GUEST POST: SLIGHTLY OFF-KILTER: SONGS FOR CREATING DEMONS BY BARRY MAHER

On December 16, 2025December 15, 2025 By authoranthonyavinablogIn Guest PostLeave a comment

Slightly Off-Kilter

Songs for Creating Demons

By Barry Maher

I listen to music when I write. This column for example is being created with the help of—or perhaps in spite of—a piece of music that seems to be an unfortunate blend of God Save the King and The Moldavan National Anthem. But creating my new supernatural thriller, The Great Dick: And The Dysfunctional Demon, a thriller that’s able to laugh at itself, (one reader called it “Horrifying and Delightful!”) required an even more horrifying type of music. Music like:

Dust by Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac? Aren’t they much too pop for horror? Actually Dust was from an early incarnation of Fleetwood Mac, with no hits and lots of drug problems, not the later version of the group with lots of hits and even more drug problems. The lyrics to Dust come from a 1909 poem by Rupert Brook, who was no bundle of sunshine.

“When your swift hair is quiet in death
And through the lips corruption
Thrust to still the labor of my breath”

Midnight Mile by the Rolling Stones.

This haunting tune about a mad day on the road “with a head full of snow,” gets me picturing Keith Richards as the guitar playing, coked-up, walking dead. Perhaps not a huge stretch.

I Put a Spell on You by Screaming Jay Hawkins. Writing about obsession?

Here’s Screaming Jay screaming that he doesn’t care if you don’t want him. It doesn’t matter to him at all. He’s still yours. A non-returnable gift that threatens to keep on giving.

She’s Not There by the Zombies

This one doesn’t make my list for the name of the group, but for the mood the music evokes. And the lyrics do have a touch of the sinister. In this British song, a mysterious woman is causing untold suffering, Like the singer, we can only wonder about how much she lied, with no way of telling “how many people cried.” I know what you’re thinking. But the song was released in 1965, considerably before Maggie Thatcher ever became Prime Minister.

No Bravery by James Blunt

I thought this guy wrote love songs, but this one features shallow graves, burning houses, the odor of death, and dying families. I listen to this, then write horror to cheer up.

Tie a Yellow Ribbon by Tony Orlando. Not a horror classic, just a horrible song. I can’t listen to it without dreaming of tying a yellow ribbon as tightly as possible around Tony Orlando’s neck. And I understand the reasoning of a homicidal demon.

Last and in so many ways least, Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath

Apparently, Satan, with eyes of fire, is coming after the singer. That might explain the vocal. I think this one is from the Black Sabbath album Blue Skies, Sunny Days and Lollypops, or it may be from Kittens, Puppies and Other Easy Meals. To quote a key phrase, “Please, God help me.”

Take a listen. The singing sounds like a weasel caught in a meat grinder. The question this little ditty raises is more theological than musical. Namely: why would a loving God allow something like this to exist? And to somehow be a hit? When I first heard it on my car radio, I thought my transmission was disintegrating, but it was only humanity’s musical taste.

Check out Barry Maher’s dark humor supernatural thriller, The Great Dick: And the Dysfunctional Demon, on Amazon. Contact him and/or sign up for his newsletter at www.barrymaher.com.

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GUEST BLOG POST: Freelance Writing: How College Students Can Turn Words Into Work By Marcie Sullivan

On November 26, 2025November 26, 2025 By authoranthonyavinablogIn Guest PostLeave a comment

Image: Freepik

Freelance Writing: How College Students Can Turn Words Into Work

Writing has quietly become one of the most adaptable freelance careers for college students and recent grads. You don’t need a fancy office, expensive gear, or years of experience — just clarity, consistency, and a laptop. Whether it’s content writing, blogging, ghostwriting, or UX copy, the field rewards creativity and curiosity.

Core Points

Freelance writing lets students earn while learning, often with minimal startup costs.
Popular paths include content writing, ghostwriting, editing, social media copy.
Essential tools include grammar checkers, portfolio sites, and payment platforms.
Building a reputation requires consistency and responsiveness.
Consider forming an LLC for credibility and legal protection.

FAQs

Q1: Do I need a degree to start writing professionally?
No — portfolios beat diplomas in this industry. Build samples on platforms like Medium or Substack.

Q2: What should I charge as a beginner?
Start with $0.05–$0.10 per word or per-project pricing on marketplaces like Upwork.

Q3: How can I get clients fast?
Pitch via LinkedIn, use job boards like ProBlogger, and build an SEO-optimized writer profile.

Q4: Should I niche down early?
Yes — specializing (e.g., sustainability, SaaS, or education) boosts trust and rates.

