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Author: lwidmer

Top Tips Writers Series #1: Cathy Miller

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Daydreaming by Middle Brother Today starts a series that, to me, is just brilliant. I can’t take credit for it. In fact, credit goes to Valorie, who’d suggested an article on the ten best tips from freelancers to newer freelancers. Valorie, we’re doing one better: we’re asking successful freelancers to offer…

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Home

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: A Good Hanging by Ian Rankin What’s on the iPod: The Miracle (of Joey Ramone) by U2 (Free album available on iTunes right now) Home. What an absolutely fantastic week away. Southern England is a treat for the senses. The place is all about walking and being outdoors — trails everywhere, and…

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What Breaking Bad Has Taught Me About Writing

Posted on by lwidmer

I’ll be back in my chair tomorrow. When I do sit down, I have a full day ahead of me with at least two projects. I don’t like leaving in the middle of things, but that’s the way the projects rolled this time. Some things can’t be helped. As I was once again watching the…

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Writing Link Love

Posted on by lwidmer

I should be back at the desk next Wednesday. Meantime, here are some favorite posts by some great writers: The Three-Day Rule by Walt Kania – a great plan for any freelancer to live by. Self-Publishing for Freelancers: Don’t Forget Phase Two – Yo Prinzel shows us how to be brutal with our beloved manuscripts. Want to…

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4 Ways to Collect Without a Contract

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Pigs Will Fly by P. G. Wodehouse Right now, I’m in southern England, hopefully relaxing. I know I’ll be coming home to a number of client projects — I’m just not sure how many. Right now I have two, but there are at least that many more in talks right now. It’s…

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6 Ways to Keep Writing Work Coming In

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Pigs Can Fly by P. G. Wodehouse This time tonight I’ll be boarding a flight to England. Meantime, I have this morning to wrap up projects, get another project in good shape, and yes, market. Always market, right? Because any time away from the career means a hit to the wallet, I’ve…

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Riding the Writing Excuse Train

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: Bloodstream by Ed Sheeran Lots of work at my door right now, and naturally, I’m about to head out of the country for a week. As I’ve always said, if you want work, just plan a vacation. I’m not so busy that I haven’t been able to interact on forums and…

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Monthly Assessment: August 2014

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Strip Jack by Ian Rankin What I’m listening to: Happy by Pharrell Williams September — she’s here. Time to get serious, right? Time also to see how August went for us writers. Whew. Much more like it. With June being ridiculously slow thanks to so much time off and with July picking…

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Writers Worth: This Job, Not That Job

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: Home by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros There’s something about the waning days of summer — the school buses come back, clients ramp up stalled projects….and cheapskates come out of the woodwork to prey on desperate writers. Thanks to Jenn Mattern for sending over this week’s nominee for sh*ttiest job…

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4 Questions to Help You Find Freelance Purpose

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: Your Long Journey by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss It’s been a good start to the week. After a busy, enjoyable weekend, I sat down on Monday with just one project in front of me, but with a few client calls to prepare for. It was nice to have the luxury…

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  1. KeriLynn Engel Avatar
    KeriLynn Engel

    This is great, Lori! Love these questions. I'm still refining my purpose, and discovering new answers with every new client & new project.

    It took me a while to learn the importance of #1. I don't really enjoy magazines all that much, so why should I try to write for them? On the other hand, I love blogs & online articles, and that's what I mostly write now.

    I'd say my purpose right now is helping websites and online businesses to grow their audience through great content, optimized for readers AND search engines.

    #4 is a great question, too. I enjoy learning in general, and I've found that researching & learning is one of the things I enjoy most about freelance writing! Lately I've been really enjoying learning & writing about internet technology, so I think I'll start looking for more clients in that area.

    Reply
  2. Lori Widmer Avatar
    Lori Widmer

    That's a pretty great purpose, KeriLynn. 🙂

    I added #4 because I think the "write what you know" advice is a bit too limiting. If I'd written about what I knew when I was first starting, I would never be in the specialty I'm in.

    Reply
  3. Anne Wayman Avatar
    Anne Wayman

    Mostly it's to help people get their dreams into words… maybe even more than mostly.

    Reply
  4. Lori Widmer Avatar
    Lori Widmer

    Exactly that, Anne. It's a form of business planning, but a little less intimidating, and much easier to switch up. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Cathy Miller Avatar
    Cathy Miller

    To keep it simple. In life and in writing. 😉

    Reply
  6. Paula Avatar
    Paula

    Um, can I steal the answers from Anne & Cathy and combine it into one? In reality, I'm less about converting dreams into words and more about being a conduit between the people with the messages and the audiences they're trying to reach. So I guess my one liner is: I ask the questions the readers want answered.

    Reply
  7. Lori Widmer Avatar
    Lori Widmer

    There you go, Paula! Great answer. 🙂

    Reply
  8. Lori Widmer Avatar
    Lori Widmer

    Cathy, amen. 🙂

    Reply
  9. Nichole Avatar
    Nichole

    I don't know how you do it – whenever I feel "stumped", I come here and there it is, the exact thing I need to read, hear, etc. It's as if you are in my head unraveling my thoughts and lining them up so I can focus better.

    Right now I can only answer #3 – My newspaper clips. I am really proud of the news writing I did and if I expand, the one I am most proud of was a feature on a woman who was burned as a child and what she has endured and how she is helping other burn victims. At that point in this career, I was hungry and excited about what I was doing. I don't think I can say that today.

    As always, thank you.

    Reply
  10. Lori Widmer Avatar
    Lori Widmer

    I've invaded your brain, Nikki. LOL

    So it sounds like feature writing is something you may want to explore more? That could lead you to executive bios, media kits (with those bios and "features" on the company), features for higher-end magazines, maybe even biography writing or ghostwriting someone's autobiography?

    Reply
  11. Nikki Avatar
    Nikki

    Lori I love the sound of that!

    Reply
  12. Lori Widmer Avatar
    Lori Widmer

    Until it happens, Nikki. Think Zombie Apocalypse. 🙂

    Reply
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