Want to learn how to become a freelance writer?

OK, according to "everyone" the economy bit the dust.

Maybe you're looking at the possibility of being downsized - or maybe your spouse is. And it's scary.

I completely get it - and want to help.

Normally, I sell my whole "become a freelance writer" system for $147. But I've just launched a newly revised (and even meatier!) version of my book - the same one you can get on Amazon, but online as a PDF... AND included four bonuses I still can't believe I'm giving away... and all for $47 dollars - it's my attempt to jump-start your economy! : )

Thing is, I'm not sure how long I'll leave this version up at this price.

Here's who I had in mind when I decided to do this:

Moms like me who really just want to be home with their kids, who want to do more than "just get by" and who want to do something from home to add some wiggle room to their budgets.

If you're considering getting into freelance writing... and want to earn more than the $5 articles floating around all over the place, you should act now to get this book.

If you've got friends or family who are feeling the pinch (or being strangled) by the economy, do them a favor and tell them about it, too.

I'm also considering running some Q&A calls in a few weeks for people who buy the book - you'll get to ask me anything, and I'll help in any way I can.

So, here's the link: http://www.sahmwriter.com

Yippeee! My book's going on Amazon!

Finally!

Revamped, revised, and with TONS more info to boot, "Working Writer Happy Writer: How to Build a Thriving Writing Business from NOTHING" is now also.... in print!

Why?

• After dozens of writers have used it to build thriving writing businesses of their own, I had the privilege of hearing what worked best, what questions the original version left unanswered, and how it could be even better.
  
• Some books are just even easier to use if you've got a print version on your desk - an easy reference you can use even when you're not on the computer.
• I found a way to get it in print... without filling my garage with books! And they handle the shipping, too - standing at the post office is not something I was ever interested in.
• I wanted to find a way where people could read the book, use it, and pass it on - but not go crazy about it where it becomes public domain material. Having it in print's a good solution.

More than anything, though, I'd been looking for a way to get this information into as many people's hands as possible at a price pretty much anyone could practically find in their sofa cushions. I've gotten more writers' resumes over the past couple of months than ever before - and know people are hurting. To be honest, many of these writers are FAR more qualified than I am, and if they're coming to me for work... well, I hope this will help.

It's going live on Amazon soon, but in the meantime, here's a link where you can buy Working Writer Happy Writer: How to Build a Thriving Writing Business from NOTHING for...
only $19.95!

https://www.createspace.com/3364349

Turn your press release writing skills on your own business

Probably you've written press releases for your clients before - and if not, that's a skill you're going to want to pick up for sure.

Here's a good guide to get you started:

So once you know your way around a press release, why not do one for your own company?

You could announce any number of events and achievements:
- your business launch
- new website
- new client
- being published somewhere
- adding writers to your team
- speaking somewhere
- awarding a prize - or receiving one

C'mon, you're writers - use your imagination! You can probably come up with enough ideas to last a year! The idea is to get the word out about your business.

Just write the releases and distribute them online, and you'll also build valuable backlinks to your website.

Help! My friend is "this" close to making the NY Times Bestsellers list!

Brian Klemmer's only 1,000 books away from making the NY Times bestseller list for "Compassionate Samurai"

--- I can only imagine him on Oprah, and what more publicity for this book would do.

"A world that works for everyone - with nobody left out."

That's Brian's mission. With that, his organization has done many service projects in Mexico (building homes, a school, etc. for people displaced by massive floods), water purification projects in Africa, support for gang violence prevention initiatives, and amazing work with prisoners in Washington State.

And of course... that doesn't even touch the tip of the iceberg where it comes to the benefits I've received personally from attending seminars based on the same information in his newest book.

So all that to say...

... if you're looking for a book that may very well change your life, buy it now!
... if you're looking for a good book to give your friends, family, coworkers, downline, whoever, buy it now!
... if you'd like to help spread a message of empowerment, contribution, integrity, and hope, buy it now!

But this is important - you need to do it today. And you need to do it on Amazon for it to count for the NY Times campaign.

Here's a link to make it really easy:

Clearing out the old freelance writing bookshelf

I'm doing some Spring Cleaning... a little late, maybe but anyhow, wanted to see whether anyone was interested in this:


"How to become a millionaire writer" by Bob Bly
4-Disc CD Set

It's an explanation of how information marketing works, and was pretty instrumental in my desire to open an info publishing arm in my writing business.

It's an interview with Bob Bly and his buddy Fred Gleeck.

I think I paid like $97 for it, but would like to pass it on to a new good home. Let's say... $25?

Interested? Let me know, and we'll handle it via Paypal.

I'll even throw in free shipping within the continental U.S.

And stay tuned for more goodies from the ole bookshelf!

Look for THIS freelance writing book... coming soon

Wow, flattering, to say the least!

A few months ago I made a new friend - Angie Dixon. She purchased my book about how to become a freelance writer (even if you're starting from scratch) just after I'd started using a new purchase system. It was a mess! My fault entirely due to my faulty Html skills.

