Uncategorized | Words on the Page

The Client Interview

Posted on June 9, 2011 by lwidmer

I mentioned the other day I had a call on a project from a potential new client. It’s not going to work this time, but mainly because her budget is tight and she’s hoping to spend where it makes the most sense. In my opinion, the project she outlined was critical, but I’ll let her…

Freelance Essentials

Posted on June 8, 2011 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Inishfallen Fare Thee Well by Sean O’CaseyWhat’s on the iPod: Keep Yourself Warm by Frightened Rabbit I’ve got a post up over on StoryPot, which is a great blog run by two terrific ladies – Damaria Senne and Pamela Moeng. Hop on over and give those ladies some comment love. Ahhhh…feels good…

Guest Post: How Writing Fiction Feeds into Business Writing

Posted on June 7, 2011 by lwidmer

I’ve never said it outright here on the blog, but this isn’t just a space for nonfiction writers to learn how to grow their businesses. Any and all advice offered here should be applicable to the fiction market, as well. Still, if you harbor any doubt, Annabel Aidan will set you straight. You know her…

Deadly Marketing Mistakes

Posted on June 6, 2011 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Inishfallen Fare Thee Well by Sean O’CaseyWhat’s on the iPod: Helena Beat by Foster the People Hop on over to Devon Ellington’s Ink in My Coffee to get your copy of Devon’s latest book, Assumption of Right, just out today! Devon will be by tomorrow with a guest post on how her…

Things That Make My Head Explode Redux

Posted on June 3, 2011 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Inishfallen Fare Thee Well by Sean O’CaseyWhat’s on the iPod: The Sweetest Thing by U2 It’s Friday, and it’s time for my semi-regular brain dump of all those things that just singe my eyes and fry my brain cells. I’m talking about the things that make my head explode – the usual…

The Running of the Bull

Posted on June 2, 2011 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Inishfallen, Fare Thee Well by Sean O’CaseyWhat’s on the iPod: Almost Famous by Eminem Yesterday started a bit shakily. I’d called my dad to wish him happy birthday (77 years young), and as I was talking to my mom, I started getting that moving light in my eyes. Great. Migraine. (No, Mom…

What’s Your Responsibility?

Posted on June 1, 2011 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: The Loved One by Evelyn WaughWhat’s on the iPod: Summertime by Kenny Chesney Yesterday felt like a marathon. I spent five hours in the morning finishing projects, starting projects, and sending out invoices. When I stood up at 1 pm, I was ready for a break. Off to the pool. Only the…

Monthly Assessment: May 2011

Posted on May 31, 2011 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Changing by The Airborne Toxic Event Wow, another month bites the dust, eh? This one flew by for me. I had a week off at the beginning, thanks to the Vancouver conference and vacation. I expected a lower total as a result. Good thing – it was low. Maybe part of…

Why It’s Okay to Be Alone All Day

Posted on May 27, 2011 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: You Were Never There by Diego Garcia HOT day at the ball park! Not sure how hot, but when we got home our thermometer (the one in the shade) registered 87 degrees. But there was a nice breeze and I had a new Phillies hat, so we toughed it out. The…

It’s Not Really That Bad

Posted on May 26, 2011 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Sweet Thursday (and loving it) by John SteinbeckWhat’s on the iPod: Sad Song by The Cars Yesterday went well. Lots done before noon, which meant I was able to take off in the car (roof down) and enjoy the only sun we’ve seen in weeks. Two hours of the glorious outdoors later,…

Wendy

May 26, 2011

I think in some cases, they see the garbage because they already defeated themselves with the attitude of "That's all there is". It's hard to get motivated to do something more then.

Being told that I should be happy for $2 an article because I work from home was enough incentive to stop what I was doing and try a different path.

I'm sorry, but I just have to say this: "I was blind and now I see"

Lori

May 26, 2011

Wendy, you're a great success story. :))

I was at a similar place once – I was feeling that what I was seeing was all there was. It was after I'd had a few clients come my way that I realized that wasn't true. Once I'd finished their projects, I went back to the passive job listing search. That lasted ten minutes before I was fashioning my own noose. It was a lightbulb moment. 🙂

You received a great incentive – someone voicing an opinion you knew was bull.