Q5: How do I stay organized?
Use free tools like Notion or Trello for task management.

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Why Writing Works as a Student Side Career

Unlike gig jobs or retail work, freelance writing compounds in value. Each article is a potential reference, backlink, or resume piece. The flexibility lets students:

Work from anywhere (libraries, dorms, cafés).
Adjust schedules around exams.
Turn part-time work into full-time careers after graduation.

And unlike other jobs, writing scales with skill — better words bring better clients.

Building a Freelance Writing Career From Scratch

Identify Your Interest Area → Start with topics you know (tech, travel, psychology).
Create 3–5 Writing Samples → Post them on Medium or your blog.
Build a Simple Portfolio Website → Use Carrd or WordPress.
Set Up Professional Tools
- Payment: PayPal, Wise
- Proofreading: Grammarly
- Document sharing: Google Docs
Start Pitching Clients → Personalize outreach emails and include your best samples.
Track Income and Deadlines → Use spreadsheets or free project trackers.

Before You Take Your First Client

✅ Have at least two polished writing samples
✅ Know your rate (per word or per project)
✅ Set up a professional email
✅ Create a Google Drive folder for client work
✅ Confirm how you’ll get paid (and when)
✅ Read the client’s brief carefully
✅ Keep communication clear and friendly

Establishing an LLC

Establishing a business structure gives freelance writers legitimacy and protection. Forming an LLC can separate personal assets from business income, simplify taxes, and boost your professional image when dealing with clients. Filing fees differ by state, and online formation services like zenbusiness.com providers offer customizable registration packages to make setup simple and affordable.

Common Writing Niches and Average Entry Rates

Niche	Typical Client Type	Average Starting Rate	Long-Term Growth Potential
Tech/SaaS	Startups, agencies	$0.08–$0.12 per word	High (retainer potential)
Lifestyle/Health	Blogs, brands	$0.05–$0.10 per word	Moderate
Finance/Business	Fintech, education sites	$0.10–$0.15 per word	High
Academic Editing	Students, journals	$20–$40 per hour	Steady
UX/Product Copy	Apps, software companies	$50–$150 per project	High

Featured Product: Grammarly

Even professional writers rely on proofreading and editing software. Grammarly helps refine tone, clarity, and consistency — a must-have for freelancers handling multiple clients at once. Use it alongside style guides or editing frameworks for clean, confident delivery.

Freelance writing isn’t just a side hustle — it’s a foundation for creative independence. With focus, structure, and a bit of persistence, college students can turn their curiosity into cash and their skills into sustainable careers. Writing is one of the few jobs where learning and earning evolve together — and that’s a pretty smart start.

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7 Tips Every Writer Needs to Know About Writing Characters by Ana Obradović

On August 9, 2024October 14, 2024 By authoranthonyavinablogIn Guest PostLeave a comment

The goal of every writer is to craft original characters that readers will remember. In a book, a movie, or a short story – having interesting characters is the key to keeping readers interested. You know we all love a good writer, but let’s be honest – people have always cared the most about characters. Let’s talk about seven tips for making characters that stand out. From giving them detailed backgrounds to showing their growth and relationships. These ideas will help you make your characters feel real. We’ll also discuss the importance of giving characters both strengths and weaknesses and accepting their imperfections. By using these methods, you can make characters that feel like real people and keep readers hooked!

1. Show, don’t tell

Show, don’t tell is one of the main principles in character writing. Instead of just saying they’re brave or kind, demonstrate it through their actions. Let their courage shine through daring deeds, like running into a burning building. Show their kindness through helping others or comforting friends. This not only makes your characters more relatable but also brings them to life.

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2. Develop Deep Backstories

Adding layers of depth and realism to your writing is something you can easily achieve by fixing your character’s backstory! By delving into their past, you reveal the driving forces and life experiences that influence their choices and behaviors. It’s more than just listing significant events; it’s about grasping their hopes, fears, and motivations. Using tools like character profiles or character planners can assist you in this process. They are built to enable you to fully explore your ocs and their backgrounds. Keep in mind that not every aspect of the background will be included in your story. But it will ensure your characters act in a coherent and believable manner.

Example: Severus Snape‘s background in Harry Potter is a great example of how a character can grow. Snape didn’t have a happy childhood, he found comfort in his friendship with Lily Evans. Even though he joined the bad guys as a Dbut eath Eater, Snape cared so much about Lily that he switched sides when Voldemort went after her. Working as a spy for Dumbledore, Snape acted tough but he was actually trying to do the right thing and make sacrifices – character complexity at its best. His journey from a troubled kid to a hero with a sad ending makes for one of the pivotal moments in the overall story.

