Dollars and Deadlines

Dear Writer: Proving Yourself as a New Freelancer

2012-02-10T17:24:00.000-08:00

From day one of my freelance career, my focus wason making money--not because I'm greedy, but because I wanted to sustain asuccessful career and I knew I had to take a businesslike approach to my newcareer. (If you're a regular reader of my blog or books, you probably know Iwas an unhappy lawyer for years, and once I ditched that career, I didn't wantto have to go back to it.)

Well, since then I've written dozens of articlesfor publications like The Writer and Writer's Digest. I realizethat many of the articles I wrote even a decade before are still timely today.So here's a "blast from the past" from a column called "DearWriter," where I used to answer reader questions for The Writer. (Thiswas back in the days before blogs!) Note that the advice I offered more than adecade before is still good advice today!

Question: How do you convey to a magazine editor that you’re qualified to write a particular article? If youhave personal experience with the subject, it seems easy. But what ifyou’ve conducted research, interviewed people or done other legwork as you puttogether your query or proposal? Is this enough to qualify yourself as an“expert” in the eyes of an editor?

Answer: Good question. When starting out, manywriters focus on subjects that they have firsthand knowledge of or havepersonally experienced. In fact, this is a good way to get your foot inthe door as a new or relatively inexperienced writer. For example, ifyou’ve successfully changed careers, you might pitch an article about the stepsto take when considering switching jobs. If you’ve managed to save 30percent of your income—while raising a family—you might use that experience toquery an article on simple but effective ways to reduce your expenses.

That being said, though, it’s probably impossibleto have personal knowledge of all of the subjects you may want to writeabout, but you can still demonstrate that you know more about the topic thanthe average person. The way you do that is with your query letter, which shouldlet the editor know that you’ve done your homework ahead of time.

Consider a query for a diet story that starts outwith “Americans are overweight. They eat too much and exercise too little”compared with a query that starts off with: “According to recent statisticsfrom the Centers for Disease Control, 55 percent of the U.S. adult population isoverweight.” Which query is more compelling? Which proves to the editor thatyou’ve done some background research?

Asyou develop the story idea, include relevant facts, statistics or other piecesof information that reveal your knowledge of the subject. Then, in thefinal paragraph (what I call the “I-am-so-great” paragraph), highlight yourqualifications and demonstrate to the editor why you are the best writerfor this particular story.

Ifyou have personal experience with the subject matter, mention that, but if youdon’t, emphasize what you’re bringing to the piece—that you’ve already done alot of background research or have received permission from the person you wantto profile to write about him or her. By reminding the editor of thesefacts, you can convince her that you are an “expert” of sorts—which will help younail the assignment.

***Areyou a new freelancer? Then check out my new ebook, Dollars and Deadlines' Guide to Selling your First Article, which provides a simple, provenprocess for getting into print, or Dollars and Deadlines' 10 Essential Freelance Templates.

Can you Specialize and Diversify at the Same Time? Sure!

2012-02-03T13:34:00.000-08:00

I've been sharing the results of the 2012 Freelance Income Survey the last couple of posts (how much money freelancers made and the types of work freelancers are doing), and something occurred to me. Especially in today's changing freelance market, it makes sense to diversify the types of work you're doing. That doesn't mean you can't continue to specialize, though.

Here's what I mean. Very early in my freelance career I realized that most of the writers I knew who making a good living weren't generalists. They chose to specialize, whether it was writing about business and technology; health and parenting; parenting and technology; or health and fitness. When I consciously chose to specialize (in health, fitness, and nutrition), my business took off. Even today, I find it easier to navigate the freelance world as a specialist with a depth of knowledge in several popular subjects.

That doesn't mean, though, that I don't diversify the type of work I do. In the last couple of years, my work has included:

Writing original consumer magazine and trade magazine articles
Writing original online magazine articles and blog posts
Selling reprint rights to previously-published articles to U.S. markets
Selling reprint rights to previously-published articles to non-U.S. markets
Public speaking at a variety of events and venues
Teaching online classes and leading Webinars for pay
Collecting royalties from traditionally-published books
Collecting royalties from POD and e-books (both fiction and nonfiction)
Ghostwriting books and book proposals
Editing books
Ghostwriting articles
Consulting with/coaching potential book authors and freelance writers

While the overwhelming majority of my work falls into the health/wellness/fitness/nutrition area (or my other niche, successful freelancing), you can see that the type of work I do varies. My point? Yes, I suggest you specialize, but that you perform a variety of different kinds of writing about your specialty as well. You'll stay more flexible in a challenging economy, and help boost your overall freelance income.

***Freelancers, what do you think? Two questions--number one, do you agree with my idea of specializing while diversifying? And number two, what topics do you want to know more about? I've been getting hundreds of hits on the blog lately but few comments. If you find this blog valuable, please chime in and tell me so...and what else you want to know about, freelance-wise. Thank you!

So Where's the Money Coming From? What Freelancers are Working On

2012-02-01T13:58:00.000-08:00

Last post, I shared the income results from the 2012 Freelance Income Survey. Now let's take a closer look at what types of work freelancers are doing to produce their income.

Here are the results to question #5, which asked what kinds of work you performed for pay in 2011:

What types of work were you paid to perform during 2011? (Select all that apply.)

Consumer magazine articles.

110

11.43%

Trade magazine articles.

8.21%

Custom magazine articles.

9.15%

Academic magazine articles.

1.87%

Newspaper articles.

6.13%

Online/Web articles.

133

13.83%

Reprinting/reselling previously published work.

3.33%

Writing your own books (for traditional publishers.)

2.49%

Publishing your own books (for POD publishers or as ebooks).

0.83%

Ghostwriting/coauthoring books/book proposals for clients.

3.12%

Blogging.

8.84%

Speaking/teaching (any kind--in person tele seminars Webinars etc.)

4.05%

Editing (any kind).

8.21%

Copywriting/writing for corporations/businesses.

7.38%

Writing for nonprofit organizations.

3.43%

Consulting.

3.01%

PR/media relations work.

2.18%

Other (please specify in comment field.)

2.49%

But are the most common types of work paying off? Yes, according to the answers to question 6, where I asked respondents to list their top five sources of income, by work type:

Trade magazine articles.

9.86%

Custom magazine articles.

7.21%

Academic magazine articles.

1.92%

Newspaper articles.

3.61%

Online/Web articles.

15.38%

Reprinting/reselling previously published work.

0.48%

Writing your own books (for traditional publishers.)

1.20%

Publishing your own books (for POD publishers or as ebooks).

0.72%

Ghostwriting/coauthoring books/book proposals for clients.

4.09%

Blogging.

9.13%

Speaking/teaching (any kind--in person tele seminars Webinars etc.)

4.09%

Editing (any kind).

9.86%

Copywriting/writing for corporations/businesses.

9.38%

Writing for nonprofit organizations.

3.85%

Consulting.

2.64%

PR/media relations work.

1.44%

Other (please specify in comment field.)

2.16%

So, more respondents are making money from writing online articles (15.50 percent) than any other one specific type of writing, followed by consumer magazine articles (12.83 percent), trade magazine articles and editing (tied at 9.69 percent), copywriting/writing for corporations and businesses (9.44 percent), blogging (9.20 percent).

I'm sharing the complete answers to these questions so you can see what type of work your fellow freelancers are doing and determine whether it's time to add it (or more of it) to your repertoire. If one in ten freelancers are making money blogging, and you're not, that may be an area to explore. But the opposite is true, too--if less than 1 percent of freelancers are making money publishing their own books (whether POD or ebooks), that may mean there's an opportunity that not many writers are currently pursuing.

Regardless, I hope you find these results thought-provoking, and helpful. I know it will be for me as I plan future blog posts; after all, the primary purpose of this blog is to help my readers. Let me know if I'm doing my job. :)

***Are you a full-time freelancer who's constantly pestered by people who want to know how to get started in the business? :) Or are you new to freelancing, and want to make the jump from unpublished newbie to published writer? Check out my new ebooks, Dollars and Deadlines' Guide to: Selling your First Article and Dollars and Deadlines' 10 Essential Freelance Templates. Each is designed for writers who are new to freelancing, and will help you transition from unpublished to published writer.

2012 Freelance Income Survey Results--The News is Good

2012-01-30T13:39:00.000-08:00

First, thanks so much to the 171 freelancers who have participated in this year's Freelance Income Survey. (Click here for the 2011 survey results and the 2010 survey results.)

In short, the results are promising. Out of the 171 respondents, more than two-thirds (69 percent!) made more money in 2011 than 2010, and 12 precent made about the same amount.

And how much money is that? In 2011, our full-time freelancers grossed the following amounts:

16.96 percent made less than $20,000
22.81 percent made between $20,000 and $39,999
16.37 percent made between $40,000 and $59,999 (including me)
15.79 percent made between $60,000 and $79,999
12.87 percent made between $80,000 and $99,999
15.20 percent broke the six-figure mark, making more than $100,000.

Breaking those numbers down, more than one-quarter (28 percent) of full-time freelancers made more than $80,000 last year, and a full 43 percent made more than $60,000. That's pretty awesome news, especially compared to the 2011 survey which asked freelancers about their 2010 income:

27 percent made less than $20,000
23 percent made between $20,000 and $39,999
22 percent made between $40,000 and $59,999
14 percent made between $60,000 and $79,999
7 percent made between $80,000 and $99,999
7 percent made more than $100,000

So, overall, freelancers (at least the ones responding to my survey) are making more money. That's great news! Next up, I'll share what kinds of work freelancers are doing, and which types are the most lucrative.

***Are you a full-time freelancer who's constantly pestered by people who want to know how to get started in the business? (I know I am!) :) Or are you a new to freelancing, and want to make the jump from unpublished newbie to published writer? Check out my new ebooks, Dollars and Deadlines' Guide to: Selling your First Article and Dollars and Deadlines' 10 Essential Freelance Templates. Each is designed for writers who are new to freelancing, and will help you transition from unpublished to published writer.

Do You Write Fiction Too? Five Tips for Fitting it In

2012-01-28T05:32:00.000-08:00

While the lion's share of my work is nonfiction (mostly ghostwriting these days), I'm a novelist as well. And I'm not alone--there are a lot of freelancers out there who have a novel or short stories in the works. That's why I was happy to write a guest post for author Kelly Stone on how to fit fiction into your writing life. I've been enjoying her 90-day writing challenge (well, not enjoying it all the time, but I'm glad I'm doing it) and plan to finish my new novel soon.

**Next up, the 2012 Income Survey results! Stay tuned! :)

**And finally, readers, I'm curious--do you write both fiction and nonfiction? Let me know!

You're Doing it Wrong (and How to do it Right the First Time)

2012-01-23T14:23:00.000-08:00

Ever seen the movie Mr. Mom? (Yeah, I'm dating myself but it still makes me laugh.) There's a scene where Michael Keaton (a/k/a Mr. Mom) is dropping his older son off at school for the first time, and isn't following the correct drop-off procedure. From the backseat, his son cries, "Dad, you're doing it wrong!" Keaton ignores him, muttering, "Don't tell me I'm doing it wrong. I know how to do it."

