Words on the Page

Boredom and Creativity

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m still reading upstairs: Me Talk Pretty One Day by David SedarisWhat’s on the iPod: Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen How bored can a working person get? If you’ve worked in an office, you’ve been there. Nothing at ALL on your desk and you’re forced to look busy lest you send the message that…

Your Best Advice

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Ships with Holes Will Sink by We Were Promised Jetpacks Last week I had a nice conversation with a friend of a relative. She was about to say goodbye to her full-time job and wanted to hear about my experiences with freelancing. This is a person with a solid background in…

Self-sabotage

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: The Maytrees by Annie Dillard (a book to savor)What’s on the iPod: Sunshine by The Clarks Busy weekend. If you looked around the house, you wouldn’t think I did a thing, but if you opened my closet – voila! I cleaned, organized, and hauled away two bags of clothes and purses. Now…

Worthy Tip: Write This, Not That

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: The Devil’s Tour by Mary KarrWhat’s on the iPod: Keep Yourself Warm by Frightened Rabbit Men’s Health Editor-in-chief David Zinczenko impresses me. He’s made a lucrative career out of showing us healthier food options in his popular Eat This, Not That series. I’m a fan of both his suggestions and his style….

The Best Unnoticed Blogs

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Late Wife by Claudia EmersonWhat’s on the iPod: Keep Yourself Warm by Frightened Rabbit Once upon a time, I was named to a Top Blog list. It was when Maria Schneider was heading the Writer’s Digest blog, and she called this blog “the little black dress” of blogs. I was over the…

Turning Over Rocks

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Alleluia by Rufus Wainwright Finally over that cold that grabbed hold of me last week. It was a strangely short-lived one – three days and vanished. There are remnants of it, but not the usual symptoms of stuffiness, sore throat, aching, etc. I was feeling better by Wednesday. I like that…

Change the Things You Can Change

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading downstairs: The Maytrees by Annie DillardWhat’s on the iPod: Late in the Evening by Paul Simon Yesterday we talked about reasons to part ways with clients – and frankly, they have similar reasons, I’m sure. It’s all about meeting each others’ needs. And while it’s sometimes wise to walk away from a…

Hanging on to Dead Wood

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading upstairs: Me Talk Pretty One Day by David SedarisWhat’s on the iPod: Quiet Little Voices by We Were Promised Jetpacks Sitting idle the last week gave me some time to get much-needed website work done, and get some invoicing out of the way. Also, it gave me time to re-evaluate. In looking…

Driving Traffic the Organic Way

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: The Maytrees by Annie DillardWhat’s on the iPod: Restless by Chris Bathgate Another slow day yesterday, but I’m making hay with it. I met another freelancer for lunch and we enjoyed swapping not so much work stories, but life stories. Those are infinitely more interesting, and you get to see the layers…

Mixing Up the Marketing

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd Happy Veteran’s Day to all who have served. We appreciate you. At the moment, I am what you’d call “between projects.” I’d panic, but I have some things coming up that will keep me busy through the rest of the month. Plus one of my regular clients,…

Diane

I've cranked up the freelance engine following some unsavoury news at the day job. Nothing bad (yet), but we can't help feeling that it won't be long now. So I've been polishing off my CV and catching up with some old markets. It's difficult when you've been out of the game for a while despite trying to keep in touch.

Today by chance I saw an ad in a magazine I've tried to get into before, but now they're actively looking for a specific kind of contribution from my geographical area. So I struck while the iron was hot and applied anyway. I don't really have a pitch letter/email template at the moment, but I wrote from the heart and my fingers just flew across the keyboard.

Fingers crossed, because this would be a nice gig for me, whether I keep the day job or not.

I'll also send off a how-are-you email to one of my favourite editors if I haven't heard from him in a while (i.e. week or 2). That always, always does the trick. 😉

Cathy

Mostly because I don't like the length of time it typically takes to be paid on magazine publications, I prefer to use them as secondary income, instead of my primary source.

I prefer dealing with companies-in the ideal world-larger companies-for my primary source of income. Most of my print publications have been ghostwriting where the company for the bylined person pays me. Of course, that does not mean I never have problems getting paid, but I tend to have a lot fewer headaches.

Different strokes for different folks-whatever works best for you. Good point, Lori, about looking at what's not working.

Paula

Diane, I bet you'll have a better response to the e-mail you wrote from your heart than if you had uses a template. Fingers crossed that you get it.

I've been doing a few LOIs and even saw a couple of job postings that sounded good for me. But yesterday something interesting happened. One of my long-time editors e-mailed me, apologizing for not having many assignments for me lately (she explained that their budget is dependent on school budgets throughout the US and Canada). She also sent a link to place seeking a part-time (10 hours/week) Lead Craft Blogger. It was good knowing she was thinking about me.

