What's It's Really Like to be a Production Editor

Inside Peek: A new "Day in the Life of ..." account was added to InkwellEditorial.com today.

Wanna know what it's like to be a Production Editor at a children's book publisher? Log on to find out from this insightful account -- from salary to duties, you'll know if this is a fit for you -- or not. Enjoy!

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EXCERPT

What would you call someone who edits, critiques, organizes, maintains, brainstorms, encourages, sits down very little, and on good days, plays with My Little Ponies and watches Ice Age for research? Give up? If you work in publishing, you might call her a production editor – and you would be talking about me.

For the past eight months, I have held the aforementioned title at a smallish publishing company, in the exciting (you might think this is sarcasm, but as much as I can’t believe it myself, it is not) world of children’s books.

It might seem to an outsider that producing kids’ books is an easy task, as a good deal of these of contain little text and simple spot illustration. But as with many things, there’s more to children’s publishing than meets the eye, and it’s my job to make sure that all of these parts run smoothly – with as few mistakes as possible.

Read the full account here: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/CareerCenter/day-in-life/11-10-05.htm (cut/paste link into your browser).

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FREE FREELANCE WRITING CONTACTS!
I have spent the last six months or so compiling a list of freelance writing guidelines. I had hoped to build the list to 1,000, but due to other pressing demands, will not be able to devote the time to it. To date, I have compiled and verified a list 180 contacts.This list is free to anyone who orders an Inkwell Editorial e-book. It will be sent to you as an attached MS Word file (for ease of opening) after your order has been received. With thanks,Y. Black, Proprietor,Inkwell Editorial

SAMPLE LISTING: Please note, listings vary, eg, there are guidelines for e-zines, magazines, websites, etc. In short, something for everyone.

Company: Foresight Publishing, Inc. 3717 National Drive, Ste 208 Raleigh, NC 27612

URL: http://www.insurancenewsletters.com/

Submission Guidelines: http://www.insurancenewsletters.com/jobs.htm

About: Foresight Publishing offers content driven marketing tools specifically for insurance agents, providing them a simple, low cost method of growing and retaining their businesses. We are always looking for writers with experience in the markets we cover: employee benefits, commercial lines, personal lines, and personal finance. Writers must have current knowledge of at least one of these markets, and must be able to prepare client friendly articles for use in our newsletter publications.

Pay: Based on experience and the quality of your work. Articles will need to be fairly short at 400-600 words each. Offering steady monthly work.

To Apply: Please send resume, writing samples, and requirements to info@insurancenewsletters.com. No phone calls, please.

Freelance Writing Success

A brand, spanking new freelance success story was added to InkwellEditorial.com today. Enjoy!

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EXCERPT

I began freelance writing in 2002, not knowing that I would eventually do it full time. I wrote an article about the thing that I know best--dance. When I heard nothing back, I gave up on the idea for a while to concentrate on my teaching career. A year later, the editor from the magazine contacted me, asking to use my piece.

I was totally caught off-guard, and with that little bit of encouragement I was on my way. Feeling confident, I wrote an article about something else I had experience with--setting up a fishtank. I flipped through Writer's Market and picked a place to send it--Boys' Life. Six weeks later, an acceptance came, along with a contract for hundreds of dollars.

Click or cut/paste the following link into your browser to see the complete schedule for this series: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/CareerCenter/success/intro.htm.
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FREE FREELANCE WRITING CONTACTS!
I have spent the last six months or so compiling a list of freelance writing guidelines. I had hoped to build the list to 1,000, but due to other pressing demands, will not be able to devote the time to it. To date, I have compiled and verified a list 180 contacts.This list is free to anyone who orders an Inkwell Editorial e-book during the month of October. It will be sent to you as an attached MS Word file (for ease of opening) after your order has been received.

With thanks,
Y. Black, Proprietor,
Inkwell Editorial

SAMPLE LISTING: Please note, listings vary, eg, there are guidelines for e-zines, magazines, websites, etc. In short, something for everyone.

COMPANY:
Foresight Publishing, Inc.
3717 National Drive, Ste 208
Raleigh, NC 27612

URL: http://www.insurancenewsletters.com/

Submission Guidelines: http://www.insurancenewsletters.com/jobs.htm

About: Foresight Publishing offers content driven marketing tools specifically for insurance agents, providing them a simple, low cost method of growing and retaining their businesses. We are always looking for writers with experience in the markets we cover: employee benefits, commercial lines, personal lines, and personal finance. Writers must have current knowledge of at least one of these markets, and must be able to prepare client friendly articles for use in our newsletter publications.Pay: Based on experience and the quality of your work. Articles will need to be fairly short at 400-600 words each. Offering steady monthly work.

To Apply: Please send resume, writing samples, and requirements to info@insurancenewsletters.com. No phone calls, please.

Real World "Editorial Success Stories"

Two new "real world" stories were added to InkwellEditorial.com today.
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EXCERPT of First Account
I am a fulltime freelance writer who works from home. I have published over three dozen books and perhaps 2,000 magazine articles and short stories--most of this since I left my last job in March, 1983. Much of my work involves the history of technology, biography, how-to (writing and computing), or making technical topics understandable to the lay person.

Click or cut/paste the following link into your browser to see the complete schedule for this series: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/CareerCenter/success/intro.htm.
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EXCERPT of Second Account
I have worked for nearly two years as an editor of a metro Detroit community newspaper group. I have chosen to write my story as an "honest account" of a regular day--complete with annoyances, frustrations, and joys, too, of what it's like to manage a community newspaper.

Click or cut/paste the following link into your browser to see the complete schedule for this series: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/CareerCenter/day-in-life/intro.htm.

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FREE FREELANCE WRITING CONTACTS!
I have spent the last six months or so compiling a list of freelance writing guidelines. I had hoped to build the list to 1,000, but due to other pressing demands, will not be able to devote the time to it. To date, I have compiled and verified a list 180 contacts.This list is free to anyone who orders an Inkwell Editorial e-book during the month of October. It will be sent to you as an attached MS Word file (for ease of opening) after your order has been received. With thanks,Y. Black, Proprietor, Inkwell Editorial

SAMPLE LISTING: Please note, listings vary, eg, there are guidelines for e-zines, magazines, websites, etc. In short, something for everyone.

COMPANY: Foresight Publishing, Inc.3717 National Drive, Ste 208Raleigh, NC 27612

URL: http://www.insurancenewsletters.com/

Submission Guidelines: http://www.insurancenewsletters.com/jobs.htm

About: Foresight Publishing offers content driven marketing tools specifically for insurance agents, providing them a simple, low cost method of growing and retaining their businesses. We are always looking for writers with experience in the markets we cover: employee benefits, commercial lines, personal lines, and personal finance. Writers must have current knowledge of at least one of these markets, and must be able to prepare client friendly articles for use in our newsletter publications.

Pay: Based on experience and the quality of your work. Articles will need to be fairly short at 400-600 words each. Offering steady monthly work.To apply: Please send resume, writing samples, and requirements to info@insurancenewsletters.com. No phone calls, please.

A freelance success story!

Today's entry is a preview of our upcoming entry in the "Freelance Success Story" series. This series features first-hand accounts of what it's like to really make it as an editorial freelancer. We hope you find the information useful -- and inspiring!

EXCERPT (full account will be published on 10/20)

I am a fulltime freelance writer who works from home. I have published over three dozen books and perhaps 2,000 magazine articles and short stories--most of this since I left my last job in March, 1983. Much of my work involves the history of technology, biography, how-to (writing and computing), or making technical topics understandable to the lay person. Over the years I’ve also written science fiction (three novels and 20 short stories published), books on hobbies, catalog and brochure copy, book cover copy, and print advertising.

