Archives for August 2008

Five Questions to Help Beat the Blasé Blues

August 21, 2008 by david 11 Comments

by James Chartrand
When you first realize that you’re going to do something you’ve always dreamed about, it’s exciting. The feelings that swirl around and the obvious potential fills your mind. You’re doing it. You’re going to be a freelance writer. You’re on your way – finally!

After a few weeks, or months, or maybe even a year or two, you might realize that you’re feeling blasé. Okay, yes, you love your job, and being a writer is great, but the shine has gone out of it.

It’s a job, more or less.
Then what? Well, then you have choices to make. You can find another bright new shiny to chase, or you can sit down and have a good think.

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A Reflection on Success

August 21, 2008 by david 8 Comments

By Mary Hay Davis

Sophia Loren said, “Getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith in yourself. That is why some people with mediocre talent, but with great inner drive, go much further than people with vastly superior talent.”

Each of us travels our own unique road throughout our writer’s journey, and it’s unlikely that any two of us got to this point in exactly the same manner.

There are two things, however, we should all share — a deep-seated faith in our personal talents, as well as an unwavering commitment to bringing those talents to light.

How many of us have ever rushed to the mailbox (or our inbox) on a daily basis, to eagerly await the chance of an official acceptance letter to appear? We become hyper focused on receiving some form of validation, and this process often becomes the Holy Grail for many writers. We become so focused on having others corroborate our merit and talent that we forget what really delineates successful writers from those who are not is an unyielding belief in oneself.

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To Niche or Not to Niche?

August 21, 2008 by david 12 Comments

by Terreece Clarke

Much ado is made about niches – where to find one, how to break into one, who has them on sale, etc. Writing experts, in making their cases for and instructing about niches, often don’t talk about when writers and niches don’t mix.

Curiosity Killed the Niche

Ravenous curiosity is one reason writers may decide to forgo having a niche. There are writers who are very passionate about one or a few subjects. They could spend hundreds of years researching and writing about them. Other writers are curious about and are able to research a wide variety of subjects and while one may love to garden, the thought of spending the next 30 years of their career writing about it makes them want to run back to a cubicle – at Enron.

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Stop Being Your Own Worst Freelancing Enemy

August 19, 2008 by david 34 Comments

by Jodee Redmond

When Megatron posted the FWJ Mega Icebreaker, I noticed that there were some readers who shared that really wanted to write but that they were afraid to apply for jobs. I really felt for all of you, because I have a pretty good idea about what that’s like.

True Confession Time: I feel that way sometimes, too.

There. I said it. And since I’m among friends, I’ll share some more. When I’m feeling particularly insecure, I even imagine how a prospective client would respond when I send in my resume and samples. It goes something like this:

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How to Write a Freelance Writer Resume

August 15, 2008 by david 36 Comments

by Jodee Redmond

When you are looking for freelance writing jobs, you need to have an up-to-date resume to show to prospective employers. I’m going to share how I have set up my own. I hope you will find this information helpful.

The resume that I send out to prospective client that I am contacting online is written in a chronological style. I put my name and e-mail address at the top of the page. If a client wants my mailing address after I’ve been hired, then I will provide it at that point.

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Finding Freelance Writing Jobs: Interview at LoveToKnow.com

August 12, 2008 by david 11 Comments

by Jodee Redmond

Recently, I was asked to give an interview on the topic of finding freelance writing jobs by the folks over at LoveToKnow.com. Please feel free to stop by and check it out.

The LTK Freelance Writing channel is a new one for them and they have some great articles up already. Now that the channel is “live,” they will be adding content on a regular basis, so you may want to bookmark it.

Writing Samples: What to Show a Potential Client

August 8, 2008 by david 18 Comments

by Jodee Redmond

One of our readers sent an e-mail recently wondering about writing samples and what you should share with potential clients. I’ve been giving this some thought and this is what I’ve come up with:

If you know what topic or theme the client wants to hire a writer for, then provide a sample along the same lines. Now, some ads are not that specific about the topic that a client wants you to cover, so check the ad closely for the type of writing the client is looking for and provide them with a sample that reflects it.

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Learn How to Say No To a Client The Right Way

August 1, 2008 by david 10 Comments

by Jodee Redmond

When you are starting out as a freelancer, your focus is on getting work and building your business. That should always be your goal, but there will be times when you can’t take on any more work or you realize after learning more about the project that you aren’t the right person for the job.

You will need to learn how to say No.

The word No is very small but it’s a hard one to say for many of us. A toddler has no problem saying No to just about anyone and anything, but they soon learn that there a consequences to saying No to people who are bigger and more powerful than they are.

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