Writer's Anxiety: The Curse of the Freelancing Mindset

I had lunch with the awesome Cindy Kuzma, an extremely talented and successful freelancer, yesterday and we were talking about the anxiety-producing nature of freelancing. When you're busy with (well-paying) work, it's all good. You may be anxious about meeting your deadlines, but you're not anxious about whether you're making enough money. 

Then you hit a slowdown. And that anxiety starts ticking back up. That inner voice kicks in, muttering in my ear: 

What were you thinking? Why didn't you market more last month? What if that book deal doesn't come through? Why haven't you signed another book deal yet? Why haven't you heard back from that client? How are you going to pay off your broken-arm bills? Why is your health insurance so shitty? What happens if your insurance rates climb even higher? How are you going to save for retirement? Are you even going to be able to retire? Geez, why did you get divorced? At least you had health insurance and money for retirement.  Now it's all up to you. And your'e single...are you ever going to meet someone awesome again? Why are there so many weirdos online? Why didn't that guy from the Y ever ask you out? He probably thinks you're nuts. What are you going to do about your career? Maybe you shouldn't be self-employed anymore. What if you get sick? What if you break your arm again? Maybe you should get a full-time job. Yeah, then you'd have health insurance. But then you'd have to put on clothes and sit at a desk all day and what about the kids? Isn't freedom the biggest reason you decided to freelance anyway? Maybe your time as a freelancer is at an end. Accept it. There are worse things. Maybe you should go back to practicing law. But you hated being a lawyer...boy, you're screwed. Maybe you should go back to Trader Joe's. Remember, there's that 10 percent discount...and they'd let you wear overalls...

That inner voice is hard to quiet. (And by the way, I don't know about yours, but only rarely does my inner voice sing my proverbial praises. Sure, once in a while, my inner voice tells me I'm awesome. Usually it's more along the lines of "by the way, you suck.")

And while I've had work slowdowns before (it's part of freelancing), I'm finding that being slow feels very different now that I'm a single parent. When I was married, slowdowns still sucked. I worried about my the state (and future of) my career, and peripherally, about what I was making or not making. Now, with a 12-year-old and a 7-year-old and a mortgage and a cat and a puppy and a carnie goldfish that has survived for seven days against all odds and ridiculously high insurance premiums (and I'm healthy!), that money worry is no longer peripheral. It's right smack in my face. That drumbeat of "need money, need money, must make money" is a real thing. 

It doesn't help that I am by nature anxious. What I thought for decades was "energy" was actually anxiety. I was an anxious little kid, an anxious teen, an anxious adult. So what did I do? I chose a career (self-employed writer) that is, by its very nature, anxiety-producing. Whether I am anxious about tackling an assignment for a new-to-me client or anxious about meeting a deadline or anxious about making enough money to pay my mortgage, feed my kids, and yeah, save for retirement, or anxious about everything else, it's pretty much a given that there will be some chronic, low-grade distress going on. 

And you know what? That's okay. Because I still choose to freelance. I'd still rather have the freedom and the flexibility and the ability to be my own boss and yeah, the anxiety, than go "in-house" and work for someone else...at least right now. I am considering part-time work, and am staying open to all possibilities. But the biggest thing I'm doing is controlling what I can, and that means marketing. 

So I harnessed that anxiety and spent yesterday afternoon sending out some LOIs and follow-ups. I have a whole slew of contacts to circle back with next week as well. And I finished two assignments this morning, and locked down an editing job for the next few weeks that relieves my money anxiety at least temporarily. I've been doing this long enough to accept anxiety is part of the business. Figuring out how to make it work for you is what makes you successful at it. 

**New to the blog? Welcome! If you're serious about making your freelance writing business a money-maker, I suggest my freelance classic, Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money, Second Edition. 

If you're more interested in getting into ghostwriting and content marketing, I suggest Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: Make Money Ghostwriting Books, Articles, Blogs and More, Second Edition. 

If you're brand-new to freelancing, Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets walks you through the process of launching your freelance career. 

