You need an editor—of that much you are certain. But how can you avoid falling prey to incompetent, untrained, or inexperienced pretenders who may insert more errors than they correct? (Yes, it happens alarmingly often.)…
As an author, and speaking on behalf of all of us collectively, our primary goal in writing a book is to achieve blockbuster sales and mega success. It's the ultimate dream happy ending for authors, even if the novels and books we write don't require a happy ending for the readers. For some, it may even be the reason for writing it...…
Have you ever equated your writing projects to a line of pots on a simmering stove? The more you looked at this stove, the more you realized that the one good meal you envisioned to spring from those pots has not happened. Sure, you may have a satisfying dish, but there are so many others left unattended, burning, because you simply have too much going on. …
Past clients usually make the best future clients. They're already impressed with your work ethic, they know why you charge what you do and they love your style. You don't have to dazzle them with flashy advertisements to reel them in, and you don't have to walk on eggshells when you deal with them because you're already familiar with the way they do business.…
Frankly, anyone who reads WritersWeekly already knows the advantages of self-publishing. While some authors do very well on their own, and prefer to stay on their own, others have received offers from traditional publishers after proving there's a market for their self-published book.…
Well, that's a silly title, isn't it? I chose it because of a little read-in-the-bathroom book a friend gave to my husband last Christmas. In it there was this saying: 'I became self employed and I still have a jerk for a boss.' It gave me a chuckle but it also got my gray cells going in the direction of writing. When it comes to this area of my life - and maybe yours - I'm self employed. And sometimes I don't like my boss. Why? Let me count the ways. …
While most towns nowadays have only one newspaper, they will generally have multiple radio stations. For a writer, this means multiple opportunities to write spots for radio salespeople who want effective ads for their clients. …
Writing about real estate opens many potential markets: big city, small city and suburban newspapers as well as consumer and trade magazines. Magazine markets may be local, regional or national in their coverage. Occasionally, a real estate subject such as the rise of World Trade Center 1 (the Freedom Tower), on Ground Zero of the World Trade Center, is national news, resulting in syndicated newspaper articles. Additional research can turn a subject that starts as a one-off local story, such as covering a local warehouse roof with solar panels to generate electricity, can also be written as a national trend story. …
"Can you tell me how much it costs to take out an ad at your site?" asked a publisher in Arizona back in April. Unfortunately, like many bloggers who blog as a labor of love, I never gave serious consideration to earning pay for my say. Not until then. …
Prior to becoming a freelance writer, I had a career in marketing. Managing campaign schedules, building brands and doing competitive analyses filled my nine to five workday. When I made the switch to freelance writing, I thought I would ditch marketing vocabulary such as "target audience", "brand development", "ROI" and "customer relations" at the door. Instead, I have come to discover that the tools I honed as a marketing professional have enhanced my success as a freelance writer. Here are some ways I have used these marketing terms to build my business. …
As writers, we all long to earn the big bucks by penning the next best selling novel or Hollywood-bound screenplay. The reality of this scenario is that it is a reality for very few people. Often, it is years in the making. Not many writers see their first novel or screenplay gain the status of fame, fortune and six-figure royalty checks. The truth is, while we're working and writing and waiting for our well-deserved global recognition, we have to pay the bills. For that, I suggest you think local. …
Do you have to be paranoid when you deal with editors and publishers? No. Should you be aware of your rights, responsibilities and potential red flags? Yes.…
One guarantee in freelancing - you'll be pitching your capabilities over and over again. If you serve a well-defined niche, it's easy to put together new queries and bids. But what if your work spans multiple fields? Whether you do it to expand your income stream or to keep your writing life interesting, diversifying has advantages - but it can also make winning new business more challenging...…
Early this year, I got the wonderful news that my mystery was found suitable for publication. One reason was the marketing plan I'd submitted with my query letter and first three chapters. In that plan, I outlined the steps I intended to take before and after my publication date... …
It's not always easy to translate thoughts into words, and oftentimes as a freelance writer, it's not even your thoughts that need to be translated, it is somebody else's. Sometimes, the topics are familiar and sometimes they are dumbfounding. Quite often, it's not a surprise to see a freelance writer wearing strange wigs or doing strange things during a write-up to get a "feel" of the unusual writing job that has been given to them. Here is a list of five unusual yet lucrative freelance writing jobs available to freelance writers... …
Without being cheesy or over-the-top, you can tactfully use current events to sell your story. In fact, many authors get their book ideas by reading the paper. …
