BOHEMIAN WRITINGS

hippie writer who wears many hats

[bohemianwritings]

STARTING NEW: HOW TO GET STARTED STRIPPING and SWITCHING SEX WORK

Hi, Boho’s, I am up early and it’s because of y’all! I had a reader reach out to me about wanting to know how to get started and switching from one type of sex work to another in the industry. Also, I thought it might be helpful to talk about the challenges that come from your first few shifts, how to overcome nerves, and the similarities and differences between the different types of sex work and why stripping can be complementary.

 That felt super wordy, and I apologize but what a great idea from one of our readers. Thank you all for supporting and reading. This blog will always be free of ads or spam. I don’t accept payments of any kind. This work is for your eyes only and I hope it helps.

 HOW TO GET STARTED STRIPPING & SWITCHING SEX WORK

 Baby strippers listen up! Or want to be dancers or aspiring entertainers, today we are going to talk about finally making the switch. That’s right to go into the club and fill out that application. Not just nailing the audition which I have another post about. But what it’s like to work there for the first few days and weeks and how to keep a positive mental attitude while staying somewhat in reality.

 Let’s say you’ve nailed your audition thanks to this sweet blog here and you’re ready for your first real shift. The first shift after the audition NEVER counts, you don’t know the club, the drinks, the clients, or the girls. The first shift doesn’t plan on making anything and being happy with what you do end up with. The first night is all about research – don’t get drunk, be super observant of everything you see, and don’t expect to make much. (My first night I made $340, and I’ll never forget it).

 The second shift (after your hired shift) might feel awkward. There isn’t the anxiety or excitement that might be there from the first night. However, use this to your advantage! I’m dead serious. The first 6 months of your stripping career the money will come the easiest and the fastest. Now you might not make the most because you don’t know the ways to hustle but it will be easy money. There are several reasons for this.

1.        You are fresh meat. The club and the clients see this and will respond accordingly.

2.        You are not a hardened veteran and that vulnerability in the club is only seen with baby strippers.

3.        You might not have firm boundaries. This is different per person but the longer I danced, the less I put up with.

4.        People don’t mind if you tell them, you are new. They like it and it’s a great icebreaker.

 The other great way to start on a good foot is to tip all the staff. Tip your door girl, manager (if they are allowed to take tips), DJ, Bartender, and favorite waitress or VIP girl. DO NOT spend your money tipping other dancers. I have another post on why dancers are not your friends. Invest wisely in the people who will let you know when the club is hot or slow, who to go sit with, or who is looking for a dancer. They will be most likely your biggest allies especially if they know you tip them. I would always give like my extra $20 to the door changing out funny money and tipping out the DJ so I don’t have to go on stage etc.

Locker Room Dynamics

                  This one like in gym class can be SO hard to figure out at a new club. Unless your club assigns lockers (and some do) you will have to pick your own. This means making sure you are not stealing someone else’s normal spot. This might be one person, or it might be a clique of dancers in the top corner. Whatever the reason find a locker on the bottom somewhere discreet until you get the lay of the land.

                   Do not spend time in the locker room when you are new. This is an easy way to psyche yourself out and get hazed. Come ready to work (full makeup and everything) and just change out quickly in the dressing room. In and out quickly. Once you figure out the girls and personalities you can start to get ready in there or do more things but at first keep to yourself and thank me later.

  Cell Phone & Purse

                  It’s standard now to carry a bag around with you to put your money, lip gloss, phone, mirror, and whatever else. What is not standard is sitting at the bar on your phone because you are too scared to approach people. Whatever you do, do not get out your phone. It’s a HUGE turn-off to anyone coming in or looking over at you. If you are looking at your phone, you will miss huge signs that someone is into you or someone worthwhile just walked in. Clients will not come up to you if you are on your phone. The only time you should get your phone out is to accept Venmo etc. and get their contact info but never GIVE out your real number. Get a burner number app like Text Now.

 Cute Outfits and Makeup

I cannot stress enough that when you look good, you’ll feel good and make more money. At a new club, I would always come in super ready for work, dressed super glam. I looked the same as the day they hired me (v. demure v. mindful). I would do this because it would be a huge confidence boost. I would always plan my outfits and switch halfway through my shifts. It was predictable to know what I was going to look like and wear. Also, find comfy clothes that are easy to get on and off and are durable lol keep those in rotation. In addition, find makeup that doesn’t make your skin break out. The last thing you want to worry about is caked-up makeup on inflamed skin. Keep it the same, simple routine with clothes and makeup.

 Hair

This is where I say do whatever you want and that the club allows. Some might have rules even though they shouldn’t.

  DAY 5

So now let’s say you’ve done a few shifts and gotten the hang of things, now what? The newness has worn off and it might seem like a job (because it is.) This is when you need to focus on your WHY YOU STARTED. Get that bag and get off your phone (unless you are bringing in regulars). I have a post on landing regular clients, but you should be doing this DAY 1 if not by DAY 5, within two weeks even at a new club I would have regulars. It was that easy. So, schedule your regulars, put your favorite outfit on, don’t get too drunk, and remember why you started – trust me it probably wasn’t to pretend you’re having fun with men twice your age.

 STARTING AT A NEW CLUB

 Perhaps you are more of a seasoned veteran who is moving to a new city or started working in a different subset of the sex industry and wants to try stripping for the first time. The tips above apply as well but I have some additional insights for switching.

 If you are just moving and going from club to club the transition is much easier. Clubs just have different rules in different cities that you must abide by or could get fined. Still, take the first night as a loss and go in the second night ready to hustle. By 1 week you should be comfortable and if not then find a different club that matches your vibe more. I would never stick it out longer than a week if I was unhappy and/or not making $.

 The best part about starting as a new club is using it as an opportunity to reinvent yourself. Dye your hair, get a nose job, boobs done, BBL, fillers, who cares. No one from the old club will be there and you can even get a whole new stage name. I don’t suggest this because I would forget my name if it wasn’t the same at every club.

SWITCHING ROLES

But when you are switching from one profession in sex work to another like if you were an escort or OF girl coming to the strip club it will take on a whole different level of reality. For cam girls, or virtual OF workers, sitting in the club with real people that might be able to touch you can be intimidating. For the touching, (if you allow this) you will get used to it and it won’t feel as overwhelming after about a month. I would alleviate some of that sensory overload by taking a shower immediately when I got home.

