Journalists take serious risks when they report from a war zone. I've borne rather nominal scars in my freelance journalistic efforts within Israel, and I've learned quite a bit from them. I'm taking time out from my daily life to jot down some thoughts, and to distract myself from the noise of military aircraft overhead. …
Congratulations. You're a rock star. Your new novel is on the market and people are clamoring for your attention. Go nuts. Get some dark shades, a new do, and hire some people to pose as groupies. First time authors in particular get an unparalleled thrill out of getting their books into the stores. There are few rewards like seeing your work on display and having average Joes ask for your signature. Be warned, though. While some bookstores will be glad to order copies of your book on their own, there are those who will whimper and whine and insist they can only take books on consignment... …
Just over a year ago, I walked away from a well-paying marketing job to launch a freelance writing career, working primarily in the business to business sector. Within two months, my freelance income was paying the bills. In this first year of writing self-employment, I learned many things that improved my business savvy and monthly income. Here are 10 tips I wish someone had given me before I launched my freelance writing business.…
In my previous spew concerning sites that offer to place your blog entries in publications to give you more "exposure," I indicated that I was not comfortable with the concept of opportunists feeding off my carcass without benefit of compensation. But, since this write-for-free debate is such a tired standby, I sighed and said maybe I was becoming the crab on the block. What do you think? I asked. My mailbox overflowed! …
Most people agree that cover design is one of the most important ingredients in marketing a book. Professional book cover design is essential because readers, retailers and reviewers glance at a book for only a few seconds before they make a choice. Hiring a cover designer can be tricky, though, because there are so many people claiming to be cover designers. It's difficult to determine who has the skills to get the job done and who does not. …
You almost have to stay up all night to stay ahead of the new wrinkles creasing the Internet. First came blogging and the chance to carry Google ads and maybe get a pence or two back at some point. A woman called me the other day and exclaimed that she had just made 50 cents on AdSense. Now, several sites have sprung up to spread your blog entries around - at no compensation to you, of course - and supposedly increase your cachet in the blogosphere. …
Nonprofit presses want your help - your writing and your money, too. Nowhere in the rules of a nonprofit does it say the entities cannot afford to pay a writer. As a matter of fact, a nonprofit that cannot afford to pay its bills is poorly run. Nonprofits are expected to operate with their financial records in the black, just like a regular business. For-profit magazines are expected to pay their writers. Why not the nonprofit publications as well? …
Last week, we covered participating in online discussions. This week, I'm going to give you a primer on the options for paid advertising online... …
Last week, we covered getting links to your site. This week, we're going to talk about taking a different tact in your online marketing strategy - participating in online discussions. …
Last week, we covered search engine and directory registration. This week we're going to talk about a broader, but related, topic - how to get links to your site from other sites... …
Last week, we talked about the importance of good content on a web site. Good content not only attracts the attention of readers, but it also attracts the attention of search engines and directories. …
The starting point of any online marketing campaign is the web site. You need to have a place around which your prospective buyers can congregate. …
For the next six weeks, I'm going to try to explain what constitutes a "true" online marketing strategy. I'm going to lay out a plan you can use to sell and/or promote online. This plan is the culmination of 10 years of experience doing online marketing campaigns that ranged from being wildly successful to utter failures, and everything in between. …
Tim Bete, humor writer and coordinator for the annual Erma Bombeck's Writing Workshop, teaches that to become a paid humor columnist, you need to submit your column to someone who will pay you... …
Recently, I described a bit about my own freelance writing for genealogy and family history magazines. In this article, I'll expand the discussion: I'll explain how you can break into this market, too - and where you might do so... …
My contribution to the debate over whether to charge clients flat fees or hourly rates is: Do both - at the same time. …
Do editors need manners? Do they need to use basic writing skills in their correspondence with lowly writers? Does anyone care if they don't? I think the answer to all three questions is: Yes. …
If you're like me, the, "How much would you charge me for this article/project" question brings a clammy coating to your skin and you could swear the temperature in your office just dropped by at least a few degrees. There are several ways to calculate costs. Take into consideration how much research and time will be involved in the completion of the task. Work from there to discover the best way to bill your clients in order to remain fair to them while also remaining true to yourself and your financial needs. …