Finally, if you like your books full of shorter pieces, check out a different format--Writer for Hire: 101 Secrets to Freelance Success is divided into five broad sections to help you make more money regardless of what kind of nonfiction writing you do. 

How to Say "No" to a Client You Don't Want to Work For

I've found that as a ghostwriter, I get a lot of leads that don't lead to actual work. Last week, I spoke with a potential ghostwriting client by phone. He had been referred to me by another freelancer, a friend of mine who doesn't ghostwrite books. We connected via email, and I asked him my standard list of questions I send to potential clients, which include: 

• Do you plan to try to sell your book to a traditional publisher, or will you be using a print-on-demand company? Do you understand the pros and cons of working with each? 
• What’s your purpose in writing the book? 
• Who’s the audience for your book? Do you plan to sell your book, and if so, why will readers want to buy it? 
• What’s your timeline? 
• What’s your budget? (Ghostwriting an entire book typically costs $35,000+ depending on the length, scope of the project, author involvement, and other factors. If you have a manuscript or material already written that needs reworking or editing, we can discuss an appropriate fee.)
• Do you have material for your ghostwriter to use (such as the beginning of a book, an outline, some chapters), or will your ghostwriter work with you to create the book from scratch? 
• What’s your biggest hope for your book? What’s your biggest fear about writing a book?

The potential client didn't mention his budget (he said it was flexible) but it become clear during our brief call that he couldn't afford me. So I gave him suggestions about how to find a local ghostwriter who would be willing to charge less than I do, wished him all the best with his project, and thanked him for his time. 

I've written here before about the importance of knowing your rates, and knowing how much (or how little) you're willing to charge for different types of work. But there is an art to saying no. There's nothing to be gained by being rude or dismissive; I'd rather have him think of me for other possible projects, or if he knows someone else who may hire a ghostwriter in the future.

The lesson? While I don't waste time with someone who I know can't afford me, I do make an effort to help the person who contacted me. Even a brief call can lead to a referral that turns into work. Keep that in mind the next time you say "no" to someone. 

**Want to know more about how make money as a ghostwriter? Check out Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks, Second Edition: Make Money Ghostwriting Books, Articles, Blogs, and More, called the "comprehensive guide for getting started as a ghostwriter."  

Search the Blog for Freelance Answers

It's time. 

More than 4 years and 500+ posts (and more than 200,000 page views) later, Dollars and Deadlines is going to be on indefinite hiatus. But I'm glad you stopped by! I suggest you search the blog for advice about querying, marketing, ghostwriting, interviewing, content marketing  working efficiently, you name it. You'll find much more advice in one of my many print and ebooks on freelancing:  

**If you want the "big picture" about freelancing and are serious about making your freelance writing business a money-maker, I suggest my freelance classic, Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money, Second Edition. 

**If you're more interested in getting into ghostwriting and content marketing, I suggest Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: Make Money Ghostwriting Books, Articles, Blogs and More, Second Edition. 

**If you're brand-new to freelancing, Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets walks you through the process of launching your freelance career. 

**Finally, if you like your books full of shorter pieces, check out a different format--Writer for Hire: 101 Secrets to Freelance Success is divided into five broad sections to help you make more money regardless of what kind of nonfiction writing you do. 

And if you can't find the answer in one of those hundreds of posts, or in one of my books, shoot me a brief email at kelly at becomebodywise dot com, and I'll be happy to help. 

Thanks for being a reader, and I wish you all freelance success! 

Drumming Up More Work, Step 2

Last week I posted about my ongoing marketing blitz--just in time for the holidays. Step 1 is reaching out to current and past clients; step 2 is one that many freelancers overlook. It's following up on your outstanding pitches, LOIs, and other attempts to connect with new clients. 

A follow-up needn't be complicated or lengthy. Mine typically look something like: 

Dear Kathleen:

Hope your week is off to a great start. I'm writing to follow up on my pitch about how kettle bell training can help with weight loss; for your convenience, I've included it below. Would you let me know within two weeks if you're interested in the idea? If I don't hear from you by December 17, I'll assume you're not interested in it at this time, and may market it elsewhere. 