 Cam or virtual girl-to-club will be different because you can only talk to really one patron at a time. You can go back and forth but that is exhausting and can cause jealousy between the patrons or with the other dancers and I don’t recommend it. Unlike online where dozens of people might be tipping or watching the idea here is to go after the one that spends the most. You don’t want to sit with a bunch of people tipping $1 because it’s not as fast as it is online. Find the one who will tip $$$$$$$ and latch onto them the whole night. I would kick other girls out of my section if they came close to my customer.

 For escorts, this might be easier depending on the type of arrangement but in my experience, escorting is mostly done in person. This will HELP you in the club in a ton of ways. You are used to meeting strangers and having a conversation at least. You know what kind of banter to have and what rules are expected. However, DO NOT tell anyone you escort. THEY WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU AT BEST or try and get you fired or arrested at worst. Keep that a big, BIG secret, and don’t go looking for “John’s at the clubs” as the movie The Hangover would lead you to believe. Keep each aspect of the business different as they are not comparable except, they belong to the same industry. Also, keep your boundaries extremely firm. You might be used to escorting and allowing some behaviors for some and not others. In the club, treat them all the same. Don’t make exceptions that will blur lines and make you uncomfortable. Compared to escorting, stripping is just different. Less is expected, you make less but it’s easier work overall. The emotional toll isn’t as high.  

  Just because you are new doesn’t mean you have to take shit from the dancers or anyone else that works there or the patrons themselves. Know your worth. You can find another club and leave whenever you want. You hold the power. Don’t let anything in that environment tell you otherwise. Also the first 6 months you will make the most money at a new club or as a baby stripper. Take advantage and work as much as possible. After 6 months the newness wears off and you’ll see another new girl getting the attention you first got. Keep going, it’s not about how much you make per shift but being consistent with yourself, your goals and your clients.

 Love & Glitter,

BW

[bohemianwritings]

Story of a Trap Queen – What is a Trap House Queen

            This post is hard for me to write for some reason but fuck it. If you aren’t familiar with the blog welcome. I give unsolicited advice based on experiences. Let’s call it fiction though. It’s just a blog where I write FICTIONAL stories. ONLY.

             If you want to be a trap queen, you need to think about a few things first. Do you have any experience in that world? The underworld? The afterparties, backstage, after-hours, strip clubs, the drugs. If you don’t know what I am talking about stop reading now. Go back to whatever normal life you live and stay the fuck away from what I am about to share.

 I have been the “queen” of many traps. A trap for people who also don’t know would be a…. never mind. Here is the definition on Urban Dictionary. Do with that what you will even though I don’t think any of those definitions are correct. Being a trap queen isn’t easy. It’s actually super frustrating most of the time. Your schedule isn’t yours. It’s depending on him. And who needs what and when. Sometimes you might go on runs but I would emphasize I’m not a fucking runner. We pay people to do that.

            Traps are an intricate mix of individuals, so you have to be used to being around a lot of different types of people all the time. It’s tough late at night when you have already been up all weekend and just want to be left alone. Turn the music off and fucking go to sleep. Maybe fuck before that.

             Trap queens need to be savvy and know when to talk and when to shut up. I learned this the hard way. It’s important to talk to your person and make sure that your role is defined. This goes across the board. You can’t misspeak in this world. It could cost money. One wrong comment could kill a deal or put you in the spotlight. It’s important to stay quiet but vigilant.

             The mixture of people means you should have an open mind and always be nice. These people might be connected to others. They might be making other moves, so you never know. You can’t be judgmental about what they look like. This is a business just like any other.

             As a trap queen, it’s important to be VERY secure about yourself and your image. There will be other women around your man when you are not around. It’s inevitable. You must make sure that you know where you stand in your relationship. Communication and sharing locations are Band-Aids that help but you have to trust that they will come home to you. So make sure you aren’t bitching at them all night about where they are. That will NOT help anyone. It’s best to occupy yourself but not get fucked up. You are still maintaining a trap. Stay vigilant. But yes, it does require A LOT of patience.

             If you don’t know about a scale or how to weigh shit do some research on the metric system and how it compares to ours. The US system and metric are mixed in this world depending on the product. You need to memorize these conversions. See this clip from Neighbors 2 with Zac Efron describing what I am talking about (go to 43 seconds) . It’s also important to make sure you know the pricing that you are giving people. That way if you are asked you can give an answer and potentially make a sale. That being said, sometimes when you are out you will be responsible for holding the bag. Or watching it. Making sure that is it safe. It’s like another thing to keep track of.

 Speaking of going out. As a trap queen, you always are on point when you go out. But you also must partake in everything. So, it’s very important to be able to maintain in any situation at any time. You also must look like 10/10. Especially if you are moving any weight. They want to see their girl looking like a star and being absolutely unattainable.

            The fact is as a trap queen your nervous system gets used to chaos. Gets used to the life and then craves it over and over. It’s only when you distance yourself from that world that your CNS calms down and you can do normal shit again.

 Trap queens need to always look right and act right. You never know what could happen and what situation you might be put in. I’ve been put in some very tense situations, and I would not recommend it. Always look right, know the latest fashions and be able to pull off any look. Don’t even think about this, just buy the clothes and put them on your body. Even better make him buy them.

 There are some perks to being a trap queen though. Almost unlimited access to cash and drugs. Bottle service whenever you want it. Fancy dinners. Hotel stays. Pool days. Weekends of sex. Usually, it’s better to be available during the week. The weekend is mostly when they run errands, and you hold down the house. It can be lonely yes. There are super highs and then low low lows.

 Get used to loud noises and strange people. Staying up all night on the regular. Having to defend yourself against men hitting on you all the time. Staying classy never sloppy. Unfortunately, in the higher-up circles where we were serving - it was also important to never disclose. Everyone wants product but it’s important to keep those clients private. That means don’t talk about it. Not even here lol.

 As a trap queen, you need to remember these people too. You don’t want to seem like an idiot who can’t remember what they buy and how much. Also, never disclose what you have in stock and if it’s been re-rocked. If you are in the kitchen doing work - you are doing it wrong. That is their recipe and responsibility. Stay off the stove and in fact don’t even get close. Plausible deniability.

 Being in a trap house is just living somewhere that has a revolving door of people. It requires diligence, patience, and observance. It’s important to be noticeable but not loud. Don’t ever discuss business without talking to your man. Never invite people over without approval. You must always be ready to go. It should be effortless. If you don’t know how to do this and it takes hours to get ready you might be SOL. Car services will only wait for so long and I’m not talking about Uber. Get used to black SUVs. Your man might not always be available but his driver is waiting to pick you up and take you to him. Just be ready for that pick-up.

