When was the last time you were asked to write for free? It may be to help out a charity, to kick off a new enterprise or to assist an ezine that promised publication in lieu of payment. Here's three ways to ensure your writing isn't taken for granted and for free.
Writing for free is an issue that faces every freelancer at some time in their career. Generally at the beginning. Often, that's the only way newcomers feel they can launch their career or business.
Let's face it. Most writers are hired on their track record ~ successful projects they have worked on or articles they have written ~ but how do you get started without a track record?
For some, it's a matter of persistence, playing the numbers game. For others, the answer is to write for free. When you're starting out, you can write your first few articles for free or for a reduced fee. It gives newbies a chance to develop their skills, hone the craft, and the 'employer' gets the benefit of their effort. In this case, it's a win-win for both parties.
The problem with continuing this approach when you are a profesional is that it devalues not only the writer's work but also the industry as a whole. You only have to look as close as the Internet to see what value is placed on the writing process.
Many Web sites and ezines offer to publish your work but do not offer to pay for it. Their 'payment' is publication. Many content providers expect writers to produce copy for next to nothing. Their mentality ~ and that of a large proportion of the online community ~ is that information is free, and so why should they pay for it to be presented professionally.
So how do you convince businesses to pay for something that they can get for free elsewhere?
You need to demonstrate the benefits of working with a professional. Here's three simple ways you can help change your next client's thinking:
1. Promote yourself.
Promote the sites you've worked on, the clips you have amassed and the satisfied customers you have worked with, both online and offline. Success breeds success. I have worked with a number of large and well-known clients, and I make sure that new clients know that, and they know the results I have gained for them.
2. Develop a profile.
Contribute to online forums, publish a regular ezine, write an ebook. Make a name for yourself. Your opinion will be worth more if you do. 'Celebrities' and 'authorities' don't come cheap, and they never come free. This is a good way to attract new business and to command an attractive rate.
3. Think benefits.
Whether you are hiring a writer, buying a new car or even going out for dinner -- you're not thinking about the provider, you're thinking about yourself. What I am saying is that you -- as the consumer -- are thinking about 'what's in it for me'. People are not interested in products and services, they are interested in solutions. And the same applies to your prospective client. He's thinking about what's in it for him. So it's your job to not promote so much who you are but what you can do for him . . . by lifting the product's market share, improving the company's presence, or improving customer service through good copywriting.
And the best way you can convince him is by showing rather than telling him. Make sure that all of your communications are professional and punctual. Offer case studies of work you have done which clearly shows the benefits of working with you.
Smart business people will realize that while they have to pay for your work, they will benefit by saving time and/or making money. Either way you slice it, your job as a professional is to convince another professionals that investing in you is investing in the future success of their business.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Writing: Where Do You Begin?
Do you throw down words the moment you have a thought or do you structure what you'd like to write before committing yourself? Whatever your approach, here's some common sense tips that are not commonly used.
It's been said that writing is hardest for writers.
The first time I heard that, I laughed. The second time, I winced.
It's true, when you consider that we write for pleasure, for purpose and for a living. Others, may pick up a pen to write a friend or maybe dash off an email in between meetings, but they rarely consider the language, the inference, the beauty of the written word as we do.
So why is writing so hard sometimes? And, more importantly, how can we improve the process ~ and save our sanity?
I think it all gets back to how you begin.
As Susan Shaughnessy says: "The only thing harder than writing is starting to write". James Russell Lowell agrees: "In creating, the only hard thing is to begin: a grass blade's no easier to make than an oak".
And so it is with our labor of love.
How do you begin writing?
Do you throw down words the moment you have a thought or do you structure what you'd like to write before committing yourself to paper or pixels?
For me, it depends on the piece and my mood.
I use one or the other method or a combination. Let me explain.
When I have a strong idea for an article, I generally go with the urge and write until there's nothing left to write. Then I will structure the piece and fill in the blanks, edit and polish. This is basically the style I adopted when I was a young journalist. There was never time to really 'think' about a story. I just needed to file the story to make the fast-approaching deadline.
On other occasions, particularly if it's a longer piece or more complex, I will begin by outlining the points I want to cover, organizing them and then writing, followed by the editing process.
But, often, I use a combination. Essentially, my outline turns into free writing. I generally find myself doing this when I am writing a chapter for a book, be it fiction or non-fiction. I begin including the major points as you would in an outline, then I break into 'free writing' and, before you know it, the work is well on the way to being finished.
When it comes to writing media releases, which involve an interview with one or more people, I take a slightly different approach again. I transcribe my hand-written notes and quotes on screen, then organize them and then begin fleshing them out. I was never very good at shorthand as a young journalist, so I have never been confident to rely on my notes for too long (hieroglyphics were never my strong point).
I think there's no right or wrong way of getting the job done. We are all individuals, and we will all find an individual solution to fit our needs.
Whichever approach you take to writing, here's a few final points that may help:
1. Outlining and organizing your writing can either save or waste time.
It will save time, if you act on what you have prepared. It will waste time if you continue to outline or add to your notes. Take a leaf out of Nike's book, and just do it. Often writers will get caught up in the outlining phase and, before long, writer's block will set in.
2. Take time out.
How often have you written something, proofed it and found no errors, only to find a day or week later, it's littered with mistakes or even needs a total rewrite? This happens to the best of writers. If you have the time, put your words aside, take a mental break from them and return refreshed several hours or days later. You'll see it with new eyes and your work will be better for it.