Finally, another parent waves him down. Keaton rolls down his window only to have her tell him, "You're doing it wrong."(For the record, he's driving the opposite direction he should be. So yeah, he's doing it wrong.)

When I teach article writing, lead a Webinar, or speak at a writers' conference, I caution writers about doing it wrong. I want you to do it right. And if you're a new freelancer who wants to sell an article to an online or print market, that means pitching an idea you're uniquely qualified to write. Over the years, I've developed a simple, but effective 10-step process to help new writers sell their first articles. Now my new ebook that includes it, Dollars and Deadlines' Guide to Selling your First Article, is available through Kindle.

Experienced writers, this ebook isn't for you--although it's perfect for those friends and family members pestering you for advice about getting published. If you're new to the freelancing world, though, or want to finally see your byline in print or pixels--and get paid for it--this is the ebook you need. It includes print and online market resources, tips on coming up with compelling ideas, sample queries, and advice on researching your article--in short, everything you need to sell your first piece.

This ebook is only the first of a series of titles I'm working on. Look for more coming soon, including one on book publishing myths (and the truth behind them), and one on making more money from the same work.

So, readers, please spread the word about my ebook, and let me know what you think of it. And let me ask you--what topics would you like to see covered in an ebook? I'm listening--or rather, reading. :)

The 3 Questions Every (Successful) Book Author Must Answer

2012-01-21T16:02:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week, I spoke at the Vernon Area Public Library about getting published--and paid--for your work. I talked about selling articles to print and online markets and the different options available to book authors today, including POD, e-books, and of course traditional publishers. I explained how traditional publishers work, the pros and cons of opting for POD, what platform is, and what an agent can (and can't) do for you as an author.

But possibly the most important point I shared with would-be authors was this. If you want to publish a book, you must be able to answer three critical questions:

1. Who is the audience for your book? (If you say "everyone," you've got a lot of work ahead of you.)

2. Why will readers buy your book? (Even if you plan to give away an ebook for free, you still have to attract readers. And if you expect people to pay for a book--which as an author, I think it quite reasonable--you've got to be able to give them reasons to shell out money for it.)

3. How will you, as the author, reach them? (This is the most challenging part of writing books--actually selling them. Traditional publishers expect you to have a comprehensive marketing and promotion plan, regardless of whether you're writing fiction or nonfiction. And if you're going it on your own, through POD, an e-book, or becoming a self-publisher, then all of the marketing falls to you.)

I know, you're thinking you just want to write your book and not worry about selling it. Well, dream on. Last year there were more than 3,330,000 books published (by traditional publishers, POD companies, and as ebooks) so you're competing against literally millions of other titles. You can't just publish your book, cross your fingers, and hope it sells. You've got to be willing to market it for months--more likely, years.

Look at it this way--I'll assume you don't just want to publish a book--you want people to buy it, or at least read it, as well. So consider these three critical questions as you write your book, and you'll be better positioned to sell it when it is published.

**Last call for survey responses...we're at 168 right now. If writing (and writing-related work) is your only source of income, I consider you a full-time freelancer. So please take the 2012 Freelance Income Survey...results coming soon! :) Thanks very much.

6 Ghostwriting Myths, Dispelled

2012-01-17T05:50:00.000-08:00

I was at my local Caribou several weeks ago when the man next to me struck up a conversation. (I was wearing my Instant Ghostwriter: Just Add Coffee T-shirt.) We talked about what I do for a few minutes, and I dispelled a few myths about the business, like:

1. You can't make money as a ghostwriter. Yeah, I know Craigslist is teeming with ads looking for ghostwriters who will work for a "share of the proceeds" or a "percentage of royalties."Those "clients" are nonstarters. But my informal survey of ghostwriters found that they're averaging $60,000/year. Not bad for a down economy.

2. Ghostwriters are never acknowledged. If you're writing for a celebrity, then there's a good chance you'll sign a confidentiality agreement. But all of my clients have recognized me in the acknowledgments of their books. So even though I'm technically a ghost, I can use their books as part of my marketing efforts.

3. Ghostwriters don't make royalties. While ghostwriters are often paid a flat, or project fee, in some instances you can negotiate a portion of royalties. (I have!) Then if the book does well, you wind up making more money.

4. No one is hiring ghostwriters. Wrong again. Publishing experts estimate that half of New York Times bestsellers are ghostwritten, and tens of thousands of books are ghosted every year. And that's not including clients (especially Pros with Platforms) who hire freelancers to ghost speeches, article, blog posts, even Tweets. There is plenty of work out there.

5. Ghostwriting always involves writing a book from scratch. Sometimes, yes. But often I have clients who have started or outlined a book but need help completing an entire manuscript. In other instances, I will do most of the research and writing and run it by my client. Every job is different.

6. Ghostwriters only do it for the money. (Hmm, there's a great T-shirt idea!) There is some truth to this, but I've found that helping a client reach his or her dream of getting his book in print is tremendously satisfying. Plus I love the collaborative process of working with a client. It's more complicated than writing my own books, but also more fun.

**Intrigued? Want to add ghosting to your writer's CV? Then check out Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: The Writer's Guide to Making Money Ghostwriting and Coauthoring Books for everything you need to know to break into the field.

**And don't forget about my 2012 Freelance Income Survey! Please take it if you haven't already, and thank you!

9 Ways to Develop Regular Clients

2012-01-16T06:40:00.000-08:00

My latest piece, "nine ways to develop regular clients," is out in the February issue of The Writer (I'm a contributing editor there). I suggest you check it out; the ability to create and sustain lasting relationships with your editors and clients is critical to your success as a freelancer. But here's a preview of the nine techniques I suggest in the article:

1. Beat your deadlines. This isn't that hard!
2. Don't make it personal. No one likes criticism, but learn how to take it.
3. But do keep it personal. A personal relationship with a client never hurts.
4. Pitch regularly. Failure to do this is a major mistake.
5. Exceed expectations. Yeah, it's business-speak for go the extra mile. Do it anyway.
6. Expand your reach. Continue to develop your skills--you'll be more valuable to clients.
7. Express appreciation. You probably already know that I'm a big believer in saying thank you!
8. Think honey, not vinegar. In other words, be nice to your clients. Even (or especially!) when they annoy you.
9. Never say never. I don't believe in one-shot stories, and I try to avoid one-shot clients. I try to touch base with former clients several times a year; you never know when a one-time client may become a repeat one.

**Please keep those survey responses coming! I've already gathered 158 responses to my 2012 freelance income survey, and will post the results in a week or so. If you have taken it already, thank you! If you haven't, would you take a couple of minutes (it will take you less than five!) and do so...and please pass the link on to other full-time freelancers, too. I'd like to get at least 250 responses this time around. Thanks! :)

In the Chicago Area? Come See me Live & in Person!

2012-01-12T07:02:00.000-08:00

I've got two Chicago-area speaking gigs next week. On Monday, January 16th, I'll be speaking on stress management at the Woodridge Public Library at 7:00 p.m. No, you can't completely avoid stress; that's unrealistic. I focus on ways to handle it better, and reduce its impact on your mental and physical health.

On Wednesday, January 18th, I'll be making the trek up the Vernon Area Public Library to present "From Pen to Publication: How to Get your Writing in Print." This is a great program for newer freelancers, and I'll cover everything from writing articles to today's book publishing options to setting writing goals.

I hope to see some of you there--please let me know if you follow my blog! And thank you to everyone who has taken my 2012 Freelance Income Survey. I've already collected 137 responses, but it's not to late to participate. Please take a few minutes to take the survey, and pass it along to other full-time freelancers you know. Thanks! :)

Mistakes Were Made: How 2012 Will Look Different Than 2011

2012-01-10T11:57:00.000-08:00

Last post, I shared what I grossed in 2011, and that I failed to meet my income goal. That was a bummer. However, I spent the last week of 2011 revisiting my career, reevaluating my goals, and creating a new plan for 2012, so I know what happened last year. I've written about freelance mistakes before, but that doesn't mean I never make them myself. So here are my "top 5" reasons I failed to meet my 2011 income goal:

1. Too-positive thinking. In other words, I counted my proverbial chickens before they hatched. Early in 2011, I coauthored a book proposal for a client that our agent shopped around. I was certain that the book would command an advance of at least $20,000-30,000 (hopefully more!) and planned accordingly. Well, the only offer we got was for a whopping $4,000, and my client was unwilling to throw anything else in the pot. So I wound up in the spring with no book project. I'm a positive person, but in 2012, I'll be more realistic in my expectations.
2. No backup plan. The book proposal I mentioned above? Remember, I was certain it would sell to a traditional publisher, so I didn't look for any other book projects to take on because I didn't want to have too much work on my plate at once. (I'd spent three months before that busting my butt because I'd overloaded myself before and during the holidays.) Instead, I was left with no book and no backup work--which made a definite dent in my bank account. This year, I have backup plans for when I have too much work, and too little work.
3. Significant life change. For my family, 2011 was the Year of the Move. We prepped, painted, staged, and cleaned the house we'd lived in for 13 years to get it ready to sell. That was a huge time commitment that took a lot of time away from my career. Then, we had to find a house to buy (long story, but it took several months) and then actually move all of our belongings, our two children (and all of their belongings!), both of our home offices, our golden retriever, and everything else we owned from our house and the storage facility into our new house...and unpack it all. (I confess, I still have a ways to go on that--but I'll get there eventually.) I know our move hurt my career, but now that we're in our "20-Year House," I don't have to worry about this in 2012.
4. Lower-paying work. I've seen advances fall over the last few years, and the book projects I took in 2011 paid less than I would have liked. Here's the thing--I can try to negotiate for more money, but sometimes I'm in the position of saying "yes" to a project I want for less money than I'd like or saying "no" and having no work. (Remember, most of my work these days are sizable projects like ghostwritten books, so I tend to take on one or two gigs at a time. When I had a dozen or more articles under contract at any given time, this was less of an issue.) I can't always control how much money I get for a gig, but I can make an effort to negotiate more money for the work I do in 2012. And I will.
5. Inconsistent marketing. I should know better, but I admit that when I was busy, I wasn't marketing myself. Then I'd come up for air to discover I had no big project waiting for me. Yeah, I know better! But I'm sharing this so you know that even experienced freelancers make dumb mistakes sometime. This year, I'm already marketing myself more consistently and I hope I'll have a steadier workload as a result. If not? Well, then I've got my backup plan to keep me going.

**Readers, what about you? Did life circumstances or other causes keep you from meeting your income goal? Feel free to share them here--and how you plan to tackle them in 2012. And if you haven't done so, please take my quick, confidential 2012 Freelance Income Survey, and ask other freelancers to do the same. We've garnered 85 responses already but I'm shooting for at least 250 this time around. Thank you!