 They are looking for a queen who is going to be dependable. That means you can never be out of place, but you don’t have to be constantly available. Never share what they do. Make something up if you are asked. It’s important to keep him satisfied too at all times. I know this post sounds like you are a complete sub to this trap but it’s true. Because the payout is worth it. Do you want trips overseas? Unlimited cash? Clothes and gifts?

If it’s worth being in the spotlight and worth the risk of being caught (let’s not forget this is all nefarious activity) and dealing with darker individuals in the middle of the night. People who are gone. Fucked up. Girls that hit on your man. Guys that hit on you. Like I said above it’s very frustrating.

 It's a longer post, but it sums up what you should expect when entering a trap queen role with your person.

 Love & glitter,

BW

  P.S. Learn how to operate a firearm.

[bohemianwritings]

Stripping During a Recession

Hi everyone, I know I always say this, but I am sorry for not updating. Life has really been hitting me hard recently and I’ll probably do a blog about that later. Today’s topic is something I know a ton about and has probably been on your mind recently. With all the talk about recession and even some clubs already feeling a slowdown – you’re probably thinking, “how am I going to last through this recession?”

            This is going to age me, but I was dancing my way through college during the 2008 recession, and it was tough, but I got through it and still made it work. This post is going to go over the simplest tips on working during slow shifts and how to keep it up. Trust me recessions don’t last forever, and it won’t be as bad as you think!

 -       Monitor Your Shifts – I start with this one because it is very important to stick to a schedule when the club slows. Even if it was slow the previous week that doesn’t mean that it will be the next. Clubs start to slow down when girls stop coming in. If you keep coming so will clients. Period. You want to be there when they arrive and scoop up the $$ those other dancers are missing out on. It will also keep you accountable and scheduling helps with overall mental wellbeing.

-       Work at Different Clubs – this is imperative. Go apply to every club that you can get into. Rotate them with different shifts and different clients. I would work the day shift at one club and then take a cab (now y’all have Uber) to a night shift at another. Maximum exposure is what you are looking for and options to meet a different clientele. During a recession, it’s not wise to just stick to your home club because you are comfortable there. Get out of your comfort zone and try to get hired by at least three different clubs.

-       Keep Up with Regulars – the most you can do is keep up with your local clientele. Even though they might not spend as much they will be your consistent income. Since traveling during a recession is usually put on hold you probably won’t see as many out-of-towners or tourists. That’s okay, that is what regulars are for. If you need help landing regular clients – check out my other pots here.

-       Work Different Shifts – as I mentioned above working different types of shifts helps during slower months. Try out a day shift at a new club or work a late, late-night shift. I would advise not to travel to different cities (I tried that a few times during the ’08 recession and it really didn’t make a big difference, I just broke even with expenses and could have made just as much staying at home).

-       Don’t Overwork – you should try and get out there, and work in different places and at different times but don’t overdo it. I worked one time for a week straight and it was not pleasant.  It also can lead to burning out which isn’t much fun. If you are burned out what you end up doing is complaining to clients and co-workers which is not a vibe.

-       Keep Track of Every Penny Earned – After every shift, make sure you calculate exactly how much you earned, how much you tipped out, and how much you spent on house fees. The goal is to take the average of the days at the end of the week or month. Also, it will help you keep track of the better clubs to work at and on which days. So be sure to get a planner or a calendar or even just an app on your phone to keep track of where you are, what time/day, and how much you made.

-       Stay Positive – I know It’s hard and maybe you aren’t going to make as much as you used to but stay the course. I worked through the ENTIRE 2008 recession, and it does get better by the end of 2009/early 2010 things were pretty much back on track. Keep an eye on your spending and work as much as you can. Also, try to avoid talking about “how things used to be”, especially to other dancers or clients. Act like everything is the same and you are happy making money.

 Now I’m not an economist but I did live through a pandemic and a recession and stripped during both “unprecedented times”.  I don’t think that this recession will compare to those events. It doesn’t seem as dire, and people are still in high spirits. As I always mention use this time to improve yourself and look for other types of work too. Work as much as you can and take the opportunity to try new clubs, shifts, and meet new people.

Love & glitter - BW

[bohemianwritings]

Best Places to Make Money Stripping

Hi Bohemians, the new year is finally upon us GOODBYE 2020! With the vaccines coming out for COVID-19 and hopefully *fingers crossed* everything going back to semi normal next year. I wanted to share with y’all the best places to make money! I have had personal experience working in some of these cities and areas. I also did a little background research (you’re welcome) so that you would know, where are the MOST LUCRATIVE clubs in the United States. 

This is in no particular order – if you have a place to add, comment below

-       Houston – there is stupid money here but Houston does have a lot of restrictions at the best clubs. You must wear full bottoms and pasties/liquid latex on the nipples. Also, the most lucrative clubs won’t hire you if you have a lot of tattoos that can’t be covered up with makeup. 

-       Dallas – another conservative Texan city, same about the tattoo thing if you want to work at the top clubs. Also, you must get fingerprinted to work in Dallas. Mostly to verify your age and citizenship. But Dallas has some great clubs: the Lodge, Baby Dolls, and Silvercity were my favorites. 

-       Miami/Palm Beach – I heard all the time pre-covid that Miami or South Beach were great places to make money. I never worked there personally but know girls that would bank. This town is tourist/visitor centered so it’s good to go when an event or convention is going on. You don’t need a license in Miami but if you go north to Palm Beach you do. 

-       Atlanta – Of course we have all heard of the infamous Magic City but the other clubs (like Cheetah, Follies or Pink Pony) in Atlanta can be just as lucrative. You do need a license to strip in Atlanta (you can find info here) and they can cost upward of $300 so be prepared for that.

-       San Francisco – pre-COVID San Francisco or Palo Alto were great places to work because you are near all the tech companies. Right now, the most of the clubs are all closed. Check back later this year for an update on this one. 

-       Portland, OR – According to several articles, Portland has the most strip clubs per capita and boast being the strip club capital of the US. They also accept almost all types of dancers. Those with tattoo’s, piercings and any other fun unique attributes or talents are welcomed in Portland. Also, they allow full nude clubs to serve hard liquor (Atlanta does too). The dancers here take pride in their pole work and dancing abilities. It’s also a city that does take care of their dancers because of the large feminist rhetoric that is present in this liberal city. 

