Freelance writers tend to have a lot going on in their minds... words, words, words. It's constant - and not uncommon to have so much conversation going on up there that you almost can't even sleep!
It's not that you're going nuts (well, maybe). In fact, all that chatter forms the word well you can tap into to write for clients almost effortlessly.
But... your mind may be a dangerous place to go alone! Unless you're constantly training it.
Last weekend, I was at the Nitro Marketing Full-Time Online seminar for internet marketers, and was delighted to see Kevin Wilke and Don Osbourne didn't just fill our tech toolboxes with how-to's, but we also went into mindset issues.
This point stuck with me - (and I knew it, but MAN was it still kicking my butt!).
"Train your mind, or it will train you!"
A friend of mine says 95% of what we do and think is on autopilot, and I think she's right. Another friend puts that number at 99%, and I think he's probably right, too! How many times do you drive somewhere and get out of the car without really remembering how you even got there? Who the heck was driving your car??? Autopilot.
Your brain has one mission: to keep you safe and happy. Problem is, "change" fits neither criteria according to your brain. So when you start changing stuff about what you do, where you go, who you hang out with, what you think about, and especially what you ask of yourself and your life, your brain basically freaks out and tries to do all it can to keep the status quo.
I've got this mental picture of my two dogs barking at the UPS man (poor guy). Let's say he represents change - and the pups are your brain. "INTRUDER!!!!! WOOOOFFFFFF!!!!" teeth bared, hair bristling (yet for some reason, tails still wagging?). Never mind that he's bringing you something you've been waiting for, that you really want, that you ordered and paid for!
Probably the smartest thing a UPS guy could do would be to carry a slab of bacon with him for dogs like this, and throw it somewhere they've got to run to in order to wolf it down. But he (and change) are not likely to be that determined... it's actually up to you to get them under control so you can take delivery.
Or, you could just heed the "Disaster!! Doom! Death and destruction!" warnings of your dogs (and your mind) and refuse delivery of the very things you desire, order, and pay for... whatever works for you. : )
Showing posts with label writing business coach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing business coach. Show all posts
Friday, May 22, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Freelance Writer: Are THESE Words Haunting You?
Are you responsible?
Are you working hard?
Got the sweat to prove it?
You may have been had!
Maybe the Protestant Work Ethic has stuck with me too much, but one lesson I've learned over the past few months is this: life doesn't have to be so hard. Neither does success.
If you could visualize what I saw, it looks something like a draft horse working incessantly... and beating itself with a whip, only allowing a water break when absolutely necessary. And it still wasn't enough.
And I was the horse.
Aside from the fact that living like that kind of sucks all the fun out of life (ask my kids... well, actually, they may still say that, but now it's only because I'm doing my job as a mom! ha ha), it's also a clear indicator of...
Fear of Success.
Now, I know I'm scared of snakes. Not wild about stepping on strange creatures in the ocean. Heights are not my favorite. Failure, poverty... again, not on my list of lifetime desires.
But a fear of success? Huh?
Never saw that coming. Humor me.
Woman builds successful writing business. Woman decides to also pursue a way she can earn money by writing for herself (not just for others)... and ultimately write only for her own projects. (Enormous success implied here, which enables this shift.)
Oh wait! Writing for my own projects certainly doesn't sound very hard-working, industrious, or hard. Sounds pretty ideal, pretty privileged, pretty fun.
And that can't be good!?
Here's a post from a new friend of mine, Bryant - after you read it, come back and post your comments. Do you have this skewed view, too?
exitmyjob.com
Are you working hard?
Got the sweat to prove it?
You may have been had!
Maybe the Protestant Work Ethic has stuck with me too much, but one lesson I've learned over the past few months is this: life doesn't have to be so hard. Neither does success.
If you could visualize what I saw, it looks something like a draft horse working incessantly... and beating itself with a whip, only allowing a water break when absolutely necessary. And it still wasn't enough.
And I was the horse.
Aside from the fact that living like that kind of sucks all the fun out of life (ask my kids... well, actually, they may still say that, but now it's only because I'm doing my job as a mom! ha ha), it's also a clear indicator of...
Fear of Success.
Now, I know I'm scared of snakes. Not wild about stepping on strange creatures in the ocean. Heights are not my favorite. Failure, poverty... again, not on my list of lifetime desires.
But a fear of success? Huh?
Never saw that coming. Humor me.
Woman builds successful writing business. Woman decides to also pursue a way she can earn money by writing for herself (not just for others)... and ultimately write only for her own projects. (Enormous success implied here, which enables this shift.)
Oh wait! Writing for my own projects certainly doesn't sound very hard-working, industrious, or hard. Sounds pretty ideal, pretty privileged, pretty fun.
And that can't be good!?
Here's a post from a new friend of mine, Bryant - after you read it, come back and post your comments. Do you have this skewed view, too?
exitmyjob.com
Friday, May 1, 2009
Freelance writer, "shouldn't" you be a master of your words?
Should.
Maybe.
Try.
Maybe.
We'll see if...
Have to.
Ought to.
Need to.
Hey, I can go all day here. Wondering what this list is all about?
These are what they call "compliance words" - words that say:
These are the words people use when they'd really rather not, but they'll do it because they feel like it's expected of them. It happens in work, in your family life, your health, your spiritual life... and it's a verbal habit that's got deep roots.
When I come from a place of compliance, POOF! all the joy of life is gone. Writing's a chore. Even having fun becomes another item on my to-do list. So...
