What I’m reading: One Hundred Dollar Misunderstanding by Robert Gover
What’s on the iPod: She Hates Me by Puddle of Mudd
Nice day yesterday. I got one project out of the way in the morning, proposed another project to an editor, and finalized blog post topics with a client. I had to run out and look for a lamp, which I never found, but at least I had the spare time to do it.
I’m hoping yesterday marks the end of the notes from the indignant blog lifter (I haven’t looked at email yet). It’s never surprising when people like this haul out their legal “expertise” whenever faced with doing something wrong and being called on it. He didn’t fail to satisfy in that regard. I do one better – I haul out the actual legal experts. Trumps supposed expertise any day.
I’m proud to say that in those communications, I stayed out of the emotional junk and stuck with the facts. He tried like hell to pull me into arguments. Nope. I don’t have time to play games. I’m a working professional. At least one of us was acting as such.
I know it’s April Fool’s Day and all, but I don’t “do” that well, so I won’t even bother. However, when you see my totals for this month, you’ll think it’s a joke. Taking that time to develop an online course and another two projects really hit the income.
So let’s get to the accountability portion of our program:
Queries:
No one can say I slacked off here. I sent upwards of 38 queries out to upcoming conference attendees, to editors, and one or two to clients. Maybe it was more like over 40 of them. I stopped counting at 38 and I haven’t totaled it up.
Job postings:
I don’t know why I include this in my measurements. I don’t even look at them, and haven’t in ages.
Referrals:
I did get two of these from a new Twitter contact. And in one case, I’ve been pitching ideas to the editor. In the other case, the magazine used only contributed articles from industry folks, but the editor wanted my info. She said there are occasions when her association folks come looking for writers.
Actually, I got a third referral, but the way the other writer framed it, it sounded like a nightmare I should avoid. So I did.
Existing clients:
This month, just two clients kept me working steadily, though a third did give me an assignment, which I’m hoping to have finished next week.
New clients:
Let’s call them new client prospects. Of those 35+ letters of introduction I sent to conference exhibitors, five got in touch immediately. Two don’t have anything at the moment, but three are tossing out ideas to me. I’m meeting some of these five at their booths during the conference.
Earnings:
It was a little thin on the earnings this month, but I’m okay with that. I’m off by half my targeted goal. Still, I see the time spent on development as future earnings, and the projects that are about to launch will add ongoing revenue.
Bottom line:
I did a lot of marketing and it’s paying off. I plan to do an equal or better amount this month, and my goal is to secure meetings with conference attendees so I can make the most of the conference. My earnings were off, but Devon and I started something that will be repeated. And I need to send notes out to existing clients. Work may be there that I’m missing. Also, I want to get at least one more client who needs ongoing work.
It isn’t pretty, but it was March. How was it for you?
21 responses to “Monthly Assessment: March 2011”
I did a 1st quarter review and tweaked some things. Mom's surgery took me away from work even more than I anticipated in February so March was a lot of catch-up. I'm a bit behind targeted earnings, but not too bad.
Fingers crossed that a prospect will be signed next week with the potential for several projects and ongoing assignments. They found me and we have had several email exchanges. It's looking good.
Another prospect faded while 3 existing clients delivered some steady work. Planning a re-launch of my personal blog with a signature piece for my business writing blog. Hope springs eternal. 🙂
Have a great weekend, everyone.
Considering that, at the end of last month, I didn't see ANYTHING coming in, and, by the end of the month I had double what I made last March, it's okay. A little below what I wanted to make, but better than things looked at the end of february. I'll be posting my wrap-up and my April To-Do list on the GDR site later today. Because the edits of ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT are about to hit, and the cover art's released and the marketing for that starts, that has to be factored in to the next few months.
I need to get out more local queries — especially with summer heating up — and it looks like it'll be a good one around here — there are businesses that need things WRITTEN.
And I need to stop looking at every job in terms of how much of the garden it will pay for! 😉
LOL! Those perennials aren't cheap. 🙂
Cathy, what are you doing up so early? Wow! Impressive. Also impressive that you're about to sign a new one. Terrific!
Devon's book, Assumption of Right, is about to launch, folks. I've read some of Devon's previous works – you're in for a treat if it's anything like her other works! Perhaps you'll agree to an interview here, Devon?
I have always been an early riser although it is getting kind of ridiculous. Typically,I'm up by 5 am (sometimes 4 or 4:30), but then I go to bed at an early time. I'm a morning person and the early start means I can kick off sooner. I like that. 🙂
I have several outstanding invoices, so I'm excited about what will be coming in soon. I also have an article in the works, so that's something else to look forward to. And some of the teaching $$ came yesterday. Woohoo!
In reference to your iPod selection: I love that song. And I'll have you know, that I've had "Sometime Around Midnight" on repeat since you posted it during your vacation. I blame you. Just so you know.
the best thing about march was finishing two pesky articles that had hounded me few weeks.
sent three queries, a letter of introduction and replied to three job postings that sounded like good matches.
picked up four new assignments from my favorite client; two are already done, one should be completed today and the last one is coming along. did a series of small projects for another favorite client. wrote two columns. only sent in one blog post for the yarn company since the blog is still backed up.
earnings were dismal, only about half my goal. one of the two late payers finally paid up, but without the 'bonus' they kept saying we'd get.
the other late-payer is now officially on notice. i sent the e-i-c, publisher, and both editors an e-mail calmly explaining that they need to pay me for three already-published articles and long distance expenses. [i normally don't invoice for calls, but most assignments only require a couple dollars worth of calls, this place demands tons of calls. if they paid on time, i wouldn't bother. but i feel the need to charge them for ever penny.] of course, it's been a couple of days and no one has yet to reply.
