Angela Booth's Writing Blog

New survey: what's your level of freelance writing experience?

Want to take part in a survey? Completing the survey will help me to create the content you want and need on my writing blogs, and for Fab Freelance Writing Ezine.

I know that many readers are completely new to freelance writing, while others are much more experienced.

I'd appreciate a moment of your time to complete the survey -- it's short, just two questions.

Click here to complete the survey. (The survey doesn't for your name or any other personal details.)

Many thanks. :-)

Build Your Writing Services, Build Your Income

In next week's Fab Freelance Writing Ezine, we discuss your customers and building your relationship with them in order to increase your income.

Here's an excerpt from the Editorial:

Thinking about, and reviewing your services regularly, will enable you to increase your income substantially, because your customers will buy more of your services.

For example, let's say that you're writing Web articles. That's one service, and it's a much-needed one. But chances are that you get a client, write the articles he wants, and that's that – the relationship ENDS.

This is sad, both from your point of view, and from the point of view of your buyer, because you've invested significant time and energy in getting this sale, and your buyer has equally spent time and energy in choosing you to write for him.

Start thinking about the long term value of your customers: someone who's bought your services ONCE, will buy from you AGAIN. It's easier for him to work with someone he knows, than to start all over again looking for a writer when he has a new project.

Read more in Tuesday's issue of your favorite "make money writing" ezine: subscribe now.

Subscribe to Angela Booth's fabulous free weekly ezine for freelance writers: get a free report just for subscribing. Even if you're a new writer, you can freelance your way to a fantastic writing career.

Join the thousands of freelance writers who are making great money freelance writing, using Fab Freelance Writing Ezine as their guide.

Happy Easter, Dear Writer

Wishing you fun and chocolate this Easter... :-)

Your Writing: Bold, Brave and Profitable

In next week's issue of Fab Freelance Writing Ezine I encourage you to be BOLD, BRAVE… and above all, PROFITABLE. Here's an excerpt from the Editorial:

As a freelance writer, you have the keys to the profit kingdom.

The online world gives you the facilities to be an instant publisher. You can get an idea, get it online, and make it profitable, often within 24 hours… IF you're brave and bold.

Why brave and bold? Simply because you often have no idea whether or not something will be profitable, and there's no way to find out, except to DO it.

By nature, I'm a perfectionist. It's taken me a long time to get over this, and it's cost me a lot of money, because I used to over-think everything, and second-guess myself constantly.

Let me tell you when I first realized that over-thinking was death to writing for profit.

The issue will be out on Tuesday next: enjoy. :-)

Write your way to a million-dollar income

Write And Sell Your Writing: The Power-Write Report -- 2009

The Web has made it possible for ANY writer, no matter how new or inexperienced, to turn writing into a fabulous career. If you're stuck in a soul-destroying, or just boring job, writing is your way out.

Fab Freelance Ezine helps you to understand the fast-changing world of the freelance writer, and sets you well on the way to making the income that you want to make, and that many writers are already making.

Subscribe today, and receive "Write And Sell Your Writing: The Power-Write Report -- 2009" just for subscribing.

Jobs for Writers: Create Your Own Writing Jobs

Looking for writing jobs? Don't bother -- you'll make more money creating your own jobs, rather then than scouring the online job boards. You'll enjoy your writing more too.

There are two primary ways in which you can create your own writing jobs: create proposals, and/ or create your own products.

1. Create Writing Proposals and Create Your Own Contract Job

If you've been writing for a while you know how to write proposals. Perhaps you've written proposals (also known as queries) for magazine articles. Or perhaps you've created a proposal for a book, and sent it to an agent or to a publishing house.

A proposal is essentially an offer. While many writers know that they can make proposals to magazines and book publishing companies, most writers are unaware that you can make a proposal to any company at all. Occasionally you'll make a proposal after having phone conversation with a buyer of your writing. The buyer is intrigued with your ideas, and asks you to write them up in a proposal.

Most proposals however you'll create completely on your own initiative, simply because you have an idea of what a company needs. For many years I created  mini proposals for prospective copywriting clients. They were less than one page in length, and took me around half an hour to create. I sent these unsolicited proposals to companies with which I wanted to work. This worked brilliantly, for two reasons. The first reason is that I could decide exactly what I wanted to write and when; the second reason is that I could decide  exactly how much I wanted to charge.