I'm banishing them from my vocabulary!
See, you can easily gut it out and go the next however many years you've got to live - and each day will be largely a copy of the day before, based on probability. You can live life as a "responsible" adult, doing what's expected, day after day.
Or, you can come from a place where you're doing what you do because you consciously choose it. (And you may, in fact, be doing exactly the same things!)
For the past couple of months, I've had more clients than ever who are in the personal development industry - that, plus I finished Samurai Camp in late March. And the combination of these two things have done nothing if not make me more aware of my word choices.
Not to get all "woooo woooo" on you, but it's made a huge difference in my life and in my business. I can't even tell you some of the names I've been working with over the past few weeks! Or the opportunities that are just falling into my lap.
In our house - at least between my hubby and me - we've got "Word Police" in action now. There's no fine (yet), but we definitely notice when we're using compliance words and when we talk based on probability (as if how it's always been is how it always will be). With two growing businesses under one roof, we "can't" afford not to watch what we say.
(Oooooohh! "can't" is another one of those words... banished!)
So here's the challenge, if you choose to accept it: Come up with your own list of compliance words. Hey you can even post it here. And then choose to make them off-limits for yourself. Then watch what happens.
Maybe.
Try.
Maybe.
We'll see if...
Have to.
Ought to.
Need to.
Hey, I can go all day here. Wondering what this list is all about?
These are what they call "compliance words" - words that say:
- Hey, my heart's not in it, but I'll do it anyway
- I really don't want to, but...
- I know I have to do this, but...
- It's really hard, and I'll hate every minute, but...
These are the words people use when they'd really rather not, but they'll do it because they feel like it's expected of them. It happens in work, in your family life, your health, your spiritual life... and it's a verbal habit that's got deep roots.
When I come from a place of compliance, POOF! all the joy of life is gone. Writing's a chore. Even having fun becomes another item on my to-do list. So...
I'm banishing them from my vocabulary!
See, you can easily gut it out and go the next however many years you've got to live - and each day will be largely a copy of the day before, based on probability. You can live life as a "responsible" adult, doing what's expected, day after day.
Or, you can come from a place where you're doing what you do because you consciously choose it. (And you may, in fact, be doing exactly the same things!)
For the past couple of months, I've had more clients than ever who are in the personal development industry - that, plus I finished Samurai Camp in late March. And the combination of these two things have done nothing if not make me more aware of my word choices.
Not to get all "woooo woooo" on you, but it's made a huge difference in my life and in my business. I can't even tell you some of the names I've been working with over the past few weeks! Or the opportunities that are just falling into my lap.
In our house - at least between my hubby and me - we've got "Word Police" in action now. There's no fine (yet), but we definitely notice when we're using compliance words and when we talk based on probability (as if how it's always been is how it always will be). With two growing businesses under one roof, we "can't" afford not to watch what we say.
(Oooooohh! "can't" is another one of those words... banished!)
So here's the challenge, if you choose to accept it: Come up with your own list of compliance words. Hey you can even post it here. And then choose to make them off-limits for yourself. Then watch what happens.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Commercial Writing: Soul-Sucking... Or In the Zone?
Deadlines.
Keyword density.
Headlines, sub-heads, bullets.
It's been a few years now that I've had my writing business, and it's been interesting to watch the transitions.
When I was just learning how to become a freelance writer, with no clients, no portfolio, no paid experience, it was a shock and delight to land a gig - even if it was writing about credit repair services or digital cameras. Wow! Someone out there wants my words so badly they'll pay for them!
Once business was booming, an adrenaline kick set in. How many clients can we serve? How many excellent writers can I tap to join my team? What's the limit on how much we can produce together? I often felt like an air traffic controller - always something coming in or going out, checking this and that, communicating with a dozen teammates at once. Writing the projects that were either especially interesting or especially challenging - and honestly, getting more than a little overwhelmed.
Then hitting the wall... for a time. And coming out on the other side with a different business.
I've heard Bob Bly explain what he does a few times ("I write junk mail"), and it always makes me laugh. Partly because of his humility in it - he's not claiming to be a novelist or anything glamorous that people think of a writer doing. Partly because the guy's making some serious money doing this.
No doubt - on the surface, commercial writing is nothing like what you dreamed of doing as a writer. There can be a lot of pressure. You can get stuck in projects that you just can't squeeze any life out of no matter how creatively you think. You can face penny-pinching, disrespectful clients (from time to time). You may reach the point where just the idea of writing even one more article about FOREX trading makes you want to hurl. You start wondering whether you've outgrown the field.
When you reach that point, come back to this post. I've learned a couple of things recently that may make a big difference for you.
First:
You probably got into commercial writing because you love to write, and discovered this as a way to make money doing it. No matter that it's not the kind of writing you'd really like to be doing. You're naturally good at writing - it comes easy to you, and how cool to get paid to do something like that!
I'm going to suggest that NOW is the time to start your book. You know, the one you've been percolating for years. The one you may never have even told anyone about - and you may have even forgotten about it.
Start it for you. Work on it regularly - whatever you can fit into your schedule. Mathematically, your odds of getting it published really haven't changed since you launched your commercial writing business... so it's not like you're putting all your eggs in that basket. That isn't why you're going to write your book. You're going to write it for pure enjoyment, release, the sense of flying, and falling in love with words again. What you do with it after it's written is up to you - you could look for a publisher, you could self-publish, or you could do something else entirely. The object is to find pleasure in writing - to let your talent shine.
