Freelance Writers - How Much Is Your Writing Worth?
Posted on April 8, 2008 - Filed Under Writing and Speaking | Leave a Comment
One of the common complaints I hear from new coaching clients is that they’re swamped with writing work - yet all of their assignments pay mere peanuts. They know they will never make a living this way. What are they doing wrong?
My first reaction to this problem is to ask them these two questions: “Why are you working for peanuts? Is that all you think your writing is worth?”
When you get right down to it, we’re all paid basically what WE think we are worth.
Read More..>>A Single Apostrophe For Double Quotes!
Posted on April 4, 2008 - Filed Under Writing and Speaking | Leave a Comment
My last post covered the topic of proper quotation and punctuation usage but someone has asked me about the usage of double quotation marks.Double quotes are actually very common in screenplays, short stories, books and many other types of fictional settings.
While they are also common in non-fiction, they are not so common but the same rules will still apply.I do not wish to leave any writers out of the proverbial loop.
Most writers already know the fundamentals of using quotation marks.
In many instances however, a character or characters in a novel setting will be quoting each other as well.
Writers Teleclass: Learn To Write A Book And Operate A Freelance Writing Business
Posted on March 30, 2008 - Filed Under Writing and Speaking | Leave a Comment
When I wrote my first book, Email Episodes I knew very little about the writing industry and even less about publishing. My experience with self-publishing was a great learning opportunity and I gained knowledge that I now share with others. My second book. More Than Meets the Eye: True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife, was published by Booksurge—a POD company that I would not recommend anyone using. The print quality is poor, getting customer service is like pulling teeth and each revision of my manuscript cost $50. It took a friend of mine almost a year to get a printable version of her manuscript into book form and available through Amazon.com. We both found that getting a vanity published book into a bricks and mortar bookstore was nearly impossible. Needless to say, we learned a lot from our experience.
Read More..>>What Writers Must Know About The Internet
Posted on March 23, 2008 - Filed Under Writing and Speaking | Leave a Comment
From time to time, freelance writers get asked to write for websites. Most of the time, they tackle the assignment as any other, that is, as a work-for-hire arrangement. The writer creates an article and earns a few bucks. But most writers never ask themselves how the business actually works. The Internet is many things, and one of them is a business model. While there are websites run by kids or old ladies or self-important pundits, most websites actually are fueled by a great force than mere idle time. Most of them are extensions of a business and some are a business unto themselves.
Read More..>>Freelance Writers - Seven Ways To Broaden Your Professional Network
Posted on March 21, 2008 - Filed Under Writing and Speaking | Leave a Comment
One of the easiest ways to grow your freelance writing business is to broaden your professional network. Here are seven ways to do that:
1. Join several listservs for writers. Over the years, I’ve gotten writing assignments, invitations for school visits, and other information from writers I’ve met via listservs. I’ve also made some great friends. You’ll find all sorts of listservs for writers at www.yahoogroups.com.
Read More..>>Starting A Freelance Writing Career
Posted on March 20, 2008 - Filed Under Writing and Speaking | Leave a Comment
Numerous people today are looking for ways to earn a living from home. This has led many to the field of freelance writing. With modern technology and a home office equipped with a computer, branching into a freelance writing career is easier then it has ever been before. Word processing programs replace ink and ribbon typewriters and afford the novice writer luxuries such as automatic word count, instant grammar checks, and tools that will correct your spelling errors. However, these modern comforts will not take the place of fluidity with your writing or the mechanical process necessary to produce great copy.
Read More..>>3 Short Priceless Tips To Freelance Writing
Posted on March 14, 2008 - Filed Under Writing and Speaking | Leave a Comment
Writing is fun when you’re writing your own blog or when you’re writing fiction. If you’re planning to start a career as a writer, bear this in mind….when writing becomes a job, it can get tough. But hear me out before you close this browser. Although it can be tough, being a freelance writer can be EVEN TOUGHER!
Sounds like I am trying to discourage your from earning a living as a freelance writer? Absolutely not. What I am trying to do is to encourage you to trudge on! Listen, nothing in this world is ever easy to begin with and everybody will always tell you to do what you like. Use your talent. Use your passion. This is the only way to make earning money fun.
Read More..>>7 Ways Your Writing Deadlines Can Be Derailed And What To Do About It
Posted on March 9, 2008 - Filed Under Writing and Speaking | Leave a Comment
If there is one profession that lives and dies by deadlines, it is writing. Journalists, in particular, know that deadlines are sacrosanct; you must make them, even if it means staying up all night to do it. Many of us speak from experience when we recall how many times we have done that over the years. What is really frustrating is when you kill yourself to get a story to an editor who doesn’t get to it for a week or so, or a project to a client who absolutely had to have it on that day but isn’t in the office that day or even that week. Those are the times you may ponder the unfairness of life; but such ponderings do not cause you to miss the next deadline, even if it’s for the same person.
Read More..>>Easy Way To Get More Freelance Writing Gigs
Posted on March 2, 2008 - Filed Under Writing and Speaking | Leave a Comment
You freelance writers have to be wondering now, right? With that glorious introduction, I’m going to fill you in on the cross-my-heart-hope-to-die-stick-a-needle-in-my-eye freelance writing secret. It’s Guru.com. And before you run screaming to the ‘delete’ button, let me say up front that I’m in no way, shape, or form on Guru’s payroll! I’m not an affiliate (they don’t have an affiliate program). I don’t own stock (in fact, I think it’s privately-held?). And to be honest, by telling you about it, I’m inviting freelance writing competition. It’s just info that’s too good not to pass along. So here it goes.
Read More..>>