Thanks for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Sincerely, 
Kelly James-Enger 

Typically a follow-up provokes a response, but if I don't hear anything within the deadline, I go ahead and pitch it to another market with no regrets. And if the editor says, "no thanks," I resub it in the same manner, and come up with a new idea that she may be able to use. 

Last week one of my follow-ups resulted in an assignment; three "we'll-be-in-touch" responses, and an "no thanks." That's not a bad track record from taking the time to follow up on outstanding queries. 

*** Want more advice about drumming up work as a freelancer? Check out my freelance classic, Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money, Second Edition. If you're more interested in getting into ghostwriting and content marketing, I suggest Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: Make Money Ghostwriting Books, Articles, Blogs and More, Second Edition. And if you're brand-new to freelancing, Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets walks you through the process of launching your freelance career. 

Drumming up More Work, Step 1

Don't forget about my free teleseminar with Nita Amir this Thursday about making more money from   your freelance career. (And have a question you want me to answer? Comment below and I'll be sure to address it.)

With Thanksgiving just behind us and Christmas, New Year's, and countless parties and chores (shopping, wrapping, holiday cards, you name it) descending, it's sometimes tempting to let the marketing part of your freelance business slide right now. Trust me--this isn't the time to do it. That's why I'm engaged in a big marketing push for the next three weeks--my goal is to line up enough work for early 2015 that I can take the week between Christmas and New Year's off (I do this every year) without worrying about a lack of assignments when I return.

Step 1? Touching base with my regular clients--and those who used to be regular clients, but who I haven't worked for in the last few months. A quick email or note can result in new assignments, and at the least, it gets my name in front of them again. That's my first priority for this marketing push. 

***Want more advice about marketing? Check out my freelance classic, Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money, Second Edition. If you're more interested in getting into ghostwriting and content marketing, I suggest Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: Make Money Ghostwriting Books, Articles, Blogs and More, Second Edition. And if you're brand-new to freelancing, Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets walks you through the process of launching your freelance career. 

Coming This Wednesday--Great Deal on Freelancing Books!

I'm participating in a one-day only special promotion with several other successful freelancing authors...it will launch and run on Wednesday, November 19, ONLY...stay tuned for details! 

The Essential Element Every LOI Needs

I've posted before about the importance of an effective letter of introduction, or LOI. It's an essential weapon in your freelance arsenal, and can be just as effective, if not more so, than a query letter. 

However.

There is no one-size-fits-all LOI. And even if you have a template for an LOI, you should never send the same LOI to two different markets. You must customize your LOI the same way you would customize a query letter--and that means including the most essential element in your LOI.

That element is this: why you are contacting the potential market. 

I know, I know. You want money. You want work. You want clients. That's the reason you sent your LOI. Duh! 

But that's not enough for your target market. You must have a reason that works for him or her--and that reason will make the difference between an LOI that gets deleted or ignored, and one that prompts a response. 

Here's an example from one of my LOIs: "I'm contacting you because I know you produce nutrition-related content for a variety of clients, and I've written about diet and nutrition for a variety of consumer and custom publications." 

The "why" can make all the difference to your potential client...and to your future with this client. 

**Want to see more examples of LOIs that worked? Check out the ones included in Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money, Second Edition and Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: Make Money Ghostwriting Books, Articles, Blogs, and More, Second Edition. 

Freelance Limbo: Do You Know How You'll Go?

A couple of weeks ago I posted about an offer of several assignments from a (potential) client new to me. Want to know the rest of the story? 

My potential client assigned me four blog posts, with specific topics, and gave me a word count of 500 words for each; she then asked what I would charge for them. Deadline was four days. I expected each to take several hours, and emailed to tell her I'd be happy to do them for $200/each. 

That was too high for her; she countered with $50/each, for a total of $200. I offered to go as low as $150/post, but said that that's as low as I'm willing to go for original content. 

She never responded. 

So, I'm out of a $200 assignment, for 2,000 words--of original content. For $0.10/word? Well, I'm okay with ditching that bullet.  

