Maybe it was bad SEO keyword use. Or maybe it’s just lousy writing. Honestly, on my first read, it didn’t really matter, because I tuned out. A writer friend sent over what is probably one of the worst examples of whatever kind of writing this bot was trying to emulate. Yes, I said bot. I…
Why Burning Freelance Writing Bridges Sucks
A short while back, I got an email from someone I’d done some projects for once upon a time. The note set me back on my heels. Let me back up — the fact that I got a note from this particular contact at all was a pretty major shock. This is a former client,…
Why You Aren’t Getting Those Freelance Writing Gigs
(sigh) Here we go again. Another trip around the internet groups and forums is all it takes to wind me up. So forgive the minor rant, but this needs to be said: [bctt tweet=”There is one solid reason why you, #freelancer, are not getting those gigs you see online.” username=”LoriWidmer”] Know why? Because the job…
4 Reasons Why a Diversified Client Mix is Essential
I’m about to say something that may shock you. I think specializing in one kind of writing is a bit of a trap. That’s coming from me, a specialist. If you were taking part in yesterday’s #FreelanceChat on Twitter, you might have seen the topic of a diverse portfolio of clients come up. Someone asked…
Interview: Sharon Hurley Hall Talks to Writers About Racism
I’ve seen it and heard it myself. George Floyd must have been on drugs. So what are they to do? Breonna Taylor was “running” with a boyfriend who had a gun. So what are they to do? He took a knee. “That’s disrespectful and he needed to find another way to protest.” They took to…
Freelance Technique: Getting to the Meat of the Project
A number of years ago, I was hired by an association to rework their website. Turned out, the job was a bit bigger than just the website content. A bit more about that in a minute. The client wanted a rewrite of their existing content, so I went to the site. I read through four…
Writer Beware: Employee Syndrome
I got another marketing email the other day from a one-time prospect that will never be a client. That’s by my choice. The emails were what first made me reach out to this particular company, which is in my specialty area. They were signed up for the same conference I was hoping to attend. So…
Guest Post: The Freelance Complacency Trap
There’s this feeling you get when you come across a freelancer who just gets it. Someone whose approach to freelancing is proactive, smart, and collaborative. Someone who treats freelancing as the small business enterprise it is. Someone who inspires you to do better. That’s the feeling I get with each interaction I have with Randy…
3 Moves to Power Your Writing Career Forward
Where are you in your writing career right now? Are you earning what you want? Coming close enough to what you want to be satisfied? Feeling stuck? Wanting the work to match the pay? Wanting work that interests you? We’ve all been there. Every writer who’s ever started a freelance writing business has had to…
The Freelance Client Balancing Act
You may have heard me whine talk about how busy my workdays have been lately. Because I’ve recently added two new clients to the stable, it’s been interesting trying to please them and keep up with the work that was there before they reached out. I was just able to keep up with all the…