UPDATE: You can no longer sign up just by leaving a comment. I had to change my newsletter service plan due to the number of people that signed up, and I can’t import names anymore. Sorry! Signing up is still really, really simple, though. Just follow THIS LINK, enter you email address, and confirm your subscription. Feel free to still leave a comment here to tell me that you signed up!
This has been in the making for quiet some time now, and I’m happy to announce a brand new newsletter for freelance writers, written by yours truly!
Called One Prompt, One …read more

As the Easter approaches, it’s time to think of those tired, overworked writers on your Easter gift list. Whether you have more money than time or vice versa, here are my ideas for gifts for freelance writers:

1. Visit their blog or Web site. As much as I cajole and beg, my family and off-line friends never seem to make it over to visit any of the sites for which I write. Remember: visiting is free and often your friend or family member makes more money the more often your visit. Better yet: leave a comment or …read more

Not exactly my kind of stuff, but I suspect some of fiction writers will love this. Enjoy!

Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing – a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision – for those who want to get a book written.

(www.thegoldenpencil.com)
Seth Godin has a wonderful post called Is effort a myth?. (Thanks to Your Book Publishing Coach for the pointer.)
It’s a wonderful and helpful essay, complete with the suggestion to find 120 minutes each day and commit to something positive. He lists a number of things that can be done with that time, plus makes some other suggestions I like.
If I had to choose just one it would be: Only spend money, for one year, on things you absolutely need to get by. Save the rest, relentlessly. In fact, I’m going to do that and so commit to you, …read more

My buddy, Kristen King, who writes BizChicksRule asked if I’d remind you about the Copywriting Success Summit 2008.
If you want to become a copywriter you should seriously consider attending this. I’m tempted even though I’m not particularly interested in it.
Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing – a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision – for those who want to get a book written.
Image from http://www.sxc.hu

(www.thegoldenpencil.com)
This picture is how part of me feels this morning at 5:45 on this Saturday morning. I was going to link to an article on one of my websites and went to look it over… all my sites are down, and it’s not because I haven’t paid my bill.
I called customer service and was told “a server is down.” I hadn’t known where on the planet my websites are served from and it turns out to be Kansas. I asked for that information so I could estimate how long my sites are down. I may ask for a credit.
In truth, …read more

Friend and fellow writer, Lori Widmer commented that she’s had to revise her estimated quarterly taxes upward. That’s great news.
I don’t know about you, but I find the whole world of taxes utterly confusing. Used to scare me, truth be known. Kelly Phillips Erb to the rescue, now at www.taxgirl.com. You won’t notice much difference, but she’s on her own now. So change your feeds and make sure you keep up with what you need to know by subscribing.
Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing – a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision – …read more

When I didn’t make Michael Stelzner’s list of Top Ten Blogs For Writers, I posted twice about it. Michael himself suggested it would be a gift, and he’s right. What I also didn’t expect was the support I’ve gotten from readers of this blog. Some in comments, some via email, and at least two blog posts.
For example, Lori Widmer, long-term writing friend I’ve never met devoted her post today to mostly me (ah ego) called: They’re Just Not That Into You
Thanks you all for your good thoughts. It’s appreciated.
Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing – a resource for freelance …read more

Yesterday I moaned that I hadn’t made Michael Stelzner’s list of Top Ten Blogs For Writers.
Here’s, as has been said by others, is the rest of the story:

I was surprised – after all, I had won two years in a row.
I was surprised at how disappointed I felt.
Within the hour of finding out and posting I also talked briefly about it with a friend.
By lunch time I’d forgotten all about it.

Obviously I haven’t totally forgotten about it. The point is I let it go pretty quickly. I have a short plan to take a closer look at the top ten …read more

(www.thegoldenpencil.com)
Hello Anne,
How do I go about doing that all-important resume when I am brand-new to free-lance writing?
thanks,
V.
Dear V.
Having a writing resume or credit list isn’t the only way to break into freelance writing (and there’s no dash in the word, and brand new shouldn’t be hyphenated… I’m assuming you’re in the US – if not, I apologize.)
You need to do what we used to do and many still do and that’s do some work on spec. Usually this is writing for magazines. You query a magazine editor with an idea and if it’s accepted it will probably be on …read more