Uncategorized | Words on the Page

Many Points of Contact

Posted on May 25, 2011 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Sweet Thursday by John SteinbeckWhat’s on the iPod: King of Diamonds by Motopony Wow, just head off to lunch thinking you have tons of time….the emails must have come in instantly after I left the house. Five urgent requests, all of them a priority. I sorted through quickly and got to the…

Where’s Your Sizzle?

Posted on May 24, 2011 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Sweet Thursday by John SteinbeckWhat’s on the iPod: Moving Clocks Run Slow by We Were Promised Jetpacks Interesting day yesterday – Mondays usually are. I had troubles getting going, but I managed most of my to-do list. Weird when that happens. I felt a little guilty for not working harder, but what…

Choosing Your Mentor Wisely

Posted on May 23, 2011 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Sweet Thursday by John SteinbeckWhat’s on the iPod: Sign of the Times by The Clarks My car is back! Actually, it’s been working since Thursday. It was still dead when the mechanic got to it on Wednesday, which made the cause easier to find. It wouldn’t stay dead, however, but it was…

Worthy Tip: This Job, Not That Job

Posted on May 20, 2011 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck Yesterday was phone-and-email day. I had a bunch of interviews to conduct, and I finished contacting all the folks I’d met at the conference. Today I’m talking with one of them in more detail about what he’s looking for. Part of the work yesterday was putting together…

The Follow Through

Posted on May 19, 2011 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck I’m slowly getting back into my routine post-Vancouver and post-Mom. Yesterday was a good work day. I managed a number of interviews, some articles, and a few blog posts. Today, a little more of the same. Plus I have a few more business cards from the conference…

Stuff I’ve Learned

Posted on May 18, 2011 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Sweet Thursday by John SteinbeckWhat’s on the iPod: Nothing. The car’s in the shop and the iPod is in the car. Why does it seem like I’m running through my days lately? Maybe because I am. I spent yesterday trying to get to phone interviews and doing everything else. But everything else…

Startups or Not

Posted on May 17, 2011 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Guide to Human Conduct by P. R. SarkarWhat’s on the iPod: Better Together by Jack Johnson Back to normal. With Mom back home, I had about three hours uninterrupted to get some work done. I managed a good bit. I have a head start on the newsletter project, all parties contacted, and…

Forward Motion

Posted on May 16, 2011 by lwidmer

Thanks to everyone who participated, commented, and spread the word about Writers Worth Week. Thanks especially to those who hosted my blog posts last week. If you missed them, you can find them here: Cathy MillerKimberly BenAnne WaymanJenn MatternDevon EllingtonTiah BeautementZukiswa WannerDamaria Senne If you missed commenting on Friday or yours was one of the…

Writers Worth Week, Day Five: Bringing it Together

Posted on May 13, 2011 by lwidmer

I’d like to thank Blogger for giving me minor coronaries as it decided to break yesterday and only now get up and running. I have no idea if this post will even show as my last one from yesterday is still MIA. The final stop on the Writers Worth Week blog tour is the blog…

Writers Worth Week, Day Four: Define Your Target

Posted on May 12, 2011 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Sweet Thursday by John SteinbeckWhat’s on the iPod: Tupelo Honey by Van Morrison Hurry on over to Jenn Mattern’s All Freelance Writing. Jenn, who is a writer and business person we should all emulate, has given yours truly the space to rant on about more things worth-related. Give her comment love, will…

Cathy

May 12, 2011

I think this evolves as you gain more experience. When I first started freelancing, my goals were to increase the number of clients by XX, my income by XX-until I had some solid ground under me. Then I got more specific in my goals – e.g., annual/monthly income, traffic to blog, # of new clients, etc.

My transition from Corporate to freelancing had a learning curve. I think some set their goals too high and then get discouraged and drop out. I found easing into it and raising the bar each year has helped my sanity.

Devon Ellington

May 12, 2011

When I set a specific dollar figure, it doesn't work. When I phrase it (to myself), that I'm going to earn more this year than last year, doing jobs that excite and entice me, earning enough to cover my bills and extra to do what I want, I make more than I expected to earn.

The more rigid the number, the less likely I am to hit it. The more I set the atmosphere in how I want to reach it, the more money I actually earn.

It uses the theory of prosperity consciousness and applies it to my business.

Paula

May 12, 2011

Money has never been a big motivator for me, so I prefer Devon's method.

This year I did set a modest monthly financial target. If not for that chronic late-payer I probably would have hit or exceeded the target each month. Even if I *earned* enough to meet my monthly target, I never count my income until the checks are in hand. (With new clients, I wait to count it until the funds have cleared.)

Each year I add one long-term goal. In 2010 it was to add blogging and writing about fiber arts. I now write for a knitting blog. This year I have two long-term goals: 1) do more food writing (check), and 2) establish myself with at least one custom publisher (working on it).

I only recently added the custom publishing goal after realizing now many custom newsletters and magazines I receive: two from the grocery chain I frequent, one from my bank, one from my health insurance provider, two from competing local health systems. There may be more. I read each one while thinking, "I could write this!"

Fiona

May 12, 2011

Such a timely post as I am nowhere near on target for this year.

On the other hand, I've completed a book and so have been working steadily, just on work where the rewards will come in later.

Eva

May 12, 2011

Yeah, Fiona, it's that whole long term-short term thing. Now that I'm getting regular book contracts, I may be working for 9 months on three books that are on deadline in various stages, but also filling in with shorter turnaround projects to pay bills in the interim.

And there's no way of knowing what royalties will bring in, but I must say, royalties make me feel all warm and fuzzy! 😉

Ashley

May 12, 2011

That's a great point, Lori, about each job and how it reflects on your reputation. I have advised a writer friend in the past who has taken jobs she's not proud of that she should drop the client and use the time to find better work that she can respect. It makes me sad to see her doing something she hates just to pay the bills. That's why she left her full time job in the first place!

Because I'm still doing freelance part time, I can be choosier about the jobs that I take. That is very important to me, for the job to be enjoyable AND profitable. My goal is to do it full time, so I think my target needs to be leaning a little heavier on the "profitable" side 🙂