Of course, given my neighborhood I should consider becoming a crime reporter. A guy was murdered around the corner from my house last night – we saw police cars and crime scene tape, neighbors called back and forth trying to piece together the story. Sounds like people passing through the area picked up two guys (friends? acquaintances? strangers?) who robbed them while in the SUV, shot the man multiple times and fled on foot. The woman drove him to the ER two blocks away where he was pronounced dead. No one recalls hearing shots or tires squealing.

Nah…crime reporting would be way too depressing.

Lori

Ooo, fingers crossed for you, Diane! That sounds like the universe handing you a gift. 🙂

Great point on payment, Cathy. I know one magazine I work for takes at least four months to pay. I haven't bothered contacting them. I'm sticking with the ones I know pay within weeks of acceptance.

You're so right about clients often paying faster. There are exceptions, but in general magazine work isn't the fastest way to a paycheck.

Jeezuz, Paula, you ARE in a crime area! Isn't this the second one in a few months? Great news on the client sending you a lead, though. That shows she loves your work.

Ashley

I'm trying not to drown in work from the day job, but I have managed a few freelancing gigs lately. I've just been trying (successfully, I think) to do an awesome job on each article, so the editors have come back to me. I need to reach out to a few new people and I definitely want to try the LOI. I've also been networking locally like crazy, which is working too. Personal recommendations are so nice and so easy!

Lori

Day jobs get in the way, don't they? You're so right – when you get a referral, it's golden.

Paula

First murder in my immediate area in about 10 years (same block both times!). Four weeks ago the foreclosed hose two doors down had a small fire started by squatters.

This is what you get your city has successful Weed & Seed programs in the bad parts of town: The criminals who weren't arrested set up shop in a new part of town. Mine.

I swear one day I'll be one of those little old ladies beating off a burglar with a baseball bat if they dare enter my house. A message to any would-be criminals: Don't mess with me. I bite back.

Anne Wayman

try something new is always a great idea, particularly if what you're doing isn't working… great post, as usual, Lori.

Want something that feels risky? Try 5 cold calls !

Devon Ellington

Until this move is done, I am bringing nothing to the table.

And suddenly, everyone wants a piece of me. Isn't that always the way?

I'm telling them all, "I'm moving. If you can wait until after Thanksgiving, let's talk; if you can't and want a great referral, I've got a good list of people."

becky

I have had so many opportunities not work out recently due to timing with my pregnancy leave. I just got an email about something after the holidays and am crossing my fingers that it works out. Could be steady work for a while. I hope, I hope, I hope. We sure could use something going in our favor.

Lori, glad to hear that your client is trying so hard to help you. Those great relationships are golden!

Diane

Thanks Paula, and Lori. I've not heard back yet, so may check their website to see if they're happy to receive sample stories anyway.

Paula: Do you write fiction? I'd want to convert all of that raw material into something, and a nice meaty crime story could be just the ticket without being so depressing.

Sal

Diane, please keep us updated if you hear anything back. I agree with those above and I usually write my LOIs and such from the heart (when I do them). I find it comes across more authentic and I can connect better with an editor if I tailor it to fit them, there magazine and most importantly, the audience.

I just stepped out onto a limb. I was sitting at Fourbucks (haahaa, get it – ANYway) and heard a couple of people talking about a fashion magazine they were putting together. They mentioned needing a press release and my stomach jumped onto the table. I got up, walked over, apologized for eavesdropping and gave them my card. A little chit chat later and I may end up with a new client. (I'm trying to get more local clients at the moment).

When you are looking at what doesn't work, how do you ladies decide what you want to try next? Anne, want to jump in on this one?

Paula

Diane – I'm not a fiction writer, but I write the occasional. Last night while writing a journal entry I had a really funny twist on events that is crying out to be turned into something fun. Then i could sell the script, make millions of dollars, buy up all of the crappy rentals and hire someone to screen for decent tenants, sell some to owner-occupants, or bulldoze the rest!

Last weekend I would have had time to work on it. This weekend I have four interviews to transcribe, one column to write, one or two blog posts to write, window film to put up, and the annual Santa Letter sales flier to get out. (I might try branching into editing family holiday letters – most of the ones I receive need heavy editing, so maybe there's a market!)

Lori

I must be remembering the fire then, Paula.

Wow, Anne! That does feel risky. 🙂

Devon, it never fails – become too busy to handle things and everyone needs you right then.

Becky, fingers crossed for you. That sounds like great timing!

Sal, I love it! Fourbucks – so true! And way to go. I've been hanging out at Starbucks for that reason. I've been known to leave a few business cards behind, you know, accidentally and all… 😉