To celebrate hitting the 200+ mark, I'm offering a special giveaway.
First prize gets an hour's worth of time with me (a $100 value) and a free copy of one of my three writing-related books:
- Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: The Writer's Guide to Making Money Ghostwriting and Coauthoring Books (Kindle edition)
- Ready, Aim, Specialize! Create your own Writing Specialty and Make More Money, second edition (Kindle edition)
- Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money (Kindle edition)
Depending on how many entries I get, I may offer a second prize, too, which will be 30 minutes of consulting time with me.
How do you participate? Post a comment on this thread and tell me about an aspect of freelancing you'd like to know more about--or a topic you'd like me to see me talk more about on my blog--by Saturday, March 12, 2011. I'll then have my five-year-old son pull names at random, and will announce the winner(s) here.
Thanks and I look forward to working with the winner(s)!
I'd really like an article on effective methods of keeping your client-base at a healthy level. It's something I struggle with as publishers retire titles or go out of business all together.
ReplyDeleteThe hardest part for me with freelancing is getting started. I think I'm a qualified journalist, I have my degree, I know my AP style guide... but I don't have much in the way of clips. I think I can write competently on anything I'm assigned, but how do you convince someone of that when you don't have anything to point to yet?
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly...
ReplyDeleteHow about an article on how to keep a positive writing attitude during these tough economic times?
Thanks.
Cindy
P.S. great blog and website!!!
Hi Kelly! What a great idea!! I'd like to enter! Here's what I think you should do a webinar or a blog on: contracts, rights, what articles you can resell, spec writing, etc. The legalities of trying to make money in this career. Like, when you have not signed a contract and they go ahead and publish it (and pay you), who has the rights?
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly,
ReplyDeleteCongrats on hitting 200+ followers! I'd love to read your tips on moving from front-of-book to the feature well.
Susan
Hi Kelly,
ReplyDeleteThanks for running running this contest. I'd be interested in your thoughts on the best way to assemble a professional looking portfolio; what specific type of folder to use, what content to include, how to assemble the content, etc. Although many pitches are submitted by email, face to face meting with editors still occur (at conferences, for example).
Thanks, Kelly.
Paul Vachon
I don't have a specific topic I'd like to see you talk about here, but please keep sharing!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on this milestone! I'm interested in how to move from one niche market to other things. I find that writers can be typecast, as do actors, so the move over into another area of interest can almost be more difficult than starting altogether was.
ReplyDeletehi Kelly! I'd love to read more about follow-ups: how to do them properly without being annoying.
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the milestone!
I'd be interested in learning the best way to find one's niche. I seem to be niche-less...although I'm sure that can't be the case. :)
Thank you,
Elizabeth
Congrats, Kelly! My question is about diversifying your client base. What is the optimal mix in terms of making sure one client doesn't dominate your workload?
ReplyDeleteI also have a question about your recommendation for good writer conferences or other development opportunities.
Congrats, Kelly! I'd love to know how you develop a specialty in a particular area of interest. If you don't have any clips in that area, where do you start?
ReplyDeleteThanks so much.
Jen
Networking. Seriously, I need social help. The last time I answered, "What do you do?" it was "Nothing...I mean, I write." (Cringe).
ReplyDeleteI'd love to learn about how to keep focused while managing multiple (and often very different) projects. I'd also like to learn how to approach editors to secure regular assignments.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on getting to 200+!
Hi Kelly! Like Sean, I am trying to break into print. I'd love to see some strategies that could help me showcase my skills and move beyond writing for the dreaded content farms.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Marijke -- getting out of our comfort zone. I want to write more about food, less about health. Well, less about the healthcare industry. But it pays my bills, so how do I segue to a different area and prove my expertise?
ReplyDeleteI'd like to hear more about how to get more corporate history book writing gigs.
ReplyDeleteHow about a post on how to manage growth? I'd like to grow, but I don't want to be overwhelmed by landing too many clients at the same time. So, part managed growth, part time management.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to hear about what you do to keep a good work flow.
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly, I love your blog. I would like to learn more about starting up a freelance business, with focus on securing corporate clients and ghostwriting. I've got 20+ years exp. writing in the corporate world, but very few writing samples to present.
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly! I would love to read more about ways to find the best publications for your ideas. And also how to negotiate a better rate for a magazine article. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly, I'd like to learn more about juggling projects and effective follow up. Congrats on reaching 200!
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly,
ReplyDeleteAll of these comments are great ideas. I'd like to hear how blogging helps promote your career.
Hi Kelly-- fantastic giveaway! I need help with a plan for getting my foot in the door. I virtually paralyzed right now. Would love to pick your brain!
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly, I'm having trouble getting and staying organized. I just had an editor tell me to get back with her on two projects in 18 months! How am I to keep track of that? Please put my name in the hat. Thanks, Carol
ReplyDeleteHeya Kel,
ReplyDeleteAs always, I love the blog!
There are two things I'd like to see:
1. How to turn an article into a book chapter (specific example would be great.)
2. More on reslants (again, an example in being able to compare two articles to visually see the differences would be helpful.)
Thanks! :-)
Tony
I'm interested in how to build up assignments being a magazine freelance writer, and if this approach is any different than the way you would get copy writing assignments. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteCongrats!
ReplyDeleteI'd love some advice on how to get started with ghostwriting and how to market ghostwriting services.
Thanks, Fiona
Hey Kelly! Love reading your stuff! I'd actually like an article about marketing techniques. I'm hitting a bit a dry spell so I'd like to know of effective ways to bring in more business.
