Welcome to THE WELL-FED E-PUB!
Serving upfood for thought and tasty tips for the prospering FLCW*. Come on in, sitanywhere and bring your appetite!
*FLCW,peppered throughout the ezine, stands for "Freelance CommercialWriter" – anyone who freelances for businesses (vs. writing magazinearticles, short stories, poetry, etc.), typically earns $50-125+ an hour, andis the sole focus of this e-newsletter.
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VOLUME 10,ISSUE 3 – MARCH 2011
Publishingthe first Tuesday of every month since May 2002
Read itOnline at: http://www.wellfedwriter.com/ezine/mar2011.html
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ATTN:TOLEDO, OH/DETROIT & ATLANTA! ÒWell-Fed Self-PublisherÓ seminars in March!Details in Coffee and here(http://www.wellfedwriter.com/seminars.shtml).
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TheWELL-FED WRITER BLOG is Rockin'! Weigh in on ÒWhatÕs a Freelancer to Do AboutHealth Insurance?Ó ÒThis WriterÕs Landing a Ton of Work Doing What So ManyCompanies Need?Ó and more! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog.
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"THEWELL-FED WRITER" (2010 EDITION) HAS WON FOUR AWARDS!
Check outthe Awards Gallery at http://www.wellfedwriter.com/wellfedawards.shtml
To Order(FR.EE Bonus/U.S. Shipping):
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PLEASE! IÕMLOW IN ALL E-PUB CATEGORIES. Would love to get your strategies, tips andfeatures. See "Coffee" for more details and word counts.
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THISMONTH'S MENU:
I.APPETIZER: WEB SITE/BLOG WINNER ANNOUNCED
Winner GetsCreative; Designer Offers Budget-Friendly Packages to E-PUB Readers
II. ÒFIELDÓGREENS: GOT MELODIOUS WRITING?
CopywritingGuru Invites You to Use Words to Add Life and Energy to Writing
III. MAINÒMEATÓ COURSE: FORGET THE COMPETITION (EVEN IF YOUÕRE NEW!)
GA FLCWShares Wisdom from Experience Making $163K in First Year as FLCW
IV.DESSERT: Sweet Success Stories and Tips
NEW: ÒTheWell-Fed Partner PantryÓ Program! Got an Info-Product to $ell on My Site?
TIP: YoursTruly Buys a ÒLap Desk;Ó Makes Working Anywhere a Pleasure!
V. COFFEE,MINTS AND TOOTHPICKS
- ATTNTOLEDO/ATLANTA: ÒWell-Fed Self-PublisherÓ Seminars Coming in March!
- THEWELL-FED E-PUB NEEDS ALL COURSES!
- TheWELL-FED WRITER BLOG is Rockin'! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog
- MISSED MYTELECLASS? Full 38-PAGE e-Transcript – Just $12!
- AWAICopywriting (& Other) Courses: Register Here, Get 2 Bonuses (no charge!)
- How CanMy Mentoring Service Serve You?
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I.APPETIZER: WEB SITE/BLOG WINNER ANNOUNCED
Winner GetsCreative; Designer Offers Budget-Friendly Packages to E-PUB Readers
Thanks toall who entered the contest for a f.r.e.e. web/site blog from Hutto, TX FLCWand experienced designer Shannon Martin (smigim@yahoo.com,http://indie-d.com). Shannon contributed agreat article to last monthÕs E-PUB (archived
Contestentrants had to tell, in 10 words or fewer, why they should win. Top 5 arebelow, with Amy Morris the winner. Now, I didnÕt understand AmyÕs entry (I knewComic Sans was a font, but was lost after that) but note ShannonÕs explanationafter the list.
#1 Me+ Comic Sans (HATE) x You Too? (WHEW) = I win, right? (Amy Morris)
#2 Treating my migraines eats up the cash for site development. (JanetHenderson)
#3 Three women. One new business. Create great books. Need help! (Julie Thompson)
#4 Website - no business/Languishes in wintry funk/Springtime hope -Indie (haiku by Jamie Morrison)
#5 I'm 15 months shy of freelance goal and 70th birthday. (Barbara McAllister)
#1? ExplainsShannon: ÒIt's a design thing. Comic Sans is one of the default fonts forcanned websites, and flags you instantly as having a ÔtemplateÕ site. AmyÕssaying thatÕs not what she wants and confirming I'm not a one-size-fits-alldesigner. I thought it was by far the most original.Ó Amy will receive:
1) Customlogo/graphics for site and for print materials (business cards, brochures,etc.).
