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Writing Etc. – March 15, 2006

ISSN: 1545-5580

Tips, Techniques, and Resources to Transform You From An Average Freelancer to A Highly Paid Professional.

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To subscr*ibe to Writing Etc. and receive the fr*e e-book, “Power Queries,” surf here:

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Notes from Minnesota

61 Sure Fire Techniques to Promote Your Writing Biz by Beth Ann Erickson

Recommended Resource to Jumpstart Your Writing Career

2006 Action Plan to Jumpstart Your Writing Career

Paying Markets

You Speak Out: Q&A

We Recommend…

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This issue is sponsored by:

While many freelance writers struggle to earn a decent wage, Bob Bly has proven again and again, year after year, that it’s not only possible to earn far more, it’s possible to to transform words into a $100,000 per year freelancing business.

And he shares all his secrets within these pages. Secrets like:

• The hidden market most freelancers overlook that can boost your income to unbelievable levels
• The “quiet” magazine market that’s easy to break into and often pays very well
• How to ask for (and get) the fees you deserve
• How to use Bob’s “positioning” techniques to set you apart from your competition
• How to write a “bullet proof” book proposal
• 22 rules for successful self promotion
• Insider secrets to effectively use the Internet to reach your income goals
• How to do more... in less time

Bly goes on to list resources... books, websites, organizations and magazines... that are designed to help you succeed as a freelance writer.

Bob Bly’s Guide to Freelance Writing Success is an indispensable resource for the serious freelancer. Bly’s track record is impeccable. And now he’s spilling his secrets.

Buy your copy today: http://filbertpublishing.com/bob.htm

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Greetings from Minnesota!

I’ve been struggling with writer’s block these past few days. Sure, I’m “writing through” the block, but every word I type onto the screen feels like pulling teeth.

At first I thought it was because I wasn’t reading enough. I know the importance of “filling my cup” every day and am doing that. Thing is, the words still aren’t flowing like they used to.

Perhaps it’s because I’m working on a horrible deadline. That usually screws me up for a time, but I almost always experience a surge of creativity once I hunker down and get typing. Hasn’t happened, though.

Here I sit, staring at the screen wearing my most comfortable pants. Nothing’s pinching. Hair’s in a pony-tail, no stray strands tickling my eyes. Bathroom duties… check. Nails trimmed… double check. Warm enough. Yup.

Everything seems in order. Now, where are the words?

As I ponder everything going on in my life, I finally realized that my dear son, Peder, is heading off to France this week. Two weeks. Class trip.

Then I realized I’m already missing him.

Perhaps that’s why it’s so painful to write.

Perhaps that’s why words aren’t flowing?

I have no idea.

All I know is that something’s going on and I’m not sure what.

So I’m not pushing it, taking time to sit back, read, and enjoy that young man when he comes home from school. We’re packing, laughing, and I’m attempting to not feel old as I look at my tiny baby, now transformed into a hulking figure.

Time ticks. Life moves on.

And our job as writers is to capture each moment as accurately as we’re able. We need to grasp the good times, the trials, the “dull” moments and accurately transcribe them.

We are the keepers of time, the transcribers of history.

It’s a momentous job, but I’m sure you’re up to the task.

No matter how painful each word exits your fingers.

After all, if we don’t capture each precious moment, we’ll lose it forever. And we will not have done the job we’re meant to accomplish.

And that would be the greatest tragedy of all.

To your success,

Beth

P.S. Here’s our best seller list… be sure to pick up a copy of each of these titles. They’re awesome.

1. Jumpstart Your Writing Career and Snag Paying Assignments by Beth Erickson http://filbertpublishing.com/jumpstart.htm

2. Bob Bly’s Guide to Freelance Writing Success: How to Make $100,000 a Year as a Freelance Writer and Have The Time of Your Life Doing It. http://filbertpublishing.com/bob.htm

3. Weekly Writes: Exercises in Creative Writing by Shery Ma Belle Arrieta http://filbertpublishing.com/Weekly.htm

(You’ll get a ton of free writing/freelancing tools direct from Shery at http://WeeklyWrites.com when you order this title!)