Straight Talk about Money: What One Freelancer Made in 2011

2012-01-09T07:34:00.000-08:00

How was 2011 for you, income-wise? Longtime readers of the blog will recall that I do an annual income survey for full-time freelancers, and the latest one is live. Please take the time (it should take less than five minutes!) to fill it out, and ask other freelancers to do the same. I'll report on results in a future post. (You can read more about the 2010 income survey results and the 2009 income survey results here.)

I can tell you that 2011 was a rough year for me. For the first time in more than a decade, I failed to meet my income goal of $60,000. Instead I grossed $51,818--and next post I'll explain why. For now, let's look at where my money came from.

The majority, about $26,750, came from book income--primarily advances for books I wrote under my own name, and for ghostwriting/coauthoring for clients. This included work I did for a book packager, work for private clients, and the small advance to update a book I coauthored.
Another $2,842 came from royalties from traditionally published books, POD books, and ebooks. Royalties are my favorite kind of money to make, and a reason I continue to promote books like Goodbye Byline. Every time someone buys a copy, I make (a little) money.
I made another $600 or so from "hand-sales" at writers' conferences and other speaking gigs. No, it's not a lot of money but people often want to buy your book after they've seen you speak, so if you're an author, you should plan to carry along a box of books whenever you do a public event.
From speaking gigs, I netted another $5,150. This included speaking at writers' conferences, libraries, and other events. This isn't as much as I've made in other years, but it's better than what I made from speaking in 2010.
I also sold another $3,556 worth of reprints. Again, this isn't a huge amount of money, but the work involved is minimal, and another source of "free" money.
The rest of my income came from writing articles and consulting (primarily for would-be authors who need help considering their book publishing options).

Even though books (both my own and those for clients) constitute most of my freelance income, you can see that I have other ways of making money, too. I've found a diversified approach works best for me, and helps me make money in a limited number of hours. Next post I'll tell you what I did wrong in 2010, and explain more about why having a variety of work helps you produce more money overall.

**Didn't take the 2011 income survey yet? Please do it now, and ask others to do the same! Thank you! :)

Webinar on January 5, 2012: Your Book Publishing Options

2012-01-04T07:03:00.000-08:00

As an author, I've tried nearly every book publishing option there is. I've published both nonfiction and fiction with big traditional publishers (e.g. Random House, Kensington) and nonfiction with smaller, niche publishers (e.g. Cumberland House, Marion Street Press). (Here's an explanation of how advances and royalties work when you sell your book to a traditional publisher.) I've worked with POD companies like CreateSpace, book packagers like Jenkins Group, and published e-books as well, and have ghostwritten/coauthored books with clients who have used all of those options. So I have a pretty good working knowledge of the pros and cons of each.

If you plan to add "book author" to your writing resume in 2012, check out my Writer's Digest Webinar on book publishing options tomorrow, January 5, 2012. You'll come away with a clear understanding of the pros and cons of each option, and be better able to evaluate which choice is right for you. Hope to "see" many of you there!

Setting your Freelance Goals for 2012

2012-01-01T13:23:00.000-08:00

This is my favorite day of the year. To me, January 1 represents promise, potential, possibility. It's also when I set my goals for the year, and I suggest you do the same for your career.

Consider the Past

To lookforward, however, you first must look back. At the end of each year, I reviewwhat types of writing work I performed, for whom, and how much money I made asa result. I also add up the amount I made from selling reprints and fromspeaking engagements so I know how much I’m making from both activities, and Ilook for trends, both good and bad.

Another issue to explore is how youspent your time last year. Look at whenprojects were assigned and when you turned them in. Are you turning around yourprofiles quickly but spending too much time on shorter, lower-paying pieces?Are those heavily-researched business articles really worth spending so muchenergy on? Remember that it’s not how much you make for a particularproject—it’s what your hourly rate turns out to be.

Finally, howdiversified were you this year? Were you working for only a handful of clientsor for dozens? (The former may be unavoidable if much of your work is writingbooks, which take much longer than articles.) Did you have lots of short,lower-paying assignments or did you focus more on bigger projects or featurestories? Does your income come from a variety of sources or only a few?

Consider the Future

So, now you know where your moneycame from. The next question is how much you want to make this year—and whatkind of work you want to perform to make it. Should you focus your efforts in aparticular area or would you rather try something new? Are you feeling burnedout and want to switch gears—and try writing fiction, for example, instead ofessays? Consider too how much time you can dedicate to “projects of the heart”compared to the work that pays your bills.

After you’ve set an annual incomegoal, determine how you’ll get there. How many hours must you write to earnthat income? If you’re freelancing fulltime, the answer may be as many asnecessary. Having a daily financial goal can help keep you on track. If yourgoal is to make $30,000 a year from freelancing, that averages to $2,500 amonth or $125 a day (with four weeks off during the year.) In other words, ifyou can average that amount of income 240 days a year, you can make $30,000 this year. Make sense?

Strive for a Balance

By setting monthly, weekly or dailyfinancial targets, you’ll be on your way to achieving your overall financialgoal this year. But remember that your writing career isn’t only about themoney. Your goals may also include non-financial ones like spending more timewriting fiction or developing a stronger voice. (One of my goals this year is to finish my latest novel, which has been languishing for months.)

That's why I suggest you build writing time into your schedulefor projects that don’t produce income (at least not yet) but are important toyou for other reasons. (Need a boost? Check out Kelly Stone's 90-day writing challenge that launches tomorrow.) Even though I write for a living, I give myself time to write for myself as well. After all, if you only focus on the bottom line and continuallytake work that bores or frustrates you, you’ll be likely to become bored andfrustrated with your career as well.

Instead, strive for a balance between themoney you want to make and the work you want to do—and both you and your bankaccount will be better off in 2012.

** Want to publish a book but aren't sure which route (i.e., traditional publishing, print-on-demand, e-publishing, or self-publishing) is right for you? Check out my Writer's Digest webinar on Thursday, January 5. You'll learn about your book publishing options today, and their pros and cons.

Eight Popular Posts from 2011 You May Have Missed

2011-12-30T10:30:00.000-08:00

Yup, 2012 is around the corner and I've been working on my list of topics I'll cover on the blog next year. I'll share what I made money-wise in 2011 (newsflash: not as much as I expected to!), why I failed to meet my income goal, and how I plan to avoid that in 2012. I'll also be conducting another freelance income survey so we can compare 2011 to 2010 and identify some of the most lucrative areas for freelancers.

But first, let's take a look at some of the most popular posts from 2011 you may have missed--and that are definitely worth reading:

Struggle with writing queries? Most new freelancers do. Follow this proven query template and boost your pitching success rate.
Many freelancers find that an LOI, or letter of introduction, is one of their most effective marketing tools. Here's how to write one.
Miss a deadline, and you risk alienating your editor or client--for good. I've never blown a deadline in 15 years. Follow my advice and you'll never miss one either.
Plenty of new writers break into national magazines with few or no clips. Use these tips and you'll see your byline in a major glossy, too.
Networking with other freelancers is essential to your success--as long as you're able to sidestep certain writers. My post on Explosives, Waifs, and Users (and other writers to avoid) got lots of traffic (and probably had some writers worrying I was talking about them!) :)
Email is an essential tool but a potential time-waster. My post on ways to use email more efficiently also garnered a lot of interest.
More freelancers are adding ghostwriting to their repertoire, so it's no surprise that my roundup of ghostwriting posts was popular.
Finally, writers were interested in what freelancers are making. The results of the 2011 income survey (and the 2010 income survey) always get a lot of hits.

Want to be a more successful freelancer in 2012? Why not preorder Writer for Hire: 101 Secrets to Freelance Success. You can write it off your taxes this year--and be one of its first readers when it releases in May. Win-win! If you're just looking for an entertaining read (which got good reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal!), I suggest White Bikini Panties, or Did You Get the Vibe?, my first novel. Enjoy! :)

Five Ways to Get More Done

2011-12-23T06:25:00.000-08:00

Jane Friedman's post on getting more done is a great read as you figure out your priorities and goals for the coming year. While her blog is aimed at fiction writers, her advice is sound for writers of all stripes.

Her five tips:
1. Decide what you'll stop doing.
2. Pay something to do stuff you don't like doing or don't need to learn.
3. Say goodbye to guilt and obligation.
4. Be good at what you do.
5. Spend the most time on what matters most to you.

As I plan my goals (professional, personal, and family-related) for the coming year, I'll be keeping these five strategies in mind. I suggest you do too.

5 Things For Freelancers to Do Before Year's End

2011-12-19T17:18:00.000-08:00

Wow, there are just two weeks left before we leave 2011 behind for 2012. I'll be taking some much-needed (and if I say so myself, much-deserved) time off for the next two weeks, but I'd like to leave you with five suggestions for your freelance career before year's end:

1. Get a jump on your taxes. I never wait until April to do my taxes. I like to figure out my gross income and calculate a rough estimate of my net income before the end of the year. Then I send that number to my accountant for an estimate of what I'll owe. Sometimes the number is scary, but I'd rather know that going into the new year than wait and be surprised sometime in 2012. And besides, I use that tax figure to help determine how much I put in my SEP, or self-employment plan.

2. Invest in your career. You can write off legitimate business expenses before the end of 2011, so this is the time to upgrade your computer, purchase software, buy writing-related books (like Goodbye Byline!), and other work-related products. You'll reduce your tax liability and hopefully have some time over the holidays to read or familiarize yourself with your new tools.

3. Review your year. Every year, I clarify where my money came from. I usually send a holiday card and/or gift to my biggest clients. I also look for "lessons." Did I take on any projects that turned out to pay a lower hourly rate than I expected? Are clients asking for me to do work I need to gain more experience with? Did I have a steady stream of work, or was I facing a "feast-or-famine" scenario much of the year? What was the most worthwhile work I did? Which work paid the best? Which seems to have the most potential? Is there any kind of work I want to cut from my roster?

4. Set goals for the coming year. If, like many serious freelancers, you set an annual income goal, don't forget to calculate your daily nut. Average that figure throughout the year of 2012 and you'll meet your new income goal. Think about the other objectives you have as well. Do you want to branch into corporate writing this year? Do you want to become an e-book author? Is this the year you get serious about writing fiction? Should you spend more time on social media--or at least use it more effectively? Decide what your goals are, and put them in writing.

5. Take time off. Until last year, I'd always taken the year between Christmas and New Year's as vacation time. I used the time to relax, set goals for the coming year, and read for pleasure--at least until the kids came along. Now that week is mostly family time, but I do give myself a chance to unwind and hopefully rewind before the new year begins. Last year, I didn't have that luxury--I worked every single day except Christmas and started 2011 burned out, cranky, and exhausted. Give yourself at least a few days during the holidays to do your own unwinding/rewinding. You'll start the year off with more energy and a better attitude.

I hope 2011 has been a great year for you...tune in next year for more practical, proven advice about how to make more money as a freelancer in less time.

