I learned some time back to write in snippets no matter how small. Made myself write 500 words in a day. Doesn’t sound like much, but it became habit. . . but it also was easier to justify in my busy day. Think about it. . . sitting down and pounding out 500 words and then being allowed to get up and return to your life. But you know what that turns into? Writing 1,000 words. Because once the 500 words become entrenched, you find the urge to throw a few more in there. Soon you feel like you didn’t brush your teeth or your hair that day when you miss your 500 words. You can write 500 words before bed, during lunch, waiting in line somewhere in your car. . . even with a meal (like breakfast) at your left and your keyboard in front of you. This morning I ate my omelet at my keyboard while editing three chapters. It’s a matter of squeezing in the short times, because once you become eager to reach that daily goal, you push to find those moments. As for family. . . they can throw you on a guilt trip, for More
How to Find Freelance Clients in a Recession
/ 2020-11-13I panicked when I lost my job earlier this year. The current jobs market is not exactly stellar amidst COVID-19 and the resulting recession. In the last few months, though, I’ve grown my freelance business from a side-hustle to a sustainable, full-time source of income. I love it and can’t see myself returning to traditional employment. Contrary to understandable fears, 2020 does not have to be a terrible time for freelancers. Here are four strategies that have helped me find freelance clients during this period of recession. Feel free to use them to find yours. Join a networking group Many business networking groups are meeting online during the pandemic. I joined a regional group that hosts weekly Speed Networking sessions via Zoom, and have gained one regular client and several one-off jobs. Check out large organizations like Business Networking International, look for relevant meetings on Eventbrite, or use LinkedIn and Facebook to find smaller groups in your region. Visit a few groups to see which one works for you. Many will let you attend as a guest for free before you commit to joining. Expand your focus: think global One of the biggest mistakes freelance writers make is only targeting prospective clients in More
Amazon Reviews Can Be a Treasure Trove
/ 2020-11-13Many hate Amazon, and some small enterprising companies have tried to take a chunk out of it, a mouse trying to nip the beast, so to speak. I am not for or against those small entities doing something they feel the need to do. I, however, have always been an Amazon fan. Why? Because I remember a world without it. Whether reader or writer, imagine not having Amazon. You might cope just fine, but you know what? You’d be coping. So, instead of fighting it, consider using it to your advantage. In this essay, let’s consider using its reviews to assist you as an author. 1) Reviews can tell you what worked in a book. If readers repeatedly mention the same strengths or same weaknesses in the story, you now know what readers prefer or hate. . . to either adopt or avoid. 2) Look for repetitious keywords in the reviews. They can help you find like books or properly keyword your own. They also might help you identify with certain styles, certain subgenres, certain settings so that you can use those words for readers to find your book better. 3) Do the reviews show a book heavy in plot, character, or More
Writing the Wave
/ 2020-11-06Niche markets perform like waves. Freelance writers benefit from plunging into the right market at the best time, even when the niche is far removed from their usual work. Here’s how to take advantage when the wave is high – and how to find your way back after. Wait for the Boom A ‘hot’ niche is indicated by its increased appearance in mainstream news, busier message boards, and higher search-engine rankings. When people start talking, chase the market. Seek out popular markets for this specific niche. When Bitcoin-values boomed, I pitched Crooks & Crypto – and it hit the mark for multi-market syndication thanks to the right timing. Selecting Niche Samples A niche portfolio takes a while to build, so choose your most relevant samples when pitching. When first writing about cryptocurrency, I only had general financial writing samples to show, but they were close enough to get a cryptocurrency gig for a few months. Use Strong Sources A popular niche doesn’t have to be within your scope of writing experience for you to take advantage of the topic. If you aren’t familiar with the niche topic (like yoga or cryptocurrencies), use authoritative interview sources instead, who know it well. More
Boost Your Writing Income with Themed Merchandise
/ 2020-10-23Merchandise that highlights your writing, freelance work, or author brand can boost your writing income in multiple ways. The most obvious is through selling those products. Beyond that, people showing off your wares become your “street team,” shoring up the personal connections and word-of-mouth critical to book sales and freelance referrals. “As human beings, we have an innate drive to belong to groups,” explained Joanna Penn in her book, How to Market a Book. She writes nonfiction for authors and is a best-selling thriller author as J.F. Penn. “Providing merchandise for fans of your work offers them a way to feel a part of the tribe. You must have at least one rock’n’roll t-shirt in your wardrobe! In the same way, authors can provide their fans with a way to connect more deeply with the books and characters they love.” Displaying mugs, shirts, or posters at author signings, book fairs, and writing events helps draw people to your table. That, in turn, creates opportunity to generate a mailing list and future sales. “As a writer, it’s always good to have more than one source of income,” said Jon Acuff, a motivational speaker and New York Times bestselling author of six books More
One Question You Do Not Ask an Editor