Second:
Give yourself a promotion. When content writing (or whatever projects you're in a rut with) starts to feel like a soul-sucking effort, it may be time to make a shift. Instead of seeing yourself as a human word processor, churning out words by the gross, what if you were to become a content consultant instead?
As a seasoned commercial writer, you've learned a thing or two about producing high-quality copy. Many clients out there are just getting started online, and don't really know how to make articles, website content, press releases, sales letters, etc. work for their business. It's overwhelming for them, and many of them would be thrilled to pieces to have someone come alongside, catch a vision for their business, and help them strategize. Sounds like a consultant to me.
Yeah, you're still writing content. But rather than seeing it as a one-off gig that fell in your lap, now it starts to look like you using your writing talent to save the day for another business owner. You see your valuable contribution to another person's business - and not only are you more likely to get paid more, but by operating "in the zone" you'll find a lot more life in your words and in your business, too.
The thing is this: You can settle into your writing business, hunkering down and writing like a machine... and create a life that feels like a cheap knock-off of what you really desire. OR, you can reframe it completely... and create a life that feels rewarding, connected to others, challenging (in a good way!), and that gives you the opportunity to let your light really shine.
So.... where are you in YOUR business now?
Keyword density.
Headlines, sub-heads, bullets.
It's been a few years now that I've had my writing business, and it's been interesting to watch the transitions.
When I was just learning how to become a freelance writer, with no clients, no portfolio, no paid experience, it was a shock and delight to land a gig - even if it was writing about credit repair services or digital cameras. Wow! Someone out there wants my words so badly they'll pay for them!
Once business was booming, an adrenaline kick set in. How many clients can we serve? How many excellent writers can I tap to join my team? What's the limit on how much we can produce together? I often felt like an air traffic controller - always something coming in or going out, checking this and that, communicating with a dozen teammates at once. Writing the projects that were either especially interesting or especially challenging - and honestly, getting more than a little overwhelmed.
Then hitting the wall... for a time. And coming out on the other side with a different business.
I've heard Bob Bly explain what he does a few times ("I write junk mail"), and it always makes me laugh. Partly because of his humility in it - he's not claiming to be a novelist or anything glamorous that people think of a writer doing. Partly because the guy's making some serious money doing this.
No doubt - on the surface, commercial writing is nothing like what you dreamed of doing as a writer. There can be a lot of pressure. You can get stuck in projects that you just can't squeeze any life out of no matter how creatively you think. You can face penny-pinching, disrespectful clients (from time to time). You may reach the point where just the idea of writing even one more article about FOREX trading makes you want to hurl. You start wondering whether you've outgrown the field.
When you reach that point, come back to this post. I've learned a couple of things recently that may make a big difference for you.
First:
You probably got into commercial writing because you love to write, and discovered this as a way to make money doing it. No matter that it's not the kind of writing you'd really like to be doing. You're naturally good at writing - it comes easy to you, and how cool to get paid to do something like that!
I'm going to suggest that NOW is the time to start your book. You know, the one you've been percolating for years. The one you may never have even told anyone about - and you may have even forgotten about it.
Start it for you. Work on it regularly - whatever you can fit into your schedule. Mathematically, your odds of getting it published really haven't changed since you launched your commercial writing business... so it's not like you're putting all your eggs in that basket. That isn't why you're going to write your book. You're going to write it for pure enjoyment, release, the sense of flying, and falling in love with words again. What you do with it after it's written is up to you - you could look for a publisher, you could self-publish, or you could do something else entirely. The object is to find pleasure in writing - to let your talent shine.
Second:
Give yourself a promotion. When content writing (or whatever projects you're in a rut with) starts to feel like a soul-sucking effort, it may be time to make a shift. Instead of seeing yourself as a human word processor, churning out words by the gross, what if you were to become a content consultant instead?
As a seasoned commercial writer, you've learned a thing or two about producing high-quality copy. Many clients out there are just getting started online, and don't really know how to make articles, website content, press releases, sales letters, etc. work for their business. It's overwhelming for them, and many of them would be thrilled to pieces to have someone come alongside, catch a vision for their business, and help them strategize. Sounds like a consultant to me.
Yeah, you're still writing content. But rather than seeing it as a one-off gig that fell in your lap, now it starts to look like you using your writing talent to save the day for another business owner. You see your valuable contribution to another person's business - and not only are you more likely to get paid more, but by operating "in the zone" you'll find a lot more life in your words and in your business, too.
The thing is this: You can settle into your writing business, hunkering down and writing like a machine... and create a life that feels like a cheap knock-off of what you really desire. OR, you can reframe it completely... and create a life that feels rewarding, connected to others, challenging (in a good way!), and that gives you the opportunity to let your light really shine.
So.... where are you in YOUR business now?
Friday, March 20, 2009
What's working in freelance writing today
Who would you rather deal with?
Someone coming to you with a great, big, soul-sucking bucket of NEED...
or someone who comes to you from a place of contribution?
Silly question, huh?
I got to experience this myself in my writing business over the past couple of months. Prior to then, my project volume could best be compared to a fire hose! Seriously - from 2006, when I started it, until 2/28/09, the projects came in like a summer 3:00 thunderstorm in Flordia - torrential.
And then...
SCREEECH! Crash. Burn?
Well, it felt like that - but only because I was looking at something I broke, kind of like a little kid with a busted-up toy.
