Apologies for the late delivery of this monthÕs issue. Was dealing
with some technical issues, but weÕre good to go!
Welcome to THE WELL-FED E-PUB!
Serving up food for
thought and tasty tips for the prospering FLCW*. Come on in, sit anywhere and
bring your appetite!
*FLCW, peppered
throughout the ezine, stands for ÒFreelance Commercial WriterÓ – anyone
who freelances for businesses (vs. writing magazine articles, short stories,
poetry, etc.), typically earns $50-125+ an hour, and is the sole focus of this
e-newsletter.
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VOLUME
10, ISSUE 10 – OCTOBER 2011
Publishing
the first Tuesday of every month since May 2002
Read
it Online at: http://www.wellfedwriter.com/ezine/oct2011.html
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ÒCOLD-CALLING FOR THOSE
WHO HATE (EVEN THE IDEA OF) COLD-CALLINGÓ!
F.R.E.E. Teleseminar
with Wendy Weiss (ÒThe Queen of Cold CallingÓ), Wed. 10/12/11. More details at http://wellfedwriter.com/seminars.shtml,
and you MUST register here: https://wendyweiss.infusionsoft.com/go/NRCC064/WFW/
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SOUTHERN
EXPRESSIONS AUTHORS CONFERENCE COMING 10/15-17!
ATTN:
Southeastern U.S. Writers; come join me at the beach! IÕll be delivering two
talks at the SEAC in a few weeks and thereÕs still space! Details: http://gcwriters.org/se11.html
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WANT
A ÒWRITING-JOB-GENERATINGÓ MACHINE THAT KEEPS ON DELIVERING?
IÕve
done it for most of my 18-year career. Get all the scoop in my new ebook.
Details here: http://www.wellfedwriter.com/partnerwithdesignersebook.shtml.
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Check out The WELL-FED
WRITER BLOG! Weigh in on ÒWhen Does Part-Time Copywriting (vs. Full-Time) Make
More Sense? (Guest Post)Ó; ÒWhatÕre Your Grammatical Pet Peeves,Ó and more! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog.
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ÒTHE
WELL-FED WRITERÓ (2010 EDITION) HAS WON FOUR AWARDS!
To
Order (FR.EE Bonus/U.S. Shipping): http://www.wellfedwriter.com/ordertwfw.shtml.
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I NEED YOUR SHORT
(100-200 words) SUCCESS STORIES for the E-PUB!
Landed a great client?
Had a successful marketing campaign? Done something else that boosted your FLCW
income? Send them to peter@wellfedwriter.com.
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THIS
MONTHÕS MENU:
I. APPETIZER: A TASTY FALL SAMPLER!
Fr.ee Teleseminar; Good-News
Article; Book Giveaway Winners; Spell-Check Chuckle!
II. ÒFIELDÓ GREENS: THE PROOFREADING
SOLUTION
Houston TX Author Offers Novel Way to Catch More Errors When
Proofreading
III. MAIN ÒMEATÓ COURSE: LESSONS
FROM FREELANCINGÕS FRONTLINES
Ft. Lauderdale, FL FLCW of 22 Years
Shares Keys to Successful Solo Career
IV. DESSERT: Sweet
Success Stories and Tips
KC FLCWÕs Estimate Clarifies
Client Expectations, Fosters Communication & Goodwill
TIP: CompanyÕs Video is
Great (and Entertaining!) Example of Effective Marketing
V. COFFEE, MINTS AND
TOOTHPICKS
- MORE WORK WITH LESS EFFORT? New Ebook Serves Up the
ÒHow-ToÓ!
- THE WELL-FED E-PUB
NEEDS ALL COURSES!
- The WELL-FED WRITER
BLOG is RockinÕ! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog
- AWAI Copywriting (& Other) Courses: Register Here, Get
Bonus CD!
- How Can
My Mentoring Service Serve You?
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I. APPETIZER: A TASTY FALL SAMPLER!
Fr.ee Teleseminar; Good-News
Article; Book Giveaway Winners; Spell-Check Chuckle!
ÒCOLD-CALLING FOR THOSE
WHO HATE (EVEN THE IDEA OF) COLD-CALLINGÓ!
