Interview with Heidi Shelton Jenck from “hsj writer”

“hsj writer”

http://hsjwriter.blogspot.com/

I’m a member of several email list groups of freelance writers. I found myself writing long emails to newbie freelancers who wanted to know - how do I break in?!? I was really motivated to succeed from the get-go, and collected a huge amount of resources. Within months I’d worked for six different Christian publishers and had a wide variety of interesting work-for-hire freelance writing jobs with educational publishers and book packagers. This isn’t secret information, and I’m excited to share it on my blog with others who want to write for kids, parents, homeschoolers, Sunday School teachers and classroom teachers.

I created a web site and Cafe Press shop during my first China adoption. I loved meeting people from all parts of the globe who were connected in some way to international adoption through the web. I started blogging on a regular basis when I got hired by Parents Connect to work as a parent host. I moderate the spiritual matters and adoption boards and write a kid’s craft blog called Outside the Lines. I love writing about creative things I do with my kids.

I tried out different blogging sites using their free trial programs. It helped me find a good fit. I asked others who blog a lot what they like about their blogging site.

I visit a lot of adoption and freelance writing forums. However, I am spending more and more time as the moderator of the spiritual matters and adoption boards at Parents Connect now that we are open to the public and people are finding us. There are a lot of chatty Christian parents out there!

I have two laptops. One was given to me for my ParentsConnect job, and the other was given to me by my husband. He is totally supportive of me working at home as a freelance writer, and doesn’t mind having laptops set up on the kitchen table and counter! I blog whenever I think about something I want to share.

My four kids are the inspiration for much of my work. When I am writing my blogs I use stories from home. When I write Christian or secular curriculum lessons I constantly think about how they would react to the lessons. I also pray at the start of each day for the Holy Spirit to guide my writing voice. I try to glorify God through my work.

I started a China adoption shop during our first adoption called Adopt Special Kids. The money I raised was first used to help fund two special needs adoptions. Now money I make is used to help Chinese orphan projects.