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Writers Enter Writer’s Digest 79th Writing Competition

March 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Calling all writers! Writer’s Digest is holding its 79th writing competition. The fees are minimal and the categories are plentiful. Freelance writers, this is your opportunity to dust off those manuscripts and get them in front of people. The fees are nominal and you never know where it could lead you. Visit Writer’s Digest for more information. Get your entries in today because the deadline is May 14, 2010. There is a $5 late entry fee.

Categories

Memoirs/Personal Essay
Mainstream/Literary Short Story
Rhyming Poem
Stage Play
Children’s/Young Adult Fiction
Genre Short Story
Magazine Feature Article
Non-Rhyming Poem
Television/Movie Script
Inspirational Writing

Entry Fees

Poems are $15 for the first entry; $10 each additional.
Other entries are $20 for the first manuscript; $15 for each additional.

Good luck!
Rebecca

Filed Under: Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing, Screenwriting Tagged With:

The Art of Time Management

March 24, 2010 By 1 Comment

Photo by Pedro Simao http:///www.editae.com.br

Life is full of twists and turns. Sometimes freelance writers take part-time or full-time jobs in addition to their freelance writing work. Sometimes business owners moonlight as well in order to pay the bills. Whatever your case is time management is crucial. You only have 24 hours in a day, make the most of them to complete your projects.

Time management is easy when you have tools to assist you. If you have a PC, use Windows calendar to schedule your work. If you have a Mac, use iCal to schedule your work or some other application for Mac. Once you create your schedule, you’ll know exactly what to do each day. Just be prepared for days when unexpected events come up which requires you to rearrange your schedule.

Freelance writers can benefit from a schedule. It’s a great way to ensure that all of your projects are completed on or ahead of time. Use whatever system works for you from an Excel spreadsheet to a bulletin board. This is useful if you’re a visual person.

You may think that you can keep track of time, but you’d be surprised how fast it goes. Before you know it, you’ll be half way through the day and may not even be close to completing projects. Check-in with yourself to see how well you’re doing. Make adjustments to your schedule when necessary.

Time management tips!

1. Answer important emails. Do not answer or look at your emails unless they’re from your clients. Look at your email twice a day: once in the morning and then at night.
2. Choose a time management system that works for you. Use Windows Calendar, an organizer, bulletin board, online system, or some other time management system.
3. Answer important phone calls. If it’s not an emergency or your clients, don’t answer the phone.

Don’t lose track of your projects because you could lose more than time — you could lose your clients! Clients are your “bread and butter” and without them your business will not survive. Choose a time management system that works for you and stick to it. Good luck!

Rebecca

What time management tools do you use? Share.

Filed Under: Clients, Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing, Overcoming Obstacles, Tips and Tricks Tagged With:

Communication is the Key to Growing a Business

March 15, 2010 By 2 Comments

When you speak, do you say what you mean and mean what you say? Nine times out of ten, most people talk in circles. It’s like listening to a politician answer a question about the state budget! Communication is the key in any business, especially freelance writing. If you don’t know how to communicate with people, your writing will suffer.

Freelance writing appeals to most people because they get to work from home. Make no mistake about it, this is a business. In order for you to grow your business, you must communicate with others. However, you must understand their communication style. Some people don’t like the phone and prefer text, email, or IM. How adaptable is your communication style? If you can’t adapt to your surroundings, you’ll die out.

How well do you listen? Do you even know how to listen? Many people don’t have great listening skills. This is due to our “me” society. It’s all about me! Wrong! It’s not about you; it’s about the people who are your potential clients. When you meet people, be quiet. Listen to everything they have to say. Be genuinely interested in what it is they’re saying and you’ll have no problem gaining clients.

You’d think freelance writers would have impeccable communication skills. Wrong again! Many of them are used to being cocooned are from people. They forget what it’s like to have an actual conversation with people. Here’s a tip: get out of the house. Attend a networking event or fundraiser. Mix and mingle with people to exercise your communication skills.

Knowing how to communicate with others is imperative. People are from different generations and have different communication styles and ways of learning. For example, some people are visual learners. Telling them about your business without giving them a website to look at may not yield the best results. Make sure your website is on your business card. This way they can “check you out” and get a sense if your services are a match.