Have you ever read an article and wondered where the writer came up with the idea? You may think that the pros are assigned most of their stories, but that's rarely the case. Neophytes and seasoned writers alike have to come up with article topics on their own for the most part. So where do you turn when your idea arsenal is running low? The short answer is EVERYWHERE. …
Angela Hoy's recent article, Red Flag Phrases To Avoid In Freelance Help Wanted Ads, made me think of another - those ubiquitous ads for "grant writers." Of course, we know they mean "grant proposal writers," as the grant writer is the one with the money to give... but who's quibbling? …
Blogging for profit might be the newest chapter in the book of business models for writers, but phrases like "very part time basis", "exposure", and "split the ad revenue" tell the same old story. They are sugar-coated ways of saying "come work for free." …
Last week, I received two letters from readers complimenting us on only running quality job ads. While I do occasionally screw up and get "had" by a bad one, I try very hard each week to avoid the questionable/seedy ads, and only run ads that are for real companies that pay writers real money. I admit I get pretty upset when I see my writing website colleagues running ads that are obviously questionable or unethical, if not downright scams (pay per click, term paper mills, etc.) and, unfortunately, when I write to them to complain, they usually ignore my emails... …
Admit it. You are a successful freelance writer or journalist. You enjoy a great relationship with the same editors and write for the same publications. It's a great life. In fact, make that a darn wonderful life. Why change it? Because in today's world it's easier than ever to move beyond your own backyard and out into that big, bold world of untapped markets. …
One of the biggest problems with seeking an agent is that you may actually find one. Not unlike the ever popular quest for a boyfriend or girlfriend, it's easy to overlook some rather annoying qualities when you just want an agent so badly. …
Is writing short articles, 100 - 800 words, worth the effort? Because the money involved is small, one has to question the value of accepting these short assignments. There can be sacrifices involved. Shorts can fragment one's time, allowing less time for larger projects that bring fatter paychecks. This time fragmentation also can make it harder to meet deadlines. However, with effective strategy and good time management, short pieces can be additional income producers while paving the way to longer, more lucrative assignments from some editors, while not interfering with your current larger projects. …
Shhhhh. I've got a secret to share with you that you may not even know about. In fact, if you have ever written a book or thought about writing a book, I'm gonna let you in on something that won't cost you a dime of money, but could produce an incredible opportunity to effectively market your work. What is this dream plan for building an audience of enthusiastic buyers for your book? Simply put, it's a blog. What's that?! …
People expend lots of energy and discussion on getting listed in search engines. There are companies that promise all sorts of amazing results if you just pay them a fee to perform their often questionable tactics. And people invest inordinate amounts of time fretting over where they are in the search results. Truth is, there's really only a few things you need to know about search engine and directory submissions... …
I'd like to share the experience of our first novel, On Thin Ice, recently published by Booklocker, with readers of WritersWeekly.com. Our enthusiasm for our creative work was matched by the number of friends and acquaintances who offered to review our work before and after publication. They assured us they were newspaper and magazine writers eager to support us. One said, "I am an English professor and would love to review your book." …
I have been a full-time freelancer and sole support of my family for 24 years. I try to cover the bases - and check both free job boards and those who accumulate specific job site listings for a small fee. …
Opinions on editing tests vary. Some would place editing in the class of professions that includes medicine, plumbing and haircutting, in which auditions simply aren't done. Others might consider the acting profession to be a better analogy. …
It's almost tax time again! And, as in the past, A.J. Cataldo offers his tax wisdom to self-employed writers. …
Authors, heed my words. Hire an editor. Find someone you have never met before, some good soul with a great resume and references, but someone who has no emotional interest in you or your project. Hire an editor who won't give a rat's shiny fanny whether your manuscript changes the course of history; hire an editor who just wants to know what your deadlines are and whether your check will clear. …
Let's say that you followed the advice of several publishing professionals and prepared a complete book proposal. Good for you! It's clear to anyone reading your proposal that you have a handle on your target audience. You did a good job of showing that there is a need for your proposed book. Your synopsis and chapter outline are superbly written. And your promotional plan is impressive, indeed, except for one thing. It's fake, counterfeit, phony, bogus. …