Before my crash, my hubby had a steady salary. Money that came in from my writing business could have supported us as a family - easily. And it never occurred to me that that would ever change. In fact, it would have been like damming up a raging river to get it to slow down to a trickle.
But I did it!
Making a simple mental shift (obviously in the wrong direction!), I went from offering some of the best writing services anywhere to... a "Omigosh I really, really need to make money this month. The fate of the world rests on my shoulders. Aighh!!!!!!" mentality.
What do you think happened?
Mind you - I'm aware there's an economic slump going on. But this was way beyond that - in fact, freaky. And get this - I didn't "do" anything differently. I still bid on projects (in fact, more than normal). And with Guru's re-do on their ranking system, I plummeted below a lot of writers who've done only 1-2 projects, and that certainly didn't help. I even ended up with one client (who will never be named) stiffing me on more than 50 articles! (And being really, really mean in the process.) A punch in the gut.
But THIS, I did with my own heart and mindset. (I know, it probably sounds kind of metaphysical and kooky - but it's too much of a coincidence not to be true.)
So... what next?
After a little friendly butt-kicking from my coach(es), I "got it".
You've no doubt heard a lot about scarcity vs. abundance. I was clearly in the freak-out scarcity mode. Beyond reason. And way out of character. In fact, when my coach asked me to list things I had an abundance of, I didn't even notice that I'd left my writing talent off the list.
Hmmmm.
She caught that, and asked a question that I'll pass on to you... if you happen to know anyone (or be anyone!) who's going through a similar phase:
"How would it look and feel, as you market your business, as you bid on projects, as you approach clients - if you came from a place of contribution instead of need?"
What do you, as a freelance writer have to contribute?
The list could go on and on, but here's a start:
So, what's working for you?
Have you dipped into that dark pool of despair, too? Are you done with that?
Are you glued to the news? Or are you taking control of what you allow your mind to dwell on?
Someone coming to you with a great, big, soul-sucking bucket of NEED...
or someone who comes to you from a place of contribution?
Silly question, huh?
I got to experience this myself in my writing business over the past couple of months. Prior to then, my project volume could best be compared to a fire hose! Seriously - from 2006, when I started it, until 2/28/09, the projects came in like a summer 3:00 thunderstorm in Flordia - torrential.
And then...
SCREEECH! Crash. Burn?
Well, it felt like that - but only because I was looking at something I broke, kind of like a little kid with a busted-up toy.
Before my crash, my hubby had a steady salary. Money that came in from my writing business could have supported us as a family - easily. And it never occurred to me that that would ever change. In fact, it would have been like damming up a raging river to get it to slow down to a trickle.
But I did it!
Making a simple mental shift (obviously in the wrong direction!), I went from offering some of the best writing services anywhere to... a "Omigosh I really, really need to make money this month. The fate of the world rests on my shoulders. Aighh!!!!!!" mentality.
What do you think happened?
Mind you - I'm aware there's an economic slump going on. But this was way beyond that - in fact, freaky. And get this - I didn't "do" anything differently. I still bid on projects (in fact, more than normal). And with Guru's re-do on their ranking system, I plummeted below a lot of writers who've done only 1-2 projects, and that certainly didn't help. I even ended up with one client (who will never be named) stiffing me on more than 50 articles! (And being really, really mean in the process.) A punch in the gut.
But THIS, I did with my own heart and mindset. (I know, it probably sounds kind of metaphysical and kooky - but it's too much of a coincidence not to be true.)
So... what next?
After a little friendly butt-kicking from my coach(es), I "got it".
You've no doubt heard a lot about scarcity vs. abundance. I was clearly in the freak-out scarcity mode. Beyond reason. And way out of character. In fact, when my coach asked me to list things I had an abundance of, I didn't even notice that I'd left my writing talent off the list.
Hmmmm.
She caught that, and asked a question that I'll pass on to you... if you happen to know anyone (or be anyone!) who's going through a similar phase:
"How would it look and feel, as you market your business, as you bid on projects, as you approach clients - if you came from a place of contribution instead of need?"
What do you, as a freelance writer have to contribute?
The list could go on and on, but here's a start:
- By taking the burden of writing off their backs, you free their time to do the things they do really well (and likely enjoy more).
- You enable them to make more money by using their time better.
- You help them make more money by communicating how they'll make their clients' lives better.
- You connect with them in a way that supports their dream of entrepreneurship and success.
- You lend your God-given talent in a way that may change their lives (it's happened - I've got a few clients who'll attest to that)
So, what's working for you?
Have you dipped into that dark pool of despair, too? Are you done with that?
Are you glued to the news? Or are you taking control of what you allow your mind to dwell on?
Monday, January 19, 2009
Got a big freelance writing blunder?
Might as well help someone else learn from it.
Plus, at some point you've got to be able to laugh it off.
Check this out - maybe your blunder will make you famous!
Freelance Writer’s Blunder Contest at MyManuscripts.com - PR.com
Plus, at some point you've got to be able to laugh it off.
Check this out - maybe your blunder will make you famous!
Freelance Writer’s Blunder Contest at MyManuscripts.com - PR.com
Friday, January 16, 2009
Submitting to magazines? Be clear on your rights as a freelance writer
People ask me all the time about first rights, serial rights, reprint rights... all that magazine stuff.
Beats me! : )
Seriously, I have no idea. I've never submitted an article to a print magazine, never been approached by a publisher.
The work my firm does is purely "work for hire" which means that upon payment, the copyright belongs to the client.
