Quitting a job can be a very nerve wracking experience. Whether it is the first time you are quitting a job or you simply do not want to hurt his or her feelings, there are a number of things that you should keep in mind. Not only do you want to get the point across to your boss, but you also want to be polite about it. Here are some tips for telling your boss you’re quitting.

Choose the Right Way to Tell Your Boss

Before deciding how to tell your boss, it is important to keep in mind that you should consider his or her personality. A boss who is more passive may be fine with you telling them that you are quitting in person. If your boss is known to be a very dynamic and fiery person, however, you may want to leave them an email with your resignation.

Always Give Two Weeks Notice

If this is a job that you would like to use as a reference in the future, giving two weeks notice is very important. Giving your boss enough time to find someone to replace you is essential and only fair. Unless there is an emergency that is causing you to quit, such as an ill family member or a job offer that you must take right away, it is best for you to give two weeks notice.

Be Firm About Your Decision to Quit

Bosses don’t want to let go of the perfect employee. There is a good chance that your boss may try to encourage you to hang on. Unless there is something which is causing you to quit that your boss can change, such as giving you a new office or higher pay raise for your hard work, it is best to be firm about your decision to quit. You made that choice for a reason, so you should stick with your decision if you feel strongly about it.

Quitting a job doesn’t need to be as challenging as it may seem. It does, however, need to be done in a way that allows your boss to give a good recommendation of your performance in the future. By following the above mentioned guidelines, it should be much easier for you to quit your job in a respectable way.

Itchy eyes can be a very annoying problem. If you are suffering from consistently itchy eyes, you may be wondering what is causing this problem. Here are some of the most common causes of itchy eyes.

Allergies

Allergies are a very common cause of itchy eyes. Those who regularly suffer from seasonal allergies should be aware of this. Keep in mind that allergies can affect you at just about any time, but most people experience them the most during the spring or fall seasons.

Common Cold

If you have a cold, there is a strong chance that you may notice itching of the eyes. The symptoms will usually subside after a few days. If you do not notice any improvement in your cold, you may want to visit a doctor for an antibiotic to ward off symptoms quicker.

Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)

Pink eye can be another cause of itchy eyes. Keep in mind that pink eye is usually accompanied by symptoms that include puss, pink or redness, and crusting over of the eyes, particularly when waking up in the morning. Pink eye is easily treated, but it is also necessary for you to seek treatment.

Old Makeup

Many women notice itchy eyes if they are using makeup that is too old. The reason is because this makeup begins to accumulate bacteria. It is especially important to be aware of how old your eyeliner and mascara is, but eyeshadow can also cause your eyes to itch if it is too old.

Debris in the Eye

Another common cause of itchy eyes is when you get something, such as debris, in the eye. Any time you notice severe eye itching, you will want to look in the mirror to make sure that you do not have anything in your eye, especially if you have been around any type of dust or sawdust recently. Eyelashes can also cause you to experience a lot of eye itching if not properly removed from the eye.

Eye itching can be annoying, but it is often easy to fix the problem on your own. If you are unsure of what is causing your eye itching, think that it may be pink eye, or if the itching is severe, it is in your best interest to visit a doctor.

Spider fears are fairly common in the world. This is largely due to myths that have found their way into our minds, and somehow become truth. Just like with snakes, spiders are pretty benign creatures. They are not out to get us, and they for the most part are harmless. Certainly there are spiders that you have to be careful with, and they can put a serious hurting on you. Here are some popular spider myths along with some truths that may shock you:

It Does Not Want to Eat You

Spiders Chase You – Myth or Reality?

Myth – The fact is, spiders will do anything in their power to avoid you. This myth has been around for as long as spiders have existed, and has been perpetuated in recent years by the camel spider. The camel spider will try to stay in the shade, so when you move and your shadow moves, they sometimes will follow. Many people think they are chasing after them. They are not.

Spiders Are All Poisonous – Myth or Reality?

Myth – No spider is actually poisonous. They are all venomous however. The difference is that poison is ingested or swallowed. Venom is injected. In the case of spiders, they use fangs to inject venom into prey so that the insides will turn into a soup like substance. They then eat (drink) their food. They also use this venom in self defense.

There Are Spiders That Can Kill Humans – Myth or Reality?

Reality – They are few and far between, but there are some spiders that are capable of killing humans. Some notables are the Sydney Funnel Web spider, the black widow (rarely) and the Brown recluse (rarely). There are others, but these are the most famous and well known. The vast majority of spiders in the world are harmless.

Digital Point forums was an eye opener for me. I had been toiling away for what seemed like an eternity on Associated Content, Demand Studios, and other online writing sites. I was churning out a minimal living doing this, but I knew that something better had to be out there.

Then one day, I had the pleasure of visiting a blog that changed my outlook on things. The name of the blog is onlinewritingjobs.net and it is run by a man that changed things for me. Not only is the blog great, but good ole Robert is pretty great too.

