Comments on: “Financial Self-Sufficiency As a Freelance Writer (STILL?) in Six Months or Less”?? http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/financial-self-sufficiency-as-a-freelance-writer-still-in-six-months-or-less Income-boosting resources for commercial writers Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:48:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Jeju Smith http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/financial-self-sufficiency-as-a-freelance-writer-still-in-six-months-or-less/comment-page-1#comment-4245 Jeju Smith Mon, 07 Feb 2011 01:23:29 +0000 http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/?p=19#comment-4245 As a new SEO, i can say that it is not really easy doing this kind of work (specially when you're just earning for $5..) You can think that, Is This A Joke?...well for me,as a starter...i understand it. what should i do now is to focus on my job and satisfy my clients and most especially to improve my career...i know i can do this...if others can do, why can't i..? As a new SEO, i can say that it is not really easy doing this kind of work (specially when you’re just earning for $5..) You can think that, Is This A Joke?…well for me,as a starter…i understand it. what should i do now is to focus on my job and satisfy my clients and most especially to improve my career…i know i can do this…if others can do, why can’t i..?

]]> By: Freelance Writing Rates: And the Debate Rages On . . . : Inkwell Editorial http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/financial-self-sufficiency-as-a-freelance-writer-still-in-six-months-or-less/comment-page-1#comment-3636 Freelance Writing Rates: And the Debate Rages On . . . : Inkwell Editorial Wed, 28 Apr 2010 01:44:22 +0000 http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/?p=19#comment-3636 [...] recently read this post on the WellFedWriter.com’s blog.  So, when I received the email below, it got me to [...] [...] recently read this post on the WellFedWriter.com’s blog.  So, when I received the email below, it got me to [...]

]]> By: Brian http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/financial-self-sufficiency-as-a-freelance-writer-still-in-six-months-or-less/comment-page-1#comment-509 Brian Thu, 31 Jul 2008 05:09:58 +0000 http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/?p=19#comment-509 Well, it hit me in March. I've had TWFW for a couple years and kept saying that "One of these days, I'm going to..." then my job went to Mexico and India. For the past year, I've been a stay-at-home Dad but am getting antsy. I decided I needed more biz 'sense' (procrastination) and read this other book (forgive me Peter:) that was scaring the cr@p out of me. So, I tossed it down, got some website software, reread TWFW and set September 1st as the start date. I'm working on my site and coldcall script (I was ops mgr of an inbound/outbound b-b and b-c contact center for 7 years so I actually have no fear of the calling aspect). I want it so bad so I plan to succeed. That said, I do see the online sites have absurd 'fees', so I plan to stay away from them unless it helps me get a decent sample...but I'm pretty good at 'rethinking' some projects from my past job to put in my portfolio, so hoping I can bypass them altogether. Keep the title. It has helped a lot of us, and it has inspired a few of us to just do it. Well, it hit me in March. I’ve had TWFW for a couple years and kept saying that “One of these days, I’m going to…” then my job went to Mexico and India. For the past year, I’ve been a stay-at-home Dad but am getting antsy. I decided I needed more biz ’sense’ (procrastination) and read this other book (forgive me Peter:) that was scaring the cr@p out of me. So, I tossed it down, got some website software, reread TWFW and set September 1st as the start date. I’m working on my site and coldcall script (I was ops mgr of an inbound/outbound b-b and b-c contact center for 7 years so I actually have no fear of the calling aspect). I want it so bad so I plan to succeed. That said, I do see the online sites have absurd ‘fees’, so I plan to stay away from them unless it helps me get a decent sample…but I’m pretty good at ‘rethinking’ some projects from my past job to put in my portfolio, so hoping I can bypass them altogether.

Keep the title. It has helped a lot of us, and it has inspired a few of us to just do it.