3. Talk it out.
Sometimes when you are outlining, you may reach 'information overload' and the whole writing process grinds to a halt. This used to happen to me sometimes, back in those early days as rookie reporter. My Editor would sit me down and ask me one simple question: "What happened?" That's all he had to say, then I knew how to write the story. You see, it's sometimes easier to tell someone what happened than to put it down on paper. We have an in-built organizer that sifts through the facts and puts things in order. When you get blocked, use it with a friend or maybe just a tape recorder. (Often I can be found on the streets of my neighbourhood, walking and talking into a little black box. It lets me get out of the house but still stay in my mind.)
Oh, and if you're wondering which way I wrote this ~ I used the first approach!
It's been said that writing is hardest for writers.
The first time I heard that, I laughed. The second time, I winced.
It's true, when you consider that we write for pleasure, for purpose and for a living. Others, may pick up a pen to write a friend or maybe dash off an email in between meetings, but they rarely consider the language, the inference, the beauty of the written word as we do.
So why is writing so hard sometimes? And, more importantly, how can we improve the process ~ and save our sanity?
I think it all gets back to how you begin.
As Susan Shaughnessy says: "The only thing harder than writing is starting to write". James Russell Lowell agrees: "In creating, the only hard thing is to begin: a grass blade's no easier to make than an oak".
And so it is with our labor of love.
How do you begin writing?
Do you throw down words the moment you have a thought or do you structure what you'd like to write before committing yourself to paper or pixels?
For me, it depends on the piece and my mood.
I use one or the other method or a combination. Let me explain.
When I have a strong idea for an article, I generally go with the urge and write until there's nothing left to write. Then I will structure the piece and fill in the blanks, edit and polish. This is basically the style I adopted when I was a young journalist. There was never time to really 'think' about a story. I just needed to file the story to make the fast-approaching deadline.
On other occasions, particularly if it's a longer piece or more complex, I will begin by outlining the points I want to cover, organizing them and then writing, followed by the editing process.
But, often, I use a combination. Essentially, my outline turns into free writing. I generally find myself doing this when I am writing a chapter for a book, be it fiction or non-fiction. I begin including the major points as you would in an outline, then I break into 'free writing' and, before you know it, the work is well on the way to being finished.
When it comes to writing media releases, which involve an interview with one or more people, I take a slightly different approach again. I transcribe my hand-written notes and quotes on screen, then organize them and then begin fleshing them out. I was never very good at shorthand as a young journalist, so I have never been confident to rely on my notes for too long (hieroglyphics were never my strong point).
I think there's no right or wrong way of getting the job done. We are all individuals, and we will all find an individual solution to fit our needs.
Whichever approach you take to writing, here's a few final points that may help:
1. Outlining and organizing your writing can either save or waste time.
It will save time, if you act on what you have prepared. It will waste time if you continue to outline or add to your notes. Take a leaf out of Nike's book, and just do it. Often writers will get caught up in the outlining phase and, before long, writer's block will set in.
2. Take time out.
How often have you written something, proofed it and found no errors, only to find a day or week later, it's littered with mistakes or even needs a total rewrite? This happens to the best of writers. If you have the time, put your words aside, take a mental break from them and return refreshed several hours or days later. You'll see it with new eyes and your work will be better for it.
3. Talk it out.
Sometimes when you are outlining, you may reach 'information overload' and the whole writing process grinds to a halt. This used to happen to me sometimes, back in those early days as rookie reporter. My Editor would sit me down and ask me one simple question: "What happened?" That's all he had to say, then I knew how to write the story. You see, it's sometimes easier to tell someone what happened than to put it down on paper. We have an in-built organizer that sifts through the facts and puts things in order. When you get blocked, use it with a friend or maybe just a tape recorder. (Often I can be found on the streets of my neighbourhood, walking and talking into a little black box. It lets me get out of the house but still stay in my mind.)
Oh, and if you're wondering which way I wrote this ~ I used the first approach!
How to Write for Business (and write your own ticket)
Six easy ways you can get noticed by businesses and launch your commercial writing career.
When you tell someone you are a 'writer', what is their first perception of you? A novelist, a screenwriter, a freelance magazine writer or maybe a journalist. Right?
What about you? When someone tells you they are a 'writer', what's your first thought?
Probably the same.
And yet, the vast majority of people who call themselves writers today are unable to make a sustainable living from their craft.
This is not only sad, it is also avoidable.
I have been earning a living as a writer since I was 17. Over the past 20 years, I have written several fiction and non-fiction books, a play, a bunch of short stories, and countless magazine and newspaper articles. And yet I have earned the best income and the most sustainable income during this time as a commercial writer ~ writing for business.
That means writing everything from PR releases, speeches, direct mail letters and newsletters to ad copy, brochures, video scripts and Web copy for small businesses through to large corporations.
And the best thing about writing for business is that it enables me to enjoy my craft, broaden my knowledge and, most importantly, take time off to enjoy other pursuits, such as work on the two novels I have on the go at the moment.
So, how about you? How is your writing career progressing? Are you making a real living or just getting by? Are you getting by or waiting for the phone to ring with an assignment?
If you're like many of the writers I talk with, the first question they ask is . . . "I would like to write for business, but I haven't got any experience. How can I get started?"
