11.7.16
The Times (and Words) They Are A-Changing
English has tremendous fluidity. It readily adopts words from foreign languages, often without immediately "anglifying" their spellings or pronunciations. As Shakespeare so aptly demonstrated, English also allows words to be used as various parts of speech without any alteration of form. And English shapes itself differently each generation by accepting and rejecting popular usages and vocabulary. Writers should be ever aware of the changing nature of their artistic medium.
We have gradually taken to speaking in letters or acronyms rather than full words especially where technology has become ingrained in our everyday life and work. Companies have IT departments. We can communicate via IM. We connect our hardware with USBs. We spend millions on ISPs, DVDs, and MP3s. Such pseudo-words are common and acceptable in almost any modern context.
Technology has given us new functions for old words. Text, for example, is no longer just a noun. The sight of a mouse on a desk does not necessarily send a person running for traps. And the modern version of spam is far more universally hated than the canned pork of the same name. Again, readers are accustomed to and will readily accept these usage shifts.
For decades, stylebooks frowned upon the use of impact as a verb meaning "to affect," insisting that, when used as a verb, it could only mean "to cause to stick or lodge." Nowadays, these same manuals acknowledge that "to affect" is indeed a common and understood usage. Even the newest editions of both the layman-preferred Merriam-Webster and the linguist-revered Oxford English Dictionaries have included a number of modern terms that were unacknowledged or termed non-standard in previous editions.
In the past fifteen years or so, we have lost many of our problems only to have them replaced by issues. While stunning or incredible events in the eighties and nineties were often described as awesome, in this century they are more likely to be pronounced amazing.
While not earth-shattering, generational lexical choices such as these bear thoughtful consideration because they can subtly date a person's writing. For this reason, it may be advisable to choose traditional over modern word choices--or vice versa--depending on one's intended audience.
English morphs in various ways. We writers would do well to weigh choices to determine which will work best for our audiences and, when necessary, edit accordingly.
About the Author: AnnaLisa Michalski writes and publishes the ezine Word-wise and owns and operates Admin Maven, a virtual assisting service specializing in proofreading and copy editing.
13.9.13
Well Written or Well-Written?
Is the following sentence correct?
This book is well written.
Yes? You're right. It's perfectly correct. No broken rules there. Now check out the following sentence. Is it correct, too.
This is a well written book.
No, it is not correct. But why? It's basically the same sentence as the first, except that the phrase "well written" comes before "book" rather than after it. But that is precisely what makes the difference. Here's the rule:
* Hyphenate the elements of a compound modifier only if that modifier precedes the noun.
I don't know about you, but whenever I read a grammar rule like that, it takes me back to public school days when well-meaning English teachers crammed our minds with undecipherable rules. "What in the world is a compound modifier?" I should have asked. But of course I didn't because the bedazzling Priscilla Price sat right next to me. It's not that I didn't want her to think I didn't know what a compound modifier was. No one knew. It's just that I didn't want her to think I cared what a compound modifier was. That would not be cool.
But I assume you care because you're reading this, and you're not ashamed of caring. So let me explain. A modifier is a word or phrase that describes another word. Modifiers can be adjectives or adverbs, but for our purposes, that doesn't matter. So if you say, "That's an adjective," or "That's an adverb," I'm happy for you, but I really don't care.
A compound modifier is a modifier made of more than one word. That's why it's called a "compound" modifier.
So, what the rule says is that if the compound modifier comes before the noun it modifies, hyphenate it. But if it comes after the noun, don't hyphenate it. On that basis, the sentences we grappled with earlier should be written as follows:
This book is well written. (The compound modifier comes after the noun, so no hyphen.)
This is a well-written book. (The compound modifier comes before the noun, so it gets a hyphen.)
Who comes up with these rules and why? No one knows for sure, but I have a personal theory that a group of Nazi war criminals eluded capture, went underground and decided that creating rules like this would be the most cruel thing they could do to the guys who beat them in WWII.
It gets worse. Look at the next sentence. Is it correct?
This is a beautifully-written book.
I hate to tell you, but it is not correct. "But why?" you say. "The phrase 'beautifully written' is a compound modifier, right?" Right. "And it precedes the noun it modifies in the sentence, right?" Right. "So it should be hyphenated, right?"
Wrong. It should not be hyphenated because of yet another rule perpetrated by the underground war criminal group that states ...
* Don't place a hyphen after a word that ends in "ly" - even if the word is part of a compound modifier that precedes the noun it modifies. The exception is if the "ly" that ends the word is part of the core word itself, as in "family" (a family-run business).
At this point you have probably either stopped reading in despair or are hopelessly frustrated and confused. It is helpful at times like this to remember what the Buddha said: "Life is suffering." It would also be helpful to commit the three sentences we have discussed to memory and use them as guides or templates when you have questions about hyphenating compound modifiers. This will keep you out of trouble 98.7 percent of the time. When you memorize the following correctly written sentences, pay special attention to the presence or absence of hyphens:
1. This book is well written.
2. This is a well-written book.
3. This is a beautifully written book.
Finally, here are a few examples of these rules in action. All these sentences are correct, and hopefully you now know why.
He is a well-known actor.
He is an actor who is well known.
She received a $5,000-a-year bonus.
She received a bonus of $5,000 a year.
It was a naturally flavored food.
The food was naturally flavored.
About the author: Steve Osborne is author of "Writing Tips for the Real World," a blog at http://www.thewritersbag.com. He is an award-winning freelance writer and writing instructor. His blog teaches writing tips, techniques and strategies designed to help people from all walks of life turn the written word into a powerful success tool in their careers and personal lives.
This book is well written.
Yes? You're right. It's perfectly correct. No broken rules there. Now check out the following sentence. Is it correct, too.
This is a well written book.
No, it is not correct. But why? It's basically the same sentence as the first, except that the phrase "well written" comes before "book" rather than after it. But that is precisely what makes the difference. Here's the rule:
* Hyphenate the elements of a compound modifier only if that modifier precedes the noun.
I don't know about you, but whenever I read a grammar rule like that, it takes me back to public school days when well-meaning English teachers crammed our minds with undecipherable rules. "What in the world is a compound modifier?" I should have asked. But of course I didn't because the bedazzling Priscilla Price sat right next to me. It's not that I didn't want her to think I didn't know what a compound modifier was. No one knew. It's just that I didn't want her to think I cared what a compound modifier was. That would not be cool.
But I assume you care because you're reading this, and you're not ashamed of caring. So let me explain. A modifier is a word or phrase that describes another word. Modifiers can be adjectives or adverbs, but for our purposes, that doesn't matter. So if you say, "That's an adjective," or "That's an adverb," I'm happy for you, but I really don't care.
A compound modifier is a modifier made of more than one word. That's why it's called a "compound" modifier.
So, what the rule says is that if the compound modifier comes before the noun it modifies, hyphenate it. But if it comes after the noun, don't hyphenate it. On that basis, the sentences we grappled with earlier should be written as follows:
This book is well written. (The compound modifier comes after the noun, so no hyphen.)
This is a well-written book. (The compound modifier comes before the noun, so it gets a hyphen.)
Who comes up with these rules and why? No one knows for sure, but I have a personal theory that a group of Nazi war criminals eluded capture, went underground and decided that creating rules like this would be the most cruel thing they could do to the guys who beat them in WWII.
It gets worse. Look at the next sentence. Is it correct?
This is a beautifully-written book.
I hate to tell you, but it is not correct. "But why?" you say. "The phrase 'beautifully written' is a compound modifier, right?" Right. "And it precedes the noun it modifies in the sentence, right?" Right. "So it should be hyphenated, right?"
Wrong. It should not be hyphenated because of yet another rule perpetrated by the underground war criminal group that states ...
* Don't place a hyphen after a word that ends in "ly" - even if the word is part of a compound modifier that precedes the noun it modifies. The exception is if the "ly" that ends the word is part of the core word itself, as in "family" (a family-run business).
At this point you have probably either stopped reading in despair or are hopelessly frustrated and confused. It is helpful at times like this to remember what the Buddha said: "Life is suffering." It would also be helpful to commit the three sentences we have discussed to memory and use them as guides or templates when you have questions about hyphenating compound modifiers. This will keep you out of trouble 98.7 percent of the time. When you memorize the following correctly written sentences, pay special attention to the presence or absence of hyphens:
1. This book is well written.
2. This is a well-written book.
3. This is a beautifully written book.
Finally, here are a few examples of these rules in action. All these sentences are correct, and hopefully you now know why.
He is a well-known actor.
He is an actor who is well known.
She received a $5,000-a-year bonus.
She received a bonus of $5,000 a year.
It was a naturally flavored food.
The food was naturally flavored.
About the author: Steve Osborne is author of "Writing Tips for the Real World," a blog at http://www.thewritersbag.com. He is an award-winning freelance writer and writing instructor. His blog teaches writing tips, techniques and strategies designed to help people from all walks of life turn the written word into a powerful success tool in their careers and personal lives.
31.8.13
Debunking the Myths of Copywriting Course
What does it take to make a good freelance copywriter? You can learn the ropes by taking copywriting courses or perhaps you are a gifted writer.
According to copywriter Jason Leister, one can be the world's greatest copywriter but without clients you will probably be starving. For those starting out as a freelance writer, it's prudent not to try to run before you can walk.
In this guest article, Jason hands out five copywriting course myths that you should know before jumping into the water.
Five Things Every Freelance Copywriter Must Know
by Jason Leister
Almost 12 months ago, I began my career as a freelance copywriter. When I started, I had zero clients and zero income. To develop my skills and get a fast start, I bought most of the copywriting courses available on the market.
If you haven't noticed, there are a lot of them.
And while most of them are pretty good--filled with proven secrets for turning words into wealth--virtually all of them were missing something huge.
They were missing any helpful advice about HOW to make money as a copywriter. As I quickly found out, it doesn't matter how good your writing skills are if you can't make money using them.
Over the past 12 months, I've learned a lot about what it takes to make it as a freelance copywriter.
Here are a few things I wish I had known when I got started. These are some of the things that most copywriting courses don't talk about. I call them, the 5 Copywriting Course Myths.
Myth #1: If Your Copywriting Sells, You Will Make a Lot of Money Making money writing copy has a whole lot more to do with HOW you deal with clients than how to string words together.
You could be the world's greatest copywriter. But without clients to pay you, you'll be hard pressed to put food on the table.
As a business owner, your number one priority is to sell your product. And your product is your copywriting service. Without knowing how to attract clients, you'll never even get the chance to put your skills to use.
Work on your copywriting skills. But more importantly, work on your business acquisition skills.
Myth #2: You Need to Start at the Bottom and Work for Peanuts
You will hear this a lot from old school copywriters. The ones who put in years as a copy cub for a big name. Or the ones who honed their chops in an agency working for well known copy chiefs.
Most of them started at ground zero and worked their way up. But you don't have to. What do you have they don't have?
They didn't have the internet.
And since the internet has come along, the demand for copywriters has gone way, way up.
And the fact that there is DEMAND means you can potentially charge more for your services. Because they are more valuable.
Your copywriting income has little to do with experience or the number of years you've "put in." Your ability to make money as a freelance copywriter comes down to your ability to communicate the value your services deliver to your client.
Sure you have to deliver, but the first step is to get the order.
Myth #3: You Need to Work for Free to Get Started
If you need to work for free (or on spec as they call it), then it's not your copywriting skills that need work, it's your selling skills.
If someone is selling you on the idea of writing copy for them on "spec," then chances are, they're a much better salesman than you are.
Don't do it. Not because you won't get experience. But mainly because it's just not necessary.
Myth #4: You Can Get Wealthy Working for Clients
You can make a very good living writing copy for clients. But chances are, you won't become wealthy. Not really wealthy.
Wealth comes from income that requires little or no work. That's leverage. And with it, you can grow your income without investing an equal amount of time or effort.
Remember, the only reason your client can pay you $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 for a promotion is because they're making a whole lot more than that.
That's a clue about where the real money is hiding. Become your own client.
Acquire or create your own products and use your copywriting skills to build your OWN business.
Myth #5: Writing Copy is Easy
Being a freelance copywriter is real work. Often times a lot of work. Add to that the fact that a majority of the promotions written by even the most experienced copywriters either break even or lose money.
It's a little like baseball.
Copywriting is about a whole lot more than writing. You've got to connect the demand of your market, to the product you are selling. A promotion that worked 2 years ago might bomb today, and vice
versa.
Copywriting takes time, effort and a whole lot of guts to stick with it through thick and thin. The payoff can be huge, but there is a price you must pay. Just be sure you know that before you get started.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jason Leister is a freelance copywriter and author of the copywriting course, "The Independent Thinker's Guide to Becoming a Six-Figure Copywriter in 365 Days or Less" For a free sample of the copywriting course, visit his website at http://www.businessofcopy.com
According to copywriter Jason Leister, one can be the world's greatest copywriter but without clients you will probably be starving. For those starting out as a freelance writer, it's prudent not to try to run before you can walk.
In this guest article, Jason hands out five copywriting course myths that you should know before jumping into the water.
Five Things Every Freelance Copywriter Must Know
by Jason Leister
Almost 12 months ago, I began my career as a freelance copywriter. When I started, I had zero clients and zero income. To develop my skills and get a fast start, I bought most of the copywriting courses available on the market.
If you haven't noticed, there are a lot of them.
And while most of them are pretty good--filled with proven secrets for turning words into wealth--virtually all of them were missing something huge.
They were missing any helpful advice about HOW to make money as a copywriter. As I quickly found out, it doesn't matter how good your writing skills are if you can't make money using them.
Over the past 12 months, I've learned a lot about what it takes to make it as a freelance copywriter.
Here are a few things I wish I had known when I got started. These are some of the things that most copywriting courses don't talk about. I call them, the 5 Copywriting Course Myths.
Myth #1: If Your Copywriting Sells, You Will Make a Lot of Money Making money writing copy has a whole lot more to do with HOW you deal with clients than how to string words together.
You could be the world's greatest copywriter. But without clients to pay you, you'll be hard pressed to put food on the table.
As a business owner, your number one priority is to sell your product. And your product is your copywriting service. Without knowing how to attract clients, you'll never even get the chance to put your skills to use.
Work on your copywriting skills. But more importantly, work on your business acquisition skills.
Myth #2: You Need to Start at the Bottom and Work for Peanuts
You will hear this a lot from old school copywriters. The ones who put in years as a copy cub for a big name. Or the ones who honed their chops in an agency working for well known copy chiefs.