In the meantime, I accepted three new assignments. One is for 700 words, $1,050, and will require some background reporting and three interviews. The second is for 2,000 words, pays $1,000 and will require significantly more reporting and legwork-but I'm willing to do it for $0.50/word. (Do I wish this market paid a higher rate? Of course, but I can't always control what a market will pay me.) And the third is a short piece, 350 words, for $650, about $1.85/word. It also has a tight deadline and will require some legwork, but I've already starting to pull the research and line up the experts I'll need. 

(For the record, I don't always get assignments that pay so well per-word. One of my regular clients pays about $0.35/word. Another pays about $0.30/word. But I know how long those assignments will take and can usually make close to my $100/hour rate regardless. And with ghostwriting projects, I'm usually paid per-project, not per-word.)  

So, I can't control how high (or low) a market will go. What I can control is how low I will go. And $0.10/word for original content? That's too low--at least for me, right now. 

My advice? Know how low you will go--and stick to it. Because if you're saying "yes" to poorly-paying work, you have less time to pursue the better-paying markets--and that will hurt you in the long run. 

**Want to know more about how to make more money as a freelancer? Check out 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. 
My newest  book,Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: Make Money Ghostwriting Books, Articles, Blogs and More, Second Edition, shows writers how to break into the ghostwriting/content marketing field. And if you're brand-new to freelancing, I recommend Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets. 

No Consideration=No Contract (Talking Money Upfront)

I was intrigued by this post on Contently about a fellow freelancer's new ebook about making a six-figure living as a freelancer. As an author with a book with a similar name, (though it sounds like mine is quite a bit longer), I was intrigued by the concept. I agree that much of freelancing success can be summed up with succinct tips. One of hers is to "think of writing like a business," and this is critical for freelancers, especially new ones.

Case in point--I just heard from a potential client this morning (we've been in touch via email already). She offered me an assignment of several blog posts. That's great! She told me the topics she wants me to cover, and gave me a deadline of Friday. I asked her about word count, and she told me what she needs. Great. There's only one problem--we haven't talked money yet (though she did ask me to quote her a fee.)

But without agreeing on my fee, we don't have a contract yet. (Legally, because no "consideration" or value, has been identified for the blog posts, no contract exists. Thank you, law school.) 

And I won't work without a contract. That's because I always think of writing like a business. I emailed her back promptly with my bid, and asked her to let me know ASAP if that rate will work. If she says "yes," I have a contract (which I'll confirm in an email to her) and I'll get to work. If not--well, then I don't have a contract, so I don't have an assignment. 

Sounds obvious, right? But I know writers who have been burned doing work for clients before they've hammered out their fees and that never ends well. You need a contract--even it it's an email contract--before you start work.   

***Yeah, I have my own book with 101 tips to freelancing success--Writer for Hire: 101 Secrets to Freelance Success.It still hasn't earned out yet (more about that later) but it's sold more than 4600 copies since it was published in 2012, which is good news. 

Full-Time Job? No, Thanks

Would you give up your freelance career to take a full-time job? No? You're not alone. According to a report from the Freelancers Union, 88 percent feel the same way. That's nearly 9 in 10 freelancers who find the benefits and challenges of self-employment more appealing than a traditional full-time gig. 

When asked why they freelanced, reasons included flexibility, being able to be their own boss, and being able to better balance work and life. Those reasons certainly apply to me, too, but one of my primary reasons to freelance is because I can make more money per-hour than I can working most other jobs. 

Could I have done this at the outset of my freelance career? No. But as I've gained experience, I've become more valuable to clients in a variety of fields, and that means I can charge more for what I do. And for markets that offer a set fee (think consumer magazines, for example), I'm typically able to work more efficiently than I did in the past--again, a benefit of experience. 

That experience means I've learned where I can save time, too. I no longer do 30-minute interviews with sources when I know I can get what I need in ten. I no longer rewrite articles four, five, or six times seeking perfection--my second draft is usually the final one. And I focus on developing solid relationships with clients, editors, sources, and other writers--which pays off for me with more work. 