Well, we all have to start somewhere and some time, so here's six steps to get you moving in the right direction:
1. Develop a folio of work and prove your worth.
This is chicken-and-egg stuff. You need samples of your work, known as a folio, to gain work ~ and you need work to begin building a folio. So to get started, approach people you know in business. These can be family or friends. Offer your services at a low cost or, if you have to, at no cost. I am not suggesting you make a career out of working for free. I am only suggesting this approach if you cannot find paid work. If you don't know of anyone in business, try various volunteer organizations, churches and social groups. It's important to remind yourself that you are in a training phase, and that usually comes at a cost. In this case, the cost could be working for a reduced rate.
2. Collect testimonials ~ let clients tell others how good you are.
Once you have completed one or more jobs, seek testimonials from your clients. This will help support your growing folio and give potential clients confidence in your work. Once you have been in business for a while, you may find that you receive referrals and testimonials without even asking for them. That's what happens to me. This is generally far more powerful than asking for them, and it's a great vote of confidence in your abilities.
3. Check out the job classifieds.
No doubt you are already doing this ~ but don't limit yourself to jobs for journalists, freelancers, PR or marketing writers ~ check out sales and marketing roles. If a company is expanding its sales force it will more than likely need marketing collateral, an ongoing PR program or maybe just some overload communications services. Be proactive, write to the Marketing Manager, CEO, Managing Director or Sales Manager (whoever is more appropriate), offering your services. But don't wait by the phone, call them within a few days of mailing the letter.
4. Keep up with the news.
When you see news of a company launching a new product, branching out into a new region or field, put them on your prospect list for the same reason as above. They may need your help.
5. Turn a negative into a positive.
Recession? What recession. All this talk about a soft or hard landing spells doom for full-time employees. Often, marketing departments are the first hit when times get tough. But recessions mean companies have to work harder to maintain market share ~ so there's plenty of opportunities for freelancers. I started my PR and marketing business at the height of a recession, and it went from strength to strength.
6. Publicize yourself.
You know how to write, you're learning how to conduct PR and marketing for others, but what about promoting yourself? Develop a company brochure, detailing the features and benefits of working with you. Include a list of services (these could be news releases, direct mail letters, advertising copywriting, speeches, events, newsletters and brochures ~ or all of them).
Here's six ways to get your commercial writing career moving in the right direction. Now all you need to decide is WHEN you are ready to write for business. Then you'll be on your way to writing your own ticket.
When you tell someone you are a 'writer', what is their first perception of you? A novelist, a screenwriter, a freelance magazine writer or maybe a journalist. Right?
What about you? When someone tells you they are a 'writer', what's your first thought?
Probably the same.
And yet, the vast majority of people who call themselves writers today are unable to make a sustainable living from their craft.
This is not only sad, it is also avoidable.
I have been earning a living as a writer since I was 17. Over the past 20 years, I have written several fiction and non-fiction books, a play, a bunch of short stories, and countless magazine and newspaper articles. And yet I have earned the best income and the most sustainable income during this time as a commercial writer ~ writing for business.
That means writing everything from PR releases, speeches, direct mail letters and newsletters to ad copy, brochures, video scripts and Web copy for small businesses through to large corporations.
And the best thing about writing for business is that it enables me to enjoy my craft, broaden my knowledge and, most importantly, take time off to enjoy other pursuits, such as work on the two novels I have on the go at the moment.
So, how about you? How is your writing career progressing? Are you making a real living or just getting by? Are you getting by or waiting for the phone to ring with an assignment?
If you're like many of the writers I talk with, the first question they ask is . . . "I would like to write for business, but I haven't got any experience. How can I get started?"
Well, we all have to start somewhere and some time, so here's six steps to get you moving in the right direction:
1. Develop a folio of work and prove your worth.
This is chicken-and-egg stuff. You need samples of your work, known as a folio, to gain work ~ and you need work to begin building a folio. So to get started, approach people you know in business. These can be family or friends. Offer your services at a low cost or, if you have to, at no cost. I am not suggesting you make a career out of working for free. I am only suggesting this approach if you cannot find paid work. If you don't know of anyone in business, try various volunteer organizations, churches and social groups. It's important to remind yourself that you are in a training phase, and that usually comes at a cost. In this case, the cost could be working for a reduced rate.
2. Collect testimonials ~ let clients tell others how good you are.
Once you have completed one or more jobs, seek testimonials from your clients. This will help support your growing folio and give potential clients confidence in your work. Once you have been in business for a while, you may find that you receive referrals and testimonials without even asking for them. That's what happens to me. This is generally far more powerful than asking for them, and it's a great vote of confidence in your abilities.
3. Check out the job classifieds.
No doubt you are already doing this ~ but don't limit yourself to jobs for journalists, freelancers, PR or marketing writers ~ check out sales and marketing roles. If a company is expanding its sales force it will more than likely need marketing collateral, an ongoing PR program or maybe just some overload communications services. Be proactive, write to the Marketing Manager, CEO, Managing Director or Sales Manager (whoever is more appropriate), offering your services. But don't wait by the phone, call them within a few days of mailing the letter.
4. Keep up with the news.
When you see news of a company launching a new product, branching out into a new region or field, put them on your prospect list for the same reason as above. They may need your help.