-       Las Vegas – so we’ve all heard of Vegas. And there are crazy clubs there with the opportunity to make tons of money. But competition is incredibly high. You also have to have a license to work. As with larger cities, it can be expected that girls do extras (especially with prostitution legal in Nevada). If you’re going to go to Vegas, take a friend with you. Don’t forget that along with license fees, the house fees at the clubs are incredibly high.

-       Denver – as with San Francisco, Denver has some of the strictest COVID-19 laws for clubs. Some clubs are closed and we will update this post later this year. 

-       New York City – Of course, this is one of the best places to dance in the US due to the high variety of clubs and clients. However, dancers from foreign countries are very prevalent here. There are many types of clubs (including some that aren’t legal) so be very careful when choosing where to work. Most of the clubs are also open practically 24/7 so you can find somewhere to work at any time of day. The living costs are very high in New York so take a few friends with you to share the cost. 

-       Anchorage/Fairbanks, Alaska – If you don’t mind the cold weather like really cold weather. Alaska can be a great place to work. Also, be aware that there is like no social scene so you’ll be alone in the beautiful bush country. Great clubs to work at include, the Great Alaskan Bush Company and The Showboat. 

-       Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona – Similarly to Texas, there is a high net worth among residents in these cities. That means they have high standards in how the dancers look. They also require auditions and may have a probationary period before you’re officially hired. The license in Phoenix is under $50 but in Scottsdale expect to pay at least $150. Oddly, enough Phoenix also has a Great Alaskan Bush Company club.

-       Los Angeles – unfortunately, due to the COVID outbreak in LA right now most of the clubs are temporarily closed. After vaccine distribution hopefully these clubs can open back up. LA was great to work because #1 it’s super fun #2 celebrities #3 a ton of money. Be prepared to also see a lot of plastic surgery and silicone but who doesn’t love that? Lol 

-       Tampa, FL – Alright, I’m just throwing this one out here because on Reddit the dancers were talking about how much money they have made recently. Like 5 days ago. In case you’re traveling through Tampa or Pensacola I would def suggest stopping here. There are a ton of clubs to choose from and since COVID it seems that this place might actually be one of the best places in the country.  

  Obviously, this is a list that is taking COVID into consideration. If you can wait to dance again until after the vaccine I would probably recommend that. If not, these places seem to be doing a decent job at protecting their dancers and patrons. Have another place that you love to work? Comment below!

 Love & Glitter

BW 

[bohemianwritings]

What is Stripping?

   Hi Boho’s! I have missed y’all! August and September were like the craziest months for me but here we are! Finally, I’m going to do another post on something I get asked by maybe more PC friends or people who don’t know much about the industry. What is stripping? What do you actually do? I’m sure there’s a meme about this somewhere. But since I don’t create memes I’ve created a post explaining the job and industry on a very basic level. 

 Stripping AKA Exotic Dancing AKA Dancing 

             They are all the same thing with the same premise. You will be taking your clothes off for strangers for money. BOOM. Now that is a very basic explanation. Stripping is usually done in a club environment specially for adult entertainment. However, you can also find strippers on OnlyFans, WebCam sites, IG (let’s be honest), various other adult websites and privately enterprising in person. You can be a stripper on video or in person. Mostly though, when we are talking about stripping, it’s in-person within a club setting. Another in-person stripping adjunct is privately dancing for clients in their home or hotel room. Sometimes these are for special events like a birthday, bachelor party or celebrity client. 

 Disclaimer: Stripping is NOT what you see on TV or in films. Even Hustlers which was the most recent “strip club movie” wasn’t entirely accurate. The day-to-day stripping as a job is much less cinematic. It’s just a job like everything else. Managers aren’t going to tell you what to do. There are catty girls but there are also really nice girls. There are not big parties in the dressing room with cake and stuff. If you start stripping this does NOT mean you are going to cycle out of control and become addicted to dancing, drugs, men or anything else. The media portrays dancers so negatively. Don’t believe any of this. 

 How do you get ready?

 Most dancers will agree that prepping and getting ready for work can take as much time as the job itself. You have to maintain your appearance – whatever that looks like for you. You have to make sure you have outfits laundered (I know ironic since you will just take the off). It also takes time to purchase new outfits, shoes, makeup etc. Time at the hair, nail and tanning salon. 

 So, what do you do at work?

            This is a job like any other. You will show up at a certain time (usually of your choosing but clubs do have cut-off times for each shift). You have to leave at a certain time (when the club closes). When you get there, you usually go straight to the dressing room to change and finish getting ready. Some girls get ready at home and just change when they get there. Others get their makeup done by the makeup artist or fix their hair in the locker room. Over the time I danced I did a bit of both depending on the club environment. Once you’re ready you will check in with the DJ and this is when your shift really starts. 

            On shift you will walk around the club, sit at the bar or go on stage rotation. The idea is that you want to meet someone to sit with or a group to dance for. Then there is always the upsell. This is a sales job. You are selling an experience. Most all clubs have a VIP section and this is the goal. Clients will expect to pay more for the VIP experience and you will earn more. Charging by the hour is also savvy. You do not make an hourly wage at the club so how you charge the clients is all you will take home. 

            At the end of the night, you will go back to the dressing room, change, count your money and cash out any funny money you might have. You pay your tip outs and house fees if you haven’t already. Then go home! (You don’t have to go home but you do have to leave when the club closes lol). 

 When dancing or on stage or at a hotel room - you can expect to do one thing. Strip off your clothes to your undies or naked if that’s your vibe. To be a stripper, you DO NOT have to have sex with anyone. This includes things being done to you without your consent. There is a misconception that stripping inevitably leads to sex and I am here to tell you that is NOT the case. You can do your job and go home. You can make money without sacrificing your boundaries.

            Stripping can be a fun and lucrative job if you’re smart about it. It can also be a vicious cycle if you’re not. Always think of it as a means to an end. This should not be a permanent career but something that you can do part-time while pursuing other endeavors. 

            Those are the basics! Clubs right now have other COVID-19 guidelines so be sure to check on those as well before you get started! Leave any questions in the comments! 