But it's good to know and understand these terms and issues, so here's a good explanation.
Magazine, Article, and Book Rights for Writers | Quips and Tips for Freelance Writers
Beats me! : )
Seriously, I have no idea. I've never submitted an article to a print magazine, never been approached by a publisher.
The work my firm does is purely "work for hire" which means that upon payment, the copyright belongs to the client.
But it's good to know and understand these terms and issues, so here's a good explanation.
Magazine, Article, and Book Rights for Writers | Quips and Tips for Freelance Writers
Saturday, December 20, 2008
2008 Freelance Writing Business Review - Part 3
"What worked?"
"What didn't work?"
We've covered the two of those, so that brings us to, "What next?"
Now THAT'S an exciting topic!
That's when you get to set goals, create an action plan, set your sights on something you haven't done yet. Most people will set some sort of goal for the year - and keep it to themselves.
I get that. After all, if you don't tell anyone about your vision or goal, if you bail on it nobody will know. I used to shy away from setting goals for that very reason. Hey, anything could happen - and who wants to look like a slacker or an idiot if "things don't work out" so I can meet my goal?
Or, what if I fail? How will I live with that? Won't it just discourage me to the point where I give up trying?
Better to just do my best every day, and hope things shape up like I'd like. Kind of a loose goal. Flexibility, yeah.... that's it.
Um, no.
This is the part of the business review I'm not really prepared to answer yet. Why am I writing this now, then? Because now is the perfect time of the year to start thinking about it, and really nailing down intentions for the next year.
I think we'll dig into this a bit for the upcoming posts, but I want to challenge you to start thinking about it. What would you like to create in 2009?
What's next in your freelance writing business?
"What didn't work?"
We've covered the two of those, so that brings us to, "What next?"
Now THAT'S an exciting topic!
That's when you get to set goals, create an action plan, set your sights on something you haven't done yet. Most people will set some sort of goal for the year - and keep it to themselves.
I get that. After all, if you don't tell anyone about your vision or goal, if you bail on it nobody will know. I used to shy away from setting goals for that very reason. Hey, anything could happen - and who wants to look like a slacker or an idiot if "things don't work out" so I can meet my goal?
Or, what if I fail? How will I live with that? Won't it just discourage me to the point where I give up trying?
Better to just do my best every day, and hope things shape up like I'd like. Kind of a loose goal. Flexibility, yeah.... that's it.
Um, no.
This is the part of the business review I'm not really prepared to answer yet. Why am I writing this now, then? Because now is the perfect time of the year to start thinking about it, and really nailing down intentions for the next year.
I think we'll dig into this a bit for the upcoming posts, but I want to challenge you to start thinking about it. What would you like to create in 2009?
What's next in your freelance writing business?
Friday, December 19, 2008
2008 Freelance Writing Business Review - Part 2
Yesterday, I asked, "What worked in your freelance writing business for 2008?"
Today, the question is, "What didn't work so well?"
There's value in answering this, because you can't fix what you're not aware of. As I try new things, venture into unknown territory, and play full-out, one thing is true: Sometimes it doesn't come out quite right. I mess up. I make mistakes. I fail.
That certainty in life is enough to keep a lot of people from being more, doing more, and having more so they can contribute more to others. What a huge price to pay, just to stay in the comfort zone where you're guaranteed not to fail!
There are two main areas that didn't work so well for me in 2008.
1. Stopping working to have fun and relax. That's a biggie - and it's one I'm committed to doing battle with. I see improvement on the horizon, as my business' systems and processes are developed more. Evidence of this improvement includes some of the traveling I did during 2008. When we went to Guatemala for Thanksgiving, for example, I really only checked in briefly each day... and the business went on without me! So, that's a first step - but it's going to become something I do more consciously from now on.
2. Follow-up with clients. I really don't like talking on the phone. 99% of my clients are internet based - and I only ever even speak to maybe 10% of my clients. The bulk of our communication is via email - which suits an introvert just fine! (My hubby and I joke that if a client calls me, they're fired! Terrible, I know.) But since life is much more about relationships and connections with people than it is about just getting the job done, I've committed to being at least a little bit more accessible to my clients.
Alright - I spilled my guts... now it's your turn! What didn't work so well for your writing business in 2008?
Today, the question is, "What didn't work so well?"
There's value in answering this, because you can't fix what you're not aware of. As I try new things, venture into unknown territory, and play full-out, one thing is true: Sometimes it doesn't come out quite right. I mess up. I make mistakes. I fail.
That certainty in life is enough to keep a lot of people from being more, doing more, and having more so they can contribute more to others. What a huge price to pay, just to stay in the comfort zone where you're guaranteed not to fail!
There are two main areas that didn't work so well for me in 2008.
1. Stopping working to have fun and relax. That's a biggie - and it's one I'm committed to doing battle with. I see improvement on the horizon, as my business' systems and processes are developed more. Evidence of this improvement includes some of the traveling I did during 2008. When we went to Guatemala for Thanksgiving, for example, I really only checked in briefly each day... and the business went on without me! So, that's a first step - but it's going to become something I do more consciously from now on.
2. Follow-up with clients. I really don't like talking on the phone. 99% of my clients are internet based - and I only ever even speak to maybe 10% of my clients. The bulk of our communication is via email - which suits an introvert just fine! (My hubby and I joke that if a client calls me, they're fired! Terrible, I know.) But since life is much more about relationships and connections with people than it is about just getting the job done, I've committed to being at least a little bit more accessible to my clients.