5. Turn a negative into a positive.
Recession? What recession. All this talk about a soft or hard landing spells doom for full-time employees. Often, marketing departments are the first hit when times get tough. But recessions mean companies have to work harder to maintain market share ~ so there's plenty of opportunities for freelancers. I started my PR and marketing business at the height of a recession, and it went from strength to strength.
6. Publicize yourself.
You know how to write, you're learning how to conduct PR and marketing for others, but what about promoting yourself? Develop a company brochure, detailing the features and benefits of working with you. Include a list of services (these could be news releases, direct mail letters, advertising copywriting, speeches, events, newsletters and brochures ~ or all of them).
Here's six ways to get your commercial writing career moving in the right direction. Now all you need to decide is WHEN you are ready to write for business. Then you'll be on your way to writing your own ticket.
Five Simple Steps to Writing an Ebook
Writing an ebook does not need to be a daunting task. This simple step-by-step procedure will help kick-start your creativity and keep you on track.
Writing the book.
It's the dream of every writer.
But how do you turn it into a reality?
Do you start writing the moment you have 'the idea'? Do you test the concept with others? Do you produce an outline first?
Whichever approach works for you, the best way to start and ensure you finish the book is by having a developing a strategy that works, and sticking to it.
Best-selling author Stephen King in his recent 'On Writing' autobiography suggests the same thing. He says that a writer should commit six days a week to their craft, and set a daily target of 1000 words.
Like me, no doubt you need to earn an income while you're writing an ebook, so I'd suggest the following adaptation which served me well:
1. Commit yourself to a routine.
Write in your spare time (eg five nights a week). Make it a regular time (eg 7:30 - 9:30 pm). You'll find that as soon as you get serious about this routine, it will take you no time to switch off from your day job and turn on to your writing job. Forget about waiting for the muse to give you the inspiration. This is a luxury no professional writer can afford.
2. Set yourself a daily target.
Start with a low target of maybe 100 or 500 words. These must be 'quality' words, so allow for time to edit what you have written in the one session. But, once you've edited them once, don't continue to rework existing words from previous sessions. You should be dedicating the bulk of your time now to creating not editing.
3. Get tough with yourself.
If you can't get motivated, whatever word target you set and didn't reach, should be added to the next session and so on. If you keep on your own back, you'll make sure the book is written on time and the content remains on target. Remember, your ebook isn't a labor of love, it's a commercial enterprise. Treat it like a business.
4. Raise the bar.
Within a short period of time, you will find that you can easily reach the initial word target. That's when it's time to raise the bar. Lift it to 500 words a day or whatever figure is just a little out of your grasp. Again, as in the beginning, you may find it difficult to reach this new goal. But don't let yourself off the hook. It won't be long before this new level is easily attainable and then, guess what, it's time to raise the bar once more.
5. Set a date for completion.
Once you're into the process, you should set deadlines for completion of the writing, editing, epublishing and Web site development.
I used this simple process to write my first ebook. I started with a daily target of 500 words, struggled for a little while, but toward the end of the project, I was knocking out up to 4000 words a day.
You will find that, as you progress with your ebook, it will build momentum. You will also find that even though you are writing twice as fast as when you started, the finished product will probably be twice as good.
Remember one last thing ~ enjoy the moment ~ writing ebooks is supposed to be exciting, fun and fulfilling.
Writing the book.
It's the dream of every writer.
But how do you turn it into a reality?
Do you start writing the moment you have 'the idea'? Do you test the concept with others? Do you produce an outline first?
Whichever approach works for you, the best way to start and ensure you finish the book is by having a developing a strategy that works, and sticking to it.
Best-selling author Stephen King in his recent 'On Writing' autobiography suggests the same thing. He says that a writer should commit six days a week to their craft, and set a daily target of 1000 words.
Like me, no doubt you need to earn an income while you're writing an ebook, so I'd suggest the following adaptation which served me well:
1. Commit yourself to a routine.
Write in your spare time (eg five nights a week). Make it a regular time (eg 7:30 - 9:30 pm). You'll find that as soon as you get serious about this routine, it will take you no time to switch off from your day job and turn on to your writing job. Forget about waiting for the muse to give you the inspiration. This is a luxury no professional writer can afford.
2. Set yourself a daily target.
Start with a low target of maybe 100 or 500 words. These must be 'quality' words, so allow for time to edit what you have written in the one session. But, once you've edited them once, don't continue to rework existing words from previous sessions. You should be dedicating the bulk of your time now to creating not editing.
3. Get tough with yourself.
If you can't get motivated, whatever word target you set and didn't reach, should be added to the next session and so on. If you keep on your own back, you'll make sure the book is written on time and the content remains on target. Remember, your ebook isn't a labor of love, it's a commercial enterprise. Treat it like a business.
4. Raise the bar.
Within a short period of time, you will find that you can easily reach the initial word target. That's when it's time to raise the bar. Lift it to 500 words a day or whatever figure is just a little out of your grasp. Again, as in the beginning, you may find it difficult to reach this new goal. But don't let yourself off the hook. It won't be long before this new level is easily attainable and then, guess what, it's time to raise the bar once more.
5. Set a date for completion.
Once you're into the process, you should set deadlines for completion of the writing, editing, epublishing and Web site development.
I used this simple process to write my first ebook. I started with a daily target of 500 words, struggled for a little while, but toward the end of the project, I was knocking out up to 4000 words a day.
You will find that, as you progress with your ebook, it will build momentum. You will also find that even though you are writing twice as fast as when you started, the finished product will probably be twice as good.
