Maybe it’s because it’s been a month of emotional hell on earth, but this month didn’t seem to fly by as the last several have. I was sure busy enough. Perhaps it was juggling that work – I don’t know. Either way, I feel like I’ve lived two months in the span of one.
I’m glad I do these little reveals every month. It makes me realize just how busy (or how idle) I was. This month – busy. I’m staring at a few unpaid invoices and some mounting frustration because the larger one is from a client that has already rejected one invoice because they didn’t use the material. That’s not going to happen again – I guarantee it. It’s paid or I’m filing a case in small claims court. Ironically, their products are ones that are often purchased and not used, so I do intend to bring that up as I push that invoice one final time.
This is how the rest of the month has gone:
Queries:
I sent five. From that, I scored two assignments. That, on top of other projects, kept me busy. I’ve worked for both publications before and I like the work, the subject, and the editors very much.
I did get that note from Redbook inviting me to submit more ideas, so it was a pretty good month for queries. Magazine work isn’t dead, folks. We’ve just stopped trying.
Job postings:
None. And no, I didn’t miss them.
Existing clients:
Three clients with ongoing projects – two regular and one semi-regular – has kept me quite busy.
And in came the long-time client project: the big one. I finished the first stage of the project in good time, and am awaiting info so I can get going on the second stage.
Another client came back just a few days ago with two small projects. The work is exceeding the pay, so I don’t think this will be something I hang on to much longer.
New clients:
One out-of-the-blue referral put me in front of a new client, whom I hope to be working with soon.
Earnings:
Topped my monthly target. I’m sure I’m forgetting an invoice or two, but I exceeded what I set as my earnings goal. And I didn’t feel like I was killing myself in order to do that.
Bottom line:
Magazine queries are still working. The key is to study the publication, hit them with a great idea, and make sure there’s enough research in there to show I know what I’m doing.
Also, big projects are going to help stave off any famine I experience when we take vacation time away.
How did August treat you?
15 responses to “Monthly Assessment: August 2010”
Although magazines may seem to be disappearing, they are reinventing themselves electronically. Even the departed Gourmet will reappear as an iPad edition and I heard that they are/have published a special topic edition.
People will always clamor for content.
August was good. I was coming off several projects for one client and thought it would slow down, but it actually increased. And I completed a 30-day blog challenge.
A long-time client was supposed to have one project for me in September & that has now turned into 3. I have two other client projects scheduled so for September 1, that's encouraging. I'm planning on some queries to keep me going, but it's all good.
Continued success, Lori!
August was rough. I lost most of my billable hours due to harassment from the landlord.
Carole, I think you're right. They're just shifting to a new venue.
Cathy, I like that you completed the blog challenge. For me, it's no challenge. I'm such a blabbermouth that I could go on for days and days…. 😉 Sounds like you have a great September lined up!
Devon, continued prayers and good vibes. One day at a time.
Hi Lori.
Thanks again for your candor.
My August was respectable–enough to pay bills and sock a little more into savings. I took a week-long vacation, so to have it respectable makes me happy.
Funny, during the last few days, I've been feeling like I'd better start getting feelers out because it looked like September was going to be slow.
So I pitched two ideas to a pub I do ongoing work for–and the editor bit on both assignments. Yay!
I also reconnected with two editors who've moved onto new gigs, both at big-name sites it would be nice to say I've worked for. One responded and has offered me work (low flat rate–could be lucrative or a bust depending on how long the work takes). I haven't heard from the other yet.
Then two unsolicited assignments came in from regular editors. So what looked to be a meh September will be solid. Yippee!
Anyway, you're constantly reminding us about marketing, and when you're right, you're right. Thanks again!
P.S. I posted on the day you mentioned your ex-boyfriend's family's appreciation for your letter, but my post never appeared. I must not have saved it properly. Anyway, the gist was: Don't feel bad for doing a good thing.
Next year? I'm not playing along. This summer has been depressing. I've been working harder (including a lot of marketing) and earning less…Still, things finally started to improve a bit in August. I've moved from pitifully pathetic to somewhat encouraging.
Queries: Sent five in August, no replies as yet.
Job Postings: Replied to four. Had positive feedback from one, but it's still up in the air.
Existing Clients: Wrote three articles for two long-time editors; four columns; four blog posts; nabbed several small assignments from another existing client.
