Notes from Minnesota  

Hey Freelancer! 

I've had a fabulous week. I've been cutting my schedule up one side and down the other. For the first time, in a long time, I'm a writer. Nothing else but a writer.

It feels GOOD!~!

It's amazing how amazing it feels to focus my energy in one direction.

My advice to you? Take stock of your schedule. Slice out all the unnecessary activities that serve to dampen your productivity. Chop off the activities you may enjoy, but don't fulfill your soul purpose. Then eliminate the projects that are time suckers and drain your energy.

What you're left with is time. Precious time. Guard it as if your life depends on it. Because, in reality, your life does depend on it.

More on this later. I'm off to work on a project I adore. :)

Have a fabulous (and profitable) week!

Beth :)

P.S. Be sure to check out our best sellers. Here's the link

P.P.S. Share Writing Etc. with your freelance friends by  clicking here.

Beth's Hot Pick of the Week  

What Do Successful Writers Do?

The answer may surprise you.

After all, if you're reading this, you probably have read the books, attended the seminars, studied the craft. But if your version of success is still eluding you, it's time for something different.

Real different.

That's exactly what you get when you lay your eyes on my latest resource for freelance writers.

Part nuts and bolts how-to, part inner work, part insider biz secrets, this unique publication blows the lid off the deceptively simple recipe for freelance success.

Find out more here.

Revel in Your Uniqueness

Beth Ann Erickson 

Editor note: This is an excerpt from this. 

I'm sure you're acutely aware that competition amongst writers can be fierce. As literacy rates fall, as more people enter the field, as publishers slash budgets, as magazines fold, as copywriting courses churn out more copywriters than ever before... it's easy to become discouraged over the state of this business.

That's the bad news.

But there's a huge silver lining to this cloud that most people rarely focus on.

With nearly 200 (literally) books published daily, with more writers entering the field, with more writers vying for a more limited number of assignments you must realize that you have one thing under your control. And that would be yourself.

You do not sell your writing. You don't sell your book either. Nobody wakes up in the morning wishing they could buy a book. They don't yearn to hire a writer either.

They're looking for an expert, someone who knows how to entertain, how to inform, how to sell.

They're looking for you.

Other authors can replicate your books. They can swipe ideas. Everything's up for grabs except for one thing.

You cannot be replicated.

So you must step out from behind the curtain and establish yourself as an expert.

“USP” stands for “Unique Selling Proposition.” It represents the one aspect of your writing career that's utterly unique. It's the one thing that can't be replicated.

Nail your USP and you've got half marketing challenges conquered.

No matter what you write, always keep your USP in the back of your mind whenever you have to pop on your marketing hat and promote yourself.

When you're considering your USP keep this in mind:

1. What do you do better than your primary competition?

2. What are your strengths?

3. What are your competition's strengths?

4. What are your weaknesses?

5. What are your competition's weaknesses?

6. How can you capitalize on your competition's weaknesses?

7. How can you shift your competition's strengths to benefit you?

8. What's unique about you?

9. What part of your writing cannot be replicated by anyone else?

10. How can you clearly state your uniqueness so your intended audience can comprehend it in a moment?

Ponder these points and formulate your USP. Once that's done, be sure to incorporate it into every promotion you craft.

~~~

Beth Ann Erickson is the “Queen Bee” of Filbert Publishing. She’s also the author of numerous titles as well as the Creative Mindset Newsletter. Pick up the first seven copies here. She’s also a busy copywriter, speaker, and publisher of Writing Etc., the free e-mag for writers. 

P.S. You can use this article free of charge on your own website or zine. Just don’t make any changes and be sure to include the entire byline. Enjoy!

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I Recommend:

Writing For Dollars! The FREE ezine for writers featuring tips, tricks and ideas for selling what you write. Receive the FREE ebook, 83 WAYS TO MAKE MONEY WRITING when you subscribe. Email to subscribe@writingfordollars.com -*-

http://www.WritingForDollars.com

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