***Let me end this year with a plug for my books, too. If you're considering the lucrative field of ghostwriting, check out Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks. If you (or someone you love) wants to get started writing for print and online markets, I recommend Ready, Aim, Specialize! Create your own Writing Specialty and Make More Money. There's my classic, Six-Figure Freelancing, which unfortunately has gone out of print, but its e-version is still available. And if you want to get a jump on next year, preorder Writer for Hire: 101 Secrets to Freelance Success, which will be released by early May, 2012. Commercial over...happy holidays! :)

Mark your Calendars...10th Annual Writers Fest

2011-12-16T10:32:00.000-08:00

I'm happy to announce that I've been invited back to the 10th Annual Writers Fest at the University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee. Conference sessions and speakers cover topics including fiction, nonfiction, publishing options (I'll be presenting on that), self-publishing, specializing (I'm speaking on that as well), you name it. Check it out, and I hope to see some of you there! :)

Another Great Review of Goodbye Byline!

2011-12-15T09:08:00.000-08:00

If you're a book author, you know how important positive reviews are to sell books. Word of mouth may be the number one way to sell a book (at least that's been my experience), but good reviews make a huge difference. So I'm grateful for the great review of Goodbye Byline that Rochelle Melander (author of the newly released Write-A-Thon) just posted on her blog. If you check it out and follow the rules, you can also enter her giveaway. Thanks, Rochelle, and I hope you'll check out the review and her awesome blog.

Celebrating the OYIW ("The Oh-Yes-I-Will!") Moment

2011-12-11T16:13:00.001-08:00

Last post I shared the fact that I'm in the midst of a deadline crunch. The bad news is that I'm still there. The good news is that on Tuesday, I hit an important milestone--the "oh-yes-I-will!" moment for a book I'm ghostwriting. I can never predict exactly when the OYIW will occur, but it always does. It's that sweet moment when I know that I will make my deadline.

Let me explain. Yes, I always intend to make every deadline--and in fact, have never missed one in 15 years of full-time freelancing. Why? First, I avoid the "planning fallacy." The planning fallacy refers to a proven fitness concept that people almost always underestimate the amount of time it will take to lose weight or get into shape. The same is true for freelancing—most writers think that assignments won’t take as long as they wind up taking.

Not me! I always assume that a project will take longer than I originally expect—and plan for that. I suggest you do the same. For example, if you think an article will take a total of five days to research and write, plan for it to take seven. If you believe a book proposal will take you six weeks, plan for eight. It’s better to have more time to finish a project than not enough.

Second, I get the lay of the land, so to speak, as soon as I take on an assignment. For articles, that usually means doing background research and identifying potential sources. After I’ve come up with potential sources (whether experts or “real people” anecdotes), I start contacting them to line up interviews. I have to have my interviews done before I can write the piece. If I'm working on a book project, I'll skim over the material I have, make notes about research I need to do, and sketch out a timeline for the work. I won't necessarily stick to it, but it gives me a jump on the project before I officially start it.

But I've found that there's almost always anxiety attached to the work I take on that is large in scope (think books/book proposals). I worry (you might say, obsess) about those big projects pretty much from the time I sign a contract until my client says, "great job!" (and pays me, of course.)

That doesn't mean I'm not confident in my abilities--I have a pretty good sense for what I can do. But I worry about my work, and my ability to do it, and do it on time. I'm just wired that way, and despite going to yoga twice a week, am not likely to change. And you know what? I think some level of anxiety/concern/worry is normal, especially for a challenging assignment, and that it can spur you to do better quality work. At least that's my theory.

But when I hit the OYIW moment, my anxiety fades. I may still have a lot of work ahead of me, but I'm no longer worried whether I will do it. I know I will. For me, the OYIW is the the 5-mile mark in a 10K (6.2 mile) race.

Even if I've lost enthusiasm for a project, the OYIW gives me a second wind. I can see the metaphorical finish line. I'm able to push harder now. I'm motivated to push harder now. I'm focused, confident, and productive--and I hit my deadline, usually beating it by days (or weeks!). I bask in the glow of a completed assignment, completely anxiety-free...until I sign the next big project, anyway.

*Readers, what about you? Do you have this kind of writer's anxiety? Do you experience a similar moment with your challenging assignments? And does it spur you on to finish? I'd love to hear your comments.

**Got a book you want to write (or have written), but aren't sure about your publishing options? Stay tuned for an announcement on my Jan 5, 2012 Webinar on publishing options today for Writer's Digest. And in the meantime, if you're want to break into ghostwriting, please check out Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: The Writer's Guide to Making Money Ghostwriting and Coauthoring Books. I'm teaching a ghostwriting class for Writer's Digest right now and will post here when it's offered again.

7 Ways to Survive a Deadline Crunch

2011-12-04T16:37:00.001-08:00

I've posted before about time-saving strategies, and I'm using pretty much all of them right now. My sitter had to cut her hours, which means I've lost the majority of my dedicated work time. I have a big deadline before Christmas, and let's just say I'm a bit stressed. I'm relying on several strategies to be as productive as possible when I do have a sitter, or have a couple of hours at the Y to work:

I always tackle the "ugliest" task of the day first. Usually that's drafting a chapter or a section of the book I'm ghostwriting. That takes the most mental energy and focus, and I find that both fade as the day goes on.
I TK everything I can. If I need a piece of information from my client, I'll send a quick email asking for it. If it's something more complicated that I need to research, I'll TK it and do the digging later. I don't want to burn my serious work time doing research I could do while watching TV in the evening.
I do lots of "prep work" (also known as WWYNRW) to take advantage of my work time. I'll print out a rough draft of a chapter I'm struggling with, read through it and make rough edits during Ryan's basketball practice--then the next morning, I can jump right in as soon as I open Word.
I map out not just the week, but the month. A couple of weeks ago, I sketched out the coming weeks, and planned what chapters I would write when, working in several other projects as well. It's a hellish schedule, but at least I have a plan. That alone made me feel better.
I keep a running list of everything on my plate (not just work-related), and I'm eliminating what I can. Our Christmas tree is up, but a holiday letter this year is looking less and less likely. I still have shopping to do, but my son will not be participating in the school science fair in January. I've been grabbing some dinners from Noodles & Co. and Panda Express instead of throwing something together at night. If I can cut it out of my schedule right now, it's getting cut.
I dangle a giant carrot in front of my nose. Most years I take the week between Christmas and New Year's off; so does my husband. We spend the week sleeping in (if the kids allow), doing stuff as a family, and sometimes tackling various projects at home. Last year, I was writing a book and two book proposals during that time. My clients' deadlines meant that worked every day except Christmas and it stunk. From December 24 until January 2, I will be on vacation, and I'm going to enjoy it. As I slog through the next few weeks, I remind myself of that fact, and will be able to savor that time even more. At least that's the plan.
I do take small chunks of time off. On Friday, I had my sitter stay an extra 90 minutes so I could get coffee and go to yoga. (Nothing like caffeinated yoga!) I can't even describe how much better--calmer, saner, less crazed--I felt afterwards. Tonight, I'll work for a while, and then knock off to watch a movie with my husband, who's in the midst of multiple deadlines himself. The small breaks I take translate into more productivity tomorrow.

Of course, if you asked me how I feel about my current work situation, I would say, "it SUCKS!" And it does. But it's temporary, and survivable, and part of freelancing, alas. The feast-or-famine nature of the business, and how to address it, is a great topic for an upcoming post. Agree?

10 Ways to Treat your Writing Business Like a Business

2011-11-27T09:54:00.001-08:00

If you read this blog regularly, you know that I'm a business owner first, a writer second. That's one of the reasons I've been able to keep my freelancing business afloat for fifteen years, despite the massive changes afoot in the publishing industry. So it's not surprising that the topic of my latest article in The Writer was on 10 ways to treat your writing business--well, like a business!

Pick up the December, 2011 issue of The Writer at a bookstore near you (yes, they're still out there!) for the full article. In the meantime, those 10 ways are:

1. Develop resilience. Don't let a bad day of freelancing (or two, or three) sour you on the business.
2. Keep regular hours. It shows that you take freelancing seriously.
3. Be responsive. Your clients should know that you'll get back to them, fast.
4. Track your income. You should always know what you're making, who owes you, and how much.
5. Track your expenses. How else will you write them off your taxes?
6. Stretch yourself. You've got to continually learn new skills to stay marketable.
7. Follow up on every pitch. Following up isn't being a pest; it's being a pro.
8. Think before you write. If you're not sure whether you send that email, don't.
9. Project success. It will attract clients.
10. Set goals. If you don't know what your goals are, how will you know whether you reached them?

These are only 10 ways to succeed as a freelancer. For 91 more, why don't you preorder my new book, Writer for Hire: 101 Secrets to Freelance Success, which will be released in April, 2012 by Writer's Digest Books? It's a compilation of the 101 strategies I (and other successful freelancers) use to make more money in less time as self-employed writers. One of those 101 strategies is become a ghostwriter (ghosting and coauthoring is the lion's share of my work these days), and if you want to learn more about this lucrative field, check out Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Books: The Writer's Guide to Making Money Ghostwriting and Coauthoring Books.

Tips from the Experts, Take #3: Go Online!

2011-11-21T05:58:00.001-08:00

Continuing the series of tips from the ASJA panels in Chicago 10 days ago, we have Gina Roberts-Grey weighing in. Gina is an extremely successful freelancer (and fantastic person!) who has who has written scores of health and consumerissues articles for women's print and online markets including Glamour,Better Homes & Gardens, Woman's Day, Redbook, Self, Essence, MSN.com,InsuranceQuotes.com, iVillage and others, as well as numerous celebrityprofiles.

Gina built her business writing health features for big women's pubs like Glamour, Redbook, and Women's Health, but several years ago, realized it was time to add something new to her repertoire. "Ads were disappearing, and it was time to create a new specialty from what I had already done," she says. For her, that meant both cracking online markets and developing a new specialty. After writing a 250-word piece on credit cards for Good Housekeeping, she pitched CreditCards.com, and got an assignment. Since then, she's written dozens of financial-related articles for that site and for InsuranceQuotes.com among others.

More importantly, she says that now the majority of her work and money comes from online sites rather than print publications. "Websites may only pay $1/word [compared to $2/word or more for national print publications], but you can make a lot of money writing for $1/word when you're not doing two, three, or four rewrites," she says. "You write 1,000 words, and you get paid for 1,000 words." [Note: as someone who's experienced "rewrite hell" and "story creep" many times, she has an excellent point!]

So, tip #3: Go online, young man (or woman.) If you're not writing for online pubs, you're missing out. There's more work available online than ever before, and many sites are more open to new writers than their print counterparts.

"All of your favorite mags have dot.coms. They use original content because they have to, and they're constantly updating their sites" says Gina. "Query those [online] editors. It's easier to break in than going the print route." You can then use those online clips to get your foot in the door with the print publication--or you may find you're perfectly happy writing for the online magazines. Gina and other freelancers agree there's less hassle involved and often a higher per-hour rate as well.