Alright - I spilled my guts... now it's your turn! What didn't work so well for your writing business in 2008?
Thursday, December 18, 2008
How has your freelance writing year been?
It's time to start winding up the year now.
I always know it's that time, not because of any weather changes here in South Florida - actually thought about putting the a/c back on today! But because the UPS guy is here like every day - Woody's always very happy to let me know he'll be glad to take a chunk out of the man in brown's leg. (No, there's nothing wrong with Woody's eye - he was just dressing up like a pirate that day.)
Anyhow, each year during the last couple of weeks of December, I like to review the year and reflect on these three questions.
"What worked?"
"What didn't work?"
"What next?"
Thought I'd open that process up to you as well, starting with the first question today.
For some of you, you finally took the plunge and started a writing business. For others, you did some research about what's involved in becoming a freelance writer. Still others took their business from baby steps to sprinting.
For me, it was a year I'll sum up with one word: expansion.
This time last year, I was doing a huge percentage of my own writing. Now, I've got a team. I was doing all of the project management. Now, I've got a wonderful virtual assistant. These developments didn't come easy - and in lots of ways we're still working out our systems. But I credit this growth for propelling my company to the #1 spot on Guru, and am grateful for the talented writers I partner with.
So..... what worked well for you this year in your freelance writing business?
Friday, December 12, 2008
Protect your assets! Freelance writers need to go with the 20-20-20 rule
Working late into the night? So late you could use toothpicks to hold your eyelids open?
That's not the only hazard to your eyes that comes from being a freelance writer.
My husband laughs about how I used to brag about having 20/10 vision (years ago!)... until I came home with glasses.
It was a funny coincidence - my vision went down the tubes right about the same time I started working on a computer. Hmmmm....
A friend of mine reminded me of this exercise to keep your eyes working and focusing properly:
Every 20 minutes
Stare at something 20 feet away
For 20 seconds
Might have to set a time for that one. But it might be worth it just to keep those peepers in good shape.
That's not the only hazard to your eyes that comes from being a freelance writer.
My husband laughs about how I used to brag about having 20/10 vision (years ago!)... until I came home with glasses.
It was a funny coincidence - my vision went down the tubes right about the same time I started working on a computer. Hmmmm....
A friend of mine reminded me of this exercise to keep your eyes working and focusing properly:
Every 20 minutes
Stare at something 20 feet away
For 20 seconds
Might have to set a time for that one. But it might be worth it just to keep those peepers in good shape.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Looking for freelance writing work? Check in with your favorite clients
Life happens to everyone.
Including your clients.
You complete a gig, they go on their merry way, and after a little while they start feeling another project brewing. But there are bills to pay, meetings to attend, computer stuff to take care of... before they know it, they almost forget how easy it was just to outsource the last writing project.
In many industries, they say, "The fortune's in the follow-up."
And while following up with your clients may not earn you a fortune in any one particular gig, over the long haul, follow up can mean the difference between one little project and a string of bigger projects.
Now, you don't want to be a pest - but there's nothing wrong with a little, "Hey, just wanted to check in to see if you have any writing needs I can help with."
More often than not, when I do this now and then, I'll get responses like, "Wow! I was just thinking of you!" followed by a nice gig.
Of course, I only contact clients I've enjoyed working with in the past - sure beats working for the other kind!
Including your clients.
You complete a gig, they go on their merry way, and after a little while they start feeling another project brewing. But there are bills to pay, meetings to attend, computer stuff to take care of... before they know it, they almost forget how easy it was just to outsource the last writing project.
In many industries, they say, "The fortune's in the follow-up."
And while following up with your clients may not earn you a fortune in any one particular gig, over the long haul, follow up can mean the difference between one little project and a string of bigger projects.
Now, you don't want to be a pest - but there's nothing wrong with a little, "Hey, just wanted to check in to see if you have any writing needs I can help with."
More often than not, when I do this now and then, I'll get responses like, "Wow! I was just thinking of you!" followed by a nice gig.
Of course, I only contact clients I've enjoyed working with in the past - sure beats working for the other kind!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Nevermind - Thinking ODesk Kind of Stinks
Aha - "you get what you pay for" is right!
In this case, a free job board may leave you writing for free - or close to it.
I started wondering as I scanned through some of the jobs. They seemed a little on the low side, to say the least.
Went through the registration process, though, and it seemed kind of cool at first. There's some function where you can work with other writers - all about that - and it seems like the site owners are pretty organized.
First red flag, though, was that you're paid on an hourly basis. As I've mentioned before, that doesn't really work well for anyone involved. The client in this case allots a certain amount of time for you to do your thing. But are they getting what they need? Or what they think they can afford? And what if you're excellent AND fast? You get paid less than someone who's slow.
The next red flag was the deal killer, though - a closer look at all the projects shows that the "candidates" are, on average, charging about $4.17 an hour. And there were about 52 writers competing for those peanuts!
Um, I'm pretty sure McDonalds pays more than that.
Do I want some fries with that ODesk?
Stick with a paid membership - it'll thin the herd.
However... looks like SEVERAL of you have had great experiences on ODesk. So, tell us more - what am I missing on this? Tell us about the other features, how the hourly pay thing has worked, and whether you've found some gigs with good pay.
In this case, a free job board may leave you writing for free - or close to it.
I started wondering as I scanned through some of the jobs. They seemed a little on the low side, to say the least.
