Blog Post #1. I know, it’s about freakin’ time I did a blog, but better (years) late than never, I suppose. Over the past few years, I’d looked around, saw the unending din of cyber-blather filling the airwaves, and asked myself, “Do I have something worthwhile to add or will I just be making more noise”? I guess I decided I could bring some value to the copywriting conversation, but ultimately, you, my readers will make that call.
Speaking of YOU, my readers, just as you’re crucial to the success of my ezine, The Well-Fed EPUB (http://wellfedwriter.com/ezine.shtml), providing me with a steady stream of ideas, tips, strategies and success stories since it kicked off in May 2002, your “in-the-trenches”? experiences will build this blog as well.
Got a good story, a great project outcome, something that’s worked (OR crashed-and-burned), an incandescent epiphany about the business, or any other piece of useful flotsam or jetsam you think your fellow commercial freelancers would dig? AND ideally, help all of us make more money in the biz? Lay it on me at peter@wellfedwriter.com and I’ll throw it out there. And remember: BREVITY. After all, as copywriters, we all know how to write succinctly, right?
I’ll offer up new entries no more than three times a week, but more like two, and I’ll keep ‘em on the short side. Thanks for all your support along the way. Let’s see where this thing goes…
Peter
P.S. Just subscribe in the box at top right or through a reader by clicking the box below that…
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Well, it’s about time! I’ll email you something for your next epub.
Amy
Author, Making Soap In Your Own Kitchen and Best Soap Recipes
Hi Peter!
Glad you are starting a blog–makes it easier to keep up with what you are doing and they are awesome when it comes to search engine rankings.
Sheri McConnell
President of National Assn of Women Writers
Peter,
About time too, young man. I never knew what happiness was until I read the “Well Fed Writer”… and then it was too late.
OK, that’s Brit humour. But seriously: reading the WFW set me going along a path I’d never have believed I’d be treading all those years ago.
So thanks.
Warmly,
Jon
Congrats on your new blog. I started mine some time back just as a place to share some thoughts about freelancing on the spur of the moment. But what I quickly found is that some clients will use it as another way to see if you’re a good fit for work. Personally, I expose more of my personality on my blog than I do my main site. This can sometimes make the difference in getting a job or not as your blogging can give clues to a client as to how you operate and what you’re like to deal with. (Plus, it gives you that chance to subtly show off what you know about your profession which can give potential clients more confidence in you.)
Hey Peter – Welcome to the blogosphere! We all knew it was a question of time, because we all know you are never at a loss for something to say
Looking forward to your WOWs
Michael
http://www.michaelkelberer.com
http://www.writingthatmeansbusiness.com
Excellent! It’s about darn time!
Hi Peter! Welcome to the wondrous timesuck that is blogging:). I’ve enjoyed your books and newsletters, so I’m certain I’ll be enjoying the blog as well. I hope we can get some spirited discussions going in the comments section.
Hey Peter. Welcome to the world of blogging. I’m looking forward to reading your posts. Based on what I’ve picked up in your Well Fed Writer books, this site should offer a wealth of helpful information.
I ecourage any readers who aren’t experienced in the blogosphere to interact with Peter. Leave comments to his posts, and this site will start to build into an interactive community (with Pete playing the role of Virtual Mayor). Blogs make great forums for debating just about any topic.
I speak from experience, I’m a well fed freelance writer (thanks in part to Peter) with two blogs: http://www.winememoirs.com and http://www.rmc-strategic.com. Getting feedback from readers is almost always a lot of fun, and it often leads to new ideas and even opportunities.
While launching your own blog won’t necessarily lead to great riches (though you never know), it’s something that I suggest to my writer friends. if nothing else, it’s a great opportunity to sharpen the saw. Practice makes perfect!
Good to see, Peter. This blog is definitely being added near the top of my RSS feed.
Starting a blog is on my “someday” list… but in the meantime, I look forward to reading yours — brief and succinct as I like it.
Cheers,
Michael Roach
Thanks to ALL of you for the kind words of support. Look forward to it. Now, get OUT from behind your computers on a Sunday afternoon, fer cryin’ out loud…
PB
Hot dog! Now we can blog with the best. AND educate ourselves as well.
Congrats on the blog Peter. I’m looking forward to reading more on your insights on copywriting. Also, I finally became a FLCW in September thanks to TWFW. I’m sure the blog will be just as useful as I continue to grow my business.
Hey Peter,
Way to get your blog on! So glad you’re joining the blogosphere. The more the merrier and Sheri is soooo right about the search engine rankings.
