Okay, need some input here. As you all know, the subtitle to The Well-Fed Writer is “Financial Self-Sufficiency As a Freelance Writer in Six Months or Less.” When TWFW came out in 2000, that subtitle was no hype. After all, I was paying all my bills through commercial freelancing less than four months after hanging out my shingle.
Given the upcoming release of the updated version of TWFW (1Q/09), I’m rethinking this. Can someone, starting from scratch, indeed create a financially stable income stream from this business in 180 days or less? And if not, what would be a fair number?
I can hear you: “Well, it depends.” Course it does. Everyone’s starting in a different place. For someone coming out of, say, a corporate marketing position, with a pile of samples from their old job, a bunch of contacts and perhaps a few clients who’ve already whispered, “Count on me if you go solo” in their ear, I’d say six months is mighty doable. Obviously, someone with little of any of that is going to take a whole lot longer.
I can count on the fingers of one hand, minus 2 or 3, the number of folks who’ve bitched at me in the past eight years because it took them longer than six months. So, I’m not terribly worried about a bunch of whiney “You promised!” emails. I just want to be straight with people. I say it was easier when I started way back when, but that could have been my imagination: you’re in a groove, all pumped, nothing’s going to stop you, maybe it just seems easier. Can’t be sure. Hence the question. And yes, Jon, I know, if I think it’s easy, I’m right. And if I think it’s hard, I’m also right… 😉
But if it is a bit harder, conventionally speaking (and by definition, being a book title, it has to speak to everyone), I’d like the title to reflect that. And it needs to reflect how long it would take that mythical average person starting out – sort of a generally-speaking number. I’m sorta leaning toward 12 months. Sounds realistic, but still has a bit ‘o the “wow” factor (more so, of course, if you never saw the first one…).
What magic number would you put in this title? Twelve months?
If you’ve been in the business for more than 5 years (and preferably at least 7-8), do you think it’s harder than when you started, and if so, how so?
None of us are taking $5 jobs–but we are living in a world in which some people think this is a fee. It has changed things. I know you don’t agree, Peter…I guess we just have different POVs. My clients over the years have been Apple, IBM, Gannett, WebMD–and now it’s a different ballgame. Nuts. I hate sports.
Star, I agree. They are part of our world whether we like it or not. They influence the market in more ways than we care to think about. That’s why I’ve stopped looking in online markets – that’s where the worst offenders are. Out here in the real world there are people who actually value our skills and don’t mind us placing a fair price on them. 🙂
Lori and Star (and everyone else),
That’s what I was trying to say: In a larger sense, sure, they ARE part of our world, but I don’t consider them an issue for me and the clients I deal with. There are enough companies with enough money so that money isn’t the issue. The issue is getting excellent work from a partner who is easy to work with, reliable, and lets them focus on their jobs. In much the same way as we’d hire a more expensive plumber if we have a broken pipe, not try to skimp on a cheaper one.
My point is that $5 route will only work for people who are happy with mediocrity or “just enough.” Unless you’re saying that these $5 writers truly ARE delivering the same quality as you or others did for a good rate. In which case, we’re all in trouble.. 😉 But I don’t see that happening at all.
And I think much of the issue is project types. Can that $5 writer put together a passable article? Probably. But marketing brochures? Capabilities pieces? Direct mail campaigns? Effective web content? Sales sheets? Case studies? Now you’re getting into arenas far out of the skill sets of the low-ballers.
PB
You’re right, Peter, but some writers are only familiar with the mediocrity many online clients are offering. I was at a writer’s forum posting about my experience with a prospective client who was attempting to lowball my rates. I explained to this client that I was charging industry rates and perhaps wasn’t the right writer for him if that was beyond his budget. The client agreed, and we moved on with the project.
Several writers on that forum told me I was crazy to ask for “so much money” and predicted I would lose the job. I told them I refuse to go below average industry rates. I expect to be paid what I am worth. Why not? I have no problems paying a professional accountant, doctor or lawyer for their invaluable skills. I am quickly learning that means working with companies and corporations willing to pay for our experience and skills.
I kind of think the subtitle almost has to stay the same. Otherwise you’re somewhat obligated to revisit this question every 12 months and keep updating the subtitle based on the general feeling of what the market is like for new writers. Once the genie is out of the bottle…
(Of course, the different versions could become collector items. “Hey… I got the limited edition Three Months or Less version!”)
I’d almost suggest adding two words: “Strategies For” to the subhead. It lacks the “wow” factor of the current subtitle, but, at least in my mind, softens what can come across as an ironclad guarantee.
Or, you could play it safe with, “Financial Self-Sufficiency As a Freelance Writer in Six Months or Less… or More… Kind of Depends on You.” 😉
Nah… like I said… keep it the same.
I agree–online advertisers pay nothing or $25 for an ad and have no skin in the game. If writers want to take this stuff or bid down to it, whatEVER. Apparently, the newbies don’t know any better or think they are worth more. The worst is when they think, gosh, I can do three an hour and that comes to $15 an hour–yipee! But Peter asked did we see a change–I have. I get my work through queries and direct mailings, though I still sometimes write to those low-renters and say…you know, hey.
Weighing in a little late here, but here’s my nickel ninety-eight. I say keep the title the same. One of my favorite copywriting models is Maria Veloso’s (see her book, “Web Copy That Sells.”) As part of the process of developing copy points, she asks, “What is possible?” You answer that question by painting a picture of what is indeed possible, and that makes a great selling point. Your title, “…In six months or less” speaks to what is possible. With that in mind, and from a marketing perspective, the title works. There ain’t no guarantees in life, but certainly enough people have done it to make the claim credible.
