Yes, it’s time once again for us to look at the month and see what went right, what went wrong. Ready?
Oh, what a month. No, not work-wise. Just oh, what a month. Too much weirdness, too many failed attempts to find work, too much idle time spent dealing with unnecessary, well, crap. Here’s how I did:
Queries –
I sent out about 2 to 4 queries to new publications each week. That amounted to about 30-45 minutes per to read, research, and craft a relevant pitch. Not one of them turned into anything. At least it beat inertia.
Job postings –
Since I was last depressed out of my mind after scouring the job boards, I became more selective in how often, and how long, I’d search. I’m good for about 10 minutes on job boards before I start getting that hopeless feeling. So nine minutes in, I’m looking to go back to something else – anything else – to avoid that feeling. I did find (thanks to Anne Wayman, who sends me insurance-related posts she locates – thank you!) three possibilities, one of which has already fallen through (see my post on disappointing the dude). The other two may come to better ends as the one client already contacted me (and is local). We’ll see.
Existing clients-
Silence. I did hear from one client I’d contacted. He’s also suffering. His client (I subcontract for him) has cut back, so neither of us are working for his client at the moment. My one ongoing client has plenty in the works, but nothing moving. I have a list of topics to create marketing pieces and articles from, but they’ve yet to give me the green light.
Earnings –
Not great, but not dismal. I billed one client (yep, one) and have an invoice going out today for a second. I’m about $2,300 under my monthly target (I set aggressive goals). No excuses. I could’ve hit the marketing harder and suffered the job boards.
Bottom line –
MUST create new marketing plans and get them into action. It’s time I rework my brochure, postcard, and put together a plan for a “sale” of sorts. Also, I’ve been toying with the idea of reviving an industry-specific weblog for two reasons – it’s a great sales tool for those in my industry, and I love the topic.
How was your March?
Hello Lori,
I can boast nothing more productive than: Getting myself back online and reconnected, after suffering through some turbulant financial waters.
I’ve worked to get my Soul Echoes blog active again.
I logged on to Twitter and became active in the social networking phenom! And I’m thankful for garnering a few followers and those ever-precious contacts; like yourself.
I’ve read several new blogs and newsletters –adding to my growing blogs/sites of interest– and am gaining a better perspective of the changes going on in the publishing industry.
While my health concerns limit my time in my office chair, I’m better utilizing my recovery mode time, by sorting through hand written notes, old hardcopy files, etc.
With all that said, March hasn’t turned out so bad. Not bad at all! Wow, I really do feel like a Dynamo! Thank you, Lori
I haven’t billed yet, but mine was not good either. I’ve been down every single month so far this year, so the first quarter is way off for me. I’m optimistic for April, however, given that I’ve just heard from three clients I haven’t worked with in ages. The search for new work is leading nowhere fast, but my repeat clients are keeping me afloat. I thank my lucky stars that I was already a well-established freelancer when this recession hit.
I didn’t get as many queries sent out as I had hoped. However, I picked up one new regular editing client which is good as one of my other regular (and well-paying) projects is wrapping up within the next month or so. I also have a couple of non-fiction book possibilities that have come up, so I am working on a proposal for one publisher and speaking to another tomorrow.
I’m still relatively new at this so not earning big bucks yet but it’s steadily increasing and this has been my best paying month so far.
Tons of queries and LOIs and a whole lot of “we have no freelance budget” or “I’ll be in touch when I have an assignment.” Still, I landed one new ongoing client, reconnected with a client who’d gone MIA, and landed a new (although short term) copywriting project, so it wasn’t a total loss. I’m about $2,000 behind for first quarter, but I took two trips and got ready to move, so I’m OK with that.
I had a good March, but my April is shaping up so far to be about $2,000 below March. There’s still time for eds to throw me a few short, time-sensitive articles for the month, but I don’t expect that to happen too often.
I did land a new client, but I doubt it’s long-term. A while back (perhaps as long as two years ago), I sent a pitch to a editor of a twice-yearly niche pub, and he just got back in touch and made a $1 word assignment for this month. Groovy, but since he publishes so infrequently, I’m not dancing in the streets. The only upside? He outsources to a publishing company, and perhaps I can impress them, and they’ll throw me some of their other pubs’ work.
I heard from an ed for whom I’ve done a bi-monthly column for about two years, and his freelance budget has been eliminated. He’s hopeful he can add it back in soon, but that’s not a plan to bank on.
I’ve also trolled job boards and been highly disappointed. I’ve responded to only one and got no response. So my plan is to work my regulars with great pitches as much as possible.
My goal for this year–break even. If I can pay my bills and hang in there during this crushing recession, I’ll be happy. I’m ahead of that goal right now, but I’m not liking the landscape for the future.
Geez, let’s get through this recession sooner rather than later!
The full assessment will go up on the Goals, Dreams, and Resolutions site later today.
My March was MUCH better than my February, with the fiction far outpacing the nonfiction/business writing.
Royalties make me warm and fuzzy. And pay a few bills.
Stuck to my rates, am in negotiations on some new projects (both fiction and non-fiction) and some of the international negotiations are picking up again.
Picked up a new, ongoing, pleasant client who will provide another month or two of steady work, I think.
Turned down low-paying jobs.
I’m feeling far more optimistic going into April than I did going in to March!
At the risk of sounding like an egotistical jackass, this is why I like NOT having a niche — I’m not limited in my source of income and what I do is diverse enough so if one area starts to falter, I can pick it up in others.
However, I still have to get the new brochures finished and the mailings out — I’ve been behind on that, and I didn’t get out as many pitches as I wanted/should have.
March was better than February, but I could have pushed harder, and will do so in April.
No ego read in that, Devon. It works for you. My niche is widespread, so I’m able to cross into other genres easily. And no one else seems to like writing about these topics, so I have a pretty open field. 🙂
LL, THAT’S progress! 🙂
Kathy and Susan, I hear you. I think the “R” word has finally begun to impact our work. Gawd, I hope not!
Fiona, how new are you to freelancing? How’s it been going last year versus this year for you? Curious to see what you’re experiencing. Sounds like you’ve got some great prospects!
I’d start on getting the referral now, Gabriella! Get him while you’re still in front of him and see if he can hook you up with his publishing company!
March was slow for me, but only because I decided to focus on personal projects like creating copy for my new website, a special report, etc. I thought that if I didn’t just buckle down and get it done now, then when? I think it will help me recoup the cost of the time and effort I put in.
I did not query as many publications as I planned, and although my marketing efforts were sporadic, I did net a few new clients to make up for the ones who have not contacted me in a while.
Bottom line for me: I’m still hanging in there and am optimistic about how things will continue to flow.:-)