Freelance writing advice | Words on the Page

Why Writing for Free Still Sucks

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins What I’m listening to: The Loneliness and The Scream by Frightened Rabbit It’s been a busy week. It started with a client meeting in Manhattan, complete with writing an article draft on the train, and has been followed by article revisions, completion of a…

Writers Worth: Getting Off the Excuse Train

Posted on by lwidmer

Did you enjoy Writers Worth Month? Every one of the writers you’ve seen here have added something new to the conversation — that’s what I love most. I can prattle on all day long, but at some point, there needs to be new voices added to the mix. And frankly, I enjoy learning about new…

Handling the “Do You Write This?” Question

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: The Loneliness and the Scream by Frightened Rabbit Just 5 more days until the start of Writers Worth Month! Bookmark this blog, subscribe to the updates, and don’t miss a single post! Free advice from some of the most successful freelancers working today! After a short lull in the workload, the…

How Your Customer Service is Killing Your Career

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: The Son by Jo Nesbø What I’m listening to: The Woodpile by Frightened Rabbit I had a great start to the week. A writer friend asked me to talk with his freelance writing class about what I do all day. The class was a great group of young adults who asked really…

Mid-Friday Marketing: Think Like Your Clients

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: Sometimes It Snows in April by Prince On May 1st, we start Writers Worth Month 2016! For one month, this blog space will be dedicated to helping writers at all career stages realize their value and learn to charge what they’re worth. Make sure to subscribe to the blog email list…

Getting Beyond the Writing Sample Question

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: The Lines of the Cars by The Airborne Toxic Event In just a week and a half, we start Writers Worth Month 2016! For one month, this blog space will be dedicated to helping writers at all career stages realize their value and learn to charge what they’re worth. Make sure…

One Marketing Strategy That Can Boost Your Writing Income

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: Harvest Moon by Neil Young I was off most of last week (not totally unexpectedly), and fortunately, the work that came in could be moved to this week. My cousin was in town, and I was entertaining her until somewhere around 8-9 pm every day. I had some work that couldn’t…

9 Incoming-boosting Strategies for Freelance Writers

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: Hands in the Air by Timbaland What a weekend. I’m nearly over whatever virus it was that whipped me all last week. Reluctantly, I agreed to go to the Tartan Day Parade in Manhattan on Saturday. It was a wet, cold day that I’d prepared for, but my hands were frozen…

5 Ways to Prepare for Sickness

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: Thirteen by Big Star This week, I’m the guest over on Jenn Mattern’s All Indie Writers podcast. This time around, we talk about media outlets not paying writers, among other things. Give it a listen! I’ve spent the last few days recovering from some gawd-awful virus that hit — naturally —…

7 Ways to Kill a Freelance Writing Career

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: Christine’s Tune by The Flying Burrito Brothers I finished last week in an unusual position — I had no projects to work on. Given the huge amount of work I had to get done in March, I was actually happy about that. I had time to work on a website migration,…

Paula Hendrickson

The biggest mistake I see new writers making is underestimating the amount of legwork you have to do – not just to find clients, but to research topics, find credible sources, and then follow through with your pitches and follow up if/when you don't hear back from the would-be clients.

I like to tell newbies that less than half of a freelance writer's job involves actual writing.

Lori Widmer

Amen, Paula. Amen. This is not a job in which you'll sit at a laptop sipping lattes and waiting for the check. It's an actual job, and you have to work.

Damaria Senne

Lori, I think one of the ways to kill your freelance writing career is to rely too heavily on job boards to find work. It seems easier because someone else has already done the search for you. And having landed one or two bloody good gigs from job boards, I can't say it doesn't occasionally work.

But I find it to be the most difficult way to find writing work. Firstly, I waste time sifting through insulting offers and if I'm lucky there is something that actually fits my skills set. Then I have to compete with the millions of freelance writers who also use the same job board to find work.

Sometimes I feel sorry for the advertisers, who end up buried under a ton of resumes. Uhmm, no. I'd rather rely on my own marketing efforts to potential clients.

It requires a ton of research and marketing. I also have to play a long game because it takes me long to go from first contact to a signed contract.

But the foundation work pays off big time. More importantly, this kind of marketing leaves me feeling positive about the writing business, even when I'm rejected, because I feel in charge of my business. I also deal with people who appreciate the value of what I have to offer.

Freelance writing is definitely alive and kicking butt. New writers just need to stop relying on so-called "experts" and do their own research on the market. Innovate.

Lori Widmer

Damaria, excellent advice. Innovate. Amen.

It is a bit of a race to the bottom sifting through those job listings. I personally find it depressing and it sucks the motivation right out of me.

You are so right about building that foundation right the first time. It does take time and research. But sometimes the benefits, while a year or so down the road, are so much more worth it, aren't they?