Remember one last thing ~ enjoy the moment ~ writing ebooks is supposed to be exciting, fun and fulfilling.
How to Write Business with Pleasure
Writing for businesses can profitable and pleasurable if you approach it correctly. Here's how you can put more zing into your writing life.
What is the single greatest reason for failure for a professional writer?
I don't think it's poor cashflow or changing market conditions ~ not when writing is your business ~ I think it's failing to realize that you ARE in business.
Writers are creative. We love to dream, to imagine, to present ideas. We may love writing books but not necessarily working on the financial books in our business.
I know, I'm no different.
But I realize that for me to remain a success in business, I need to continually remind myself why I am here, what I should be doing, and get on with it.
It's too easy to let the muse take over, and write when you feel like it, when the inspiration takes you or when the phone rings.
While you're waiting for that time, who's paying the bills? Who's planning, making contacts ~ ensuring you will have a business tomorrow?
To be an Enterprising Writer, you need to be proactive in business.
Whether you're new to business, an old hand, or ready to take it to a new level, here's one simple question you should ask to ensure you're on the right path and moving in the right direction. Think about it carefully, do a little soul-searching and you'll be that much closer to finding the niche in your writing life:
What field holds the key to your success?
There's a wealth of writing fields you can try or specialize in. Many writers are content to freelance for newspapers and magazines, and settle for poor rates. But have you tried the corporate sector?
Commercial writing is the most lucrative field I know, and it's an area I have invested the bulk of my time for the past 12 years. That is writing everything from media releases, direct mail and advertising copy to speeches, newsletters and brochures for small businesses and major organizations.
So if you are considering the commercial writing field (and I urge that you do), think about the various disciplines available.
You could focus on public relations and offer news releases, newsletters and speeches to clients. You could concentrate on mainstream advertising and provide copywriting services or maybe direct marketing and handle newsletters, brochures and sales programs.
Think about the certain types of writing you have done and like. If there's a natural reporter inside of you, maybe PR is the best place to start. If you have an off-beat imagination, maybe you could try your hand at ad copywriting. Or, if you're a born sales person, DM could be the best place to couple your marketing and literary skills.
While you're thinking about that, consider this . . .
If you have areas of interest or expertise, you could offer any or all of these writing services to specific industries.
I have, for example, been interested in computers since I got a Commodore 64 for my 21st birthday. Yes, it's a museum piece now, but it was good enough for me to write my first novel. I have come a long way since then, and so has technology, but I have maintained my interest in computers. So much so that since 1988, when I went full-time into commercial writing, I have always had one or more information technology accounts.
Today, many PR practitioners will tell you that IT is one of the best industries for PR ~ and they're right. But that's not the reason I targeted this market so long ago, and it's not the reason I have stuck with it ever since. I enjoy writing about new innovations. I like cutting through the jargon to present true business benefits to people.
The challenge with IT, like many industries, is that the technology changes so quickly, it's easy to fall behind. I certainly don't profess to be any kind of expert when it comes to using technology, but I have become an expert in writing about it. My true expertise lies in asking the right questions of industry marketers, commentators and technicians, and being able to write what people need to know.
Why am I telling you this?
I am showing you that you do not need to be an expert in any field to be a good commercial writer. It helps if you have a genuine interest, although I have found it easy to get enthusiastic about any and every client I handle. If you're not 'born' with this ability, you can develop it over time.
So, once you've answered that all-important question ~ what field holds the key to your success ~ you're on the right road to fulfilling your potential.
This is a little like setting goals.
First you need to identify the goal, then work out how you are going to achieve. Set the prize as the top rung of a ladder, with a number of steps below it. Those steps are smaller objectives you need to accomplish first.
The same applies when you begin working on your writing business. Put simply, you need to:
1. Identify which writing disciplines best suit you.
2. Determine which fields or industries you like.
3. Target suitable clients within these industries.
4. Sell yourself to them by using any or all of the writing disciplines we've just discussed.
That's the great irony about being a writer in business. Many have trouble making it because they think like a writer instead of as a business person. But, if you think like a business person and apply your writing skills, you will have a winning combination.
Unlike other business people, you don't need to hire a writer to produce news releases, draft prospecting letters or publish a newsletter. You can do it all yourself ~ saving time and money ~ and, best of all, who else knows your business and your abilities like you?
Now all you need to do is convince others.
Go to it ... I think I hear your phone ringing.
What is the single greatest reason for failure for a professional writer?
I don't think it's poor cashflow or changing market conditions ~ not when writing is your business ~ I think it's failing to realize that you ARE in business.
Writers are creative. We love to dream, to imagine, to present ideas. We may love writing books but not necessarily working on the financial books in our business.
I know, I'm no different.
But I realize that for me to remain a success in business, I need to continually remind myself why I am here, what I should be doing, and get on with it.
It's too easy to let the muse take over, and write when you feel like it, when the inspiration takes you or when the phone rings.
While you're waiting for that time, who's paying the bills? Who's planning, making contacts ~ ensuring you will have a business tomorrow?
To be an Enterprising Writer, you need to be proactive in business.
Whether you're new to business, an old hand, or ready to take it to a new level, here's one simple question you should ask to ensure you're on the right path and moving in the right direction. Think about it carefully, do a little soul-searching and you'll be that much closer to finding the niche in your writing life:
What field holds the key to your success?
