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You send lots of emails. Think of all those pitches to editors, replies to clients as well as interactions with interviewees, friends, family and coworkers. Your email signature is a valuable, free space that appears time and again in front of people who’ve already decided you’re worth their attention. Most of us set one up […]

Many writers are held back by the fear of the unknown. They speak it in a dozen different ways, but in talking to writers, I’d say the comments can be distilled down to one thing. . . trying something different is intimidating. There is the fear of submitting to a traditional press. Most writers I […]

Fiverr is a popular freelancing platform where buyers can browse services from freelancers around the world. But is it a viable path for writers looking to make worthwhile money? I’ve spent the last seven years finding out. I’ve completed more than 4,000 orders on Fiverr, achieving Top Rated Seller status and earning over six figures […]

If you are interested in writing for someone, take the time to learn what they are about. As much as we’d like to think the relationship is simply one of they need writing and you write, it isn’t. The whole human factor gets involved, and the sooner you realize that, the better your odds. Magazines/Online […]

Being recognized for being original has to be one of the best compliments there is. Such recognition is a sign of several things: 1) You like yourself. 2) You enjoy thinking and creating. 3) You enjoy feeling liberated and not confined. 4) You’re willing to step out and just see what happens. 5) You like […]

Landing pages are crucial to making money and growing an audience online. Unlike a homepage with multiple links and choices, a landing page is built with one goal: driving a single commercial action, like selling a book, collecting newsletter sign-ups, or booking a course spot. Every element of an effective landing page needs to earn […]

The short answer to the title question is, “No.” The longer answer is, “No, but it would be extremely difficult to do so without one.” Agents exist for several reasons. Below, let’s outline: 1) what benefit an agent brings; 2) a few different agent scenarios to consider; 3) what lit agents with Hollywood connections are […]

Say you’ve spent a decade producing whitepapers on fintech trends and case studies about enterprise software. Now you want to tell your LinkedIn audience you’ve signed with a small press for a dragon fantasy trilogy. Will they think less of you or stop giving you work? Corporate clients know me as a b2b copywriter, so […]

Many writers are uncomfortable discussing money or selling their work. But, like it or not, we are salespeople. Writers pitch for work, trawl for new clients, network, and negotiate. Over my career, I’ve spent a lot of time with salespeople. They’re energetic, resilient and resourceful, and many of their ideas are useful to writers, too. […]

Do you need to make a living as a writer and earn an income but suffer with regular writing procrastination? I’ve a few resources you can try that have been game-changers for me. During six weeks of using them, I’ve written two short stories (a genre I’d never tried before), two web features, a health […]

When summer rolls around, commercial writing work often dries up. Don’t panic – use the quieter months to tidy up the backend of your operation in time for the autumn rush. Here’s a handy checklist. 1. Overhaul your website and CV Check that all your latest publications, client names, and portfolio links are up to […]

I follow the newsletter and website Plagiarism Today, a long time, tried and true resource on plagiarism, and most recently, Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the writing world. Recently they ran a post on How to Prove That Your Writing is Not AI, and it is most excellent. The tools are wonderful. Now you have no excuses. […]