by Jack O’Dwyer (NAPSA)—College students and recent grads have a lot of talent and skills that could earn them a good living. To do this, however, they must becomeentrepreneurs. “PR specialist” ranked 48rd in credibility on a list of 45 public figures in a 1999 survey. Supreme Court justice ranked No. 1. Local business owner ranked No.5. e Entrepreneurs can makea good living as writers for f= legitimate : a media and businesses. They ghost-author books for businesspeople, write books O'Dwyer and articles under ————— their own names, write op-ed pieces for clients, letters-to-the-editor, sales brochures, speeches, handle e- mail correspondence, help businesses to market on the Web and create graphics using Quark and other programs. They also show businesses how to create their ownflyers. Individual entrepreneurs can work out of their parents’ homes or own apartments for which rent has already been paid. Many costs associated with a homeoffice can be deducted. Seventy percent of medical premiums can be deducted before taxes are paid, next year will be 100 percent. Another option is bartering. Many a PR firm started out bartering services for meals at local restaurants, groceries, gasoline, car rentals and numerous other products and services. PR firms normally want a 60- or 90-day cancellation clause. Grads could propose projects one at a time and relieve businessesof the fear of getting stuck in a legal contract. Grads can bring writing and promotional services to many small businesses that otherwise could not afford them. Many such businesses go under because they don’t spend enough time marketing themselves. Computer and Web savvy grads have a lot to offer a generation of small business owners that is largely computerilliterate. There’s only one way to be a writer: read and write seven hours a day at least five days a week. Students should take many writing courses, keep a journal of 1,000 to 2,000 words nightly, and read a Rankingsof “believable sources ofinformation. n 1. SupremeCourt justice 2.Teacher 3.National expert 4. Member, armedforces 5. Local business owner 6. Ordinary citizen 7. Local religious leader 8. High-ranking military officer 9. Schoolofficial 10. National leader with sharedtraits 11. National religious leader 12. Network TV news anchor 13. Governor 14. Local business rep. board 15. Local newspaper/TV reporter 16. National civil rights leader 17. Localelected council member 18. U.S. senator 19. National syndicated columnist 20. Mayor ofa big city 21. Head of a state agency 22. Head of a local agency 23. Reporterfor big newspaper or magazine 24. U.S. congressman 25. Head of a big company 26. National Credibility Index 27. Local civil rights leader 28. U.S.Vice President 29. Head of a nationalassn. 30. Community activist 31. Wall Street executive 32. Head,Presidential advisory 33. U.S. President 34. Member,Presidential cabinet 35.Pollster 36. Student activist 37. Local union leader 38. Candidate for public office 39. Head of a national union 40. Famous athlete 4]. Headof a nationalinterest group 42. Political party leader 43, Public Relationsspecialist 44. Famousentertainer 45. TV or radio talk show host. @ novel a week. New writers should associate with other writers. A homeoffice is a great boon to good writing since writingis a solitary occupation and distractions can be minimized. Writers should save direct mail pieces instead of throwing them away. They are a good source of graphic techniques as well as tested copy platforms. You can learn more online at www.odwyerpr.com. Jack O'Dwyeris editor-in-chief of the J.R. ODwyer publications.