**Readers, what say you? Do you agree with Gina's analysis? Do you write for online pubs and print magazines, and find that online markets involve less hassle? Please let me know! :)

I'll be at the Westmont Public Library Tonight!

2011-11-17T11:11:00.001-08:00

Just a reminder about tonight's program at the Westmont Public Library (IL) at 6:30 p.m. I'm speaking about the pros and cons of different book publishing options. Hope to see some of you there! :)

Tips from Freelancing Experts, Take #2: Start Tweeting!

2011-11-16T13:42:00.001-08:00

As a freelancer, you've got to be able to network and create relationships. You already know that. Fortunately there's this thing called social media (you've heard of it, right?) to help you do so. Using it can help you develop relationships and get assignments from editors and clients you haven't worked with before.

So tip #2 from last week's ASJA board member panels in Chicago is to get social-media-savvy. Specifically, get on Twitter, recommends ASJA board member RandyDotinga, who writes stories, blog posts and book reviews for The Christian Science Monitor and adaily email newsletter for Voice of San Diego (a leading non-profitinvestigative news organization). He's nabbed numerous assignments from actively participating on Twitter. "Find people who are like you in the writing business, and follow them," says Dotinga. "If you write about science or the environment or health, look for writers and editors who cover those subjects and follow them...and use Twitter to promote yourself as a freelancer." Twitter has helped him make "warm calls" to new clients and editors because they "know" him from his Tweets.

He also suggests that new writers consider smaller-scale publications in addition to national ones. "Think about local publications, alternative weeklies, nonprofit organizations, and news collectives," says Dotinga. They are often overlooked by freelancers and can be a good source of work. By following people in your area "who know what's going on," you're also likely to find story ideas you can spin into pitches.

Bottom line? "Use social media," says Dotinga. "Use it to market yourself, promote yourself, and promote your work."

**Readers, what about you? Are you using Twitter to build your freelance business? Has it helped you get work? If so, share your stories here!

Tips from Freelancing Experts, Take #1: Write about Technology

2011-11-13T12:06:00.001-08:00

I was the organizer of last Friday's ASJA panel (open to both members and nonmembers) on successful freelancing and book publishing at the Silversmith Hotel. The six panelists had plenty of great ideas, tips, and advice for both new and experienced freelancers, so my next batch of future posts will highlight some of them.

Tip #1: Write about technology. According to Minda Zetlin, author/coauthor of five books and regularcontributor to Inc. magazine and the Inc. website, as well as many otheronline and print publications, technology writers have suffered less from the recession because of the constant demand for stories on the subject. "In the tech world, assignments have not dried up," says Zetlin, "I have more work that I can go after, and there is a lot of work out there--well-paying work." That work ranges from reviewing products to business stories that have a technology bent to writing white papers to ghostwriting.

As a freelancer, you may be writing for companies, for markets that target high-level tech workers (think CIOs, or Chief Information Officers), for markets aimed at lower-level tech employees, or for markets that target people who use technology--in other words, just about all of us. (Hey, I don't officially cover "tech" but I've still written stories about the value of tech toys for toddlers, the benefits of downloadable heart rate monitors, and how college students use technology. And that's just the tip the iceberg when it comes to tech-related topics!)

Zetlin admits that it takes extra effort to pitch a timely tech story (the editors are likely to have covered the latest software, for example), and encourages writers to think outside the box for relevant topics. Years ago she saw a news item about the fact that the average CIO stays at a company for only four years. She used that stat to pitched a story to a national magazine on how tech employees can cope with this kind of turnover as it as likely they'd be dealing with a new CIO every four years or so.

Her point? "Take something in the news, or something new, and spin it," says Zetlin. "Make it more thoughtful or useful to the audience." That's good advice for any type of topic, but especially relevant when writing about tech.

**Technology is actually one of the "top ten" freelance specialties I address in Ready, Aim, Specialize! Create your own Writing Specialty and Make More Money.

Book Publishing Options Program at the Westmont (IL) Public LIbrary This Thursday

2011-11-13T11:39:00.001-08:00

Thinking about writing a book, and want to know more about your options? If you live in the Chicago area (especially the western suburbs!), come see me present on book publishing choices (and the pros and cons of each) at the Westmont Public Library on Thursday, November 17. The program starts at 6:30 p.m. and I plan to have plenty of time for questions. Let me know if you're planning on attend, and please pass this along to anyone who may be interested!

Chicago-Area Freelancers--Join Us Friday, November 11!

2011-11-10T10:13:00.001-08:00

If you're a freelancer in the Chicago area, please join us at this event Friday, November 11, at 7 p.m. at the Silversmith Hotel. Here are the details:

Surviving—and Thriving in—Today’s Freelance Market: ASJA Board Members Share Strategies that Work

The freelance market can be challenging to negotiate today, but it also offers new opportunities to both new and seasoned writers. This special event featuresmembers of the board of directors of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. Whether you’re interested in writing books or freelancing for a variety of print and online markets, you’ll benefit from decades of experience from these seasoned, successful writers.

Location: Silversmith Hotel, 10 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL
Date: Friday, November 11, 2011
Time: 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Price:$10, payable in cash or check at the door

This event will include two concurrent panels, one on book publishing and one ongeneral freelancing and is open to both ASJA members and non-members. ASJA board members speaking include:

On the Successful Book Publishing Today panel (moderated by ASJA member Kelly James-Enger):

Caitlin Kelly, author of Malled: My Unintentional Career in Retail (Portfolio, 2011) and Blown Away: American Women and Guns (Pocket Books, 2004).
Russell Wild, author of more than a dozen books, including, most recently, Exchange-Traded Funds for Dummies, Bond Investing for Dummies, Index Investing for Dummies, and One Year to An Organized Financial Life.
Janine Latus, is the author of the international bestseller If I Am Missing or Dead: a sister’s story of love, murder and liberation, which has been translated into six languages.

On the Successful Freelancing Today panel (moderated by ASJA president Salley Shannon):

Minda Zetlin, author/coauthor of five books and regular contributor to Inc. magazine and the Inc. website, as well as many other online and print publications.
Gina Roberts-Grey, who has written scores of health and consumer issues articles for women's print and online markets including Glamour, Better Homes & Gardens, Woman's Day, Redbook, Self, Essence, MSN.com, InsuranceQuotes.com, iVillage and others, as well as numerous celebrity profiles.
Randy Dotinga, who writes stories, blog posts and book reviews for The Christian Science Monitor and a daily email newsletter for Voice of San Diego (a leading non-profit investigative news organization). He also regularly writes for MSNBC.com, HealthDay News Service, Health Behavior News Service and other outlets.

Please spread the word to all writers who may be interested--we're hoping for a big turnout! And if you follow my blog, please come up and introduce yourself. I'd love to meet you in person! :)

The Overlooked Niche, Take Two: Getting Started in Business Writing

2011-11-08T17:28:00.000-08:00

Recently I talked about how writing for businesses and corporations is an often overlooked freelance niche. Now let's talk about how to approach potential clients.

If you want to write for businesses, you'll probably have to cold-call to get started. Identify potential clients, research their companies, and find out who hires freelancers or writers--and then reach out to that person.

After you’veintroduced yourself to a potential client, ask whether you can meet in personor send samples of your work. Be prepared to quote an hourly rate, as mostcorporate clients pay per hour or per project instead of per word. Experiencedcopywriters charge hourly rates of $100-150 and up, depending on theirexpertise. Starting out, I’d suggest $50 to $75/hour as a fair rate for newwriters, assuming you have some experience.

What do corporate and businessclients want? First, they want you to understand their business. That means youshould know what they sell, who their competition is, and how they positionthemselves. Before you make a cold call, you should have done some research on thecompany so you’re not stuck if the person you’re calling asks what you can dofor them. The more specific an answer you can give the better (e.g., whencontacting a sporting goods manufacturer, “I noticed you have an online newsletterfor customers, and I write articles about sports and fitness”). You want tomake the most positive, memorable first impression you can make.

Still, though, the background is onlythe beginning. When working with a corporate, business, or nonprofit client,you’ll need to question the person hiring you so you can deliver what he wants.You should know what type of product or service the client provides, and planto ask questions like:

· Howis your product or service different than that of your competitors?

· Whatfeatures and benefits does your product or service offer? Which ones would youlike to highlight?

· Whoare your customers? Can you describe them for me?

· Whatis the purpose for the piece I’m writing? (For example, a newsletter’s purposemight be to build brand loyalty; the purpose of an advertisement in local mediamight be to attract new customers.)

· Whois the audience for this particular piece? The audience may be the company’scurrent customers, or it may be a different group of people.

· Whatkind of call to action would you like to make? The call to action is what spursreaders/viewers/listeners to do something, whether it’s to pick up the phone tocall and order or to visit a website.

· Whatmessage do you want the audience to remember?

Use these questions as a startingpoint and remember that the more you know about your client, the better you canserve him. I wrote a lot of brochures for small businesses when I startedfreelancing, and I made sure that I understood each business and what it didbefore I started a draft. I often had to remind clients that their potentialand current clients cared more about what the company could do for them (i.e.,provide gorgeous landscaping that would increase their homes’ value, addbeauty, and make their neighbors envious) than the company’s bragging rights tohow many years they’ve been in business.

Formats may vary, but writing for business clients isn't that different than writing for magazine or book publishers. Research your subject. Keep your audience in mind. Give your client what he or she wants. Do that and you can add copywritingand business writing to your writer’s resume—and boost your freelance income asa result.

Can you Write a Book in a Month? Sure!

2011-11-07T05:47:00.000-08:00

You may already know that this is National Novel Writing Month, which makes it perfect timing to announce my colleague's new book. Author Rochelle Melander just released Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (And Live to Tell About It). Laying the foundation for fiction and nonfictionwriters alike to write a book in less than a month (and survive), Write-A-Thonprovides the blueprint to do it all in less than a month! Write-A-Thon containsthree sections: Training, Write-A-Thon, and Recovery.

Each section utilizesintroductions, brief valuable essays filled with practical tools, and justenough encouragement for the writer to press on and finish what may very wellbe the challenge of their life (or simply the challenge of the month). Perfectfor accomplished authors or those who simply write, Write-A-Thon providesthe complete guidebook for brainstorming, writing, and finishing that book(preferably with all sanity intact)!

As a ghostwriter and author, I haven't written a book in a month (eight weeks is my record), but I'm sure I could if I used Rochelle's practical, inspiring strategies. I was happy to be asked to guest-post on Rochelle's blog tomorrow (on 5 ways to make the most of your writing time) and encourage you to check out her blog and new book.

**And remember my Ghostwriting 101 class starts this week! Let me know if you have any questions about it and I hope to "see" you in class! :) Please pass on this info to freelancers who may be interested in the class. :)

Have you Overlooked this Lucrative Niche? Writing for Businesses

2011-11-05T12:03:00.000-07:00

Many writers are drawn to freelancingbecause they want to write magazine articles and books, and that’s great. Butif you want to make more money as a freelancer, don’t overlook one of the mostlucrative writing niches there is: freelancing for businesses and corporations.

