I’m away this week, and it’s a shame. You see, Cathy Miller has left us a guest post, and I’m not connected where I am. I can’t comment beyond what I’m doing here (days before I leave town). Cathy and I chat a bit offline (quite a bit). In one recent conversation, we recognized some…
Month: August 2016
Free Advice Friday: This Job, Not That Job
What I’m listening to: I’m a Mess by Ed Sheeran Short week for me. My son is visiting, so we’re off to enjoy what’s left of summer while he’s in town. It’s funny how sometimes, you and a friend are on the same page. I received a job listing from a site I belong to,…
Why Your Freelance Writing Career is Stalled
What I’m listening to: Drive by The Cars Interesting week. I’m trying to locate off-the-record comments for a client project, but no one is talking. I had to come up with an alternate plan for the client, which he likes, but I really wanted to get feedback from these people so we could hit on a…
5 Reasons Why Increasing Your Freelance Writing Rates Matters
What I’m listening to: Where the Streets Have No Name by U2 Oh, joy. A long-term project I just started a few months ago may be coming to a close, and about three months shy of when it was due to end. Ouch. There goes about $9K in earnings. However, as one door closes, another…
How to Screw Up Your Freelance Writing Career in One Move
What I’m listening to: Get Out by Frightened Rabbit This re-entry into work is getting ridiculous. I’ve had a relatively slow week so far, and I’m thankful for it. My clock won’t reset — I’m still five hours ahead, which means I’m barely awake at 8 pm and wide awake at 3 am. I plan…
How to Look Like a Busy Writer When You’re Out of the Office
What I’m reading: Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights by Salman Rushdie What I’m listening to: Die Like a Rich Boy by Frightened Rabbit Back. Back from a wet, chilly Scottish vacation that was wonderful in every way. Back to a hot, humid existence where my car suffered for the intense heat as it sat in…
4 Great Ways to Expand Your Freelance Business
Today we should be near Fort William or Glencoe. There’s a chance we’ll be back on the Isle of Skye, one of my favorite places. Doesn’t matter — the point is I probably won’t be around today. When I return this weekend, I’ll be thrust right back into work and right back into building up…
Your Do-it-Now, Kick-in-the-Ass Freelance Plan
Right about now, I’m in the western Highlands enjoying a wee hike or two. I may have delayed responses (where we’re staying tonight has no WiFi), but that doesn’t mean the conversation has to end. Talk among yourselves. Start with this: Five years ago, I wrote this post about helping other writers who were clearly…
4 Ways Writers Can Impress New Clients
My daughter was interviewing to hire an assistant recently, and her experience was eye-opening. She had two resumes in front of her — one was a young man whose college credentials were a match for the kind of job he’d be doing. On paper, he looked amazing. The other resume was that of a young man…
The (Updated) Freelancer’s BS Litmus Test
Back in 2010, I came up with what I call the BS Litmus Test. It’s a series of questions freelance writers can ask themselves when considering a new client or project. The goal when I wrote it was to get us freelancers to think deeper into the relationship and the project so that we make…