4. Writing Wide: Exercises in Creative Writing by Billie A. Williams http://filbertpublishing.com/WW.htm

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~~~~~~~~~~~~ Feature Article ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sixty-One Sure-Fire Techniques to get Free (or Almost Free) Publicity For Your Writing Business

Beth Ann Erickson

Whenever I ask a freelance writer, “What was the one aspect of starting your new business that surprised you the most,” the answer is universal.

“I never expected to have to promote so much.”

Fortunately or unfortunately... if you’re going to be a successful writer you’re going to HAVE to promote yourself. 

But it’s not that bad.  There are numerous techniques you can use to promote your writing business.  The technique list I came up with is hardly exhaustive.  The more creative you get in self-promotion, the more writing assignments you land and the more success you’ll experience.  It’s as simple as that.

So use this information as a jumping-off point.  Use the ideas that work for you.  Chuck the ones that suck.  Then expand on it.  Have fun.

So here they are... Sixty One Low and No Cost Techniques to Promote Your Writing Business:

Begin by writing articles.  Send them to anyone and everyone who may be interested in running them in their publication.  So let’s begin here:  Writing Articles:

1. Write articles for consumer magazines and ask for a fat byline.
2. Write articles for web ‘zines – the lead times are faster and you’ll find response is quick.
3. Write articles for trade magazines.  Target the industries that interest you and you just may land a new client in the process.
4. Write articles for local publication and you just may land some local clients.
5. Write a regular local column – then work to get it syndicated.

You’re a writer.  Why not promote yourself by writing your own sales materials?

6. Write a sales letter promoting your business and send them out on a regular basis.
7. Send out a specified number of queries and sales letters every day.
8. Create a great brochure advertising your services.
9. Develop an effective business card and give them out whenever anyone asks for your phone number.

Be sure to harness the power of the Internet when it comes to promoting your business….

10. Create a web site.
11. No matter how busy you get, answer as many e-mails as you possibly can.
12. Form an e-magazine and use it to promote your writing business.
13. Hold contests in your e-mag (with your products/books/article booklets as a prize).
14. Create an online discussion group.
15. Create a snappy e-mail signature.
16. Follow up with every e-mail prospect and ask to they’d like to be added to your e-mail list.

Don’t forget “real time” promotion.

17. Join civic groups and your local Chamber of Commerce.
18. Travel to conventions and seminars and get to know other writers, editors, and publishers. 
19. Teach a university class.  Teaching builds credibility.
20. Teach an extension class.
21. Teach a community ed. class.
22. Lecture to civic groups.
23. Lecture to church groups.
24. Give presentations to students.
25. Give one-day presentations to college students.
26. Tape record your seminars and sell them.
27. Videotape your seminars and sell them
28. Mentor a student.
29. Create a scholarship for a high school grad (or college student) and present it on graduation day.
30. Tutor students.
31. Give presentations to scout groups.
32. Make sure you give at least ONE handout to every person when you speak to a group.  Make sure that handout has information about your, your writing services, and your web site.
33. Create a “blurb” answer to “What do you do” and memorize it.

Again… don’t forget you’re a writer!  Here are some great promotional tools that we – as writers – are particularly good at:

34. Write a book and get it published.
35. Hold book signings – and cross promote your writing services.
36. Give away promotional book marks – and make sure you include a blurb about your writing services.
37. Give away book plates.
38. Write a book and self publish it.
39. Send out press releases to newspapers.
40. Send out press releases to radio.
41. Send out press releases to television stations.
42. Send thank-you notes to EVERYONE who has given you publicity.
43. Sponsor an event like a read-a-thon, write-a-thon, and give the profits to charity.
44. Create a paid-subscription newsletter.
45. Capture every address you can to add to your mailing list. 
46. Give away excerpts of your books.
47. Keep your book updated – and send out a release EVERY time a new edition comes out.
48. Create a writer’s group.
49. Visit local writer’s groups and give presentations.
50. Be generous with promotional copies of your book.
51. Make sure your book has a good cover.
52. Hook up with other writers and form an alliance.