3. Give Each Character a Unique Voice:

To make each character stand out, focus on how they talk and think differently. Consider their vocabulary and tone to show their personality and experiences. For instance, a character with an academic background may speak formally with complex sentences, whereas a street-smart character may use slang and brief phrases. Don’t forget to explore their inner thoughts and reactions to the world. By keeping these distinct voices consistent, readers can easily recognize each character and see them come alive with unique personalities.

4. Create Flawed Characters

Giving your characters bad habits and flaws might sound tough. Like you would want to add a bad trait to your kid on purpose. But here’s what – they’ll still have flaws. Instead of creating perfect characters, give them flaws, fears, and vulnerabilities to make them more relatable and engaging. These imperfections provide opportunities for growth, conflict, and dynamic storytelling, ultimately leading to their development. And this leads us to the next tip. Creating a character profile can help you. Put your thoughts on paper or phones and see how it gets easier to strike the balance of a relatable character.

5. Ensure Characters Evolve and Grow

Throughout the story, characters should change in meaningful ways that show how their experiences and challenges have affected them. This transformation keeps the story interesting and exciting. For example, a shy character could start by avoiding conflict, but as they face different obstacles, they might become more confident and stand up for themselves for a change. A character who is initially selfish could learn about compassion and sacrifice through their own mistakes. On the other hand, a character who starts off as idealistic might become more cynical after seeing unfairness, which could change their perspective. These changes make the characters more believable and keep readers interested in their journey, wondering how they will grow and develop.

Example: Tony Stark (Iron Man)
Initial Character: Arrogant, wealthy industrialist focused on profit.
Catalyst: Captured by terrorists, sees the harm caused by his weapons.
Becoming Iron Man: Builds the Iron Man suit, and vows to fight for justice.
Personal Growth: Faces PTSD, moral dilemmas, and learns
Redemption: Sacrifices himself in “Avengers: Endgame” to save the whole universe.

This is a great example of character evolution – from a self-centered billionaire to a selfless hero, which is what makes him an iconic character.

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6. Balance Strengths and Weaknesses

Great characters always have a mix of good and bad traits. This mix makes them more interesting and easier to believe in. For instance, a character might be super smart and great at solving tough problems but struggle with talking to people and feel lonely a lot. Another character could be really strong and brave, always ready to take action, but they might also act without thinking and make bad choices. A caring and understanding character might be really good at helping others and understanding their feelings, but they might also take things too personally and get upset easily. Your flaws and mistakes are what make you relatable – why would it be different for your character? Of course, they have room to grow and change as the story goes on. This mix makes sure that no character is perfect, which leads to interesting conflicts and stories that are all about the characters.

Example: Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle)
Sherlock Holmes is a super popular character known for his amazing detective skills. However, he also has a big list of flaws to “compensate” for being a genius. Despite having sharp observational skills, he can be socially awkward, dismissive of others, struggles with forming emotional connections, comes off as arrogant, and insensitive, often taking risks, turns to substance abuse, and the list goes on. Holmes is a super smart guy, but he’s not perfect. That’s what makes him so interesting! He’s really good at solving mysteries, but he also has some flaws that make him more human and therefore relatable.

7. Keep Your Characters Consistent

It’s super important to keep your characters’ behavior consistent. Think about how people always act in ways that make sense based on who they are. If a character is all about paying attention to details, it wouldn’t make sense for them to suddenly start being careless without a good reason. You can use tools like character profiles to help you stay on track and make sure your characters stay true to who they are. Popular websites like CharacterHub or Toyhouse are great for storing all of your character information. This helps your readers trust you and keeps your story strong and interesting.

Conclusion

If you follow these seven important tips when you write, your characters will start feeling like real people that your readers will love. Characters are the most important part of a good story – their adventures, challenges, friendships, and changes. Make sure to give them detailed backgrounds, and unique voices, and show their growth and development. Also, when creating and managing your characters, use character storage websites so you can remember all the important details and make your story more consistent.. By doing all this, you’ll create a story that feels real – your readers will really appreciate it!

Guest Article: Jumpstart Your Writing Side Hustle: Turning a Hobby into a Business by Virginia Cooper

On July 21, 2023October 14, 2024 By authoranthonyavinablogIn Guest PostLeave a comment

Photo Credit: Ketut Subiyanto via Pexels

Jumpstart Your Writing Side Hustle: Turning a Hobby into a Business

Are you looking to turn your passion and hobby into a profitable business? Many of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs have started this way – from kitchen-table businesses to tech giants. If you have an idea, the right approach, and plenty of dedication, you can make it happen. Here are some tips from Author Anthony Avina’s Blog for turning your hobby into a business.