Long story short, we had some conversations and become friends.

Angie's a writer on Elance, which of course fascinates me because I do my thing on Guru where job boards are concerned. She's done really well there and has built a very effective system, which is now in her brand new book. (I'll get you some info on how to get it soon.)

I told Angie about my second book (nearly done... I promise!) and we agreed it would be a good companion guide with hers. So I'm finishing up a little something something to go along with her book. Using Dragon NaturallySpeaking to write it, so that's been a fun challenge.

Will tell you more about all of that later.

Where to begin? Weekend of a lifetime for this freelance writer

My head's bursting... and I don't think it's because I missed Starbucks today.

I think it might have something to do with my multi-page action step list for the next 90 days.

Over the weekend, I was in Dallas to meet with Kevin Wilke, Matt Gill, Rob Hawthorne, and Dan Swanson of Nitro Marketing - along with the other two winners of the Marketing Do Over contest.

After just the "Overview" section Kevin gave, I could have gone home with a list of big and small things I could do to make by writing business and my publishing business virtually EXPLODE in growth.

These guys are geniuses - and yet not the kind that make you feel... less than genius.

I'll give you three guesses as to what book they've used to structure their business (and the first two don't count):

And just as I suspected, they confirmed that life's a LOT easier if you read and follow this book from the beginning, rather than waiting until your business is big.

I felt a lot like that kid on "Jerry Maguire" asking tons and tons of questions - even as we drove to dinner... but hey, as long as they'd answer, why not ask someone who's doing something so well? Sure beats asking people who just pretend to know!

So, which DID you choose?

So, in this week's newsletter, I asked what you'll do after your freelance writing business takes off and you're able to either sell it or step back and have other people work it for you (while you still get paid!).

Some answers so far from writers who've answered this question:

· Write a novel

· Do missions work

· Travel

· Invest in real estate

· Do it again, starting another business using what I learned

· Teach my kids how to do what I did (in principle) so they can build some kind of business of their own as they grow up

· Start a charitable foundation

How about you? Leave your comment here.

And here's the book resource I mentioned. It's meaty... and you'll love it.

By the way, if you're not already subscribed to the Working Writer Happy Writer newsletter, what are you waiting for? : ) It's free (for now!). It's good. And it may get you started on the business (and life) of your dreams.

If you don't have this book, get it now!

I've talked about this one before, but can't stress enough how important it is to "get" what it's all about. My coach Robin had me read it really early on as I built my business. But it's one that I still think about and refer to often.

Especially if you've got dreams of writing a novel someday, or want to build a business that's not ultimately going to run you ragged... read this!

"The best freelance writing book out there"

OK, there's not really a hierarchy, a verifiable list for this.

But this is what one of my readers said.... about my book!

And while it's no literary masterpiece, just based on results... I'd agree with her.

You see, I'm privileged to hear back from people who've bought my book. The story is usually pretty much the same: started with no writing business, hoping to quit my job, used what I learned (ahem... that means they took action!), and now I'm in my final two weeks of working in a cubicle. My family's happier. My husband/wife is amazed because I'm actually bringing in good money.

So does that make it the best? Who cares! People are using it to get results, to change their lives, to help their families, to do what they've always wanted to do.

Have YOU read it? There are probably lots of people reading this who are still wondering whether it's worth the $147 price tag. They're wondering whether it's a scam, or whether it could actually work. Why not help them decide. Share your experience. I promise I won't get a big head - but I can't promise I won't walk around with a big, goofy grin, because knowing what I wrote actually helped change someone's life is pretty heady!

Freelance Writing Superhero Peter Bowerman to Join Us

Yippeeee and yay! Peter Bowerman (Well-Fed Writer) will be joining the WWHW Mastermind Group on 8/27 to chat about how he built a thriving writing business.







He's super gracious to do this for our little group, and has been just as kind as you'd imagine he'd be. We're all really excited, and formulating our list of questions for the Q&A time.

Just wanted to offer you the chance to send your questions along, too. If you've got questions you'd like us to ask Peter, post them here and I'll see about getting answers for you.

As good as having the real PB here?

Well, maybe not! But if you haven't listened to this podcast Peter Bowerman (Well-Fed Writer, of course!) did with Carrie Runnals back in May 2008, then turn on your speakers and tune in!

And Peter, if you're out there... our Mastermind group would love to talk with you!! (Just a heads up... I'll be emailing you soon to beg and plead and grovel!)


The WellFed Writer

Launching a Successful Copywriting Business

"In my opinion, Stop Wishing and Start Earning contains the best roadmap for "making the leap" into freelance copywriting ever written. That's because it does something that no other guide to this business has done. It gives you a specific step-by-step action plan to making the transition from wherever you are now — a full-time employee, a busy mom, a retiree, a recent graduate, a mid-life career changer — to where you want to be: a successful freelance copywriter. I wish I had a book like this in my hands when I started as a copywriter fifteen years ago. I would have been a lot more successful a lot sooner! "
--Steve Slaunwhite, Publisher
www.ForCopywritersOnly.com



OK, let's add Steve and Ed to the list of folks I'd like to have on a WWHW Mastermind call. I forgot to mention Steve last time, but something Ed said recently reminded me of the depth of gratitude I owe Steve for his guidance on pricing!