]]> By: peter http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/financial-self-sufficiency-as-a-freelance-writer-still-in-six-months-or-less/comment-page-1#comment-464 peter Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:30:10 +0000 http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/?p=19#comment-464 Good luck, Gary! Though, as you can see from all the notes that came before, everyone's situation is different. So, while I certainly WISH a six-month launch for you, it's not a guarantee...;) PB Good luck, Gary! Though, as you can see from all the notes that came before, everyone’s situation is
different. So, while I certainly WISH a six-month launch for you, it’s not a guarantee…;)

PB

]]> By: Gary Parkin http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/financial-self-sufficiency-as-a-freelance-writer-still-in-six-months-or-less/comment-page-1#comment-461 Gary Parkin Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:21:51 +0000 http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/?p=19#comment-461 Not sure if I'm qualified to comment but I thought you might be interested. I'm just starting out as a freelance copywriter in the UK and I'm on what they call the "New Deal" scheme. This has been set up to help the long term unemployed back into work. As part of this scheme, I can have a go at running my own business whilst still being on unemployment benefit or welfare. What this all boils down to is this: I have exactly six months to make a success out of my copywriting business or it's back to the grind of a normal job. So, if you want to know if your title is still accurate, ask me in December. Not sure if I’m qualified to comment but I thought you might be interested. I’m just starting out as a freelance copywriter in the UK and I’m on what they call the “New Deal” scheme. This has been set up to help the long term unemployed back into work. As part of this scheme, I can have a go at running my own business whilst still being on unemployment benefit or welfare.
What this all boils down to is this: I have exactly six months to make a success out of my copywriting business or it’s back to the grind of a normal job.
So, if you want to know if your title is still accurate, ask me in December.

]]> By: Bob http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/financial-self-sufficiency-as-a-freelance-writer-still-in-six-months-or-less/comment-page-1#comment-450 Bob Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:24:48 +0000 http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/?p=19#comment-450 Two comments: Six months, twelve months...isn't the point that you can make a living with FLCW much faster, more reliably, and more remuneratively than with the query-to-editors game? Subtitle could be: "A Faster Way to Financial Self-Sufficiency". For those who are losing client work, you may have to compete to take business away from other ad men/women. Why not devise a "switch pitch" to attack prospects who now use an expensive agency with fancy offices in the high-rent district, and cherry-pick some portion of their account. You won't win any nice guy awards, but that's business, baby. Two comments:

Six months, twelve months…isn’t the point that you can make a living with FLCW much faster, more reliably, and more remuneratively than with the query-to-editors game? Subtitle could be: “A Faster Way to Financial Self-Sufficiency”.

For those who are losing client work, you may have to compete to take business away from other ad men/women. Why not devise a “switch pitch” to attack prospects who now use an expensive agency with fancy offices in the high-rent district, and cherry-pick some portion of their account. You won’t win any nice guy awards, but that’s business, baby.

]]> By: cathy http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/financial-self-sufficiency-as-a-freelance-writer-still-in-six-months-or-less/comment-page-1#comment-423 cathy Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:58:27 +0000 http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/?p=19#comment-423 Hi Peter -- I've been freelancing for 17 years come August 2. I honestly don't remember how long it took me to get to the point of financial self-sufficiency. Probably under a year. But then, I was really concentrating on magazine work then, not commercial writing so much (although I happily added that with a major hospital client within a year or so). These days I do almost exclusively commercial stuff, mostly in healthcare (Hi Star!) and environmental fields. I do remember a freelancer friend telling me that it would be about two years before I "stopped worrying" about making a living as a freelancer. He was exactly right. After two years, I knew it was going to work, and didn't worry about it anymore. Those online job sites are a joke, pure and simple. I don't know how anyone could take one of those $5 for 1000-words jobs. Even starting out I was never that crazy! I'd like to think that they are not affecting the ability of "real" writers to make a living, but I'm not sure. I do think my clients value good work, and most of them would never go near so cheap a writer. But who knows. Cathy in Boulder Hi Peter –

I’ve been freelancing for 17 years come August 2. I honestly don’t remember how long it took me to get to the point of financial self-sufficiency. Probably under a year. But then, I was really concentrating on magazine work then, not commercial writing so much (although I happily added that with a major hospital client within a year or so). These days I do almost exclusively commercial stuff, mostly in healthcare (Hi Star!) and environmental fields.

I do remember a freelancer friend telling me that it would be about two years before I “stopped worrying” about making a living as a freelancer. He was exactly right. After two years, I knew it was going to work, and didn’t worry about it anymore.

Those online job sites are a joke, pure and simple. I don’t know how anyone could take one of those $5 for 1000-words jobs. Even starting out I was never that crazy! I’d like to think that they are not affecting the ability of “real” writers to make a living, but I’m not sure. I do think my clients value good work, and most of them would never go near so cheap a writer. But who knows.