It used to be that a “real”journalist wouldn't consider doing public relations or corporate writing. Itwasn’t seemly. Now that's changing, and plenty of freelancers are finding thatbusiness writing can boost their income. More writers are branching out intovarious types of corporate work, whether it's writing for external or internalcorporate publications, or doing public relations or marketing work.

You needn’t have an MBA to write for businesses, but you do need to understand your clients’ needs and be able to deliver what they want. If you’ve never written ad copy, for example, you’ll need to get up to speed on the difference between features and benefits, and know what a call to action is.
For example, a 2011Chevrolet Corvette Convertible may have a 6.2 Liter430-hp V8 engine. That’s a feature. A benefit of the same car to the fifty-something-year-oldman who considers buying it might be the way it attracts young women or lets him relive his lost youth. The call to action is what spurs thereader or listener to do something, whether it’s making a phone call orpurchasing the product. (Check out Peter Bowerman's excellent books including The Well-Fed Writer and The Well-Fred Writer: Back for Seconds, for advice about breaking into and succeeding in the field.)

In the past, companies tended to uselocal writers for work, but today you’re just as likely to work for along-distance client if you can impress them with your portfolio andexperience. Starting out, you may want to write complimentary brochures, advertisements, or websitecopy for a small company you have a contact with (you can help out a familybusiness!) or a nonprofit organization to create a portfolio.

Companies will want to see samples of your work before they hireyou, so this is one situation where I’d disregard my never-write-for-free rule.In fact, Idid a lot of volunteer work for Big Brothers/Big Sisters as a new freelancer soI had samples to show potential business clients. You needn’t reveal to a potentialclient that you did the work for no pay, after all!

Once you have some samples, it's time to start reaching out to solicit potential clients. I'll talk about how next post.

***If you want to add ghostwriting to your freelance repertoire, my first-ever online class with Writer's Digest, Ghostwriting 101, starts on September 10, 2011. The class will give you all the tools you need to launch a ghostwriting career, including a personalized marking plan, letter of introduction, and an understanding of what you can offer potential clients.

Just in Time for Halloween: How to Become a Ghost

2011-10-31T14:01:00.000-07:00

I couldn't have timed it better, choosing Halloween to announce my online class with Writer's Digest...on ghostwriting. If you've been curious about this lucrative field and want to break into it, here's your chance.

My Ghostwriting 101 class starts on Thursday, November 10; at the end of the six weeks, you'll have identified your own unique niche, drafted a letter of introduction, created a marketing plan to reach possible clients, and garnered some ghosting experience. The class is based on Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: The Writer's Guide to Making Money Ghostwriting and Coauthoring Books, but is personalized for you. In addition to weekly lessons and homework assignments, you'll get feedback from and access to me (yay!) and the opportunity to interact/connect with your fellow students.

So consider making an investment of money and time in this class. You'll be done before Christmas and be able to add ghostwriting to your freelance repertoire for 2012. And if you know of writers who may be interested in the class, please share this with them. Thank you! :)

Do a Great Job--and Make Sure Everyone Knows about It

2011-10-30T14:25:00.000-07:00

This post title was written by one of my clients; it's from his new book. And it's smart advice not only for professionals in his field, but freelancers as well.

So as a freelancer, how do you apply this to your business?

Open your mouth! In other words, tell people what you do. If you're a new freelancer, start with your friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues. (And hey, even you seasoned freelancers may need to remind those around you what you do!) Make sure that the people closest to you know what kind of writing projects you take on and what types of clients you typically work for. Ask them to pass your name along if they know of someone looking for a writer. Worst case scenario, you're inundated with potential clients who you don't have time to take on. Wait a minute--I think that's a best case scenario.

Use social media. Yeah, you're probably on Facebook. And I'm sure your kid/dog/cat/hamster is adorable. But do your Friends know that you freelance? Make sure that fact is part of your profile. Update your status with work-related comments occasionally. Your Friends may turn into clients, or know someone who is looking for a writer. Same goes for blogging--no matter what you blog about, include the fact that you freelance. And don't forget LinkedIn and Twitter, which are both tools for marketing your business as well.

Ask editors and clients for referrals. Sometimes freelancers feel awkward about asking a current or former clients for work leads, but here's how I look at it: if you did a good job for your client (and I assume you did), she's probably willing to connect you with one of her peers--or at least give you names of editors who may be looking for freelancers. You won't know until you ask. My latest ghostwriting gig came not from a client, but from a personal trainer and author I've interviewed several times over the years who knows that I'm a ghostwriter and editor. His personal referral turned into a fun, worthwhile editing project.

Make every email a sales call. You should have at least one "standard" signature for email, more if you do different types of work. My current one reads:

Kelly James-Enger

Author, ghostwriter, freelance journalist, and speaker

http://dollarsanddeadlines.blogspot.com/

Check out my contemporary women’s fiction (both set in Chicago!) at:

Did you Get the Vibe? https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/61100

White Bikini Panties http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/61105

email: kelly@becomebodywise.com

I tweak it occasionally, depending on what aspects of my business I want to highlight, but I always include my blog in it, and whatever book(s) I'm focusing on selling.

Think outside the box. Okay, so you've spread the word to friends and family about your work. You've asked clients for referrals. But do you tell everyone else you can think of about what you do? I have several "Instant Ghostwriter" t-shirts I wear occasionally (check out CafePress for tons of fun ideas) , and they often spark conversations with people I meet at the Y, my son's school, and the Caribou I often write at.

Brag. Is your latest piece a cover feature? Has your new book garnered great reviews? Did you just nab a regular contributor gig at a favorite blog? So brag a little! Tell people! When you do stellar work, you're likely to get even more referrals; it's human nature to want to work with people who are successful and good at what they do.

You can be the most talented writer in the world, but you won't be successful unless people know who are and what you do. So spread the word. The more people who know what you do, the more referrals and work you're likely to get.

***Readers, what about you? Do you have any proven ways for marketing your biz you'd like to share?

Don't Forget--My Writer's Digest Webinar is TOMORROW!

2011-10-26T06:46:00.000-07:00

There's still time to register for my Writer's Digest webinar tomorrow. If you want to make money writing freelance articles for magazines, newspapers, websites, or blogs, sign up for Make Money NOW Writing Freelance Articles. It'll be the best $79 you invest in your freelance-article-writing career.

Why Not be the One in Four? What Freelancers are Making Today

2011-10-24T06:59:00.000-07:00

I'm a big believer in sharing information, especially about money, among freelancers. That's one reason I conducted a freelance income survey earlier this year and one in 2010. Since then, I've collected more responses; so far 210 freelancers have participated in the survey. (And a big thank you to all who have!)

According to the latest responses:

30 percent of freelancers make less than $20,000/year;
22 percent of freelancers make between $20,000 and $39,999/year;
20 percent of freelancers make between $40,000 and $59,999/year;
12 percent of freelancers make between $60,000 and $79,999/year;
8 percent of freelancers make between $80,000 and $99,999/year; and
8 percent of freelancers make more than $100,000/year.

Sure, I find it a little depressing that nearly one in three freelancers is making less than $20,000/year. I don't know anyone who can live on that kind of money, but it's impossible to tell from the survey how many hours these freelancers are working--or how seriously they're taking their careers. I prefer to focus on the fact that one in four freelancers is making $60,000 or more a year--and that six in ten say they're on target to make more in 2011 than they did in 2012. That's awesome news.

My point? If you're new to freelancing, don't think that you have to settle for making a few bucks here and there writing for content mills or other per-click sites. Plenty of freelancers make good money--real money--as writers. The purpose of this blog is to help you do so.

With just over two months before 2012, I hope you're thinking about next year already. The end of the year is the perfect time to retool your career, whether that means changing the way you work, pursuing new markets, or exploring other types of writing like ghostwriting (responsible for the majority of my income and work these days) or writing for corporations. In future posts, I'll talk about how to retool in 2012.

***And if you're new to freelancing, don't forget to check out my Writer's Digest webinar (Make Money NOW Selling Articles) this Thursday, October 27. If you're serious about freelancing for print and online markets, it will be the best $79 you ever spend.

For Chicago-area Freelancers: ASJA-Sponsored Event Fri, Nov 11

2011-10-20T16:40:00.001-07:00

A special announcement for Chicago-area writers about an upcoming program:

Surviving—and Thriving in—Today’s Freelance Market: ASJA Board Members Share Strategies that Work

The freelance market can be challenging to negotiate today, but it also offers new opportunities to both new and seasoned writers. This special event features members of the board of directors of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. Whether you’re interested in writing books or freelancing for a variety of print and online markets, you’ll benefit from decades of experience from these seasoned, successful writers.

Location: Silversmith Hotel, 10 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL

Date: Friday, November 11, 2011

Time: 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Price:$10, payable in cash or check at the door

This event will include two concurrent panels, one on book publishing and one ongeneral freelancing and is open to both ASJA members and non-members. ASJA board members speaking include:

On the Successful Book Publishing Today panel (moderated by me!):

Caitlin Kelly, author of Malled: My Unintentional Career in Retail (Portfolio, 2011) and Blown Away: American Women and Guns (Pocket Books, 2004).
Russell Wild, author of more than a dozen books, including, most recently, Exchange-Traded Funds for Dummies, Bond Investing for Dummies, Index Investing for Dummies, and One Year to An Organized Financial Life.
Janine Latus, is the author of the international bestseller If I Am Missing or Dead: a sister’s story of love, murder and liberation, which has been translated into six languages.

On the Successful Freelancing Today panel (moderated by ASJA president Salley Shannon):

Minda Zetlin, author/coauthor of five books and regular contributor to Inc. magazine and the Inc. website, as well as many other online and print publications.
Gina Roberts-Grey, who has written scores of health and consumer issues articles for women's print and online markets including Glamour, Better Homes & Gardens, Woman's Day, Redbook, Self, Essence, MSN.com, InsuranceQuotes.com, iVillage and others, as well as numerous celebrity profiles.
Randy Dotinga, who writes stories, blog posts and book reviews for The Christian Science Monitor and a daily email newsletter for Voice of San Diego (a leading non-profit investigative news organization). He also regularly writes for MSNBC.com, HealthDay News Service, Health Behavior News Service and other outlets.

Hope to see some of you there! :) If your'e a follower of my blog, please come up and introduce yourself. I'd love to meet you in person. :)

Who, You? Five Ways to Develop your Voice (and Make you Stand out)

2011-10-16T17:52:00.001-07:00

One of the biggest challenges of ghostwriting is the challenge of capturing your client's voice. When you ghost, what you write should sound like your client, not you. So you may be surprised to learn that I do believe in having a unique voice as a writer, regardless of the type of work you do.