On this blog and in Associated Content’s forums, Robert pointed out that you an actually market your own work directly on digital point’s forums to private clients. No strings attached, and no bull. You simply post what you have for sale, and you get real time offers and feedback from other members!

This was rather exciting to me, and it changed my writing career.

I headed right over there and started checking it out. When you first sign up, you have to participate in the forums for awhile, and post some comments,etc. After you go through that initial warm up, then you are allowed to post on the site’s “buy/sell” area.

The first day on digital point’s buy sell area I sold nearly one hundred dollars worth of content. From there it just grew more and more.

The best part of digital point was that it taught me to value my work more. I made several contacts, and now I am working directly with a gentleman in a full time gig. This job would never have come along if it had not been for digital point forums.

There are a few things to keep in mind when you sign up there:

-Always request at least half the payment upfront. Do not do work without payment upfront unless they have a very good itrader. itrader is like ebay feedback, and can be found under their user name.

- Be patient! Many people start dropping their prices if their content does not sell the same day. Be patient and the buyers will usually come and find you.

- Never ever bump your thread. You will get banned.

Outside of that, you should have no problems. If you would like to see some threads that actually work as far as how to format the thread, etc, feel free to let me know and I will gladly try to help you with how to put it together.

When your website is not exactly hopping with traffic and you are not sure how to change things, an article writing campaign can really jump start things. While reading a great post on article writing campaigns over at SiteproNews, I started to realize yet another reason that we are needed as article and content writers – for good quality content that is optimized for the web. Some website owners are more than capable of delivering their own content. Others have no chance whatsoever.

After careful consideration, I have come up with the top ten reasons that you might need an article writer. Here they are:

10. You do not know the difference between their and there.

9. You think keywording is naming your piano keys.

8. You have written articles and are still getting no traffic.

7. Your last article was around 1980.

6. You want dynamic and exciting content that can drive traffic to your site organicly.

5. You want tons of backlinks to your blog/website.

4. You are working in a niche that you are unfamiliar with on the whole. (not recommended)

3. You are short on time due to multiple ventures.

2. You want the best that the web has to offer.

1. Your website has grown stale.

If any of the above things apply to you, then you may want to look into hiring an article writer. A great content provider can make the difference in an good or a great website.

Niche article writing has always been a bit of burr in the side of most articles writers. It is inevitable if you are a freelance writer that you will come upon some subjects that you simply have no interest in. For those of you that find yourself in this situation, fear not. There are ways to embrace those article writing gigs that feature subjects that bore you to tears.

Niche article writing often means writing a series of articles on a particular subject or keywords. Niches may fall into broad or very narrow categories, and can be mind numbing after writing a tenth article on “bone marrow” or some similar subject. How do you get past that boredom and still turn out high quality, engaging articles?

The first step is to realize that every subject excites someone. If someone can be excited about a subject, then you can too. Dive into some information about the subject. Pretend that it is the next big thing, and ask yourself what you need to know about it. Ask yourself if you were being paid a million bucks to write about it, could you then become excited about it? Most often the answer is yes.

We have to trick our minds sometimes. I will sometimes pretend that I am an actor learning a role. In that role, I have to know all about ….. then I write the articles. For some reason, that switches my mindset and helps me to embrace the subject matter.

Another great trick to embracing niche writing is to realize that it will pass soon. No gig is everlasting in the world of freelance writing. Think of the money you are earning when you feel weary.

Finally, when all else fails, contact someone that is turned on by the subject mentally. If you are writing a group of niche articles about snakes, for example, you could visit the local zoo or pet store. You are likely to find plenty of people that can give you insight into why they like the subject. You may even find some common ground and generate some new article ideas. Visit some websites about your subject and read the comments. There you will often find the passionate few that embrace the niche’s subject matter.

Unfortunately, if we are to be successful in freelance writing, we are going to have some subjects that bore us. If we must write on these topics and niches, then it is always good to temporarily put on the shoes. If not, then you will simply stare at a blank screen, tap your foot, and never get a word typed. Give it a shot!

Titles are one often overlooked aspect of article writing. When you are dealing with the print market, the key is to come up with a catchy, intriguing title that will catch the reader’s eye. When it comes to article writing online, a great title is important as well, but it is more important that it will be SEO friendly.

What this means is that the title can be found when people search for the information you are providing. If you are writing an article about eastern diamondback rattlesnakes, for example, you would want to have that specific set of keywords in the title. Otherwise, you will get plenty of potential snake readers, but few that are looking for that particular type of snake.

The key is to get the keywords in, and to try to be as short and concise as possible. Keywords should also be placed as close to the front of the title as possible, so that the url will have it in optimum position.

The title with online articles should always include some foreshadowing of the information to come. You want the question that you are answering to be clear, and what the reader will expect to learn from the article.

Making a really creative and fun title is great as long as you are clear about what the article will give the reader, and it can be found. If you are not thoughtful of SEO and keywording, then you will never be found in the ocean of information on the Internet.