Lori, you're an impressive marketer! I know your earnings were down this month, but they're not going to suffer much longer with all those contacts you've made. I salute you!
On my end, March was good. Much better than my anemic Jan. and Feb., so I'm pleased with that. April's about half-filled, but I'm not too worried. I'm vacationing in May, so April will be filled with early work on my May stuff so I can leave the country without assignments hanging over my head. But now I must get cracking to find work that I'll begin right when I get back from my vacay. It's always something, isn't it?
As for queries, I actually sent one response to a job posting. CNN was looking for writers for its Money site, and I thought I might have a shot. No response, but I wanted to see what would happen.
I also landed a new ongoing writing and editing client and will begin that work in April. Groovy!
So overall, a good month, and things are looking fairly good–not great, but I'll take it–for the future.
By the way, Devon, I read your website blurb about Assumption of Right. Looks good! I'm a crazy avid reader, and I'm always looking for good reads. Looking forward to it!
I'm under contract all year with one client that pretty much fills my schedule. I'm loving the work – it's a blast, I have the delight of collaborating with others, and I'm enjoying overseeing subcontract writers far more than I thought I would. The work is exhilarating, but demanding.
Thus, this month my energy really sagged, and I need to find the right balance or I'm going to burn out. I had two inquiries from prospects and because my time is so limited, I did quote on the projects but quoted high on one, and the other, if I get it, I would sub out. I don't need the extra income, so I'm pretty relaxed about whether I get the assignments or not.
gabriella, we'll have to compare notes since i applied for the cnnmoney gig, too, and likewise am awaiting a response.
[i might not have loads of experience writing about money, but they said they wanted people with experience with celebrity profiles and who enjoyed writing 'whacky' stories on occasion, and i'm known for both.]
Ashley, I was just listening to that one in the car! And yes, I thought of you because you'd said you liked it when I posted it. 🙂
Paula, some months are good, some not so much…. I have no doubt April will be stronger for you.
Gabriella, I'm glad you tried CNN! You never know, right? Sounds like your April is going to be super.
Eileen, what a sweet position to be in! Love that you don't have to worry about getting it.
What are your plans for pacing yourself? Is it possible with a project that size?
I keep sharing that song with people in hopes that it will get stuck in their head and OUT of mine, to no avail. But I'm spreading the word for the band, at any rate.
This one has also been stuck in my head recently, for approximately 19 days straight 😉 You might enjoy it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK4TwstB2AM
I'm still tally the exact numbers. However, it's going to be an okay month for me…just not quite where I'd like to be. That's mostly because a good chunk of this past week was spent on unpaid work in relation to my marketing efforts, editing tests in particular. I'm not a fan of them, but they're pretty much industry standard. As such, I'll consent if they come from a reputable company and/or (stong emphasis on the and) they're short. I'm hoping such efforts will pay off in the months to come with additional steady assignments, but unfortunately there's no guarantee of that. Oh, and I have a late payer from last month that I suspect is going to be problematic. Fortunately it's a small amount.
Looking into my crystal ball for April, it looks promising. A lot of new and rather large assignments are close to commencing, but I never count them as guaranteed until a final agreement with the client has been reached.
38 queries in a month?! Holy mackerel! It's good to see numbers, so I can aim higher. I sent off 5 queries a couple days ago and got 2 potential hits. =) Woopee! I'll keep it!
Ashley, I think I just saw her perform on Palladia (LOVE that channel)! Very cool. Thanks. 🙂
Kathy, sounds like you-gotta-do-whatcha-gotta-do stuff. I hope you don't have a problem with that slow-paying one. Ugh. I hate relying on payment that doesn't arrive.
Samantha, five good queries that get two hits – terrific! A much better rate of return than my efforts. FYI, I sent out very similar queries to all of those conference exhibitors because the message was the same. I wanted to connect with them at the conference. Easier than it sounds. 🙂
It was a crazy month – I too did a lot of marketing… my March wrap-up is here: http://www.writingresearchediting.com/blog/what-i-ve-been-working-on-4-1-2011
Lori, I have no specific plans on how to pace myself. But I need to put some in place soon, or I really am going to burn out. Once the weather warms up around here and the sun returns, I'm going to put in a vegetable garden for the first time ever. Perhaps that will be therapeutic.
The good news is, I already heard back from one prospect. She told me I did very well on the test and she'd like to add me to her copyediting roster. Therefore, the effort seems to have been worth it. Yeah! I also just tallied my March numbers and I did a little better than expected–mid-range of my monthly target. Double yeah! Now if the weather would just warm up, I'd be a happy freelancer. LOL
Sounds like a decent month, Ronda! You have a lot of neat projects in the works.
I've always found gardening to work for me, Eileen. Did you get out over the weekend? Yesterday here was just perfect for it.
LOL! Your spring is coming, Kathy. It takes longer to get up those mountains. 🙂
Wow Lori! Very impressive! You are a prime example of how being committed to your craft will get you where you want to be! I have no doubt that your April will be just as – if not more so – productive as your March. Consider me inspired!
Lisa, I could do better. But thanks for the pep talk. 🙂
How is your career going? What's working for you? What isn't?
Lori, right now most of my life is consumed with raising kiddos, but I'm still dabbling in some freelance jobs here and there. In the last couple of months I have been trying to maintain my blog, worked on queries/magazine articles, and have even started a book. Right now, it's all a juggling act, but I am trying to get past my biggest barrier (myself) so that I can be the most productive writer that I can be.
Thanks for asking, and thanks for some great posts here!