Most of them started at ground zero and worked their way up. But you don't have to. What do you have they don't have?
They didn't have the internet.
And since the internet has come along, the demand for copywriters has gone way, way up.
And the fact that there is DEMAND means you can potentially charge more for your services. Because they are more valuable.
Your copywriting income has little to do with experience or the number of years you've "put in." Your ability to make money as a freelance copywriter comes down to your ability to communicate the value your services deliver to your client.
Sure you have to deliver, but the first step is to get the order.
Myth #3: You Need to Work for Free to Get Started
If you need to work for free (or on spec as they call it), then it's not your copywriting skills that need work, it's your selling skills.
If someone is selling you on the idea of writing copy for them on "spec," then chances are, they're a much better salesman than you are.
Don't do it. Not because you won't get experience. But mainly because it's just not necessary.
Myth #4: You Can Get Wealthy Working for Clients
You can make a very good living writing copy for clients. But chances are, you won't become wealthy. Not really wealthy.
Wealth comes from income that requires little or no work. That's leverage. And with it, you can grow your income without investing an equal amount of time or effort.
Remember, the only reason your client can pay you $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 for a promotion is because they're making a whole lot more than that.
That's a clue about where the real money is hiding. Become your own client.
Acquire or create your own products and use your copywriting skills to build your OWN business.
Myth #5: Writing Copy is Easy
Being a freelance copywriter is real work. Often times a lot of work. Add to that the fact that a majority of the promotions written by even the most experienced copywriters either break even or lose money.
It's a little like baseball.
Copywriting is about a whole lot more than writing. You've got to connect the demand of your market, to the product you are selling. A promotion that worked 2 years ago might bomb today, and vice
versa.
Copywriting takes time, effort and a whole lot of guts to stick with it through thick and thin. The payoff can be huge, but there is a price you must pay. Just be sure you know that before you get started.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jason Leister is a freelance copywriter and author of the copywriting course, "The Independent Thinker's Guide to Becoming a Six-Figure Copywriter in 365 Days or Less" For a free sample of the copywriting course, visit his website at http://www.businessofcopy.com
20.4.11
Five Industries that will Hire Freelance Writers
Freelance writers who want to grow their freelance writing business will be excited to know that in 2011, certain industries will be growing and hiring. These industries will need web content writing, copywriting, blogs, article writing, newsletters, and other writing. It's up to you to take advantage of the opportunity to market you and your writing services.
Here they are:
TRAVEL. You may not believe that tourism is increasing but it is thanks to baby boomers. This group won't give up travel. They have the funds to travel wherever and whenever and like to get a good deal. If you're interested in travel writing, now is the time to get started.
If you have prior experience as a travel writer, start marketing your writing services to travel agencies and your local tourism office. You could find fun writing opportunities such as adventure travel, food and wine writing, and other niches.
DOCTORS. The health care industry will experience growth because baby boomers are getting older and will require more medical attention. This means doctors will expand their offices move to new and additional locations. They'll need to market their new (or improved) offices and freelance writers can help them do this through copywriting and web content writing.
NURSING HOMES AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES. Believe or not, some baby boomers will be entering nursing homes and assisted living facilities. More and more of these facilities will be built now and in the future. They'll need freelance writers to help them market these businesses.
EDUCATION. Colleges and universities are not going away. In fact, they're adding more teachers as are public school systems. Schools wanting to attract students will need help with this. Freelance writers can write the copy for brochures, newsletters, and websites. Freelance writers, who love education, take advantage of this area.
STAFFING AND RECRUITING. Many businesses will be employing more office workers and need help finding intelligent office workers. Businesses will turn to staffing and recruiting companies to help them find the employees. Freelance writers can help staffing and recruiting agencies by writing copy for brochures, print and radio ads, and web content.
Freelance writers who want to grow their writing businesses will take advantage of the growth within the industries listed above. If you want to become wealthy freelance writers, you must get out of your comfort zone. Start approaching medium and large businesses and stop looking on certain job boards that post low paying writing opportunities.
Make a commitment to work with clients that understand business and will pay your writing fees. You'll have to occasionally negotiate your rates, but it's not a good idea to accept assignments just for the money. You won't be happy and it will show in your work.
If must make ends meet, you may consider getting a 'temporary' job that will pay the bills while you build your freelance writing business. Remember, "Rome wasn't built in a day." Don't get discouraged if you don't make $10,000 or more a month straight-away. It will happen if this is what you truly desire.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rebecca Sebek is the owner of Savvy-Writer.com, a website dedicated to freelance writing. You'll find information on blogging, screenwriting, client relations, publishing, how to gain web traffic, eBooks, keyword research, social media, and much more. Rebecca is a freelance writer for industries that include but are not limited to travel, personal and professional development, health care, health and wellness (includes fitness) holistic, beauty, finance, internet, and much more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Sebek
Here they are:
TRAVEL. You may not believe that tourism is increasing but it is thanks to baby boomers. This group won't give up travel. They have the funds to travel wherever and whenever and like to get a good deal. If you're interested in travel writing, now is the time to get started.
If you have prior experience as a travel writer, start marketing your writing services to travel agencies and your local tourism office. You could find fun writing opportunities such as adventure travel, food and wine writing, and other niches.
DOCTORS. The health care industry will experience growth because baby boomers are getting older and will require more medical attention. This means doctors will expand their offices move to new and additional locations. They'll need to market their new (or improved) offices and freelance writers can help them do this through copywriting and web content writing.
NURSING HOMES AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES. Believe or not, some baby boomers will be entering nursing homes and assisted living facilities. More and more of these facilities will be built now and in the future. They'll need freelance writers to help them market these businesses.
EDUCATION. Colleges and universities are not going away. In fact, they're adding more teachers as are public school systems. Schools wanting to attract students will need help with this. Freelance writers can write the copy for brochures, newsletters, and websites. Freelance writers, who love education, take advantage of this area.
STAFFING AND RECRUITING. Many businesses will be employing more office workers and need help finding intelligent office workers. Businesses will turn to staffing and recruiting companies to help them find the employees. Freelance writers can help staffing and recruiting agencies by writing copy for brochures, print and radio ads, and web content.
Freelance writers who want to grow their writing businesses will take advantage of the growth within the industries listed above. If you want to become wealthy freelance writers, you must get out of your comfort zone. Start approaching medium and large businesses and stop looking on certain job boards that post low paying writing opportunities.
Make a commitment to work with clients that understand business and will pay your writing fees. You'll have to occasionally negotiate your rates, but it's not a good idea to accept assignments just for the money. You won't be happy and it will show in your work.
If must make ends meet, you may consider getting a 'temporary' job that will pay the bills while you build your freelance writing business. Remember, "Rome wasn't built in a day." Don't get discouraged if you don't make $10,000 or more a month straight-away. It will happen if this is what you truly desire.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rebecca Sebek is the owner of Savvy-Writer.com, a website dedicated to freelance writing. You'll find information on blogging, screenwriting, client relations, publishing, how to gain web traffic, eBooks, keyword research, social media, and much more. Rebecca is a freelance writer for industries that include but are not limited to travel, personal and professional development, health care, health and wellness (includes fitness) holistic, beauty, finance, internet, and much more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Sebek
19.4.11
Every Writer's Dream: Doing What You Love, Loving What You Do
It is every writer's dream to earn a living doing the work we truly love. Most of us know we want to be writing; the challenge is to figure out how to support ourselves doing it. If you really want to do what you love and love what you do, here are four ways to go about it:
1. Find a job writing in an environment that fosters autonomy and creativity.
If you want to be assured of a steady paycheck, this is certainly your best option. Other than putting up with all that goes with working for someone else, this approach provides a number of pluses: financial security, professional stability, people to talk to, feedback and creative input from others, and structure.
That's the good news; the bad news is that such jobs are pretty hard to find. Landing a writing job is a challenge in itself, but it is nothing compared to finding one in an organization that allows you space and autonomy.
2. Find a good-paying, full-time job you enjoy, and freelance part time on the side.
If a dependable source of income is one of your non-negotiable criteria, and option #1 doesn't pan out, another approach is to keep your full-time vocation and write as your part-time avocation. As long as you can maintain enough psychic and physical energy to write, it is possible to carve out time to freelance. That may be all you need, but, if it isn't, consider the next possibility.
3. Begin now to build a freelance business that will become full
time, eventually.
Novice swimmers don't compete at the Olympic level without intense
preparation. They train, they practice, they build their form and
self-confidence over time, and they work their way up the
competitive ladder. Only when they are sure they're ready, do they
compete at the highest levels. Part-time writing is the best kind
of training because it gives you the same opportunity to practice --
to polish your skills, build your confidence, and learn the ropes --
before you go for the gold.
4. Build a financial safety net, do the groundwork, and take the plunge.
No matter which way you approach full-time, freelance writing, remember that it is a business. It takes a lot of planning to start of business, and one of the most important aspects of that planning is being sure you can support yourself for six months to a year, even if you don't earn a penny. Doing the groundwork means learning everything else you need to do, from printing business cards to keeping accurate financial records, from building a database of potential clients or editors to showing your portfolio, and from writing an informal contract to enforcing its terms when the work is completed.
There is an optimum moment to hang out your shingle, and you will know when you're ready to take that step. Just trust your instincts.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Bobbi Linkemer is a ghostwriter, editor, and the author of 12 books under her own name. She has been a professional writer for 40 years, a magazine editor and journalist, and a book-writing teacher. Her clients range from Fortune 100 companies to entrepreneurs who want to write books in order to enhance their credibility and build their businesses. Visit her Website at: http://www.
1. Find a job writing in an environment that fosters autonomy and creativity.
If you want to be assured of a steady paycheck, this is certainly your best option. Other than putting up with all that goes with working for someone else, this approach provides a number of pluses: financial security, professional stability, people to talk to, feedback and creative input from others, and structure.
That's the good news; the bad news is that such jobs are pretty hard to find. Landing a writing job is a challenge in itself, but it is nothing compared to finding one in an organization that allows you space and autonomy.
2. Find a good-paying, full-time job you enjoy, and freelance part time on the side.
If a dependable source of income is one of your non-negotiable criteria, and option #1 doesn't pan out, another approach is to keep your full-time vocation and write as your part-time avocation. As long as you can maintain enough psychic and physical energy to write, it is possible to carve out time to freelance. That may be all you need, but, if it isn't, consider the next possibility.
3. Begin now to build a freelance business that will become full
time, eventually.
Novice swimmers don't compete at the Olympic level without intense
preparation. They train, they practice, they build their form and
self-confidence over time, and they work their way up the
competitive ladder. Only when they are sure they're ready, do they
compete at the highest levels. Part-time writing is the best kind
of training because it gives you the same opportunity to practice --
to polish your skills, build your confidence, and learn the ropes --
before you go for the gold.
4. Build a financial safety net, do the groundwork, and take the plunge.
No matter which way you approach full-time, freelance writing, remember that it is a business. It takes a lot of planning to start of business, and one of the most important aspects of that planning is being sure you can support yourself for six months to a year, even if you don't earn a penny. Doing the groundwork means learning everything else you need to do, from printing business cards to keeping accurate financial records, from building a database of potential clients or editors to showing your portfolio, and from writing an informal contract to enforcing its terms when the work is completed.
There is an optimum moment to hang out your shingle, and you will know when you're ready to take that step. Just trust your instincts.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Bobbi Linkemer is a ghostwriter, editor, and the author of 12 books under her own name. She has been a professional writer for 40 years, a magazine editor and journalist, and a book-writing teacher. Her clients range from Fortune 100 companies to entrepreneurs who want to write books in order to enhance their credibility and build their businesses. Visit her Website at: http://www.
4.2.10
Five Reasons Why Every Writer Needs A Website
Every writer should have a website listing their publications. Here are five reasons why:
1.) Stay in touch with your readers. Whether your readers are people you know or not, a website opens the way for you to share your writing with more readers. Just the other day, a guy I'd never met before commented positively on my writing. I loved it!
The more opportunities I have to create support for my work, the better. And let's face it. We write in order to share our stories and/or articles. The more we do this, the better.
2.) The list of your publications gives great insight into what's important to you as a writer. When I was creating my website, I didn't include every bit of writing in my online portfolio. I cut a few stories out; I also didn't include my poetry.
I realized that these pieces didn't reflect me. This gave me insight as to what I wanted to present creatively to the world; it also showed me the direction where I wanted to go.
3.) Establish yourself as a professional. When I first created my website, I was announcing not only to the world, but to myself: I am a writer and I'm proud of my work. I knew I took my writing seriously. Plus, a website looks great on my resume.
Since I teach there's always an option that my future employer will check out my writing. They can see not only what kind of writing I do, but that I'm serious, committed, and talented.
4.) Avoid the annoying question at dinner parties: "So what do you write about?" This may sound funny, but I'm being serious. Haven't you been cornered by some stranger who's dying to know where you've been published, what you write, and what you write about?
A quick and easy solution-after your 30 second pitch on behalf of your wonderful writing-is simply to say, "Check out my website." In my experience, most of these information mongers never go to the site. But for that five percent who are truly sincere, they can discover for themselves where your work has been published, what you write, and what you write about. Definitely a win-win situation.
5.) Publicize those great magazines that published you. Why not? They've given you some great attention, it's fun to shine the light on them too. If, like me, you've been published in online journals, then a good magazine is just a click away for an interested reader. How easy is that?
Now, if you're thinking it's too expensive or time consuming to create a website, think again. I created a blogsite with the help of a professional for less than three hundred dollars. I update it myself. There are no monthly charges. The joy it brings me is tremendous. Believe me, creating a website for your writing is
well worth it. Now go for it!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jennifer Mills Kerr has been writing fiction and memoir for over 11 years. She aims to inspire, support, and connect with other writers online. Read her published work at her website jennifermillskerr.com
1.) Stay in touch with your readers. Whether your readers are people you know or not, a website opens the way for you to share your writing with more readers. Just the other day, a guy I'd never met before commented positively on my writing. I loved it!
The more opportunities I have to create support for my work, the better. And let's face it. We write in order to share our stories and/or articles. The more we do this, the better.
2.) The list of your publications gives great insight into what's important to you as a writer. When I was creating my website, I didn't include every bit of writing in my online portfolio. I cut a few stories out; I also didn't include my poetry.
I realized that these pieces didn't reflect me. This gave me insight as to what I wanted to present creatively to the world; it also showed me the direction where I wanted to go.