But how do you develop a unique voice? How can you make your voice stronger? And what is voice, anyway? I'm frequently asked about voice, especially by newer writers who want their work to stand out from the crowd—and there's nothing wrong with that. But voice isn't something that can be forced. It develops over time, gradually announcing itself in your choice of phrase, your rhythm, your style.

Every writer has a voice. If you're still trying to identify yours, or make it more compelling, try these five techniques:

Write for a variety of markets. When you write for different markets, you must be able to analyze the magazine's voice and perspective—and duplicate it, or at least conform your work to it. Articles I've written for a magazine aimed at 20-something women sound quite different than those I write for markets aimed at an older audience, or for men, for that matter. Writing for different audiences is one of the easiest ways to play with different voices and see which feel most natural and comfortable to you.

Write for yourself. Of course, if you're always worried about pleasing your editor, your own voice may slip through the cracks. That's why I recommend personal writing, whether it's blogging, writing letters, or keeping a journal. When you write for yourself, you may find your voice begins to assert itself. Make a habit of this kind of "selfish" writing—it will improve your craft and help you develop a unique style.

Compare before and after. After a story is edited, compare your original version to the version your editor produced. How did the story change? Did it affect your voice? Are you happy with the edit? Why or why not? Even small changes to a piece can have a dramatic impact, and becoming aware of those changes (especially when introduced by another writer) can help your own writing in the future.

Read widely. Don’t limit yourself to one genre, one subject matter, or one author. I read everything from popular nonfiction to novels to The Star (hey, I've got to keep up on my celeb gossip.) The broader your base of reading, the deeper your "language well" will be, and you'll notice a difference in your writing.

Be yourself. At the same time, don't strive to be the next Hemingway or Atwood or Clancy or Morrison. Imitation may be a form of flattery, but it won't help your writing. Instead of trying to be like someone else, focus on your perspective—that's something that no else can duplicate. I don't read fiction when I'm working on a new novel because I don’t want to be influenced (even unconsciously) by another author. I want the voice in my book to be authentic. I want it to be mine.

Whether you ghostwrite or freelance for different markets, you’ve got to be able to capture the voice that your client or editing is looking for. Just don’t forget that you have your own, too—and strive to develop a strong one. It will make you more marketable, and more memorable, as a self-employed writer.

Upcoming Webinar: Make Money NOW Writing Freelance Articles

2011-10-12T09:45:00.001-07:00

I started my freelance career fifteen years ago, pitching and selling articles to magazines including Cosmopolitan, Brides, Good Housekeeping, and Complete Woman. I'd never taken a journalism class in college and knew nothing about writing queries (believe me, my first ones were terrible!) or articles. As a result, I made a lot of mistakes that wasted my time and effort. Fortunately, you can avoid those mistakes and learn the secrets of successful magazine freelancing in my first webinar with Writer's Digest on Thursday, October 27, 2011.

In Make Money NOW Writing Freelance Articles, you'll learn:

How to analyze a potential market.

How to make your query stand out from the competition.

How to locate and interview sources for articles.

How to reslant article ideas and make more money in less time.

How to get your first assignment when you have no clips.

You'll also get a free query critique by me, and have a chance to ask questions during the webinar. If you're a new freelancer or already have some experience but want to have more success and make more money from their work. I hope to "see" many of you at the webinar, and please spread the news about it to other writers!

Above Average: Straight Talk about POD Sales

2011-10-09T18:58:00.001-07:00

After nearly a decade of working with traditional publishers, last year I opted for a POD publisher for Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: The Writer's Guide to Making Money Ghostwriting and Coauthoring Books. At the time, I didn't know that the average POD author sells about 150 copies of his/her book. (Considering the relative success of a small number of POD authors, the median number of sales is probably significantly lower. That's sobering news for would-be POD authors.)

Because I believe in talking about money, I've shared my actual sales figures for the first six months before. Now let's look at the entire year's worth of sales. Since October, 2010, I've sold:

159 print copies through CreateSpace (including expanded distribution);
50 e-books;
50 copies through a special sale; and
36 copies as "hand-sales," or copies I sell at speaking gigs, writers' conferences, or directly to readers who want a signed copy, etc. (If you do--or want to buy a copy as a gift for a writer, shoot me an email at kelly at becomebodywise dot com.)

That's a total of 295 copies, which means I've already doubled the "average" number of POD sales. But what does this figure mean in real dollars? To determine that, I have to know what I make per-book on each type of sale:

For each print copy sold through amazon.com or Createspace.com, I make a "royalty" (though it's not a true royalty) of $5.32.

For each print copy sold through what CreateSpace calls "expanded distribution" (e.g., your local brick-and-mortar bookstore), I make a royalty of $2.33.

For each Kindle edition sold in the US, UK, or Canada, I make 70% of the cover price, which is $9.99--that's a royalty of $6.95.

For a Kindle edition sold outside of those three countries, I made 35% of the Kindle price of $9.99, or $3.49.

For hand-sales, I purchase copies of the book directly from CreateSpace for $3.65 each, plus shipping. At a cover price of $14.95, I net about $11.30/book, less if I mail copies to purchasers myself.

For special sales, I can set my own price (and do give discounts on bulk purchases. That's a good deal for me and for buyers. For special sales, I average a profit of $4-5/book.

Bottom line? The first six months, I made $587 in book sales. After 12 months, I've made (drumroll, please): $1703.

This number isn't nearly as high as I'd like. However, Goodbye Byline continues to sell steadily, has gotten good reviews, and has little competition. That means that I should continue to see steady (if not stellar) book sales and encourages me to continue to promote and market the book.

And there have been other benefits as well. The book has led to other work, including a feature in Writer's Digest on ghostwriting, and speaking gigs at writers' conferences on (surprise, surprise) ghostwriting. I'll be teaching a class through Writer's Digest University on ghostwriting, and my book is a useful calling card for potential ghostwriting clients and helps build my platform as a ghostwriter/collaborator.

The bottom line? If you're going POD to make money, be realistic about what you may make--and make sure you read your contracts carefully so you'll know exactly what you make on every version of your book.

Readers, what do you think? Are you surprised by the different amounts you make on POD books versus ebooks, and how "expanded distribution" royalties are so much lower? Have you learned something from this post? Please let me know. :)

Criticism Can be a Good Thing: A Four-Step Process to Make it Work for You

2011-10-05T17:39:00.000-07:00

When you freelance, you take a critical step from writing for yourself and writing for others—editors, clients, and readers. That means you can sell and get paid (hopefully well!) for your work, but it also means that you’re subject to criticism. The way you respond to it can impact your success as a freelancer.

How you respond to criticism depends on a on a variety of factors, including who’s making the comment, your relationship with that person, what’s said or communicated, and how it’s communicated.

Consider an editor who tells you she loves your approach to a topic but wants you to add a couple more anecdotes to the piece. If you have a good working relationship with your editor, you’re likely to accept the criticism as fair (especially if you know her market tends to use anecdote-heavy stories), and make the requested changes. If the same comment comes from an editor you’ve had trouble with in the past, your reaction may be anger or annoyance--and you may be less willing to make the requested edits.

In a perfect world, every article, blog post, book, and book proposal I write would be accepted "as is," and I’d never have to rewrite anything, ever. But that’s not the case, nor will it be for you.

Here’s my four-step method for handling criticism:

1. Consider the source. If the criticism is from a client or editor, I pay attention. If it’s from someone like the person who just posted a nasty (and untrue) review about Goodbye, Byline, I try to let it go. (Obviously I'm not always successful as my ire resulted in this blog post.)

2. Consider the criticism. Several years ago, an editor took me to task for using the phrase “read on” too often. A quick check of the stories I’d written for her revealed that she was right. I was encouraging readers to "read on" constantly. (I also had been overusing pet phrases like “you’re not alone,” “fear not,” and “good news/bad news” comparisons. Oops!)

3. Consider how you can address it. Often with a client or editor, it’s as simple as reworking a piece. That's part of freelancing. But if you get a nasty email (almost certainly anonymous) from a reader who hates your latest piece on Huffington post or find someone trashing your book on Amazon, you can’t do much. Do you really want get into a toxic email exchange with a scary stranger? If you have seven glowing reviews (several from people you don’t even know!), should one negative one make you question the value of your book? I think not.

4. Consider how it can help you. In the case of my editor’s comment about my “fear not” overuse, I focused on eliminating my go-to phrases from my work. It made my writing stronger, and meant fewer edits, too! If a ghostwriting client complains that a chapter doesn’t sound like his voice, I make sure I do a better job with that, not only with him but with other ghosting clients as well. In other words, instead of tuning out well-founded criticism, I use the negative feedback as an opportunity to improve my work.

No writer enjoys being criticized, but instead of ignoring it or getting angry, turn it into a positive thing for your writing. Consider whether it’s legit, and if it is, let it spur you to take your work up a notch. And if you know it isn't legit. let it slide...and move on.

Readers, do you agree with this four-step analysis? How do you react to criticism? Do you find it a helpful tool for stronger writing?

***The book cover at the top of this post is the one for my new book, Writer for Hire, which will be released in April, 2012 but you can preorder it on Amazon already.

What Every Writer Should Know about Copyright

2011-10-01T10:42:00.001-07:00

As a freelancer, you make a living from your words. That’s why I’m always so surprised at how few writers actually understand what copyright is--and how to protect it.

No, copyright isn't sexy. But if you take a few moments to read this post, you'll come away with a working knowledge of what it means for writers. Ready? Let's do it!

Here’s the least you must know about copyright:

1. When you write an article, book proposal, or book on your own, you automatically own the copyright to it.

2. You retain copyright, or ownership, of the work unless and until you sell, transfer, or grant the copyright to someone else.

That’s it! But let’s talk about what copyright actually is. According to the U.S. Copyright Office, “copyright” is a form of protection provided by U.S. law to the authors of “original works of authorship,” including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual rights. Copyright means that the author of the work has the exclusive right to do what he wishes with his work and to authorize others to do the same.

So as the copyright owner, you (and only you) can do whatever you want with the work you’ve created—until and unless you sell, transfer, or assign those rights to someone else, like a publisher. That’s copyright law in a nutshell.

New writers often think they have to register their work with the Library of Congress to create copyright. That’s not true. Copyright protection is created concurrently with the work—as you get the words down on the page (what the law refers to as “in fixed form”), it’s automatically copyrighted. But it’s got to be “in fixed form.” An idea is not is fixed form, and so isn’t protected by copyright law.

The Work-for-hire Exception

Of course there is an exception to every rule. With copyright, the exception is when you are an employee, creating work for an employer. Then, the company you work for owns the copyright to anything you create at work under what’s called the “work-for-hire” doctrine. In that case, your employer, not you, automatically owns the writing you do at work. (Some freelance contracts also have work-for-hire provisions; legally speaking, though, a work-for-hire can only exist between an employer and an employee, not a freelancer and a client.)

Making Sense of Copyright Notice

Simple enough. So then what’s with the copyright symbol (©)? Why do people stick that on written work? The reason has to do with something called the “innocent infringement” doctrine.