Cheers~
I must say, Peter, as a blogging fan since blogtime started I’m thrilled to see this. Colleagues need communication in any field but it’s our lifeblood. At least I know how an hour or so of my week will play out.
All the best.
Peter!!
Great idea–I’m looking forward to it!!
CB
To Mr Michael Roach: don’t delay, hesitate, prevaricate or otherwise put it off. The word “someday” is a synonym for “never”!
If you wait until the “right time”… you’ll be waiting a LONG time. The “right” time is always NOW.
Warmly,
Jon
Hi Peter. I’m a huge fan of the Well Fed Writer books and your ezine (I’ve been a subscriber for years), so I look forward to reading your musings on your blog.
Also, glad to see you’re OK. I thought of you and some other colleagues in Atlanta after hearing the news about the tornado that hit there a few weeks back.
See you in cyberspace!
Best wishes,
Robyn
Yay! More things for me to read on the Interwebs….
I’m very excited about this, Peter. I think I’ve only contacted you once or twice, but your book and email newsletter have been instrumental in my jump to my own freelance business. I’m now in Year Four! Thank you very much, and I know this will be a favorite online destination.
Congrats on joining the blogosphere Peter! Looking forward to reading your superb insight.
best
Nettie Hartsock
Finally, a blog I want to leave a comment on! Hi Peter! Just wanted to say thanks for doing this and now I am going outside on this beautiful sunny Sunday.
Hey Peter!
I am so glad you started a blog. Yipee!! Your Well-Fed Self-Publisher book was one of the first books I bought on self-publishing and it helped me greatly. I am the proud author of my first children’s book, “Frankie, the Walk ‘N Roll Dog” and it is doing very well. Thanks for everything you taught me through your books and newsletter! This self-publishing and being an author is so much fun! Looking forward to updates from your blog. Thanks!!
Joyfully,
Barbara
http://www.joyfulpaws.com
Congrats. I’ve subscribed.
So now when are you going to get on Facebook, and maybe start a group there?
Cathy
Peter,
It’s great to see you’re starting a blog. Can’t wait to read more of your ideas and glean more of your awesome inspiration. You are the reason I started my business in the first place. I wonder how many businesses you’ve kick-started now? Congratulations on the launch of your blog.
All the best,
Stephen
Time indeed, Peter. I have been excitedly crying the virtues of blogs since 2003, a year and a half after I read your first book. Yes, your book opened a crack of light in the curtain of ignorance that had kept me from becoming a freelancer. As I remember, it was the sentence that said in effect “almost all companies use freelancers.” I was overjoyed to hear it and immediately embarked on this great adventure. And now I write blogs for clients and do a couple of my own: http://www.biomednews.org, http://www.swwan.org/blog/.
Thank you, Peter. I know your blog is going to be a huge hit.
Hi Peter,
Your books have been a great inspiration to me. I have done occasional freelance projects for the past few years, but your books have given me the encouragement I need to go full time. Good luck with your blog. One suggestion I can give is to always end your posts with a “question for discussion.” It really draws comments out of people and livens up the place!
Must be something in the air — I just launched a new blog, too (The Writer’s Technology Companion, since you asked). Spring has sprung, or something; a young man’s fancy turns lightly to thoughts of blogging.
Anyway, looking forward to what you have to say here. Thanks!
Peter!
Congrats on launching the new blog! Now you need to get on MySpace and FaceBook and LinkedIn (hahahaha). Seriously, I’m looking forward to your postings and sharing anything good that happens along the path.
All the best from Tex…
Julie
Hi Peter, congrats on your blog. I’ve already added it to my favorites. I don’t have a blog for my writing biz, but I did start one for my other love–an environmental blog called Logical Ecology at http://www.logicalecology@wordpress.com. I’m looking forward to keeping up with TWFW blog. I know I’ll get a lot of good information from this!
Great news!
Congratulations on getting the blog launched, Peter. I’ve hooked the feed into Google Reader, so I can read it on my Palm Pilot when I’m out and about.
Cheers,
Tracy Cooper-Posey
As soon as the email came in I clicked and it was your blog. I was going to be the first to congratulate you – but of course there were already 26 comments . . . we’ve been waiting!
Peter!
Great and fantastic! I will lok forward to keeping up with your posts and awaiting TWFW later this year.
tom
http://www.feedcopy.com
Congratulations on the new blog. I started mine as a blogsite and it is going well. Have fun with yours.
Any tips on getting health insurance as a freelancer? (Might as well jump into some meat right off the bat…
)
In the advertising field, if one consumer comments, they are actually speaking on behalf of twelve. 29 X 12 = …well, you can see how this is going to add up!