So, yes, there's the freedom. That's huge. And I can typically adapt my work schedule around my kids' schedules, which is a huge plus. But the biggest reason for me to freelance is a financial one. At least at this point in my life, working a limited number of hours, I want to make as much during those hours as I can. And with experience, I've been able to do so. 

So what do clients actually pay for the work I'm doing? That's the subject of an upcoming post.

In the meantime, where you do stand? Are you among the 9 in 10 who would turn down a full-time gig to continue freelancing? If so, why? 

**My latest book,Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: Make Money Ghostwriting Books, Articles, Blogs and More, Second Edition, shows writers how to break into the ghostwriting/content marketing field. Want more advice about making more money as a freelancer in less time? Check out 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 if you're brand-new to freelancing, I recommend Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets. 

For Labor Day: Changing the Way You Labor?

Happy Labor Day to my American Readers, first off. I hope you're taking it off, like I am! 

My kids started school last week, and I'm slowly starting to find a work groove. One of my goals for the coming year is to work more efficiently--which to me means working when I'm supposed to be working. I work part-time hours, so I have to make the most of them. I'm sorry to say that lately I've been wasting plenty of time while I should be working...and my biggest time-waster is Facebook. 

Of course I'm not alone; according to Facebook (which admittedly may be a biased source), Americans average 40 minutes a day on Facebook. That sounds about right for me--and I'm almost always on Facebook during my work hours. Well, 40 minute of lost work time a day equals at least 10 to 15 percent of my available work time, and that's quite a loss--and it's not making me any more productive when I do get back to my current assignments.  

 So I've decided I'll only check Facebook at the end of the workday and not allow myself any "quick" social media breaks when I'm supposed to be working. If I do need a break, I'll take one away from the computer. I think it'll be a better way to recharge, too, even if I miss out on a few status posts, quizzes, and photos of cute kids. 

Will this be challenging? I'm sure. But it's one simple way I can get more from my work time without sacrificing anything else.

What about you? What one thing can you do differently to work more efficiently? Feel free to  comment and let me know. 

**My latest book,Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: Make Money Ghostwriting Books, Articles, Blogs and More, Second Edition, shows writers how to break into the ghostwriting/content marketing field. Want more advice about making more money as a freelancer in less time? Check out 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 if you're brand-new to freelancing, I recommend Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets. 

Track your Time and Make More Money

Blogathon, day 26.

I often say that I don’t consider dollars/word when I accept an assignment. Instead, I consider how much I’m making per-hour. To do this, however, you have to keep track of your time on assignments. In doing so, I know my true hourly rate.

I find that my hourly rate varies, depending on the project, and the client. But even work I do for the same client can produce a different hourly rate. Here's an example. I create custom content for a nonprofit client on a regular basis, and am paid a set fee for each article. 

For one article of 650 words, I was paid $300, and spent a half-hour doing background research and another hour writing the draft of the article. (It was on a subject I’d written about before, so it was a fast draft—and this story didn’t require me to conduct any interviews.) Edits and a quick proofread took another half-hour. So the piece took two hours to write. Hourly rate: $150. 

Another piece for $400 required five interviews, which eat up a lot of time to schedule, conduct, and then transcribe my notes. The interviewing, transcribing  and thank-you notes took a little over four hours, and writing the story itself took another three. Edits took another hour. So this story took eight hours, much longer than I originally expected. Hourly rate: $50. 

A third $300 piece required more background research—more than two hours’ worth, and another two hours to write and edit. Hourly rate: $75. 

From tracking my time, I know that work for this client typically pays $50-150/hour; I make more for stories that require less legwork and research and less for stories that require more research upfront. I know what each of my projects' hourly rates are, which helps me decide what to charge and whether to say yes to a new assignment. You can do the same when you track your time. 

Your assignment: Track the time you spend on your next assignment and determine your hourly rate. 

**Want to learn more about successful freelancing? 

Check out 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. 