  Love & Glitter,

BW 

[bohemianwritings]

How to Sell VIP Rooms

Hi strippies! Now that Christmas is around the corner, it got me thinking about what was the easiest way to make money during the holidays? Disclaimer: the holidays can be a tricky time to work. Regulars are out of town, the club is slow because of crappy weather, many clients don’t have $ as they have spent it on their family’s presents. All of these things make it a little harder to earn money. But no worries I have a solution for you: Sell VIP rooms. 

            There is literally nothing I loved at work more than seeing the club all decorated for Christmas, ordering a white Russian and getting cozy for hours in a VIP room (with a respectable gentleman of course). You clicked because you’re asking me HOW? How do you even sell a VIP room? What does the upsell promise? How can I make the offer irresistible without having to do things I don’t want to?

            All of these questions will be answered in this post. It’s a little longer so settle in. This is going to help you make money after all so it’s worth the read. 

 Scenario 1: You’re sitting with a client on the floor. He’s bought a few dances and seems interested. You’re talking up a storm. You see him eye the velvet ropes. How do you get him to justify the $$$$ price tag. First tip, ask while you are doing a dance. I cannot stress this enough. If he has a boner and thinks this is fun, he doesn’t want to keep getting dances while being watched. He wants you all to himself in a place that he can focus. You are going to lean into his body and whisper in his ear something like this: “You want to go somewhere we can be alone?” 

Boom. That’s it. He’ll say maybe or sure. Then this is where you sell him. “I can get the club to discount $X” or “It’s only $$.” “We can stay there all night!” “It’s so nice.” “Let’s go check it out.” Literally keep in simple. DO NOT allude to doing any extras, if he asks just say, “Trust me, you’re going to have a great time.” DO NOT say please. This is vital. The second you say please you have lost the upper hand. 

            Then get up. He will follow if he’s at all curious. If he doesn’t collect your cash and move on to the next one. This is where timing is everything make sure you’ve at least done $60-100 worth of dances before the upsell that way you aren’t wasting your time (Hey you still made money off his broke ass). 

            Now sometimes you’ll get back there and they will chicken out. Just say you’ll give him time to think about it and move on. The goal tonight is to sell a room. Not do dance for dance on the floor. 

 Scenario 2: This one is for later in the night. When people (maybe you) are tipsy, bold and into making questionable decisions. You’re on stage, and he comes up and tips you $20 or $50. HEY time for the fucking upsell. Get into his ear, point to VIP room. “Meet me back there, say you’re waiting for Cali” (You should have a code like this for the managers to know that he’s your upsell). Of course, he wants the clearance to go back there for free (or so he thinks). After you get off stage go find him. Sit him down, look like a fucking star and say, “We can stay back here for $X for X time.” For this guy go with the cheapest option first. He’s already back there so the hard part is done. Rarely once they are behind that velvet rope do they want to come back out. Unless they are broke – move on. 

 Scenario 3: Group of dudes comes in. Maybe like 3 or 4. They are spending alright. The guy you are sitting with buys some dances and a drink. They are ordering shots. You have found other girls to sit with the friends. We are not just going to sit out on the floor doing all the work. “Hey guys, you know we can save money on booze and have more fun back there.” “Let’s get a bottle! We can sit in VIP too!” In this scenario, tell the guy you are sitting with you can get the bottle discounted and you’ll charge by the hour ($100-$200 an hour is a good start) for unlimited dances. Unlimited dances and bottle service duh, of course he wants that. Now before you’re like wait, I don’t want to just make $100 for unlimited dances, are you high? Trust me, you aren’t going to be dancing that much. He’s going to be too busy pretending he’s Kanye with his friends. You’re going to be tipping stage, making in rain. Laughing it up and getting drunk. This is a good time table but do not camp out here. Get paid for 2 hours up front. Then get on stage. Stage rotation will burn at least 30 minutes. Find your next customer. Go back and they will already be plastered. The two hours are almost up and maybe they have even found another girl to take your place (perfect). The bottle is gone and you’re on to the next one. 

 Scenario 4: This is the big spender. This is where you will upsell the fuck out of him. He’s sitting by himself. Lonely and maybe a little bit bored. He’s just waiting for you to cheer him the fuck up. You do not dance for him on the floor. You just talk. Maybe like 30 minutes and go three-deep with each thing you ask him. (I’ll explain this in another post). You’re starting to get him to open up but it’s so loud! “Let’s go somewhere it’s quiet.” Point to the back, take his hand and lead him back there. Don’t discuss price, the manager is going to do that for you.

This is all about the service. He wants to be taken care of. He wants to talk to you more. Lead him back there. One of my favorite managers would come up with a wine list. Recommend a bottle and leave. A cocktail waitress would come collect the credit card and leave. Then the VIP service would begin. Get into his ear more. Rub his hands and forearms. Relax him. Who knows what he ordered or what it costs. If he hasn’t asked you, he doesn’t give a shit. The bottle comes out. You are already on his lap laughing. Now depending on where you work, there might be minimum per hour for this type of guy. It usually ranges $300-500 an hour. I would spend the night cozy back there and then charge something like 40 dances on funny money. He can’t do the math that fast. 40 dances in 4 hours sounds about right. (It’s $800 btw). Make sure he’s getting scotch or something rich people drink to accompany the champs. You want him buzzed. Don’t do any extras, if he asks, say “that’s for next time” and make him a regular. 

 Whew! I told you it was long. But totally worth it. Now you have some of my tried and true secrets to sell VIP rooms. Anywhere from the group of dudes to the loner, try these tricks and you will sell more rooms.

If you get resistance just bail. There are so many other guys who don’t mind the upsell. Remember you’re not just selling dances, you’re selling an experience that these guys wish they could have every day. Try whenever possible to get paid up front or at least in increments. Each client is different so some may just start handing out hundreds. If you don’t want to do extras make sure to draw the line. You are the boss. If they get too handsy, go to the bathroom or dressing room, get on stage, bring another girl buffer or even just get the manager. (I have only had a handful of scenarios where the guy is just looking for extras. Just get out and he can find someone else – unless you don’t mind). If the night is going great though, make sure to skip stage entirely, tell the DJ to fuck off, you are in VIP. 

            Try not to get too drunk with them. They are getting drunk, you are providing a service, a VIP service. You should have a favorite VIP waitress that works with you. Managers should know your codes and how you work. This is a team effort where everyone wins. At the end of the night you can walk back to the dressing room where the other girls jealously look at your wad of cash, asking where you’ve been all night. 