Part-Time Business

A great way to start is by turning your writing hobby into a side hustle. This will help you test out the waters without having to invest too much time or money. You can keep your day job while working on your side hustle in your spare time until it becomes profitable enough to transition into full-time work. This also allows you to gauge interest in your product/service and adjust accordingly before committing fully.

Create an LLC

Once you decide to become serious about your business venture, registering as an LLC is important for protecting yourself and other stakeholders involved in the business. With the help of a formation service, you can register your small business quickly and easily online with just five simple steps.

Registering quickly is important since it will allow you access to key resources such as venture capital funds, banking credit lines, and even free marketing support services offered by banks and chambers of commerce.

Establish a Business Plan

Developing an effective business plan is key for any successful venture regardless of size or industry. Your plan should include research about competitors in the market, production plans, financial forecasts, strategy for marketing and promotion, goals, staffing plans, etc.

Writing up this plan will give potential investors an idea of what they are investing in and will also help provide guidance throughout the life cycle of the project. It’s also recommended that entrepreneurs update their plans regularly so they remain relevant over time despite changing market conditions or external factors influencing their businesses negatively or positively.

Come Up with a Marketing Plan

Having an effective marketing strategy is essential for any company looking to increase sales and gain more customers. A well-thought-out marketing plan should include research about target audiences, advertising campaigns, website design considerations, and more. Utilizing all available channels effectively can help maximize exposure leading up to launch day and beyond.

Build Your Online Presence

In today’s online marketplace, a well-designed website that accurately represents your brand is crucial for successful marketing. Providing customers with user-friendly ecommerce platforms can build trust quickly and lead to increased sales. Offering a superior web presence can give you an edge over competitors who don’t prioritize these aspects.

It’s important to use SEO strategies to get the most exposure online, so look into how to use keywords strategically. You’ll also want to rely on PDFs over other file types for online posts because they are the most SEO friendly. You can try this page to convert your other digital files into PDFs for free. Just drop in the file and let the tool work its magic!

Locate Funding

To secure funding for their project, startups can explore various options such as angel investors, crowdfunding sites, and grants from government programs. Careful research must be done to ensure that the best possible investment resources are obtained, which will help the project run successfully without running out of funds halfway through. This is crucial for completing the project successfully.

Use a Unified eCommerce Platform for Your Store

Unified ecommerce platforms can help to facilitate a smoother online purchasing process for customers, resulting in an increased likelihood of sales taking place. This is due to the better user experience, which can translate to higher profits over time through increased customer loyalty. Providing better service than the competition can help entrepreneurs gain an edge and incorporate features that can further improve the overall user experience.

Get Your Writing Business Started

Starting a business requires dedication and commitment to make your entrepreneurial dreams come true. It entails considering several factors, such as funding the operation, setting up an LLC structure, and facilitating online purchases via an ecommerce platform. By following these essential tips, you can increase your chances of success in the long run.

Are you looking for more great writing-related content? Then check out Author Anthony Avina’s Blog!

You can learn more about writer Virginia Cooper using this link!

http://learnaliving.co/

Guest Post: How To Teach Your Kids To Become Great Writers by Linda Mills

On September 17, 2021 By authoranthonyavinablogIn Guest PostLeave a comment

Writing permeates every aspect of modern life and is an essential skill regardless of profession and interest. Even businesses cannot survive without good writing at their core and it is a vital part of effective online and print marketing and promotions. Teaching writing to children whether it is a report or technical writing or creative writing has a number of key benefits for their healthy development and prosperous future. Among other things, excellent writing skills mean they will learn to express themselves, consume more reading material and perform better in most academic parameters.

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Atmosphere Dictates All

Writing is considered a challenging prospect by children especially if they are younger than middle grade because it seems complex and they might have trouble retaining good vocabulary or expressing themselves. As a parent, you need to identify issues (also ruling out the chance of dyslexia or other learning disorders) and solve them in imaginative and interesting ways. Create a safe space for the child to practice their writing like a desk or a spare room and incorporate inspiring décor ideas like scrabble tiles or framed quotes.

Next, buy them books on subjects they like such as sports or stories. As you build up their reading skills, ask them to jot down new words they have learned in a separate notebook. You can also test them on the meaning and uses of these words using colorful flashcards. Never underestimate the value of consistent practice as it often counts more than simply talent in a particular area.