If you're a new freelancer, get up to speed fast with Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets, which is aimed at brand-new freelancers in search of their first clips.

And if you want to add ghostwriting to your repertoire, you'll want to read 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 even if you haven't ghostwritten before. 

Avoid One-Shots

Blogathon, day 25. 

Early on in my freelance career, I wrote a lot of what I call one-shots. I'd write a story about a particular topic one time, for one particular market, and never revisit the topic again--and often fail to even write for the same market more than once! That may be a great way to amass a wide variety of clips (it certainly was for me) but it's not an efficient way to work. You spend almost all of your time researching markets (at one time I had pitches out to more than 20 different magazines) and writing queries because you're writing each one from scratch.  

I do a lot of things differently today. First of all, I don't write one-shots anymore. If I'm going to write about a topic once, I'm going to find a way to write about it again, with a different angle, for a different market. For example, when I found some interesting research about caffeine's effect on physical and mental performance, I pitched and wrote a piece about how to use caffeine for a fitness magazine. I also pitched and wrote a piece on how many caffeine is too much for a regional newspaper, and a piece for a custom magazine on the trend of putting caffeine into beauty products. Each article was a new article, but I could reuse the research over and over, which saves me time. 

In short, avoid one-shots. Strive to write about every topic more than once. 

Your assignment: Come up with more than one angle, and more than one market, for every story you write. 

The One Thing You Must Do Before Bidding on an Editing Job

Blogathon, day 17. 

Typically clients who hire you to edit want to know one of two things (or both): how much you charge per hour and how much you'd charge to edit his project. (Keep in mind that "editing" can mean different things--does your client want someone to do line editing, copy editing, or developmental editing, for example? I only do developmental editing for clients as the first two are outside my wheelhouse.) 

Hourly rates vary, but you're usually talking in the $20-50/hour range, depending on your experience and the type of project. After reviewing your client's project, or a part of it, you can bid on it based on your hourly rate. 

However, if you're editing a book or a longer project, make sure that you review more than the first chapter. The first chapter is the one that the client has spent the most time on, and it's likely to be much "cleaner" than the rest of the material. I made this mistake once early on, basing my bid on a quick scan of the first chapter. It wasn't in bad shape and I didn't expect the job to take much time. 

Well, chapter 2 was worse than chapter 1, chapter 3 was even worse than chapter 2, and chapter 4...you get the idea! I'd quoted a project bid based on the number of hours I expected to work, and I was way off. The result was that my hourly rate plummeted. I've never made that mistake again; I skim the entire project before I quote a bid. (If you don't have time, choose a chapter from the middle of the book, not the first one.) You'll have a more accurate sense of how much work the editing job will take.

Your assignment: If you select only a portion of material to review to quote a job, make sure it's from the middle of the book, not the first chapter.  

**Readers, thank you for visiting my blog! If you're a new freelancer, get up to speed fast with Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets, which is aimed at brand-new freelancers in search of their first clips. Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money, Second Edition is 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, shows how to break into the ghostwriting/content marketing field. 

Make Your Query Better: Suggest a Source

The blogathon continues! Halfway through as of today. 

Want to make your query stand out? Tell the editor who you plan to interview for your article by suggesting a source or two. Here's a paragraph from a pitch I emailed to a market last week: 

“In your Mind’s Eye: Exercise’s Impact on Body Image” will report on this fascinating topic, and give readers yet one more reason to work out. I plan to interview noted psychologists like Monica Ramirez Basco, PhD, author of Never Good Enough and report on recent research for this piece; if you like, I can include several “real women” to report on their experiences as well. I estimate 1,000 words for this story but that’s flexible depending on your needs. 

See what I did there? I said that I "plan to interview" experts like Basco. By that I mean that Monica Ramirez Basco is the caliber of expert I will reach out to for the story. If I can't get Basco, I'll get someone else who's respected and nationally known. But by providing my editor with the name of the person I think would be a good source, I show him or her that I've already done some background research, and that I understand the importance of quality sources, especially when writing for a national magazine. 