F.R.E.E. Teleseminar with Wendy Weiss (ÒThe Queen of Cold
CallingÓ), coming up on Wednesday, 10/12 at 4 p.m. EST. Whether you hate cold
calling, just want to get better at it, or both, this is for you! More details
at http://wellfedwriter.com/seminars.shtml,
and you MUST register here: https://wendyweiss.infusionsoft.com/go/NRCC064/WFW/.
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GOOD-NEWS ARTICLE ABOUT GROWING OPPORTUNITY FOR FLCWÕS!
Thanks to PA FLCW Carolyn Frith (www.carolynfrith.com) for sending me the link below to
an article on a growing writing need. The upshot? Increased demand for folks
like us! Enjoy. http://www.contentmarketinginstitute.com/2011/09/future-of-content/
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WINNERS OF THE ÒUPGRADE TO FR.EEÓ BOOK GIVEAWAY!
Last month, Beth Ziesenis (a.k.a. ÒYour Nerdy Best FriendÓ; http://www.askbethz.com)
graciously offered up two copies of her great new title, ÒUpgrade to Free: The Best Free & Low-Cost
Online Tools & AppsÓ to two EPUB readers who told her in five worlds or
less, why they should win.
WINNERS:
ÒDecrepit Oldster + Upgrade2Free = Competitive Advantage!Ó
David Barnes, Santa Ana, CA
ÒIÕll help others with autism.Ó Sharon Mitchell, Kinistino,
Saskatchewan, Canada
RUNNERS-UP:
Nobody does FREE like me! (Lydia Diaz)
I'll read, I'll take action! (Alan Allard)
Why me? I feel free. (Jim Koscs)
Even if you didnÕt win, check out the book at http://amzn.to/Upgrade2Free.
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YOUR WORST SPELL-CHECKING NIGHTMARE!
Check out this hilarious video (warning: a bit racy in parts, but hey,
weÕre all grown-ups) showing what could happen if you let your spell-check run
amokÉ Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OonDPGwAyfQ&feature=related
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II. ÒFIELDÓ GREENS: THE PROOFREADING
SOLUTION
Houston TX Author Offers Novel Way to Catch More Errors When
Proofreading
An interesting piece from one of my
self-publishing clients, 93-year-old (thatÕs not a typo) Houston author Jim
Coffeen (jacoffeen@aol.com). IÕve
learned the hard way how difficult it is to proof your own work (or that of
others) by sight alone. HereÕs a novel solution!
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Our minds are good at reading,
automatically correcting without our even knowing theyÕre doing it. We may
read a misspelled word as though it were spelled correctly. If a word is
missing from a common expression, we may read it as though it were there.
An exercise going around on the
Internet demonstrates this. In a text sample, all the words long enough are
misspelled, though the first and last letters of the word stay in their proper
place. ÒRandomÓ may be spelled Òrdaonm,Ó ÒcertainÓ as Òcatiern,Ó etc. For
people who read a lot (doesnÕt work as well on those who donÕt), the whole text
is readable. Our brains get the meaning in spite of the errors.
While this auto-correcting ability
of our brain is useful when reading for comprehension, itÕs a liability when
weÕre proofreading. But, thereÕs a better way to proof. Cut the brain out of
the reading process. How? Have a computer read it aloud while you
listen. The computer will do its best to pronounce a misspelled word, but
itÕll sound strange. If punctuation is misplaced, the sentence wonÕt sound
right.
Your brain is still involved, but in
listening, not reading. You might gloss over a missing word, but youÕll catch
more errors than traditional proofing.
PB Note: A non-techy fallback
solution is to simply read your text aloud, something IÕve often done with
success. Not ideal for manuscript-length documents (but then neither is the
computer solution), but still far better than doing it by sight.
I checked with my computer guy
(Wheat Williams; http://www.wheatwilliams.com)
about WindowsÕ capability to do this. His reply: ÒWindows Vista and Windows 7
have a Microsoft Text-to-Speech feature whose parameters can be accessed
through a tab in the Speech Recognition control panel.Ó P.S. HeÕs not
super-impressed with its prowess.
We Mac users have it better: From the
Apple menu, click ÒSystem Preferences,Ó then ÒSystem,Ó then ÒSpeech.Ó On the ÒText
to SpeechÓ tab, check ÒSpeak selected text when the key is pressed.Ó Click ÒSet
Key,Ó then press a key combination you want to use to hear text read aloud (I
used Command-Y), and click OK. Now, in any Office application, when you select
some text, and press your chosen keyboard shortcut, youÕll hear the text read
aloud. I tried it and it works pretty well! And according to Wheat: ÒThe very
first Mac in 1984 came stock with text-to-speech.Ó We lost a true pioneer and
visionary when Steve Jobs passed away yesterday.