And based on what I'm understanding about Guru's new ranking system, pricing is going to be more important than ever.

Ed's book is awesome - and his track record shows he knows what he's talking about. If you go from zero to 6 figures in just over 2 years, you pick up a few tricks along the way.

As I've said before - and even the most Guru/Elance devoted freelancers agree - the boards are a great starting place. BUT, it's also important to know how to find work other places. This is a great way to learn how to do that.

From WWHW...... two thumbs up!

Have a question for Peter Bowerman?

Yup. Mr. Well-Fed himself!

Yvonne is interviewing him soon about his third book, on self-publishing. If you've got a question you'd like her to ask, make sure to get it to her soon!

Writers Cafe - Upcoming Peter Bowerman Interview - What Do YOU Want Me To Ask Him - I Need Your Questions

And if you STILL don't have your own copy of all three of these, what's the hold-up? : )

Did you get a stimulus check in the mail?

By now, millions of Americans are finding a nice little surprise in their mailboxes - an economic stimulus check, usually in the $600 - $1800 range.

(We're usually on extension, so maybe ours will come in time for Christmas?)

I'm definitely not an economist, so I'm going nowhere near any discussion about whether this whole idea is good or foolish. However, I am a woman, pastor's wife, and mom who knows what a big difference a check like this can make in a family's financial life.

You might be tempted to go blow your check on something crazy like a whole tank of gas! But I've got another suggestion instead.

Think of it as the old "give a man a fish and you feed him for a day vs. teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime" angle.

For $600, you could change your whole life. So you'll want to give it some thought.

I've read the statistic somewhere that many families who end up in divorce court wouldn't be there if they'd had a mere $400 per month extra in their budget. Just $100 per week could make a huge difference in your life - the difference between going further into debt and climbing out, the difference between being able to go on a weekly date night with your spouse or neglecting to spend time alone together, the difference between being able to provide extra help for your child or having to just hope for the best.

So my challenge to you is this: Why not take your stimulus check and invest in your future. Get one of the wonderful books out there that'll teach you how to build a thriving writing business (of course, I recommend mine! but there are lots that are good). Get yourself signed up with a paid membership to Guru or another site (I love Guru best, but have heard good things about some other sites), and start winning your financial freedom.

Just imagine having not only some wiggle room in your budget, but to also have enough that you can give to help others. Imagine learning the secrets to "fishing" for yourself - and being able to pass that knowledge and experience on to teach others, too. Imagine the difference you could make in your family, your community, and even in the lives of complete strangers... just by learning how to take care of yourself.

And that'll last much longer than your tank of gas!

So, how do YOU answer this question?

I've talked some about how funny it can be answering the ubiquitous question, "So, what do you do?"

It's gotten a lot easier recently - probably for a couple of reasons:

- I've found a more precise, yet concise answer (mostly for when I'm networking): "I'm a commercial writer (no pause here) - I specialize in..."
- I've also got a good general-purpose answer: "I'm a writer." (I used to hate that because the next question was always, "What books have you written?" and I didn't have any -- but now I do! Here's mine in case you don't have it yet: Working Writer Happy Writer: How to Build a Thriving Writing Business from NOTHING

Here's Jennifer's take on the subject.

Why I Hate the Question “So, what do you do?” - SavingAdvice.com Blog

How do you answer that question?

How did you get started writing?

That's probably the second most frequent question I hear about getting paid to write.

When I first started my writing business, I spent hours every day looking for work. I'd respond to ads on Craigslist, read every listing on free project sites, pore over Writer's Market pages, and anything else I could find. The results? NOTHING! Skunked. Day after day.

Until I got "lucky" one day. I landed a gig that paid a whopping $2 each for 500+ word articles on mortgages. Oh, and there was a bonus of $100 if I managed to complete one thousand of these articles!

Then I got my hands on Peter Bowerman's books The Well-Fed Writer and Back for Seconds. Boy oh boy, a real eye-opener! Just thinking about my new business in this completely new way gave me hope that it could actually make some money.

Bowerman lays it all out for you. How to get into action and get your business going, what you need to do to get the word out, where to look for jobs, how to build your portfolio, how to think about pricing, even what equipment you'll need. He's got a great free newsletter that comes out monthly, too. You'll hear from other writers who are either full-time or trying to go full-time - what's working, how they've solved common problems, creative ways they've gotten new clients, all kinds of good info.

If you're just starting out, you really need to get your hands on these books. Not every strategy he discusses will appeal to you (cold calling - ick!) - but they're still worth knowing about and experimenting with. Plus, you'll pick up some great tips that'll squash your learning curve significantly.

Have you read the Well-Fed books? What tips and tools are you using? What do you think about Bowerman's approach to building a writing business?