There's a wealth of writing fields you can try or specialize in. Many writers are content to freelance for newspapers and magazines, and settle for poor rates. But have you tried the corporate sector?
Commercial writing is the most lucrative field I know, and it's an area I have invested the bulk of my time for the past 12 years. That is writing everything from media releases, direct mail and advertising copy to speeches, newsletters and brochures for small businesses and major organizations.
So if you are considering the commercial writing field (and I urge that you do), think about the various disciplines available.
You could focus on public relations and offer news releases, newsletters and speeches to clients. You could concentrate on mainstream advertising and provide copywriting services or maybe direct marketing and handle newsletters, brochures and sales programs.
Think about the certain types of writing you have done and like. If there's a natural reporter inside of you, maybe PR is the best place to start. If you have an off-beat imagination, maybe you could try your hand at ad copywriting. Or, if you're a born sales person, DM could be the best place to couple your marketing and literary skills.
While you're thinking about that, consider this . . .
If you have areas of interest or expertise, you could offer any or all of these writing services to specific industries.
I have, for example, been interested in computers since I got a Commodore 64 for my 21st birthday. Yes, it's a museum piece now, but it was good enough for me to write my first novel. I have come a long way since then, and so has technology, but I have maintained my interest in computers. So much so that since 1988, when I went full-time into commercial writing, I have always had one or more information technology accounts.
Today, many PR practitioners will tell you that IT is one of the best industries for PR ~ and they're right. But that's not the reason I targeted this market so long ago, and it's not the reason I have stuck with it ever since. I enjoy writing about new innovations. I like cutting through the jargon to present true business benefits to people.
The challenge with IT, like many industries, is that the technology changes so quickly, it's easy to fall behind. I certainly don't profess to be any kind of expert when it comes to using technology, but I have become an expert in writing about it. My true expertise lies in asking the right questions of industry marketers, commentators and technicians, and being able to write what people need to know.
Why am I telling you this?
I am showing you that you do not need to be an expert in any field to be a good commercial writer. It helps if you have a genuine interest, although I have found it easy to get enthusiastic about any and every client I handle. If you're not 'born' with this ability, you can develop it over time.
So, once you've answered that all-important question ~ what field holds the key to your success ~ you're on the right road to fulfilling your potential.
This is a little like setting goals.
First you need to identify the goal, then work out how you are going to achieve. Set the prize as the top rung of a ladder, with a number of steps below it. Those steps are smaller objectives you need to accomplish first.
The same applies when you begin working on your writing business. Put simply, you need to:
1. Identify which writing disciplines best suit you.
2. Determine which fields or industries you like.
3. Target suitable clients within these industries.
4. Sell yourself to them by using any or all of the writing disciplines we've just discussed.
That's the great irony about being a writer in business. Many have trouble making it because they think like a writer instead of as a business person. But, if you think like a business person and apply your writing skills, you will have a winning combination.
Unlike other business people, you don't need to hire a writer to produce news releases, draft prospecting letters or publish a newsletter. You can do it all yourself ~ saving time and money ~ and, best of all, who else knows your business and your abilities like you?
Now all you need to do is convince others.
Go to it ... I think I hear your phone ringing.
Is Writing your Passion, Hobby or Profession? (Hint: To be successful, it should be all three)
Learn how to what you write, when you like ~ and profit from it.
That's the best way I have found to make a make a success of my work ~ to not view it as work, but something enjoyable ~ and, I am told, it shows in my words.
One of the first rules writers learn is "write what you know". That's great, but not always practical, especially if you are a freelance journalist or copywriter. I think a more appropriate rule should be "write what you like".
I recall my early days on a daily newspaper on the Gold Coast, Australia's answer to Miami. I liked movies, music and books ~ who doesn't, you say ~ well, I did something about it. I became the paper's resident critic for all three. My Editor told me he couldn't afford a full-time critic, so he jumped at my offer of 'researching' and writing reviews in my spare time. Not only was it something I loved to do, it also gave me a new avenue for my work. And it wasn't long before I was writing reviews for a wide range of newspapers and magazines throughout the country ~ and getting paid for it.
So how about you? Think about your hobbies, consider what you enjoy doing. Can you write about it?
Yes! With more than six billion people on the planet, there's more than enough readers who enjoy what you enjoy and would love to read about it.
Do you like sports? What do you do on the weekends? Are you a member of any clubs? Where do you holiday ~ do you enjoy travelling?
Then write about it.
My wife and I love to travel and, when I get time, I put together an article on our adventures and sell it to newspapers and magazines. For me, it's the best of all worlds. I love to write. I write about things I enjoy doing. I discover new things about the subject in the process, and I appreciate it even more. And I get paid for it. But best of all ~ I can claim some of the expenses as a legitimate tax deduction. How about that!
Becoming an Enterprising Writer means thinking outside of the square.
It means going with your heart and enjoying what you do, but also using your head to maximize opportunities. It means taking a chance. Taking a chance on you, on your abilities, stretching yourself.
Why not try the following exercise:
1. Make a list of things that interest you.
As we've discussed earlier, your hobbies, sports, whatever you enjoy doing.
2. Think about ways you can write about them.
This could be as grandiose as a how-to book or novel or maybe a magazine article or regular column. You could even develop an entire Web site or regular e-zine dedicated to your interest.
