It happened again. I spent Tuesday through Friday of last week in the hospital. It was one of those health issues that just can’t be ignored, but once treated, it’s just a waiting game. And since it had happened once before, I knew it when it happened, so I calmly gathered what I’d need —…
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The No-bullshit Freelance Income Stream Guide
Know what I’m sick of? Empty posts full of keywords that are meant to get traffic, not help the reader. That was my experience yesterday when I went searching for ways for freelance writers to create multiple streams of income. I’d read Diane Parkin’s post about how she’d employed an Income Octopus Method two years…
Guest Post: SEO 101 for Freelance Writers
Jenn Mattern is the Traffic Queen. If anyone can grow an audience, it’s Jenn. Part of the reason she has such superpowers is that she knows SEO. She really knows SEO. So when she offered a guest post on SEO for freelance writers, you bet I said yes. Do yourself a favor — once you’re done…
Free Advice Friday: This Job, NOT That Job
Let’s just say that the seriousness that seems to settle in around September does not translate to all things. Take job postings, for example. Occasionally, I will look through places like Craig’s List job ads for this post. Not for potential work for myself, no no. I’ve not cruised a job board for that in…
Cutting Ties with Freelance Writing Prospects
A number of years ago, I had connected briefly with a client prospect at a trade show who showed interest in working with me. Let me rephrase that: I connected repeatedly with that client prospect, first at the trade show, then close to two dozen times over the years via email and in person. After four years…
Pretty Freakin’ Easy Branding for Freelance Writers
I’m a specialty writer. Most people who visit this blog know that. But does anyone else? I’d say fortunately, yes. Plenty of people who are in a position to hire me know that. But I can’t say “fortunately.” They know that because I made sure they did. No matter what type of writing you do…
101 (More) Resources to Rock Your Freelance Writing World
You know, May can be a bit of a transition month, can’t it? You’re itching for summer, but you’re looking at an unruly weather forecast. Some of you got snow last week, some of you were sitting on your back deck sipping iced tea in the heat. It’s May, which has become (at least in…
This Job, Not That Job
Some days I think I’ve seen it all. I’ve seen the shittiest job postings, worked with some of the more “out there” people, watched writers help their own careers implode …. But this? This job posting is one of those “Did that just happen?” moments. Thanks to Devon Ellington, who was insulted enough to send…
Writing Rate Wake-up Call: Is Today Your Day?
I remember the exact moment I realized that compromising on rates to get the work is stupid. I was working my way up the “rate food chain” and as I brought on new clients, I would charge them a little more than the existing ones. I didn’t want to give up those tried-and-true clients now,…
Idea File: Finding Freelance Writing Ideas in Conversation
You’ve heard this starting out, I’d bet: Ideas are all around you. And I’d bet you wanted to scream every time you heard it, too. How ironic that the one piece of advice that made me want to scream “You don’t get it!” when I was first starting out is exactly the advice I needed…