Mika Doyle is a breath of fresh air. She’s one of those writers who brings a sincerity to everything she touches. Example: when I asked her to write a post, she was in mourning. She’d lost a beloved professor, and it had hit her particularly hard as she hadn’t been in touch with him in…
Writers Worth: Using Yes to Combat Fear
Let me tell you how many ways I love Anne Wayman. She was one of the first freelance writers I knew who was actually helping other writers. Sure, I’d met plenty of friendly, helpful people on newsgroups (remember those?), but no one was running a website for the express purpose of helping other writers. At…
Writers Worth: Starting Out Fearless
Welcome to Writers Worth Month 2018! Since 2008, we’ve been gathering here to share encouragement and kicks in the ass about taking ourselves seriously and accepting that our skills have value. We’ve shared it all — encouragement, our journeys, our roadblocks, you name it. What we haven’t shared perhaps often enough: our fears. That’s about…
The Freelance Writer’s Waiting Game (and how to stop it right now)
What I’m listening to: The Waiting by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers The waiting is the hardest part… It’s rare when the song I’m listening to coincides with the theme of my post. Today, it’s intentional. I saw a disturbing series of exchanges recently that made me realize just how stuck we freelance writers can…
Coming May 1st ….
The 10th annual Writers Worth Month Bookmark this page and come back each weekday for advice and strategies to help you gain the confidence and skill you need to boost your freelance writing career. This year, we have all-new content, great guest posts, and plenty of activities designed to get you on the right track….
Building the Come-to-Me Freelance Model
What I’m reading: The Lewis Man by Peter May What I’m listening to: LOVE by Kendrick Lamar (feat. Zacari) Today I’m off to meet with a new client at his office. Normally, I don’t travel to see clients, but he wanted me to meet his team. You can’t pass that up. So I’m choking back…
Marketing Monday: Your (Non)Formula for Success
Late start for me today — my apologies. The weekend was just too glorious to stay inside writing. When it comes to marketing, we writers tend to think if we build it, they will come (they being the clients). That’s not necessarily true. While it works when your marketing approach meshes with their needs, it…
Breaking Out of Your Writing Rut
What I’m listening to: We’re Going To Be Friends by White Stripes I don’t need to tell most of you that a successful freelance writing career means you have to be part chameleon. Today you’re writing nothing but blogs. Tomorrow, you’re inundated with magazine work. A month from now, you might be writing website content…
Marketing Monday: You’re Doing It Wrong
What I’m listening to: Hardliners by Holcombe Waller The best ideas for marketing often come from seeing it done incorrectly. Let me preface what I’m about to say with a caveat — if you’re attempting marketing, you’re more than likely doing it okay. But there are ways a freelance writer — or anyone — can…
4 Marketing Fails: Are You Guilty?
Did you ever get one of those emails that’s apparently trying to sell you something? I say “apparently” because it’s so badly written or presented that you really can’t tell what the heck is going on? Welcome to my in box. The email two weeks ago was from a marketing firm. It started off with…