If the story turned on Basco's participation--like if talking to her was essential for the story--I'd make it clear that I'd already spoken with her and had her agreement to be interviewed by me. (That's what I call the McCaughey Septuplets rule.) But for most pieces, giving an idea of the type of person you'll speak to is sufficient. 

Your assignment? Next time you send a query, make sure you suggest at least one source for the piece.  

**If you're a new freelancer, get up to speed fast with Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets, which is aimed at brand-new freelancers in search of their first clips. Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money, Second Edition is 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, shows how to break into the ghostwriting/content marketing field. 

Four More Tips to Better Interviews

Blogathon, day 12. (And if you're reading every day, what do you think? Are you finding the posts helpful?)

Yesterday we talked about some simple, effective ways to get better interviews from your sources. Here are four more: 

Talk market. Make sure you tell your source what market (and audience) you're writing for. If you're asking for tips on how to simplify your life from a clutter expert, for example, her advice will be different if you're writing a piece for a magazine for small business owners as opposed to a parenting publication. When your source knows who your audience is, you'll get better quotes. 

Drop a nugget. At the beginning of an interview, I let the source, especially an expert one, know that I've done some research on him or her. Saying something like, "I know you've been studying music's impact and exercise for years," or "I understand that you have a new book coming out" can set the tone for a better interview. 

Toss a softball. At the end of the interview, say something like, "is there anything you want to add that you haven't asked yet?" Then shut up and listen. Often your source will have something smart and insightful to say that you didn't think to ask.

Ask for a referral. I do this a lot with expert sources--I'll ask, "is there anyone else you think I should talk to for this piece?" Researchers know, for example, the other researchers in the field, and I may get a lead on a source I wouldn't have come across otherwise. 

In all, you have eight great tips for better interviews. Your assignment: Try all eight techniques next time you conduct an interview. 

**Want more advice about everything from interviews to pitching new markets to making money as a freelancer? Check out Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets is aimed at brand-new freelancers in search of their first clips. Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money, Second Edition is 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, shows how to break into the ghostwriting/content marketing field. 

Four Tips to Better Interviews

Blogathon, day 11. 

Nothing strikes fear into the heart of new freelancers like interviews. There's the anxiety of finding the right person to speak with, the anxiety of getting what you need from the interview, and the anxiety of the interview itself!  

The manner in which you conduct an interview will depend on the subject matter you're writing about, and the type of expert you're interviewing. But there are several proven ways to get more from your interview. Here are four tips for both new and veteran freelancers: 

1. Double-check the date and time of the interview. Time zones can be tricky things. So I don't say, "I'll call you at 10:30 a.m." Instead, I say something like, "Okay, great. So I'll call you at 10:30 a.m. Central time, 11:30 Eastern time, on Wednesday, June 11." That hopefully ensures that both of us are on the same page. 

2. Tell your source what you plan to ask. No, you don't have to provide every question, but you'll get more productive interviews if your sources know in advance what you'll be covering. so I might say, "Jennifer, thanks for agreeing to this interview. As I said, the piece is on the health benefits of fiber. So I'll ask you about the different types of fiber, why it's important for good health, and how people can get more fiber into their diet. Sound good?" 

3. Do what you say you will. That means calling when you promised, not 10 or 15 minutes afterwards. It also means sticking to the time you planned for the interview. I usually tell sources that the interview will take 10 to 15 minutes, and I stick to that. If for some reason we're going to run over, I'll ask the source if we can take a few minutes to talk. 

4. Go the extra mile. For me, that means sending a personal thank-you note to my source after the interview. It also means letting the person know when the piece runs, even if it's months later. Sound like a pain in the butt? It can be, but it shows the person you spoke with that you appreciate his time--and if you have to interview the person again (which often is the case with experts in their field), I guarantee he'll remember you. 

Your assignment: Next time you do an interview, give the source an idea of what to expect before you speak with him. You'll get better answers, and stronger quotes. 

**Want more advice about successful interviewing? Check out Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets, which walks you through the process of pitching, researching, and writing 10 actual articles.