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III. MAIN ÒMEATÓ COURSE:
LESSONS FROM FREELANCINGÕS FRONTLINES
Ft. Lauderdale, FL FLCW of 22 Years
Shares Keys to Successful Solo Career
Got this great piece full of sage
advice from 22-year veteran, Fort Lauderdale, FL-based FLCW
Jeff Zbar (http://www.gotwords.com), a self-described Òfreelance journalist,
business columnist and corporate copywriter.Ó Enjoy!
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More than 22 years into my
freelancing gig, IÕm learning more every day. But much of what IÕve
learned, I've done so in fits and starts. Early on, I read no tomes on
Òentrepreneurship,Ó and sought out no ÒgurusÓ on running a small
business. I bootstrapped my business, with the guidance of my accountant and
peers, and the unwavering support of my wife.
Below are some of my observations.
IÉ
É Was a serious, focused
entrepreneur from the start. Just 25 at the time, I was young and na•ve,
but I quit a day-job to become a career freelancer, not to be a
ÒconsultantÓ or as some temp thing on the way back to a corporate
writing job. Take your writing career seriously. ItÕs not about earning
Òsix figuresÓ (though you may). ItÕs about making a living that supports
your life.
É Learned to hit (and dodge)
curveballs. IÕve endured four economic downturns – and the worst
recession since the Great Depression. Repeat after me: ÒSuccessful
freelancing (like any entrepreneurial endeavor) is not a sprint, but
a marathon.Ó If you canÕt handle the slumps and droughts, leave the field.
É Stayed hungry – not
starving. The distinction is important. Hungry keeps you working,
prospecting and working your fields. Starving is pathetic; I know, because
IÕve been there. IÕve hounded clients for assignments IÕd hoped would
come, and IÕm sure I looked desperate. Sure, times may grow lean. But
smart marketing – like reaching out to clients and prospects,
tweaking your website, working LinkedIn, networking, etc. – will
keep you above the mass of struggling peers.
É Always learned, honed and played
the chameleon (within reason). As a (still) evolving writer, IÕm
constantly taking mental notes of copy I like: a billboard or TV commercial,
dialogue from a movie or sitcom, etc. I donÕt necessarily write for
those media, but IÕm quick to pick up new stylistic tidbits. Along those
lines, my voice has changed and improved over time. IÕm a stickler for
grammar, syntax and wordplay. IÕm not afraid to take chances in my writing
– and argue their merits. I think IÕm better for it.
É Invested in tools and technology.
ItÕs not about having the latest version of MS Office; Office 2003 still
runs like a champ. But I'm also a big fan of OpenOffice (a
f.r.e.e. productivity suite), and Google Docs (I exclusively use Gmail
and Google Calendar, and sync both to my smartphone). My BlackBerry allows me
to be mobile and stay in touch, and higher-speed DSL at home allows for
fast downloads of large files from clients or graphic designers. It's
just the Òcost of doing business.Ó
É Became a bean counter who tracks
receivables very closely. When they go 31 days, I get squeaky. ItÕs my
money, so I'm not timid. In 22 years, IÕve been stiffed exactly twice for $1,500
– total. Maybe itÕs about being a good judge of people, and being
mindful of hard times others may be encountering. A few years ago, a
client went $14,000 in the hole. We negotiated terms (including
$500-a-month installments and all future work 50% up front, 50% COD).
Today weÕre square – and he remains a client.
É Took pride in my chosen career.
Always. When I first started freelancing, a close friend 25 years my elder
said, ÒIÕve never met a starving writer before,Ó to which I replied, ÒI
will not be your first.Ó To this day, puzzlement is the most common
response when I say people IÕm a writer. I didnÕt care 22 years ago. I
donÕt care today. IÕm proud of what weÕve accomplished.
Along the way, weÕve raised three
kids from newborns to become stable and well adjusted – with no
daycare, early drop-off, late stay or keys on the latch. WeÕve traveled,
enjoyed life, and saved for college and retirement. Sure, times can
get tight. But they can get tight running a plumbing business or a floral
boutique or being an employee in someone elseÕs shop.
In 22 years, IÕve never feared the
pink slip. And IÕve only filled out a job application once – for a
contracting gig with a creative placement firm. I ended up not taking the
gig.