And don’t forget the good old promotional standbys. 

53. Advertise in the local paper.
54. Advertise in magazines.
55. Tack your business card to bulletin boards.
56. Write letters to the editor.
57. Cross promote your other products or services every chance you get.
58. Promote your other products at the end of EVERY book/article/etc.
59. Create a nice catalogue.
60. Offer to supply one of your products (books, article reprints, etc.) for school fund raisers.
61. Don’t miss a deadline.  Ever.  Period.

These self-promotion techniques don’t take much time.  Many are cost-free.  The point is that you need to become active in your profession.  Writing is as much a profession as it is a lifestyle.

If you’re exceedingly introverted (like I am), get over it.  Your books won’t sell unless your readers know you exist.  And it often takes numerous exposures to your sales message before they hire you.

It’s a fact of life.

Besides... it’s not that bad.  The more I promote, the more I enjoy it.

~~~

Beth Ann Erickson is the “Queen Bee” of Filbert Publishing. She’s also the author of Jumpstart Your Writing Career (http://filbertpublishing.com/jumpstart.htm ) and the upcoming 101 No Cost and Low Cost Techniques To Promote Your Writing Biz. Keep your eye out for it in early 2006. 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 to is and be sure to include the entire byline. Enjoy!

~~~~~~ Recommended Resource to Jumpstart Your Writing Career ~~~~~~~

New Review!

Product: E-Book Secrets Exposed

Author: Jim Edwards

Reviewer: Beth Ann Erickson

Date of Purchase: January 2006

Date of Review: March 7, 2006

Price: $49.00

What ‘cha get:

1. A meaty e-book filled with tips on how to write, format, and market/promote  your e-book.
2. Another e-book called “Topic Detective.”
3. Copyright Basics (yup, another e-book).
4. And autoresponder template you can use to answer e-mail questions about your book.
5. “Killer Mini Sites” e-book outlining a 9-step formula to create a website that sells.
6. A “How to Use Simple Surveys to Write Best-Selling E-Books and Info Products” e-book that’ll help you create an e-book that’ll practically write itself.

Wish List:

As usual, Edwards covers pretty much everything.

However, I wish he’d go into more detail on how he uses articles to sell his books. But he’s got another e-book covering that exact subject so I can’t complain too much. J

Final Verdict:

I may be biased, but anything Jim Edwards writes is pure gold. Plus the guy has a sense of humor. I love that. Makes reading anything he’s written a very enjoyable experience.

This book is an easy, fast read. The bonuses are stupendous.

Highly recommended.

Click here to find out more:

E-Book Secrets Exposed 

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2006 Action Plan to Jumpstart Your Writing Career

We’ve got some great resources for freelancers… most are totally free. Here are three of the freebie favorites:

Our main website has grown to over 150 pages of information you can use to Jumpstart Your Writing Career. Read free articles, peruse the resource section, check out the paying markets, and be sure to use your key to the Writing Etc. Vault to check out every issue of Writing Etc. Here’s the link to the main website: http://filbertpublishing.com

And your key to the vault: http://filbertpublishing.com/Top_Secret_Vault.html

Need inspiration, insider tips, and an utterly fascinating peek into the life of a working writer? (OK. I may be exaggerating at ad here. J )  Surf to my blog. Lots of writing news, scam alerts, and general musings. Here’s the URL: http://writingetc.blogspot.com/

Want a kick in the pants to start earning the big bucks faster? Join our CopywriterMastermind group. Get in on group discussions, our High Profit Writer Book Club, chats, and teleseminars. All totally free. http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/CopywriterMastermind

Got a question? Ask it! Here’s a quickie form you can use.

http://www.filbertpublishing.com/tinc?key=TTjJjZfx&formname=question

Join in the fun. I can’t wait to meet you.

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Paying Markets – check ‘em out!

