I cover a town beat for a local weekly. http://www.neindependent.com/
I've passed the $10k mark several times over, since even the low-paying part-time newspaper wage is about $22k a year.

I freelance for local publications, and am putting together a couple of projects on local historic properties, environmental sustainability and social responsibility. They're just topics I'm interested in, and I'm waiting to see where the writing takes me before I look for a publishable outlet.

I got a couple of research papers published while I was an undergrad, years ago. The Honors Colloquium prof my freshman semester insisted on finding a journal for my paper. Whatever; it was 60 pages of philosobabble. I used to write poetry and several pieces were published, but I gave that up in college.

I used to write for fun, and have a couple of novellas lying around, but then came the children and the journalism job and they killed my energy level.

I also have written several children's books, which have not made it any further than our own bookshelves so far.

I love covering local news. It's a great job for nosy people.

Kim