Freelance Writing Blog

Worthy Advice: This Job, Not That Job

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What’s on the iPod: The Road to Home by Amy MacDonald (including Caledonia) I don’t need a calendar to tell me September is almost here. The clients are starting to call, email, and send projects. It’s going to be a busy fall, and I’m happy for it. I was looking for something else when the Craig’s…

When to Follow Writer Advice (and When to Go Your Own Way)

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What I’m reading: Strip Jack by Ian Rankin What’s on the iPod: Conductor by We Were Promised Jetpacks It was nice to get away. It wasn’t a long break — 4 days — but it was welcome. Saturday afternoon, we started the 7 1/2 hour ride. It’s always made longer because we stop at our…

7 Lousy Marketing Tactics

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What I’m hearing: Rain on a tin roof, a loon in the bay…. Today I’ll be waking up to the sounds of birds, frogs, and maybe some rain. The cottage I sleep in (there are two on my parents’ property) is a one-room place with a tin roof. There are no amenities beyond the four…

This Job, Not That Job

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What’s on the iPod: Nothing. I’m fishing. As I spend this week tormenting Canadian fish, I wanted to leave behind a few things for you all to discuss. And anytime I want a good laugh, I just head to Craig’s List and look at the job ads. That’s not to say all the ads suck,…

Free Advice Friday: To Contract or Not?

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What’s on the iPod: Rain King by Counting Crows Yesterday felt like Friday to me. That’s because today, I’m out of here. There’s a little river in the middle of Ontario where there are some fish and a few parents camped along the shores. I must go visit them all. I did manage three newsletter…

Finding More Writing Time

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What’s on the iPod: The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie by Red Hot Chili Peppers It’s been a productive week so far. Monday was nonstop work.Tuesday I had to stop for a few phone interviews and a furniture delivery, plus I had to get out of this house before I suffered some serious cabin fever….

Marketing Monday: Removing Client Reservations

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What’s on the iPod: Don’t by Ed Sheeran Since I’ve been talking to a good many client prospects lately, I’m realizing that there are some pretty big obstacles we writers have to overcome. Just having a client interested doesn’t guarantee it’s going anywhere, as most of you know. Some writing clients get so close and…

Monthly Assessment: June and July 2014

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What’s on the iPod: Temporary Ground by Jack White Three articles in four days — yes, it can be done. I finished a 2K-word piece yesterday around noon. That made a total of 4,200 words for the week in just client work. I might even take today off. I was embarrassed to find out that…

Writer Wednesday: The Great Compromise

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What’s on the iPod: Revelation Blues by The Tallest Man on Earth If you want to get anything done, just put a vacation on your radar. So far this week I’ve written two articles and I’m talking with two client prospects on various project possibilities. And I’m probably going to be revising content on the…

5 Ways to Kill Your Writing Career

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What’s on the iPod: Peace Sign by We Were Promised Jetpacks Without a house project going on all the time, I’ve come away from my weekends feeling positively bored by Sunday night. I think that’s good — I’m eager to get back to work, and I’ve managed to read a lot more than I have…

8 responses to “5 Ways to Kill Your Writing Career”

Anne Wayman

July 28, 2014

Nice… and I've been in a work-related bubble recently, with hardly time to poke my head out… good reminder to get back to connecting.
Cheryl Bryan

July 28, 2014

I agree with Anne. Good reminder. And a good analogy. It might be a little harder than just popping a bubble, but we don't have to break down concrete walls — or travel miles — to make connections!
Gabriella

July 28, 2014

Good stuff, and funny you pick this topic for today. On Friday I got an email from a freelance writer that immediately made me think of you.

So the guy used to be an in-house editor and then went freelance. So he emails me last week and asks if I can be a source for an article he's writing on how to work with the media. I say, sure, just tell me when you'd like to do a quick phone interview.

His response tells me he's not serious and that he's unlikely to be successful: "Part of my freelancing career also involves watching my daughter and she's a massive distraction. While I'd love to talk to you, would you mind providing a tip or two via email?"

First, we now know he's not serious about this career. And second, no, sorry, dude. I won't email you written tips so you can just copy and paste my writing into an article under your byline.

Lori, please tell me I'm not nuts here and that your reaction was similar to mine…
Paula

July 28, 2014

Lori, I met a woman a couple years back who proudly called herself a writer. She wrote poems and a column and articles for a weekly newspaper – but she wasn't paid. When I suggested she use her clips to find a paying market she acted offended and said real writers write for the love of it, not for money. I said, "This real writer has bills to pay and can't afford to write for free." I interpreted that she was afraid her work wasn't good enough to merit pay.

Gabriella, sounds like the guy was also too lazy to transcribe or even play back and interview to find quotes.
Lori Widmer

July 28, 2014

Same here, Anne and Cheryl. I have to remind myself to mingle occasionally, as well. 🙂

Gabriella, that's the same reaction I'd have, too! I get that kids are distractions, but how hard is it to say "Look, I work from home too, and right now I have my daughter. It may be a little noisy, but if you're okay with that…"

To that point, I interviewed a corporate exec last week, and damned if his kids weren't interrupting! I think it's more than acceptable and hey, it makes you that much more human.

Paula, point me at her. I need to have a little chat with that woman. She's out of her living mind if she thinks what we do isn't "real" enough. My guess is her reaction is defending her reasons for NOT charging more than a smear against our way of doing it. And I have a similar interpretation — she's not charging because she's letting fear get in the way. Or maybe she's the type who believes that charging now means it's serious and no longer fun?
Gabriella

July 28, 2014

Totally agree, Lori!

I'm happy to interview somebody who says there may be a little background noise because then I've been able to build rapport by saying, "Great, because on my end, my dog's usually quiet as a church mouse but every once in a while, he'll start making noises."

Then we both laugh and there's a smidge of a bond there.

Glad it wasn't just me.
Paula

July 29, 2014

Those interruptions can be the best part of some interviews! Dogs barking (okay, it's usually my dog) always leads to a brief "what kind of dog?" conversation. Kids interrupting is fine, especially when our calls are intruding on their family time.

The funniest interruptions I had were during a call with a radio & TV personality who is a balance of polished pro and longtime New Yorker. She was doing the call from home while they were having the kitchen redone. She had to take a couple questions from the carpenters, shout to her son not to walk on the floor that had just been finished (luckily she set the phone down before yelling), and tell her hungry son that they'd have to eat out since they can't get into the kitchen. Talk about humanizing!
Lori Widmer

July 29, 2014

That IS humanizing, Paula! Neat story. 🙂