searlesmedia's Xombytes

It's always seemed just out of reach, that amazing European vacation made up of weeks spent wandering picturesque countrysides, admiring works of art by the masters, marveling at ancient castles and churches, and mixing with the locals in pubs and sidewalk cafes.

It's almost impossible to b e a successful freelance writer without learning how to write an outstanding query letter. Although query letters are traditionally associated with print publications, more and more online publishers are requiring query letters. As profits from web publishing continue to increase, freelance writers should expect most serious employers to ask for query letters, whether they publish online or in print.

One concern I always have when I sign up at a new site is the security of my personal information. More and more sites are requesting bank account information to make payments. This makes me nervous. I don't really want just anyone having access to my bank account. I was also burned once with a site removing double payments from my account. It took the better part of a year to get my money back. So my advice to anyone conducting regular business online, is to never grant any site access to your regular checking account.

(For more great freelance writing tips and writing job leads posted daily, visit www.writersresources.blogspot.com)

I'm not sure how many of you are also photographers. If you're not, it's a great skill to supplement your writing. Many editors prefer writers who can also provide photos to accompany their articles.

(For more great freelance writing tips and writing job leads posted daily, visit http://www.writersresources.blogspot.com)

ScriptLance is a bidding site similar to Elance or Guru, except that you don't pay a membership fee up front. You only pay a percentage of the total of a job after you have been awarded and completed it. Like other bidding sites, it does tend to have a lot of low-paying jobs, but there are some decent jobs there also. To me, the attractive thing about it is that you don't pay unless you get a gig, so you're not paying to compete for a bunch of low-paying jobs.

"I'm bored. There's nothing to do," is the refrain heard all summer from kids who couldn't wait for school to get out so they could play instead of work.

Whether it's a rainy day, a busy day for mom and dad, or you just want the kids to give video games a break and do something at least remotely educational, here are 10 of the best websites to keep kids entertained (while they learn a little bit too) during the summer.