I wrote on the side for 11 years before going full-time. (I was 21 when I began writing with intent to be published.) At first I had no particular area of expertise. I wrote science fiction short stories and articles about people and places I found interesting -- basic human-interest material. I had no goal in mind other than to make some extra money and enjoy the ego-boost of getting published.

Click or cut/paste the following link into your browser to see the complete schedule for this series: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/CareerCenter/success/intro.htm.
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FREE FREELANCE WRITING CONTACTS!

I have spent the last six months or so compiling a list of freelance writing guidelines. I had hoped to build the list to 1,000, but due to other pressing demands, will not be able to devote the time to it. To date, I have compiled and verified a list 180 contacts.

This list is free to anyone who orders an Inkwell Editorial e-book during the month of October. It will be sent to you as an attached MS Word file (for ease of opening) after your order has been received. With thanks,Y. Black, Proprietor, Inkwell Editorial

SAMPLE LISTING: Please note, listings vary, eg, there are guidelines for e-zines, magazines, websites, etc. In short, something for everyone.

COMPANY: Foresight Publishing, Inc.3717 National Drive, Ste 208Raleigh, NC 27612

URL: http://www.insurancenewsletters.com/

Submission Guidelines: http://www.insurancenewsletters.com/jobs.htm

About: Foresight Publishing offers content driven marketing tools specifically for insurance agents, providing them a simple, low cost method of growing and retaining their businesses. We are always looking for writers with experience in the markets we cover: employee benefits, commercial lines, personal lines, and personal finance. Writers must have current knowledge of at least one of these markets, and must be able to prepare client friendly articles for use in our newsletter publications.

Pay: Based on experience and the quality of your work. Articles will need to be fairly short at 400-600 words each. Offering steady monthly work.

To apply: Please send resume, writing samples, and requirements to info@insurancenewsletters.com. No phone calls, please.

Freelancing Internationally: From Iceland to Seattle & Back Again

Today's entry is a preview of our upcoming entry in the "On Freelancing Internationally" series. This series features first-hand accounts of what it's like to work with/for international clients. We hope you find them useful -- and inspirational.

EXCERPT (full account will be published on 10/6)

International boundaries and time zones have never meant very much to me, and when I decided to drop out of law school it was to try my hand at living overseas. I moved to Iceland and quickly found a freelance/contract-based writing, copy editing and proofreading job, capitalizing on my skills and English-language expertise (and the dearth of others in the labor market who could fulfill the exacting requirements of such a job).

Through the ups and downs of overseas life, I ended up having to pack up and go home to Seattle on a number of occasions, and by my first return stateside, the manager of the company for whom I worked found my services indispensable and decided to give the international freelance medium a try.

Click or cut/paste the following link into your browser to see the complete schedule for this series : http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/CareerCenter/international/intro.htm.
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FREE FREELANCE WRITING CONTACTS!
I have spent the last six months or so compiling a list of freelance writing guidelines. I had hoped to build the list to 1,000, but due to other pressing demands, will not be able to devote the time to it. To date, I have compiled and verified a list 180 contacts.

ONLY 5 DAYS LEFT! This list is free to anyone who orders an Inkwell Editorial e-book during the month of September. It will be sent to you as an attached MS Word file (for ease of opening) after your order has been received. With thanks,Y. Black, ProprietorInkwell Editorial

SAMPLE LISTING: Please note, listings vary, eg, there are guidelines for e-zines, magazines, websites, etc. In short, something for everyone.

COMPANY: Foresight Publishing, Inc.
3717 National Drive, Ste 208
Raleigh, NC 27612
URL: http://www.insurancenewsletters.com/
Submission Guidelines: http://www.insurancenewsletters.com/jobs.htm

About: Foresight Publishing offers content driven marketing tools specifically for insurance agents, providing them a simple, low cost method of growing and retaining their businesses. We are always looking for writers with experience in the markets we cover: employee benefits, commercial lines, personal lines, and personal finance. Writers must have current knowledge of at least one of these markets, and must be able to prepare client friendly articles for use in our newsletter publications.

Pay: Based on experience and the quality of your work. Articles will need to be fairly short at 400-600 words each. Offering steady monthly work.

To apply: Please send resume, writing samples, and requirements to info@insurancenewsletters.com. No phone calls, please.

Freelance Success Story: From the Military to Freelance Writing

Today's entry is our monthly "Freelance Success Story." This series features first-hand accounts of successful freelancers. We hope you find them useful -- and inspirational.

EXCERPT
When I told my co-workers I was leaving the Air Force after 13 years of successful writing to go freelance, they thought I was crazy.

"Stay in for seven more years and get your retirement,” they would say, “You can do seven more years.” I always replied the same way. “I haven’t got seven years to waste waiting around for things to happen.”

I was stationed in South Korea when I finally decided to break with the military, move stateside and go freelance. It was a difficult decision because getting out of the service from overseas meant transitioning back to the USA with no apartment or guaranteed income of any kind lined up, except what I could get saved from my part time writing.

Click or cut/paste the following link into your browser to read the entire post: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/CareerCenter/success/9-22-05.htm.

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FREE FREELANCE WRITING CONTACTS! I have spent the last six months or so compiling a list of freelance writing guidelines. I had hoped to build the list to 1,000, but due to other pressing demands, will not be able to devote the time to it. To date, I have compiled and verified a list 180 contacts.

This list is free to anyone who orders an Inkwell Editorial e-book during the month of September (any e-book). It will be sent to you as an attached MS Word file (for ease of opening) after your order has been received.

With thanks,
Y. Black, Proprietor
Inkwell Editorial

SAMPLE LISTING: Please note, listings vary, eg, there are guidelines for e-zines, magazines, websites, etc. In short, something for everyone.

Foresight Publishing, Inc.
3717 National Drive, Ste 208
Raleigh, NC 27612
URL: http://www.insurancenewsletters.com
Submission Guidelines: http://www.insurancenewsletters.com/jobs.htm

About: Foresight Publishing offers content driven marketing tools specifically for insurance agents, providing them a simple, low cost method of growing and retaining their businesses. We are always looking for writers with experience in the markets we cover: employee benefits, commercial lines, personal lines, and personal finance. Writers must have current knowledge of at least one of these markets, and must be able to prepare client friendly articles for use in our newsletter publications.

Pay: Based on experience and the quality of your work. Articles will need to be fairly short at 400-600 words each. Offering steady monthly work.

To apply: Please send resume, writing samples, and requirements to info@insurancenewsletters.com. No phone calls, please.

About Freelancing Internationally

This post can now be found at http://inkwelleditorial.com/freelancing-travel-writing-job-from-the-caribbean-for-an-english-company.

Same great content -- in a new design!

NYC Writing Workshop Info

NYC's Hunter College President Jennifer J. Raab and the MFA Program in Creative Writing invite you to the Fall 2005 Distinguished Writers Series

Walter Mosley: Tuesday, September 13, 2005 @ 7:30pm. Faculty Dining Room (8th floor, West Building). Bestselling author Walter Mosley reads from his latest book, Cinnamon Kiss, (due out in September 2005) and will host a Q&A session after the reading. A reception and book-signing will follow. The author of nineteen critically acclaimed books, Mosley has won numerous awards including the Anisfield Wolf Award, an honor given to works that increase the appreciation and understanding of race in America.

A Tribute to June Jordan in collaboration with the Poetry Society of America: Thursday, October 6, 2005 @ 7:30pm. The Kaye Playhouse (1st Floor, North Building). A tribute to the work of June Jordan with poets Cornelius Eady, Joy Harjo, Yusef Komunyakaa, Jan Heller Levi, Donna Masini, Adrienne Rich, and others. Admission is $12 and $7 for members of the Poetry Society of America. (Free for Hunter College students, faculty and staff with valid I.D.). For tickets, please contact the box office at (212) 772-4448.