I just finished making half of my 50 phone calls per day as advised in the 2000 edition of the WFW, and I have to say that I found the best, most common sense advice in this book that I have seen anywhere. I am only in my second full month of full-time freelancing, but I felt so confident in phoning. Why? Because someone like Peter Bowerman said to do it! So please don’t second guess yourselves – any of you. The dedication and the methods still work – as long as you do. Don’t give up. And I’d say leave the title as-is. Most people don’t really want a get-rich-quick-scheme — they want to know of a good, solid way to earn money by work – yes, hard work when necessary. Peter, thank you so much for giving inspiration to a new full timer – I have 3 new paying clients — all obtained by direct mail WITH phone follow-up. AND my phone calls today gained 3 requests for actual samples. And, I’ve only just begun.
Linda Reynertson
Peter,
If you’ll give me six months, I’ll answer your question. I plan to make the jump from corporate hack to FLCW in July, so I should be able to testify to new readers just about the time your new book edition hits the shelves. I’ve spent the past six months laying the groundwork, letting certain potential clients know I am available for freelance assignments now, and I have to say the response has been surprisingly strong and tremendously satisfying. I’ve been billing and collecting regularly for about three months now and I am at the point where I just can’t take anymore work and keep the full-time job.
I’ve been reading the responses here very closely, and following some other blogs, as well, but I will say that I am open to any advice that can be offered from more experienced freelancers out there — particularly on how to deal with the health benefits issue for my family in a way that won’t break me from the start.
Joe
Peter, I started working as an SEO writer last October (2007). Within the first few days, I landed my first client (article writing). Within the first week, I had landed two more clients. I made over $2,000 from one client alone the first month — and have gone on to hire more writers to work under me since then.
I’ve never been busier as a freelance writer, and I’ve been doing it since 1993. I have also never had an easier time in landing clients. So, I think a lot of success has to do with the niche you target.
Yuwanda
Hi Peter —
I’ve been freelancing for 17 years come August 2. I honestly don’t remember how long it took me to get to the point of financial self-sufficiency. Probably under a year. But then, I was really concentrating on magazine work then, not commercial writing so much (although I happily added that with a major hospital client within a year or so). These days I do almost exclusively commercial stuff, mostly in healthcare (Hi Star!) and environmental fields.
I do remember a freelancer friend telling me that it would be about two years before I “stopped worrying” about making a living as a freelancer. He was exactly right. After two years, I knew it was going to work, and didn’t worry about it anymore.
Those online job sites are a joke, pure and simple. I don’t know how anyone could take one of those $5 for 1000-words jobs. Even starting out I was never that crazy! I’d like to think that they are not affecting the ability of “real” writers to make a living, but I’m not sure. I do think my clients value good work, and most of them would never go near so cheap a writer. But who knows.
Cathy in Boulder
Two comments:
Six months, twelve months…isn’t the point that you can make a living with FLCW much faster, more reliably, and more remuneratively than with the query-to-editors game? Subtitle could be: “A Faster Way to Financial Self-Sufficiency”.
For those who are losing client work, you may have to compete to take business away from other ad men/women. Why not devise a “switch pitch” to attack prospects who now use an expensive agency with fancy offices in the high-rent district, and cherry-pick some portion of their account. You won’t win any nice guy awards, but that’s business, baby.
Not sure if I’m qualified to comment but I thought you might be interested. I’m just starting out as a freelance copywriter in the UK and I’m on what they call the “New Deal” scheme. This has been set up to help the long term unemployed back into work. As part of this scheme, I can have a go at running my own business whilst still being on unemployment benefit or welfare.
What this all boils down to is this: I have exactly six months to make a success out of my copywriting business or it’s back to the grind of a normal job.
So, if you want to know if your title is still accurate, ask me in December.
Good luck, Gary! Though, as you can see from all the notes that came before, everyone’s situation is
different. So, while I certainly WISH a six-month launch for you, it’s not a guarantee…;)
PB
Well, it hit me in March. I’ve had TWFW for a couple years and kept saying that “One of these days, I’m going to…” then my job went to Mexico and India. For the past year, I’ve been a stay-at-home Dad but am getting antsy. I decided I needed more biz ‘sense’ (procrastination) and read this other book (forgive me Peter:) that was scaring the cr@p out of me. So, I tossed it down, got some website software, reread TWFW and set September 1st as the start date. I’m working on my site and coldcall script (I was ops mgr of an inbound/outbound b-b and b-c contact center for 7 years so I actually have no fear of the calling aspect). I want it so bad so I plan to succeed. That said, I do see the online sites have absurd ‘fees’, so I plan to stay away from them unless it helps me get a decent sample…but I’m pretty good at ‘rethinking’ some projects from my past job to put in my portfolio, so hoping I can bypass them altogether.
Keep the title. It has helped a lot of us, and it has inspired a few of us to just do it.
As a new SEO, i can say that it is not really easy doing this kind of work (specially when you’re just earning for $5..) You can think that, Is This A Joke?…well for me,as a starter…i understand it. what should i do now is to focus on my job and satisfy my clients and most especially to improve my career…i know i can do this…if others can do, why can’t i..?
I have been writing for over two years, but I became self-sufficient a year ago. Nevertheless, I used to work a lot (9-10 hours a day), and I always tried to become better. By better I mean that I started to learn more about SEO and social media marketing.
I think there is no time limit for these things, it really depends on how motivated people are.
Anna.
I agree, Anna,
There are so many factors involved in how long it takes, and someone’s motivation/ambition level is a key one. AND, how good someone’s skills are. I occasionally hear form someone who’s been at it for a year or two, has made thousands of calls, and still isn’t getting any traction. And in those cases, I have to wonder if their skills just aren’t very strong (or they’re doing something really off-putting when talking with prospects!).
All the best as you continue to grow your business!
PB