3.) Establish yourself as a professional. When I first created my website, I was announcing not only to the world, but to myself: I am a writer and I'm proud of my work. I knew I took my writing seriously. Plus, a website looks great on my resume.
Since I teach there's always an option that my future employer will check out my writing. They can see not only what kind of writing I do, but that I'm serious, committed, and talented.
4.) Avoid the annoying question at dinner parties: "So what do you write about?" This may sound funny, but I'm being serious. Haven't you been cornered by some stranger who's dying to know where you've been published, what you write, and what you write about?
A quick and easy solution-after your 30 second pitch on behalf of your wonderful writing-is simply to say, "Check out my website." In my experience, most of these information mongers never go to the site. But for that five percent who are truly sincere, they can discover for themselves where your work has been published, what you write, and what you write about. Definitely a win-win situation.
5.) Publicize those great magazines that published you. Why not? They've given you some great attention, it's fun to shine the light on them too. If, like me, you've been published in online journals, then a good magazine is just a click away for an interested reader. How easy is that?
Now, if you're thinking it's too expensive or time consuming to create a website, think again. I created a blogsite with the help of a professional for less than three hundred dollars. I update it myself. There are no monthly charges. The joy it brings me is tremendous. Believe me, creating a website for your writing is
well worth it. Now go for it!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jennifer Mills Kerr has been writing fiction and memoir for over 11 years. She aims to inspire, support, and connect with other writers online. Read her published work at her website jennifermillskerr.com
10.1.10
Copywritng Success: Know Your Secret Strengths
While video and multimedia technologies are rapidly expanding, the Web remains a largely a text-oriented system. Text utilizes far less space than video or audio, and remains the go-to medium for the majority of the web’s public content.
This means that there is a lot of copy on the web, so a savvy copywriter should be on the lookout for any technique that will improve the material he puts forward.
Tip 1 – Know Yourself
This piece of advice has been kicking around for several thousand years, and it has persisted for a reason – people make better decisions when they know their strengths and limits.
If your writing lends itself to narrative structures, find ways to tell stories about the product, perhaps in the form of a testimonial or an interview. If you aren’t capable of writing technical articles, don’t try to bluff it.
Tip 2 – Improve Yourself
The web changes, language changes, people change, products change… in short, everything changes. This is a good thing. Improvement and training are important changes that everyone must go through in some degree if they want to remain relevant. You may want to consider enrolling in a writing course, study new SEO and copywriting tips, pick up a highly rated style manual, or continue refining your skills in some other way.
Tip 3 – Target Your Language to the Audience
There is always an audience. Whether writing a letter specifically to one individual or composing for a website to be viewed by international customers, take the time to find out who your audience is and tailor the writing accordingly.
Academics will have different writing standards than a DIY auto repair services, and neither will appreciate receiving articles targeted to the other.
Tip 4 – Write Coherently
Compare the following two statements:
The Large Hadron Collider, created and maintained by CERN in Geneva, is designed to locate and study the Higgs-Boson particle, which will provide insight into the origin of the universe.
CERN intends to use the Large Hadron Collider to locate and study the Higgs-Boson particle in an attempt to gain insight into the origin of the universe.
The first sentence is full of asides and parenthetical statements while the second conveys the information more fluidly. There are times when asides and references are important, but as a general rule, take any opportunity you can to simplify your writing. Your message will be stronger and clearer for the effort.
Tip 5 – Write Specifically
Again, consider this ambiguous sentence; “Anti-nuclear protestors released live cockroaches inside the White House Friday, and these were arrested when they left and blocked a security gate.”
While it seems innocuous enough on the surface, this statement does illustrate the problem with ambiguous grammar. Good copywriting is precise and unambiguous. Here it comes across as funny, but if your customers aren’t coming to your site to laugh, go with a clearer example.
Tip 6 – Write Concisely
Strunk and White’s ‘The Elements of Style’ sums this up as ‘Omit needless words.’ Stick to short, clear paragraphs and sentences. Elaborate where needed, but focus on efficient writing that gets the message across without pointless extras.
Tip 7 – Start Strong
Journalism focuses on a technique known as the lede. In short, this is all the relevant detail of the story conveyed in one sentence, and it always comes at the start of the article.
“A local man was arrested today in connection with the recent kidnapping of a foreign exchange student.”
Notice it doesn’t give names or quotes, just the hard-core facts. While online copywriting rarely needs to emulate this exact approach, it still illustrates a key point; good articles present their best facts quickly while hooking the reader.
Tip 8 – End Strong
There are countless examples of writing that start out with the proverbial ‘bang,’ only to wander off pointlessly. Focus your writing on its key message and make sure the final statement is as strong as the first.
Write your beginning statement and ending statement at the same time and make sure the article is always leading toward that killer end sentence that ties the article up in a powerful way.
Tip 9 – Read
While this partially falls under the idea of improving yourself, it’s also a specific example that deserves its own mention. Read constantly. Read good articles and bad, seeing what works and what does not. People who are widely read write better than comparable writers who don’t read as much.
Tip 10 – Write Constantly
Copywriting is a talent like any other. Daily practice with writing will expand your ability to try new ideas and reinforce good habits. Even if you have no copywriting assignment at the moment, browse the web looking for websites in your area of expertise, and see if you can’t improve their copy. Then you can either consider it free practice, or perhaps give the authors a call to see if they’re interested.
About the author: Enzo F. Cesario is a Copywriter and co-founder of Brandsplat. Brandcasting uses informative content and state-of-the-art internet distribution and optimization to build links and drive the right kind of traffic to your website. Go to http://www.Brandsplat.com/ or visit our blog at: http://www.brandsplatblog.com/
Post from: SiteProNews: Webmaster News & Resources
This means that there is a lot of copy on the web, so a savvy copywriter should be on the lookout for any technique that will improve the material he puts forward.
Tip 1 – Know Yourself
This piece of advice has been kicking around for several thousand years, and it has persisted for a reason – people make better decisions when they know their strengths and limits.
If your writing lends itself to narrative structures, find ways to tell stories about the product, perhaps in the form of a testimonial or an interview. If you aren’t capable of writing technical articles, don’t try to bluff it.
Tip 2 – Improve Yourself
The web changes, language changes, people change, products change… in short, everything changes. This is a good thing. Improvement and training are important changes that everyone must go through in some degree if they want to remain relevant. You may want to consider enrolling in a writing course, study new SEO and copywriting tips, pick up a highly rated style manual, or continue refining your skills in some other way.
Tip 3 – Target Your Language to the Audience
There is always an audience. Whether writing a letter specifically to one individual or composing for a website to be viewed by international customers, take the time to find out who your audience is and tailor the writing accordingly.
Academics will have different writing standards than a DIY auto repair services, and neither will appreciate receiving articles targeted to the other.
Tip 4 – Write Coherently
Compare the following two statements:
The Large Hadron Collider, created and maintained by CERN in Geneva, is designed to locate and study the Higgs-Boson particle, which will provide insight into the origin of the universe.
CERN intends to use the Large Hadron Collider to locate and study the Higgs-Boson particle in an attempt to gain insight into the origin of the universe.
The first sentence is full of asides and parenthetical statements while the second conveys the information more fluidly. There are times when asides and references are important, but as a general rule, take any opportunity you can to simplify your writing. Your message will be stronger and clearer for the effort.
Tip 5 – Write Specifically
Again, consider this ambiguous sentence; “Anti-nuclear protestors released live cockroaches inside the White House Friday, and these were arrested when they left and blocked a security gate.”
While it seems innocuous enough on the surface, this statement does illustrate the problem with ambiguous grammar. Good copywriting is precise and unambiguous. Here it comes across as funny, but if your customers aren’t coming to your site to laugh, go with a clearer example.
Tip 6 – Write Concisely
Strunk and White’s ‘The Elements of Style’ sums this up as ‘Omit needless words.’ Stick to short, clear paragraphs and sentences. Elaborate where needed, but focus on efficient writing that gets the message across without pointless extras.
Tip 7 – Start Strong
Journalism focuses on a technique known as the lede. In short, this is all the relevant detail of the story conveyed in one sentence, and it always comes at the start of the article.
“A local man was arrested today in connection with the recent kidnapping of a foreign exchange student.”
Notice it doesn’t give names or quotes, just the hard-core facts. While online copywriting rarely needs to emulate this exact approach, it still illustrates a key point; good articles present their best facts quickly while hooking the reader.
Tip 8 – End Strong
There are countless examples of writing that start out with the proverbial ‘bang,’ only to wander off pointlessly. Focus your writing on its key message and make sure the final statement is as strong as the first.
Write your beginning statement and ending statement at the same time and make sure the article is always leading toward that killer end sentence that ties the article up in a powerful way.
Tip 9 – Read
While this partially falls under the idea of improving yourself, it’s also a specific example that deserves its own mention. Read constantly. Read good articles and bad, seeing what works and what does not. People who are widely read write better than comparable writers who don’t read as much.
Tip 10 – Write Constantly
Copywriting is a talent like any other. Daily practice with writing will expand your ability to try new ideas and reinforce good habits. Even if you have no copywriting assignment at the moment, browse the web looking for websites in your area of expertise, and see if you can’t improve their copy. Then you can either consider it free practice, or perhaps give the authors a call to see if they’re interested.
About the author: Enzo F. Cesario is a Copywriter and co-founder of Brandsplat. Brandcasting uses informative content and state-of-the-art internet distribution and optimization to build links and drive the right kind of traffic to your website. Go to http://www.Brandsplat.com/ or visit our blog at: http://www.brandsplatblog.com/
Post from: SiteProNews: Webmaster News & Resources
30.12.09
Freelance Writing for Newspapers
By Amber McNaught
No matter how many times I see my writing published, it never stops being the best adrenaline rush ever.
Yesterday one of my articles appeared in a national newspaper. No big deal, really: I mean, I am a freelance journalist, so you'd think I'd be used to seeing my name in print by now. Not so. Rather than waiting for a break in my workload and taking a leisurely stroll to the newsagents to collect said paper, I hot-footed in down there as soon as I was dressed, like a kid at Christmas.
I had located the page with my by-line before I even reached the checkout, and I really had to exercise enormous self-control not to thrust the newspaper under the check-out assistant's nose and say, "Look! That's me! That's my name! In the paper!"
I managed to restrain myself, and just did that to my fiancé instead, but the fact remains: for a freelance writer, there's no rush greater than publication.
So how do you do it?
Well, in my case, I do it mostly through contacts. I started out as a staff reporter on the local paper, and I've kept up with the people I met throughout my journalism career, whether they be fellow reporters, editors, or the woman who used to empty the rubbish bins at the end of the night.
In this business you have to do that. You have to keep in touch with people in the industry, you have to make sure your name remains fresh in their minds, you have to keep on plugging away at keeping that contact book up to date, adding to it, and maintaining friendships. This is a business that functions, to an extent, on "who you know" rather than "what you
know", and it doesn't hurt to keep that in mind.
I also do it by being persistent. You need a thick skin to be a freelance writer. You spend a lot of time being rejected, being snubbed, and even being ignored. (Actually, I prefer being ignored: it stings less!) You have to keep at it.
Remember that for every query you send to an editor, they probably received one hundred others. You're up against a lot of competition, but sometimes sheer persistence pays off. Remember, it was the tortoise that won the race: keep chipping away at it, keep on sending in those queries, know that it can only get easier.
Thirdly, I do it by being in the right place at the right time, and what I mean by that is that anytime an editor contacts me with a job, I jump at it, even it means staying up all night and missing the next episode of "Lost". A little-known fact for you: in newspaper journalism, excellent writing isn't the most important quality to have. That's what sub-editors are there for.
What many editors are looking for are writers who will respond instantly, file copy on time, get the facts right, and get the story. Being always-on call may not be the most relaxing way to live, but it's one way to make sure that the editor who just commissioned you for one story will come back for more.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Amber McNaught runs WritingWorld.org, a website specialising in matching freelance writers with freelance writing jobs. Visit the site at http://www.WritingWorld.org
No matter how many times I see my writing published, it never stops being the best adrenaline rush ever.
Yesterday one of my articles appeared in a national newspaper. No big deal, really: I mean, I am a freelance journalist, so you'd think I'd be used to seeing my name in print by now. Not so. Rather than waiting for a break in my workload and taking a leisurely stroll to the newsagents to collect said paper, I hot-footed in down there as soon as I was dressed, like a kid at Christmas.
I had located the page with my by-line before I even reached the checkout, and I really had to exercise enormous self-control not to thrust the newspaper under the check-out assistant's nose and say, "Look! That's me! That's my name! In the paper!"
I managed to restrain myself, and just did that to my fiancé instead, but the fact remains: for a freelance writer, there's no rush greater than publication.
So how do you do it?
Well, in my case, I do it mostly through contacts. I started out as a staff reporter on the local paper, and I've kept up with the people I met throughout my journalism career, whether they be fellow reporters, editors, or the woman who used to empty the rubbish bins at the end of the night.
In this business you have to do that. You have to keep in touch with people in the industry, you have to make sure your name remains fresh in their minds, you have to keep on plugging away at keeping that contact book up to date, adding to it, and maintaining friendships. This is a business that functions, to an extent, on "who you know" rather than "what you
know", and it doesn't hurt to keep that in mind.
I also do it by being persistent. You need a thick skin to be a freelance writer. You spend a lot of time being rejected, being snubbed, and even being ignored. (Actually, I prefer being ignored: it stings less!) You have to keep at it.
Remember that for every query you send to an editor, they probably received one hundred others. You're up against a lot of competition, but sometimes sheer persistence pays off. Remember, it was the tortoise that won the race: keep chipping away at it, keep on sending in those queries, know that it can only get easier.
Thirdly, I do it by being in the right place at the right time, and what I mean by that is that anytime an editor contacts me with a job, I jump at it, even it means staying up all night and missing the next episode of "Lost". A little-known fact for you: in newspaper journalism, excellent writing isn't the most important quality to have. That's what sub-editors are there for.
What many editors are looking for are writers who will respond instantly, file copy on time, get the facts right, and get the story. Being always-on call may not be the most relaxing way to live, but it's one way to make sure that the editor who just commissioned you for one story will come back for more.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Amber McNaught runs WritingWorld.org, a website specialising in matching freelance writers with freelance writing jobs. Visit the site at http://www.WritingWorld.org
24.12.09
Write For Environmental Publications As A Freelancer
By Gary McLaren
The earth matters. Our planet is in danger. Many of our world's species are under threat of extinction. As people are becoming more aware of the current threats to our environment, more publications are emerging to update and inform readers of the latest environmental news and trends.