Louise Glück: Thursday, October 27, 2005 @ 7:30pm. Faculty Dining Room (8th floor, West Building). Louise Glück, a former United States poet laureate, won the Pulitzer Prize for The Wild Iris in 1993. The author of eight books of poetry and one collection of essays, Proofs and Theories: Essays on Poetry, she has received the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry, the William Carlos Williams Award, and the PEN/Martha Albrand Award for Nonfiction.

Colson Whitehead: Tuesday, November 15, 2005 @ 7:30pm. Faculty Dining Room (8th floor, West Building). New York-based novelist Colson Whitehead is a MacArthur Foundation “genius” award recipient as well as a 2002 Pulitzer Prize finalist. His books include John Henry Days and The Intuitionist.

Reservation Information: To reserve seats for Walter Mosley, Louise Glück and Colson Whitehead, please call (212) 772-4007 or email the Special Events Office at spevents@hunter.cuny.edu. To reserve tickets for the June Jordan Tribute, please call the Kaye Box Office at 212.772.4448.

About the Program: The Hunter College MFA Program in Creative Writing, directed by Peter Carey, is a highly competitive program that offers promising writers the opportunity to study and practice the art of writing in small, intensive workshops and seminars in literature.

Address: Hunter College, Office of Alumni Relations, Room E1314, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10021.
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FREE FREELANCE WRITING CONTACTS! I have spent the last six months or so compiling a list of freelance writing guidelines. I had hoped to build the list to 1,000, but due to other pressing demands, will not be able to devote the time to it. To date, I have compiled and verified a list 180 contacts.

This list is free to anyone who orders an Inkwell Editorial e-book during the month of September (any e-book). It will be sent to you as an attached MS Word file (for ease of opening) after your order has been received. Click the following link to access all Inkwell Editorial e-books: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/bizguides.htm

SAMPLE LISTING: Please note, listings vary, eg, there are guidelines for e-zines, magazines, websites, etc. In short, something for everyone.

Foresight Publishing, Inc.
3717 National Drive, Ste 208
Raleigh, NC 27612
URL: http://www.insurancenewsletters.com
Submission Guidelines: http://www.insurancenewsletters.com/jobs.htm

About: Foresight Publishing offers content driven marketing tools specifically for insurance agents, providing them a simple, low cost method of growing and retaining their businesses. We are always looking for writers with experience in the markets we cover: employee benefits, commercial lines, personal lines, and personal finance. Writers must have current knowledge of at least one of these markets, and must be able to prepare client friendly articles for use in our newsletter publications.

Pay: Based on experience and the quality of your work. Articles will need to be fairly short at 400-600 words each. Offering steady monthly work. Please send resume, writing samples, and requirements to info@insurancenewsletters.com. No phone calls, please.

Freelance Success Story: Profile of a Freelance Writer

Today's entry is our monthly "Freelance Success Story." This series features first-hand accounts of successful freelancers. We hope you find them useful -- and inspirational.

Profile of a Freelance Writer
by Bart Astor

EXCERPTS
Most freelancers have difficulty responding to the question of what they charge. I really like my answer. I say, “it depends.” That sounds like a cop-out, but I don’t leave it there. I say, “It depends on whether it’s a long-term or short-term project.” I explain that for short-term or one-time projects I have to charge more, and that usually goes over well.

I had been working for several years as a director of student financial aid .... A good part of that job involves writing: brochures, consumer information, memos, even research papers, and I always enjoyed that part most.

When I lost my job I used my contacts to get hired to help write materials for a federal training contract. When that project ended, I spoke with another of my contacts in financial aid who needed to revise his brochures and create better consumer information.

Click or cut/paste the following link into your browser to read the entire post: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/CareerCenter/success/9-8-05.htm.
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FREE FREELANCE WRITING CONTACTS! I have spent the last six months or so compiling a list of freelance writing guidelines. I had hoped to build the list to 1,000, but due to other pressing demands, will not be able to devote the time to it. To date, I have compiled and verified a list 180 contacts.

This list is free to anyone who orders an Inkwell Editorial e-book during the month of September (any e-book). It will be sent to you as an attached MS Word file (for ease of opening) after your order has been received. With thanks,Y. Black, Proprietor, Inkwell Editorial

SAMPLE LISTING: Please note, listings vary, eg, there are guidelines for e-zines, magazines, websites, etc. In short, something for everyone.

Foresight Publishing, Inc.
3717 National Drive, Ste 208
Raleigh, NC 27612
URL: http://www.insurancenewsletters.com
Submission Guidelines: http://www.insurancenewsletters.com/jobs.htm

About: Foresight Publishing offers content driven marketing tools specifically for insurance agents, providing them a simple, low cost method of growing and retaining their businesses. We are always looking for writers with experience in the markets we cover: employee benefits, commercial lines, personal lines, and personal finance. Writers must have current knowledge of at least one of these markets, and must be able to prepare client friendly articles for use in our newsletter publications.

Pay: Based on experience and the quality of your work. Articles will need to be fairly short at 400-600 words each. Offering steady monthly work.

To apply: Please send resume, writing samples, and requirements to info@insurancenewsletters.com. No phone calls, please.

How To Start Your Own Virtual Assistant Business

Author: Liz Folger

Thanks to the Internet there 's a new way to make money with your computer. You might be surprised at all the different services you could offer with this new home business. Most people have become familiar with word processors, which usually consists of typing manuscripts, letters, transcription and writing resumes, but the new virtual assistant is like word processing on steroids.

Diana Ennen, has been a home-based word processor now for about 15 years. She started to educate herself about all the possibilities a person has when starting a virtual assistant business. Diana Ennen along with Kelly Poelker, a certified Master Virtual Assistant, just finished writing an ebook called, "A Bizy 's Guide: How To Start Your Own Home-Based Virtual Assistant 's Business."

So What Exactly Is A Virtual Assistant? Diana Ennen explains, "A virtual assistant, or VA, is a highly skilled professional who provides administrative support and other specialized services to businesses, entrepreneurs, executives, and others who have more work to do than time to do it.

Many VAs work as independent contractors from their own home. VAs use leading edge technology to communicate work assignments via the Internet, e-mail, disk transfer or such traditional methods as regular mail, overnight shipping and even pick-up and delivery in local areas. A VAs services typically include word processing, medical or legal transcription, database management, Internet research, e-mail handling, reminder service, bulk mailings, information processing, and any other tasks typically given to the office secretary.

Many VAs also provide web development, design and maintenance, desktop publishing, meeting and event planning, bookkeeping, and business start-up consultations. The services are endless depending upon your knowledge and skills."

Tisha Silvers explains her virtual assistant business as, "One who assists another from literally anywhere in the world. I don't limit it to just business support functions. And I consider the person a few miles down the street to be just as virtual if you don 't meet regularly or at all. I have a few of those kinds of clients myself."

How Can You Market This Business? Showing clients how much you can help them as their VA isn't as hard as you think. Julie McMann explains, "Using a virtual assistant allows clients to outsource any projects that can be done from a remote location. It allows them to accomplish more with less time. Since time is so precious to business owners, anything that frees up time and keeps the business moving ahead is extremely valuable. It's also convenient to be able to hire and utilize a virtual assistant whenever you need them.

One month you may have more projects than another. It's much less expensive than hiring a full-time employee who doesn't get used to their full potential. Clients also benefit by not having to worry about providing employee benefits such as insurance, 401K, vacations, etc. Finally, office space and equipment are provided at the expense of the virtual assistant, which again saves the client money."

Do You Have What It Takes To Become A Successful VA? Here are some questions to ask yourself when you think about starting your own virtual assistant business:
Do you have excellent typing and proofing skills?

Do you enjoy helping people?

Are you familiar with the Internet and enjoy learning new things about it?

Do you already know several people who could utilize your services?

Are you capable of making a great income and will stop at nothing to make it happen?

