die at the end, only because I have other things going on for income and managing everything gets difficult. I like to have other income streams because proofreading can be feast or famine, usually feast once you get going and get some good reviews and recs. Heres my income report for September, for example.

Heres what I have come up with so far so maybe you can do what Im doing! The first two I am not familiar with because I just havent had the time to dive into them. They are reputable sites that ask for a proofreading test or sample, but I hear competition can be fierce, and Im not about underbidding my services!

1. Elance

2. Upwork (formerly Odesk)

3. Scripted is a great way to find proofreading work but you have to BE ON TOP OF YOUR GAME, as in full-on GRAMMAR NAZI MODE. I did some writing for them and also some proofreading. I was shocked at the great money I was making and had the down payment on my yacht (just kidding!) when they canned me. They seriously culled their proofing pool and I did not make the cut. I was entirely bummed. If you are a better proofer than I am, GO FOR IT!

4. Hunt down people when you see things written wrong! Is your doctors website WHACK (not in a good way)??? Offer to proofread it for cheap. Did you get a piece of direct mail that had errors? Figure out who to contact and offer your services.

5. Tenrr is a place I gave a shot and got some work but it trickled in. I havent promoted my proofing there or anything. Knockoff of Fiverr, which I talk about later.

6. Gigbucks is akin to Tenrr. I am only signed up at all of these places because I like putting my chocolate proofreading eggs in lots of different baskets.

7. PeoplePerHour is another place I signed up at for free but nothing came of it. Some of these sites are flooded so you just have to sign up all over the place and wait and promote your services.

8. Outsource.com is a place I tried for a hot second but didnt have the patience to keep at it. I had to pay for credits so I could bid jobs. I did have plenty of credits in the end and the jobs to bid on were picking up, but the competition was fierce. I did get chosen for one job and it went well and I made back what I spent in credits. I was up for another job but they had a zillion and one requirements instead of just the simple proofing and editing I do and I cant focus on jumping through hoops. I like to fix documents and get out. I dont want to get wrangled into trying to write copy or critique what theyve done because those things get touchy and subjective. You might have a better experience. I broke my own rule of paying to get jobs so I could basically get the experience to share here!

9. Fiverr is my go-to place since I signed up in April 2013 and the jobs started flooding in. I have a separate post for it because I have so much to say on the topic!

As far as signing up and getting jobs right away, I dont know if I just got lucky or what but people gave a newbie a try and soon I had good reviews coming in and more jobs. I was so busy at one point in 2013 that I was outsourcing, which was a total shit show (Im going with two words for shit show instead of making it one ... haha!).

I shut down my outsourcing situation and tried to keep up with the work on my own but soon had no life and my kids were eating too much fast food all summer. I got a bad review because I was hurrying through my work and it all went to hell for a while. It picked back up and then I overused Vacation Mode. Just in the last few months have I gotten back on and made a decent income again.

Ive done many different gigs on Fiverr besides proofreading so poke around to see what else you can offer. I put my delivery on at least 3 days so that keeps my orders low enough to manage. The main guy who does 24-hour delivery basically works full-time all day long doing small jobs. The client is charged $5 and you receive $4. At first I thought that was robbery but now I realize THEY are finding the clients for me pretty much so I will happily take my $4 for proofreading 1,500 words. I got more orders when my gig was for 2,000 words but it was taking too long to proofread that for $4 with so many non-native English speakers sending projects my way. Those projects just take longer because they require more time and reworking.

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