There is plenty of opportunity for freelance writers to write for publications that focus on environmental and conservation material.
Here are some examples.
FOREST MAGAZINE
This publication is produced for people who care about our forests. It is published quarterly by the conservation group, Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics.
Guidelines: http://www.fseee.org/forestmag/submissions.shtml
ALTERNATIVES
This is a quarterly journal dedicated to in-depth analysis of environmental issues, including ecological, social and economic dimensions. They invite feature articles, shorter reports, notes, interviews, resource guides, visual images related to article themes, cultural commentary and humor.
Guidelines:http://www.alternativesjournal.ca/contributors-guidelines
CONSERVATIONIST MAGAZINE
This is a non-profit magazine published bi-monthly by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Typical topics include fishing, hunting, nature viewing, and outdoor recreation.
Guidelines: http://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/24061.html
BBC WILDLIFE MAGAZINE
This is a monthly magazine aimed at people with a keen interest in wildlife, conservation, and associated environmental issues. Seeks original ideas and in-depth, personal knowledge of the subject matter. Receives about 30 pitches a week, most of which are rejected. Read their guidelines on the web to improve your chances of success.
Guidelines: http://www.bbcwildlifemagazine.com/submittingideas.asp
In addition to publications like those above that focus on the environment and related topics, you will also find that many other publications publish environmental material, including regional magazines and women's publications.
Here are a couple of examples:
HAWAII MAGAZINE
A bimonthly regional travel publication. They use freelance writers on a wide variety of subjects, including travel stories, environmental sustainability, personality profiles, stories on history, culture, music, and food.
Guidelines: http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/freelance_guidelines
HERIZONS
This publication reflects a feminist philosophy that is diverse and relevant to women's daily lives. They seek to empower women; to inspire hope and foster a state of wellness that enriches women's lives. In-depth feature articles cover feminist debates, current social/ political/legal/environmental/culture emerging issues or personal stories with a broader social relevance.
Guidelines: http://www.herizons.ca/contribute
It is time to care for our planet. It is time to start conserving. As a freelance writer you can contribute to this movement and grow your freelance writing business at the same time.
About the author: Gary McLaren is the founder and editor of Worldwide Freelance Writer at http://www.worldwidefreelance.com
The earth matters. Our planet is in danger. Many of our world's species are under threat of extinction. As people are becoming more aware of the current threats to our environment, more publications are emerging to update and inform readers of the latest environmental news and trends.
There is plenty of opportunity for freelance writers to write for publications that focus on environmental and conservation material.
Here are some examples.
FOREST MAGAZINE
This publication is produced for people who care about our forests. It is published quarterly by the conservation group, Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics.
Guidelines: http://www.fseee.org/forestmag/submissions.shtml
ALTERNATIVES
This is a quarterly journal dedicated to in-depth analysis of environmental issues, including ecological, social and economic dimensions. They invite feature articles, shorter reports, notes, interviews, resource guides, visual images related to article themes, cultural commentary and humor.
Guidelines:http://www.alternativesjournal.ca/contributors-guidelines
CONSERVATIONIST MAGAZINE
This is a non-profit magazine published bi-monthly by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Typical topics include fishing, hunting, nature viewing, and outdoor recreation.
Guidelines: http://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/24061.html
BBC WILDLIFE MAGAZINE
This is a monthly magazine aimed at people with a keen interest in wildlife, conservation, and associated environmental issues. Seeks original ideas and in-depth, personal knowledge of the subject matter. Receives about 30 pitches a week, most of which are rejected. Read their guidelines on the web to improve your chances of success.
Guidelines: http://www.bbcwildlifemagazine.com/submittingideas.asp
In addition to publications like those above that focus on the environment and related topics, you will also find that many other publications publish environmental material, including regional magazines and women's publications.
Here are a couple of examples:
HAWAII MAGAZINE
A bimonthly regional travel publication. They use freelance writers on a wide variety of subjects, including travel stories, environmental sustainability, personality profiles, stories on history, culture, music, and food.
Guidelines: http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/freelance_guidelines
HERIZONS
This publication reflects a feminist philosophy that is diverse and relevant to women's daily lives. They seek to empower women; to inspire hope and foster a state of wellness that enriches women's lives. In-depth feature articles cover feminist debates, current social/ political/legal/environmental/culture emerging issues or personal stories with a broader social relevance.
Guidelines: http://www.herizons.ca/contribute
It is time to care for our planet. It is time to start conserving. As a freelance writer you can contribute to this movement and grow your freelance writing business at the same time.
About the author: Gary McLaren is the founder and editor of Worldwide Freelance Writer at http://www.worldwidefreelance.com
22.12.09
Are You A Six-Figure Writer?
How many times have you heard about poor, starving writers? Maybe it's time to face the truth. Well, the truth is that not all writers are struggling to put a loaf of bread on the table. As I will show you, some writers are earning a very nice income indeed.
Before we look at the incomes of writers, let's review how freelance writers earn their living. They write articles for magazines, newspapers and web sites. Some concentrate on copywriting or technical writing. And others specialize in writing resumes, short stories, poetry and greeting cards.
The pay that writers receive for their services varies quite widely, however, much more so than for other professions such as teaching or plumbing.
A recent survey conducted by the American Society of Journalists and Authors revealed some interested facts about the incomes of freelance journalists. The results took into account the responses of 473 freelance journalists who worked in United States and who considered freelancing to be their primary job.
Around 7% of these freelance journalists earned $100,000 or more. A further 24% earned between $50,000 and $100,000. And approximately 69% of these writers earned less than $50,000 a year.
The good news is that many of these writers are clearly not starving. And 7% of them reached the "six-figure writer" status. In fact, 3% of the freelance writers surveyed actually earned $150,000 or more!
The bad news is that many freelance writers are still earning less than $50,000 annually. If you are a writer reading this article and that also describes your situation, then here are some tips to increase your income towards that six-figure mark.
WHAT DO YOU WRITE?
By changing the type of writing you do, you may be able to earn better rates for your work. One of the more lucrative areas of writing is copywriting. I know of a survey of copywriters that revealed that 39% of respondents earned between $50,000 and $100,000 a year, certainly a higher percentage than the 24% of
writers above.
Other lucrative areas of writing include ghostwriting, working as a technical writer, and writing and selling your own ebooks and information products.
DISCIPLINE AND PERSEVERANCE
It takes hard work to build any business, and a writing business is no exception. Plan your targets well in advance. Calculate how many hours you will work and what amount you need to earn per hour in
order to achieve your targets. For example, in order to make $100,000 a year, you must earn an average of approximately $2,000 per week. If you are going to work 40 hour weeks, then you need to
earn at least $50 for each hour of work in order to reach your target of $100,000 for the year.
Many people dream about being a full-time writer but don't know they could make it a reality. Now you know it's possible to earn a good income from freelance writing. You just need to get into it with your eyes wide open. Do some due diligence up front. Check out which areas of writing are likely to be better for you. Now go for it. Write on!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: David Goldsmith works full-time as a writer and is the author of "25 Ways To Write For Money". Discover how YOU can earn a good living from freelance writing at http://www.WriterIncome.com
Before we look at the incomes of writers, let's review how freelance writers earn their living. They write articles for magazines, newspapers and web sites. Some concentrate on copywriting or technical writing. And others specialize in writing resumes, short stories, poetry and greeting cards.
The pay that writers receive for their services varies quite widely, however, much more so than for other professions such as teaching or plumbing.
A recent survey conducted by the American Society of Journalists and Authors revealed some interested facts about the incomes of freelance journalists. The results took into account the responses of 473 freelance journalists who worked in United States and who considered freelancing to be their primary job.
Around 7% of these freelance journalists earned $100,000 or more. A further 24% earned between $50,000 and $100,000. And approximately 69% of these writers earned less than $50,000 a year.
The good news is that many of these writers are clearly not starving. And 7% of them reached the "six-figure writer" status. In fact, 3% of the freelance writers surveyed actually earned $150,000 or more!
The bad news is that many freelance writers are still earning less than $50,000 annually. If you are a writer reading this article and that also describes your situation, then here are some tips to increase your income towards that six-figure mark.
WHAT DO YOU WRITE?
By changing the type of writing you do, you may be able to earn better rates for your work. One of the more lucrative areas of writing is copywriting. I know of a survey of copywriters that revealed that 39% of respondents earned between $50,000 and $100,000 a year, certainly a higher percentage than the 24% of
writers above.
Other lucrative areas of writing include ghostwriting, working as a technical writer, and writing and selling your own ebooks and information products.
DISCIPLINE AND PERSEVERANCE
It takes hard work to build any business, and a writing business is no exception. Plan your targets well in advance. Calculate how many hours you will work and what amount you need to earn per hour in
order to achieve your targets. For example, in order to make $100,000 a year, you must earn an average of approximately $2,000 per week. If you are going to work 40 hour weeks, then you need to
earn at least $50 for each hour of work in order to reach your target of $100,000 for the year.
Many people dream about being a full-time writer but don't know they could make it a reality. Now you know it's possible to earn a good income from freelance writing. You just need to get into it with your eyes wide open. Do some due diligence up front. Check out which areas of writing are likely to be better for you. Now go for it. Write on!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: David Goldsmith works full-time as a writer and is the author of "25 Ways To Write For Money". Discover how YOU can earn a good living from freelance writing at http://www.WriterIncome.com
18.12.09
Article Template: How To Write A 'Top Mistakes' Article
By Steve Shaw
When you’re writing free reprint articles to market your site, at some point you’ll probably say, “This would be so much easier if someone would just tell me what to write!”
If this is you, then you will love this article template. I’m about to tell you step-by-step how to go about creating your next article–a “Top Mistakes” article.
Most likely you’ve noticed mistakes that clients, customers or people interested in your niche make on a regular basis. When you notice these you probably think, “I wish I could tell this person the right way to do this–it would make their life so much easier!”
You have just bumped into a prime teaching opportunity–why not craft a helpful article that will alert your readers to common mistakes that they very well might be making, and then gently steer them back on the right path?
You’ve probably already created tons of “Top Tips” articles–it’s time to approach your next article from the opposite side and focus on some things your reader should avoid.
To make things easier, here’s a template for creating a “Top Mistakes” article:
1) What mistakes do you notice people making repeatedly in your niche?
These could be misconceptions in thinking or mistakes in behavior. As an expert in your niche it is your role to educate people–if you notice someone doing something wrong or making a faulty assumption over and over again, you really want to help and set the record straight.
Don’t think of this as focusing on the negative–many times people don’t realize they’re doing anything wrong until it’s pointed out to them!
If they can see your list of common mistakes, it will be a powerful learning experience. Think of a “Top Mistakes” article as being a preventative measure with positive results for your readers.
2) Write out each mistake and offer a solution. Focus on the instructive part–the mistake is really only an opportunity to teach the reader an important truth. So, briefly describe the mistake, and then quickly move into the solution.
It helps to be encouraging–assure the reader that many people are making this same mistake, and that it can be quickly remedied with a change of thinking or behavior.
3) Place a number in front of each of the mistakes so that the reader can easily keep track of your list (and this will also help in creating your title–more on that later).
4) Write an introductory paragraph that explains why these types of mistakes are common. Explain what the reader has to gain by avoiding them, and what they have to lose by doing them.
5) Write a concluding paragraph–this could just be a sentence or two. Reaffirm what the reader has to gain by avoiding these mistakes. Be positive!
6) Create a title that uses a number–whatever number of mistakes you’re covering. So, your title could be “Top 5 Writing Mistakes” or “7 Common Writing Mistakes of Newbie Article Writers”.
“Top Mistakes” articles are some of the easiest to write because you have likely already noticed common mistakes that people make in your field. Your article can be a powerful teaching tool–sometimes the best way to learn is to see what not to do!
About the author: Steve Shaw is an article marketing expert, and founder of the popular article submission service, http://www.submityourarticle.com , used by thousands of business owners. Discover how to use the power of article marketing to reach tens of thousands of potential prospects for your website – download a powerful free report on successful article marketing from
http://www.submityourarticle.com/report
When you’re writing free reprint articles to market your site, at some point you’ll probably say, “This would be so much easier if someone would just tell me what to write!”
If this is you, then you will love this article template. I’m about to tell you step-by-step how to go about creating your next article–a “Top Mistakes” article.
Most likely you’ve noticed mistakes that clients, customers or people interested in your niche make on a regular basis. When you notice these you probably think, “I wish I could tell this person the right way to do this–it would make their life so much easier!”
You have just bumped into a prime teaching opportunity–why not craft a helpful article that will alert your readers to common mistakes that they very well might be making, and then gently steer them back on the right path?
You’ve probably already created tons of “Top Tips” articles–it’s time to approach your next article from the opposite side and focus on some things your reader should avoid.
To make things easier, here’s a template for creating a “Top Mistakes” article:
1) What mistakes do you notice people making repeatedly in your niche?
These could be misconceptions in thinking or mistakes in behavior. As an expert in your niche it is your role to educate people–if you notice someone doing something wrong or making a faulty assumption over and over again, you really want to help and set the record straight.
Don’t think of this as focusing on the negative–many times people don’t realize they’re doing anything wrong until it’s pointed out to them!
If they can see your list of common mistakes, it will be a powerful learning experience. Think of a “Top Mistakes” article as being a preventative measure with positive results for your readers.
2) Write out each mistake and offer a solution. Focus on the instructive part–the mistake is really only an opportunity to teach the reader an important truth. So, briefly describe the mistake, and then quickly move into the solution.
It helps to be encouraging–assure the reader that many people are making this same mistake, and that it can be quickly remedied with a change of thinking or behavior.
3) Place a number in front of each of the mistakes so that the reader can easily keep track of your list (and this will also help in creating your title–more on that later).
4) Write an introductory paragraph that explains why these types of mistakes are common. Explain what the reader has to gain by avoiding them, and what they have to lose by doing them.
5) Write a concluding paragraph–this could just be a sentence or two. Reaffirm what the reader has to gain by avoiding these mistakes. Be positive!
6) Create a title that uses a number–whatever number of mistakes you’re covering. So, your title could be “Top 5 Writing Mistakes” or “7 Common Writing Mistakes of Newbie Article Writers”.
“Top Mistakes” articles are some of the easiest to write because you have likely already noticed common mistakes that people make in your field. Your article can be a powerful teaching tool–sometimes the best way to learn is to see what not to do!