SKILLS NEEDED
Diana and Kelly explain, "Every virtual assistant has their own unique skills and experience that enables them to start their business. The right skills are those that you have perfected and can perform well. As you further develop your skills, you can expand your service offering. Skills range from the basics such as typing to highly specialized areas like web design, graphic arts, technical writing, and more.

A professional VA will be proficient in the Internet, computers, software, word processing and spreadsheet applications, etc. In addition to the technical skills, a professional VA will have good business management skills as well as knowledge of marketing, advertising, and public relations. Business management skills not only help you in operating your own business, but allows you to aid your clients in running theirs.

VAs must be motivated. You can 't get discouraged when you experience minor set-backs. Start fresh each day. If the phone didn't ring yesterday, make it ring today. Failure is not an option. You need to know that you 're going to make it and will stop at nothing short."

How Much Can You Make? "Our research shows most pricing is centered around a base price of $25 per hour. However, the rate does depend on the services you provide and also how long you've been in business. Another consideration is the area in which you live. In some areas you will receive more than in others. For example, in south Florida you can charge a better rate in Miami, than say a smaller town like Pompano Beach.

There are different ways in which you can charge for services. By the hour, by the project, by the page, or for something like event planning you could charge a certain percentage of the total event cost. Many VAs offer reduced rates for a monthly retainer option. With a monthly retainer your client commits to a certain number of hours per month at a predetermined rate. If you work less than the committed number of hours you are still paid the same.

If you work over the committed number of hours then you would bill the client for the additional hours at that same rate or whatever is agreed upon," says Diana and Kelly.

About the Author: Liz Folger is Work-at-Home Mom Expert and author of "The Stay-at-Home Mom's Guide To making Money From Home." Her book is available at your favorite bookstore or by calling 800-632-8676. Liz has also created a resource site for work-at-home moms at: http://www.bizymoms.com. When you visit, don't forget to sign up for the free e-newsletter.

Start a secretarial business and cash in on the high demand for secretarial services. Secretarial Service Kit makes it easy! Visit http://www.startasecretarialbusiness.com

Inside info on starting, growing and/or maintaining an editorial business

There will be no posts for the month of August. In the meantime, feel free to read through previous posts for inside information you may have missed on starting, growing and/or maintaining an editorial business. See you in September!

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Inkwell Editorial Work-from-Home Ebooks
http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/bizguides.htm
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Advertise Your Product/Service on InkwellEditorial.com
http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/CommerceCntr/listing.htm
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Check out the Inkwell Editorial Job Boards!
Full-time Listings: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/postjob.htm
Freelance Listings: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/freelance-jobs.htm
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New Internet Writing Opportunity: Online Education Seminars

This past Monday's post discussed using editorial skills to start an online communications firm. Our mission is to get editorial professionals to think beyond obvious employment opportunities and seek a myriad of ways to make money using their skills. Continuing in this vein, today we will take a look at the opportunity presented by online education seminars/"webinars".

As you read, think: can I start my own online seminar; what niche can I apply my skills to in this 21st century medium?
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Web Casting: The Future of Online Education
by Jim Edwards

Despite the communications power of the Internet, nothing beats good old human interaction when it comes to learning a new skill. You can always read a book, listen to a tape, or watch a video to learn how to do something, but, in the end, learning from a live teacher who can answer your questions on the spot works best.

Until recently, the Internet resembled a large "book" of electronic text and pictures where any extended "human" interactivity could only take place offline by tele-conference or in-person meetings.

Now, however, the appearance of cheap "web casting" creates an inexpensive opportunity for mass interactive communication between people spread all over the world. "Web casting" (broadcasting through the web) enables a presenter to transmit a live presentation over the Internet to as many as 10,000 participants.

Post Continued Below
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Inkwell Editorial Work-from-Home Ebooks
http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/bizguides.htm
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Advertise Your Product/Service on InkwellEditorial.com
http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/CommerceCntr/listing.htm
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For most online events, participants only need an Internet connection through a standard phone line and audio speakers. In the post-9/11 era, people simply don't like to travel as frequently. The meal and hotel costs associated with attending seminars or other adult education events make it even harder to attract a full audience.

However, with web casting, you can pull together a large group of people from around the world at a specific time on a given day, teach them something, and then let them all get back to their lives without the traditional interruptions and expenses of travel.

Web casting enables you to literally present just about any type of information or educational material you want. [NOTE: Think of all the writing/editing opportunities this presents]. You can do everything from a simple "radio" type presentation where people passively listen, to a multimedia presentation complete with Power Point slides and live tours of actual websites.

At this point, imagination seems to represent the only limitation as far as what you can do to teach people through the Internet using this technology. Currently, large corporations and independent speakers and entrepreneurs seem to represent the majority of web casting users.

I believe this comes from the fact that people simply don't know about it yet and don't understand how to use it. Once that changes, web casting will go a long way towards replacing tele-conferencing as the preferred means of long-distance education.

In the future, as costs decrease even further, you will find people using web casting for everything from online family reunions and sales presentations, to home-based cooking shows and pay-per-view seminars. As the technology improves, the potential uses will skyrocket.

As with any new technology, a few drawbacks exist. Though web casting works with modem speeds as low as 28K, no one standard has emerged for broadcasting content. Some services require Real Player, while others require Microsoft's media player, and, as usual, Mac users often get left out in the cold without any options.

Right now, search engine giant Google.com rates the best source of information on how to offer your own web cast. Simply log on to Google, search for "webcast," and investigate the ever-growing number of available resources.
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About the Author: Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the co-author of an amazing new ebook that will teach you how to use free articles to quickly drive thousands of targeted visitors to your website or affiliate links...

How to Use Your Editorial Skills to Build a Communications Firm

When most freelancers think of running an editorial business, they think of writing, editing, researching, etc. copy for clients. BUT, the Internet makes it more possible than ever to use editorial skills to build whatever type of communication firm you want.

A prime example, Ray Owens, who makes his living telling old jokes on the Internet (see story below). So, when you think of freelancing, think beyond the traditional. You are in the communications business, in the information age – think broad and go for it! _____________________________
MAILING LISTS - IT'S PERSONAL
by Ray Owens

"Wait a minute -- you mean to tell me you're actually making a living telling old jokes on the Internet?" That's usually the first reaction when I tell someone I have a joke-telling business via email.

Ok, the first reaction is normally, "So, tell me a joke." When I get a blank look on my face and it's obvious that I can barely remember my name, I'm usually presented with the zinger, "Must not be much of a joke service if you can't remember a single joke." I then have to buy the beer.

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Ah well, such are the hazards of trying to explain how my company, Joke A Day, http://www.jokeaday.com, has gone from having a small group of friends (8 as a matter of fact) sharing jokes via email to being the largest daily humor mailing list in the world.

Is there a more common use of email than forwarding something funny to a bazillion of your closest friends? Probably not. It's kin to the fact that 95% of all microwaves in the world do nothing but popcorn and heat coffee. Humor listings are a dime a dozen and there's no new jokes on the planet. So how is Joke A Day able to generate revenue close to $150,000 a year without telling a single original joke?

For those of you who may have started a mailing listing of your own, this is not an inconsequential question: "How do I make my mailing list unique? Different?" Especially if you're using content that can be found in many other places. Because, let's boil it down to the basics, boys and girls: if you want to make any money, you've got to be sponsored by advertising. If you want advertisers, you have to have readers. To have readers, you have to have content that's different from any place else.

What's my secret? I'm the smartest and sexiest man on the planet. Ok, truth be known I'm uglier than a mud fence and have nothing more notable on my resume than I figured out how to do HTML with Notepad. The secret to having a successful mailing list is my personality.

Think about Top 40 radio stations. (Or C&W -- or any other genre). The music is all the same. There's not one bit of difference between playing Celine Dion on station A that there would be on station B. What causes you to listen to station A over station B is the intangible "personality" of the station itself. The DJs who play the music. The advertisements they run. The amount of time they spend talking over the records.