Two years ago, I quit my full-time job as a marketing professional to follow my dream and become a freelance writer. Eager to escape the gray cubicle walls that confined me, I conjured images of myself lounging on the sofa in my pajamas, my laptop resting on my knees as I methodically tapped out story after story. I enjoyed my new wardrobe - happy to have ditched the high-heels and pencil skirts - and relished the freedom to make my own schedule, but was shocked to find that I missed the office. Well, not the office exactly, but the daily jaunts to the coffee shop downstairs, chatting with co-workers in the office kitchen and team meetings that I'd previously found tedious and futile that now seemed welcome distractions to the loneliness I faced in my new life as a writer. …
Mentoring another writer may sound like giving away your industry knowledge for nothing or boosting a competitor. But really, mentoring is good for your protege's writing career and yours. Mentoring can benefit you beyond feeling good about helping another person who is new to the business. …
Tradeshows offer a unique marketing opportunity for freelance writers. Many industries and trade associations ranging from the oil, chemical and food industries to home builders and restaurant owners have tradeshows to exhibit the latest in equipment and services to their members. I tried out my new strategy at Houston's May 6-9 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC). This is a major annual tradeshow. In 2012, there were more than 2,500 trade show booths and 89,400 attendees. So far my payoff from attending the tradeshow and marketing there is $6,000... …
Every freelance writer knows the value of a published clip to establish professional credibility, but a clip does not tell a potential client or new editor what type of person you are to work with, how good your writing is before editing, or whether you're worth working with on a regular basis. How, then, can a writer share that information without seeming to brag? The answer is simple - have someone else say it for you. …
Want to work up a history on the old Army fort on the edge of your town? Perhaps you are just trying to find out what Grandpa did during World War II. All of this has become much, much easier today, thanks to the many resources now available online to the writer willing to spend a little time in research. …
It's tempting to put querying aside while you're working on assignments, and then pick it up again when the work runs out. The problem is that, by then, it's too late. You end up with a gap in your assignments - and your income. …
Writers are often a great source of support for each other. Few professions have so many members willing to educate others in their field. The experience and expertise of other writers can help you at all levels of your career. Joining writers groups and professional organizations, participating in online forums, writing your own blogs and following other author blogs, and getting to know people at writing classes and conferences, are all traditional ways to become acquainted with other authors. However, networking also involves giving back. Share your knowledge with other authors and offer them encouragement and inspiration... …
Any competent writer who puts himself or herself in the right place at the right time can achieve these essentially effortless results. Here are five ways you, too, can start making money at conferences instead of just spending it...…
Some authors shoot themselves and their publishers in the wallet with naivete about the book-reviewing industry. The problem is two-fold... …
Even though my books are not in a mortar and brick bookstore, I have successfully sold copies of my Christmas book in some unusual places of business... …
After a frustrating dry spell in terms of getting new corporate clients I changed my marketing strategy. Actually, this new strategy is the old strategy I used when I first became a full-time freelancer. Specifically, I returned to a focus on medium and large-size companies ($500 million to more than $1 billion in annual sales) located in my city (Houston). I had drifted into doing long-distance marketing by e-mail with interviews by telephone. I got some very good short-term gigs over the years. However, overall I had a low response rate to the letters of introduction I e-mailed to corporate contacts. In addition, in most cases these clients had no loyalty when their work assignments were intermittent (1 to 4 assignments per year). …
It sometimes looks as if writers are the most vulnerable set of talented workers in this world. If only employers knew what writers go through to complete their projects! …
In November, 2010, I self published The 2766th Provisional Headquarters Flight WW II with BookLocker.com. The book generated sufficient PR in the first year to bring in an increased income of $60,000.00 for my clinic during a year when most physicians I know fought to stay even...…
As freelance writers, most of us have to advertise our services. Spending $100 to make $125 isn't worth the effort - but spending $100 to get a few long-term clients (and their referrals) is a really big deal. The key to effective marketing is to reach the right audience. If you don't, you're watching your hard-earned money circle the drain... …
The details and pitch of the "copywriter wanted" ad sounded too slick but I applied anyway. I sent a cover letter, CV, resume and links to purchased, published works. I spent a good 15 minutes crafting the right approach and selecting the ideal links. A few weeks later, I received a bulk e-mailed form letter inviting me to send them a 500-word blog entry. Doing so would enter me into the next round of the selection process. Excuse me, second round? Is this a reality TV show or an employment opportunity? …
As a frequent (and frequently paid) book reviewer, and a former teacher of courses in how to establish a book-reviewing practice, I was pleased to see a recent WritersWeekly.com article spotlighting this work. But I'd like to expand the discussion... …
Sometimes the check doesn't arrive or the automatic deposit doesn't hit the account. Then what? I've had a few editors not pay when they said they would. What a writer does next can affect not only when he gets paid, but also the editor/writer relationship... …
