I started this journal during the spring semester of my junior year of college, in April of 2003.  For the most part, I've been a faithful updater, but it still surprises me that it took a little over 6 years to reach the 500th entry.  But then again, there are a few gaps in the chronology; there's just over 3 months missing from July to October 2004 when I was training at Ft. Jackson, and there was at least a year long gap from 2006-2007 when I just gave up on LJ because I was tired of writing about how miserable I was and how I felt like I was losing myself between my failing health and failing relationships.  No one wants to read that shit.  So perhaps that's why it's taken so long to reach 500.  Not that it's a big deal, but I just happened to notice the milestone, and I feel compelled to acknowledge it as a result.  So there.  500.  

Now that that's out of the way, I think I've found a potentially interesting freelancing opportunity.  Now that I'm settled into my house and have my office set up, I've started to look for part time writing and/or copyediting gigs to supplement my full time customer service job.  I think I've found just the thing, too.

Has anyone heard of/browsed Examiner.com?  Wouldn't you know it, Allentown is one of the cities featured and looking for writers.  If I pick an area of expertise and submit at least 4 articles per week, I might be able to get some exposure, practice, and experience while making a little extra cash on the side.  Based on the job listing, this is precisely what I'm looking for.  It's a part time jaunt, designed for people who are full time students or holding down full time jobs.  As such, it allows its contributors to set their own pace, topics, schedules, etc.  Pay is based on visitors to your articles and the volume you generate. 

I'm going to marinate on this for a bit and write a few sample articles.  Let's see if I can pin down a category that will appeal to me in the long run.  Naturally, the first topic that jumped to mind was Religion and Spirituality.  There aren't any articles in the Allentown listings about heathenism/Asatru/Odhinnism.  So that might be the natural place for me to take the plunge.  

Of course, if I could get a zombie category started, that would be superb.  But this should be taken one step at a time, I'm sure.  But then again, maybe I could be the Zombie Examiner under "Hobbies" or "Home & Living" ("6 Budget-Conscious Ways to Zombie-Proof Your Home").

Food & Drink also appeals to me, but while I love to cook and harbor an overly enthusiastic passion for food, I'm not sure I'd be a great food writer.  

Hmn.   I should get involved in the Arts & Entertainment category as well so that I can become Allentown's NaNoWriMo Examiner come November.  Hell, screw the November limit, I'm obsessed with NaNo year-round, so I should consider that as an area of expertise.  

Mmmm, lots of areas to consider, lots of ideas brewing.  Yes, this week will find me reading everything in the Examiner.com A&E and R&S categories to get a feel for the site's style and then dashing out some practice articles, indeed.  Perhaps I'll post them to ardeal_foxtale to gauge interest and feedback.  

In other news, my cat is passed out on the back of the couch with her tongue sticking out.  D'awwwww.