Joke A Day is an extension of my personality. It grew from having 8 members on the listing to having over 150,000 members in two years. The only difference between it and other, older listings is how I "talk" to the readers.

I'm not averse to sharing personal tidbits with the readers. I've talked recently of my impending divorce. I've given them tales of my two daughters. I've bitched about being on the road and the joy of traveling for a living. I've shared with them the joy of running my own business and the triumph I felt when I was able to leave my "real" job to devote full time to Joke A Day.

In response, readers tell me how "personal" the service is. How glad they are to get email from me because it's like getting mail from a friend. How inclined they are to read my sponsors' ads and do what my sponsors are asking because they're getting a referral from me - their friend.

It's a complete cycle. My sponsors enjoy higher response rates because of the loyalty of my readers. Because it's a good investment for them, I have plenty of return sponsor business. In fact, I've not had an unsold ad spot in over a year - and my inventory is sold out for the next two to three months.

So what does all of this mean for you and your email listing? It means that Joke A Day is like The Borg, resistance is futile, and you should just go ahead and send all of your readers over to me. (It's so hard for a man who makes a living telling jokes to be serious). Here's your guide to having a successful email listing:

(1) Talk to your readers. When you sit down to do a publication, pretend that you're sitting across the table from your best friend and talk to him.

(2) Establish a personal rapport with your readers. Don't be afraid of screwing up. Don't be afraid of sharing a little about yourself with your readers. This lets them know there's a real human being on the other side of that monitor.

(3) Talk to your sponsors the same way. Weekly I send out a Sponsor Newsletter chock full of things that help them grow their business. (Sure, I hawk my own stuff, too, let's not get too far from reality here). But let your Sponsors know what's going on with your business - give them "the inside scoop" behind your decisions and how you're running things.

When people are "on the inside" it makes them feel special. To quote one of those baseball movies: "Build it and they will come." Make your readers your friends and the subscription numbers will climb through the roof. Then you can buy the beer.
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About the Author: Ray Owens is the President of Joke A Day - The World's Largest Daily Humor Mailing List at http://www.jokeaday.com. Contact Ray at jokeaday@jokeaday.com.

About Freelancing Internationally

Today's post features the first entry from our "Freelancing Internationally" series. We're sure you'll enjoy this informative new sequence!

Freelance Writing for a Client in Hong Kong
by Mike Spitalieri

What was the assignment (writing, building a website, translating, etc.)? I was contacted on Christmas Eve 2004 about a freelance writing assignment (my first paying one) from Geoclicks, based in Hong Kong, which publishes the georeviews.com and you-review.net websites.

Basically, they wanted a series of articles regarding consumer electronics in the form of buyer's guides. I jumped on the opportunity, and although it took some time to get a hold of them, we eventually touched base and got things rolling.

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How did you get the assignment (sent a resume, fax, email; made a call; recommended by a friend; referred by a client, etc.)? I posted my resume on CraigsList.com; they contacted me.

Did a time difference affect your work? Not so much. I would submit things during the day on the East coast US and usually receive a response the following day during the evening.

Read Mike’s entire account here: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/CareerCenter/international/7-21-05.htm.
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Scriptwriting  A Lucrative Writing Opportunity!

Imagine making $3,000-$15,000 on a two week project. Depending on your client's budget, scriptwriting projects can command money like this and more.

You may not have considered scriptwriting as a lucrative part of your freelance copywriting business. It's a skill you can easily learn -- if you apply some simple techniques. In fact, you're probably already equipped with the writing skills and motivation to be an excellent scriptwriter!
A plethora of projects: There are a wide variety of script projects available. Promotional scripts help companies sell their products and services or tout upcoming events. Educational scripts provide information about ideas, services or products. Script projects can come from companies, educational entities, churches and many other sources. Television and radio commercial scripts abound -- even promotional, "on-hold" messages require a written script.

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If you watch TV and listen to the radio, you will hear at least 16 script projects an hour played out by actors (or car salesmen who think they are actors). Sixteen projects an hour, times 24 hours a day, is a lot of scriptwriting projects. And, multiply the number of projects by the number of media venues across the world -- the work is there! Like any writing project, you have to work at finding it -- or help it find you.

Getting Started - Format is first: Before you begin looking for scriptwriting projects, you need to know about script format. Script format is not difficult and there are several formats you can employ, but you must adhere to these formats to maintain consistency. There are also subtle variations from writer to writer of course, but stay as close to a format as possible. Your clients may have a format they prefer. You should always ask.

You can find thousands of script format samples on the Internet or buy books on the subject. Video Scriptwriting: How to Write for the $4 Billion Commercial Video Market, by Barry Hampe is a scriptwriting bible. It is a small, unassuming paperback, published in 1993, but has timely, relevant information for scriptwriters. He covers the "dos and don'ts" of scriptwriting useful to any freelancer. It is a useful writing resource and motivational tool you'll refer to often. The author covers the whole process of getting clients, how to write the scripts, what to charge for them and how to close the deal.

What to charge: It is a good idea to charge a flat fee for writing a script because there are no surprises for you or your client. First, find out how long the script needs to be or what the budget is. Do some calculations on how long you think it will take you to research and write the script (don't forget to include time spent on the phone, meetings and rewrites). Multiply this projected amount of time by your hourly fee. Add two hours for incidentals and stick with this figure.

Getting Paid -- The Contract: In a contract, it is standard to ask for one-third down to start, one-third at the first draft, and the balance on delivery (or as soon as thirty days after you deliver). Outline everything in the contract: payment schedules, fees, rewrites you will do, etc.
Asking for a down payment ensures that your client is a serious participant in the project. Never do work without some assurance that you will be getting paid.

Rewrites: Never do more than three rewrites. By now, you know almost everyone thinks they can write as well as you do. Writing is a very subjective thing, so stick to your guns. You are the professional. That said, never argue with the client. Offer your opinion on changes, do it his way, then smile when the client hands you the check. If your rewrite meets with negativity and the project is scrapped, bill for the amount of the time you spent on the rewrite.

If the client shirks responsibility on payment for the rewrites, have proof of your work, your contract in hand and take your case to small claims court. If you've gone over your projected amount of time on a project, note it and don't shortchange yourself the next time you bid a project. If you go under the time, refund the money your client overpaid, a move that builds your credibility by volumes. And, you will be the first one called the next time a project needs a writer.

Know Your Audience: If you are writing a promotional script about an automobile, you need to know to whom your client is trying to sell and what the selling points are. A busy mom won't care about sleek styling and 100.6 horses under the hood. She won't want to know how "thingies" fire at the right time for peak performance. She wants to know she can pick up her carpool kidlets and get them to school: safely and on time.

Point out that there's room for 6, plus the class salamander with seatbelts for everyone. Show the cool storage compartment right below her right elbow for nose wipers. Tell her she can place a frantic call for help with the push of a button. Scriptwriting requires balance. You must consider all the elements of your subject, your audience and the tone.

Project Ideas: There are so many available projects for scriptwriters. All you need is to get started. Companies, organizations, schools, churches and more need your help. Here are just a few project ideas:

**TV and radio commercials
**Powerpoint presentations
**Tourism scripts
**Job orientation scripts
**Educational scripts
**Product usage scripts
**Product introduction scripts
**On-hold messages
**Instructional scripts
**Self-improvement scripts
**Scripts for travel industry
**Special event scripts
**Medical method scripts
**Public relations scripts
**And much more!

Don't forget -- Hollywood could always use your help too! Although commercial scriptwriting can pay the bills handsomely, writing movie or TV scripts is fun.

Get Started: You have all the tools to write scripts. You know how to research, outline and write in a cohesive manner. Now you can add script writing to your repertoire. Your Web site (you do have one, don't you?) is the best place to showcase your scripts. Always post your samples on your site. If you have a special knowledge in a field, be sure to promote the heck out of it. Optimize your site to get hits, when clients go surfing for the best writer for the project.

