Have an LOI in your Freelance Arsenal

Blogathon, day 16. More than halfway there, and averaging 200+ hits/day!  

I've talked a little about queries during the blogathon, but let's not overlook the LOI, or letter of introduction. Here's an actual LOI that led to work, with my comments in brackets in blue, that I sent to a post on craigslist seeking a writer or ghostwriter for a proposal for a nutrition book:  

Dear Sir or Madam:       

I'm replying to your post on craigslist.org seeking a writer for a book proposal, and am writing to express my interest in the project. I write, ghost, and collaborate on book projects for traditional publishers, experts, and book packagers. [I start with the fact that I do the kind of work she needs a writer for.] 

A little about me: I’ve been a full-time freelancer for the last decade. I started out writing for magazines, and since then, more than 700 of my articles have appeared in 50 national magazines including Redbook, Self, Health, Family Circle, Woman’s Day, Continental, Fitness, and Shape. I segued into book writing about five years ago and am the coauthor of Small Changes, Big Results: A 12-Week Action Plan to a Better Life (with Ellie Krieger, R.D./Random House, 2005), a nutrition/fitness/wellness book; I'm also the author of five other books in print including Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money. [Short statement of my relevant background.] 

In addition to writing my own books and collaborating with several co-authors, I've also ghosted several books. One was a book-length health care guide for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Associations; another was a book on sales coaching for a nationally-known sales expert. I've worked with hundreds of health, fitness, nutrition, and business experts over the years on projects including articles, marketing pieces, book proposals, and books. While I always consider the "voice" of my expert, I aim for a conversational, easy-to-understand style, which has made me popular with editors and clients. [More about my background.]

In addition to writing, I also own BodyWise Consulting, and speak and consult about subjects ranging from staying motivated to getting fit (I'm a certified personal trainer) to freelancing. I enjoy helping people make positive changes in their lives through my work as an author, journalist, and speaker. [This may not be relevant for some projects, but fitness and nutrition are related, so I included this.]

Finally, I'm dependable, efficient, and never miss deadlines—all important attributes for successful collaborating and ghosting. I've dropped a brief resume below, and will be happy to send your writing samples if you like. [I want to give the impression that I'm easy to work with, which I am.]

I'd appreciate it if you'd keep me in mind for this project, and would love to tell you more about my credentials if you're interested. Thank you so much for your time, and have a great week! [Typical closing language for me.] 

All best,

Kelly James-Enger

Your assignment: Write a template LOI if you don't have one already, highlighting your strongest qualifications. 

**Want to see more LOIs that worked? I include real-life samples in both Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money, Second Edition, a freelancing classic that helps both new and experienced writers boost their bottom line, and my latest book,Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: Make Money Ghostwriting Books, Articles, Blogs and More, Second Edition, which shows how to break into the ghostwriting/content marketing field. 

Build a Better Bid: A Template for Freelancers

Readers of this blog know that I'm a big fan of sharing templates, or examples that readers can adapt for their own purposes. Last post, I shared four tips on better bidding, and promised an example of a written bid for readers. Here it is, with my comments in blue: 

Dear Alice: 

First, thanks so much for getting in touch with me earlier this week. I'm really excited about your book concept and the possibility of us working together. I think you have a lot of good ideas, and also feel that I can bring a lot to both the proposal and the book itself. (Oh, and thanks for sending the research you sent last night—I read through it and there's a lot of good stuff there as well.) [It may seem obvious, but no one minds being complimented, at least when your compliments are genuine. Use the first paragraph to set the stage for a congenial conversation.] 

The seeds for the book are there. There's still much to do, however. Working together, we need to come up with a title and subtitle; an overview; the "hook" (i.e., what makes this book different from everything else out there); competitive analysis (a rundown on the book's likely biggest competitors and how it's different than/better than the other titles, which relates to the hook); the audience (is it all career-oriented busy people, or more aimed at women or men, for example); marketing/promotion (again, you've got a platform already but we really want to showcase this in the proposal); about the author(s) (depending on whether you want to include me as coauthor in the proposal—I think that's a selling point but that's your call); the overall structure (i.e., total number of chapters, pages, appendices, and the like); the chapter summaries; and one well-written sample chapter of approximately 15 to 20 pages. The total proposal will come in at 30-40 pages. [Wow, I have a lot to work to do, don't I? That's what I want the client to realize. I'm not only giving her a description of the work that I expect to do, I'm showing her that it will take some time to carry it out.] 

Sound like a lot? It is. But the end product—the finished proposal—will be worth it. I'm assuming that you're willing to do some of the research and work with me on the sample chapter and overview in particular; that will save me some time. As I told you yesterday, I typically charge $5000 to $10,000 for a typical proposal, but considering the subject matter and the level of your involvement, my fee will be $4,500. This includes all of the elements of the proposal including one sample chapter, to be delivered within four to six weeks (at a date we agree on.) I'd like $2,000 on going forward/signing a collaboration agreement (see below); $1,000 upon delivery of the draft proposal (without the sample chapter): and $1,500 upon delivery of the finished proposal with the sample chapter. [I've given my bid, finally, with an explanation of how I reached the figure I'm asked for. I've also made it clear that I need a retainer to get started.]

With the polished, finished proposal in hand, you'll be ready to pitch agents and editors—and you'll have the framework for the book completed which makes the actual writing of it easier. I know you want to use the book to take the next step in your career, but I also think you have a saleable idea, a strong platform, and the dedication to see the project through—all of which is necessary to succeed as a book author! [Here I set out the benefits to my client of having the book proposal completed. In retrospect, I would have swapped this paragraph with the one above, providing the features--the description of the elements of the proposal--and then the benefits before giving my bid. I think that may have been more effective.] 

Another thing to consider is when you want to sign a formal collaboration agreement that sets out our expectations for working together. We can sign one for the proposal itself, or for a potential book deal, or work something out that you're comfortable with. I can send you a sample one that you can tweak/modify how you see fit. [Again, I'm underscoring the importance of a signed contract.]

What else? I think we've got a good rapport, and I'm reliable, professional, and easy to work with. If I tell you I'm going to do something, you can count on me to get it done. I love collaborating with smart people to get their ideas in print, and helping them become book authors. [Just reminding the client of how awesome I am. :)] 

Please let me know if you have any questions about my bid or the project—I hope we’ll have the chance to work together! If this is a go, I can make your proposal my first priority, and I think you (and hopefully a wonderful agent and editor as well) will be delighted with the finished product. Let me know if you're ready to take the next step. [I like this close; it's direct but not pushy.]

All good things,

Kelly

**Readers, what do you think of the proposal? Do you like the tone and format? It worked--my client hired me to write the proposal at the fee I requested. While our agent wasn't able to sell the actual book, my client was happy with my work and hired me several years later on another project. 

**Want to see more bids that worked? Check out Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: Make Money Ghostwriting Books, Articles, Blogs, and More, Second Edition; the print version will be in print from Improvise Press by September, 2014.