About the author: Steve Shaw is an article marketing expert, and founder of the popular article submission service, http://www.submityourarticle.com , used by thousands of business owners. Discover how to use the power of article marketing to reach tens of thousands of potential prospects for your website – download a powerful free report on successful article marketing from
http://www.submityourarticle.com/report
25.11.09
5 Ways To Shine As A Professional Writer
By Dana Blozis
With the growth of social media and marketing techniques like online article marketing, it seems that everyone is a writer of one sort or another. In fact, I've read a handful of articles that assure the reading public that anyone can write. While this may be technically true, those of us who write for a living know that it isn't as easy as it sounds.
There is much more to the craft than meets the eye.
With this new realm of competition at our doorstep, I've created a list of ways that can set you apart from those who are merely dabbling in writing or writing simply for marketing's sake.
1) Develop a website.
If you don't already have one, confirm your legitimacy as a writer or journalist by creating your own website. It can be as simple as one page which tells who you are, what types of writing you specialize in and how people can contact you.
At the other end of the spectrum, it can be a multi-page site that contains bio information, a professional profile or résumé and clips of your work. Regardless of your site's level of complexity, your site will confirm that you are a professional writer with a portfolio and published clips.
2) Create a professional profile.
Unless you graduated from j-school and have been a professional writer since your career began, I've found that a traditional resume doesn't cut it. Instead, I developed a two-page professional profile. It looks similar to my résumé, but it only briefly summarizes my irrelevant career prior to becoming a freelancer over four years ago. It contains sections like relevant skills (writing, editing, marketing); a sample of my client list; my relevant education; and a list of publications and websites for whom I've written.
I have this document posted on my website so, when replying to a freelance posting or ad, I can refer the editor or prospective client to my profile without sending an attachment (hint: unless they know you, they won't open an attachment anyway.).
3) Prepare an online portfolio.
Whether you include this information on your website or use one provided by an organization like Media Bistro, you'll need an online portfolio of your published work. It can be organized any number of ways, depending on what types of clips you have.
On my site, portfolio samples are broken down by type (articles, marketing materials, and web copy). You could also break them down by publication or media type (broadcast, print, web, newspaper, magazine, etc.) Clips can take virtually any format: you can post them directly to a web page, add a *.pdf or *.doc/*.docx attachment, link to a URL, etc. As long as your portfolio is well organized and the clips are relatively current, site visitors (a.k.a. prospective clients) will be able to find what they're looking for.
4) Proof and edit your own work.
Have you ever received an e-mail or letter from a colleague or prospective client riddled with mistakes? Did it make you cringe? This is a common pet peeve of professional writers and editors, including me. I always tell (read: nag) business professionals from all industries but particularly writers and editors to make sure they proof and edit their own work prior to submission to an editor or client.
Of course, the materials are likely to be proofread and copyedited by someone else, too, but if you want repeat business or additional assignments, your work must be top notch and error-free. Because so many "article marketers" are focused on selling their products and services and NOT on punctuation and spelling, your writing will be superior.
5) Hone your craft.
Whether you are a self-taught or college-educated writer, continue to expand your talent by investing in quality resources (a good dictionary and thesaurus; Chicago Manual of Style; Writer's Market; The Copyeditor's Handbook, etc.); taking continuing education classes; and trying out different genres (business writing, creative writing, fiction, horror, romance, etc.).
You'll not only fine-tune your skills, but you'll have a better sense of where your voice best fits in the writing world.
If you follow these five tips, you will stand out as a professional writer--not as a fly-by-night blogger, forum poster or article marketer--and you will gain confidence in your ability to market yourself and your writing and editing services. Happy writing
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dana Blozis of Virtually Yourz is a freelance writer, editor and marketing professional based in the Seattle area. In addition to writing for publication, she writes for small businesses and nonprofits. For more information, visit Virtually Yourz. http://www.virtuallyyourz.com
With the growth of social media and marketing techniques like online article marketing, it seems that everyone is a writer of one sort or another. In fact, I've read a handful of articles that assure the reading public that anyone can write. While this may be technically true, those of us who write for a living know that it isn't as easy as it sounds.
There is much more to the craft than meets the eye.
With this new realm of competition at our doorstep, I've created a list of ways that can set you apart from those who are merely dabbling in writing or writing simply for marketing's sake.
1) Develop a website.
If you don't already have one, confirm your legitimacy as a writer or journalist by creating your own website. It can be as simple as one page which tells who you are, what types of writing you specialize in and how people can contact you.
At the other end of the spectrum, it can be a multi-page site that contains bio information, a professional profile or résumé and clips of your work. Regardless of your site's level of complexity, your site will confirm that you are a professional writer with a portfolio and published clips.
2) Create a professional profile.
Unless you graduated from j-school and have been a professional writer since your career began, I've found that a traditional resume doesn't cut it. Instead, I developed a two-page professional profile. It looks similar to my résumé, but it only briefly summarizes my irrelevant career prior to becoming a freelancer over four years ago. It contains sections like relevant skills (writing, editing, marketing); a sample of my client list; my relevant education; and a list of publications and websites for whom I've written.
I have this document posted on my website so, when replying to a freelance posting or ad, I can refer the editor or prospective client to my profile without sending an attachment (hint: unless they know you, they won't open an attachment anyway.).
3) Prepare an online portfolio.
Whether you include this information on your website or use one provided by an organization like Media Bistro, you'll need an online portfolio of your published work. It can be organized any number of ways, depending on what types of clips you have.
On my site, portfolio samples are broken down by type (articles, marketing materials, and web copy). You could also break them down by publication or media type (broadcast, print, web, newspaper, magazine, etc.) Clips can take virtually any format: you can post them directly to a web page, add a *.pdf or *.doc/*.docx attachment, link to a URL, etc. As long as your portfolio is well organized and the clips are relatively current, site visitors (a.k.a. prospective clients) will be able to find what they're looking for.
4) Proof and edit your own work.
Have you ever received an e-mail or letter from a colleague or prospective client riddled with mistakes? Did it make you cringe? This is a common pet peeve of professional writers and editors, including me. I always tell (read: nag) business professionals from all industries but particularly writers and editors to make sure they proof and edit their own work prior to submission to an editor or client.
Of course, the materials are likely to be proofread and copyedited by someone else, too, but if you want repeat business or additional assignments, your work must be top notch and error-free. Because so many "article marketers" are focused on selling their products and services and NOT on punctuation and spelling, your writing will be superior.
5) Hone your craft.
Whether you are a self-taught or college-educated writer, continue to expand your talent by investing in quality resources (a good dictionary and thesaurus; Chicago Manual of Style; Writer's Market; The Copyeditor's Handbook, etc.); taking continuing education classes; and trying out different genres (business writing, creative writing, fiction, horror, romance, etc.).
You'll not only fine-tune your skills, but you'll have a better sense of where your voice best fits in the writing world.
If you follow these five tips, you will stand out as a professional writer--not as a fly-by-night blogger, forum poster or article marketer--and you will gain confidence in your ability to market yourself and your writing and editing services. Happy writing
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dana Blozis of Virtually Yourz is a freelance writer, editor and marketing professional based in the Seattle area. In addition to writing for publication, she writes for small businesses and nonprofits. For more information, visit Virtually Yourz. http://www.virtuallyyourz.com
18.11.09
Freelance Writing for Trade Magazines
The most visible magazines are mainstream magazines sold on newsstands and in bookstores to the public. Trade magazines, on the other hand, are more exclusive; they are not sold to the public at retail chains and they usually circulate to the magazine's elite
class of subscribers and members.
Just as there are countless mainstream magazines on sports, pets, travel, weddings, and
lifestyle, you can also find just as many trade magazines tha cover the same subjects.
Writing for trade magazines pays well (sometimes higher than mainstream magazines) and they regularly use freelance writers.
Breaking into trade magazines as a freelance writer can be tricky.
Many editors of trade magazines choose not to list their writer's guidelines. Editors of trade magazines are extremely busy and short-staffed. These editors avoid having an open call for
submissions to avoid a ceaseless cycle of reviewing, critiquing and rejecting unsolicited articles and query letters sent in by writers, non-writers and their moms.
You will not find their writer's guidelines in Writer's Marketplace and they may not post their guidelines online at their website. Many freelance writers break into trade magazines by pitching an idea to the editor or contacting the editor directly. These freelance writers pitch
brilliant article ideas, they've reviewed the magazine in advance, and they aggressively market themselves and their work with confidence.
Here are some frequently asked questions about freelance writing for trade magazines:
Question #1: What are some advantages of writing for trade magazines, as opposed to writing for mainstream (newsstand) magazines?
Answer: The first advantage is the smaller number of competitors (other freelance writers). Many writers, especially amateurs, don't routinely research trade magazines for potential writing assignments. However, this also means it's often up to you, the writer, to educate an editor on the advantage of using your work.
The second advantage is that trade magazines are usually understaffed. When an editor finds a good freelancer, they not only accept the initial story but also ask the writer to accept future assignments.
A third advantage is the reputation you develop when you write for trade magazines within that industry. As your reputation builds, you often experience unexpected opportunities, such as referrals and writing assignments from other editors.
Question #2: What's the best research method to uncover
hard-to-find trade magazines?
Answer: The best method is to find a Standard Rate & Data for business publications ( http://www.srds.com ). This directory contains almost every trade magazine published in the U.S.
Second, find out what your friends and neighbors read in their business. Do they have any copies you can borrow? What about the mechanic who just fixed your car? What trades are on his waiting room table? How about the barber? How about the manager of that gift store near your house? How about the restaurant manager? A real estate agent? A roofing contractor? A bricklayer? A computer programmer? Your tax accountant?
The third way is the Internet. Find trade magazines at Freebizmag.com, tradepub.com and freetradepubs.com.
Question #3: What's the best way to pitch an article to a trade magazine?
Answer: Call the editor, tell him what you have in mind, and get feedback. Otherwise, you can send an email query. Once you have some credits, the best approach is calling the editor. Even if the editor doesn't need the story you are pitching, he may have one he would like to see, but haven't found anyone to do it.
Question #4: What do you do if the trade magazine doesn't have writer's guidelines?
Answer: Less than 10 percent of trade magazines have writers' guidelines. If you don't have a copy of the magazine you want to pitch to, find a way to get one and then go through it to see how the headlines are put together and how long the articles run. Check the masthead for full-time staff and the number of contributors.
Are the contributors industry gurus or independent writers like yourself? How much of the magazine is staff written? If the trade magazine has one editor and he's written more than 60 percent of the magazine, then he probably needs a good freelance writer from time to time.
Question #5: What are some challenges freelance writers might face with trade magazines?
Answer: The first challenge is finding the people with the right information. Specialization is a good idea for a trade journalist just as it is for a mainstream journalist. You write based on "who" you know.
A second challenge is learning to leverage what you've developed. If you specialize in writing on construction, you can also tie this topic to other industries, such as restaurant management, small hospital management, manufacturing, hospitality, real estate, golf course management, etc.
Another challenge is to learn discretion. Businesses have secrets they don't want their competitors to know about; they do have techniques or practices or processes that give them an edge. To maintain your contacts' trust, you must develop good judgment about
just how much information you can pass along in your article and how much you can't.
Never cheat your contacts. Be fair with them and they will be fair with you. They may get mad occasionally when they get called on a mistake, but as long as it's a fair call, then you'll keep them.
Question #6: What other types of articles do trade magazines find popular?
Answer: The most popular type of article in trade magazines is: "Who did what, and why?" Readers love to get ideas by seeing what others in their industry are doing. They also want to see who's doing what so they can decide if the article subject might be a
potential customer.
"List" articles are another favorite. Trade magazines are where people go to talk shop and to see who's who, who's new, and what's new.
About the author: Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com - a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer's guidelines to paying
magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers => http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com
class of subscribers and members.
Just as there are countless mainstream magazines on sports, pets, travel, weddings, and
lifestyle, you can also find just as many trade magazines tha cover the same subjects.
Writing for trade magazines pays well (sometimes higher than mainstream magazines) and they regularly use freelance writers.
Breaking into trade magazines as a freelance writer can be tricky.
Many editors of trade magazines choose not to list their writer's guidelines. Editors of trade magazines are extremely busy and short-staffed. These editors avoid having an open call for
submissions to avoid a ceaseless cycle of reviewing, critiquing and rejecting unsolicited articles and query letters sent in by writers, non-writers and their moms.
You will not find their writer's guidelines in Writer's Marketplace and they may not post their guidelines online at their website. Many freelance writers break into trade magazines by pitching an idea to the editor or contacting the editor directly. These freelance writers pitch
brilliant article ideas, they've reviewed the magazine in advance, and they aggressively market themselves and their work with confidence.
Here are some frequently asked questions about freelance writing for trade magazines:
Question #1: What are some advantages of writing for trade magazines, as opposed to writing for mainstream (newsstand) magazines?
Answer: The first advantage is the smaller number of competitors (other freelance writers). Many writers, especially amateurs, don't routinely research trade magazines for potential writing assignments. However, this also means it's often up to you, the writer, to educate an editor on the advantage of using your work.
The second advantage is that trade magazines are usually understaffed. When an editor finds a good freelancer, they not only accept the initial story but also ask the writer to accept future assignments.
A third advantage is the reputation you develop when you write for trade magazines within that industry. As your reputation builds, you often experience unexpected opportunities, such as referrals and writing assignments from other editors.
Question #2: What's the best research method to uncover
hard-to-find trade magazines?
Answer: The best method is to find a Standard Rate & Data for business publications ( http://www.srds.com ). This directory contains almost every trade magazine published in the U.S.
Second, find out what your friends and neighbors read in their business. Do they have any copies you can borrow? What about the mechanic who just fixed your car? What trades are on his waiting room table? How about the barber? How about the manager of that gift store near your house? How about the restaurant manager? A real estate agent? A roofing contractor? A bricklayer? A computer programmer? Your tax accountant?
The third way is the Internet. Find trade magazines at Freebizmag.com, tradepub.com and freetradepubs.com.
Question #3: What's the best way to pitch an article to a trade magazine?
Answer: Call the editor, tell him what you have in mind, and get feedback. Otherwise, you can send an email query. Once you have some credits, the best approach is calling the editor. Even if the editor doesn't need the story you are pitching, he may have one he would like to see, but haven't found anyone to do it.
Question #4: What do you do if the trade magazine doesn't have writer's guidelines?