Went through the registration process, though, and it seemed kind of cool at first. There's some function where you can work with other writers - all about that - and it seems like the site owners are pretty organized.
First red flag, though, was that you're paid on an hourly basis. As I've mentioned before, that doesn't really work well for anyone involved. The client in this case allots a certain amount of time for you to do your thing. But are they getting what they need? Or what they think they can afford? And what if you're excellent AND fast? You get paid less than someone who's slow.
The next red flag was the deal killer, though - a closer look at all the projects shows that the "candidates" are, on average, charging about $4.17 an hour. And there were about 52 writers competing for those peanuts!
Um, I'm pretty sure McDonalds pays more than that.
Do I want some fries with that ODesk?
Stick with a paid membership - it'll thin the herd.
However... looks like SEVERAL of you have had great experiences on ODesk. So, tell us more - what am I missing on this? Tell us about the other features, how the hourly pay thing has worked, and whether you've found some gigs with good pay.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Freelance Writing: Writing a client's memoir
Now THIS is an interesting kind of project. I've done a little of it, certainly not enough to feel like a pro. But I know it's a gig that pays well, especially if you land a high-profile client.
I remember hearing Bob Bly talk about ghostwriting different clients' autobiographies, in fact.
But it just feels funny, and kind of hard to accomplish.
Editing is one thing - and I've edited memoirs before. But writing it is kind of hard to do - at least over the internet.
Puzzles involved:
- How do you possibly achieve the brain dump? You could be looking at hours and hours of phone time, listening to your client's life story.
- Even if they've got notes, it's awfully hard to capture the details that make for good reading - sights, smells, sounds, feelings.
- Well, actually, it's not hard to write those things... but it's nearly impossible to make them true to life, unless you were there.
- How on earth do you charge for a project like this? You've got a mix of writing and fact-finding, so it's not that simple to price the first couple times.
If you develop this as a specialty, you'll eventually know everything about the time involved, how to get the information, and how to price a project like this. Unless you've got a burning desire to learn all that - and the patience and grace to go into it knowing you could very likely make serious pricing mistakes - you might want to steer clear of this kind of gig.
Have you done this kind of work? Any tips or tricks you'd like to share?
I remember hearing Bob Bly talk about ghostwriting different clients' autobiographies, in fact.
But it just feels funny, and kind of hard to accomplish.
Editing is one thing - and I've edited memoirs before. But writing it is kind of hard to do - at least over the internet.
Puzzles involved:
- How do you possibly achieve the brain dump? You could be looking at hours and hours of phone time, listening to your client's life story.
- Even if they've got notes, it's awfully hard to capture the details that make for good reading - sights, smells, sounds, feelings.
- Well, actually, it's not hard to write those things... but it's nearly impossible to make them true to life, unless you were there.
- How on earth do you charge for a project like this? You've got a mix of writing and fact-finding, so it's not that simple to price the first couple times.
If you develop this as a specialty, you'll eventually know everything about the time involved, how to get the information, and how to price a project like this. Unless you've got a burning desire to learn all that - and the patience and grace to go into it knowing you could very likely make serious pricing mistakes - you might want to steer clear of this kind of gig.
Have you done this kind of work? Any tips or tricks you'd like to share?
Thursday, December 4, 2008
When you've got to do the interview, too
Great! You landed an awesome gig. But there's one hitch - you've got to actually interview someone to get information for the article.
I really don't like doing that, but will if I have to! I feel like a goofball when I have to interview people - especially if I don't know a lot about the topic to start with, which is kind of the whole point behind doing the interview.
Last summer I needed to interview a SME in a really technical field. I'd submitted questions to the client in advance, but then was interviewing someone in their organization. Within one question, I was stuck. He asked for clarification on the question, and I had no IDEA how to clarify it. Turns out that question wasn't even appropriate for his specialized area of expertise. Ugh!
My business really steers clear of super-technical projects as a general rule. There's definitely money in those techy or specialized niches - just not enough usually to make it worth the headaches for me... especially when there's so much work out there that's easier to understand.
Anyway, the first few times you need to interview someone, it can feel kind of awkward.
Being all about building systems, I was really excited to find Allena Tapia's guide to doing interviews. Don't you love her?!
Conduct an Interview - How To Conduct an Interview
I really don't like doing that, but will if I have to! I feel like a goofball when I have to interview people - especially if I don't know a lot about the topic to start with, which is kind of the whole point behind doing the interview.
Last summer I needed to interview a SME in a really technical field. I'd submitted questions to the client in advance, but then was interviewing someone in their organization. Within one question, I was stuck. He asked for clarification on the question, and I had no IDEA how to clarify it. Turns out that question wasn't even appropriate for his specialized area of expertise. Ugh!
My business really steers clear of super-technical projects as a general rule. There's definitely money in those techy or specialized niches - just not enough usually to make it worth the headaches for me... especially when there's so much work out there that's easier to understand.
Anyway, the first few times you need to interview someone, it can feel kind of awkward.
Being all about building systems, I was really excited to find Allena Tapia's guide to doing interviews. Don't you love her?!
Conduct an Interview - How To Conduct an Interview
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Number one way to kill your freelance writing business
Copy and paste.
Wait. Is that two, or one? Well, yeah, it takes two clicks to do it, but it's one thing.
Think your client won't find out? Maybe. But even if they don't figure it out right away, they will eventually, when the original author (or the person who bought the text) discovers their copyright protected text hanging out on someone else's website.