If you're spending hours every week scouring the job boards, start writing proposals. You be amazed at the difference it makes when you create your own writing jobs.

2. Create Your Own Writing Products

The second way to create your own writing jobs is to create your own products. These products could be Web sites, blogs, ebooks, or other information products. The benefit and creating these kinds of jobs for yourself is that the work that you do will continue to pay you for years to come.

Let's say you spend a month of your spare time writing an ebook. If you've chosen an evergreen topic for your ebook, that ebook will continue to sell for the next few years. This brings you a complete hands-free source of income.

If you're a brand new writer you won't have the experience to use the strategies in this article. However if you've been writing for a couple of years, you do. Get creative and innovative, and start creating your own writing jobs now.

Make Money Writing and Build a Great Career

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Want to make money with your writing? Fab Freelance Writing Ezine is your free weekly resource.

Build your skills, get motivated - it's never been easier to build a great writing career.

Whether you're a brand new writer, or are an established pro, Fab Freelance Writing Ezine is packed with writing tips you can use.

Here's what a new writer said: "I've always wanted to sell my writing - you showed me how. I made three sales on one day, just from my blog."

You and Fab Freelance Writing Ezine are a powerful combination. Subscribe today... it's free.

Professional Writing: 5 Attitudes Which Will Kill Your Career

The fastest way to build your professional writing career is to develop professional attitudes, preferably right from the start. Let's look at five attitudes which will kill your career.

1. "I Just Want to Write"

There's more to a professional writing career than writing. You need to build your career with networking and marketing. If you've ever said: "It's who you know", you're half right. It's who you know, and who knows you.

Does this seem unfair?

Think about it. Anyone can claim to be a writer, and many people do. This puts people who buy your writing into a quandary. To accept writers at face value isn't just naive, doing so is the road to ruin.

So, they need evidence that you can write, which you must provide in the form of clips, or writing samples initially, but ultimately in your reputation as a professional. Every writing job you accept builds your reputation, and it's very easy to lose your reputation. At every level of writing, it's a small world. People will Google you to learn about you.

Providing clips and samples isn't enough if you want your books, articles, and copywriting to be accepted and published at the highest levels. Your professionalism must shine through: you must understand marketing, and constantly market yourself.

2. "I Already Know How to Write"

The world of writing is changing every day. So, since writing is constantly changing, you need to keep learning.

3. "I Don't Need to Practice"

Professional writers WRITE. They spend many hours a day writing, both to meet their commitments, and also to practice new skills. Practicing is essential for writers.

4. "I Don't Need to Study"

Professional writers are always studying something. A mystery novelist studies the latest in forensic techniques. A copywriter studies sales pages and psychology. A Web writer studies search engine optimization.

Studying is part and parcel of professional writing.

5. "It Should Be Free"

Professional writers expect to be well paid for their writing. They also expect to pay for software, for courses they take, and for anything else which can help them to build their writing career. The things you get for free are generally worth what you paid for them.

Recession-proof your freelance writing career

"Write More And Make More Money From Your Writing: Develop A Fast, Fun Productive Writing Process" gives you all the tools you need for a thriving writing career, no matter what the economic climate.

Three weeks after completing the class one student wrote:

"Thanks Angela, for all your help and advice in class. I'm quitting my job next week. I printed out my letter of resignation tonight after landing a contract writing job that will pay me more for three months part-time work than I earned in from my day job in the whole of 2007! You were right – the great gigs are out there, and now I've got the skills to land them. Your class opened my eyes. Bless you…"

"Write More And Make More Money From Your Writing: Develop A Fast, Fun Productive Writing Process" shows you how to thrive as a freelance writer. Would you like to write five times more than you're writing now, and sell to higher-paying markets? Take the class.

Alltop: what an honor, we're featured in Pens

This blog has recently been added to the Pens topic in Alltop, the online magazine rack.

It's a real honor, and I'm pleased.

Not familiar with Alltop? Browse the many and varied topics, the site is packed with great information.

POLL: Do you want a network for Fab Freelance Writing Ezine?

As you may know, Fab Freelance Writing Ezine is now almost two years old, so I've created a new site for it.

