Words on the Page

5 Easy Tips to Help You Gain Clients

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Life by The Avett Brothers Some happy news in the writing community: Ashley Festa and her husband are now parents! Little Delia Jane was born February 8th and is a beauty to behold. Congratulations, Ashley and family! Send her some Twitter love today. (@ashley_festa) Thanks to everyone who contributed to (and…

101 Resources to Rock Your Freelance Writing World

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Peaceful, Easy Feeling by The Eagles Welcome to Friday! Today I have what I believe to be eight hours in which write an article. Hopefully. You never know when a client will call with a new project. Since it’s Friday, I thought it would be fun to share some of the…

3 Easy Ways to Make the Sale

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Holland Road by Mumford & Sons It’s been an interesting week. I’ve seen projects come up instantly, and I’ve seen promised projects still lagging somewhere in limbo. I’m a little afraid that some of the projects I’d bid on or had been hired to do will all come in at the…

4 Ways to Start Promoting This Week

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Home by Toni Morrison What’s on the iPod: Me, Me, Me by Middle Brother Take a look at the poll just to the right of this post. Where does your promotion hang up? Let me know and I’ll try to help. One thing I’ve noticed so far is that starting a promotional…

Anticipating Need

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Super Bass by Nicki Minaj It’s been a busy week. I’ve completed two projects and started a third, plus talked with prospective clients on how I might be able to help them. I’ve even had some time for personal projects, though I had to schedule time to get to them. And…

How to Screw Up Self-Promotion Without Breaking a Sweat

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: The Woodpile by Frightened Rabbit Yesterday felt more like weekend recovery than a work day, but I did get some projects started and a few completed. It felt good to work through a stomach upset and headache and still be productive (and actually useful). Today is more of the same —…

Ten Commandments of the Overworked Freelancer

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Last Time by Taylor Swift Ever have one of those days where everything goes nuts, usually after a number of days where not much at all is going on? Welcome to my Thursday. If you looked up nuts in the dictionary, I’d swear there would be a picture of my schedule…

Five Ways to Promote Like a Pro

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Holy by Frightened Rabbit Despite having three phone calls yesterday and an article to frame in, I felt like I had plenty of time. I wasn’t rushed, so I was able to squeeze in some conference marketing and work on a course project I’m developing. A good, productive day. As I…

The Upsell

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Portland by Middle Brother How was the weekend? Mine was lovely. The stepdaughter was home, and it was her birthday, so we were able to spend time with her and spoil her to some extent. She has to drive back to Maine today, which isn’t pleasant (it’s roughly 10 hours thanks…

Monthly Assessment

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Bleeding Out by The Lone Bellow Windy! Jeez Louise it’s windy out. Remember Hurricane Sandy? More than that. See, in Sandy, it went over us. Here, we have the cold air hitting the warm air. It was 66 degrees yesterday. Today it’s going to 28 with snow. No wonder I can’t…

Cathy Miller

January has been the month of long on promise and short on delivery – at least in the income department.

On the good news side, I heard from four prospects from marketing campaigns I have done and had another query from an old client. No signed contracts yet although the old client has committed to a big project and is starting the contracting process. This is a public entity so that means it is a loooong process.Last time it took 6 weeks to get a fully executed contract + the deposit.

Of the four prospects, two look very positive and one I am dying to hook up with so fingers crossed.

I have an ongoing blogging project with an existing client and an article for another regular, and a resource document for a long-time client.

It's been a strange couple of months, but hope springs eternal.

Devon Ellington

Up and down, but definitely better, financially, than December was. Still trying to recover from the bounced check, and the play is demanding more for me in non-writing terms than expected, which sucked energy out of some of the writing.

Mostly, I'm just feeling tired and burned out, but there's a lot that needs to get done in the next few weeks.

Gabriella F.

Yeah, my January was about the same as yours. It was short on work and pay, but it was also expected. It didn't help either of us that we got sick, sick, sick, no?

My February, however, is gangbusters, with so much work that I'm in that "how-will-I-get-it-all-done?" zone. But things always get done. Hooray for that.

I had one client ask me for my rates on project-managing several pubs from start to finish, but I haven't heard back. It'd be nice if those came through, but I'm not counting on it.

Another client also had a staffer leave, and I'm taking on her weekly newsletter work indefinitely. Not crazy about the project, but I can do the work, and it's a nice regular gig.

No formal marketing right now since I seem to be doing really well (I can hear you saying that's a bad idea!)

But I have started lunching with two other writers and a graphic designer, and we share ideas on work, contacts, etc. I'm finding that personal contact helpful. No business, but still worth it.

Paula

It's been an eventful month. The biggest news is I finally got LatePayer to pay and immediately dumped them from my client roster. One weight lifted, but another fell: I needed to make up the $3k per year I used to (slowly) earn from LatePayer.

The minute I decided to dump LatePayer once he paid, three potential clients seemed to come out of nowhere. One was a job listing I sort of replied to. (Instead of replying as directed, I got the editor's attention with an LOI.)

Queries: Sent several ideas to Favorite Editor (resulting in four assignments), and one to the editor I sent the LOI to. He immediately wanted to assign my idea, but it fell through when the photo shoot couldn't be coordinated in time for their schedule – and the topic couldn't be pushed to the next issue. Drat.

LOIs: In addition to the LOI above, I followed up on the LOIs I sent in December.

Existing Clients: Turned in two articles to Favorite Editor and am working on those four new pieces. Wrote two columns. Had another long-time editor ask if I'd be open to more work this year.

New Clients: Although my first pitch fell through, the new editor asked me to keep sending ideas. I'm also wrapping up my first batch of four short articles for a new local client that's running 10 special issues this year.

Referrals: I actually had referrals! Three, in fact. Two people referred me to the local editor I mentioned above. And my sister referred me to one of her clients who just launched a new business. No work there yet, but it sounds promising.

Earnings: I should have a payment from Favorite Editor soon for the two pieces I turned in this month. If that arrives today I'll be over last year's monthly goal, but a couple hundred dollars shy of my new monthly goal.

Bottom Line: I'm currently working on projects that easily surpass my new monthly goal. With any luck there are no late payers in the bunch! But the marketing must continue.

anne wayman

January is ending well for me… some surprise money, one good new client and the start of a query on a booklet that if they don't buy I'll do myself.

Our weather has been strange, but promised wind hasn't' hit us.

Lori

Cathy, hope is what drives this little engine. 🙂

Devon, it's that time of year. Burned out is kind of normal in January/February, right? Hang in there.

You feeling better yet, Gabriella? I'm starting to thanks to penicillin, amen. LOVE that you lunch with creatives! What a great way to network.

Paula, glad you finally got that money! Sounds to me like losing the loser isn't going to hurt at all. Three referrals? Super!

Anne, it doesn't hurt that we're getting our ducks in a row on the forum projects, either. 🙂 Glad January was good to you.