Retired Officer

http://www.troa.org/Magazine/Guidelines.asp

Author Network

http://www.author-network.com/guidelines.html

AWP

http://awpwriter.org/magazine/guidelines.htm

Script

http://www.scriptmag.com/magazine/writeforus.htm

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You Speak Out: Q&A

A subscriber writes:

“I want to switch from an hourly rate to a flat rate for my copywriting services. How do I bring this up to my clients? I thought something about it being a new year but wasn't sure how to say it.”

Beth says:

Raising fees isn’t that difficult. Especially if you’ve got some success under your belt.

The way I raise my fees is simple. Current clients get a short “grace” period where I tell them that in “X” number of days, my rates are going up. If you’ve got any projects you want done at the old rate, send ‘em now.

Then on that date, the new rates go into effect.

I’ve never had trouble with this method.

Always remember, most writers are sadly and completely underpaid. Don’t (and I repeat) do NOT be one of them. You’ve got a marketable skill that’s tremendously valuable. Treat it that way. And don’t work for clients that balk at payment in any way shape or form.

A Reader Responds To Pen Names:

RE: Mimi

Mimi asked about using a pseudonym. I read your answer and felt while it

was correct, it didn't really give all the viewpoints. Since I have

professionally operated under the pseudonym, "Spider" for the last 50+

years, I think I may have a thing or two to add to the answer.

The major point I would say is Identity. If the pseudonym is chosen to

build an identity that you intend to be, there is a good reason for using

the pseudonym. The more colorful, the easier it will be to remember.

Which is easier to recollect when hunting for some material in the book

store, a short easy to remember name like "Spider" or a name like Rupert

Smythington (not that that is mine)? Which name creates a picture in your

mind? Do you want to see what old Rupert had to say or maybe pick up the

Spider one? Ask yourself why strippers and exotic dancers and

entertainers chose such simple, yet colorful names? Simple. They want

you, the customer, to remember who they are. You hear the name, you get

an image.

It doesn't truly make you anonymous... using a pseudonym. By it's nature

of being easy to remember, it makes it easier to identify you, so if your

shy and have a hard time with being noticed it may not be for you. I

believe it is a valid way to have editors or buyers start noticing and

identifying your work. The detriment will be if what you are doing should

not be being submitted due to lack of professionalism or talent, then

they will still note and notice it.  You would get the reputation for

that associated with you and your assumed identity.

Many would say, "Ah, if that happens I will just assume a new pseudonym

and identity." Yeah, just think of trying to change and improve old

material and submitting it under the new name. Editors are NOT dumb. They

will quickly see what is going on or similarities in style. Then you will

have two bad reputations to live with and the only recourse... assume a

new pseudonym.

But for those who have enough of a style, personality and flair, using a

pseudonym could be the final ingredient to pull together the elements of

a career. I'm already using Spider, so please don't try that one.

As to my history and the reason for using the name, it started as a

childhood nickname. I started painting T-shirts and doing art of all

kinds and have been doing that since 1955 and making money for it. It was

an accepted thing that you have a "name" back then and many did. Between

the Big Daddies, Roaches, Rats and even a Mouse, we all airbrushed our

art on T-shirts. I started writing for magazines and doing books a

quarter of a century ago. That's my story and I'm stickin' with it... Ta

ta.

                                                      SPIDER

                      AUTHOR - ARTIST - LECTURER - CONSULTANT - TEACHER

                                         "Early American Hippy Artwork"

                                   50 years of  Professional Experience

Next Time: Your comments and more questions.

Got a question? Submit it here: http://www.filbertpublishing.com/tinc?key=TTjJjZfx&formname=question

You just may get your question in an upcoming issue of Writing Etc.

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We 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

WRITERS FIND MARKETS EASILY - Worldwide Freelance has a NEW fully-searchable Markets Database. Discover writing markets from North America, Europe, Australia and other places. It's free, so come and try it out here: http://www.worldwidefreelance.com

Are your book sales in a slump? http://BethAnnErickson.com

E-Mag And Web Site Owners! Did you know that Filbert Publishing has an entire cache of articles you can use FREE. Just click the “Freebie” link to your left.

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Writing Etc.

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© 2006 Filbert Publishing