I had a conversation, in 1993, with Andreas Schroeder one of the fore-fathers of the micro-novel. Since then, I read many books on freelancing but it was not until I read The Well-Fed Writer that I truly began to seriously market my work. I have been enjoying moderate success as an independent journalist writing articles and both book and movie reviews, in print and online, for not only my space but also for clients in Canada and the USA.
I really enjoy the freedom of blogging. It has helped me develop an online presence with a place to share both my personality, humor and a few of my publishing credits.
Thank you again for your words of practical advice and inspiration that you continue to share with fellow writers.
Best wishes in your new endeavour and…Happy Blogging!
Dear Peter,
I have both of your first books and am looking foward to your blog.
Peter, I ran across Bob Bly’s blog the other day. And I have been a long time subscriber to both his and your ezines… and after I got over the shock of discovering that Bob has been blogging for awhile without my knowing about it, I wondered if you would someday do the same. Lo and behold, here’s your email announcing your new blog. Wow, how weird. I am very excited about it.
Blogging is great for getting immediate feedback from your readers. I’m looking forward to the comment discussions.
Best,
Carolyn
The hardest part is always the first step. Now it gets easier. Congrats and good luck!
It’s about time. This is absolutely awesome…and just a couple posts a week, Peter?
Peter – long over due as has already been established by your fans. And what an impressive collection of readers you have! I’ve loved all three books and also had the opportunity to attend a conference over a year ago – look forward to reading your blog pearls. I’ve been hacking away at a blog focused on web writing – come visit: http://www.websitespeopleread.com In the meantime, I’ll enjoy adding you to my list of daily/weekly reads. Take care and enjoy. Deborah
Peter,
Congratulations! What a great addition to your web site and books. I will eagerly await the interactions – this will be fun and informative!
I just received the Well-Fed Writer sweatshirt I ordered through http://www.CoolStuff4Writers.com and it is a really good deal and helps start conversations when I am out on my daily walk.
May your success continue to blossom!
Sally
Peter, your book inspired me to take the step and become a professional commercial writer. And one thing I like about your work is that you incorporate the experiences of other writers. I look forward not only to your entries, but also to the many people you inspired.
Dear Peter,
Thank you so much for inspiring me to find my true calling at age 65.
I sincerely look forward to your blog and your community of writers.
Your books, TWFW and Back For Seconds, inspired me to believe that I could actually do what I enjoy (love is a bit strong) for a living. I have discovered that I truly love to have written. The process of writing is exciting, but to peruse my own writing is a great satisfaction. I actually started my first blog, http://www.EmpoweringRelationships.com on January 1, 2008 as a New Years Resolution. Your books inspired me to start a FLCW business called My Staff Writer (www.MyStaffWriter.com) in February 2008. Now I am a veteran writer
Buddy2.0
Hi Peter, glad to see the new blog! To give you a heads-up, you may have trouble with “comment-spam”. I do, and it drives me nuts! All comments to my blog are monitored because of it, so few survive the garbage — none lately. I know the wannabe posters are targeting the SEOs, not me, but that doesn’t lessen the work of manually deleting all the posts. My Host tells me I can’t block an entire domain. They don’t have the capability for me to do that. If you or anyone else finds a solution, please post it. Thanks much!
Congratulations, Mr. Bowerman! It’s a blog! Close, but no cigar!
I look forward to keeping up with whazzup whichoo. Sadly, I don’t always get my monthly feasts digested, so brevity is the soul of this twit.
It was great to finally catch your stand-up act Friday, after being a fan of yours for lo, these six years!
Best to you and yours (and by that I mean all of us!)
Jemille
Hiya Peter!
Been following your career. Like the idea for a blog but you really need to change the type, the font, or the spacing between your letters…it hurts my eyes to see all those words scrunched in together. I know people try to save paper when writing, but jeez, this is the blagosphere…you don’t need to save paper!!!!
In response to Carolyn (Comment #38), I’d say it’s even BETTER. My own website, http://www.JonMcCulloch.com, was for a long time a blog in the traditional sense. Then I upgraded the Wordpress theme and hey presto! It’s a Content Management System.
It’s the same content with just a few tweaks to use the categories and so on to direct the flow of information.
Blogs are also supposed to be loved by the Google algorithms, but I confess I haven’t seen much evidence of that yet.
– Jon
FINALLY!
I’ve been wondering when you would launch a blog for a LONG time. 
I’m looking forward to seeing what you write about here.
Peter!
It’s a miracle!
Welcome to the blogosphere!
All my best!
Mike