I've been thinking about how I can make the ezine, and its site, more useful to you.

I'm in two minds about whether I should create a Web-writing-style network for Fab Freelance Writing Ezine.

Here's the Web Writing Network to show you what I mean by "network".

The benefits of a network for the ezine are that you'd have your own Web page on the network, and would be able to chat to other readers, and use the forum for discussions.

Please vote in the poll, and let me know what you want.

Many thanks.

Get the Writing Jobs in Your Own Backyard

Writers are seduced by the Internet, and if you're a new writer, this is not a good thing. You're forgetting that there are writing jobs you can get locally, in your own backyard.

Local writing jobs are easy to get. They build your writing experience, develop your contacts, and are a stepping stone to the wider world of writing for global markets.

So assuming that you're a new writer, how would you go about getting local writing jobs?

Start by realizing that there are writing jobs are everywhere, and that 99 per cent of them are never advertised.

1. Start With Your Local Newspaper

When they think about their local paper, most writers consider writing features. Forget that. Most newspapers have at least one writer, and several stringers, so writing articles for your local paper, while possible, is unlikely.

Instead, send your local newspaper a news release proclaiming the opening of your new writing services business. Include a photo. (If you're not sure how to write a news release, search for press release templates online.)

Many newspapers will run the release as-is. The paper may even send a reporter to interview you. This is excellent - this news story will not only appear in your paper, but will be available online, at the paper's site. Instant fame!

You could also write a couple of letters to the editor, mentioning in passing that you're a writer, and are available to write for local businesses.

2. Approach Local Businesses

Businesses need writers. They put out newsletters and they advertise. Some businesses even have a Web site. (If you find a business which doesn't, offer to write it for them.)

All you need to do is print up 200 flyers on your printer describing your writing services and adding your contact number. Stroll around, and drop off your flyers.

You'll get writing jobs, some while you're on the spot, as you're dropping off your flyers.

3. Your Local Clubs, Societies and Associations All Need Writers

Every town, no matter how small, has clubs, societies and associations. Your local library should have a list of the local associations, so ask.

Write a letter to the president, or secretary, of each one, describing your writing services. A week after you've sent out your letters, pick up the phone and call.

Again, you'll get writing jobs - many of which will be on-going. These clients will stay with you for years.

4. The Agency Route - Advertising and Graphics Design Agencies

Your local agencies may be small or they may be large, but they all have a need for a freelancer occasionally. When they win several contracts they'll get busy, and will farm out some of the work to local writers and designers.

When you get on the books with an agency, you'll get writing jobs right throughout the year.

So there you have four ways to get the local writing jobs - remember, these jobs are easy to get. There's no competition. :-)

Develop a great income writing for the Web - start by writing simple articles

I've developed "Sell Your Writing Online Now" (SYWON) to help you to start making money writing online in 24 hours or less.

Each week, for one full year, you'll receive a lesson, with an assignment which will build your Web writing income – you EARN as you learn.

SYWON is totally unique, and if you want to write for the Web, it's your ticket to success.

Write Local - Get the Writing Jobs in Your Own Backyard

In Fab Freelance Writing Ezine this week, our theme is "write local". Here's an excerpt from our lead article, "Write Local - Get the Writing Jobs in Your Own Backyard":

Writers are seduced by the Internet, and if you're a new writer, this is not a good thing. You're forgetting that there are writing jobs you can get locally, in your own backyard. Local writing jobs are easy to get. They build your writing experience, develop your contacts, and are a stepping stone to the wider world of writing for global markets. So assuming that you're a new writer, how would you go about getting local writing jobs? Start by realizing that there are writing jobs are everywhere, and that 99 per cent of them are never advertised.

This issue is out on Tuesday. It's free to subscribers; don't miss it.

How do you find writing jobs? If you’re scouring the online writing boards, you’re not selling your writing services effectively. Discover the secrets of selling your writing services today, with Angela Booth's new video series.

Subscribe to Angela Booth's fabulous free weekly ezine for freelance writers: get a free report just for subscribing. Even if you're a new writer, you can freelance your way to a fantastic writing career.

Join the thousands of freelance writers who are making great money freelance writing, using Fab Freelance Writing Ezine as their guide.