Communication is about connecting with people. Become a great communicator by first listening to people and then interjecting at the appropriate time. Many people are tired of being sold to and frown upon dishonesty. Be open and honest about you and your business and you’ll gain clients. Avoid selling to people because it will only deter them from working with you. Learn to sell without selling because it will take you far. Go out there and be the best communicator you can be!

Rebecca

How well do you communicate? Share.

Filed Under: Clients, Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing, Networking, Overcoming Obstacles, Tips and Tricks Tagged With: ,

Freelance Writers Ask for a W-9

March 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Freelance writers will do well if they think outside of the box. Did you know that you could become a W-9 employee? The next time you receive a call from a company inquiring if you’d like to work full-time for them, ask if you could be listed as a W-9 employee. They may find this peculiar, but it will be to both of your advantages.

Being hired as a W-9 employee means a company will send you a 1099 which you’ll use when you file your taxes. This is a win-win situation for you and the company. First, you’ll receive tax benefits. Second, the company receives major benefits such as reduced health care and other costs. Finally, both you and the company’s management team will preserve the environment because you’ll work from home. Perhaps you’ll be expected to go to the office once a month, but that’s better than Monday-Friday.

Working as a W-9 gives you tax advantages. For example, you’ll be able to write-off a portion of your home when you have a home office, phone, computer, paper, and other write-offs. Consult with your accountant about the tax benefits of being paid as a W-9.

Freelance writers, you could gain clients by asking to be classified as a W-9. Point out how you can save the company money. Don’t be afraid to propose being given a W-9 because you may receive a “yes” instead of a no. You won’t know unless you try. All you have to do is ask!

Rebecca

When was the last time you had a W-9? Share.

Filed Under: Clients, Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing Tagged With:

How to Use Facebook to Grow Any Business

March 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

I can’t tell you how many Facebook Friend and Fan Page Requests I receive from people I don’t know. They don’t tell me who they are or about their product or service. Assuming that everyone will automatically friend or follow your Facebook fan page is a misnomer.

Freelance writers utilize Facebook to market their work. However, before you begin to “friend” everyone on Facebook, tell them who you are and why you’re sending them a friend request. Perhaps you have similar backgrounds or a few friends in common. If they don’t know who you are, chances are they will not accept your friend request. The same applies to your fan page. Who are you and why would a person follow your fan page over another writer’s? What value does your fan page add? What are you doing that’s different from other writers? Knowing the answers to these questions can help your position on Facebook.

Tips and Tricks to Facebook

1. Tell people who you are. Sending out a multitude of friend requests and fan pages could backfire on you. People receive so much information today — they’re on sensory overload! They may discard your requests if they don’t know who you are or what you do.

2. Don’t assume everyone will follow you. This may sting for some people but that’s the way it is. People want to connect with you not feel like they’re being sold to all of the time. Make your request personal and you’ll probably receive a lot of new fans. Don’t assume all people will accept a request because their friends are on your fan page. Some will and some won’t. Combat this by telling them “why” it’s important they become a fan.

3. What value do you add? In order to get people to follow you, make sure you’re adding value to their lives. There are hundreds of thousands of businesses on Facebook. What do you do differently from another company?

4. Create an outstanding ad on Facebook. You’ll have to pay for ad space, but creating a well thought out ad can gain you followers and clients.

Many freelance writers and small businesses are now on Facebook, but they don’t know how to connect with people. Blasting out a ton of friend and fan page requests could work, but sometimes it will not. Personalize your friend or fan page request. Remember that most of the world is desensitized today because they receive too much information in their inbox. You have to capture their attention and interest in seconds! If not, you could be wasting precious time sending friend and fan page requests when you could have been attending a face-to-face networking event.

Remember, people are desensitized today because they receive an alarming amount of information each day. Do them a favor and let them know why it’s important they become of fan of your fan page. They’ll find your approach refreshing!

What approach do you use when connecting with people? Share your expertise.

Filed Under: Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing, Networking, Social Media, Tips and Tricks Tagged With: , ,
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