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11 Fun, Free Things Writers Can Use Now

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: The Son by Jo Nesbø What I’m listening to: Love Test by The Growlers There’s nothing like starting the week with three things that have to be done on Monday. Yet there it was — my Monday in a nutshell. I was fortunate in that there were a lot of projects last…

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Are You Confusing Your Freelance Writing Clients?

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: Lola by The Kinks Man, it felt good to get through that unexpected pile of work on Wednesday. I finished the most pressing deadline just after lunch. I wanted to keep going as I have this one project due next week, but I was spent. So I treated myself to a…

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The Thin Line Between Free and Professional

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: No News by Lonestar What a week. I’ve chipped away at the latest workload, and I’m now down to two projects from the seven I’d started the week with. One is due today, the other on Monday. I’m in a good place with both, so I’m able to breathe a little…

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The 5-Minute Move That Wins Over Clients

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show Thanks to everyone who commented on last week’s thread. I used Random.org’s list randomizer, plugged in the names of those commenting in the order in which they commented, and chose the first name returned. The winner of the Amazon gift card is… Joy Drohan! Congratulations,…

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Ten Years Later, Still Taking No Prisoners

Posted on by lwidmer

Today is an auspicious day for two reasons. First, it’s my own personal holiday, and all work stops so I can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Also, today marks the 10th anniversary of this blog. It’s funny how far this blog has come and, in some ways, how much it’s remained the same. From the first…

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8 Habits of Bad Writing Clients

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: Whiskey in the Jar by Metallica Wow. It’s mid-March already? I don’t know how you’re doing but my March has been filled with project deadlines and new-client talks. Just as the pile of work starts to dwindle, more work comes in.  While it was frenetic at first, now I’m seeing a…

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6 Ways You Might Be Sabotaging Your Freelance Writing Career

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: Fast As You by Dwight Yoakam What a gorgeous couple of days! Yesterday was near 80 degrees, so all the windows were open. It’s tough to work under those conditions, so I took full advantage of my freelance writing status — I played hooky. Okay, not entirely. I had a great…

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The Freelance Writer’s Fact Book

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: Right in Time by Lucinda Williams I don’t know how it’s been for you, but March came roaring in like a lion for me. I dug out from under seven of the nine projects piled on my desk, and I’m happy to say organization, once again, saved my hide. Plus the…

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26 Right-Now Ways to Market Your Freelance Writing Business

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: Stressed Out by twenty one pilots It was rather timely that the song above (go on, take a listen) came up on my play list. I’d been feeling stressed as the week started, chipped through a ton of projects Monday through yesterday, and saw the list grow right back to massive…

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Monthly Assessment: February 2016

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m listening to: Downtown by Macklemore It’s amazing what a little organization can do for the productivity. I sat down yesterday around 8 am and by noon, I’d finished (and invoiced) three projects. The fourth was finished by 3 pm, and I finalized a new client contract, plus another contract from an existing client….

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  1. Paula Hendrickson Avatar
    Paula Hendrickson

    It's been a really busy month here, too, Lori. Last week I cranked out an article per day and had to take Friday easy to recuperate. Hoping to match that pace this week.

    Queries/LOI – none that I recall

    Social Media – when I have time I should try to join a few Twitter chats and visit some of my LinkedIn groups.

    Job Postings – replied to one which is a good fit for me, and within a couple days they asked for additional information. Haven't heard back yet.

    Referrals – a photographer referred me to one of his clients, a guy who publishes glossy coffee table books about various cities. My city is next on his list. He said it's a mix of actual editorial copy and advertorial profiles of local business (the advertorials pay for the book). The rate isn't great, but I said I'd be interested in doing some quick pieces that don't have much legwork, things I can fit between my higher paying assignments. Next day he tried assigning me three things that he needed right away – without any explanation of what he wanted other than the word counts. He said he wanted me to call to chat about the details. No. I don't have time to chat – not even if he were paying for the time. I said my schedule was too busy for a chat, but I prefer getting things in writing anyway so there's no confusion on my part. I asked how many sources he expected per article and what rights he was buying. I was floored when he replied with, "I don't know." I sent a more detailed message…and never heard back.

    New Clients – none. But I did pick up two assignments from a new editor at one of the publications I write for.

    Existing Clients – Turned in six articles for three regular clients. Only wrote two columns. Every time I turned something in another assignment or two popped up. Right now I'm working on four articles for two of those clients.

    Earnings – Counting actual invoices that have been paid, I was about $600 shy of my monthly goal. However, my current projects and soon-to-be-paid invoices total more than my monthly goal.

    I also have an outstanding invoice for an article that appears to have been bumped back a few issues (or possibly axed). That publication's contract says it pays withing 45 days "of acceptance," but doesn't define what "acceptance" is. It's a big check, so I don't want to risk pushing so hard they decide to scrap something instead of running it in a later issue. The thing is, this was for an editor who is horrible when it comes to communicating, so I'm thinking no news is good news. It was one of the worst working experiences I've ever had, simply because the editor was so indecisive. (She's the one who needed me to revise the article because two sources weren't expert enough, and another was a "spokesperson" and she wanted someone in R&D. Not only had she approved my sources before I contacted them….she's the one who referred me to the sources she said weren't expert enough! You can't make this stuff up!) I know she won't update me as to the article's status, but if they aren't going to use it they need to pay the kill fee sooner than later.

    Bottom Line: I need to knock these four articles out this week so I can take a breather! Oh yeah, and get my taxes done. Ugh.

    Reply
  2. Lori Widmer Avatar
    Lori Widmer

    Four articles. In one week. Wow, do you sleep?

    Taxes. I can't stand it. I know I owe. I just don't want to know how much.

    Reply
  3. Paula Hendrickson Avatar
    Paula Hendrickson

    I was lucky that all of the sources for one multi-source article were available for one conference call instead of three separate calls. That helped. Two of them were single-source pieces. The other was three separate interviews, but a quick write.

    I finally pulled together my receipts and stuff. This weekend I'll do a dry run with the tax software to see what I'm missing. By the time I'm done some of my invoices should be paid, which is good since I know I'll owe, too. I've only had refunds twice, and I immediately applied them to the next year's taxes.

    Reply
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