Pick a subject you're are interested in or favorite charity. Envision yourself profiting on a script submission and write a speculation script as if you'll profit from it. Who knows, you just might profit in ways you never imagined and you'll have a great sample for your portfolio.

Getting the First Job: If you've never written a script, now is as good a time as any to get started. You can pick a subject, research and write one.

Most likely you will get your first project with a former client or charity organization. If not, you will need a calling card: a finished sample to show. Either way, establishing yourself as a professional, flexible copywriter is the first step. Call a non-profit organization in your area and offer to write a script for them for free. Do a great job and who knows what could come of it.

NOTE: See article with sample script formats here: http://www.freebird-zine.com/misc/scriptwriting.html (article first appeared on this site).

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*********************************************************************************** About the Author: Missouri based Penny Warner has worked as a copywriter photographer, feature writer and editor for more than ten years and has published articles in Missouri Life Magazine, Ozark Farm and Neighbor, Lake LifeStyles, the Lake Sun Leader and hundreds of feature articles and photos in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. She has written two of the top-selling instructional videos in the model railroad industry and completed three full-length screenplays. Her Web site is coming soon at www.write4u.net.

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Profile of a Freelance Writer

Today's entry is our monthly "Freelance Success Story." This series features first-hand accounts of successful freelancers. We hope you find them useful -- and inspirational.

Profile of a Freelance Writer
by Lisa Beyer

I'm a freelance writer, and I specialize in Human Resources communications, such as employee newsletters, enrollment guides, summary plan descriptions...anything a corporation can use to communicate effectively with employees about their benefits and compensation.

Background: For the first 20 years of my career, I worked in public relations in Chicago, for a hospital consortium, for a large chemical company as the manager of employee communications and with Hewitt Associates, a large HR Consulting firm. I also freelanced for a year, mostly doing features for the Chicago Tribune and my local paper.

We moved to Georgia and I had a couple of not too exciting jobs, so I decided to try my hand at freelancing again. I've had a liver transplant and though my health is actually really good, I got tired of commuting, being away from home for long hours, etc. My work is done at home through email, fax, phone and the Internet. That was four years ago and my income waivers between $22,000 and $50,000 annually.

Read Lisa's entire story here: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/CareerCenter/success/7-14-05.htm.
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How to Earn Residual Writing Income: Interview w/ Successful E-Book Author

An Interview with Jennie S. Bev, author of "Write Industry Reports"
by Brian Konradt

JENNIE S. BEV is a successful industry researcher, author, publicist, management consultant and instructional designer with several published book-length manuscripts and reports, three books and 800 articles under her belt. Her bylines have appeared in tens of regional, national and international publications in the United States, Canada and Southeast Asia. She is the author of the highly praised FabJob.com Guide to Become a Management Consultant. She also manages an online book review club, BookReviewClub.com, to advocate the love of reading to all ages.

[ BK ]: You've written two e-books so far. Tell us the process of writing an e-book, and why you decided to write your material in e-book format? What have been the advantages?

JENNIE S. BEV: Writing an e-book is just like writing any other book. Tenacity, ability to focus and stamina to convey compelling messages from start to finish determine the quality of the finished book (or e-book).

I personally don't have any preference over the format of books, because it is not as important as the value of information contained therein. Since the writing process is the same in both formats, e-books should receive increased acceptance in the literary world, which, fortunately, is already happening. My forthcoming book, which is an industry report, will be paper-based. As soon as I complete it in a few more weeks, I'll be writing another e-book and a paper-based book. You can see how varied the formats of my books are.

Both electronic and print formats have their own advantages and disadvantages, of course. And one is [not] better than the other. E-books, for instance, allow the author to include direct hyperlinks to the referencing sources, which can be extremely valuable for books that "teach," such as how-to books. This way, the readers will be directly referred to Web sites for more in-depth information without having to spend countless hours searching for additional information that support the information contained in the e-book. However, since e-books must be viewed on a computer screen (or other e-book reader device), it is less handy than print books. Unless the reader uses a handheld e-book device, it would be impossible to read in a bathtub, for instance.

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[ BK ]: You recently were named a finalist in the Non-Fiction, How-To Category of the 2003 Eppie Awards for excellence in electronic publishing. Did you know your e-book, "Guide Become a Management Consultant" was going to become a big success? What do you think contributed to this e-book's success? Is it the writing, publishing, or marketing?

JENNIE S. BEV: You made me blush. Honestly, I was not expecting any award or official recognition for "FabJob.com Guide to Become a Management Consultant." I simply tried my best to write the most comprehensive reference for people who are looking for ways to break into and succeed in management consultant. In that e-book, I also interviewed 15 experienced management consultants, some of whom are best-selling authors and renowned well-respected professionals. This effort alone demonstrates my passion, which is very important in birthing a valuable book.

I honestly think no writer should write for an award because it would distract him or her from the ultimate goal: writing a book of distinctive quality. As a Zen master said, "live for the moment." When you're eating, eat. When you're sleeping, sleep. When you are writing, write. Ah, I've been talking as if I had won already. The winners will be announced in March 2003, so I'm still keeping my fingers crossed.

All the three factors (the writing, publishing and marketing) play important roles in creating a successful book (or e-book). An author can write the best book in the world, but without proper publishing package (the formatting and final touches) and publicity/marketing efforts, nobody would buy it.

[ BK ]: Can you describe your typical workday?

JENNIE S. BEV: In my ideal day, I read one book and write at least 1,000 words. Sometimes more, sometimes less. I wake up at around 7 and go to bed at midnight. I go to my neighborhood gym every other day or at anytime when writer's block strikes.

[ BK ]: You have over 800 articles published. How do you stay so prolific?

JENNIE S. BEV: As a full-time writer, I write for at least 4 hours per day. I use the other half working day to perform some research (if needed) and to take care of my balance with exercising and having a social life. Mental and physical balance are very important to keep my writing flows. When I'm stressed out, I usually cannot perform well.

[ BK ]: Can you share some of your strategies on how you successfully sell your writing to editors and publishers? Any secrets?

JENNIE S. BEV: No secrets. Just keep persisting and be prepared for rejections. A professional writer handles rejections professionally. It's never about you; it's about different needs. Make it a part of life, don't sweat it.

[ BK ]: Your newest e-book, "Write Industry Reports" helps writers write industry reports for research firms and earn big bucks. How did you first hear about this type of writing? What are the advantages to writing for research firms?

JENNIE S. BEV: As a business writer, I often search for specific data, such as statistics or other business intelligence information. One day I "bumped" into industry reports and was astonished by the ridiculously high price. Many of them are more than $3,000 a piece. "That's way too expensive for my research," I thought. This incident sparked my curiosity about writing industry reports. I wanted to know more about these high-priced publications: what they really are, who writes them and, of course, if I can write one. My search revealed that many research firms do hire freelance writers to write such reports, although most likely they also employ full-time researchers.

The advantages to writing for research firms? First, you will learn as you go along. You will find new methodologies to search for specific information. You will become more proficient in the research and writing vocations. Second, the PAY is incredibly high. From my experience, research firms pay up to 25 percent of the retail price in royalties. If your report is priced at $3,000, it translates to $750 in royalties PER SALE for you. More importantly, since the payment is in residual income, you'll keep getting paid without putting forth extra work as long as your report is still being sold. Naturally $5,000 in royalties per month is highly feasible.

[ BK ]: How did you first get started as a writer? What keeps you motivated and disciplined?

JENNIE S. BEV: I started writing when I was in college. The more I was proficient with research skills, the more articles I wrote. When I graduated with my Bachelor's, I already had a strong passion to write. Motivated? Disciplined? That's a tough question. Perhaps my love for writing more than anything else keeps me positive despite all of the ups and downs of the profession. Other than that, I have voices to be heard, bills to pay, and bylines to show.