2)WordPress site/blog (up to 10 pages and 10 blog categories; you providecontent)
3)Integrated social media, email opt-in forms and choice of up to three otherwidgets
4)Portfolio gallery (you provide synopsis and images)
5) Built-inCMS (content management system) for easy site updating
6) Trainingon maintaining your new site
Even if youdidnÕt win or even enter, ShannonÕs offering Well-Fed E-PUB readers packagesincluding all the above for $450-550 (depending on complexity). Contact her at
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II. ÒFIELDÓGREENS: GOT MELODIOUS WRITING?
CopywritingGuru Invites You to Use Words to Add Life and Energy to Writing
In MarciaYudkinÕs 9/28/10 issue of The Marketing Minute (subscribe
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Seasonsubscribers of the Seattle Repertory Theatre enjoy a host of privileges,including Òseat repeatÓ: ÒLove a particular show and want to see it again? Beour guest! One free seat repeat per subscriber.Ó
Besidesthis being an appealing bonus for theater lovers, its name jumps jauntily inyour mind. The rhyme is joyous, and the added long ÒeÓ repetition in Òfree seatrepeatÓ
adds to itsair of delight. (ÒWheeee!Ó)
While theway syllables sound or combine is a stock in trade of poets, we donÕt seeenough business writers putting this factor to work.
Did younotice the three jÕs in one line two paragraphs back? Such repetition slows youdown as a reader, puts you more in the moment and urges you to savor the ideaunder
consideration.
On theother hand, suppose you were to say your seminar provides a brisk walk throughthe pitfalls of catalog design. The dominant consonants in the wordsÒbrisk,Ó Òwalk,Ó ÒpitfallsÓ and ÒcatalogÓ imply a very fast pace indeed.
Just listencarefully to what youÕve written so you donÕt overdo the sound effects.
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III. MAINÒMEATÓ COURSE: FORGET THE COMPETITION (EVEN IF YOUÕRE NEW!)
GA FLCWShares Wisdom from Experience Making $163K in First Year as FLCW
Got thisgreat Òback-to-basicsÓ piece from fellow Atlanta-area FLCW Ed Gandia (
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Relativelynew to freelancing? Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Or, been freelancing a while,and have perhaps hit a rough patch? Either way, I have some encouraging wordsand lessons for us allÉ
Whenstarting out, what you lack in experience and track record you can make up by workingharder on ÒcontrollableÓ factors. The same applies when youÕre in a slump.Working on the variables you CAN control is often the best recipe for aturnaround.
When thisconcept clicked into place for me a few years ago, my world began to change forthe better. I first heard the idea in Brian TracyÕs audio program, ÒThe LuckFactor.Ó Tracy describes a scene where someone whoÕs had too many glasses ofwine is taken to a dark room, blindfolded and given a set of darts to throw ata dartboard.
Tracy asks,ÒWhat are the chances of that person hitting the dartboard?Ó Obviously, notgood. But what if this person is given an unlimited number of darts? WonÕt sheeventually hit the dartboard? Of course. ThatÕs the beauty of the Law ofAverages.
And what ifshe sobers up, removes her blindfold and turns the lights on? Will her chancesof hitting the dartboard increase? You bet. What if she then takes lessons froma pro? What if she commits herself to practicing for two hours a day for thenext four weeks? Will she get even better?
You betterbelieve it. Not only that, sheÕll also hit a few bullseyes. And what do allthose things – unlimited supply of darts, sobering up, removing theblindfold, turning on the light, training and practicing – have incommon?
She cancontrol all of them.
ItÕs nodifferent when youÕre starting out as a freelancer. Much like the dart thrower,you can ALWAYS make up what you lack in experience and track record by focusingon the things you CAN control.
You can tryharder. You can be more persistent (think unlimited supply of darts). You canget specialized training, some coaching or a certification in a specific skillthatÕs in high demand. You can send out more lead generating letters. You cannetwork more aggressively and consistently (both offline and online). You canmake more cold calls.
You mightnot land marquee clients at first. But youÕll get clients willing to overlook alack of experience for lower fees. Or folks who appreciate your persistence,sincerity, personality, professionalism and enthusiasm (MORE factors you cancontrol).
Even ifyouÕre a seasoned freelancer weathering a dry period, by working on variablesyou can actually do something about will get you out of a tough spot muchfaster. Try not to dwell on the negative. Even if you donÕt feel like it, pickup the phone, call some prospects, mail some letters, contact some previousclients, reach out to some of your colleagues.
Just getmoving. And talk and act as if youÕre one of the top writers in your field.Your confidence and positive tone will come through, which will greatlyincrease your chances of attracting the right clients.
