If a picture is worth a thousand words, how much does that pay exactly?

The other day I received an out of the blue message from a random guy who dropped by my blog. "You're certainly a good writer, unlike myself," he said. It's not the first time someone has expressed that they think I have some talent, but the reminder was well timed in a way.

Lately I've been wishing that I had some other skill that I could put to work earning a little extra cash by way of freelancing. I have friends who can build websites and others who do design work, but what do I have to offer? Dog walker? Personal Shopper? Shoulder to Cry On?

I'd like to try some freelance writing but it's hard to get into. It seems you have to just happen upon someone who needs something and is willing to pay you for it. I wish I could just click my favourite pair of red shoes together and magically I would become the Carrie Bradshaw of Winnipeg. A weekly column in the paper--wouldn't that be a dream? Oh, well, and the shoes and dates with Big and Aidan would be a sweet bonus too.

You may remember my friend Duane Storey in Vancouver. Duane recently found a way to make a little extra cash for doing something he loves--photography. Duane has posted a collection of his favourite photos online and made them available for purchase in a variety of sizes. Most of the pictures up right now are shots of Vancouver but he also has a few from recent trips to the Dominican Republic and San Francisco. The photos start at $12.99 for an 8" x 12". You can also buy the rights to a photo to use it on your site or in a publication.

Hmm. If Duane only has to take one picture but I have to write 1000 words to get $13, I think he gets the better deal. Granted, I can buy a pack of pencils and some paper for a few dollars while the equivalent of his equipment costs could feed a small village in Africa for a few days.

Please check out his site here and join me in wishing him success with his new endeavor.