Answer: Less than 10 percent of trade magazines have writers' guidelines. If you don't have a copy of the magazine you want to pitch to, find a way to get one and then go through it to see how the headlines are put together and how long the articles run. Check the masthead for full-time staff and the number of contributors.
Are the contributors industry gurus or independent writers like yourself? How much of the magazine is staff written? If the trade magazine has one editor and he's written more than 60 percent of the magazine, then he probably needs a good freelance writer from time to time.
Question #5: What are some challenges freelance writers might face with trade magazines?
Answer: The first challenge is finding the people with the right information. Specialization is a good idea for a trade journalist just as it is for a mainstream journalist. You write based on "who" you know.
A second challenge is learning to leverage what you've developed. If you specialize in writing on construction, you can also tie this topic to other industries, such as restaurant management, small hospital management, manufacturing, hospitality, real estate, golf course management, etc.
Another challenge is to learn discretion. Businesses have secrets they don't want their competitors to know about; they do have techniques or practices or processes that give them an edge. To maintain your contacts' trust, you must develop good judgment about
just how much information you can pass along in your article and how much you can't.
Never cheat your contacts. Be fair with them and they will be fair with you. They may get mad occasionally when they get called on a mistake, but as long as it's a fair call, then you'll keep them.
Question #6: What other types of articles do trade magazines find popular?
Answer: The most popular type of article in trade magazines is: "Who did what, and why?" Readers love to get ideas by seeing what others in their industry are doing. They also want to see who's doing what so they can decide if the article subject might be a
potential customer.
"List" articles are another favorite. Trade magazines are where people go to talk shop and to see who's who, who's new, and what's new.
About the author: Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com - a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer's guidelines to paying
magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers => http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com
2.11.09
Ten Reasons to Use a Blog to Publish Your Ezine
Blogs are the hottest thing going these days when it comes to marketing on the Internet. A blog is a delivery medium. Here are 10 reasons why you should deliver your ezine articles via a blog.
1. A blog is web based so you can update and post new articles anywhere, anytime. It's a dynamic medium that can be updated on a moment's notice.
2. Subscribers can subscribe to your RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed and have your content delivered straight to their desktop. This delivery system bypasses spam filters and readers get exactly the content they want.
3. No web site to mess with. It's very inexpensive way to set up a web presence for your ezine. There are several sites where you can set up a free blog and others are very reasonably priced for the massive exposure you can get.
4. You can set up links for ads and your affiliate programs in side columns so you don't have to include them in your ezine format.
5. You can set up a subscription form and send emails to your subscribers when new content is added.
6. Blogs link to other blogs which helps you create a viral marketing system and increases your exposure in search engines. Search engines LOVE text based, fresh content that is highly focused (key word rich).
7. You can use your ezine blog to become a trusted expert for your subscribers, by filtering content for them so they don't have to visit hundreds of web sites.
8. You have an instant archive of all your articles. When you post an article, a new page and permalink is created. People can share that link with others and be sent directly to the article being referenced.
9. Readers can comment on your articles, which creates rapport and trust between you and your subscriber. Comments also add rich content to your site and again, helps your ranking in the search engines.
10. The bottom line is this: using a blog can help you attract more visitors who become subscribers and then eventually become clients.
For an ezine publisher, a blog compliments and can significantly ease the delivery of your ezine content. Essentially, like any web site, you have to promote it and encourage people to add your site to their RSS feed (that's another subject) or subscribe for updates through a subscription form.
That's why I put a subscribe form on my site – subscribers and get updates in anyway they want. You still need to submit to search engines and directories to drive traffic. If you already have an ezine subscriber database, my advice would be to post everything on the blog and then send a weekly email, or whatever your normal publishing schedule is, informing your subscribers when new content is posted.
Marketing is done in a conversational way and via the links on your blog. Announcements can be posted on the blog and to one's list. I see the blog and ezine database as complimentary...working together to increase your exposure and make it easier for people to get your information and build relationships.
About The Author: Denise Wakeman is Chief Implementor of Next Level Partnership, a company dedicated to partnering with you to take your business to the next level. Denise has nearly 20 years experience in small business administration and management. She has specific experience in leveraging Internet marketing systems to create awareness, build customer loyalty and increase the bottom line. Visit Denise's blog at http://www.biztipsblog.com to get tips and tactics for taking your business to the next level.
1. A blog is web based so you can update and post new articles anywhere, anytime. It's a dynamic medium that can be updated on a moment's notice.
2. Subscribers can subscribe to your RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed and have your content delivered straight to their desktop. This delivery system bypasses spam filters and readers get exactly the content they want.
3. No web site to mess with. It's very inexpensive way to set up a web presence for your ezine. There are several sites where you can set up a free blog and others are very reasonably priced for the massive exposure you can get.
4. You can set up links for ads and your affiliate programs in side columns so you don't have to include them in your ezine format.
5. You can set up a subscription form and send emails to your subscribers when new content is added.
6. Blogs link to other blogs which helps you create a viral marketing system and increases your exposure in search engines. Search engines LOVE text based, fresh content that is highly focused (key word rich).
7. You can use your ezine blog to become a trusted expert for your subscribers, by filtering content for them so they don't have to visit hundreds of web sites.
8. You have an instant archive of all your articles. When you post an article, a new page and permalink is created. People can share that link with others and be sent directly to the article being referenced.
9. Readers can comment on your articles, which creates rapport and trust between you and your subscriber. Comments also add rich content to your site and again, helps your ranking in the search engines.
10. The bottom line is this: using a blog can help you attract more visitors who become subscribers and then eventually become clients.
For an ezine publisher, a blog compliments and can significantly ease the delivery of your ezine content. Essentially, like any web site, you have to promote it and encourage people to add your site to their RSS feed (that's another subject) or subscribe for updates through a subscription form.
That's why I put a subscribe form on my site – subscribers and get updates in anyway they want. You still need to submit to search engines and directories to drive traffic. If you already have an ezine subscriber database, my advice would be to post everything on the blog and then send a weekly email, or whatever your normal publishing schedule is, informing your subscribers when new content is posted.
Marketing is done in a conversational way and via the links on your blog. Announcements can be posted on the blog and to one's list. I see the blog and ezine database as complimentary...working together to increase your exposure and make it easier for people to get your information and build relationships.
About The Author: Denise Wakeman is Chief Implementor of Next Level Partnership, a company dedicated to partnering with you to take your business to the next level. Denise has nearly 20 years experience in small business administration and management. She has specific experience in leveraging Internet marketing systems to create awareness, build customer loyalty and increase the bottom line. Visit Denise's blog at http://www.biztipsblog.com to get tips and tactics for taking your business to the next level.
Blogged with the Flock Browser
24.8.09
Freelance Writing: Set Yourself Tougher Personal Deadlines
By Nick Usborne
As freelancers we all work to deadlines. But often we work to deadlines set by our clients. This is fine, of course. Ultimately we need to meet the times and dates our clients set us.
But if you want to be more productive and efficient in how you work, you should also be setting some deadlines of your own.
Let me give you an example of how a client deadline alone can lead to lower productivity.
Let's say it's the beginning of the day and you have until tomorrow lunchtime to complete and deliver a particular job.
If you work based on that deadline alone, you are likely to spend a day and a half on the job. That's how we are sometimes. We expand our work to fit the available time.
This is where adding your own deadlines comes in.
Instead of using all that time to complete that one task, be tough on yourself and add some other tasks that need to be done within that same period.
Put aside two hours to do some new client acquisition work. Allocate an hour to updating your filing. Create a time slot for catching up on your invoicing or bookkeeping.
In other words, give yourself more work than your clients are giving you.
There are a number of benefits to being tough on yourself in this way.
First, obviously, you'll get a lot more done between now and tomorrow lunchtime.
Second, you'll probably do a better job for your client, simply because a tighter deadline forces us to focus with greater concentration and clarity.
Third, you'll feel better.
You'll feel better about getting more done.
And you'll feel a greater sense of accomplishment after meeting not only your client's deadline, but also those you set for yourself.
About the author: For more information on how to increase your productivity, find out about the Writing Rituals method
As freelancers we all work to deadlines. But often we work to deadlines set by our clients. This is fine, of course. Ultimately we need to meet the times and dates our clients set us.
But if you want to be more productive and efficient in how you work, you should also be setting some deadlines of your own.
Let me give you an example of how a client deadline alone can lead to lower productivity.
Let's say it's the beginning of the day and you have until tomorrow lunchtime to complete and deliver a particular job.
If you work based on that deadline alone, you are likely to spend a day and a half on the job. That's how we are sometimes. We expand our work to fit the available time.
This is where adding your own deadlines comes in.
Instead of using all that time to complete that one task, be tough on yourself and add some other tasks that need to be done within that same period.
Put aside two hours to do some new client acquisition work. Allocate an hour to updating your filing. Create a time slot for catching up on your invoicing or bookkeeping.
In other words, give yourself more work than your clients are giving you.
There are a number of benefits to being tough on yourself in this way.
First, obviously, you'll get a lot more done between now and tomorrow lunchtime.
Second, you'll probably do a better job for your client, simply because a tighter deadline forces us to focus with greater concentration and clarity.
Third, you'll feel better.
You'll feel better about getting more done.
And you'll feel a greater sense of accomplishment after meeting not only your client's deadline, but also those you set for yourself.
About the author: For more information on how to increase your productivity, find out about the Writing Rituals method
7.8.09
Online Freelance Writing Jobs - 3 Ways to Make $50-$100 Per Day With No Experience
By Yuwanda Black
Online freelance writing jobs are plentiful. And, there are only going to be more of them as online marketing experts estimate that 100,000 new websites go live every day. This means the need for fresh content on a continual basis. That's why freelance writing jobs are one of the fastest growing niches in work-from-home sector.
It's fast, easy and practically free to get stated. If you have a computer, you can easily start to make money as a web writer. Fifty to $100 per day is pretty easy.
Now, you're going to have to put in 5, 6 or 7 hours a day. But, if you're desperate to work from home and you're willing to put in the elbow grease, following are three ways you can start making money online as a content provider (aka web writer, online writer), right away.
Online Freelance Writing Jobs: Legitimate Write-for-Pay Sites
Over the last few years, quite a few legitimate, write-for-pay sites have cropped up. One of the most popular is AssociatedContent. Others are Helium, BrightHub and eHow. These sites pay anywhere from a low of $3 on up to a few hundred dollars for commissioned articles.
A standard rate is between $5-$20. And the best part about these sites is that you write what you know in most cases. If you're new to writing for the web, check out these sites first. $50/day is pretty easy to reach. Once you get the hang of what each site requires, your writing will go faster and you can pump it up to putting out more content to reach the $100/day mark.
And you don't have to deal with clients, you write when you want and the money is deposited right into your PayPal account. Sweet!
Online Freelance Writing Jobs: Turn Your Passion for Facebook into Dollars
Do you spend a lot of time on Facebook? Do you know how to set up a profile and get friends? Many website owners will pay you to set up and monitor their Facebook accounts because they either don't know how, or don't have the time to do it.
Online Freelance Writing Jobs: Provide SEO Content to Website Owners
SEO copywriting is a hot, well-paying niche in freelance writing. Don't know what it is? It is simply providing search engine optimized (SEO), niche-specific content to web masters.
For example, if a website owner had a gardening site and gardening was your hobby, you could offer to write articles for the site.
They will say something to the effect of, "We want an article on gardening. 400 words. The keyword phrase is "spring flowers." You would simply write an article with at least four hundred words that used the phrase "spring flowers" in it at least 5-10 times. It's that easy. These types of jobs pay between a low of $15 on up to $100 or more. Most are in the $25-$35/article range. Churn out 4 of these a day and you've made your hundred bucks.
Learn more about how to start an SEO copywriting career.
Online freelance writing jobs are growing more plentiful every day. And, you don't have to have any experience to start. Just a computer, a willingness to work and the ability to adhere to deadlines. So, what are you waiting for? Start your freelance writing career today!
About the Author: Yuwanda Black is a freelance SEO writer - the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com, the authority site on how to start a freelance writing career; and the author of How to Make $250+/Day Writing Simple, 500-Word Articles. Ms. Black says, "You can work from home as a freelance writer in your PJs, getting assignments via the internet. I do it every day."
Online freelance writing jobs are plentiful. And, there are only going to be more of them as online marketing experts estimate that 100,000 new websites go live every day. This means the need for fresh content on a continual basis. That's why freelance writing jobs are one of the fastest growing niches in work-from-home sector.
It's fast, easy and practically free to get stated. If you have a computer, you can easily start to make money as a web writer. Fifty to $100 per day is pretty easy.
Now, you're going to have to put in 5, 6 or 7 hours a day. But, if you're desperate to work from home and you're willing to put in the elbow grease, following are three ways you can start making money online as a content provider (aka web writer, online writer), right away.
Online Freelance Writing Jobs: Legitimate Write-for-Pay Sites
Over the last few years, quite a few legitimate, write-for-pay sites have cropped up. One of the most popular is AssociatedContent. Others are Helium, BrightHub and eHow. These sites pay anywhere from a low of $3 on up to a few hundred dollars for commissioned articles.
A standard rate is between $5-$20. And the best part about these sites is that you write what you know in most cases. If you're new to writing for the web, check out these sites first. $50/day is pretty easy to reach. Once you get the hang of what each site requires, your writing will go faster and you can pump it up to putting out more content to reach the $100/day mark.
And you don't have to deal with clients, you write when you want and the money is deposited right into your PayPal account. Sweet!
Online Freelance Writing Jobs: Turn Your Passion for Facebook into Dollars
Do you spend a lot of time on Facebook? Do you know how to set up a profile and get friends? Many website owners will pay you to set up and monitor their Facebook accounts because they either don't know how, or don't have the time to do it.
Online Freelance Writing Jobs: Provide SEO Content to Website Owners
SEO copywriting is a hot, well-paying niche in freelance writing. Don't know what it is? It is simply providing search engine optimized (SEO), niche-specific content to web masters.
For example, if a website owner had a gardening site and gardening was your hobby, you could offer to write articles for the site.
They will say something to the effect of, "We want an article on gardening. 400 words. The keyword phrase is "spring flowers." You would simply write an article with at least four hundred words that used the phrase "spring flowers" in it at least 5-10 times. It's that easy. These types of jobs pay between a low of $15 on up to $100 or more. Most are in the $25-$35/article range. Churn out 4 of these a day and you've made your hundred bucks.
Learn more about how to start an SEO copywriting career.