3. Research the market.
If you're writing a book, be it non-fiction or fiction, read the 'competition', and gain an insight into what titles are popular and why. If you're writing a magazine article or a regular column, read what others have written on the subject. Check out relevant publications and understand their guidelines. If you're going to launch a Web site or e-zine, take the same approach. See what other people are doing, finding a niche to fill.
You can research your idea further by posting queries to relevant online forums, talking to people in the industry and many other ways.
4. Believe in yourself and your work.
Now it's time to get to work. Sometimes writers get stuck on point three and spend the bulk of their time researching a subject to death, only to find there's no room for what they want to say. That's not the case. There's always room, you've just got to find out where and you've just got to find the right way of expressing yourself.
Keep in mind that, as was said years ago, "there's nothing new under the sun", and that applies to writing as well. Every subject we write about has been said countless times before. The only difference is that this time YOU are writing about it. You can make a difference by injecting your personality, your viewpoint, your spin on a subject.
That's something I found with the reviews and travel stories I wrote. Someone had always been there before me, and many after me. My opinion was just as valid as the next person's ~ and the same applies to you.
So, go ahead, write what you know, but make sure you write what you like as well. You'll be happier, healthier and almost always, wealthier for it.
That's the best way I have found to make a make a success of my work ~ to not view it as work, but something enjoyable ~ and, I am told, it shows in my words.
One of the first rules writers learn is "write what you know". That's great, but not always practical, especially if you are a freelance journalist or copywriter. I think a more appropriate rule should be "write what you like".
I recall my early days on a daily newspaper on the Gold Coast, Australia's answer to Miami. I liked movies, music and books ~ who doesn't, you say ~ well, I did something about it. I became the paper's resident critic for all three. My Editor told me he couldn't afford a full-time critic, so he jumped at my offer of 'researching' and writing reviews in my spare time. Not only was it something I loved to do, it also gave me a new avenue for my work. And it wasn't long before I was writing reviews for a wide range of newspapers and magazines throughout the country ~ and getting paid for it.
So how about you? Think about your hobbies, consider what you enjoy doing. Can you write about it?
Yes! With more than six billion people on the planet, there's more than enough readers who enjoy what you enjoy and would love to read about it.
Do you like sports? What do you do on the weekends? Are you a member of any clubs? Where do you holiday ~ do you enjoy travelling?
Then write about it.
My wife and I love to travel and, when I get time, I put together an article on our adventures and sell it to newspapers and magazines. For me, it's the best of all worlds. I love to write. I write about things I enjoy doing. I discover new things about the subject in the process, and I appreciate it even more. And I get paid for it. But best of all ~ I can claim some of the expenses as a legitimate tax deduction. How about that!
Becoming an Enterprising Writer means thinking outside of the square.
It means going with your heart and enjoying what you do, but also using your head to maximize opportunities. It means taking a chance. Taking a chance on you, on your abilities, stretching yourself.
Why not try the following exercise:
1. Make a list of things that interest you.
As we've discussed earlier, your hobbies, sports, whatever you enjoy doing.
2. Think about ways you can write about them.
This could be as grandiose as a how-to book or novel or maybe a magazine article or regular column. You could even develop an entire Web site or regular e-zine dedicated to your interest.
3. Research the market.
If you're writing a book, be it non-fiction or fiction, read the 'competition', and gain an insight into what titles are popular and why. If you're writing a magazine article or a regular column, read what others have written on the subject. Check out relevant publications and understand their guidelines. If you're going to launch a Web site or e-zine, take the same approach. See what other people are doing, finding a niche to fill.
You can research your idea further by posting queries to relevant online forums, talking to people in the industry and many other ways.
4. Believe in yourself and your work.
Now it's time to get to work. Sometimes writers get stuck on point three and spend the bulk of their time researching a subject to death, only to find there's no room for what they want to say. That's not the case. There's always room, you've just got to find out where and you've just got to find the right way of expressing yourself.
Keep in mind that, as was said years ago, "there's nothing new under the sun", and that applies to writing as well. Every subject we write about has been said countless times before. The only difference is that this time YOU are writing about it. You can make a difference by injecting your personality, your viewpoint, your spin on a subject.
That's something I found with the reviews and travel stories I wrote. Someone had always been there before me, and many after me. My opinion was just as valid as the next person's ~ and the same applies to you.
So, go ahead, write what you know, but make sure you write what you like as well. You'll be happier, healthier and almost always, wealthier for it.
How to turn a Writer's Dreams into Reality
All writers have dreams of becoming best-sellers or full-timers. Here's a simple four-step plan to make your dreams come true.
Writers are many things but, above all else, they are dreamers. We spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about issues, creating characters and developing ideas.
But what about the dream ~ the writing dream?
Whether you dream of being a bestselling novelist, an in-demand freelancer or making a full-time living from the written word ~ the first step to achieving it is to conceive it.
Now, think about the last time you resolved to do something. Maybe it was at midnight on December 30 with the traditional New Year's Eve resolution.
Can you still remember what you resolved to do? More importantly, have you turned that dream into a reality?
For most people, their New Year's resolution is either forgotten or broken by the end of the first month.
It's a shame ~ it happens every year ~ but it's a good example of what does and will happen to other resolutions you have, if you don't back them up with action.
The second step in achieving your dream is to develop a road map. That is, setting goals and deadlines that work toward you achieving your desire.