             Love and glitter - BW

[bohemianwritings]

Club Hack: How to Deal with Rejection

"Thank you next!!"

             Hi strippies! Today I’m going to give some tips about dealing with rejection. Since I don’t dance anymore but still work in sales, I do unfortunately still have to deal with rejection from potential clients sometimes. Luckily, stripping has given me a very thick skin when it comes to rejection and usually it doesn’t bother me. However, today for some reason it really did get under my skin and I wanted to just take a moment and share some tips for how to get over that icky rejected feeling and not let the job get to you. 

  1.    Don’t take it personal: The first tip I have today is that you shouldn’t take things personal when it comes to sales. Of course, being directly client facing and having a potential client say they don’t want to do business with you (i.e. buy a lap dance or VIP table or even a drink for chrissakes) does hurt. But the one thing to keep in mind is that THEY DON’T KNOW YOU. AT. ALL. These patrons or clients, saw you, maybe talked to you for a few minutes and then decided for one reason or another that you weren’t the right fit for them at that moment. This isn’t an attack on you as a person or your character or what you look like. This is just them for whatever reason deciding something in their mind that really has nothing to do with you. This was one of the hardest things I had to deal with when I was younger. Of course, we want everyone to like us, it’s genetically programmed in our DNA. But the problem is that sometimes people don’t like you and that is OKAY. Just remind yourself, they don’t know you therefore it doesn’t matter if they do or don’t.

 2.    Change your settings: Another thing to try and do is obviously move around and get out of your head. It’s so easy to go back to the dressing room and be pissed or sad (in my case). This is not helpful. Go to the dressing room but maybe change your outfit. Maybe go sit at the bar and talk to someone else. Maybe take yourself upstairs to an empty VIP room and have a moment. Or sometimes I would just put my clothes on and go outside for a second. Usually getting some fresh air out of club would change my perspective. At least I would be able to have a cigarette in peace. Then go back in and finish the shift. 

 3.    Listen to music: This one is kind of hard to do in the club but if you have headphones go back and listen to my all-time Jay-Z favorite, “On to the Next One”. It gets me pumped enough to remember that there are as he says, “a million ways to get it” – and move on to the next client. I’m sure you can find your own jam to listen to that makes you feel like a badass and that there are literally a roomful of other clients just waiting and wanting you to sit with them.

 4.    Talk to a friend: Now sometimes this is good or bad. You don’t want to talk to a friend that is going to get all fired up or depressed with you. You want to talk to someone who will just listen and tell you how amazing you are (because you are!) Maybe another friend who works with you or even the manager (if they are worth a shit) might give you a little pep talk or at least buy you a shot. 

5.    Get back on that lap: Now that you’ve talked to your friend, had your shot from the manager, changed outfits and listened to your pump-up jam - it’s time to get back on the proverbial horse. This means the easiest way to deal with rejection is to get back out there and make some money. Sit with the first guy you see, I would give myself a 5 lap goal and then I would take another break. 5 different laps to sit on – spoiler alert – I never got to #5. I typically would have lap #2 or #3 be interested in spending some time and money on me. The best feeling is when you pass that broke ass who rejected you on your way to VIP and you can give him a smug smile on your way up the stairs. 

 6.    Do a stage rotation: I understand that sometimes you’re just over it. Over men, over the club, and still can’t ward off that icky feeling. Get on stage. For me I love the attention and being able to watch my badass self in the mirror. Talk about a confidence booster if someone comes and makes it rain on you. 

 7.    Think of how far you’ve come: I’m not going to say be grateful and all that other stuff. But you have probably come pretty far from point A to point B and you should be proud of yourself. Stripping is not an easy job, especially when dealing with rejection but you have put in those hours, spent time to get yourself ready and maybe even waxed (ahhh) and all of that deserves some recognition. You got out of bed and put yourself out there (half naked) in a way that some people only dream about. You are bad bitch for just stepping foot inside the club. Don’t forget that. 

               Yes, this does sound easy reading it but I understand that it is not always as easy as it sounds. But seriously, this job comes with rejection pretty much built into it. Every dancer has had to deal with a client saying not interested (even the hottest ones). It’s definitely not you, and guess what else: you’ll never see them again! Poof at the end of the night they are just gone. They were a temporary annoyance and you can move past it just as easily as they rejected you. Besides it may have been what the universe wanted anyway (what if they were broke, handsy, crazy or all three) you may have dodged a headache in the long run. 

            Just take each rejection as a rite of passage it happens to everyone and just move on to the next one! 

 Love and glitter,

BW

[bohemianwritings]

How to Make $1000/night stripping

Alright ladies (and maybe some gents lol) but mostly hi strippies! When I get asked about my dancing days, a lot of people ask me how much did I make per night? OMG! Okay, so I made a typical average depending on the city I worked in. I could expect to make more in larger cities obviously but still there were times when I did make (gasp) $1000 or more in ONE NIGHT. So how did I do it? How did I make this a repeat occurrence? How could I pull it together especially when I had bills due or overdue (ahem)?

I will tell you in this post how to try and consistently make more $ per night. Now when I say consistent do keep in mind that I don’t mean every night. To make $1000 or more without doing extras takes time and planning. Hopefully all of those premade plans work out and you are able to execute your night perfectly. Please remember that not all nights are the same, not all customers spend the same and each club is different. But here are some tips that helped me. 

 Tip #1 – as I mentioned above, you have to have a plan. The plan is to make money BUT HOW?! Well to start you need to pick a night the club is going to be busy. Friday or Saturday. And a night that the club is open late. Here in Texas, the clubs usually close at 2 AM but on the weekends some clubs will stay open until 4 AM. Extra two hours means extra time to make money. So, you decide to work on a Friday night, club is open until 4 AM (or later) – GET THERE EARLY and be prepared to stay until the end. Get there during happy hour especially on Friday. Scoop up some happy hour dances and maybe even get a guy to stay until later or come back and see you. 

 Tip #2 – plan to have some regulars come see you. Try and get at least two to come within the lull in the night (around dinner time) so 7 PM and 9 PM. Try to be done with the regulars by 12 when other patrons are starting to get really drunk. Make sure your regulars pay by the hour and do not get drunk with them. 

 Tip #3 – DO NOT EAT FOOD. I think I said this in a previous post but a hungry dancer is a hustler – if you are fat and full then you are not hungry hustling. Drink white Russians if you do get hungry but trust me there is plenty of time to eat at 4 AM with a wad of bills in your pocket. 