Online freelance writing jobs are growing more plentiful every day. And, you don't have to have any experience to start. Just a computer, a willingness to work and the ability to adhere to deadlines. So, what are you waiting for? Start your freelance writing career today!
About the Author: Yuwanda Black is a freelance SEO writer - the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com, the authority site on how to start a freelance writing career; and the author of How to Make $250+/Day Writing Simple, 500-Word Articles. Ms. Black says, "You can work from home as a freelance writer in your PJs, getting assignments via the internet. I do it every day."
31.7.09
Freelance Writing: Are You Sure Your Query Is Ready?
By Gary McLaren
One magazine. Hundreds of writers. Thousands of queries.
One editor. One desktop ... and a trashcan that appears to be incredibly, almost unimaginably deep. Where exactly will your submission go?
It has all the makings of an editor's nightmare. Stacks and stacks of submissions, and some of them are dreadfully inappropriate and unprofessional. It's enough to give our poor editor a splitting headache at the very least. No wonder that some of these submissions have only a brief existence before being filed in the circular bin.
How will you ever get through to an editor who is wading through scores of submissions being sent by your competitors? That's right, your competitors. It's important to think of those other writers with that understanding. And it wouldn't hurt to keep in mind that some of them may be reading this newsletter. Face the facts. Space in most publications is limited. Very limited. Not at all like your editor's trash. That trashcan really does appear to be as dark and bottomless as a cup of Aunt Annie's coffee.
Do you want to be successful in the business of selling your writing? If so, then having recognized your competitors for who they really are, look at the challenge from a business point of
view.
Your client has a project. The project is to provide the client with writing services and writing material for publication. Your client has tendered their requirements to you and to your competitors. The project and the space in their publication are up for grabs, and work will be awarded to the most appropriate tenderer. Keep in mind that the lowest or cheapest proposal is not always accepted. In fact in this business it probably will not be!
It is very common to receive Requests For Proposals (RFPs) in the business world. Serious tenderers would not even consider submitting a sloppy, hastily drafted proposal. For a submission to
be short-listed, the entire proposal has to be thoroughly researched, well written, and carefully packaged. To successfully submit a writing query or manuscript, you should be just as thorough and just as professional. Naturally your submission will be much shorter and more concise than tender documents in many
other businesses.
So how can you make the shortlist with your editor? Firstly, you need a great topic or idea but this article is not designed to help you with that. Secondly, your idea or article must be professionally presented. Here is a ten-point checklist to help you ensure your submission is ready to send. Do some of the items on
the list sound elementary? Please check them again. You'd be surprised how many queries are sent every day by writers who fail to perform some of these fundamental checks.
1. Have I read the publication?
Elementary? Indeed! Come on, be honest. Have you ever read a publication's writer's guidelines at a web site or in a newsletter, had a superb idea for an article and queried - or even written the article - all without going to look at the publication? Don't, don't, don't ever do this! You may as well play the poker machines,
if you intend to leave your writing career to blind luck.
Especially since most publications have a web site, there is no excuse for not studying a publication before querying the editor or submitting an article. Take a look at other pieces they have been publishing recently. What types of topics are they running? What style of writing was used?
2. Have I checked the publication's writer's guidelines?
If they have any guidelines, that is. This is more common for publications in North America than in other continents, and the type and amount of information contained in the guidelines varies widely. First check a publication's web site to see if there is a link to 'Writer's Guidelines' or 'Submission Guidelines' or
occasionally 'Contributions'. Sometimes you will need to go first to the 'About' or 'Contact' page before you find this link to their guidelines. If you can't find any link, you might drop the editor a polite, brief email asking if they have any writer guidelines.
Do you consider obtaining and reading writer's guidelines to be a waste of time? No way. In the last few months my newsletter for freelance writers has received queries on a wild variety of topics from archaeology to gardening to European history. If there are guidelines, please read them. Ensure your manuscript meets the
requirements of style, length etc.
3. Is my submission method correct?
A publication's writer's guidelines will often tell you how the editor likes to receive submissions. Do they prefer to receive a query or a finished article? Do they want submissions sent through the post or electronically by email? If sending an article by email, does the editor prefer attachments such as Microsoft Word or do they request the article to be sent as regular text within the body of your email? With the proliferation of computer viruses, many editors now refuse to open attachments that may be carrying
dangerous macros or code. If you really want your proposal to execute a rapid depth test on the editor's trashcan, simply ignore this checklist item.
4. Does my opening catch the reader's attention?
If the editor only reads the first two or three sentences of your query, will you have captured their interest? The first paragraph must be a winner. Intriguing. Enticing. Like a fat, juicy worm wiggling on the end of a fishing line. Read your opening again. Can you improve it?
5. Can I cut any unnecessary or redundant words?
Many of us include unnecessary or redundant words when we first draft a piece. The makers of some editing software I know of claim that their software typically removes 25 to 30 percent of unnecessary and redundant words from users' documents. That's significant. Cast a critical eye over your work again. If the words add value to the piece, leave them. If you have waffled it may be worthwhile to take a black marker pen and start striking out any unnecessary phrases. Think crisp, think concise.
6. Have I checked my grammar?
It can be frustrating for an editor to read what would otherwise be a good article but for the fact it is riddled with bad grammar. Some writers wonder why editors haven't taken them seriously, but they haven't even taken the time to proofread their own manuscript before submitting it! Some good word processing software programs will even check your grammar for you.
7. Have I checked the spelling?
Again your software can probably do this for you. If you are writing for a publication in another country have you also taken into account any different spelling for that location, e.g. British vs. American English? Also try to spot any words that may be different from country to country, for example footpaths and sidewalks, diapers and nappies.
8. Have I included some details about my background?
This may not be necessary if the editor already knows you. Otherwise be sure to include a brief biography and list any relevant credentials, clips, or links to your articles online.
9. Have I included the article's publishing history?
Remember the last time you had to clear customs at the airport?
This is just like that. 'Do you have anything to declare?' If the
article has been published elsewhere, you do.
10.Have I included my contact details?
If you want a reply from the editor, and hopefully one day to receive a check in the post, be certain to provide your full contact details. Many writers making submissions by email forget to include any other contact details.
It's been a long day. The editor, red-eyed and wired on caffeine, is ready to go home. Incredibly, the trashcan is nearly full now. A few crumpled manuscripts lie scattered nearby where they didn't
quite hit the mark. 'One more', the editor thinks, 'then I'll hit the road.' Finally your submission is opened, and the editor, for what seems like the hundredth time today, wonders what this new writer has to offer.
Where will your submission end up? Have you helped yourself by sending in a well-prepared submission? If you have followed the advice given here, you're well on your way. Now let's hope your idea was a good one.
Happy Writing!
One magazine. Hundreds of writers. Thousands of queries.
One editor. One desktop ... and a trashcan that appears to be incredibly, almost unimaginably deep. Where exactly will your submission go?
It has all the makings of an editor's nightmare. Stacks and stacks of submissions, and some of them are dreadfully inappropriate and unprofessional. It's enough to give our poor editor a splitting headache at the very least. No wonder that some of these submissions have only a brief existence before being filed in the circular bin.
How will you ever get through to an editor who is wading through scores of submissions being sent by your competitors? That's right, your competitors. It's important to think of those other writers with that understanding. And it wouldn't hurt to keep in mind that some of them may be reading this newsletter. Face the facts. Space in most publications is limited. Very limited. Not at all like your editor's trash. That trashcan really does appear to be as dark and bottomless as a cup of Aunt Annie's coffee.
Do you want to be successful in the business of selling your writing? If so, then having recognized your competitors for who they really are, look at the challenge from a business point of
view.
Your client has a project. The project is to provide the client with writing services and writing material for publication. Your client has tendered their requirements to you and to your competitors. The project and the space in their publication are up for grabs, and work will be awarded to the most appropriate tenderer. Keep in mind that the lowest or cheapest proposal is not always accepted. In fact in this business it probably will not be!
It is very common to receive Requests For Proposals (RFPs) in the business world. Serious tenderers would not even consider submitting a sloppy, hastily drafted proposal. For a submission to
be short-listed, the entire proposal has to be thoroughly researched, well written, and carefully packaged. To successfully submit a writing query or manuscript, you should be just as thorough and just as professional. Naturally your submission will be much shorter and more concise than tender documents in many
other businesses.
So how can you make the shortlist with your editor? Firstly, you need a great topic or idea but this article is not designed to help you with that. Secondly, your idea or article must be professionally presented. Here is a ten-point checklist to help you ensure your submission is ready to send. Do some of the items on
the list sound elementary? Please check them again. You'd be surprised how many queries are sent every day by writers who fail to perform some of these fundamental checks.
1. Have I read the publication?
Elementary? Indeed! Come on, be honest. Have you ever read a publication's writer's guidelines at a web site or in a newsletter, had a superb idea for an article and queried - or even written the article - all without going to look at the publication? Don't, don't, don't ever do this! You may as well play the poker machines,
if you intend to leave your writing career to blind luck.
Especially since most publications have a web site, there is no excuse for not studying a publication before querying the editor or submitting an article. Take a look at other pieces they have been publishing recently. What types of topics are they running? What style of writing was used?
2. Have I checked the publication's writer's guidelines?
If they have any guidelines, that is. This is more common for publications in North America than in other continents, and the type and amount of information contained in the guidelines varies widely. First check a publication's web site to see if there is a link to 'Writer's Guidelines' or 'Submission Guidelines' or
occasionally 'Contributions'. Sometimes you will need to go first to the 'About' or 'Contact' page before you find this link to their guidelines. If you can't find any link, you might drop the editor a polite, brief email asking if they have any writer guidelines.
Do you consider obtaining and reading writer's guidelines to be a waste of time? No way. In the last few months my newsletter for freelance writers has received queries on a wild variety of topics from archaeology to gardening to European history. If there are guidelines, please read them. Ensure your manuscript meets the
requirements of style, length etc.
3. Is my submission method correct?
A publication's writer's guidelines will often tell you how the editor likes to receive submissions. Do they prefer to receive a query or a finished article? Do they want submissions sent through the post or electronically by email? If sending an article by email, does the editor prefer attachments such as Microsoft Word or do they request the article to be sent as regular text within the body of your email? With the proliferation of computer viruses, many editors now refuse to open attachments that may be carrying
dangerous macros or code. If you really want your proposal to execute a rapid depth test on the editor's trashcan, simply ignore this checklist item.
4. Does my opening catch the reader's attention?
If the editor only reads the first two or three sentences of your query, will you have captured their interest? The first paragraph must be a winner. Intriguing. Enticing. Like a fat, juicy worm wiggling on the end of a fishing line. Read your opening again. Can you improve it?
5. Can I cut any unnecessary or redundant words?
Many of us include unnecessary or redundant words when we first draft a piece. The makers of some editing software I know of claim that their software typically removes 25 to 30 percent of unnecessary and redundant words from users' documents. That's significant. Cast a critical eye over your work again. If the words add value to the piece, leave them. If you have waffled it may be worthwhile to take a black marker pen and start striking out any unnecessary phrases. Think crisp, think concise.
6. Have I checked my grammar?
It can be frustrating for an editor to read what would otherwise be a good article but for the fact it is riddled with bad grammar. Some writers wonder why editors haven't taken them seriously, but they haven't even taken the time to proofread their own manuscript before submitting it! Some good word processing software programs will even check your grammar for you.
7. Have I checked the spelling?
Again your software can probably do this for you. If you are writing for a publication in another country have you also taken into account any different spelling for that location, e.g. British vs. American English? Also try to spot any words that may be different from country to country, for example footpaths and sidewalks, diapers and nappies.
8. Have I included some details about my background?
This may not be necessary if the editor already knows you. Otherwise be sure to include a brief biography and list any relevant credentials, clips, or links to your articles online.
9. Have I included the article's publishing history?
Remember the last time you had to clear customs at the airport?
This is just like that. 'Do you have anything to declare?' If the
article has been published elsewhere, you do.
10.Have I included my contact details?
If you want a reply from the editor, and hopefully one day to receive a check in the post, be certain to provide your full contact details. Many writers making submissions by email forget to include any other contact details.
It's been a long day. The editor, red-eyed and wired on caffeine, is ready to go home. Incredibly, the trashcan is nearly full now. A few crumpled manuscripts lie scattered nearby where they didn't
quite hit the mark. 'One more', the editor thinks, 'then I'll hit the road.' Finally your submission is opened, and the editor, for what seems like the hundredth time today, wonders what this new writer has to offer.
Where will your submission end up? Have you helped yourself by sending in a well-prepared submission? If you have followed the advice given here, you're well on your way. Now let's hope your idea was a good one.
Happy Writing!
20.6.09
Freelance Writing Fees - Charge What You're Worth!
Ah yes ... we work for money, don't we?
And we should. After all, you wouldn't choose to spend your afternoon writing a press release announcing ACME Balloon Rental's new vice president of inflation instead of working on your novel, would you? Nor would you pop out of bed in the morning thinking, "Finally, today I get to write a brochure about widgets instead of finishing my screenplay!"
The fact is, as freelance writers, we work to eat, and to eat, we must charge for our work. But there's the rub: What should we charge?
Let's cut to the chase. I currently base my fees on $75 per hour for anything clients ask me to do, whether it's writing, ghostwriting or editing. It doesn't matter whether it's for a brochure, Web site, book, press release or what. It's $75 per hour. (That rate is higher than some writers charge and less than others charge. The geographical market has a lot to do with it.)
My fees are almost never discussed when I work with repeat clients. They know what to expect and seem to be okay with it. If it looks like a project is going to cost more than the client is used to, I bring this up for approval. The last thing I want is to give a good client an unpleasant surprise when he or she opens my bill.
My fees are always discussed with new clients. I usually don't tell them what I charge per hour. That really tells them little, because it's only half of the equation. One writer might take five hours to do the project while another would take 10 hours. So simply saying "I charge $75 per hour" means nothing. That's why with new clients I estimate what I would charge for a project, based on all the information I have been given. I also let the client know to expect changes in the estimate if the project's parameters change midstream. An up-front estimate eliminates sticker shock when the client receives the invoice. (By the way, you could call it a "bid," but I like "estimate" because it seems a bit more pliable.)
Ultimately, of course, you can only charge what the market will bear, but the fee structure I've just described has worked for me for years. I have, of course, periodically raised my rate.
Don't be afraid to turn down clients who aren't willing to pay you what you're worth. If you keep saying yes to these people, you will get locked into a low-level of clientele and will always be underpaid. Believe me, there are companies and individuals out there who are willing to pay the price for a good writer. If you are a good writer, you just have to find them. But you won't find them if you're swamped with jobs that keep you perpetually unpaid and overworked.