[ BK ]: How has the Internet contributed to the success of your career?

JENNIE S. BEV: During the dot-com explosion years, I wrote for many Web sites and served as managing editor, contributor and channel manager, which gave me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to publish over 700 articles within a short period of time. Today, my e-books are my babies. Whenever a copy is sold (on the Internet), I feel reinforced to write even better and more e-books!

[ BK ]: What's the best advice you ever received from another writer? What advice would you give a writer who wants to be successful?

JENNIE S. BEV: The best advice? "Everybody has a story tell, so tell yours in a compelling way and be proud of it." Advice for other writers? "Set your mind and heart for success, you deserve it. If some skeptics say you can't write and you can't make a living out of it, don't let their opinions get in the way of your success."

[ BK ]: What's one piece of advice you can give to help a writer boost his/her sales this year?

JENNIE S. BEV: The best way to earn a living as a writer is by earning residual income (royalties). This way, as long as your writing -- most likely in the form of a book or an e-book -- is still being sold, you can still earn without having to put forth extra work. Use your time to write for more royalty-earning books (or e-books) to create a snowballing effect.

My latest e-book entitled "Write Industry Reports: Work at Home and Start Earning $5,000 in Royalties per Month" clearly shows how to earn thousands of dollars from one book alone. Unlike in publishing other types of books, which only pay a few dollars per sold book, industry report authors enjoy much higher royalties per book. Why? Because the books help companies to see a clearer picture of their industry.

"Write Industry Reports: Work at Home and Start Earning $5,000 in Royalties per Month" covers everything from the A to Z of industry report writing so you can start earning more this year. I've included access to over 450 research firms for you to begin with.
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About the Author: Jennie's ebook, "Write Industry Reports: Work at Home and Start Earning $5,000 in Royalties per Month" reveals her quietly-whispered secrets to earn residual income from your writing and research skills. Jennie's ebook is sold online at WritingCareer.com (http://www.writingcareer.com/bev001.shtml), an online ebook store.

© 2003 BRIAN S. KONRADT
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Looking for freelance writing work, but don't know where to start or have the time to actively seek assignments? Coming Soon: List of 1,000 Paying Markets to begin your search! **********************************************************************************
Sample Listing: Home/Lifestyle Magazine. Seeks articles on interior design, shopping, entertaining, recipes, art and more. Pays $100-$500/article. The majority of our leads are little-known, industry-specific publications/firms that many freelancers don't target because they rarely advertise. We will only sell a limited number per year and the list will be updated/added to annually. Backed by a 100% money-back guarantee!****************************************************************************

Free & Low-Cost Ways to Advertise Your Creative Biz

Many freelancers make the mistake of marketing only when they need the business -- losing untold dollars they could be consistently pocketing. Following are some cost-effective ways to increase sales by keeping your name constantly in front of customers.

Today's blog post (www.InkwellEditorial.blogspot.com) discusses free and low cost ways to get the word out about your creative/editorial business -- all the time!

1. Blogs: Although blogs have been around for a while, they have really gained popularity in the last 3 years or so. Large and small businesses are finding that blogs are a great way to personalize their company.

You can post company hirings, recent projects/jobs, solicit feedback from customers -- the uses of this unique form of communication can be a boon, especially to freelancers because when you are small, the need to connect with customers is extremely important.

Remember, behind every bid/job posting is a real, live person. Connecting with them in a personal way can make them feel like they "know" you/your company. This kind of connection leads to gigs/jobs.

Although you can use company newsletters to accomplish the same thing, customers are used to them being more formal in nature. So, make a personal connection with your customers -- blog away.

Cost: Free (see blogger.com)

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2. E-mail: Publish a company newsletter; send periodic sales/discount notices; send helpful/interesting articles about your industry that will somehow improve your customers' lives.

The point is to stay in contact on an unobtrusive, yet consistent basis. If you don't, when customers need your service they may have forgotten you exist. To do this, you must put visitor sign-up boxes on your website (you do have a website, don't you?) inviting potential customers to subscribe. Over time, this is one of the most cost-effective marketing methods you can use.

Cost: As little as $15/month (eg, ConstantContact.com).

3. Postcards: If you have a little more money to spend, postcards are excellent marketing tools. They are inexpensive to mail (Only 23¢ each as of this writing). Online companies like VistaPrint.com make it quick and easy to print and mail postcards quickly and professionally.

Color printing is nowhere near as expensive as it used to be. You can log on, design your postcard using templates or your own personal artwork and have it delivered in as little as 3 days. In about a week, you can have thousands of customers flocking to your website and/or calling your business.

Cost: Approx. $125 (based on ordering/mailing of 250 postcards from VistaPrint.com for $49.99; mailing cost $57.50; and miscellaneous S/H cost.)

Cost-effective marketing is limited only by your imagination. So, stay in constant contact so that you will be first on the list when customers want what you are offering.
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Interview with a Successful, Full-time Freelancer

Today's post is an interview with NANCY HENDRICKSON, author of "Secrets of a Successful Freelancer" conducted by Brian Konradt

NOTE: The next post will be Thursday, July 7th, as Monday is a U.S. holiday (Independence Day).

Since becoming a freelancer, NANCY HENDRICKSON has published more than one thousand features, shorts and newsletter columns in national and regional magazines and on the Web. Nancy is a full-time freelancer, living in San Diego. She specializes in computer, genealogy and history writing.

[ BK ]: What kind of job/s (or career) did you do before you became a full-time writer? Did any of these jobs contribute to your success as a freelance writer?

NANCY HENDRICKSON: I've worked at a variety of jobs, including supervising in a tree nursery, driving a school bus, working in retail and medical insurance. However, for the last several years before I went full-time as a freelancer, I transcribed medical reports. The jobs, themselves, didn't contribute directly to my freelance success, however they helped me realize what a diversity of interests I have--and how much I'd enjoy writing about many, many topics. Also, because I was self-employed during my medical-job related years, it taught me to discipline myself, to set a work structure and work goals--it also helped me develop a solid business background, which is invaluable as a freelancer.

[ BK ]: Many aspiring writers dream about freelancing full-time. You're living this dream. What are some myths and truths about freelancing full-time? Is it as glorious and rewarding as it may seem?

NANCY HENDRICKSON: Yes, absolutely! I get up in the morning and (unless I have an early interview scheduled), I walk to one of my neighborhood coffee houses for an unhurried morning brew. I then work solidly til about noon, and then take a couple of hours off for lunch, then work til later in the afternoon. Recently, I packed up my laptop (with wireless modem) and drove from San Diego to Port Townsend, Washington--up on the Olympic Peninsula, working all the way.

The greatest thing about being a freelancer, for me, is to set my own schedule and to be free to travel anywhere, as long as I can get an Internet connection. These days, even if I'm in an area where my wireless modem doesn't work, I can always find an Internet cafe and work there, or a local library. Then downside, of course, is that you are always hustling to get assignments. However even that has gotten better, because editors now call me with jobs. I wouldn't trade this life for anything!

[ BK ]: Your e-book advises writers to become a niche writer -- specializing in an area. Why is this so beneficial in today's economy? How has specializing helped you?

NANCY HENDRICKSON: As I wrote in the book, you can write about many, many topics (which I do), however I market myself as a specialist because editors want to know that you're really savvy in their area. For example, I've been writing for a computer magazine and they don't care one bit that I'm also a genealogy specialist--they just want to make sure I know how to research, interview analysts and write good tech stories.

As the world expands, I've found publications actually becoming more narrowly focused. Most of us have fairly specialized interests, and we want a magazine that focuses on that. As a reader, for example, I want to read about PDAs (personal digital assistants) which run on the Palm OS. I'm not so interested in Pocket PCs. My obvious reading choice is the magazine which really focuses on the Palm OS devices. Of course, I have to confess, as a writer, that I still buy the Pocket PC magazines, just to keep up on the industry.

