Uncategorized | Words on the Page

Grammar Nails on Chalkboard

Posted on March 2, 2009 by lwidmer

I received a nice note from Jo Anne, who stopped by here last week. She’d read a post or two about grammar peeves, and she brought up one of her own – the misuse of the word “myself” in place of the word “me.” Example: “Jane and myself agree that proper grammar use is important.”…

Monthly Assessment – February

Posted on February 27, 2009 by lwidmer

The week started slowly, but thanks to Wednesday and Thursday, my brain is now smoking and needing a rest. That’s why today is my mental health day and no one beyond my family will be able to locate me quickly. That I’m considering hiding from the homeward-bound college kids is proof I’m toasted. It’s that…

Playing to Your Strengths

Posted on February 26, 2009 by lwidmer

If I could bottle yesterday, I’d seal it tight and bury it under several layers of rock, dirt, silt, and anything else that would hold it down. Too many deadlines, too much work. Today, I woke up with the expected headache. Today will be a lot like yesterday. But I’m taking tomorrow off. I need…

Honors, Followers, and Proof I’m Not Making This Up

Posted on February 25, 2009 by lwidmer

I would like to thank both Lillie and Susan for kindly bestowing upon me the Premio Dardas Award, which is for blogs that have literary and artistic value. I’m really honored for that, ladies. I’m so glad to hear my ramblings have held some value over the last few years. While I’m at it, I’d…

Getting Proactive on Your Arses

Posted on February 24, 2009 by lwidmer

If you want to sum up my opinion of job boards and searching want ads, just use the word “passive.” That’s what it is, you know. It’s passive job searching, waiting for someone to post their wants and then preparing queries to suit the ad. And then waiting for a response that may never come….

Self-inflicted Depression

Posted on February 23, 2009 by lwidmer

Maybe it was because it was late on Friday or maybe it was because I had more sugar/less sugar than I should have, but I sat in this chair at 5 pm doubting myself. Yes, even we cheerleaders (or wannabes – former wallflower here) get the blues. I can tell you how it began and…

When Work Gets In the Way

Posted on February 20, 2009 by lwidmer

I tried several times to start an article yesterday, but 300 words in I had to give it up. I have a regular gig with a client and that gig requires me to send back revisions same day because of already-promised deadlines. If you know me, you know punctuality is my middle name (my maiden…

Reconnecting

Posted on February 19, 2009 by lwidmer

Thank you, Kathy, for asking how to contact existing clients and get their attention without getting deleted. You gave me something to blog about – I’m sporting an energy shortage and I don’t want to spend time thinking up another topic. 😉 When I’m working with a client on a current project, I always end…

If You Lost Your Library, Would You Want Help?

Posted on February 18, 2009 by lwidmer

A bit off-topic, but my sister’s youngest is home from school today. Her school is closed because Thursday night, an electrical fire destroyed their library. Read about it here. I talked with my sister today – not only is the library gone, but so are the teachers’ supplies, and the students’ textbooks are all damaged…

The New Job Dance

Posted on February 18, 2009 by lwidmer

Yesterday I mentioned how we sometimes head to job boards to find immediate work, only to end up with something offering less-than-acceptable terms. I’m going to say it right here – and you’re free to disagree – but I think using job boards or job postings to find regular, high-paying work is doing you a…

Devon Ellington

February 18, 2009

I’ve gotten two of my best and most long running, best paying gigs off job boards, believe it or not, from Anne’s board that were posted on Craigslist. No, make that three — the third, with whom I’ve been for nearly two years, linked back to a Media bistro post. But they were all from Anne’s lists.

However, all three are fiction-related. I think that’s very interesting delineation.

I actually prefer one-offs for the business writing stuff.

I do brochures and letters to local organizations that deal with areas that are my strength. Also, offering workshops to local organizations and businesses has been a boost.

I hadn’t thought about contacting local printers — that’s interesting.

I like the Chamber of Commerce because of the variety of businesses, individuals, and needs that come up. There are so many variations and opportunities I might never have thought of on my own.

But yeah, the job boards are the fall back. I check them every day, but, as far as non-fiction goes, most of the really quality work I’ve gotten has been by finding a company whose purpose intrigues me and convincing them that they can’t live without me.

writtenexpressions

February 18, 2009

I attended a Chamber of Commerce open house when I started freelancing, and they gave me a directory of local businesses. Instant mailing list! I landed one of my best clients from that.

Lori

February 18, 2009

Excellent point, Devon. These can be sources of work, but I think my argument was against them being the MAIN source of work. The jobs have deteriorated so much on some of the sites.

Anne’s list is an exception. She works her tail off to find worthy projects. Didn’t mean to lump her in the mix!

Devon Ellington

February 18, 2009

I agree — most of the job listings suck over the past few months. It’s the copy mills that pay pennies who are advertising for the desperate, and want quantity, not quality.

I hadn’t realized until I responded to this post, though, that the long-term, well-paying jobs I landed from Anne’s site were all fiction-based.

Katharine Swan

February 18, 2009

My two longest-running and most lucrative clients were both Craigslist jobs. Two others were Writerlance listings (both of whom ultimately contracted me off of Writerlance, interestingly enough).

I agree that job boards shouldn’t be your only way of marketing, but I still think there are good jobs to be had. I also think the more impressive your resume and portfolio, the more chance you have of getting the good jobs, so the competition doesn’t scare me… much.

Irreverent Freelancer

February 18, 2009

I’m actually in the process of touching base with a bunch of past clients right now. Although it hasn’t led to immediate work yet, it has resulted in a few who said I might need you soon–and that’s just one day into the strategy. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes.

I’ve gotten good gigs through both Craigslist and Elance, but such gigs are especially hard to come by these days. I agree with Devon. “Most of the job listings suck over the past few months.”

Irreverent Freelancer

February 18, 2009

Here’s an idea for a future post: When contacting past clients who haven’t heard from you in a while, what do you use as a subject line to draw their attention and ensure they don’t just delete the message?

Jennifer Williamson

February 18, 2009

Two of my longest running clients have been people I cold-emailed. I did a quick Google search for businesses in an industry I was interested in, found a bunch of websites, and fired off some emails outlining what I did and how I could help their business. Landed two very lucrative clients that way. It’s an easy, absolutely free way to market yourself and in my experience it gets results.

Lori

February 18, 2009

Jen, you impress me. Way to go!

Watch for that post, Kathy. It’s coming… 🙂

Kirk Petersen

February 21, 2009

Could someone point me in the direction of “Anne’s list”?

Lori

February 23, 2009

Here you go, Kirk.

http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com

Anne is Anne Wayman. She compiles a list a few times a week, and she posts in on her blog. She’s an absolute doll of a person, too.