Copyright notice simply lets everyday people (i.e. those who know nothing about publishing law) that this work is someone’s property. If there’s no copyright notice on a piece of writing and someone copies or uses it for their own purposes (assuming in good faith that it’s okay to do so—what the courts call an “innocent infringer”), that person may not be liable for damages. That’s why notice is required—to let would-be innocent infringers know that they can’t use your work.

The notice required is the copyright symbol ©, followed by the date the work was first published, and the author’s name—for example, © 2011, Kelly James-Enger. That’s why books have a copyright page—to help protect the work from no-longer-innocent infringers. Just keep in mind that if you’re sending work out to anyone in the publishing biz—agents, editors, or publishers—you needn’t stick a copyright notice on your work. They know it’s copyrighted—and it looks amateurish.

For More Effective Protection...

There’s one last thing about copyright that freelancers should keep in mind. Yes, your work is automatically protected by copyright simply by writing it. But if you want effective protection, you should register it with the Library of Congress. To pursue a copyright infringement case, it’s easier and more lucrative if you have registered your work “in a timely fashion” (within three months of publication) with the LOC.

The copyright statute provides that if you prevail, you can get attorneys’ fees (which can easily reach tens of thousands of dollars) and statutory damages—in other words, monetary damages set out by law. (Contrast this to having to prove your damages in court, which is much more difficult.) If you’ve registered your copyright, you can introduce that fact at trial to prove you’re the legal copyright owner. That’s big. If you don’t register your work within three months after it’s published, you may still have a cause of action for infringement, but you’re limited to injunctive relief and/or actual damages—that is, the amount of money you have lost because of the violator’s actions, which may be impossible to conclusively prove.

Registering Work

So, once your work is published, you have three months to register it. (Registering is retroactive, which means that registering within those three months protects you back to the publication date.) Current fees to register with the Copyright Office are:

$35 to register work online;
$50 to register work via paper registration; and
$65 to register a group of articles or other work for periodicals or database updates.

For more information about copyright registration procedures, visit www.copyright.gov.

***Want to learn more about legal, business, and tax issues that impact freelancers? Check out Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money, which is still available as an ebook. If you're interested in adding ghostwriting to your freelance repertoire, you'll want to read Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: The Writer's Guide to Making Money Ghostwriting and Coauthoring Books (Kindle edition).

Readers, what do you think? Did this post make copyright understandable for you? Let me know!

Five Ways to Build a Better Blog: Advice from Jane Boursaw

2011-09-24T18:50:00.001-07:00

Got a blog? Thinking about starting one? You're not alone. Seems like everyone I know has a blog, but that doesn't mean you should, too. In fact, I suggest freelancers blog with purpose--whether it's to make money, to sell books, to build your platform, to attract clients, or a combination of all of these.

I came late to the blog-o-sphere, but freelancer Jane Boursaw was blogging, and making money for it, long before most of us considered trying to master the form. Boursaw, who writes about entertainment, started her blog to accompany her main website, ReelLifeWithJane.com. Today, her blog still serves as a "moving picture show" to her site, which holds clips, testimonials, syndication info for editors, a list of syndication partners, links to her social media networks, full-length movie reviews, and other related info--but it makes money has well, and has attracted the interest of advertisers and sponsors.

Sounds great, huh? But it’s not as simple as just deciding to blog and then watching the cash roll in. You need passion--and some kind of plan--before you launch a successful blog. Identify the purpose(s) for your blog, your audience, and what topic(s) you'll cover before you launch yours. I played with the idea of blogging for several years (and took Boursaw’s excellent blogging e-class), considering and discarding potential topics before I settled on one that stuck. This blog was created for four primary reasons:

To sell copies of my (then) new book on ghostwriting, Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks, once it was published;
To continue to sell copies of my earlier freelance-related books;
To attract potential ghostwriting and collaborating clients; and
To continue to build my platform as a freelancing expert.

The tagline of my blog is “helping nonfiction freelancers make more money in less time.” That identifies both the purpose and audience of my blog. While I occasionally stray from the strictest interpretation of this phrase, my blog posts always relate to the challenges and benefits of freelancing. My readers know what to expect every time they visit it.

So make sure you’ve identified the your audience and your purpose before you jump in. There’s nothing wrong with blogging because you’d like to write and sell a book--that’s becoming a common way to nab a publishing deal, especially when your platform is still "in progress." My friend Polly Campbell started her imperfect spirituality blog, to help build a readership, and sell her book of the same name--and a traditional publisher picked it up. Freelancer Denise Schipani’s blog, Confessions of a Mean Mommy, http://www.confessionsofameanmommy.com, got her noticed and led to her first book deal, too.

Ready to blog for bucks? Follow Boursaw's five keys to successful blogging:

1. Pick a topic you love;

2. Create a business where your blog blends well or is the foundation for the rest of your business;

3. Have faith in your abilities and your message, whatever that may be;

4. Always, always, always provide quality content on your blog, no matter whether the post is short or long. Great writing is what sets the professional blogs apart from the rest of the pack; and

5. Network with other bloggers and people in your niche as much as possible. Spend time on Twitter and Facebook and join groups with like-minded bloggers. If there isn’t a group for your niche, start one.

Boursaw has found that the more she blogs, the more readers she draws, and the more advertisers and syndicators she gets. She offers a variety of blogging classes for both new and experienced bloggers.

While you may not have as much success with your blog as Boursaw has, I suggest your blog for more than pleasure. Your time as a freelancer is limited and finite, remember? That's why I believe your should, at the minimum, attract new clients and build your platform--and hopefully much more.

**Readers, do you blog for passion, profit, or a mix of both? Have you found work through your blog, and if so, how has it helped you build your business?

Turn your Kids into Money-Makers, Take 2

2011-09-22T07:32:00.000-07:00

When I teach magazine writing, at least half of my students are stay-at-home parents (usually moms) who are looking for work that they can do from home. Freelancing--regardless of whether you write books, articles, blogs, newsletters, web copy, ads, you name it--it a great choice for parents. You've got to get creative about blending parenting and freelancing (and having a baby-sitter certainly helps), but plenty of moms and dads make it work.

You can write about anything and everything, but a lot of parents start out covering child care topics. Why not? After all, you're spending much of your time surrounded by little idea factories--a/k/a your kids. (I've posted before about writing for parenting markets (and it's one of the writing specialties I devote a chapter to in Ready, Aim, Specialize).

So I was intrigued by Kerrie McLoughlin's ebook, Get Published in Parenting and Family Magazines. Kerrie is a homeschooling writer mom of 5 and wife of 1 living in Kansas City. She has written for over 70 regional parenting magazines (RPMs) since 2009. She's got great advice for parents who want to launch their own freelance careers:

You've written for a slew of regional parenting mags. How did you get started, and then how did you branch out to others?

I started with a magazine I found at the library, Mother and Child Reunion. I wrote a piece about how moms can make money with their kids in tow, and the editor wanted it to be a regular piece. I wrote a few more (for online only) before I realized I hadn’t even asked about getting paid, but that I probably wasn’t going to get any money for doing it. I quit that and remembered how a mom friend told me she went grocery shopping nearly every day. I couldn’t imagine dragging my own three kids to the store all the time and quickly wrote my first (and honestly, mediocre!) piece for my local parenting magazine, Kansas City Parent. I was shocked when it was accepted. Around the same time, an essay I wrote for La Leche League’s New Beginnings magazine was also accepted.

I was hooked but had no clue where to go with my writing, especially since I didn’t have Internet access at home. At the library one day I stumbled upon the Parenting Publications of America website I started getting sample copies of RPMs from all over the country and snail mailing editors, but that yielded zilch. It was only after I collected all the email addresses and writer’s guidelines and editorial calendars I could get my hands on that I started blind-submitting pieces all over the place. It’s taken close to three years, but I’m on track to have close to 90 publishing credits by the end of 2011 and am slowly sending queries to nationals.

Do you write original stories for regional parenting mags and sell reprints, or a mix of both?

If I write something on assignment, I generally wait until that piece has printed and then sell it everywhere else as a reprint. Most of my work is articles and essays I come up with on my own and then I just submit them to around 300 RPMs each time. It’s a crapshoot … some pieces do well and some don’t. I sell those as “reprints” because it’s likely that several RPMs will be using it in the same month, so I don’t feel right calling something an “original” that might be printed 10 places in October, for instance.

If you sell reprints, do you "tweak" the stories for the new markets? How so?

No tweaking because it takes too long. If an RPM wants a piece and needs it localized or tweaked, I’m happy to do so, but I can’t try to read minds and put in hours of work that might lead to nothing. Believe it or not, my initial crapshoot method works pretty well (especially on seasonal pieces)!

What types of topics tend to be your biggest sellers?

Seasonal pieces (Halloween, Christmas, Easter, Father’s Day, etc.)! The bonus is that they can be resold year after year to different markets. So now I try to come up with SEASONAL things I wish I had known when I was starting out as a mom. “Trendy” stuff sells well, too, like homeschooling and putting a “green” twist on topics.

I've blogged before about "turning your kids into money-makers." Do you get a lot of ideas from your own kids?

Like crazy! Birthdays, fundraisers, lemonade stands, pets, saving money, making money are all topics I could not have written about with authority 10 years ago. And the ideas don’t just come from my kids, but from my husband and from family members (grandparent pieces, how to deal with relatives during the holidays, being a travel widow).

As a mom and a freelancer, how do you manage your time and stay productive, writing-wise?

It’s a constant struggle! I do research and send quote requests when my kids are sleeping. I write outlines and the meat of articles during the day when the kids are having their “quiet time.” Sometimes I can get away for a couple of hours to go to a coffeehouse with my laptop and pound out some pieces and queries then. To attempt to stay productive, I keep an Excel spreadsheet where I try to do something writing-related every day, like send a query to a national magazine, find a new regional market, send my reprint list (monthly) or send a completed article to an RPM. Sometimes I get behind and have to catch up a week’s worth of stuff all in one day, but at least I see some progress.

What made you decide to write your e-book? What does it include?

I realized I had dug up a lot of great markets that were not on the PPA site and was using the information with success, so I added writing advice and a bonus section to help other newbies. I wish I had a resource like Get Published in Parenting and Family Magazines when I was starting out, especially since it’s updated every year and sent out free to previous buyers! There are so many writers who write solely for their local publication and have no idea they can be reselling their pieces again and again for money that really adds up, as well as valuable publishing credits that bring you more work.

***Thanks so much to Kerrie for sharing her advice; if you're a parent who wants to freelance, I suggest you check out her book!

And the winner is...

2011-09-19T18:32:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all of the entries for my latest giveaway. The winner, chosen by my six-year-old, is Melissa Breau, who wins a signed copy of Ready, Aim, Specialize and a query critique. Melissa, please get in touch with me at kelly at becomebodywise dot com and I'll get your mailing address.

Coming up next...more advice on smart freelancing techniques, comparing articles versus books, and a report on a year's worth of POD sales.