When I saw an existing client was looking for a weekly blogger, I applied. The publisher makes the final decision, but the editor thinks I have a good chance since the publisher has already mentioned that he likes my work.
New Clients: One. A single-project deal for my friend's boss. Quick turn around.
Earnings: About $900 less than my monthly goal. That's better than the past two months, but still not enough to cover my regular bills and the remainder of obscenely high property taxes (due Friday). Buh-bye to more of my savings.
The upside: 1) It's only September 1st and I already have invoices out totaling more than I brought in throughout August. 2) Work keeps streaming in. 3) Yesterday two editors said they should have work for me soon.
TIme for another Follow Up Friday.
August was not terribly productive for me. I'm doing a lot of marketing… just not hearing back.
I submitted one magazine article but haven't heard back yet. I need to call and check on it. (and yes, I know I'm doing it wrong, but it was the one I had already nearly finished, so I went ahead and submitted it)
I've been doing lots of cold emailing to local businesses I would like to work with, but have gotten very little response. I don't know whether cold emailing or cold calling is more effective, but I'm more comfortable getting out everything I need to say in an email and sending it. What do y'all think?
I received an assignment from the local business journal yesterday and it's due in a couple weeks. Not great pay, but it should make a nice clip. I just need to rock it!
I got in touch with a couple of local small magazines and both said they would like to use me. Neither pay well, but again, the work should be fun and should make nice clips. I need to follow up with them in the next week so they don't forget they promised me assignments!
And at the moment, I'm still working my full time job and going to grad school. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed to say the least. I just need to make sure I keep up with the assignments I accept (both school and work).
A designer friend of mine asked me to do some writing for his client, but they have put the work on the back burner for now. Turns out to be a good thing with everything I'm balancing, but hopefully it will pick up again when I have more time.
August–busy, busier, busiest. I just wrapped up the last of my summer assignments last night. I have some things coming in for the fall already–two definite assignments, still waiting to hear on a few queries, submitted a few LOI's, and contacted a new editor about doing work for them. They assign stories, which could be a nice break from constant brainstorming. Also working on collaborating on web copy with another writer friend. I was going to cut back on pursuing projects due to teaching and returning to grad school (plus work), but I hate to turn anything down. We'll see how it goes.
Ashley, on the cold calling…
I've had success cold calling, but I still like to do a polite email and then follow up with a warmer call. Just my preference.
And my general theory is that August is a time for people to be distracted with end of summer kids' stuff. Those people you called in August? I'd call them back or email them the second week in September, when they're more engaged.
Gabriella, thanks for your thoughts. That's a good idea, and I'll do some follow up in a couple of weeks. It's a nutty time for me too, so I suspect you're exactly right when you say to follow up mid-September.
Amen for a solid September, Gabriella! Wow, when they come in, it's in bunches, isn't it? (And thank you for the thoughts – I'm touched by them, hon.)
Paula, I like that you focus on the upside. Amen. If it helps, summers, usually, are insanely slow for me. The last two were wildly busy. One is that I took on a client whose business is one that picks up during bad economic times. Never a bad thing to have that kind of cushion.
No doubt you'll rock it, Ashley. 🙂 And yes, it's backwards, but you get that, so no finger-wagging at you today. LOL And for me, I like both. I tend toward emails first, calls second. You're doing it right, girl. You're building locally and moving up from there. Nothing wrong with that approach!
Sara, wow you're busy! Just don't stretch yourself to where you're not able to handle it all. And good idea on the LOIs and assigned stories. I like when editors call with an assignment. It's saves us some time, doesn't it?
Sadly, Lori, summers are typically busy for me. All the hoopla leading up to the Emmy Awards usually brings a lot of pre-Emmy assignments from one of my clients. This year they seemed to scale back their coverage and do more in house. Most years I'd probably land 5-10 assignments from them between June and August, this year it was just three. Well, four, but the fourth wasn't Emmy related – it's for the new Fall Season coverage.
But I do try to see the positives. As slow as I've felt work has been, a friend of mine (former freelancer trying to break back in) seems astounded at how "busy" I am. Busier than some, but not busy enough for me.
Well, you already know how it went for me. *sigh*
But working on making September better. Networking with some people I know locally for referrals. Updating a brochure so I can send it out to some targeted businesses. Doing the same with postcards, once I figure out what to put on them.
Hang in there, Becky. One client saying no isn't the end. You know that! In the long run, I think you'll find something else that better suits you.
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