/ 2020-10-23When referencing “editor,” I’m talking about the ones who make the decision whether to publish your editorial, essay, feature, short story, or even book. These are gatekeepers. These folks decide if they like what you submitted. So what is the criminal question you’re banned from asking? What topic do I write about? This is about as close to an instant rejection that I can imagine, short of submitting in all CAPS or all lower case. This flies in the face of an editor putting together a publication. They are not paid to create content (usually). They are paid to correct, edit, arrange, and prepare to publish content. They are also paid to pick through submissions to find the best compilation of writing and subject matter. Good writing is part uniqueness, part proper English, and part voice. Writers must endear themselves to editors by proving they come loaded with thought, style, and quality. These days, way too many writers pitch to editors by simply asking, “What topics are you looking for?” Editors are not looking for writing machines! They are looking for good material. But they are looking for something else. . . a writer with a work ethic. Coming to More
Earning Money Writing Book Reviews
/ 2020-10-17A popular Stephen King quote is: “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write.” While I wholeheartedly agree, I also recognize the difficulty in sitting down to read when you need funds for food and rent. Reading improves your writing, yet, too often, feels like a luxury. But you can earn money by reading books and writing reviews. You won’t get rich publishing book reviews, though. Payment is typically modest (expect $15 to $75 per review, unless you break into top-tier publications). That being said, this market pays you to read while serving as an excellent opportunity to break in to freelancing writing while building a portfolio. Don’t forget that reading and critiquing books also improves your writing and revision skills. By sharpening your ability to identify good (or bad) writing, you become a better writer. Review Writing Basics Editors expect three key elements in a book review, regardless of word count. Summary: Lead with a brief description of the plot, main characters, and theme. If the author is prolific or well-known, reference to previous works may be appropriate. Note if the book is a debut. Analysis: How is the story constructed? Aspects More
Channel the Need
/ 2020-10-17Recently I was advising a political Facebook group, and one key factor I could not get some of the candidates to understand was “define the voter’s need then fill it.” The candidates only wanted to say how good they are. That’s like saying a new drink product is good, when the best ads for drink products show them slaking a thirst by someone exhausted and dripping with sweat, or curled up on a sofa in front of a fire with a warm cup in their hands. It doesn’t matter how good a product is if the consumer doesn’t feel the need for it. So when you are selling your writing, you have to prove that it fills a need. To the magazine or blog editor, you have to demonstrate their need for the topic you want to write about. . . while strategically showing they need your style and quality. When selling your novel, you prove the story is one that is strong, worthy, and worth the investment of the reader. When selling your nonfiction, demonstrate how the reader will walk away stronger and more endowed to face the world after reading. It isn’t about you. It’s about the consumer. More
13 Terms to Know About Copywriting
/ 2020-10-09Copywriters write copy that sells to people and educates them about products and services. They provide the words for things like advertisements, sales emails, brochures, and commercial websites. Copywriting is a necessity and pays better than editorial work, so no surprise that many freelance journalists and content writers gravitate to it. A key difference is that copywriting focuses on commercial, with a goal of persuasion and measurable effectiveness. Here’s a guide to some of the essential copywriting terminology A/B or Split Testing This mechanism lets marketers test two versions of a piece of copy – e.g., a landing page or subject line, on a sample audience to see which one performs best. They then send out the best-performing version to their whole audience. For this reason, copywriters sometimes write different versions of the same message. B2B A business-to-business (B2B) company sells to other businesses, whereas a B2C business sells directly to consumers. Copywriters must learn to tailor their writing style to the audience, whether a business or an individual customer. Benefits and Features The difference in benefits and features is key to copywriting success. Features are neutral facts about a product or service, with the copywriter’s job being to turn More
Don’t Be Shortsighted with Your Author Presence
/ 2020-10-09Recently, I was reading a submission from a writer who wanted to appear in the FFW newsletter. I liked the article, was going over it with some comments when someone messaged me. I keep umpteen windows open at a time, and in the back and forth, I accidentally deleted the email. It was a month old, so there were literally thousands behind it, and my search wasn’t finding her name. And she referenced no website or email in her bio. At this point, any other editor would have moved on and forgotten about the submission. After all, there were many others competing for that same feature slot. But I Googled the woman’s Twitter account (the only address in the bio), and found her Facebook page which led me to her website and email (finally). No other editor would have bothered. When querying, put all your contact information in both the email and the piece submitted in case they get separated. Include your bio at the bottom of the piece. Do not assume an editor likes Twitter or Instagram. Do not assume they are on Facebook. Do not assume they will keep track of your email above the thousands of others More