LOL Yes, this. Sorry, Paula. I should have read all responses before answering Anne. 🙂

Anne, you might try “Writing Professional” or something like that, too.

Or you could do something like I do — I have “Writing & Editing” on my business cards. I don’t put a title. If you want a title, maybe “Writing & Editing Consulting”?

I bet you pick it right back up, Joy. 🙂 Sounds like a great project, and a nice way to spread your wings.

That’s a great shift, Cathy. I love it.

My change happened when I realized I was running a business, not simply freelancing. It gave me a bit of a detachment from the emotional side. Too often we don’t protect ourselves, but we’ll protect the things we own.

And you make a very good point, Paula. “Consultant” clearly comes with its own stigma.

I like Cathy’s “owner” title. I’ve been using “Principal” but what does that say other than I’ve registered my business? Nada.

I know what you mean, Anne. I was thinking maybe Consulting Writer, Writing Consultant, or Writer & Consultant?

As for the last point…it’s true of any professional. When I sought bids for a couple of fairly minor (but still expensive, to me!) masonry repairs only two of the four bothered with formal written proposals. Sure, one was hand written, but it was thorough. And frankly, given the estimates and the fact that the electronic one came from a big company with huge overhead (and a price tag to match), and the hand-written one came from a one-man shop gave the one-man shop an advantage since he doesn’t have a staff to handle the details. He does it himself. That was a big step one of the other one-man shops skipped. And that other guy had himself priced slightly above the bids from the larger companies with more overhead. He was trying to look like a pro by charging their rates, but didn’t have the details down.

And once we have a stretch of a few rain-free days, the masonry work can commence—by the guy who provided a formal, hand-written estimate/proposal.

Lori, thanks again for your huge commitment to Writers Worth month. I so appreciate you.