The prize(s)? A copy of my book on more efficient freelancing, Ready, Aim, Specialize! Create your own Writing Specialty and Make More Money (Kindle version)--and the opportunity for a one-page query critique by me, which will be posted anonymously on this blog. Ready, Aim is a great resource for new freelancers and includes 20 successful queries and a how-to chapter that walks you through the process of pitching, selling, and writing an article from concept to clip.
***And speaking of efficient freelancing, stay tuned for next week, when I'll feature a Q and A from Gretchen Roberts, author of the new ebook, Full-time Income in Part-time Hours. Gretchen's running a fun contest for writing parents; check it out!
Any advice on working with start-ups? I feel like I've found great gigs with subjects and editors I adore. The downside has been either low pay, despite urgings that it will increase, or sluggish growth which poor exposure. Maybe it's time to move on?
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly! I'd love to hear more legal advice for writers--such as when you write features for regional parenting pubs, and they do pay but don't give you a contract for any of the articles. Does that mean those pieces can be re-sold to other regional parenting pubs?
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly,
ReplyDeleteI've been spending hours poking around your archives since I recently discovered your blog. I just and to say that I love the step-by-step service style. you don't find freelancing often broken down into such managable, actionable tasks.
One topic I think your readers could benefit from a similar treatment on is y process of moving from idea to pitch. Not so much on where to get ideas (which is itself a whole other meaty topic) but rather on the process you follow once you have an idea...finding the right market, reaching out to sources and early research.
Thanks, Kelly. I'd love to see more of your writing templates and critiques. I really enjoy those.
ReplyDeleteKelly, I've had a few good pitches (even one you were kind enough to review) that drew blanks -- not even rejections -- from the most-likely magazines I was able to identify. And so I have some good ideas -- and much of the research and people to interview -- sitting around looking like they should be money. How can I identify appropriate places to send pitches (esp. when Writer's Market seems pretty limited)? And the follow-up question: So many of my good pitches would be perfect for Rodale publications, but they're reputed to never use freelancers. Is that true? If not, how can I find the crack in that wall?
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your wonderful guidance through your books and your blog. I've not yet given up hope on my quest to become a former lawyer like you!
I have a Tech Tool of the Week feature on my blog, where I highlight a tech tool that's helpful for freelancers. What are some of your favorite and most helpful tech tools?
ReplyDeleteKelly,
ReplyDeleteI would love to hear more about writing for trade magazines, especially for new freelancers just finding a niche. What's a good way to get some credit behind your name?
Love the blog. I was so excited to find your blog after nearly wearing out my copy of Six Figure Freelancing. Your advice and encouragement have been invaluable. Really.
Thanks,
Steph.
Howdy Kelly,
ReplyDelete1st off, congrats on reaching 300 followers! :)
For the blog, I'd love to know more about retaining clients (easy money!), such as how to stay in-contact with them when we aren't working on projects together & simply how to keep them coming back
Kelly,
ReplyDeleteCongrats on reaching the 300 mark! I'm interested in learning about the best way to expand a writing career to include public speaking as additional income stream.
Thanks,
Paul Vachon
I would love to get some ideas about how to streamline publication research, either general information-gathering or in order to tailor an idea to that pub. Tips on how to get a thorough picture of the publication and its needs while still staying efficient would be awesome!
ReplyDeleteI'd love more information about targeting and finding trade magazines. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI love your blog! (Yes, I know sucking up will not increase my chances of winning.) One of the things I struggle with is balancing the business of writing - invoicing, marketing, etc. - with actual writing time. It's easy to let the "busy work" take over and drive my day, when the writing should be my main focus. Thanks for all you do!
ReplyDeleteHey Kelly,
ReplyDeleteNot sure if the contest is still open, but wanted to say that I'd love to hear more from when you were first getting started. As someone who left a FT job in publishing in August to pursue a FT freelance career (yes, many people think I'm crazy) I'd be interested in tips from when you started out—how you works to improve your skills, for example, since continuing to learn your craft is such an important thing for a writer.
Congrats Kelly! I'd love it if you'd write more about pitching glossy national mags since it seems like you've written for a lot of them. I know you don't do as much of that anymore, but I imagine more than a few of us are interested in how to break into bigger name pubs with wider circulation if we don't already have an "in" with an editor. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteKelly,
ReplyDeleteCongrats first of all...
I would like to see more on building a marketing platform for a book that I would be writing.
You've published your own, so your take on that topic would be great. :)
Kelly, What's the best way to proceed when we find one of our books being made available as a free download (piracy)? Congrats on your success! Fran
ReplyDelete