Spend some time on the Internet searching out information. Look at the difference in what titles come up on the front page of Google and Yahoo. You will quickly see that great titles on the web are not rocket science. They are clear answers to questions that people have.

Keep an eye out for future information about titling in future posts.

As the editor of several websites, it is part of my job to go through online writing applications on a semi-regular basis. These online writing applications are often by request, and they are supposed to include a few writing samples. Writing samples are supposed to be a snapshot of what the writer is capable of, and it will be the first impression that a potential client will have of you and your writing.

Unfortunately, most potential article writers give very little thought to the online writing samples that they provide. There are a number of tips about writing samples that I would like to pass along to those of you that apply to online writing sites. Hopefully, some of these might help you to secure more gigs, and make more money online.

Monkey's Rule (Except In Writing Samples)

1. Make sure that you send the writing samples as an attachment. Also do not pick some newfangled formats or funky files. A simple text file does rather nicely. If I have to download something to read your writing sample, that is a big fat no-no.

2. For goodness sakes, browse the website or company that you are applying to. For example, if the website is about the Dallas Cowboys, do not send over a writing sample titled, “The Washington Redskins Rule” please. You would be shocked. It happens. Know the niche you are applying for.

3. Another important note on visiting the website – Take a moment to read some of the content. Is the tone of the website bloggish, or is it more technical? This type of information is vital to your writing sample. Make sure your writing sample matches the website in form for the best results.

4. Make sure you send your best work. Do not send over a lackluster effort. If I read a writing sample and it is throwing out grammar issues in the first paragraph, I don’t bother to go on. The reason? If they do not care enough to proofread a writing sample while asking me for a job, they surely won’t once I am paying them.

5. Use a standard font when you submit article writing samples. No pink italics please. Also, I do not know Chinese, so do not send over that type of script unless the application asks for it. Straight English, 12 pt black – Times New Roman is perfect.

6. Do not send over custom writing samples. If people are requesting custom writing samples, then chances are they are scamming you. If they are willing to pay for them, then that is something else. I have seen jobs ask for a custom writing sample with no guarantee that you will be paid. That is very bad. An existing writing sample on the Internet is more than good enough to show if you fit the job. Watch out for the scammers folks.

Every once in a while in the world of online writing, you come across a kindred spirit. You meet someone that for whatever reason, spurs you on to bigger and better things. If you are really lucky, that person turns out to be a pretty fine human being to boot. My good buddy Randy over at Barefoot Scribbles is just such a dude. I dare say that it is hard to imagine how anyone could be unaware of his blog by now, but if you have not checked it out, click that pretty link above and give him a visit.

You can thank me later.

What is so cool about Barefoot Scribbles is that you can learn something about online writing while laughing your arse off. His writings are always chock full of great advice, while still entertaining as hell. He is what I aspire to be – A writer that keeps people coming back for more, if only to find out what he is up to.

On a personal note, this guy has always had an open door policy with me. From the first day I met him in Associated Content’s forums, he has made himself available to help. That is rare in the cynical world of web writing. I hope that I have been that same thing for others, and followed his honorable lead.

If you have a budding online writing career, I would highly suggest that you head on over and subscribe (after subscribing here of course) and dive into his huge amount of content. You will find more advice than you will ever need on virtually any subject you can think of where writing is concerned.

Thanks Randy for being a friend and mentor as well.

Many people make the decision to become a freelance writer because it seems like such an easy way to make money. All that you need to do is write articles, blog entries, and other forms of content. Simple. Easy. Right? Not necessarily. If you are not good at managing your time, freelance writing is probably not the best option for you. Here are some tips for managing your time as a freelance writer.

1. Set up a work station for yourself. It is a good idea to create an office in an extra room if you have one. If not, find an area where you can set up a little office for yourself in the corner of another room, such as a living room or guest bedroom. Doing work in an office or at a work station will help get you in the mood to work.

2. Come up with a daily work schedule. It doesn’t necessarily have to be from 9 to 5 o’clock every day. Some people prefer to work at night, while others do better working in the day. Try to figure out what works best for yourself before deciding what to do on a regular basis. The main key is to find a schedule that you can stick with.

3. Do not take phone calls during the work hours that you set for yourself. At a regular job, you would not talk on the phone throughout the whole entire day. It will prevent you from getting any work done. The only exception to this rule is business calls and emergencies. Make sure that friends and families understand that even though you work from home, you should not be contacted periodically throughout the workday.

4. Avoid checking your social networking websites during the day. Facebook and Myspace can be highly distracting if you spend a lot of time on it throughout the day. It is also a good idea to avoid checking your email more than once in the morning and once at night. A business email should be checked periodically throughout the day, so you will definitely want to set up a personal email account.

5. Make a list of your goals in the morning. Write down what exactly you are going to do during the day and cross off each item on the list as you go along. This will help ensure that you stay on track with all of the tasks that need to be done.

Time management is very important for any freelance writer. Getting distracted by friends and family is one of the easiest ways to get off task. Learning what works and what doesn’t work for you is one of the main keys to a successful work day.