Words on the Page

Three Questions for You

Posted on by lwidmer

I’ve been very lucky. I’ve had the chance to team with some amazing writers to try helping other writers get a leg up in their careers. First, I was honored to partner with Devon Ellington on what turned out to be a superb Webinar/forum (and we do hope to repeat it). And now it’s happening…

Good Advice All Around

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: King of Diamonds by Motopony HOT day yesterday. 102 according to my car’s thermometer. Really? This isn’t Phoenix, it’s Phoenixville. So what gives? In fact, Phoenix doesn’t have the 90-percent humidity that makes everything so much more unbearable. Just that blazing brightness and microwaved-alive feeling. Phoenixville is just hot and dripping….

The Client Interview

Posted on 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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…

Cathy Miller

I'm trying this with my name/url-last week Blogger wouldn't let me do that-fingers crossed.

May was one of those bizarre months with lots of new work, but little action. It started out with a ton of jobs scheduled – then one client put a project on hold & took a 2-week vacation, another has re-scheduled a case study interview for this AM for the 4th time, and I got a new client that is government so it takes 3-4 weeks for the signoff process for the deposit. Good news, one client renewed a monthly project for the rest of the year.

It looks like this means June will be very busy.

Kimberly Ben

May was a less than stellar month for me as well – how much of that was due to interruptions caused by traveling, end-of-the-year school activities and working on personal projects I can't say…

Surprisingly I received a rush of projects within the last two weeks that kept me quite busy. Still, I know how slow the summer months can be, so I really need to put more time and energy into marketing.

Devon Ellington

Busy, but not as lucrative as I would have liked. A lot of that had to do with finishing up the edits for the book, and its release date made earlier by a month, so time I would have used to pursue other earnings was used for promo instead.

I have two weeks off before my next class starts, and I plan to make the most of it, writing-wise, on the next book, which is late.

I've wrapped up and talked about changing the career vision on GOALS, DREAMS, AND RESOLUTIONS:

http://goalsdreamsresolutions.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/may-wrap-up-2/

Damaria Senne

May was OK. A magazine I have been courting finally gave me a meaty assignment and a former colleague I've been discussing sub-contracting with sent me two great assignments. In terms of earnings though, it's teh 31st and most of the new business money has not come in yet, so i'm only going to see the impact of the new business in my June earnings. I'm fairly happy with the business though, because work has remained steady.

Lori

Cathy – you're in! Yay! If anyone else has troubles getting Blogger to behave, let me know. I can't fix it, but I can post your comments for you.

Kim, I'm hoping for such a rush! I've got so much in the pipeline, but nothing coming through. You KNOW it's coming all at once, right? 🙂

Devon, I'm with you. Preparations take a ton of time away from the steady work, which hits the bottom line. Hopefully, it will all come to fruition for you soon. And thanks for the link to the GDR site. 🙂

Damaria, congrats on that assignment! Let us know where we can see the final product. It's odd, but doesn't it suck that you know you've earned it but the checks take soooo long in coming…?

Irreverent Freelancer

May used to be my slowest month. The past two years, however, that's changed. I had a pretty good month, with mostly ongoing clients and a few referrals. I don't think I inquired about a single job (although there are a few I bookmarked for when time allows) but some of the projects I put out a resume for months ago have been producing interested parties now. This is a perfect example of why every freelancer should be marketing regularly–exactly as you advocate, Lori. I suspect you'll be fine this summer once you ramp those efforts back up. ;o)

Irreverent Freelancer

Oh, I forgot to mention that I too spent some time this month chasing a 90-day-late client. Small project; first–and last–time I worked with him. His excuse two months ago was that his father had a heart attack AND his sister committed suicide. I know this sounds heartless of me, but really, what are the odds??! Then I find out that he's started up a new company. Too full of grief to pay his bills, but not too full of it to keep settting the business world on fire. I've been told he'll take care of it this week. We'll see.

Paula

May wasn't half bad for me. Amazingly, the late-payer paid up in full. (Naturally, he "forgot" to pay for my longest article when he said he was all caught up. Not so fast, buckeroo. I mentioned the long article, he remembered it and I had that check within the week. I think he assumes freelancers don't track their workflow.)

Queries/LOIs: I sent four queries, which led to two assignments. Sent eight LOIs. One guy replied saying they don't use many freelancers, but would keep me in mind. A week later he e-mailed asking if I was interested in a full-time job. No specifics. I mentioned I live half a continent away, so the commute would be rough, but he said the mystery job could be done remotely. He asked me to send my resume to his boss. She e-mailed back to say she received it, and they would be doing interviews in a week or so. That was a week or so ago. I haven't heard anything, and still don't know what the job might have entailed…but I will stay in touch.

Postings: Zero.