Faster than that, they may run Copyscape on your work. And you do NOT want to be on the receiving end of the phone call or email that comes after that!
I remember once working with a new writer from a forum. I ran her piece through Copyscape and was shocked to find she'd lifted it word for word from another site. Not sure what was more upsetting: knowing I could have submitted it to a client, knowing she'd cheated, or having to call her on it.
Ever run into that?
Wait. Is that two, or one? Well, yeah, it takes two clicks to do it, but it's one thing.
Think your client won't find out? Maybe. But even if they don't figure it out right away, they will eventually, when the original author (or the person who bought the text) discovers their copyright protected text hanging out on someone else's website.
Faster than that, they may run Copyscape on your work. And you do NOT want to be on the receiving end of the phone call or email that comes after that!
I remember once working with a new writer from a forum. I ran her piece through Copyscape and was shocked to find she'd lifted it word for word from another site. Not sure what was more upsetting: knowing I could have submitted it to a client, knowing she'd cheated, or having to call her on it.
Ever run into that?
Monday, December 1, 2008
VA's could be the perfect partner for freelance writers
I work with a VA, and love how good it feels to have HELP!!! and someone who's got my back if I get overwhelmed.
But I'm also thinking that it might be a good pairing if you can work alongside a VA to provide more services to your clients. You can each solve some pretty daunting problems for your clients - together, you bring even more to the table.
Just a thought!
But I'm also thinking that it might be a good pairing if you can work alongside a VA to provide more services to your clients. You can each solve some pretty daunting problems for your clients - together, you bring even more to the table.
Just a thought!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Can you start a freelance writing business AT your current job?
Hmmm....
Read this interesting article about employees who are underemployed, underused, understretched. It mentioned a receptionist working on freelance writing assignments in between tasks.
Hey, I've had jobs like that before. I completely get the torture it can be not to have enough work.
In fact, in most jobs I had before becoming a freelance writer, I was the one going around asking for more work. Nerdy? Maybe. But it wasn't to brown-nose. It was a matter of mental survival.
And I've heard from other people who feel the same way. Overwork is greatly preferred over sitting with not enough to do.
BUT...
I don't know about working your freelance writing business while you're at another job. It could work, I think. I have a friend whose Dad is a power company employee who's on dispatch or something. Long nights, usually not much going on. He crochets to pass the time. It keeps him alert and awake, and he's made some nice pieces!
And pretty much every time I've driven through a gated community, the guard is watching TV. Why not turn that time into something productive.
But I think it's really important to provide excellent service to your employee first. If you've checked, and there truly isn't something more you can do to advance your employer's business, and they don't mind you writing, go for it!
What do you think?
Bored at work? Read this. | csmonitor.com
Read this interesting article about employees who are underemployed, underused, understretched. It mentioned a receptionist working on freelance writing assignments in between tasks.
Hey, I've had jobs like that before. I completely get the torture it can be not to have enough work.
In fact, in most jobs I had before becoming a freelance writer, I was the one going around asking for more work. Nerdy? Maybe. But it wasn't to brown-nose. It was a matter of mental survival.
And I've heard from other people who feel the same way. Overwork is greatly preferred over sitting with not enough to do.
BUT...
I don't know about working your freelance writing business while you're at another job. It could work, I think. I have a friend whose Dad is a power company employee who's on dispatch or something. Long nights, usually not much going on. He crochets to pass the time. It keeps him alert and awake, and he's made some nice pieces!
And pretty much every time I've driven through a gated community, the guard is watching TV. Why not turn that time into something productive.
But I think it's really important to provide excellent service to your employee first. If you've checked, and there truly isn't something more you can do to advance your employer's business, and they don't mind you writing, go for it!
What do you think?
Bored at work? Read this. | csmonitor.com
Monday, November 24, 2008
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.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Are You Using Facebook for Your Freelance Writing Business?
I just got my husband started on Facebook (he's adorable, but not by any means an early adopter of technology). Like with his initial doubts about the usefulness of a computer (way back when), I could tell he was thinking "Big Waste of Time" as he looked at the screen.
We've joked a lot about him fumbling through, learning how to use "this Facebook machine" (see "internet machine" on a very high-brow movie, Blades of Glory. But he's made some connections with people from childhood, college, and the various places we've lived - pretty cool.
And that's awesome - staying connected is often kind of overwhelming, so anything that makes it easier is good.
But there's also real power in using Facebook, Twitter, and other sites. You can really use it to build your business, because you have more connection to more people. One of my FB friends actually posted a need for a proofreader yesterday - how about that?! (She's got it covered, BTW.) You just never know how you might be of service.
Here's a piece with some tips on using FB for your writing business.
Freelance Writing Adventures: Networking Part Three: Facebook
We've joked a lot about him fumbling through, learning how to use "this Facebook machine" (see "internet machine" on a very high-brow movie, Blades of Glory. But he's made some connections with people from childhood, college, and the various places we've lived - pretty cool.
And that's awesome - staying connected is often kind of overwhelming, so anything that makes it easier is good.
But there's also real power in using Facebook, Twitter, and other sites. You can really use it to build your business, because you have more connection to more people. One of my FB friends actually posted a need for a proofreader yesterday - how about that?! (She's got it covered, BTW.) You just never know how you might be of service.
Here's a piece with some tips on using FB for your writing business.
Freelance Writing Adventures: Networking Part Three: Facebook
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
