Comments on: One Marketing Strategy That Can Boost Your Writing Income

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 19:08:15 +0000

Mojo, that's a great story! I like your pluck. :)

Good for you -- you turned a lousy situation into opportunity.

By: mojo

mojo — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 18:55:49 +0000

Here's how I started after a layoff from a large metro daily in 2009.
I made a list of the organizations I admired, particularly if I knew someone working there who could vouch for me.
I asked to speak to the executive director. I told them why I admired their organization, why I wanted to be part of their team, and why I was a solution to any of their writing problems. I asked them to try me out for anywhere between 1-3 months, at 5 hours a month. I asked for $100 an hour - in the NY metro area, most places didn't blink at that, but had I stayed in my native Buffalo, NY, for example, I would have had to lower the hourly rate.
I told those I approached that I would do any writing they needed short of porn novels. So instead of an executive struggling over a fund-raising letter for two hours, I suggested, they could give it to me and I could crank it out in 20 minutes. I told them if they hired me, I would save them money, time and hassle by freeing them up from writing so they could do something else. And I told them at the end of the trial period, if I hadn't saved them money, fire me.
Nobody fired me. I got a roster of clients. And I was off.

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 12:11:54 +0000

Devon, isn't it surprising how that one small thing can make a huge impact?

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 20:20:47 +0000

Following up is important, and so it staying in touch, a couple of times a year, just a "hey, how are you? Thinking of you" type of email.

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 13:17:57 +0000

Paula, exactly. I'd rather reach out to a new editor with a LOI than with a query. Better to establish the relationship first.

Jake, volume and personalization - funny how they're connected! I think you sense correctly. There's little chance of it all working at once. If it does, accept what's best, and have your writer network in place should you take on a bit more than you can handle.

By: Jake Poinier

Jake Poinier — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 22:30:01 +0000

This is exactly correct. Nothing beats volume, and it's so critical to put in the time to craft a personal message to each contact.

My sense--purely anecdotal--is that people worry about "What if all of them come through?!" First, that's probably not going to happen. Second, if it does happen, you just need to be smart about triage: who you say yes to, and on what terms. Even if you have to turn something down, you're still on that person's radar.

By: Paula Hendrickson

Paula Hendrickson — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 22:25:16 +0000

I used to knock myself out writing queries, but realized LOIs are way more effective for me. I now reserve queries for pitching specific ideas, and focus more on letting editors know who I am and figuring out how I can be of service to them.