How Twenty Minutes Can Make Money For You
by   Mary Jo Rulnick

Would you like to earn extra money?

Money you can earn without leaving your home, with the knowledge you already know?

As entrepreneurs, stay-at-home mothers, business people or parents, we all have knowledge to share with others.  Whether your knowledge is tips on making, saving or planning budgets, or business strategies, you can sell your advice to publications.

According to Writer's Digest (Cincinnati, OH), the how-to article is the most popular piece of writing sold and needed today.

WHY?

Today's society is the self-help era.  Everyone wants to learn something new.  And you can tap into this "need" to learn by writing and selling the tips, advice and know-how you offer to your friends, family and business associates. 

All you have to do is tap into the unique source of knowledge you have floating around inside your head.  Information you know.

BUT, HOW DO YOU START?

First, keep a notebook handy.  Jot down your tips, ideas and advice you usually give away.  After you've gathered enough related material on one subject (i.e. marketing strategies, business start-up, dealing with kids while working at home, organizing family and business life), number them.
REMEMBER:  EACH TIP MUST HAVE A COMMON THEME.

Next, write your tips into short, concise sentences.  Which one is your strongest tip?  It should be at the beginning of your article.  And the next strongest or a tip that concludes your piece should be at the end.  All other tips go in the middle. 
Your reader needs a strong beginning to entice her and a strong ending to satisfy her.

I've categorized "How-To" articles into four areas:
 
The Hands-On article tells how to build, make or do a project.
The Reporter describes a place, restaurant or item.
The Advisory Page advices the reader on a subject.
The Tally Sheet is the last and easiest one to write.  A Tally Sheet lists a certain number of helpful tips on a specific subject.  These tips have a COMMON THEME throughout the piece.

TIPS ON WRITING A TALLY SHEET

An example of a Tally Sheet:  This article, Make The Most of Twenty Minutes!

A home business requires attention and time.  Time you can't always find.
Here are three tips to help you win the never-ending battle:

1. Keep a tote bag, notebook or paperwork in the car. Take advantage of the wasted time during car pools, doctor's office visits, traffic jams, office delays, sports practices, etc.

2.  If you have kids, find an activity they can do. i.e.  Once a week, I take my son and his frined to an indoor roller blading park.  In the same building is a small cafe.  I take my paperwork with me. While the boys are having a good time, I have several hours of nearly uninterrupted work time.

3.  In the evening, sort through your notes, files, etc. Then, make a to-do list for the following day or days.  This small detail prepares you for the next day and eliminates the "Where do I start" problem.

This is how easy it is to write a "How-To" piece.

After your article is complete, scan various magazines.  Which one buys articles similar in topic to yours?  That's the type of magazine, e-zine or newsletter you should sell to.

And as I always say in my classes, if I can sell a "bingo" idea to Disney, anyone can write and sell "How-To" articles.

Remember, one thought, one idea turns into a published "How-To" article.

Now pull out your pen and notebook and get started!


As an instructor, lecturer and author, Mary Jo utilized the knowledge she gained as an active volunteer and stay-at-home mom, enabling her to sell family-based "How-To" articles to Disney's FamilyFun Magazine, Highlights for Childrens, Hyperion Books, Pittsburgh's Parent, San Diego Family, Western New York Parent and many other family publications across the country.