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[ BK ]: How do you market yourself to garner assignments? For the beginning freelance writer, what marketing would work best to land first and repeat work?

NANCY HENDRICKSON: I think a beginner has the best chance by finding a market that covers a subject they know inside and out. Then, when querying, play up their expertise. Although they can certainly find experts to interview (and editors love this), it makes the editor more comfortable knowing the writer has that solid background in their field. As far as getting future assignments--I *never* turn in an assignment without including a list of query topics. The best time to get that additional work is when you turn in a completed assignment. It works a huge percentage of the time.

[ BK ]: As you made the transition from a part-time writer to a full-time freelance writer, what fears did you have? Did you think about failure or worrying where your next paycheck would come from? How did you overcome your fears?

NANCY HENDRICKSON: You know, this was an area that didn't bother me. I had been working as a part-time freelancer for quite awhile, so I had a good sense of how much income I could generate.

I also devised a spreadsheet (which I didn't mention in the book, and need to put in as an additional suggestion). The spreadsheet listed all of my clients at the time. In another cell, I wrote the approximate amount of money I would get from a single assignment. I then did this for each client. Next, I guessed at how many jobs I could do for each client in a year. Then, I let the spreadsheet calculate what my year's income would be. If it wasn't enough, I went back to see who I needed to write more for, or how many new clients I needed to add.

[ BK ]: In your e-book you advise writers to join Internet mailing list/s as a way to connect with prospects. Can you explain how this works, and how this can lead to getting work?

NANCY HENDRICKSON: I actually wrote an article for The Writer about this topic.

Joining mailing lists (in your subject field) can help in a few ways:

1. You can find wonderful sources to quote or interview.

2. You can position yourself as an expert in the field--and believe it or not, editors do cruise through mailing lists in their genre.

3. You can use them to begin establishing your reputation. For instance, what if someone on the mailing list published a short newsletter - - offer to give them a free short article for it. Not only will that help build your clips, if you're just starting, it will start getting your name out in the field.

[ BK ]: Besides writing for magazines, do you do any other types of writing to supplement your income?

NANCY HENDRICKSON: I sell my Secrets of a Successful Freelancer book, I just finished an Internet genealogy book for a traditional publisher, and it will be out in the spring. I also sell some great e-books on the topic of writing e-books through a site at http://www.thehowtopublisher.com

Additionally, I have a local corporate client who hires me to write their newsletter, Web content, ads, etc. This is a new area for me and I really love it. I love the business side of writing, so spreading out to these other fields is a natural for me.

[ BK ]: You have your own web site that provides prospective clients with information about yourself, your skills, and samples of your work. How has your web site helped your writing business? Do you recommend writers have their own web sites as well?

NANCY HENDRICKSON: My site has definitely helped me get new clients. When I query an editor who doesn't know my work, it's just so easy to refer them to my site--they can see which publications I've written for, and my writing style.

If you want to be a successful freelancer, I think you really have to have a Web site. And, one that is easy to navigate and not filled with annoying graphics. Editors just want to get in, see who you are and get out. I also *strongly* recommend that you get your own domain name and pay for a hosting company. It looks so much more professional.

[ BK ]: With more than 1,500 shorts and feature articles to your portfolio, you're a very prolific writer. How do you keep yourself going from day to day and avoid laziness and boredom over the long term?

NANCY HENDRICKSON: Good question. I write about a variety of subjects, so that keeps my brain occupied and interested. Even when I write for the same market, there are many, many topics to research, and I like that very much. For example, in my work for my current computer clients, I may write a hands-on review of 10 software programs and then the next week do a roundup, and the next week a piece on how to get the most from a specific program.

Another thing that keeps me busy and interested is my www.thehowtopublisher.com work. I like creating the business, writing the newsletter for it, and finding fun ways to market it. I'm never bored with my work.

About:
Nancy’s ebook, “Secrets of a Successful Freelancer,” is a detailed blueprint which will help any serious writer jump-start their freelance writing career. Her ebook sells for $16.95 and is sold at WritingCareer.com, an online ebook store, located at http://www.writingcareer.com/nhb001.shtml

Brian Konradt is a freelance writer and graphic designer based in South Carolina.
****************************************************************************
What's your opinion, experience, comment, feedback? Click on "comments" to leave a reply, or the envelope graphic to email this article to a friend. You DO NOT need to be a subscriber to reply; you can also post anonymously. ****************************************************************************
Looking for freelance writing work, but don't know where to start or have the time to actively seek assignments? Coming in July: List of 1,000 Paying Markets to begin your search! **********************************************************************************
Sample Listing: Home/Lifestyle Magazine. Seeks articles on interior design, shopping, entertaining, recipes, art and more. Pays $100-$500/article. The majority of our leads are little-known, industry-specific publications/firms that many freelancers don't target because they rarely advertise. We will only sell a limited number per year and the list will be updated/added to annually. Backed by a 100% money-back guarantee!****************************************************************************

When & When Not to Join Forces w/a Competing Biz

This post has been moved to InkwellEditorial.com. See the 4/15/2010 post on the site.

Reader Question: Career Change/Telecommuting Work

A reader wrote in with the following question, which made a good topic for today’s blog entry.

I'm pursuing a change in career focus ... Can you point me in the right direction? I have worked in corporate and educational marketing communications or more than 17 years. My strongest skill set -- and what I most enjoy -- is publications management (print periodicals as well as marketing collateral). I have specialized in curriculum support materials and programs for K-12 students. I'd like to identify a full-time opportunity but am unable to relocate outside of Michigan. Do you have suggestions for refining my search to include Michigan-only jobs or identifying jobs where the employer is agreeable to the work being performed via distance? Mimi, Michigan

Mimi:

Your question is two-fold: first, location; then, type of job (publications management). As you are unable to relocate outside of Michigan, you have two options: 1) narrow your search to your area; or 2) broaden your search beyond the specific type of job you seek (publications management).

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• 
  Tips for Narrowing Your Search: Go to the major job boards like Monster, CareerBuilder and Yahoo!, narrowing your search to your area. Also, check local newspapers. With the advent of the Internet, job listings in local newspapers are a sorely overlooked source of leads, in my opinion. Finally, do some digging on the types of companies who publish in-house materials, and send them your cover letter/resume.

• I read somewhere that up to 85% of job openings are never advertised. So, there are a lot of opportunities that never make it to the public forum. Contact ad agencies, nonprofit organizations, marketing and PR firms – all of these publish materials of some kind – get your credentials in their hands, even if they aren’t openly hiring.

• Broadening Your Search/Looking for Telecommuting Work: As you have specialized experience, for telecommuting purposes, I’d target companies who publish these types of materials – ie, educational firms. There are literally thousands of these types of firms.

• Put together an aggressive email/mail campaign. Many of them will not respond, but in my experience, most companies keep qualified applicants on file for up to a year. You may get a call 8 months from now out of the blue, announcing, “We received your credentials back in December and have an upcoming assignment that we think you’d be perfect for …”

• Be sure that you have a complete home office setup so that you can comfortably work from home. Many times, when companies contact you for off-site work, it is because they are on deadline and need someone who can get started right away. So, there will be no time to go out and get the equipment you need. Really, all you need is a fax machine, a fast Internet connection and MS Word. Having the ability to open .pdf files and sometimes using a spreadsheet program, ie, Excel, will also come in handy.

• All in all, editorial is a very static industry. It’s hard to switch gears (eg, go from marketing and communications to publications management), because most employers want someone with a specific skill set. So, if they are hiring a publications manager, they want someone who has been a publications manager before.

• To get around this, do a very specific cover letter, stating how your skills are directly transferable. Also, be willing to accept a bit of a pay cut in order to get your foot in the door.

Good luck!