Cathy in Boulder

]]> By: The Freelance Writer's Blog http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/financial-self-sufficiency-as-a-freelance-writer-still-in-six-months-or-less/comment-page-1#comment-421 The Freelance Writer's Blog Thu, 19 Jun 2008 05:54:25 +0000 http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/?p=19#comment-421 Peter, I started working as an SEO writer last October (2007). Within the first few days, I landed my first client (article writing). Within the first week, I had landed two more clients. I made over $2,000 from one client alone the first month -- and have gone on to hire more writers to work under me since then. I've never been busier as a freelance writer, and I've been doing it since 1993. I have also never had an easier time in landing clients. So, I think a lot of success has to do with the niche you target. Yuwanda Peter, I started working as an SEO writer last October (2007). Within the first few days, I landed my first client (article writing). Within the first week, I had landed two more clients. I made over $2,000 from one client alone the first month — and have gone on to hire more writers to work under me since then.

I’ve never been busier as a freelance writer, and I’ve been doing it since 1993. I have also never had an easier time in landing clients. So, I think a lot of success has to do with the niche you target.

Yuwanda

]]> By: Joe http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/financial-self-sufficiency-as-a-freelance-writer-still-in-six-months-or-less/comment-page-1#comment-419 Joe Thu, 19 Jun 2008 01:34:42 +0000 http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/?p=19#comment-419 Peter, If you'll give me six months, I'll answer your question. I plan to make the jump from corporate hack to FLCW in July, so I should be able to testify to new readers just about the time your new book edition hits the shelves. I've spent the past six months laying the groundwork, letting certain potential clients know I am available for freelance assignments now, and I have to say the response has been surprisingly strong and tremendously satisfying. I've been billing and collecting regularly for about three months now and I am at the point where I just can't take anymore work and keep the full-time job. I've been reading the responses here very closely, and following some other blogs, as well, but I will say that I am open to any advice that can be offered from more experienced freelancers out there -- particularly on how to deal with the health benefits issue for my family in a way that won't break me from the start. Joe Peter,

If you’ll give me six months, I’ll answer your question. I plan to make the jump from corporate hack to FLCW in July, so I should be able to testify to new readers just about the time your new book edition hits the shelves. I’ve spent the past six months laying the groundwork, letting certain potential clients know I am available for freelance assignments now, and I have to say the response has been surprisingly strong and tremendously satisfying. I’ve been billing and collecting regularly for about three months now and I am at the point where I just can’t take anymore work and keep the full-time job.

I’ve been reading the responses here very closely, and following some other blogs, as well, but I will say that I am open to any advice that can be offered from more experienced freelancers out there — particularly on how to deal with the health benefits issue for my family in a way that won’t break me from the start.

Joe

]]> By: Linda M. Reynertson http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/financial-self-sufficiency-as-a-freelance-writer-still-in-six-months-or-less/comment-page-1#comment-418 Linda M. Reynertson Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:18:37 +0000 http://www.wellfedwriter.com/blog/?p=19#comment-418 I just finished making half of my 50 phone calls per day as advised in the 2000 edition of the WFW, and I have to say that I found the best, most common sense advice in this book that I have seen anywhere. I am only in my second full month of full-time freelancing, but I felt so confident in phoning. Why? Because someone like Peter Bowerman said to do it! So please don't second guess yourselves - any of you. The dedication and the methods still work - as long as you do. Don't give up. And I'd say leave the title as-is. Most people don't really want a get-rich-quick-scheme -- they want to know of a good, solid way to earn money by work - yes, hard work when necessary. Peter, thank you so much for giving inspiration to a new full timer - I have 3 new paying clients -- all obtained by direct mail WITH phone follow-up. AND my phone calls today gained 3 requests for actual samples. And, I've only just begun. Linda Reynertson I just finished making half of my 50 phone calls per day as advised in the 2000 edition of the WFW, and I have to say that I found the best, most common sense advice in this book that I have seen anywhere. I am only in my second full month of full-time freelancing, but I felt so confident in phoning. Why? Because someone like Peter Bowerman said to do it! So please don’t second guess yourselves – any of you. The dedication and the methods still work – as long as you do. Don’t give up. And I’d say leave the title as-is. Most people don’t really want a get-rich-quick-scheme — they want to know of a good, solid way to earn money by work – yes, hard work when necessary. Peter, thank you so much for giving inspiration to a new full timer – I have 3 new paying clients — all obtained by direct mail WITH phone follow-up. AND my phone calls today gained 3 requests for actual samples. And, I’ve only just begun.
Linda Reynertson

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