 Tip #4 – After your regulars leave make sure to work the room and try to skip stage. Stage rotation will only waste your time so unless it’s required skip out. If I had to go on main stage I would pay another girl to do my side stages. The more time you have to mingle with the clients the better. Make sure to at least get 5 dances per lap you sit on. And you should be able to do 5 dances in 30 minutes. Sell a room if you have to but know that it will be unlikely that your $1000 is going to come from one person. Sometimes I would sell two rooms and go back and forth. 

 Tip #5 – After 2 AM, sell a VIP room. I cannot stress this one enough. When other girls are getting tired and don’t care this is your time to make some money. Guys spend the most at the end of the night or right at 2 AM. They don’t want to go home. The best are the guys that come in at 2 AM (unless they are drunk college FRATS). These guys will spend something especially if they are in a room with you. Be prepared though I have had all types of requests mostly for me to listen to them whine, cry, or watch them sleep. Make sure you get paid up front. 

 So let’s do the math: 

 6-7 pm Happy Hour Dances $100

7-8 pm Regular #1 $300

8-9 pm More Dances $100

9-11 pm Regular #2 $300

11-2 am Dances $250

2-4 am VIP Room $400(you could take this one off and still make $1050) 

Total: $1450!!!

 Usually with this method I made about $1700, but some of that was in funny money and I wouldn’t be able to cash out until the next day. So not ideal if you needed cash the very next day. 

 If you use this method and stay focused you can see there is plenty of time and wiggle room to make more than $1000. It’s not unreasonable to make $100 an hour doing dances. And I even gave you a little break between 11-2 at $250 (you could easily make more than that I know it!)

So, use this outline and find your own that works but at least this way you can see how easy it can be to make $1000 per night (on the weekends) and be able to maybe repeat this night each week or biweekly. Of course, there are off nights so even if no regulars come, the club is slow and you only make $300 that’s okay too – you’re still a badass. 

 Well good luck out there strippies, hope this helps queens! 

[bohemianwritings]

SCRIPTS!! ONE-LINERS

Best lines to use to break the ice and warm up their lap. 

             Hi bohemians! Recently, I just started a new job as a real estate agent. Yes, it’s exciting and fun but it’s also oddly similar to you guessed it, being a dancer! I mean the parallels are actually pretty cool and being a dancer has definitely prepared me for a life in sales and in real estate. On my team and in my brokerage, we have been talking about scripts and the BIGGEST difference about this sales job and stripping is that this one they GIVE you the scripts to say to clients FOR FREE. Holy shit balls. How much easier would dancing be if all the dancers got together and gave away their opening lines? We could have all been making a TON of $$$ way easier. Unfortunately, the dancing industry is extremely competitive. Veteran dancers do not usually tell the newbs how to walk up to customers, whisper something in their ear and then head straight to VIP. But you’ve seen it happen right? Have you ever wondered how? What did she say?

             Every girl has their special little lines and the way the say it may be different than others. It also obviously depends on the type of client but here it is: I am going to show you my BEST lines that I finessed over 7.5 years of dancing. The ones that worked 80% of the time every time. Haha! but in all seriousness, here are a few of my best one-liners that got me in the lap and able to move on to close the sale. Don’t forget that this is a sales jobs, there will be objections and other obstacles to overcome but use these lines to help get you on their lap and making some money! 

 1.     Are you waiting for someone? 

This was my ABSOLUTE favorite line. First of all, it’s an easy yes or no. The client can just answer honestly or not. It doesn’t matter but it does relieve them from the pressure of turning you down. Second, it also helped my rejection mentality as it seemed like if they said yes, then it wasn’t because they didn’t like me, am I right?Buutttt, usually they would say NO! This was my in. I had already given them the out! If they said no, they practically just said, “hey sit with me and let’s have fun!” 

2.     What are you doing here? 

Another good one, this was great because it makes them seem like you already know them or have recognized them from somewhere. Familiarity, even fake familiarity, works in this environment. Then they may respond with, what do you mean? Boom! Make up something and convo started sit on down there. Ideas to follow: I think I’ve met you, you were the one with the ____, oh I’m so sorry you look like _____, I didn’t think I would see someone like you in a place like this…

3.     Have we met before? 

This kind of goes with the one above but if they say no, then introduce yourself! Usually they may say something like: No, I would have remembered that. Perfect. 

4.     Do you have a lighter? Can I bum one? 

Unfortunately, this only applies to places that allow smoking inside but TRUST MEEEE it works too. Then you get a free cigg, or a lighter for yours and can sit down and chat to try and figure out if they are a good potential client. Disclaimer: not ALL guys with cigarettes are good customers. Use your best judgment here! Also, don’t spend more than one cigg talking to them before either A. They buy you a drink or B. they buy a dance right after the cigg is over if you’re that good. 

5.     This isn’t where I parked my car! 

I’m almost embarrassed to share this one because it is so corny. This one should only be used in the LATE, late night hours where everyone is drunk. You should probably be drunk too. But it does work because #1 people are not expecting it. And #2 it gets them to laugh. It also helps if you plop down right in their lap as you say it and pretend to fall over so they have to catch you, you big flirt! 

6.    Hi, I’m Calli. I’ve never seen you here before. 

This is pretty straightforward but it works great on guys from out of town. They think wow this girl must have noticed something about ME. It usually follows with, I’m not from here or I don’t go to clubs often. Oh great! Let me tell you how it works. 

7.     Come on, let’s go! 

This one is whispered urgently in their ear. And then just walk away. Like they are your friend and you are trying to get them to come with you! They will follow most of the time and if they don’t who cares on to the next one. I also used this one after drinking and when I knew I could get a VIP table for free or something. This way if they did follow I actually had somewhere else to take them. 

  Now, these lines don’t always work and you could probably come up with some variations that may be a little bit more your style but you get the idea. Open them up and get them talking. Now in my new sales job they say you will not get to 20 people without getting a yes. For stripping I would never get past FIVE. That’s right. 5. I would tell myself to get on the floor and try to make it to 5 and luckily for me it never happened. I used these one-liners and was able to sit down and at least get a free drink. What you do from there, I’ll reveal in my next SCRIPTS post. But until then happy dancing! Make that money! 