Freelancing is a great career. Be
proud. Be professional. Strive for success. Most of all, enjoy the rideÉ
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IV. DESSERT: Sweet
Success Stories and Tips
KC FLCWÕs Estimate Clarifies
Client Expectations, Fosters Communication & Goodwill
TIP: CompanyÕs Video is
Great (and Entertaining!) Example of Effective Marketing
Got this neat little story/tip from my longtime friend, KC,
MO FLCW Jim Meadows (http://www.jimfreelance.com;
featured in TWFW in chapter on part-time biz-building). Look for an EPUB
feature from Jim soon, where heÕll share his now 10-year journey as a part-time
FLCW who still holds a FT job, spends plenty of time with his family, is a part-time
pastor in his church, and much more. HeÕs an inspiration. Stay tuned! And after
that is a link to a great example of a marketing video that works on so many
levels!
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Build your value and time into every quote, but always be
willing to clarify and adjust expectations to everyoneÕs benefit. We remain
human; misunderstandings happen.
I recently had a longtime client ask for a quote on a
technical writing project that had the potential for significant research and
time, perhaps more so than he realized. Initially, I was tempted to throw him a
midrange estimate, assuming the project simply would not pan out on the long
side. But if I took that approach, I could be setting myself up for
complications down the road, and possible strain in the client relationship.
Instead, I took a fresh look at the scope of the assignment.
Upon careful analysis of what could happen, understanding my quality
contribution, and knowing the rather technical nature of the work, I built
these items into my estimate.
After receiving my estimate, my client said, ÒPerhaps IÕve
overcomplicated this. I know youÕre a meticulous, detail kind of person. But we
only need a simple rewrite and review of the existing material. As such, I was
thinking of something around 50% to 75% of what you quoted me.Ó
This response was marvelous to me. My client clarified
expectations, underscoring that I would not being performing extensive
research. Not only that, but when I responded with a revised quote in the high
end of his range, he accepted it immediately.
We like to think we will nail the estimate perfectly every
time. The reality is we are all human, and sometimes misunderstandings occur. The
more we remain cognizant of that, the more effective we can be to maintain
excellent client relationships with a happy revenue stream.
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Every now and then, you come across a marketing piece that really does a
bang-up job of selling a particular product or service. Check out http://www.verticalresponse.com (then click on ÒWatch the videoÓ on the left), which markets email
management programs, for an exceptionally entertaining hot-dog-store owner as
their spokesman. ItÕs detailed, fun, funny, easy to follow, exceptionally
accessible to the layman, and makes the whole process seem oh-so-very
easy-breezy. We can learn a lot from it!
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V. COFFEE, MINTS AND
TOOTHPICKS
- MORE WORK WITH LESS EFFORT? New Ebook Serves Up the
ÒHow-ToÓ!
- THE WELL-FED E-PUB
NEEDS ALL COURSES!
- The WELL-FED WRITER
BLOG is RockinÕ! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog
- AWAI Copywriting (& Other) Courses: Register Here, Get
Bonus CD!
- How Can
My Mentoring Service Serve You?
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MORE WORK WITH LESS EFFORT? New Ebook Serves Up the
ÒHow-ToÓ!
ThatÕs not hype. ItÕs how my business has worked for the
better part of 18 years, thanks to some juicy partnerships with graphic
designers. The result? 1-2 jobs virtually every month with little or no effort
on my part. And I put all the how-to details down on paper. Check it out at http://www.wellfedwriter.com/partnerwithdesignersebook.shtml.
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IÕM
SERIOUSLY LOW ON ALL WELL-FED E-PUB COURSES!
Got a great strategy,
approach or specific expertise youÕre willing to share? Turn it into a Feature
(MAIN COURSE) for the EPUB (500-600 words; query first). ALSO, send your ÒGREENSÓ
(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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The
WELL-FED WRITER BLOG is RockinÕ! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog
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AWAI COPYWRITING (& OTHER) COURSES: Register Here, Get
Your Choice of Bonus CD Program! Six-Figure Copywriting, Graphic Design,
Internet Writing, Fundraising, Health Market and more! http://www.wellfedwriter.com/awai.shtml.
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HOW CAN MY MENTORING SERVICE SERVE YOU?
For details and testimonials, visit http://www.wellfedwriter.com/mentoring.shtml.
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