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on reaching those 200+ followers. I would like to see an article on both managing your workload and continuing to market yourself to keep work coming in. I have a real problem getting that right. Thank you.
Hi Kelly!
ReplyDeleteI loved your article In Writer's Digest this month and would love to get into ghost writing!
I'm a complete newbie to all of this, so my major questions revolve around getting started. How do I make myself look like a pro?
How do you find(and get) stable writing/editing jobs?
Also how to self publish your book if you are having trouble finding an agent etc?
How to use resources like Writer's Market effectively?
Thank you!
Hey Kelly,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contest and congrats on the milestone! I'd love it if you'd cover how to approach agents.
Cheers!
Hi Kelly,
ReplyDeleteI'd like to enter the contest. One aspect of reslanting I am curious about deals with an ethical issue: Is it unethical to use your corporate clients as sources for articles in consumer publications? For example, I am working on a white paper that has given me a ton of ideas for trade publications. I should probably use different sources for the trade publication articles, right?
Another blog idea would be on finding the right accountant. In honor of tax season, what special considerations should full-time freelancers have when choosing an accountant.
Hi Kelly. I'd like to know how I can possibly stay inside writing when beautiful spring days arrive and my bike starts calling to me and my brain is trying to figure out what to make for dinner. I believe in discipline, but it's nice to cut class now and then. I love Elizabeth's use of the word niche-less. It might make a good article title. Seriously, I want to know what it means to have "corporate clients." Does that translate to writing brochures, newsletters, form letters or what? I've read text on various websites that I like to just pick apart because it was not well written. How do you get a business to become a client and how do you choose the ones to whom you can "deliver"with confidence? I'm corporate clueless.
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly,
ReplyDeleteI agree with the previous comment re: finding commercial clients. Also, I would like to see a 1,2,3 guide to using social networking efficiently. How to find/build readership for a blog. What's the point of tweeting for someone who's just sitting home writing articles? What is there to tweet or post other than what story you just got published and where it landed (promotion people say not to do)? That kind of stuff plus the nuts and bolts.
Hi Kelly, congratulations on 200 followers! I read your blog regularly, also.
ReplyDeleteI would like to hear about your process of taking your freelance knowledge, putting it into book form, and publishing it.
Thanks!
Hi Kelly,
ReplyDeleteI'd like to read how you have handled lousy contracts; if you've had any success in renegotiating terrible terms and taming the rights-grabbing clauses that seem to have cropped up everywhere.
- Lisa
I also am interested in a bit of hand holding through the first few steps. Jumping into freelancing is a bit intimidating. I understand the query process. I have a degree in English and am actually a thesis away from a Master's degree, so I am a pretty experienced researcher. I guess the breakdown occurs for me when it comes to figuring out what sort of research is needed-- who to interview, how researched an article needs to be etc. I am also interested in fields like health and science, and they seem so highly specialized that I am not sure where to start with them.
ReplyDeleteI lost my original post to the google sign in monster ;) In hopes that it will magically be there when I hit post again, I am going to post a second question. My real interest is corporate writing. After college I basically took 10 yrs off to have babies. I am now ready to jump back into the field, but with little experience other than volunteer, I am not sure how. I would rather freelance because I want a flexible schedule. (one of my kids has some special needs) Any thoughts?
ReplyDeleteSo my question is maybe one you can't answer. ( *sigh* ) But I'll ask anyway. I'm stuck on branding. I want to start up a webpage and blogging regularly in order to build author platform (I've written a memoir but all the agents have come back with, "Great book! But you don't have any platform. Call me next year when you do.")
ReplyDeleteSo my main question is how to brand myself. What kind of self-interviewing do I do to figure out who I want to portray to the public? What's my tagline?! :) Also (and this probably complicates things) I don't want to "become an expert" in my memoir's topic. I've moved out of that realm, can still write about it, and wouldn't even mind doing some public speaking on it -- but I don't want it to be my public face.
Thoughts?
Congrats on reaching 200 followers, Kelly!
ReplyDeleteIf I had to come up with topic suggestions, I'd request more info on taking your career from freelance writer to author.
I have to say -- I think your blog is fabulous. I love that you share advice based on your experiences. The month of templates knocked my socks off, and your info on ghostwriting is the best I've found. Just keep doing what you're doing, and I'll keep reading!
:)
I know others have mentioned this, but would love more information on how to get corporate clients. I write about nutrition and see SO many websites and custom pubs that include nutrition information but I search and search and can't seem to find who to contact or any possible way to contact them. So, I'm looking for info beyond the basic--go to the custom pub council or look for a masthead in the pubs you pick up at the grocery store or MDs office. Websites seem to be especially difficult. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI love this blog. Reading it is one of my regular morning routines. I'd love to know more about achieving some kind of balance with writing articles and adding bread-and-butter clients, (editing/business writing/trade pubs?). I write about topics in two very competitive areas -- parenting and travel. How to branch out without generating too much chaos, and in what direction?
ReplyDeleteKelly, I would love know more about writing for custom publications, and about the process for creating a portfolio of sample pieces that are outside of your usual subject or style niche.
ReplyDeleteI'd also like to see info on portfolios, with lots of nitty gritty details. Just subscribed to your blog and I love it! Thanks for writing =)
ReplyDeleteKelly,
ReplyDeleteI'm new to this so I would be interested in learning a bit of "Best Practices" for everything including organizing time, queries, contracts, etc. Also, tech tools that you recommend and solutions that have made your work more efficient.