Existing Clients: Turned in two columns, two blog posts (re-signed for another 6 months on the blog), turned in three articles and two resumes. Also received a feature assignment from another one of my regulars.

New Clients: On LinkedIn a former editor of mine said she was seeking writers. Not my area of specialty, but I guess the tangential clips I sent her, combined with the fact that we'd worked together oh-so-long-ago resulted in a big assignment for a women's health website. It's one long main article, a slightly shorter sidebar article, and two related sidebar lists. The only problem has been that the experts I need to speak with are pressed for time since a major symposium starts this week. (Hah! I found an expert in the city everyone else is traveling to, and since she doesn't have to spend a day in the air, she's available later today for an interview!) My editor said if her bosses like my work, this could become a regular gig.

Earnings were way up, but remember, thats only because Mr. Late Payer finally paid me for several articles.

Bottom line: The next week will be incredibly busy as I juggle interviews, research and writing for seven things all due by June 10. But busy is good!

WordVixen

Well, it's technically not freelance since I don't have clients, but this has been my best month earnings-wise so far! Fingers crossed that it only continues to grow.

Gabriella F.

Hello, Lori!

Thanks for giving us your May dirt. Mine's just as mediocre, or if I do a little accounting magic, it moves up to acceptable.

If I use my standard method of accounting–I count income in the month I send the invoice–my May was abysmal. I had a 10-day vacay in there, but it's still pitiful.

If I use a little accounting slight of hand–taking an article I invoiced for in April and counting it in May since that's when I finalized the article after the editor's picky, picky queries–then my May is acceptable, and my April remains good, too.

But really, what does it matter? I know I have to step up my game.

I didn't contact any new clients, and I have to get cracking on that. I did reconnect with existing clients, and they're providing me with steady income.

I had a phone conference with one potential client, and we left it like they were going to hire me but just needed to check with their budget people. I haven't heard word one since.

However, I'm not giving up on that client, since I first emailed her in December, and she didn't respond at all. Then she contacted me in April and said she's ready to give me the work. So perhaps she just needs email etiquette training, and I'll hear from her when she's ready. Fingers crossed.

Bottom line: I knew May would be weak because of my vacation. But really, woman, get your behind in gear!

Lori

Kathy, he actually used his father's dying and sister's suicide as an excuse? That's pathetic! I would believe him with a ton of skepticism except for the fact that he'd started a new business venture in that same time. Now it's just disgusting behavior by an amateur. You're smart to write him off.

Paula, I'm still wondering how you're going to juggle all those interviews and the repairman. 🙂

WordVixen, that's pretty darn good! You'll have to tell us how you manage to earn money without clients – I'm impressed and confused at the same time. LOL

Gabriella, exactly! Let's both get our behinds in gear! I'll watch your back, you watch mine, okay? 🙂

Irreverent Freelancer

Yeppers, he sure did use them as an excuse. He told me that in light of all he was going through, paying my invoice was the last thing on his mind. I'm sure it was … but not because he was grieving.

Gabriella F.

Deal!

Lori

He'd be grieving if he'd said that to me, but for a different reason (I'm somewhat violent with those who act like dolts).

Gabriella, :)).

Kagem

May was full of work from 2 repeat clients – I am grateful for repeat business but I am concerned. What if they go on a hunger strike? Eek. This is why June is going to be a month of aggressive marketing for me. You never know what's around the corner!

Lori

Kagem, I don't blame you for being nervous. Two regular clients seems like enough, but if one or both disappear….

Go get 'em with the marketing! You're smart to plan well in advance.

WordVixen

*lol* I'm into internet marketing now. Started out just wanting to be a novelist, fell in with a lot of freelancers, started to pursue that but had panic attacks at the thought of trying to satisfy a perfect stranger with my work, fell in with a lot of internet marketers, realized that the keyword articles that I was going to be writing for other people would be much better served on my own sites, and… eventually, ended up in the IM camp. I'm not full time yet, but it's growing! Google's Panda update has been very favorable to my actually-useful posts rather than people who are backlinking fiends.

I do occasionally freelance for friends (other IMers), but the bulk of my non-day-job income is IM now- which is why my blog's tagline is "Tales of an ex-freelance wannabe…". 🙂

Funny- just yesterday I came across an old post where you'd given me a suggestion for an ebook to write. I'm thinking about it again. It fits right into my plans for one of my niche sites, which, if I can get the traffic up there, I'd have a great platform to market it from!

Lori

Dang girl! I have to talk to you offline about this! Sounds like a great gig!

WordVixen

Sure thing! I love it, because I'm one of those people that's hyper-focused for a week or two, and then lose interest entirely for months. IM is perfect for people like me, though it does seem to work better for people who are focused all the time. 🙂