Devon Ellington

May 26, 2011

The best indication that there's better is the money coming in. I work my butt off to get it, but it's there.

Even some of the forums that are supposedly for professionals have far too many people whining about low paying jobs — and taking them. And making the excuse that they don't have time to write.

I'm just OVER it.

Write or don't write. It's a choice. It is YOURS. But don't damn whine about it.

Jenn Mattern

May 26, 2011

I think a lot of newbies skip over the research and planning phase of going into business for themselves, and that's unfortunate. Instead they read a blog that gets paid to promote some crap content mill or they see job listings and act like there's nothing beyond the ads.

Just do a quick search from the start, at a bare minimum. Look for others in your specialty area sharing rates on their websites. What are they able to charge? What kinds of projects and clients are showcased in their portfolios? Can you get a feel for how they're marketing themselves? If you find people who are now where you want to be a bit down the road, you might feel inspired and get a better idea of reality.

And Lori's absolutely right. That reality isn't $5 gigs. That's a hobbyist's game at best — not for those wanting to build a freelance career.

Lori

May 26, 2011

Test – apparently, Blogger is at it again.

Ashley

May 26, 2011

Jenn hit on a very important point – people are skipping the research and hard work to get to where they want to be. I think that's a sign of the times; people are expecting instant gratification in so many areas of their lives, so why not their career too? I still work full time at a university, and I see these students expecting to get top jobs right out of school. Um, no? You have to work your way there, just as a freelance writer really needs to learn how to run a business before the money is just going to start pouring in. And it's a lot of work. But then again, most anything in life worth doing is a lot of work 🙂

Joseph Hayes

May 26, 2011

Yes, yes and yes. Even if you haven't done enough work to feel like you can command a decent price (do it anyway, but, I know …) there's loads of places to look for legitimate work (I've got an acre of them).

When we decided to redo the kitchen (run away!) instead of taking a vacation this year, I knew we had to book a lot of extra work to pay for it. And, amazingly, the work was out there! It mean astoundingly packed deadlines for the next few months, but it's possible, and it proves that if you have a definite, very specific goal (I need to pay for the kitchen, I want to add the New Yorker to my resume, I'd like to eat this week) it is an amazing incentive.

Paula

May 26, 2011

The biggest sign I'm seeing is currently obscured by a massive pile of work.

Granted, only two assignments are in the $1/word neighborhood, but none are anywhere near mill prices.

I'd earn more money selling junk at a one-day garage sale than in a month's worth of mill work, and I have the reputation of always being the one who makes the least in garage sales.

Piggybacking on Jenn's comment, I just want to say I'm glad I started freelancing before everyone was online. I never expected good jobs to be waiting for me. I knew I had to seek them out. Frankly, when you're finding your own markets to approach, the competition isn't nearly as tough as being one of 1,000 people who reply to a job or market listing.

Wade Finnegan

May 26, 2011

Isn't it true that most writers know very little about marketing? I believe many writers look at content mills because they are tangible. I feel overwhelmed with the marketing aspects of this job. I'm not making excuses, but I can empathize how writers feel that other alternatives don't exist.

Lori

May 26, 2011

Wade, I sympathize, too. That's why I've piled this blog with tons of marketing advice and help. I agree it seems like a tangible option, but it's more of a trap for new writers. They don't know anything better, so they try the mills. Then they're stuck. And let's be honest – there are scores of writers who stay in the mills because it's easier than actually working at a career.

Jenn, you've hit on it. There's a lot of that mentality – that the reality is $5 gigs. Not my reality. In fact, it's reality only if you accept it.

Ashley, I have one of those sitting at home. She's just wanting ANY job, but in the past five months she's been on a handful of interviews. Worse is the fact that many of these places are advertising one thing and when she shows up (even AFTER phone interviews), they suddenly pile on sales or the "Oh, but now we're going to work weekends, too" crap. I'm helping her target her own preferred employers, but they don't teach that in school, do they?

Work harder, Joseph. Then you can upgrade to that six-burner range. LOL You're right – incentives help a ton.

Paula, I started pre-Internet, too. It taught me how to dig and how to find mentors and connections locally.