Hemingway would have been unemployable. LOL

That said, I completely forgot that I didn't accept a new client last month because of that 17-page master service agreement. Remember that? They retained the right to audit me and drug test me. But they were willing to meet my price…

I had to compromise a bit on price with one client, but that's in return for ongoing work. They've not signed the agreement yet, but they got pretty much all they wanted, so I can't imagine why not. Then again, my email has been flagged as spam in more than one case lately.

I do know someone. Let me send you a note via Facebook.

Still struggling to find new clients, and it usually seems to be the money that's not a fit.

However, recently, it was because there's not quite the right skill match.

I just got pinged on LinkedIn by someone looking for a legal writer, and we've talked. But she wants someone with legal book-writing skills (no book skills on my resume) and e-learning writing skills (never done e-learning storyboards, either).

We may work together, but I'd really rather she find someone with all the skills she's looking for. Seems too risky for me to wade into territory where I have absolutely no experience.

(If any of you know of anybody who fits that bill, please do let me know. Happy to refer a talented colleague to a potential client.)

Anyway, long story short: I'd really like to add substantial (more than one-off) new clients. I'm finding that harder these days. Anybody else finding that, too?

That's great news, KeriLynn! Thank Eileen for the initial nudge on that one. She inspired me when she mentioned she'd gone much more targeted in her approach.

Sounds great, John! And you didn't have to skip the hikes — even better.

Eileen, knowing you, your phone is ringing off the hook right now. It's tough when it isn't though, isn't it?

Paula, that's always music to the ears! She knows not to let go of a good writer. 🙂

For me, summer is never slow – thanks to Emmy season – but this is when it slows back to normal.

I sent several ideas out in four queries. When I realized I didn't have any stories in two back-to-back, regular issues of Favorite Editor's magazine, I asked if I was late getting in my ideas. She called and explained how a couple of my ideas didn't get in due to issues with publicists or sources. She said not to worry, I'll always be part of the family – then assigned me a short second piece for December.

(Gotta say, it was worrisome since writers from two consumer magazines covering the same subject have been let go or quit after new top editors came in, and those writers' bylines keep popping up where I've been writing for 13+ years.)

While I didn't send any new LOIs I followed up on two. Unsuccessfully. However, I replied to seven job listings – but those included some on eByline, where you're competing in a much smaller pool. I landed one of the eByline jobs.

I almost didn't take that one, since it had a quick turnaround time and my existing clients were keeping me really busy. In addition to a massive listing of 60 executives, I turned in four columns, three copywriting jobs and six articles to my existing clients, plus the article I wrote for the new client through eByline.

I keep forgetting to track social media, but I'm sure if I landed work through that I would remember.

As for earnings – I took in about $750 more than my modest monthly goal. But the invoiced total of the work I completed in August was well more than double my monthly goal. (Surprisingly, about 15% of what I invoiced in August was actually paid in August, but that still leaves a pretty rosy October-November.)

Bottom line: I'll try getting ideas to Favorite Editor a little earlier, and I'll keep trying to find ways to improve on what's working right now.

Interesting about changing your LOI strategy… I've been thinking about doing the same. I wasn't getting exactly the results I wanted, so (since my calendar was so full for August anyway) I took a break to re-think my strategy. And I came to the same conclusion as you: I'm going to start sending much fewer, more highly targeted and customized LOIs to people I really want to work with and can envision concrete ways I can help them.

Thanks to checks finally arriving that had been long overdue, I hit monthly income target. July and August had been filled with family visits, making work challenging.

One long-time client has been filling my coffers with projects. They also referred me to a new project with a new client. Love my long-time clients.

I am working hard to retain another client. I had been doing quarterly newsletter articles when my contact hired someone new and did not tell her about me. She already assigned the articles for the next newsletter. I introduced myself, set up a call, and may end up with better paying articles (ghostwritten). We have had several conversations (1 by phone-the rest email) but nothing so far. We'll see.

An executive from my past connected through LinkedIn. She is at a new company and interested in hiring me. She is supposed to be in touch this week.

I'm working on getting at least one ebook done for the last quarter of the year to get some other income coming in and picking up the marketing for my 60 Miles site.

Hopeful.