                                                                         BW

[businessinsider]

Taylor Swift owns at least $84 million in real estate across four states — and she’s not even 30

[writingadvice1]

60 Awesome Search Engines for Serious Writers

[referenceforwriters]

Finding the information you need as a writer shouldn’t be a chore. Luckily, there are plenty of search engines out there that are designed to help you at any stage of the process, from coming up with great ideas to finding a publisher to get your work into print. Both writers still in college and those on their way to professional success will appreciate this list of useful search applications that are great from making writing a little easier and more efficient.

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WriteSearch: This search engine focuses exclusively on sites devoted to reading and writing to deliver its results.

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Need to look up a quote or a fact? These search tools make it simple.

Writer’s Web Search Engine: This search engine is a great place to find reference information on how to write well.

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References.net: Find all the reference material you could ever need through this search engine.

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Wikipedia.com: Just about anything and everything you could want to look up is found on this site.

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If you’re focusing on writing in a particular niche, these tools can be a big help.

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Technorati: This site makes it possible to search through millions of blogs for both larger topics and individual posts.

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PubSub: This search tool scours sites like Twitter and Friendfeed to find the topics people are talking about most every day.

[bohemianwritings]

Texas Sake Company

This was a fun little happy hour outing! First off I want to say that I love sake and I live within walking distance of this establishment. I have had their sake at sushi restaurants around the city so when we moved into the neighborhood I thought perfect time to try!

We had seen that they had some outdoor seating and decided to stroll the baby to come along with us. We settled at a table and then went in to try out the happy hour selection. We ended up getting a flight of sake which was just enough for two people. I think N also got a beer or something to go along with it. The flight came out on this cute little sheet that explained about the sake. The waitress/bartender also explained it a little more detailed which was great!

They also made sure to include pretzels and water which Ari happily snacked on. It was great that they had an outdoor patio so that we could all be together but not be “at a bar”. The atmosphere was friendly and on the inside there was an actual bar with tables and patrons which wasn’t as kids friendly as the outside area.

Overall super fun! We definitely left with a nice relaxed feeling and will definitely be back, maybe this time without the baby ;)

[bohemianwritings]

Never Stop Hustling

 Alright y’all, the holidays are over and I’m already feeling that new year go-getter buzz. But this year feels different than last year by far.  

Its hard for me to share this but unfortunately two-weeks ago I was laid-off from a job I had for two years. The business made some poor decisions in early fall and by the end of the year they had zero funds left to pay me (and maybe even keep the office running). Getting laid off (even if it’s just temporary) brought a wave of emotions. Even though I was looking to switch careers next year, I wanted the time and resources to do that organically and not have to rush through finding a new place to work. Luckily, I had already prepped my resume and my boss was aware that I wanted to change careers. So I did start applying for positions in the field I want to pursue - real estate. Also very luckily, I have also gotten a couple of interviews scheduled. Talk about a quick transition. 

However, the holidays were tinged with sadness because I didn’t have a nice Christmas bonus to buy presents, I did not have a paycheck coming to me at the end of each week and was blowing through my savings just to pay bills. So here I am today the day after Christmas. Bank account low and rent due. I took matters into my own hands and started running for a delivery service. It has been humbling. I had made sacrifices at my old job so I would be taken care of and now I won’t have health insurance starting January 15. The urgency to find a new job has never been greater. But in the meantime, I just keep going from one money stream to the next.  

And now I’m a college graduate with professional admin and writing experience running tacos and pizza around the city. I’m not complaining (ok maybe a little) but I’m super bummed. I expected to be so much further along by now. Regardless of my own inner disappointment I still don’t quit. I’m not giving up. I’m just going to keep pushing and hustling every day. I think hard work or wait even harder work is what 2019 is going to bring. 

Some goals for me include real estate licensing and finding a great brokerage to work with. I really want to start crafting again maybe sell some macrame projects. Finish book #1. Start an online downloadable book. Grow my aerial and yoga practice/blog/website.  

[writing-in-the-grave]

ATTENTION WRITERS

Google BetaBooks. Do it now. It’s the best damn thing EVER.

You just upload your manuscript, write out some questions for your beta readers to answer in each chapter, and invite readers to check out your book!

It’s SO easy!

You can even track your readers! It tells you when they last read, and what chapter they read!

Your beta readers can even highlight and react to the text!!!

There’s also this thing where you can search the website for available readers best suited for YOUR book!

Seriously guys, BetaBooks is the most useful website in the whole world when it comes to beta reading, and… IT’S FREE.

[shinningstarz]

HEY! BECAUSE OF OP, THEY CREATED A SPECIAL WELCOME IF YOUR FOUND THEM THRU A TUMBLR WELCOME, ITS A YOUTUBE VIDEO.

[writing-in-the-grave]

They also sent me this; which was super cool

[writingonjupiter]

*slams reblog button*

[bohemianwritings]

I loved the feeling. I loved the lights. It was a time and place that I can’t replicate. No matter how hard I try.

[bohemianwritings]

[nanowrimo]

Join Our #InstaWrimo Instagram Challenge in September!

A novel is a lot like mold. Mold doesn’t just appear all of a sudden on those strawberries you meant to eat but didn’t. It starts as spores that drift through the air, seeking the right combination of temperature and light and dampness. It settles in, speck by speck, and slowly grows into something more.

Okay, I know, gross (note to self: throw out those old strawberries). But I like the metaphor because that’s often how stories start: you make space in your day and mind to dream, and the ideas drift down, spore by spore. After many days and weeks (and sometimes months!) they grow into characters and scenes you can shape into an outline.

NaNoWriMo is coming up in November, so this September, we want to help you grow your mold—er, novel—with our second ever month-long #InstaWrimo challenge. We designed a month of Instagram prompts to get you thinking about characters, setting, and story. All you need to join in is an Instagram account.

Follow @NaNoWriMo on Instagram.

Use the 30 photo prompts listed in the graphic above to start thinking about your novel. We’ll post the full challenge prompt on Instagram, but it will also be available in this post if you need to refer back to it.

These prompts are just suggestions—you don’t have to be literal, though if you want to take these prompts very literally, that can result in some fun pictures, too. You can post a photo for each of the prompts, or choose just a few. You can post one every day, or all at once. There aren’t any strict rules—the most important part is having fun!

Make sure to tag any posts with the #InstaWrimo hashtag so we can find them. We’ll pick photos from the challenge to feature on our own Instagram account throughout the month. Follow the hashtag to see what our awesome community is up to, and to get inspired.

Use your imagination, get creative, and get ready to write!