I have a pet peeve: writers who low-ball their rates just to get work. They make life difficult for other hardworking, professional freelancers, and ultimately they cut their own throats. I recently went online to check out what writers were charging and being offered for online articles and content. I was appalled and frankly infuriated to read that some online publishers were offering 1/10th of one cent per word! Once cent per word was fairly standard. That sort of compensation is a slap in the face to serious writers, and any writer who accepts it is doing real damage to the profession as a whole.
Let's put things in perspective: Yesterday a garage door repairman charged me $89 to fix one of our garage door openers. He spent - I'm not exaggerating - less than five minutes! The day before, my sister paid a plumber $180 to fix a leaking connection. He spend just over 30 minutes on the job. And they're asking writers to work for maybe $2 per hour? And some writers will do it? I can't think about this without wanting to break something.
One last thought. Some writers wonder whether to charge on a per-word basis. This may work for magazine articles and the like, but is lunacy for most types of projects. It doesn't take into account the time you might spend on research and in meetings, or the approval process and other variables.
I once spent three days in meetings and creative time to come up with a small college's three-word billboard headline. Had I charged per word, I would have had to charge over $400 per word. Had I told the client that I would charge $400 per word, I wouldn't have landed the job. But telling them that I would charge about $1200 for three days of work seemed reasonable to them. And it was. In fact, it was a steal. They used the headline for years in all their marketing materials.
In my dreams, I regularly get $400 per word for 2,000-word travel articles ... in my dreams
About the author: Steve Osborne is author of "Writing Tips for the Real World," a blog at http://www.thewritersbag.com . He is an award-winning freelance writer and writing instructor. His blog teaches writing tips, techniques and strategies designed to help people from all walks of life turn the written word into a powerful success tool in their careers and personal lives.
And we should. After all, you wouldn't choose to spend your afternoon writing a press release announcing ACME Balloon Rental's new vice president of inflation instead of working on your novel, would you? Nor would you pop out of bed in the morning thinking, "Finally, today I get to write a brochure about widgets instead of finishing my screenplay!"
The fact is, as freelance writers, we work to eat, and to eat, we must charge for our work. But there's the rub: What should we charge?
Let's cut to the chase. I currently base my fees on $75 per hour for anything clients ask me to do, whether it's writing, ghostwriting or editing. It doesn't matter whether it's for a brochure, Web site, book, press release or what. It's $75 per hour. (That rate is higher than some writers charge and less than others charge. The geographical market has a lot to do with it.)
My fees are almost never discussed when I work with repeat clients. They know what to expect and seem to be okay with it. If it looks like a project is going to cost more than the client is used to, I bring this up for approval. The last thing I want is to give a good client an unpleasant surprise when he or she opens my bill.
My fees are always discussed with new clients. I usually don't tell them what I charge per hour. That really tells them little, because it's only half of the equation. One writer might take five hours to do the project while another would take 10 hours. So simply saying "I charge $75 per hour" means nothing. That's why with new clients I estimate what I would charge for a project, based on all the information I have been given. I also let the client know to expect changes in the estimate if the project's parameters change midstream. An up-front estimate eliminates sticker shock when the client receives the invoice. (By the way, you could call it a "bid," but I like "estimate" because it seems a bit more pliable.)
Ultimately, of course, you can only charge what the market will bear, but the fee structure I've just described has worked for me for years. I have, of course, periodically raised my rate.
Don't be afraid to turn down clients who aren't willing to pay you what you're worth. If you keep saying yes to these people, you will get locked into a low-level of clientele and will always be underpaid. Believe me, there are companies and individuals out there who are willing to pay the price for a good writer. If you are a good writer, you just have to find them. But you won't find them if you're swamped with jobs that keep you perpetually unpaid and overworked.
I have a pet peeve: writers who low-ball their rates just to get work. They make life difficult for other hardworking, professional freelancers, and ultimately they cut their own throats. I recently went online to check out what writers were charging and being offered for online articles and content. I was appalled and frankly infuriated to read that some online publishers were offering 1/10th of one cent per word! Once cent per word was fairly standard. That sort of compensation is a slap in the face to serious writers, and any writer who accepts it is doing real damage to the profession as a whole.
Let's put things in perspective: Yesterday a garage door repairman charged me $89 to fix one of our garage door openers. He spent - I'm not exaggerating - less than five minutes! The day before, my sister paid a plumber $180 to fix a leaking connection. He spend just over 30 minutes on the job. And they're asking writers to work for maybe $2 per hour? And some writers will do it? I can't think about this without wanting to break something.
One last thought. Some writers wonder whether to charge on a per-word basis. This may work for magazine articles and the like, but is lunacy for most types of projects. It doesn't take into account the time you might spend on research and in meetings, or the approval process and other variables.
I once spent three days in meetings and creative time to come up with a small college's three-word billboard headline. Had I charged per word, I would have had to charge over $400 per word. Had I told the client that I would charge $400 per word, I wouldn't have landed the job. But telling them that I would charge about $1200 for three days of work seemed reasonable to them. And it was. In fact, it was a steal. They used the headline for years in all their marketing materials.
In my dreams, I regularly get $400 per word for 2,000-word travel articles ... in my dreams
About the author: Steve Osborne is author of "Writing Tips for the Real World," a blog at http://www.thewritersbag.com . He is an award-winning freelance writer and writing instructor. His blog teaches writing tips, techniques and strategies designed to help people from all walks of life turn the written word into a powerful success tool in their careers and personal lives.
7.6.09
Typography: Italics - When You Should Use Them
Art of Typography. The purpose of italic typefaces is to aid comprehension by separating off certain words and phrases from their surrounding text. But when exactly should you use italics?
The basic purpose in typesetting a story or article for a book, newspaper or periodical, for print or online, is to enhance understanding of the text and thereby make the reading an easy, pleasant experience.
Roman type is the straightforward, upright type we read everyday in our newspapers, magazines and books, and on our monitors.
Italic is the 'handwriting' equivalent of whatever roman font we are reading. It has a sloping cursive quality that reminds us of the manual writing we learned in primary school.
Bold type is roman or italic font that has been emphasized by thickening and making it darker than the surrounding text.
The question is: when should we use which version of a particular typeface - roman, italic, or bold? The answer must focus on the reader's needs and the reading experience.
It is obvious that for most copy the roman version of the chosen font should be used. This is because, having an upright face, it is the easiest to read and it is what readers expect.
Because the bold version of a font makes text stand out strongly, it is used for highlighting important words, phrases and sections. Thus headlines, decks and subheads set in bold will, along with pull-quotes and other tricks of the typesetter's art, provide the casual scanner with clues as to what your article or story is all about. The judicious use of bold in this way will induce him or her to read the main story.
Bold however is too strong to be used, except very occasionally, within body text. To set off words from surrounding text is the main function of italics.
So when should you use italics exactly? Here's a sort of check-list, a mixture of accepted practice and my personal opinion.
Credit: sandbaum
Most of these when-to-use-italics rules apply equally to words in body copy, head-lines and captions, and whether you are typesetting books, articles, stories or web-pages.
[1] The names of ships and aircraft; eg: The Caribbean Cruiser sank yesterday. This is the oldest when-to-use-italics rule. It allows the reader to quickly grasp what is being referred to in the message.
[2] The titles of poems; eg: As You Go Dancing by James Stewart is famous among the literati of the Arabian Gulf. This is another very traditional use of italics that enables quick reader-uptake.
[3] Foreign words; eg: We turned left and found ourselves in a cul de sac. Another very traditional use of italics that makes for quicker reading.
[4] The titles of books, newspapers, articles and stories occurring within a sentence without further explanation; eg: The Saturday edition of the Limerick Leader was always on the streets by Friday afternoon.
However titles that appear within larger works are not italicized but are set off in quotation marks; eg: 'An Irishman's Diary' in the Irish Times is sometimes interesting.
[5] Latin phrases used to classify living things; eg: Many people wonder why mankind is referred to as homo sapiens. Another use of italics that has been around ab aeterno.
[6] Where a word is used as an example rather than for its meaning; eg: The word Kennedy is a proper noun. This is neater than setting the noun within single quotes as in: The word 'Kennedy' is a proper noun.
[7] For introducing new terms; eg: In Freudian psychology reference is made to the ego, the super-ego, and the id. This is a neat solution to highlighting words that will probably be explained later.
[8] For the subjects of definitions; eg: An odd number is any number that cannot be divided by two. This is useful for the reader as, should he or she wish to refer back to the definition later, a word in italics among a sea of roman letters is easy to find.
[9] For mathematical symbols: eg: The standard acceleration of gravity g is 9.81183 metres per second per second. The symbol does not need to be surrounded by commas or single quotes which would be required if it were set in roman type.
[10] For emphasis; eg: Janice wasn't the only girl at the party. The use of italics for emphasis is less intrusive than bold and more subtly suggestive.
[11] To indicate a character's internal reflections in stories; eg: This just does not seem right, Janice thought. However many writers prefer other ways of expressing inner thoughts.
[12] Using a letter or number as a noun; eg: He was vexed because they had left out the d in his name. However many writers would prefer to put a letter or number used in this way between quotes: eg; He was vexed because they had left out the 'd' in his name.
That's about it for the when-to-use italics rules. Except, what should you do if you need to use italics within italics?
If some word or phrase that should be italicised is already within a run of italics, the trick is to switch back to roman type for that word or phrase; eg: I'm in a really weird situation, Janice thought.
This italics-within-italics solution works best when italics are used to highlight internal reflections; eg: Why can't we just look up Wikipedia for the answer? he wondered to himself.
Of course, you don't have to follow these when-to-use-italics rules. However most of them are in current use because they do aid reader comprehension.
Indeed, most of us have an instinct as to when the use of italics is appropriate. Perhaps you can devise better rules of your own. If so, let me know.
About the Author: Paul D Kennedy (paulkpg@yahoo.ie) is a freelance writer of articles and stories. He offers a complete service - research, writing, editing and proofing - for corporate newsletters and commercial magazines on http://www.writingservices.eu .
The basic purpose in typesetting a story or article for a book, newspaper or periodical, for print or online, is to enhance understanding of the text and thereby make the reading an easy, pleasant experience.
Roman type is the straightforward, upright type we read everyday in our newspapers, magazines and books, and on our monitors.
Italic is the 'handwriting' equivalent of whatever roman font we are reading. It has a sloping cursive quality that reminds us of the manual writing we learned in primary school.
Bold type is roman or italic font that has been emphasized by thickening and making it darker than the surrounding text.
The question is: when should we use which version of a particular typeface - roman, italic, or bold? The answer must focus on the reader's needs and the reading experience.
It is obvious that for most copy the roman version of the chosen font should be used. This is because, having an upright face, it is the easiest to read and it is what readers expect.
Because the bold version of a font makes text stand out strongly, it is used for highlighting important words, phrases and sections. Thus headlines, decks and subheads set in bold will, along with pull-quotes and other tricks of the typesetter's art, provide the casual scanner with clues as to what your article or story is all about. The judicious use of bold in this way will induce him or her to read the main story.
Bold however is too strong to be used, except very occasionally, within body text. To set off words from surrounding text is the main function of italics.
So when should you use italics exactly? Here's a sort of check-list, a mixture of accepted practice and my personal opinion.
Most of these when-to-use-italics rules apply equally to words in body copy, head-lines and captions, and whether you are typesetting books, articles, stories or web-pages.
[1] The names of ships and aircraft; eg: The Caribbean Cruiser sank yesterday. This is the oldest when-to-use-italics rule. It allows the reader to quickly grasp what is being referred to in the message.
[2] The titles of poems; eg: As You Go Dancing by James Stewart is famous among the literati of the Arabian Gulf. This is another very traditional use of italics that enables quick reader-uptake.
[3] Foreign words; eg: We turned left and found ourselves in a cul de sac. Another very traditional use of italics that makes for quicker reading.
[4] The titles of books, newspapers, articles and stories occurring within a sentence without further explanation; eg: The Saturday edition of the Limerick Leader was always on the streets by Friday afternoon.
However titles that appear within larger works are not italicized but are set off in quotation marks; eg: 'An Irishman's Diary' in the Irish Times is sometimes interesting.
[5] Latin phrases used to classify living things; eg: Many people wonder why mankind is referred to as homo sapiens. Another use of italics that has been around ab aeterno.
[6] Where a word is used as an example rather than for its meaning; eg: The word Kennedy is a proper noun. This is neater than setting the noun within single quotes as in: The word 'Kennedy' is a proper noun.
[7] For introducing new terms; eg: In Freudian psychology reference is made to the ego, the super-ego, and the id. This is a neat solution to highlighting words that will probably be explained later.
[8] For the subjects of definitions; eg: An odd number is any number that cannot be divided by two. This is useful for the reader as, should he or she wish to refer back to the definition later, a word in italics among a sea of roman letters is easy to find.
[9] For mathematical symbols: eg: The standard acceleration of gravity g is 9.81183 metres per second per second. The symbol does not need to be surrounded by commas or single quotes which would be required if it were set in roman type.
[10] For emphasis; eg: Janice wasn't the only girl at the party. The use of italics for emphasis is less intrusive than bold and more subtly suggestive.
[11] To indicate a character's internal reflections in stories; eg: This just does not seem right, Janice thought. However many writers prefer other ways of expressing inner thoughts.
[12] Using a letter or number as a noun; eg: He was vexed because they had left out the d in his name. However many writers would prefer to put a letter or number used in this way between quotes: eg; He was vexed because they had left out the 'd' in his name.
That's about it for the when-to-use italics rules. Except, what should you do if you need to use italics within italics?
If some word or phrase that should be italicised is already within a run of italics, the trick is to switch back to roman type for that word or phrase; eg: I'm in a really weird situation, Janice thought.
This italics-within-italics solution works best when italics are used to highlight internal reflections; eg: Why can't we just look up Wikipedia for the answer? he wondered to himself.
Of course, you don't have to follow these when-to-use-italics rules. However most of them are in current use because they do aid reader comprehension.
Indeed, most of us have an instinct as to when the use of italics is appropriate. Perhaps you can devise better rules of your own. If so, let me know.
About the Author: Paul D Kennedy (paulkpg@yahoo.ie) is a freelance writer of articles and stories. He offers a complete service - research, writing, editing and proofing - for corporate newsletters and commercial magazines on http://www.writingservices.eu .
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