Here's a simple strategy to get you moving in the right direction:
1. Define your goal
Get specific. What do you really want to achieve? Where do you want to be in one month, or in one year? Yes, you could write this in one sentence but try for a page or more. How will it make you feel? Sell yourself the features and benefits of achieving this goal. The more detail you have, the better.
2. Outline what you need to do
If your goal is to go pro this year as a writer, what do you need to do to make it happen? Break your goal down into stepping stones or mini goals which are easy, achievable and will bring you closer to attaining your dream. This may mean setting mini goals, such as study to prepare yourself for business; developing a business plan; identifying markets for your work or making important business contacts.
Make sure that each of your mini goals directs you ultimately to achieving your overall goal. Be aware of your overall goal, but don’t focus on achieving it. Keep your mind on one mini goal at a time, working toward its completion.
3. Attach deadlines
A goal is merely a dream unless you attach a deadline to its achievement. When you have a deadline, you become serious about your goal. By continually being aware of your goals and their deadlines, you generate a sense of urgency within you. You need a target otherwise it is too easy to drift off course.
4. Live your goal
Now we’re making progress. You have a goal, you have broken it into bite-sized goals with reasonable deadlines for achievement. Now, think about your overall goal, picture it in your mind, dream about it ~ 'see' it already in your life. 'Enjoy' the benefits it brings in your imagination.
Visualization is an integral part of meditation, and an important tool for achieving goals.
I have made this a part of my every day life, and you can too.
Get used to 'day dreaming' about your goal. Imagine that it's already a part of your life and, by methodically working on your mini goals, it will be sooner than you think.
There's no magic wand to setting and achieving goals. It takes a small investment of time up front and a commitment to its achievement.
Think about all of the things you have already achieved in your life ~ they all came at a cost ~ a commitment from you. But each was worth it, right? Well, the same applies here.
Here's what four other writers had to say about dreams . . .
"A dream is just a dream. A goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline." ~ Harvey Mackay
"Most people never run far enough on their first wind, to find if they've got a second. Give your dreams all you've got, and you'll be amazes at the energy that comes out of you." ~William James
"You see things and say 'Why?' But I dream things that never were and I say 'Why not?'" ~ George Bernard Shaw
"Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born." ~ Dale E. Turner
Remember, it’s never too late to reinvent yourself. And, there's no better time than right NOW.
Writers are many things but, above all else, they are dreamers. We spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about issues, creating characters and developing ideas.
But what about the dream ~ the writing dream?
Whether you dream of being a bestselling novelist, an in-demand freelancer or making a full-time living from the written word ~ the first step to achieving it is to conceive it.
Now, think about the last time you resolved to do something. Maybe it was at midnight on December 30 with the traditional New Year's Eve resolution.
Can you still remember what you resolved to do? More importantly, have you turned that dream into a reality?
For most people, their New Year's resolution is either forgotten or broken by the end of the first month.
It's a shame ~ it happens every year ~ but it's a good example of what does and will happen to other resolutions you have, if you don't back them up with action.
The second step in achieving your dream is to develop a road map. That is, setting goals and deadlines that work toward you achieving your desire.
Here's a simple strategy to get you moving in the right direction:
1. Define your goal
Get specific. What do you really want to achieve? Where do you want to be in one month, or in one year? Yes, you could write this in one sentence but try for a page or more. How will it make you feel? Sell yourself the features and benefits of achieving this goal. The more detail you have, the better.
2. Outline what you need to do
If your goal is to go pro this year as a writer, what do you need to do to make it happen? Break your goal down into stepping stones or mini goals which are easy, achievable and will bring you closer to attaining your dream. This may mean setting mini goals, such as study to prepare yourself for business; developing a business plan; identifying markets for your work or making important business contacts.
Make sure that each of your mini goals directs you ultimately to achieving your overall goal. Be aware of your overall goal, but don’t focus on achieving it. Keep your mind on one mini goal at a time, working toward its completion.
3. Attach deadlines
A goal is merely a dream unless you attach a deadline to its achievement. When you have a deadline, you become serious about your goal. By continually being aware of your goals and their deadlines, you generate a sense of urgency within you. You need a target otherwise it is too easy to drift off course.
4. Live your goal
Now we’re making progress. You have a goal, you have broken it into bite-sized goals with reasonable deadlines for achievement. Now, think about your overall goal, picture it in your mind, dream about it ~ 'see' it already in your life. 'Enjoy' the benefits it brings in your imagination.
Visualization is an integral part of meditation, and an important tool for achieving goals.
I have made this a part of my every day life, and you can too.
Get used to 'day dreaming' about your goal. Imagine that it's already a part of your life and, by methodically working on your mini goals, it will be sooner than you think.
There's no magic wand to setting and achieving goals. It takes a small investment of time up front and a commitment to its achievement.
Think about all of the things you have already achieved in your life ~ they all came at a cost ~ a commitment from you. But each was worth it, right? Well, the same applies here.
Here's what four other writers had to say about dreams . . .
"A dream is just a dream. A goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline." ~ Harvey Mackay
"Most people never run far enough on their first wind, to find if they've got a second. Give your dreams all you've got, and you'll be amazes at the energy that comes out of you." ~William James
"You see things and say 'Why?' But I dream things that never were and I say 'Why not?'" ~ George Bernard Shaw
"Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born." ~ Dale E. Turner
Remember, it’s never too late to reinvent yourself. And, there's no better time than right NOW.
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