Words on the Page

Theme Me Up, Scotty

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Breakeven by The Script The answer: Blowing in the wind. Literally. Due to Hurricane Sandy, the 8 Top Tax-Saving Strategies webinar has been rescheduled for December 6th. As a reward for your patience, we’re offering the webinar at a $30 discount — just $39.95 for money-saving advice from a renowned tax expert. There are still a few…

Guest Post: The Importance of a More Personal Professional Network

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: The Road to Home by Amy MacDonald She nearly broke John Travolta’s heart, too — due to Hurricane Sandy, the 8 Top Tax-Saving Strategies webinar has been rescheduled for December 6th. As a token of our appreciation for your patience, we’re offering the webinar at a $30 discount — just $39.95 for money-saving advice from a renowned…

Warriors and Weekends

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: It’s Only Life by The Shins Rescheduled means big savings for you – due to Hurricane Sandy, the 8 Top Tax-Saving Strategies webinar has been rescheduled for December 6th. As a token of our appreciation for your patience, we’re offering the webinar at a $30 discount — just $39.95 for money-saving advice from a renowned tax expert….

In Honor

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: All At Once by The Airborne Toxic Event Rescheduled means big savings for you – due to Hurricane Sandy, the 8 Top Tax-Saving Strategies webinar has been rescheduled for December 6th. As a token of our appreciation for your patience, we’re offering the webinar at a $30 discount — just $39.95 for money-saving advice…

Connecting

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Eyes by Rogue Wave Webinar news: Due to Hurricane Sandy’s impact and the subsequent snow storm yesterday, our special guest presenter is unavailable for today’s webinar. We’ve rescheduled for December 6th — 3 pm ET/noon PT. And we’re offering a discount as our thank you for your patience. You can register…

If You See It, Will It Come?

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: The Road to Home by Amy MacDonald Last week to save!Don’t miss out on money-saving advice: The 8 Top Tax Strategies for Freelancers webinar, being held Thursday, November 8th at 3 PM ET, is just $69.95. For that, you’ll get close to $375 worth of goodies, plus a month’s membership in the…

Writing Refresher

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Animal by Neon Trees I have never been so glad to see a day come. It’s Election Day, which means after 8 pm, all the phone calls, emails, mailers, and door knockers will leave me the hell alone for four more years. I’ve donated to my candidate twice. I won’t do…

Evensongs and Irish Songs

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Ghosts by Six Storeys High Last week to save! Don’t miss out on money-saving advice: The 8 Top Tax Strategies for Freelancers webinar, being held Thursday, November 8th at 3 PM ET, is just $69.95. For that, you’ll get close to $375 worth of goodies, plus a month’s membership in the 5…

Positively Positive

Posted on by lwidmer

Don’t miss out on money-saving advice: The 8 Top Tax Strategies for Freelancers webinar, being held Thursday, November 8th at 3 PM ET, is just $69.95. For that, you’ll get close to $375 worth of goodies, plus a month’s membership in the 5 Buck Forum! Register here. What’s on the iPod: Girls Just Want to Have Fun…

Monthly Assessment: October 2012

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: She’s Mine by Brett Dennen Don’t miss out on money-saving advice: The 8 Top Tax Strategies for Freelancers webinar, being held Thursday, November 8th at 3 PM ET, is just $69.95. For that, you’ll get close to $375 worth of goodies, plus a month’s membership in the 5 Buck Forum! Register here….

Kimberly Ben

Glad you guys got through hurricane Sandy, Lori. I know so many freelancers – many who frequently comment on your blog – live along the North East coastline.

My October earnings were much better than last month and slightly higher than last year. Most of my time was spent working with existing clients, and I got two new clients (waiting to get project details – one is based in NYC and is dealing with the after affects of the storm). I was supposed to have completed one of my personal writing projects this month, but life happens.

Gabriella F.

Congrats on a above-par month, Lori. Mine was right where I like to be, and November is packed already.

Love those retainers, huh? I just finished the last project for a client that put me on retainer this year, and I was fretting, "Was this a one-year project? Did I do something wrong, and I'll lose that hefty income?"

Nope. She said she'll be in touch soon on the next installment. Yay!

Devon Ellington

Had the deadbeat client not bounced the check and caused a ripple effect that will take weeks to sort out, I would have been fine. Not great, but fine. Now, I'm in difficulty, and I doubt I'll ever see the $$$.

Feeling discouraged this month.

Paula

"Market like there's nothing in the pantry." Love it. That's so me. (This time of year I always feel the need to stock up so I'll be set if I'm snowed in for a week.)

Good luck with the deadbeat client, Devon. I'm already about to go after Late Payer again, and he's only one day past due on my most recent article (and one month past due on the other). Sent them a preemptive reminder the other day: Pay it all. Now.

Now, to play along….

Queries – Sent a batch of ideas to Favorite Editor, resulting in one (really fun!) assignment.

LOIs – Sent two new LOIs by snail mail, both led to editors asking for more info and e-clips to send their co-editors. Positive vibes from both. Followed up on five previous LOIs, resulting in four encouraging replies. (One asked my rates, but didn't respond after seeing them.)

Existing Clients – Finished one article for Favorite Editor and started the new assignment. Wrote three columns. Edited several batches of executive bios for the new-ish client. Longtime client asked me to update an old web article.

New Clients – None right now, but I'm optimistic about a couple of those LOIs.

Referrals – Finished a résumé for a friend's niece. Yesterday a friend of my sister asked me to help her edit an essay for a job application to fit the 500 word limit.

Earnings – Less than $250 away from my modest monthly goal, but invoices out now total way more than that monthly goal.

Bottom line – Always follow up!

Not too bad for a month with some major interruptions. The storm damage repairs and the meetings to discuss the details took a good chunk of time (and we're not done yet). And last week when my dog was sick I couldn't focus much on work – thank goodness she's healthy again!

Cathy Miller

Earnings I'm still feeling the effects of the screeching halt on projects. I have 3 invoices billed that had they been received in October would have exceeded my monthly target. Oh well. More for this month, which I'll need since I am going to be gone 2 out of the 4 weeks. I exceeded last year's total earnings in June, so despite the dry spell, I'm still okay. I just didn't expect it to totally stop. It's the 1st time that has happened to me.

Existing Clients Two came back with new projects in October – case studies.

New clients I'm pretty hopeful at least one will close this month. I have a meeting in San Diego with someone I used to work with and their marketing director. I also spoke with someone in a different division and state of a current client and almost certain I will have work from them soon. I missed out on one project because of their delivery deadline, which is while I'm in San Diego.

Marketing The leads came from email marketing efforts. A postcard marketing hasn't delivered yet, but hope springs eternal.

I'm not closing the year as well as I thought (seeing where I was in June and with all the health issues). But, things could always be worse. I could still be working corporate. 😉

Lori

Life does happen, Kim. Sometimes the work is more than the hours in a day. It's tough to squeeze personal writing in, especially if you have kids and family obligations on top of it.

Devon, I'm sorry. I'd be finding ways to collect on that client — collection agency would be the best way, I think. Hang in there. If anyone can do it, you can.

Not a bad month at all, Paula! Good stuff. Don't you love those favorite editors? As long as their budgets hold out, there's always a yes there somewhere.

Cathy, given the challenges you've had this year, I'd say you're doing pretty great. And just think what your November totals will look like! Wow! 🙂

Paula

Even better – Favorite Editor is trying to get a jump on spring issues and assigned me a fun "charticle" that I hadn't even pitched. Then they asked for more ideas!