The roadahead wonÕt always be easy. But if you shift your mindset, stop worrying aboutwhat your competition is up to, start focusing on the things you CAN control,get into action, and donÕt quit, you canÕt help but succeed. I promise.
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Ed Gandiais a successful freelance copywriter, speaker, trainer and a founding partnerof InternationalFreelancers Academy and co-founder of International Freelancers Day, theworldÕs biggest online educational conference for solo professionals. HeÕs theco-author of the award-winning book, The Wealthy Freelancer: 12 Secrets to aGreat Income and an Enviable Lifestyle (Penguin/Alpha). For EdÕs solid primer on how tosuccessfully transition from a part-time to full-time copywriting business,visit http://www.StopWishingandStartEarnng.com.
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IV.DESSERT: Sweet Success Stories and Tips
NEW: ÒTheWell-Fed Partner PantryÓ Program! Got an Info-Product to $ell on My Site?
TIP: YoursTruly Buys a ÒLap Desk,Ó Which Makes Working Anywhere a Pleasure!
No oneperson (certainly not ME) has all the answers about how to build a successfulcommercial writing business. EveryoneÕs built their businesses in differentways under different circumstances, and headed in different directions. Andalong the way, weÕve all picked up some valuable specialized knowledge –information, which, if put to paper, can help your colleagues be moreprofitable in their own businesses.
While IÕveworked hard over the years to provide good income-boosting information in mybooks, ebooks, ezine, blog, knowledgebase, etc., now, I want to give YOURinfo-products a place and an audience on my site, and, in the process, give usboth the chance to profit.
IDEALPRODUCTS?
Have youbecome an expert in a particular area of commercial writing, and are willing toshare that expertise with others? Have you mastered a particular strategy forlanding new business? IÕm open to looking at ANY info-product that can helpcommercial freelancers make more money or have higher quality of life.
Sorry, butinfo-products must be focused exclusively on the commercial writing field(i.e., not newspaper/magazine writing, poetry, fiction, short-story writing,etc.). For more details, and the terms of the arrangement, click
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Attention,Laptoppers: IÕve got a laptop, but use it with an external monitor and keyboardwhen at home. Long hours in front of the Òinfernal machineÓ can do a number onyour back (and believe, I know more about that lovely gift than most). Butrecently, I sprang for a Òlap deskÓ – hard plastic covered with non-slipmaterial, with bean-bag-like material on the bottom to conform to your lap, anda lip to keep your laptop in place. Love it. Now I can work in my favoritearmchair a lot more comfortably than when I just held my laptop in my lap. Igot
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V. COFFEE,MINTS AND TOOTHPICKS
- ATTNTOLEDO/ATLANTA: ÒWell-Fed Self-PublisherÓ Seminars Coming in March!
- THEWELL-FED E-PUB NEEDS ALL COURSES!
- TheWELL-FED WRITER BLOG is Rockin'! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog
- MISSED MYTELECLASS? Full 38-PAGE e-Transcript – Just $12!
- AWAICopywriting (& Other) Courses: Register Here, Get 2 Bonuses (no charge!)
- How CanMy Mentoring Service Serve You?
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ATTN.TOLEDO & ATLANTA! ÒWell-FedSelf-PublisherÓ Seminars Coming in March!
IÕll be inToledo, OH on March 16 to do two talks: an ad club luncheon and the second atwo-hour workshop on self-publishing (and for a crazy-low price). And on March25th, IÕll be talking self-publishing in Atlanta (where I live), atthe Spring Book Show at the Cobb Galleria. Hope youÕll join me (OR, if you knowanyone in those areas who might be interested, please pass it on). For moreinformation on both events, click
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I'MSERIOUSLY LOW ON ALL WELL-FED E-PUB COURSES!
Got a greatstrategy, approach or specific expertise you're willing to share? Turn it into aFeature (MAIN COURSE) for the EPUB (500-600 words; query first). ALSO, sendyour "GREENS" (200-300 words), TIPS (150-200) and SUCCESS STORIES(100-300) to peter@wellfedwriter.com.Archived issues at http://www.wellfedwriter.com/ezine.shtml.
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TheWELL-FED WRITER BLOG is Rockin'! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog
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MISSED MYTELECLASS? "Thriving as a Freelance Commercial Writer"
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AWAICOPYWRITING (& OTHER) COURSES: Register Here, Get Your Choice of Bonus CDProgram! Six-Figure Copywriting, Graphic Design, Internet Writing, Fundraising,Health Market and more! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/awai.shtml.
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HOW CAN MYMENTORING SERVICE SERVE YOU?
For detailsand testimonials, visit http://www.wellfedwriter.com/mentoring.shtml.
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