Switch The Tables

One of the key aspects of being a great writer is the shifting of perspectives. Skilled writers can write for a variety of audiences to suit each and every purpose. Teaching tone and style is therefore very important. Encourage your child to imagine various scenarios and how writing would differ in all of them and help them to find examples online or in print as well. For example; writing a news report is different from someone writing a story and that is different from someone trying to sell you an item.

To Each His Own

Each child has their own favorite type of writing to read and therefore write. Is your child interested in keeping a journal or scrapbooking? Do they prefer to write travel logs? Do they like tales of fantastical lands and beasts? Encourage them to practice the kind of writing that makes their heart sing. When they are able to get a starting point this way, they’ll be more conducive to doing school work for types of writing they perhaps don’t enjoy as much such as reports or work assignments.

Equip Your Child

Make sure you have purchased all the equipment your child needs to become a formidable writer in their own right. Pencils, books, practice books, a desk, etc all matter and impart a sense of purpose. Furthermore, if you’ve consistently observed your child struggles with words and sentence formation and will benefit from English tuition, then that is a worthwhile investment. Not to mention good tutors can also be hired online with ease! You can also take them to libraries and bookshops and build up the reading habit which is in fact the greatest teacher when it comes to becoming a better writer.

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Listening Helps

Listening to audiobooks or documentaries and even podcasts is a great way to better your writing. Listening translates into better sentence structure and formation when you sit down to write. Encourage your child to listen to educational and interesting material when they are playing outside, going for a walk, simply want to lie down, or are doing anything generally unproductive. This will add to their passive learning and impact their writing in the long run.

Templates And Tests

Writing is a skill like any other and part of developing it in children is periodic testing. Look up tests online you can either use as they are, or tailor to your requirements and have your children take those tests on weekends and so on. Make sure they are short and creative so they don’t add to the school workload each child has to undertake. You can come up with story prompts or even templates and give them to your children to work from. Seeing available examples and starting points always helps with writer’s block.

To make your child keen to practice their writing more, you can even consider starting a blog or something similar from where you and he/she can track how well you are progressing. Not to mention it is brilliant motivation to keep writing and improving.

PRESS RELEASE: Save the Cat!® Goes Anime With Netflix

On May 31, 2021May 31, 2021 By authoranthonyavinablogIn book news, PRESS RELEASESLeave a comment

Los Angeles, CA – May 27, 2021 – Save the Cat!, the world’s leading storytelling method, has teamed up with Netflix, the world’s leading streaming entertainment service, to co-produce a series of edutainment videos designed to provide tools to the next generation anime creators in helping them find and develop their stories.

Leading anime and manga connoisseur, Akidearest, talks about the Save the Cat! “Fun and Games” story beat

“Save the Cat! Goes Anime” takes the 15 story beats coined by screenwriting guru and best-selling author of Save the Cat!, Blake Snyder, to break down the most popular anime stories ever told—from The Seven Deadly Sins, A Whisker Away, and Devilman Crybaby to Beastars—all through the lens of the biggest influencer names in anime, including anime and manga connoisseur, Akidearest, side by side with Save the Cat! expert instructor, Cory Milles.

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The premier episode of “Save the Cat! Goes Anime” is now live on the Netflix Anime Youtube channel.

“We couldn’t be happier to work with Netflix! No matter if you’re a fan of anime or want to write a script of your own, everyone creating and evaluating stories can now work from the same language,” says BJ Markel, co-owner of Save the Cat! and copy editor of the Save the Cat! books.

“There is a rich tradition in anime that draws on a thousand years of Japanese storytelling and craft. We’re excited to welcome Akidearest and Cory Milles to our growing Netflix Anime Channel to help put creative tools in the hands of a new generation of storytellers to help them bring their stories to life,” states Rob Pereyda, Head of Anime, Editorial & Publishing at Netflix.

“The Netflix Anime team is at the forefront of driving innovation. We are honored to work with their team to help guide the next generation of writers and producers in creating content,” adds Jason Kolinsky, co-owner of Save the Cat!, and co-writer and producer of “Save the Cat! Goes Anime.”

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About Save the Cat!

Save the Cat!® is the world’s bestselling story methodology introduced by screenwriter Blake Snyder in 2005 with his first book, Save the Cat!. Snyder’s acclaimed ideas, methods, and software have provided thousands of writers with the resources they need to develop their screenplays and novels.

Author Anthony Avina

Tag: writing blog

GUEST POST: SLIGHTLY OFF-KILTER: SONGS FOR CREATING DEMONS BY BARRY MAHER

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